Michael Hyatt

And I said, man, I thrive on working in a company, in a culture, and with leadership and a team. And so I decided, I went to my business partner one day, this was in 1998, and I said, look, I would love to entertain the possibility of selling my half of the business to you. And I promise I'll be reasonable, but it's just a matter of, this is not the best use of me. And he was super agreeable.

And I said, man, I thrive on working in a company, in a culture, and with leadership and a team. And so I decided, I went to my business partner one day, this was in 1998, and I said, look, I would love to entertain the possibility of selling my half of the business to you. And I promise I'll be reasonable, but it's just a matter of, this is not the best use of me. And he was super agreeable.

We were dear friends. And so we amicably parted ways. And I went back to Thomas Nelson as the best way to describe it for somebody that's not in the publishing business was I was like the assistant general manager of one of Thomas Nelson's 14 publishing divisions. So initially, the second time around, I came in and most of my responsibility was editorial. So I was working with authors again.

We were dear friends. And so we amicably parted ways. And I went back to Thomas Nelson as the best way to describe it for somebody that's not in the publishing business was I was like the assistant general manager of one of Thomas Nelson's 14 publishing divisions. So initially, the second time around, I came in and most of my responsibility was editorial. So I was working with authors again.

So not very different from being a literary agent, but I was working with some amazing authors at that time. People like Dave Ramsey and John Maxwell. And we even published a book by Trump, if you can believe it, back in the day. So I got to meet him. But at any rate,

So not very different from being a literary agent, but I was working with some amazing authors at that time. People like Dave Ramsey and John Maxwell. And we even published a book by Trump, if you can believe it, back in the day. So I got to meet him. But at any rate,

It was great experience, but in July of 2000, my boss quit and the CEO came to me and asked me if I would be the new publisher for that division. What I didn't understand, because I wasn't privy to all the financial detail, was that division was in the worst shape of any of the 14. We had the lowest revenue growth. In fact, we were shrinking. We had the worst profitability.

It was great experience, but in July of 2000, my boss quit and the CEO came to me and asked me if I would be the new publisher for that division. What I didn't understand, because I wasn't privy to all the financial detail, was that division was in the worst shape of any of the 14. We had the lowest revenue growth. In fact, we were shrinking. We had the worst profitability.

We had lost money in the previous year. And the morale in that division was terrible because people just don't like losing. You know, people were blaming everybody else, pointing fingers, all that stuff. So I got really clear on the vision. I did a private retreat and I came up with 10 things that I wanted to be true in three years.

We had lost money in the previous year. And the morale in that division was terrible because people just don't like losing. You know, people were blaming everybody else, pointing fingers, all that stuff. So I got really clear on the vision. I did a private retreat and I came up with 10 things that I wanted to be true in three years.

And the CEO had asked me how long it was going to take me to turn that division around. Of course, I didn't have a clue, but I just pulled a number out of the air and I said about three years. And he said, well, that's kind of what I was thinking. So you got my full support. So I came back and I painted that picture of a bigger, better future to the team.

And the CEO had asked me how long it was going to take me to turn that division around. Of course, I didn't have a clue, but I just pulled a number out of the air and I said about three years. And he said, well, that's kind of what I was thinking. So you got my full support. So I came back and I painted that picture of a bigger, better future to the team.

They got energized and they rolled up their sleeves and we worked hard. It took us about 18 months, but we went from number 14 in revenue growth to number one from number 14 in profitability to number one. And of course, the morale was off the charts because people like winning. Well, all of this came at some expense to me because I was working nights and weekends, so was my team.

They got energized and they rolled up their sleeves and we worked hard. It took us about 18 months, but we went from number 14 in revenue growth to number one from number 14 in profitability to number one. And of course, the morale was off the charts because people like winning. Well, all of this came at some expense to me because I was working nights and weekends, so was my team.

I wasn't spending hardly any time at home and my family was really suffering. But I wasn't aware of it or I was sort of pushing it out of my awareness But I finally, at the end of that 18-month period, I got this ginormous bonus check. It was more than my annual salary. I was giddy. And so I rushed home.

I wasn't spending hardly any time at home and my family was really suffering. But I wasn't aware of it or I was sort of pushing it out of my awareness But I finally, at the end of that 18-month period, I got this ginormous bonus check. It was more than my annual salary. I was giddy. And so I rushed home.

I couldn't wait to share it with Gail, my wife, just knowing, A, that it was gonna validate all my hard work and that she was gonna be excited about it. But not so much. She looked at the check. And she began to get a little tearful. And she said, I think we need to talk. And so we went and sat down in the den and I could tell this was gonna be a very consequential conversation.

I couldn't wait to share it with Gail, my wife, just knowing, A, that it was gonna validate all my hard work and that she was gonna be excited about it. But not so much. She looked at the check. And she began to get a little tearful. And she said, I think we need to talk. And so we went and sat down in the den and I could tell this was gonna be a very consequential conversation.

She teared up and she said, first of all, I want you to know how deeply I appreciate how hard you work, all that you've accomplished. I wanna acknowledge that, but I gotta be honest. She said, you're never home. Your five daughters need you now more than ever. And she said, if I'm honest, I feel like a single mom. And man, that was like a gut kick.

She teared up and she said, first of all, I want you to know how deeply I appreciate how hard you work, all that you've accomplished. I wanna acknowledge that, but I gotta be honest. She said, you're never home. Your five daughters need you now more than ever. And she said, if I'm honest, I feel like a single mom. And man, that was like a gut kick.