EntreLeadership is not just a theory. Thousands of business owners and leaders are using Dave’s principles every day to take their companies and team members to heights they never imagined. In the EntreLeadership Spotlight series, we’ll be highlighting some of these great leaders and learning about their dreams, motivation and secrets to success.
What I Do
I am the owner of Carver Door Company in Winfield, Alabama. We provide cabinet doors, cabinet components and mouldings to cabinet makers and distributors.
A Characteristic Every Leader Should Possess
Intellectual humility: knowing there is more that you will never know than you will ever know.
On Fighting the Tough Times
Be thankful, because chaos is the best time for a leader to emerge. Having said that, I wasn't very thankful when our business was fighting chaotic times. We eventually broke through, but it would have been much earlier had I given myself that advice back then.
My Mentor
I never had or created that opportunity for a mentor, and I consider that one of my greatest mistakes. A mentor could have helped shave off many years of learning things the hard way. Books, blogs, podcasts, seminars and conferences are my mentors now. I believe that if you have the desire to learn, you will have no shortage of teachers in your life.
My Best Leadership Advice
Leadership is simple. Care for your team and serve them. Your job is to make your team successful, professionally and personally. Connect with them, empower them, and encourage your team straight into success! Think about leadership like this: Nobody wants to hear the conductor. It's the symphony they want to hear!
My Biggest Takeaway From EntreLeadership Master Series
Our team is made up of talented, dedicated, hard-working individuals, and we are hungry for more of them. We are constantly looking for the next awesome person to join our team. But, we take our time. Our team deserves to work with equals, and we've made a commitment to not giving them any less.
I'm Passionate About ...
Faith and family are my greatest passions. My next three are:
- I love to see people growing. If it's by something I've presented to them, it’s even cooler! Some people plant, some water, and some harvest. I guess I like to distribute seeds.
- I love small business. We are America’s engine. We fuel the economy, enhance our communities, and strengthen this country. The American dream is alive and well today, and it is the duty of American small businesses to preserve that dream for future generations.
- I love to learn. Rather than using my own words, I'll borrow from an actual author: “Man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild." —James Allen
How to Beat the Competition
Leaders don't have to know everything about operations, accounting or marketing, but we do need to know enough to ask questions that lead to better answers. The quality of our questions will determine the quality of our answers.
If I Knew Then …
In this business, we've earned our lessons, and they are a part of us moving forward. I believe we've done exactly as we were supposed to do to become who we are supposed to be as a company. However, we would have become “us” sooner if I would have just become “me” earlier. It's never too late to be who you might have been.
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About the author
Ramsey Solutions