Fire-Fighting—The Main Job of the CEO

by Joseph Mancuso, President, CEO Clubs, Inc.

I have the best job in the whole wide world. As the founder of the world's oldest and largest not-for-profit membership association for CEOs and entrepreneurs, I have been dealing with these unusual creatures for close to four decades. I like to joke that when I die and go to heaven (if you die first, please put in a good word for me), that I'll be given a softer job. I'll be in charge of a group of vice presidents in heaven. Sometimes that can sound very relaxing to me because CEOs sure are independent thinkers.

I can't be sure that I know more of those strange creatures than anybody in the world—but due to my unique position I personally know more of them than anybody I know, and I'm always mentioned on everybody's shortlist.

Of course, knowing so many CEOs and entrepreneurs (and a dime) will get you a cup of coffee. Big deal!

But because of that unique perspective, I've made a great discovery about them that I'm about to share with you. Are you ready?

Here goes: There exists a whole group of CEOs who respond to any request to attend a CEO Club event or a Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) Meeting, with the following quote: "I'm just too busy." For those who don't know, a PAC is not a political action committee, but more like a wolf pack. It's when about a dozen CEO Club members band together to form a mutual board of advisors for one another.

Why is the "I'm too busy" response so strange? Well, when I press them and I ask what is it about you that prevents you from coming at least once to see why so many of your peers are benefiting from the combined wisdom of the group? Could it be that all those other CEOs are nuts and you are the only genius? Or are you busy—real busy—because you are putting out fires? In fact, that's it!

Some very busy CEOs are so good at putting out fires that they outshine anyone in the company and all other CEOs combined. That is why I sell only two T-shirts for my two international associations—the Center for Entrepreneurial Management (CEM) and the Chief Executive Officer's Club (CEO):

1. "Ready! - Fire! - Aim!"

2. Front: "I am their leader!"; Back: "Where have they gone?"

They are very popular with CEOs good at putting-out fires—very, very popular.

These fire fighters just don't have the time to examine any other alternative than putting out fires faster and faster. They get so good at it, that some of them become world class.

They never think to ask themselves one big question. They may know the answer—but the sad part is, they are too good at putting out fires to have time to ask these questions—Who do you think is the real cause of all these fires? Do all CEOs spend every working moment putting out fires or are a few of them going to CEO Club meetings and PACs?

My secret rests in your style of leadership as a CEO and the answer to the question—Who do you think is causing all those fires?"

That answer lies within the story of two shepherds herding two separate flocks of sheep in the Middle East. One of the shepherds moved the sheep by staying in the middle of the flock while controlling the sheep with his staff. He kept control by hitting the sheep and nudging the stragglers toward the middle. When sheep wandered, he ran out and pulled them back into the flock. At the end of the day, this shepherd was sweaty and exhausted.

The other shepherd managed to stay about a half mile ahead of his sheep, and the flock learned the direction to travel by his familiar silhouette against the skyline. No sheep ever got lost or strayed too far because the leader always stayed in clear view of the flock. This leader is seldom tired or overworked at the end of the day.

Did you ever go to a health club and look around while you are jumping up and down? What do you see? Are the folks going to a health club fat or skinny? Does that surprise you?

During my last visit to the health club, I was suffering on the rowing machine, when I rested and observed that the person on the next machine over looked like a Greek god. And he wasn't resting! I couldn't help but think out loud: "Hell, if I looked like that I'd be home watching TV and having a beer."

Now for that big secret. Do you think the CEOs attending PACs and CEO Club meetings are "fat" or "skinny"? Isn't it strange that those people who need it the most are precisely the folks who are "too busy"? Causing fires is not easy work.

By the way, those T-shirts are only $10 each and are available in all sizes and many colors.

Call 212-633-0060 and you could have one tomorrow.