My Thoughts Exactly
August 2011
What Makes A Person
Successful?
By Gary Tilkin
CEO and Founder of Gary Tilkin Consultants, Inc.
Author of the “Professional for Life Sales and Management Development Series”
What makes a business person successful?
In the course of my life and in my career, I have been fortunate to meet thousands upon thousands of people. Part of my personal quest has been to put my finger on exactly what characteristics constitute a successful business person – what does a successful business person “look” like? Many of us have preconceived ideas as to what that “look” is; successful business people are often thought to be aggressive, inflexible, closed minded, and even unfair. Sadly, many individuals fit this description, but more often than not, these are common misconceptions.
Most recently I was fortunate to meet an individual who personifies success. She models exactly what I had hoped success would “look” like. Her name is Gina “Gigi” Butler. She is the CEO of Gigi’s Cupcakes (http://gigiscupcakesusa.com ), a Nashville, TN based company that franchises her Gourmet Cupcake business within the United States.
A short time ago, Gigi and her two month old baby, Kendall, spent a few days with my family at our home in Miramar Beach, Florida. It was my pleasure and privilege to get to know Gigi and Kendall.
Here is a bit of background on Gigi:
· In her teens, she started a cleaning service which, to this day, she still owns.
· Gigi baked and cooked like a pro and thought there was a market for 100% from scratch gourmet cupcakes.
· Without pricey financial consultants, she did the math on a piece of paper and calculated how many cupcakes she would have to make to break even and make a profit.
· Her landlord (now her business partner) did not want to allow her to rent space. She convinced him to give her a chance. Now he is a member of the Gigi’s Leadership team.
· She does not take “no” for an answer. But, really, how can you say “no” to a person who has such deep and true passion for what she does.
So, what characteristics does Gigi have that are in common with other self-made successful entrepreneurs?
Balance Between Work, Family and Home:
As important as business is to Gigi, family is equally, if not more important. Having her daughter and friend with us during the visit was wonderful. Watching Gigi find the healthy balance between work and family made me reflect upon my own career. Much of my adult life was spent on the road working at various locations across the country and abroad. I did not see my family often enough, yet I justified my actions by believing that this sacrifice would provide them with financial stability. In retrospect, I’m not sure the price I paid and they paid was worth the end result. Just something to consider…
Clarity on Brand, Product and Customer Service:
Gigi was sitting on the beach visiting with us while baby Kendall was napping. When the subject shifted to consistency between each of her franchises, the tone of the conversation changed. She was very serious as she spoke about product quality, customer service, and which exact product types could be offered in each franchise. Consistency was key. Variation to her “formula for success” was unacceptable. As with many companies, this is the true test of any organization. The best example is McDonalds. I have eaten a McDonalds all over the world. The burgers are consistently mediocre but I always know what to expect; therefore, I am always pleasantly satisfied and never disappointed.
Open Mindedness to New Idea’s and Respect for Others Special Skills:
There is a difference between being focused on key business issues and having an open mind to new ideas. Gigi is very open to ideas on how to improve upon her products, customer ownership experience, associate engagement, or the strength of her organization. The only criteria is that any recommended changes need to be across-the-board, so that each franchisee benefits and the brand stays consistent. Also, each new idea needs to be tested in a controlled environment (in one or two stores) before going franchise-wide. Gig’s motto: all for one and one for all.
DO YOU GET THE POINT YET?
In reality, we are not talking about Gigi Butler or GREAT Cupcakes. We are talking about characteristics of successful people. And those characteristics span all careers. My focus is performance improvement. Yours might be the automobile industry, floor covering Industry, motor cycle industry, banking, insurance, engineering, or even medicine. So here is my thought for the month: learn how to be successful by surrounding yourself with successful, positive people. Stay true to yourself and what you believe in. Most importantly, as you venture on your journey toward success, enjoy your family and your friends. Simply stated, enjoy your life.
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Respectfully,
Gary Tilkin
Mr. Gary Tilkin