For those that know me well, they know I am a passionate fan of Clemson Sports, especially Clemson Football. They also know that I am a voracious reader about business and leadership. I have some favorite traditional business icons I read about, like Steve Jobs, Ray Kroc, and Herb Kelleher.
However, I have long believed the best leaders on the planet come from the world of sports (and not business). I love reading about the beliefs and leadership styles of John Wooden, Joe Gibbs, Nick Saban and Vince Lombardi.
I happen to know one of the best leaders on the planet. His name is William Christopher Swinney, but most call him Dabo. One of my Board of Advisors associates (for the Spiro Institute of Entrepreneurship at Clemson), Matt Given, wrote about this subject in this fantastic INC Magazine piece (5 Leadership Secrets Shared by Clemson’s Dabo Swinney During His White House Speech).
I am going to use his format to add a cold storage construction industry twist to each sub-topic.
Run the Race to Win
This idea comes from the Bible verse, 1 Corinthians 9:24, using the metaphor of a race to emphasize self-discipline and perseverance. “Everybody runs, but only one wins first prize. So, run your race in such a way as to win.” Now everyone defines victory in different ways, and contrary to what some may think, I don’t define victory by sales growth, how much money I make, or how many projects we are awarded. I am driven by building teams, by teaching and coaching the “players”, and seeing them grow and prosper.
Do Common Things in Uncommon Ways
“Do the common things in an uncommon way, and you will command the attention of the world.” – George Washington Carver. What’s common in construction is the way a project is managed by, as you might think, a Project Manager. That’s how our competitors do it. At ThermalCraft, we execute projects with a Principal/Project Manager/Superintendent approach. A Principal (ThermalCraft owner) is 100% responsible for your job from estimate to completion. A Project Manager joins the team upon award, providing consistent coverage of tasks throughout the project alongside the Principal. The Superintendent ensures the installation is done correctly, safely and on time. A common thing is done in an uncommon way.
The Moments in Between the Special Moments
There’s nothing better than the moment when you get an email or a phone call saying you have been awarded a project. We strive to enjoy and appreciate all the hard work and dedication it took to put us in a position of being chosen by a GC or end user to join their project team. The years it took to build the experience, the continual learning process daily at ThermalCraft, the teamwork applied to every project. The journey IS the reward.
Take These Values With You
Run the Race to Win
Do the Common Things in an Uncommon Way
Be “All In” and apply “Best is the Standard”
Dabo’s Whitehouse Speech (8 minutes of Leadership Gold)