David Grau Sr.

So when you start to own a real business, I like to say rather than you working for it, it starts to work for you.

take a vacation, take two weeks off when the business is ready for that.

And watch what happens.

When you own a real business, it doesn't miss a beat.

And in fact, the team you left behind tends to get better and stronger.

That's magical.

Second, you start to build something that the phraseology I like to use is makes a real difference.

We all like to, you know, we want to make a difference some way with our work and our world and our thoughts.

But all of a sudden, you know, when you lay out your why,

and you start to focus on your stakeholder groups, and you literally operationalize helping all of your stakeholders, your partners, your employers, your suppliers, your community, the environment, when you help make them better,

they make you better and all of a sudden you've got a business now that in that community where you live and work it's respected and with that respect you're the leader that feels even better than running on that treadmill so when you get to that real business you know it's got to be growing

If it's growing, it's got to stand for something.

And if it's growing, it stands for something.

You'll attract great people, great talent who will help you do whatever you want to do with that business.

It's your story to write.

You get to decide how the story ends.

But it's wonderful to have options and choices.

And that's what you get when you have a real business, in my experience.

It's a question I ask every single group I consult with.

You know, I'll say it this way.