If there is anything I have learned over the last thirty-plus years, the people who can build long-lasting relationships create an environment of sustained excellence. Those people can leverage their ability to bring talented people together and direct them to achieve a shared goal. Once that group achieves success, it is repeated. Specifically, in any service industry, relationships are the fuel for growth and sustainability.
Counter-top Campaigns
I am always intrigued when I hear a story about someone who created a business from the ground up. I am impressed when I find out the company they built is still thriving nearly 40 years later. When my guest told me they started their agency in their kitchen in 1983, and here we are in 2021, I knew there was something I could learn from them. It is an accomplishment to start and grow a service business. It is significantly challenging to be relevant through the last decades of technological evolution.
The Man.
Larry Rothstein is a confident, humble man. He walks into a room with his head high, hand outstretched, and a smile on his face. I have always known Larry to be a good listener, which I have found is an attribute of every great mentor I have encountered. Like most business creators, he is a person who started something because he knew he could provide a better value. He had the motivation to get up each day and help his clients. I have worked with Larry on several projects, to meet him is an event you will not soon forget. His energy is infectious, and you come to realize very quickly that you are in good hands.
The Agency.
He started Source Communications in 1983 and is headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey. When he began, he intended to build a media company. As his business grew and his clients realized the value he brought to the conversation, they wanted him to do more than manage their media. He was confident he could do that but was humble enough to know he needed to build a team grow the business in areas outside his comfort zone. He has made a business and team that delivers. It was inspiring to speak with him about how he gets a good start.
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Audio Podcast:
Action Items:
Larry offers a lot of great advice, but I feel the most critical items you can put into action today are:
Make A List: Tonight, make a list of the things you need to and want to accomplish tomorrow. Make an honest attempt to get them all done. There will be detours and distractions, but keep moving forward. Tomorrow night, do it again. Always remember that each item completed is a brick in the foundation to your success.
Tell Others: If you want to be promoted and move up the corporate ladder, you need to tell the decision-makers. But as Larry says, do not just go up to your boss and tell them you want a promotion. Ask them what you can do to be more valuable to the company and what things you need to learn to take advantage of the next opportunity for advancement. Doing this will let your boss know you have the goal of moving up and the drive to improve yourself to reach that goal. This week, think about where you want this career to go, what the next step might be, and engage your manager to help you make a plan to get there.
Accept Defeat But Don’t Embrace It: You will lose sometimes. That is life. But you do not have to like it. Go back and think about a recent time things may not have turned out the way you wanted. Was there something you could have done differently or should have known? Is there a way to prepare better for the next time? How you handle defeat is the real win or loss. If you do nothing as a result of being defeated, then you have lost. If you learn and improve yourself because of a defeat, then you win. Review the recent past and win.
Conclusion:
I hope you get as energized as I did listening to Larry speak about his experiences. If there were just one thing you should take away from this interview, it would be to work on your brand every day or, as I like to say, work on how you want to be remembered.
Contact Me
I appreciate feedback of all kinds, so please email me any questions or feedback to scott@getagoodstart.com. Have a great week, and remember, it doesn’t take a lot to get a good start; you just have to start. Thank you.
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