Entrepreneur and leader do not necessarily fit
together. We have all seen bad examples
of both. Dave Ramsey, one of America’s best loved financial counselors, welds
the two concepts together in his book EntreLeadership.
The book showcases many of the solid financial concepts
that he talks about in his nationwide radio show. Far from picturing himself as a person with
all the answers, he sites a number of examples of where he “blew it,” but
learned a valuable lesson.
People familiar with his other books, The Total Money Makeover and Financial Peace, will recognize his down-to-earth
concepts in action.
Unlike his other books, however, these concepts are fleshed out in the story of growing his operation into a multi-million dollar business.
I especially enjoyed him recounting some of his mistakes
that turned into life lessons, including one that he made during his early days
as a real estate sales person. You can’t
judge a customer by what they wear or by the size of the diamond on his wife's finger! Also, his company learned a
painful lesson when it was sued by Space Camp.
The principles Ramsey lays out come from his hard-earned
experience having become a millionaire, then losing it all and having to
declare bankruptcy. Those personal
lessons are applied to his business with solid, steady growth.
Ramsey gives one principle that seems quaint. “On big business decisions, be sure
to include your wife in the process,” he says.
Several examples showcased how his non-business trained wife had
provided some insights. “Also she can spot a crook from a mile off.”
Readers of Ramsey’s books will be
familiar with his style and wisdom such as, “Goals are visions and dreams with work clothes on.”
His images and life lessons have a ring of
authenticity. “Money is active. It is like a beautiful thoroughbred horse –
very powerful and always in action, but unless this horse is trained when it is
very young, it will be an out of control and dangerous animal when it grows to
maturity. You must gain control over your money or the lack of it will forever
control you.” He closes with some thoughts about people who want to become EntreLeaders and build a great company. “Develop a generous spirit toward your team in general,” he writes. “ Not a spirit that tolerates or overpays underperforming people, but be generous to the people who cause you to win. Realize your team is your secret weapon.”
