Delusions of Self

Sometimes you don’t know what you are not … until you meet a real one.

I thought I was a powerful athlete for a brief moment until the 14 year old passed me in the triathlon (ages are often written on the athlete’s calf during such races).

I also thought I was a real CEO until I met John Slitz. There I was running my little 18 person company called Systems Research & Development (SRD) in Las Vegas when I chanced into him over dinner. It took considerably less than five minutes before I realized that he was a real CEO and I was not.

Hmm, I thought, how can I hypnotize him into thinking he should trade in all of his big games for my little game? It was a slow and thoughtful process that took about 90 days.

Once John Slitz came aboard, I demoted myself to chief scientist, was given no employees to manage, no budget, and was told I didn’t have to sell anything. A dream job!

With this new and welcomed adult supervision everything changed … for the better. The company became more prosperous and I was able to spend more time chasing technology, strategy, privacy and policy. A year later we doubled and a year after that IBM bought my little company. Inasmuch as I still report to Slitz I would like to recommend that hiring your boss is a good strategy.  :)

Net net: focus on what you are best at … hire pros to handle everything else.

Have I mentioned the 70 year old dude that actually passed me on the run during the Arizona Ironman.

Comments

[ricky J. Fico]

Well, when resources become more readily available I will triumph over self-delusion and hire a true salesperson. And a secretary. And an accountant. And a corporate attorney. And. . . and . . .heck, the list is endless. I didn't realize how many hats one must wear to further one's ambitions. A slow process, but like yourself, I must remain undaunted by all the juggling followed by sleepless nights.

But, as I wrote a few days ago: "A greedy mind is one to learn, yet not teach
and a lazy mind is one to yearn, yet not reach." I must always adhere to this simple philosophy as I ascend to the higher plain.