Building A Stone Business
Published by Leng Nguyen January 9th, 2007 in Announcements, Buzz, Culture, News and Views, Community.
“Good leaders make people feel that they’re at the very heart of things, not in the periphery. Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organization. When that happens people feel centered and that gives their work meaning.”
One day RC asked me, “What is harder? SAYING I am going to build a stone business or being accountable for building the stone?” I chose the former but was immediately corrected. He told me that being accountable to the stone was a greater challenge. In fact, one is not possible to do without the other, but this age-old saying has never been more true, “Great ideas are a dime a dozen, people that implement them are priceless.” Complicating it further he added, “The stone business is like most businesses - it requires multiple skill sets to succeed. So when people are added to the equation, the need for accountability increases. He went on to explain that, “The importance of the role systems play an important role in empowering people. Steps or set procedures must be practiced and are a necessary part of accountability. What are you counting on? Systems are like a sheet of music, everybody reads from the same notes but play a different instrument. The accountability is even more evident when not every instrument plays every note. We still have one tune we are all playing. How do we divide that sheet music? A composer sets the prescribed instrument in a prescribed time. Building a healthy business is much the same. How well it works (sounds) has a lot to do with the procedures set out by the composer. Saying I am going to build a stone business and making the plan to do so was a fraction of what it took to implement it. The best lesson you can ever learn is the most common statement I hear from business owners, it all comes down to the right people.”
I then asked, “What about the right people?” That too, is apparent if you do not have good leadership and direction. WHO provides that? He’s made me realize how much it has to do with the willingness of the employees and their quality of work. He has spent his career in the stone business empowering others to believe in themselves and this is how he confidently measures his own success. When first hired, I kept hearing the same phrases over and over again…
“Teach a man to fish and you might get invited to dinner” and “Great ideas are a dime a dozen, people who implement them are priceless.”
The strength in these sayings continues to provide me with principles of conduct from which I see my own patterns of behavior emerge. These patterns are what we as people share when we are accountable to one another. We ended this understanding on the following note, “Accountability is simple, yes means yes and no means no.” The remainder is discussion - one to make reasons or excuses why, and the other to exploit the facts. Accountability is the same thing as admitting the truth. We all find moral ground when our accountability is extended toward others. In short, being accountable is in the end the purest form of freedom when we as a people do it willingly.
Once it dawned on me, it was like the light bulb above my head really glowed. I can attest to his success on that scale. As much as I thought I was “willing”, I was really holding back due to my lack of self-confidence. How do you teach a person to embrace the risk associated with becoming better? Can I actually process this valuable skill of empowering others? A mentor allows failure by measure and then steps in. This school of hard knocks has no safety net.
The strength in these sayings continues to provide me with principles of conduct from which I see my own patterns of behavior emerge. These patterns are what we as people share when we are accountable to one another. We ended this understanding on the following note, “Accountability is simple, yes means yes and no means no.” The remainder is discussion - one to make reasons or excuses why, and the other to exploit the facts. Accountability is the same thing as admitting the truth. We all find moral ground when our accountability is extended toward others. In short, being accountable is in the end the purest form of freedom when we as a people do it willingly. Once it dawned on me, it was like the light bulb above my head really glowed. I can attest to his success on that scale. As much as I thought I was “willing” I was really holding back due to my lack of self-confidence. How do you teach a person to embrace the risk associated with becoming better? Can I actually process this valuable skill of empowering others? A mentor allows failure by measure and then steps in. This school of hard knocks has no safety net. I am living proof of what they are talking about.
Once I learned it was okay to fail, I knew it was right to attempt.
- Leng Nguyen
This behavior led to doing the right thing - not to be confused with doing things right. The latter once stifled me but now I prioritize more instinctively. Why? Because the way RC empowered me was by offering me ownership in my role within the organization. Trust me; this was not easy. This is however, the only way to build a business and create dependable systems. Learning and ever improving, it is within my power to build systems and by doing so, I feel that I am empowering people. I see my intent to organize their strengths doing the same for them as it did for me. People all around me are transitioning from learning to be an operator to being a builder that empowers others. This is his MO. In retrospect, I am still perplexed at how simple his approach really is. If more of us were open to receiving empowerment, I know the marketplace and even the world would be much more efficient. They say when the student is ready the teacher will appear. I am devoutly grateful for my teacher. Creating opportunities like this is now something of which I am capable of doing. I’ve also heard him say many times, “Teach a man to fish and someday, maybe you will get invited to dinner.” I can now see why this is one of his favorite Texas sayings because it’s nice from time to time to get invited to dinner if you’ve been busy in the kitchen.
- Leng Nguyen
Great systems are like play books, all that is missing is the team and a coach to get the disciplines rehearsed.
An exceptional performance I have seen from you is the willingness to seek out an objective without personal regard.
These old sayings take on a meaning all their own when you live them. I know we have not been together long but it is a very nice commentary when your on point. You have excelled proving to our people that a plan will work if we will work the plan.
What a great time we will have as you continue to make things better for those around you.
I will say that you have caught on quickly. I am not foolish enough not to recognize someone put a lot of time in you. I am thankful to them for how it has made you such an important part of our success in such a short time.
Just as you have put the effort to improve yourself in the principles, your embrace will stay your course. So will those that base decisions on principles and continue to make the right decisions consistently. The mark of an entrepreneur is doing the right thing next. What a pleasure to have a voice with the best interest of our people in their heart.
If you do not stand for something then you will fall for anything as the old saying goes.