Farming and Business. Playing the Long Game.

#legacy #hiringandpromotion #PressOn!

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson.

How this applies to farming is obvious; to business maybe a little less so. While it’s true we need to plant seeds to see a harvest – these could be literal ones set deep in the ground, or individual steps taken to develop a professional network, high-performing team, or viable business model. In my experience, strategic, long-term vision is the most difficult to cultivate.

Fortunately, I had a few Air Force leaders that forever impacted my thinking on strategic perspective. One officer, a mentor of mine, Col. Bill Caffall, taught me how to pick an objective and stay true to it; to refrain from making a multitude of changes along the way. He helped me see that perpetually tweaking plans drove outcomes much like a poor lawn-mowing job that never held a straight line! His mentorship encouraged me to believe that my legacy wasn’t the result of the next inspection or evaluation, rather it would be the junior men and women under my command growing to senior rank, making wise decisions based on core values.

Tom Moorman role modeled the behavior of congeniality. He was inclusive, respectful, and practiced what he called “the conservation of enemies.” Meaning, make as few enemies as possible while not compromising your integrity or objective. Role models, such as Col. Bill Caffall and Gen. Tom Moorman were more than just commanders, they were diligent stewards of our nation’s finest resource – our people.

ATLAS is still a young company, albeit lead by seasoned professionals. We hold a long view on the space data market. Technology advances will continue to bring satellite derived data to more users globally. Being nimble and pivoting when appropriate is critical for a company to keep its feet and survive growth challenges. That doesn’t undermine the importance of a strategic view, however. At ATLAS, our people are our future. Our strategic objectives, core values, and mutual respect are fundamental to our success. We employ a combination of formal training, mentoring, and socializing to nurture the team. We take a long view, not just in our business goals, but in our human capital. We know that success takes tenacity and diligence. We value and enjoy the good work of nurturing our people. We learn from each other, challenge and value each other. Our legacy is yet to be determined, but I am confident it will manifest itself in a successful company, with satisfied customers and a vibrant crop of new leaders.