Page 80 - The Way to the Top

Gerald D. EDWARDS

President and CEO of Engineered Plastic Products, Inc.

It is natural to let our egos guide our business decisions. After all, as
entrepreneurs, we spend years fueling and feeding our egos with each
storm we weather and each setback we overcome. You count your exploits

and realize that your business has survived and flourished because of you:
your hard work, your intelligence, your powerful skills of negotiation, and
your acute business acumen.

Then one day you awaken to the realization that you have survived first
by the grace of God Almighty, and second with the help of talented,

dedicated employees. You need to downsize your ego.

In other words, put your egotistical thoughts on a diet. Only through
humble eyes can you see the world as it really is and savor the taste of
success. Humility will guide you to use the things you don’t know to your

advantage. You will begin to seek out the brightest and best talent you can
find without feeling threatened. You will begin to feel comfortable even if
you aren’t the smartest member of your management team. You will begin
to hire people that complement you by adopting this valuable philosophy:

show me a person smarter than me, and I’ll hire them.

Downsize your ego