Page 38 - Roy W. Rice - CEO Material How to Be a Leader in Any Organization-McGraw-Hill (2009)

You Have a Good Track Record • 19

Don’t pressure me for an expanded budget like everyone else is doing;
instead, ask for a leaner, tighter budget and see what you can come
up with. That will get noticed.
The founder of Cranium Inc., told me the story of having
just printed 27,000 copies of the game Cranium in 1998—just after
the national toy show was over, where, unbeknownst to him at the
time, all new products are introduced and orders made for the next
year. Talking with his colleagues in Starbucks about their predicament
of having to wait almost a year for the next toy show and paying for the
inventory all the while, they looked around and had a life- and career-
changing charge. “Let’s take our games to where the customers are—
Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon [places games had never been
sold]—not where the games are typically sold [FAO Schwartz, Toys ‘R’
Us, etc.].”

Work Innovatively and Imaginatively

Take whatever you do to another level. Do what other’s won’t, don’t, can’t,
or never dreamed of doing. Stretch your thinking and come up with what
you thought you could never do—then put it on your “to do” list.
Work at a steady pace that’s faster than required and speedier than
anyone else.
Get right on the task without waiting to be told, reminded, or
nudged.
Don’t hang with procrastinators, complainers, or victim-mentality
types. Avoid finger-pointing, blaming, complaining (even when others
are moaning around you), or putting down coworkers who don’t work at
the same tempo.
Pray that you get thrust into things you’re not sure you can do—and
at a younger age than your peers.
Pinpoint problems and opportunities before others. Spot issues
before they turn into crises. Think through actions before taking them,
and consider the consequences versus blindly, thoughtlessly doing as
you are told. In a calm and thoughtful manner, be willing to ask anyone