lead by letting go

Some of the terms I feel best describe me are systems thinker, industry revolutionary, business concept innovator and data-based marketer. These descriptions are appropriate based on things I’ve been lucky to accomplish in my working life, but they don’t describe who I am.

A word I really like is maverick. I like this word because it accurately describes my natural way of being. I’m a maverick because I won’t accept the status quo if it’s possible to do better. This is true for me in both my personal and working relationships.

I once read a quote that went something like “All progress is made by unreasonable people.” I think it was George Bernard Shaw. When you look at the biggest obstacle that stands in the way of accomplishing anything it is the preconceived attitudes and thinking that people have about it. Labeling someone as “unreasonable” simply means that they don’t have a conventional view of things. But then, when did anyone with a conventional way of seeing the world do anything but keep things as they are?

What most people don’t understand is that all human progress is based on someone (read: an individual) saying no to what is, and persuading others to say yes to a vision of the future that is better for as many people as possible.

In many ways, the word maverick and entrepreneur are synonymous to me. An entrepreneur is also someone who won’t accept the status quo (it is not someone who’s made a lot of money quickly – there’s another word for that). Entrepreneurs exist in all walks of life, inside big companies and small ones, in our schools, in government, in churches and synagogues … everywhere.

Just because I’m unreasonable doesn’t mean I won’t listen and discuss. So weigh in, give me your two cents, spill your guts. Go on. What have you got to lose? Everyone’s preconceived notions and ideas can stand a little challenge every now and then. Mine too.

When I’m not out riding my bike, I have a gig as CEO of Kelemen & Co. – a firm I founded in 2008 to help companies continuously improve their marketing by focusing on the Customer and aligning their growth strategy to the market. We specialize in databased marketing and work through leading advertising, communications and marketing service providers throughout North America.

Read more about me on my LinkedIn profile.

My email address is gregkelemen at gmail dot com. My Skype ID is ‘gregkelemen.’