In the early 1990’s, I was a young manager entrusted with senior executive level oversight, that I was ill prepared to handle.  I had to learn quickly and literally, on the job.

I became an obsessive reader, committing to read a book a month for continuing education because I worked for a small early-stage company with minimal resources for training.  My mind and my ability was only as ‘minimal’ as my desire and discipline.  So, for 14 years (age 22 – 36) I developed a monthly reading rotation of a business book, a self development book, a book of American history and a novel.  This was a very effective rotation with the exception that I subconsciously, or possibly consciously omitted reading the Bible and spiritual development books.  A practice I began at age 42 and continue 20 years later.  I digress.

One core principal that I quickly adopted in my early career and then a lifetime of entrepreneurial efforts is ‘identify and copy what other organizations do well.  Don’t expend time and resources recreating the wheel.’

In these early management days I was trying to build a culture of professionalism and corporate discipline.  At the time, IBM was the gold standard in both categories and was very successful.  They were rigid in their look, their approach, their integrations, their management style and were delivering exceptional returns to their shareholders.  They were destined to stumble!

So, within a few months of adopting more rigidity in structure, dress, operating procedures and look, the hyper-growth company that I was leading was faltering.  Productivity per person was down.  Conversation and input were down.  Certain key people had left or were developing an exit plan.  Why?  I had instituted the variables of the DNA of one of the world’s most successful companies and we were flailing.  The problem, IBM’s DNA variables were not our DNA and more importantly, our success was based upon an equation of ‘ownership in all things.’

Thankfully, I had a wonderful mentor who was quick to criticize and even quicker to empower, who saw what I was too close to see.  My employees, my team, my ‘family’ were disengaging because their individualism and unique experience and perspectives were being corralled, where their spirit had been free to run and contribute.  I corrected myself quickly and released the very unique DNA of the company again.  We thrived and the integration of SOPs was more easily adopted and universally accepted because understanding of the need and purpose was an enhancement to, not in replacement of.

I write all of this to encourage one simple thought.  Recognize and use the gifts that are unique to only you.  Then consider freely offering them to all who come in your path and need you.  I/we learned individually and corporately in the 90’s that the greatest assets lay in the collaborative assembly of individuals offering beautifully unique and expansive experience and perspectives.

IBM ultimately ditched the rigid blue suit, red tie mentality and literal dress code that brought them to the forefront of corporate influence.  They recognized the irrepressible value of the individual was infinitely more capable than the perception of professionalism.  This was one of many painful and extremely valuable learning lessons for me that others would benefit from.  They walked through my fires and they did reap the rewards that their patience, kindness and stubbornness caused.  I had an incredible team whose tenacity was born from the blue-collar mentality of northeastern Ohio.

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.  You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out. before a single day had passed.”  Psalm 139:13-16 NLT

Your DNA is unique to only you.  Your gifts are needed by so many.  Take a chance and reach out.  The rewards of rejection and failure are marvelous to those benefitting from your courage and experience.  Be the shepherd that lions fear.

Let’s go.