Gold before glory

Is there really more profit in the spotlight?

You wouldn’t pick your average real world CEO out in a crowd. They look normal, they dress normal, their car is good but not too flash and they may even live in the same house they have for years.

This is in total contrast with high profile CEOs from listed companies or the popular media image of exceedingly well groomed individuals driving only the best cars and deporting themselves with an over developed sense of self-entitlement.

Good profits are often found in mundane things. You supply something the market needs and as you grow you pick up more customers and reduce your unit costs on the way, with an odd acquisition here and there and suddenly you are doing well.

You won’t find a lot of these CEOs in the media. At best you might find their name mentioned on the company website, but that’s it. They likely fulfil their needs for a sense of purpose and satisfaction through their quiet achievements.

If your desires also include public recognition of your success then this is good too. For some businesses it makes sense to have a high public profile – even for the CEO. This may be for branding or marketing purposes.

However, I am talking about you and your preferences. Take a step back from what you are doing and ask yourself if you are taking on challenges to test yourself and show that you can still deliver the goods. That is, are you seeking to affirm your own worth by still doing all the work – going for the glory.

It is always good to ask if there is something you can do with a product or service that allows your company to deliver a consistent profitable service that doesn’t require such a commitment to hectic schedules or proving personal worth. In other words, is there an opportunity to go for the gold without the glory?