day basis , that they make a difference in the big picture at Heart of America Group . That engenders engagement . Engagement yields excellence .
Where is the best place to prepare for leadership : an MBA school or OTJ ? To be a good leader you need foundations in business and accounting , but this can be learned through an MBA or on the job . The most important thing is to understand what numbers you have to reach to achieve success , and how to go about achieving those numbers . MBAs can focus too much on numbers , and not enough on how to assess what makes a business successful and what opportunities to pursue . People need an educational foundation but need to apprentice to become a leader themselves .
Are tough decisions best taken by one person ? How do you make tough decisions ? We have an open culture , where decisions are made by debating . I believe in the Socratic Method . Perhaps this stems from my days at Harvard Law . We encourage people to ask questions , and to argue and discuss the answers . That open debating always yields a better decision than what I would determine on my own .
Do you want to be liked or respected ? Are they mutually exclusive ? I don ’ t think so .
Advice to CEO wannabes : I ’ m not a patient person , I ’ m a persistent person . I ’ d be a liar to tell you that most things move too slowly for me . To those aspiring CEOs , persistence pays off .
Management
Describe your management style : I realized one day when we were about to open one of the hotels that it ’ s like my big train set , but I get to pick a whole bunch of people to play with .
What does your management team look like ? We have a very collaborative but debating environment . I ’ m fortunate to have a creative and talented management team , and that means you ’ d better have them in the process . I encourage my team to bring their own ideas to the table .
How does your management team help you lead ? While I like getting involved in the details , I don ’ t micromanage . Instead , I try to breed a sense of adventure and entrepreneurial spirit among the ranks . ceoprofile
Favorite management gurus : Do you read management books ? I have two books that drive my management style . Good to Great by Jim Collins , which stresses that “ good ” is the enemy of “ great .” Simple concept , but most businesses don ’ t get it . Also , The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard for the simple reason that if you help people understand their role and its importance , and if you explain to them the “ whys ,” they will work harder . Everyone wants to be a champion .
What makes you say , “ Yes , now that ’ s why I do what I do !”? We don ’ t crank out prototype , cookie-cutter things . At this stage in our business careers , we ’ re trying to do something that we think is cool . They ’ re kind of like toy sets to us — big toy sets .
Personal
What time do you like to be at your desk ? My morning doesn ’ t start at my desk . With today ’ s technology you can work from anywhere .
Do you socialize with your team after work / outside the office ? Yes , especially those who have worked with me a long time , as they have become friends .
Last two books read : The Hundred-Year Marathon by Michael Pillsbury and In Trump We Trust by Ann Coulter .
What technology do you take on the road ? iPhone and iPad .
How do you relax / balance life and work ? I spend weekends flipping through trade magazines and surfing the web for food , fixtures , furniture , and construction ideas . When I travel , I ’ ll tour a few hotels and restaurants to get ideas . If I spot an interesting bathroom sink or a nice couch , I take note . It ’ s not that uncommon for me to flip over a piece of furniture to see where it was made . My life is integrated , not siloed .
Favorite vacation destinations : We have two vacation homes we like to visit , one on the lakefront in northern Wisconsin , the other in North Palm Beach .
Favorite occasions to send employees notes : When they have done something extraordinary .
Favorite company product / service : Our company reflects how my brain thinks : I need many moving parts or I would get bored . Strategically it may be confusing to others , but I can ’ t imagine it any other way .
Bottom Line
What are your long-term goals for the company ? The train set I get to play with here is the coolest , most dynamic , most talented train set I ’ ve ever had . We have the best products and the best leaders throughout Heart of America that we have ever enjoyed . And we have the financial resources to make it happen . Why quit playing ? Some peoples ’ vision is to retire and play golf . My vision is to continue to expand the Johnny ’ s Italian Steakhouse brand and to build really cool hotels in Fort Worth , Madison , Moline , and Des Moines . The list keeps growing .
How has the economy changed your goals for your company ? “ Damn the torpedoes , full speed ahead !” I bristle when I hear the “ new normal .” Business has never been easy .
Where can capital be found these days ? I have never seen so many banks eager to lend money for “ good ” projects . Years ago , I was turned down by 27 banks on one project . Now the banks are calling us .
How do you measure success ? You ’ re either growing or dying , there ’ s no status quo .
What has been your greatest success ? Making it through the first year . We opened our first restaurant during the hard winter of 1978 and 1979 . It snowed every Friday , and in the restaurant business Friday snow is way worse than Monday snow . We barely made it through , but we did , and we are stronger for it .
Any regrets ? Of course , only an unthinking person would not . But I don ’ t dwell on them . I think about where we are going , not where we have been .
What can we expect from your company in the next 12 to 18 months ? Ten years ago , we were doing one project at a time and our development arm could afford to be less sophisticated . Now , however , we have more than $ 100 million in development at any given time , and we have to treat it in a more sophisticated manner . We will continue to focus on better technology and logistics to ensure our “ Delta Force ” has all the ammunition it needs . n
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