Powills: Both good and not-so-good employees are important in business

Since I started No Limit Media Consulting (now No Limit Agency*) in 2008, I have had the pleasure of working with some incredibly smart, creative and focused people. When reflecting on the last 6.5 years, I am amazed at how fast the time has flown, as well as how many people I have had the privilege of building a relationship with – even if only for a limited time. Each of the individuals who touched the agency as employees have left a lasting impression on the agency. Even those who may have not worked out have impacted the business for the best. You can never be guaranteed that every candidate will turn into a great interview and a good hire will turn into a great employee. There are too many variables that dictate whether the path will bear fruit or not. When we decide to make a hire, we do so for the right reasons. We want an all-star, someone who can grow with the agency, both as a person and as a career-driven asset. It doesn’t always work out for the long-term, but don’t think for one second that the hope was not there. I have talked about the challenges of running a business in the past. In a marriage, you are working with one other person to align paths and navigate life together. In a business, you are aspiring to guide tens, hundreds and thousands of people down one, unified road. That’s tough. Your vision as a leader may not match the vision or aspirations of those you lead. And, if one of those you lead slips a little off your path, that negative action can turn into a larger challenge. As a leader, it’s your job to guide the team in the same direction and even when one slips, you guide them back to the right path. Leadership is not easy. But, I believe that true leaders don’t give up when slips happen. Because they will – and often. Leaders continue to believe – to believe that the finish line doesn’t ever exist. To truck forward, leaders must believe that every single person who comes into their organization means something – that everything happens for a reason. Over the last 6.5 years, there have been many great people who have worked for our agency who I wish would have stayed forever. However, even if they don’t or haven’t, they certainly provided a learning step toward making our agency better, and better and better. At the end of the day, life is short. Finding happiness in the highest percentage of your life should be your mission. No Limit is not going to make everyone happy. The vision is strong and the leadership is determined. This may not be the happiness match for all. I do wish for everyone that I have ever met to find their happy place. In every business, whether a two-person shop or a few thousand people operation, people will change. That is a given.  People will believe in what you do. People won’t. The biggest difference between good and great is in people, and their dedication to the mission at hand. Great brands have had the benefit of having great people connected to their brand – whether for a few months, years or decades, those people represent one brick in a path of greatness. Each brick is another lesson learned. Leaders will embrace the good, the bad and the ugly and try to figure out how each moment, each opinion, each exit interview can help their brand become one inch better. I truly believe that all people have good hearts. Call it naïve. If inside the core there is some good, then good will continue to ensue.