Page 58 - Leadership Secrets of Hillary Clinton

SMART POWER

rather, he was constantly out in the field, speaking with
employees, customers, and community leaders to under-
stand the major concerns, problems, and opportunities in
their day-to-day work and to determine the latest trends in
the marketplace. He then used this information to make
adjustments in terms of how he ran the company and how
SHAMBAUGH & Son could reinvent itself to become
and remain a leader in the building industry. I learned from
my father’s example that you can’t wait for someone to give
you the instruction booklet. You have to take the initiative,
roll up your sleeves, be open to listening, and constantly
look at ways to stay on top of your game while you are con-
sistently bringing value to others. In many ways, my father
has been my lifelong mentor.
And I’ve had many other mentors along the way. Some
I’ve learned simply by observing them in action, others
have been sources of information and insight, and many
have given me feedback that has been invaluable. Some
have been older than I, like my father, and some have been
younger, like the 23-year-old who taught me all about
social networking. Some have been employees in my
organization, and others have been customers or even com-
petitors. The one thing they all had in common is that they
all had something to teach me.
And finally, if you don’t already have your own personal
“board of directors,” now is a good time to begin recruiting
one. The people on it are individuals whom you trust and

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