An A-Player Story

Life was an interesting time in 2013. We just had our second child, the business I was currently in, Printing Solutions, was in its 3rd year in business. Even though I was in my 6th or 7th year as a business owner, I would consider myself still green or a novice.

Printing Solutions was my second business and we had just made the shift from doing a large majority of our own printing in house, to outsourcing to local printers who had more capabilities, more experience, and plenty of capacity.

At that time, we had also just bought our first building and we were just starting the remodel which always takes much longer than anticipated. At one point we were all working in the conference room together -- coffee machine, microwave, toaster oven, multiple phones and computers all making their noise at all the wrong times.

It was a time when it was frustrating at the moment, but also one of the most bonding times we had in the company. I was investing heavily in the culture, the creative space, and most of all -- the people.

Enter Matthew. A young man who was facing his own challenges in life and eager to get out of the corporate world ASAP. He did not have any skills related to printing, design, or marketing. What he did have was the gift of gab, a positive attitude, a willingness to work hard, and a desire to learn.

As we evolved our core values, created meeting rhythms, got comfortable with debating as a team and clear about where we wanted to go, things really started to take off.

Matthew was a sponge for information. He would research and find tools or resources to improve our customer experience. He would collaborate with the rest of the team on how to achieve the goals we set. He would challenge the team and myself if something was out of alignment. He would make customers feel at ease, connecting with them on a personal level.

We worked and relied on deadlines heavily. There were many times Matthew would have to leave to get jobs after hours and early mornings. It was ingrained in him that we get the job done. We MUST deliver on our promise.

Over the next 3-4 years, Matthew became our Sr. Project Manager and a clear leader on the team. He was inclusive and collaborative. With Matthew and the rest of the team, we built something very special. It's the one thing I truly missed when I sold the company in 2016. Matthew stayed on with the new company owner for a while but has since transitioned.

Recently I received a letter from Matthew -- 9 years after I first hired him. He had left for Chicago with his family. He expressed his gratitude for the experience at Printing Solutions and the knowledge and mentorship I provided him. It was one of the most humbling and rewarding notes I've received. He's making at least double in salary from what he was making with us because he continues to grow and evolve his skills and value.

There are others like Matthew, other A players.

Why?

Because A-Players attract A-Players. I'm grateful to these people who I've had the honor of employing and the tremendous value they have provided over the years.

It's never a waste of time to invest in people. In fact, it's the only way to truly create something meaningful.?