Craig A. Pickell | Bullard Abrasives, Inc. and Marvel Abrasive Products LLC CEO and president; Rhode Island Manufacturers Association chairman
MOTIVATION! One of my most compelling life lessons came from a chance, face-to-face meeting with Herman Cain. For those unfamiliar with Herman, he was the gold standard for consummate overachievers. He joined Pillsbury Co. as an executive at Burger King, producing a legacy of accomplishments that prompted his appointment to chairman and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza. He took responsibility for a losing brand and created an award-winning franchise business that was one of the most profitable divisions in the Pillsbury portfolio. He was also chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and a senior economic adviser to the late Bob Dole’s presidential campaign. This guy knew his stuff.
Herman’s lesson was simple, and one he made passionately at every possible opportunity was that you can never motivate people, but you can provide the inspiration that ignites our motivation. Throughout his years managing people, he learned that motivation comes from a deep reservoir within each of us, that we all possess that energy to make good things happen, but it is our responsibility and decision to either let it flow or remain untapped.
His experience taught him the secret to harnessing this natural pool of “let’s get it done” energy was simply to identify ways to “inspire” us through leadership’s own actions and projection of confidence.
Within the Bullard/Marvel employee family we encourage and coach our folks to expand their knowledge, learn new techniques, work as a team and, most of all, implement their ideas. We have successfully managed through our fair share of challenges due in large part to applying Herman’s philosophy.
It is pretty simple, focus on inspiring folks each and every day – and the motivation takes care of itself.
