We asked six contributing business leaders – If you could offer one piece of advice for a young entrepreneur entering your industry, what would it be?
Mark Crosswhite, President and CEO, Alabama Power
“Be open to ‘left turns.’ It is OK to not have every step on your career plan mapped out. Sometimes a ‘left turn’ comes along and takes you down a path you never considered, and it turns out to be the best thing you ever did. Be open to the opportunity.”
Scott Bissell, CEO and Founder, TARA Energy Services
“Resilience is key. To successfully grow a large corporation, one must hire smart people and allow them to have roles and freedom to make the necessary decisions. Without the right team built around respect, integrity, and trust – success will be hard to achieve.”
Grant Page, Founder & Chairman, Magna Imperio Systems
“Your idea is only as strong as the team around you and failure is natural on the road to success. Embrace both concepts and you will be fine.”
Matthew Tokarik, Vice President, Subterra Renewables
“Be decisive and take action. You do not need to make the perfect or optimal decision at the start, you just need to make a decision and get started. You will correct your course as you go and be further ahead for doing so.”
Debra Poppas, Vice President of Global Quality, PACCAR
“One piece of advice: seek the best in people. This is summed up by the tale of the two travelers who both visit a village. The first keeps a negative outlook and so only sees such in others around them, moving on from the opportunities of the village, empty. But the second, who keeps a positive outlook, sees just as such in others, and so embraces the village and is welcomed into it.
“The lesson of course is that what we see in people is determined, in large part, by what we expect to find. So, when you go back to your office or participate in your next virtual call to work with your peers, look for in them the traits you’d most like to see and I believe that’s exactly what you’ll find.”
Paul Stephens, Vice President of Purchasing and Wholesale, Arrow Truck Sales
“Sales is challenging, but it is one of the most rewarding fields to enter into. If you have passion, determination and drive, this industry will reward you tremendously personally and professionally!”
