It is hard to explain and embrace how well Austin By God Texas is doing as it relates to its tech sector. I will give it a try.
First, Austin did NOT get the Amazon HQ2 project. Neither did New York City, so I guess that’s some solace.
Turnover can be a costly ill. But, can be prevented? No, but it can be minimized. Here’s how.
So, I am speaking with four CEOs of small to medium-sized companies, all less than 100 employees. All the companies are in the “walk” phase of crawl, walk, run. All the CEOs are feeling salty, comfortable in their skins. Bit of wisdom starting to accumulate like barnacles.
We start talking about turnover. I listen carefully, saying nothing. I often do that. I learn a lot that way.
I also stumbled on an interesting blog post from a former client of mine at www.anthonybucci.com on the subject. Anthony was an excellent, high energy CEO who I worked with for more than a year. He took his company to the paywindow and made out very well. I always enjoyed working with him.
I came away with the notion that the issue of turnover for most companies is something they embrace AFTER it happens. Anthony’s blog post spoke to a pizza party — a cultural ritual of which I heartily approve — but it was after the fact. The individual was already on the way out.
So, here’s what I want to focus on — how do you prevent turnover? How do you minimize it?
If y’all have been following the air waves, you know that Robert Francis O’Rourke of El Paso by God Texas has decided to throw his gimme cap into the ring and seek the presidency of the United States of America.
This is Beto’s “thoughtful” gaze. It projects that quality we want in our presidents — a vacuous stare with a finger over their lips telling them not to say anything stupid. Haha, just kidding. Love the guy. He’s from Texas. Yes, El Paso is part of Texas.
Here he is rehearsing his lines: “Man, I’m just born to be in it.” Pretty sure there were no copywriters involved with that bit of genius.
But the real star, the real driver of the Tribe Beto is Artemis, a Labrador. We were able to grab Artie, a real bitch, for a quick interview. She did not hold anything back.
Nice warm day in the ATX after a morning of rain. Ahh, On Earth as it is in Texas! It’s SXSW time in the ATX.
As a founder, entrepreneur, CEO there are times — most of the time — when you must rely solely upon yourself. You are all alone.
Even when you are a member of a team, at times you are all alone because you are the decider.
This is not a bad thing; it is just a thing. You can relax knowing that every other founder, entrepreneur, CEO has had the same feeling.
That feeling — when the butterflies in your gut become condors and they try to slice their way out with their sharp talons. Your stomach is an acid pit and your breath is like kerosene.
It is real, but you can handle it. Learning to rely upon your own judgment is critical.
I am not counseling you to ignore advice. Solicit advice, but know that sometimes, you will jump alone.
Here is a video of a stick of paratroopers (with equipment) getting ready to jump over White Sands as part of a training exercise. Every soldier who approaches that door is a member of a team, but when they jump they make that decision alone. You as a founder, entrepreneur, CEO will make that same decision.
You got this, trust me.
As a leader of a startup, a public company, a charity — you will find yourself dealing with the planning for, advocacy of, and implementation of change. Change is the constant.
As change is the constant, resistance to change is also a given. People do not like change in the workplace. They like to settle in, do their jobs, and become expert at what they do. They want the comfort of a known gig and a known operating model.
Change, by its very nature, creates discomfort. This discomfort gives rise to resistance. Resistance becomes an internal barrier to the success of the change.
So, what is a leader to do?
We Americans are a tough people. Hard to believe that when you see what a bunch of victims and cupcakes we see on the Internet, but at our core, we are resolute survivors.
I used to ask my father if he thought my generation could have fought and won World War II. He received a battlefield commission in Italy running a Cannon Company shooting it out daily with Kraut 88s while in his twenties.
He would get a solemn look on his face and say, “The sons of tigers are tigers.” I never really understood what he meant.
I recently read something sent from a pal and it hit home on the subject. It focused on who we were back in 1969, half a century ago. Most of y’all weren’t born then, but I was a cadet at Virginia Military Institute, the Vietnam War was raging, in the mess hall there were moments of silence for VMI men killed in that war, and the country was aflame with riots.
I like to tell people today, “You have no idea what a proper riot looks like, Ace. You should have seen the Vietnam War riots. Now, those were riots.”
March is the greatest month for bluebonnets in the Texas Hill Country. March is the greatest month of the year.
65F today in the ATX for SXSW. 81% humidity, huh?
So, March is my favorite month for the following reasons:
First, we have the end-of-season college basketball matchups — the Carolina Tarheels completing a sweep of the hated Dukies. Hook ’em, Heels!
[OK, I’m a Heels fan, but if they are out, I am a Duke fan. Still, I love when the Heels obliterate Darth Vader Duke.]
“Zion Williamson, I am your father.” If you don’t know who Zion Williamson is, then you are forgiven.
Big Red Car here in the ATX wherein we are in the midst of SXSW. [To be cool, please call it, “South By”, but you already knew this, right?]
So, yesterday, we had Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speak for more than an hour during an interview. AOC! AOC! AOC!
I will not editorialize as to what I do or do not think about it because we are going to interview Her Highness in the raw.
If you want to listen to her comments, here they are in their entirety.
WATCH: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks at SXSW https://t.co/PBmUT5rgSD
— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) March 9, 2019
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