Passing the Baton: Your Place in the Business
Passing the Baton features a series of “letters” sent from Terry Corman, outgoing CEO of Firehouse Image Center (Indianapolis, Indiana) to his son, Ted Corman, who will be leading the business into its future. This series of communiques offers thoughtful views of a business undergoing generational transition, glimpses of the company’s history, and strong views to the realities of leadership.
Your Place in the Business
"It doesn’t matter who owns a business. What matters is who runs it and why — why being the biggest factor. The ‘why’ cannot be about the owner or the CEO. The ‘why’ has to serve every employee.
"I never felt as though people ‘worked for me’. I was an employee just like everyone else. We all simply worked together, trying to do our best. We work with some terrific people, and 35 years proves how smart and hardworking they were and are.
"That said, your job will sometimes be the most difficult job of all, and no one will know — or thank you — for those hard decisions or the personal financial risks.
"Don’t complain either — other employees have problems, too. Run your race, carry the baton to your finish line. Thanks for taking the hand off from me."
