Lesson 2: Service

When I was 15, I led my first service project. To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, I planned and led a team of scouts to refurbish a church food bank. This plan consisted of 10 pages detailing the budget, materials, and timeline for the new shelves the church asked for before I started. 

The first day the team arrived at the church, my scoutmaster pointed out that the foodbank needed more food and a paint job. This was not in my plan. However, his point was, “If you are going to help someone, then help them.” I accepted that service is more than following a plan; it means arriving at the need with compassion and patience. 

When I sit in the seat of a CEO, I must carry a mindset for service. Over these next 100 weeks, I can plan which classes to take in operations and management. I can plan how to develop relationships with investors. I can plan for the financial performance of the business I intend to acquire. However, there will be unexpected needs when I show up. The plan for the future will stand in tension with the needs of today. How will I balance them? A mindset for service. 

This week, I read an article entitled “The Future of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition” by Jeff Stevens and A.J. Wasserstein. I learned about the history of ETA and its future. They wrote, “In its genesis, ETA attracted entrepreneurs who yearned to build, lead, grow, and serve as CEOs.” They explain this requires a commitment to serving team members, customers, and communities connected to the company. 

My vision is to leverage my influence as a Black business leader to pursue economic justice. I am there to serve my teammates; not the other way around. My work as a CEO will be measured by how well I serve the needs of the people who work alongside me.

Service is Lesson 2. Next week, I will share Lesson 3: Empathy