Become the CEO Across the Street

I don’t remember why Jim Porter told me this story, but I’m sure glad he did. Jim was my mentor when I first became a general manager. I reported to him, and I can honestly say, he taught me something every time I met with him.Here’s what he said.He knew a CEO who rented an office across the street from his office. The rented office had a clear view of his actual office.[Tweet "It is so easy for me to get comfortable with the way things are going."]He would set aside a couple hours per week to sit in his rented office. He would look into his office across the street and ask, “If I were that CEO, what would I do?”It is so easy for me to get comfortable with the way things are going. Especially if they are going well. Through this little anecdote, Jim showed me how important it is to get outside my office. To get away from my people. To get outside of my position. To get outside of myself.I used to do this once per week. It gave me a chance to think like the CEO who just took over the business. No ownership in any of the strategies, people or markets. I simply would ask myself the question: What would I do to make that business thrive?As startup entrepreneurs, we are never short on ideas. When we look at another person’s business, we quickly see the problems. We know exactly what we would do to make the company successful.Here’s your chance. Do it for your business!