The Midas Touch

By Gabrielle Ferguson

It’s a new year! What better time than this to reflect on successes and mistakes of the past year and launch improvements. One lesson I learned many years ago is this:

If you want to excel in something, find someone who already does and ask them how they do it. 

Recently I sat down with Joe Haasen, CEO of Blue-Con Construction, a multi-million dollar excavation company in London, Ontario, and asked him for his secret to success.  Here are his ten tips.

1. Be able to take a risk.

This is number one! Don’t be afraid; be knowledgeable. Take a deep breath and leap but only for things you thoroughly understand.  Plus, by the time you’ve done the required extensive research, the risk is greatly minimized.

2. Surround yourself with great people.

Can you detect passion in people? This will make you successful. Your people will make or break you. Then, similar to a coach, once you’ve discerned the strengths of each person you hire, do everything you can to foster and grow them.

3. Know your industry.

If you know nothing about cooking food, for heaven’s sake, don’t open a restaurant. Know your market otherwise your business will be belly up in no time. Having a dream doesn’t excuse you from the hard-slugging preamble.

4. Get up early.

Your sharpest hours are the ones before noon. Rolling out of bed at 10:00 a.m. isn’t going to set you ahead of the pack.

5. Use common sense and creativity. 

It isn’t all about book smarts. Conceiving brand new ideas requires a delicate balance of creativity and common sense. If it’s in a book it’s been done before which, by extension, often leads to humdrum-already-been-done ideas. 

6. Stop feeling sorry for yourself.

Dust yourself off after a setback. Such a crucial life skill! Get up, stand up straight and move forward. Don’t wallow! No one ever said this was going to be easy. Or smooth.

7. Be okay starting at the bottom rung.

Don’t expect to start at the top. In fact, it can be to your disadvantage if you do. Working your way up the ladder affords you vital insight into what those people encounter day in, day out. You may think you appreciate their struggles but without firsthand experience, it’s only imagination, not genuine knowledge.

8. Don’t put on a show.

If you don’t have the money to back it, don’t pay for it. Flashing gifts and goods around when your bank account is in the red is worse than futile; it’s financial suicide.  You can act the big player but eventually the truth will surface and it has a harsh bite.

9. Treat your people fairly.

Being miserly will cost you in the way of talent. Money is easier to replace than exceptional staff.  You don’t have to be extravagant but you do have to be fair.

10. Believe in yourself.

Every person has something to offer the world that is unique to them. If you’ve done your research, if you’ve got the passion and drive, if you’re willing to start low and aim high, then believe you can make it.