Joe had raised $150 million to launch his own telecommunications company before the telecom nuclear winter of the early 2000’s. He is a hands-on Managing Director who pushes people to perform. We constantly kicked start-up ideas back and forth. He made sure I played an active role in every stage of the M&A deal process. My first day on the job, Joe summoned me into his office. “Stephen, what is the difference between accuracy and precision?” As a military academy graduate, he did what came natural: Joe sketched a bullseye on a sheet of paper, proceeded to tell me that he can disassemble a standard military-issue hand-gun in 30+ seconds, and explained his expectations for me amidst drawing a distribution of simulated bullet holes around the target. Interacting with C-level executives was a bit unnerving at first, but I internalized Joe’s points about precision and accuracy and took ownership of my work. With experience comes confidence and it wasn’t long before I had the opportunity to serve as the main point of contact with many of our clients.
Whether we were in the thick of tense tactical negotiations in a merger or raising $30 million of expansion capital for a company, Joe taught me how to stress test financial models, flesh out memoranda and business plans, strategically build a business, and most importantly, to read people based on their incentives and motivations. We provided advisory services for some of the country’s leading entrepreneurs. Here I honed my ability to ask pointed questions, crunch numbers, and keep our clients mission-focused. I made less money than a teacher (per hour), but the early mornings and long nights were well worth it. Joe continues to be a friend and mentor. He now sits on several public company boards and will likely take an executive leadership role with a large company in the near future.
Tom is an Operating Partner at a private equity firm that invests in distressed companies (”I catch falling knives.”), as well as an entrepreneur. His Special Operations Delta Force Marine (he is unable to go into any level of detail re: specifics) background epitomizes his focus and determination. He makes hearts beat out of peoples chests (and not in the teeny-bopper boy band way, though he bares a slight resemblance Donnie Wahlberg from New Kids On The Block) with a stare that can only be likened to Chuck Norris…when Chuck is pissed. Without knowing this man, my next comment may sound ridiculous: In stressful situations, I have asked myself WWTD (“What Would Tom Do”). After my first instinct passes–driving my forehead into something/someone–I opt for the next, often much more rational, decision. The volume of knowledge Tom crammed into my skull while working together was astounding. Simply observing Tom in action was like absorbing a tsunami through osmosis (imagine the size of the sponge). His each move is carefully calibrated, crafted around calculated risks and a healthy fear of complacency and inaction. His 90-day turnaround plans read like mission-critical battle strategies sent from angels of commerce. Every contingency is ALWAYS covered, always. No surprises. Tom hates surprises (Sidestory: When Tom’s wife tried to throw him a surprise Birthday party, he intercepted the invitations and re-sent out invitations — perfectly forging his wife’s signature – to every guest asking that they stay home for his birthday celebration. It happened to fall on the eve of December 24th. That night Tom and some of his Marine buddies secured a Blackhawk chopper and delivered presents to the entire Judeo-Christian and Muslim worlds. Yes, everyone was invited to Tom’s Birthday Gala.).
Though we innately have very different management styles, it is clear Tom is an action-oriented visionary with the ability to implement seemingly impossible objectives. He is a true leader—someone you would proudly follow into proverbial (or otherwise) war. His personal creed to which he lives life: “There are two seat options on the Tom train—on it or under it.”
We all have mentors in our lives. How does someone become a mentor? Joe and Tom never made me feel like I worked FOR them, rather I always worked WITH them. Their advice is at the helm of my mind, almost like a phantom consultant perpetually pushing me to execute, focus, work with precision and accuracy, and build the most progressive and mission-driven company possible. Many other mentors on my phantom start-up team play pivotal roles–Carla, John, Josh, and my family and friends (of course). Who is on your phantom team? The take-home is this: Recognize the people who made you who you were, make you who you are, and will make you who you will become.
~Stephen
CEO and Founder
Young Impact
