Who is your “business spirit?”

Some folks call them mentors or coaches or teachers.  They are the people that clearly influence their business style and drive.  People claim to have many, but usually there is that one person that is your “spirit,” the person who you talk to every day whether in person, on the phone or in your mind.  The person who helps you make the final decision on growth or direction based on the conversation you just has with them or the conversation you have with them over and over again.

For me, that person is my father.  Mel owned a successful Mom and Pop furniture store for about four decades and was able to thrive in that business as his competition was run out of town by the larger chains.  He is the type of person who plays devil’s advocate just to make you think, not because he necessarily disagrees with you.  From him I have learned to:

• Know my customer and create long-lasting relationships with them.
• Spend money only on the important things.
• Surround myself with people who are smarter than I am, so I will appear to be smarter than I am.
• Be conservative and smart about growth.
• NEVER STOP GOING AFTER NEW BUSINESS (In caps intentionally).

This post is for about him and for him as he has been struggling with his health recently.  I have been thinking a lot about him and our talks about business and life.  I know, no matter what happens in the coming days and weeks, he will continue to influence our business (Josh, my business partner has already be subjected to this), since our business conversations, while frequent, always tend to focus on the themes above.  They are to an extent the foundation on which we built The Hodges Partnership. 

So in his honor, I ask you who is your “business spirit?”  And if you would please share a story or two about them.