EO Detroit November Member Spotlight: A.C. Ganger, One.MD Owner

What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?

I know many successful entrepreneurs, and I don’t see a top 3 across any of them, including myself. I think it depends on your own natural abilities and limitations. Perhaps simply recognizing that is a skill. That said, I don’t know many successful entrepreneurs who are uncomfortable delegating. A third skill would be execution, efficiently and effectively.

How do you generate new ideas?

Recently I have gained a lot of new ideas and inspiration by attending events outside of my industry. I find it interesting to see what other businesses are preparing for, challenges they are facing and resources that they use.

Name one business failure and what have you learned from it?

A lot of my failures (and I have many) usually boil down to one reason – overpromising, underfunding, lack of attention, etc. Learn, and move on. I like to focus on learning from the big successes, because there is usually a lot more going on that worked well, and we try to bring that into our culture.

What is your greatest business fear, and how do you manage it?

I feel anxiety when I am being relied upon too much. That means I am not leading, coaching and delegating well. I feel most comfortable when I can be removed from the equation and still see progress.

How do you define success?

I take the number of hugs and kisses I get per day and divide that by the number of people I live with. A value of 2 or more is success. I just made that up. I haven’t defined success, but I want to be a good father and husband. The rest is sport.

What has been your most satisfying moment in business?

I started a business in college instead of going to medical school. I showed my parents my tax return after my first year. That was delicious.

What is one thing that no one knows about you?

Nice try.

Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?

I really like the Apple story. I’m interested to see what happens to them in coming years.

What is your favorite EO memory?

I have some great memories with my Forum, but those are forum confidential. My experience at EMP was and continues to be invaluable.

What is your favorite place in or thing about Detroit?

Detroit has a great personality outside of Michigan. I love talking to people who have never been here and hearing what they think about our city. We have an amazing history and future that I think is very unique when compared to other major cities.

In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.

3 a.m. For so many reasons.

 

Better Every Day

Each day, we should commit to making ourselves better. It’s what we call progress, moving forward and ultimately, making the world a better place. If we aren’t becoming better, we’re either standing still or moving backward. As business leaders and role models, it’s important to keep the momentum going, to encourage and to push through to make things happen.

Today, make something happen.

Whether  you are enlisting the resources of a vendor, motivating a team member or getting down in the thick of things and doing it yourself, work hard and keep moving. Don’t stop, because the momentum will stop with you.

If we become better every day, we are thereby making the lives of others around us every day. It is an opportunity we are given. Don’t miss out.

EO Detroit November Accelerator Spotlight: Adam Walsh, CFP

When did you join Accelerator?
February 2011

Tell us a little bit about your business.
I started my financial planning practice in 2004 as a way to help people. We have had rapid growth throughout some turbulent economic times since 2004. I have adding a business partner and four staff all while remaining focused on my original goal of helping people.

What has been your most beneficial takeaway from the Accelerator program?
The importance of spending time working ON my business, not just in my business. It is very easy to get caught up in the day-to-day activities and not pay attention to the company’s structure, culture and strategic opportunities. Accelerator helps me set time aside to work ON my business, which has resulted in an excellent company culture and everyone identifying and focusing their strengths.

Have you noticed forward progress in your business?
Our company has more than doubled our top line revenue since joining accelerator. We have also found our niche in working with companies to simplify and streamline their executive compensation and retirement benefits.

What were your biggest challenges and/or fears going into the program? How have you overcome those through the opportunities offered by Accelerator?
YES! When I joined accelerator I was everything for my company. Accelerator has helped me determine what I enjoy doing most in my business and to focus as much time on that as possible. It has also taught me how to hire and empower employees to help with the areas I prefer not to do.

What advice do you have for future Accelerators?
Don’t just show up. The more involved in Accelerator I become, the more I get out it. When I joined, it was difficult to find time to pull away from my company. After the first couple of sessions I realized that accelerator can help you grow your business exponentially and attending was actually the best use of my time.

What has been your favorite part about Accelerator to date?
The relationships! The people I have met and the discussions I have had have truly changed my company and my life for the better. This is the most engaging group of people I have ever met and the individuals care about you as a person and are there to help you with your struggles not just with a company but with life. I feel blessed to be part of such an amazing group of entrepreneurs!

Name: Adam Walsh, CFP®
Company Name: Michigan Financial Companies
Website: http://www.michfinancial.com
Phone: 248-663-4768

Registered Representative/ Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through Signator Investors, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Offering John Hancock Insurance Products. Michigan Financial Companies is an independent firm affiliated with John Hancock Financial Network. 28411 Northwestern Highway, Suite 1300, Southfield, MI 48034. (248) 663-4700. 225-20131029-162931

Give Thanks

November is always a month that reminds us to be thankful and to give thanks. While it becomes cliche with the posts of what we’re thankful for each day or the emphasis on the idea to express what we’re thankful for – but focusing it just on one day or month, it’s truly a mentality we should have year-round. Remember to give thanks this month, but do it throughout the year.

Giving of thanks is not just being thankful, but expressing it. As William Ward once said, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” Speak your thanks. As business owners in corporate America, stress can surround us. We feel it, and our employees feel it. There are so many hard-working individuals in each of our companies. It is imperative that they are shown thanks and gratitude. Take the time every day to thank your employees, team members, partners, co-workers or whomever you have the opportunity to thank in your daily business journeys. Tell them thank you for sharing your values, for working alongside of you, for building a better business with you.

Thank them for spending hours of their day helping to bring to fruition the dreams that you once had. Even if you don’t have the time to go around and personally thank each person who works with you, share gratitude when you pass by them in the hall or thank them as they walk out the door for their work for the day. A little thanks goes a very, very long way.

So, absolutely, be thankful on Thanksgiving Day. We all have blessings to be thankful for – family, friends, loved ones, business opportunities, shelter, food and many more things. But also be thankful throughout this month and the year, and show your thanks. Express your thanks. Let the people around you know that they are appreciated. The gratitude will come back to you one hundred-fold.