You are not a CEO, yet…
I mean, yes, you have the title, yes you have made the revenue, and even solid profits…
but do you have the skillsets required to be considered a perennial CEO or executive, would another company hire you as a C-Suite Talent or would they offer you a director or mid management role?"
This was the question I asked myself years ago. If making money was the standard, then yes, but if business execution was the standard, then the answer would be no.
I was just a glorified sales manager who also happened to be the owner of the company.
Were we doing millions a year in revenue? Yes.
Did everyone see me as a big "boss, CEO"? Yes.
Did I receive awards and get interview and article requests? Yes.
But when I measured my business management skills and abilities against those I'd call the business executive Pro list of turnaround CEOs and business executives, I honestly couldn't keep up if I tried.
In their world, I would have been nothing more than a director or senior manager. It hurt to face the truth, but the reality was stark when I looked at my list of executives I looked up to and stalked their every move.
Interestingly, none of them founded the company they were CEOs of, but they are what I would call business superstars—like John Legere, Alan Mulally Lou Gerstner, Mary Barra Satya Nadella , Lisa Su, Hubert Joly, Ed Breen, and many others who have demonstrated exceptional skill in navigating companies through tumultuous times to emerge stronger.
These leaders didn’t just race for a title; they mastered the untold art of operational excellence. They understood that being a CEO isn't about occupying a position; it's about demonstrating a depth of expertise that goes beyond the surface of business acumen.
It's about orchestrating strategic breakthroughs, engineering resilience, leveraging market dynamics, and above all, embodying visionary leadership that transforms challenges into opportunities for growth.
The real journey to becoming a Big League CEO involves an unwavering focus on both operational excellence and meteoric strategic growth. It's about becoming a masterful business executive who knows how to efficiently run the engine of their organization, optimize resources, and navigate the complex operational challenges that come with scale.
Aspiring and upcoming business leaders must shift their ambition from acquiring titles to cultivating the depth of expertise that defines true leadership.
The path to becoming a Big League CEO is paved with the mastery of operations, where every decision is informed by a deep understanding of how to not just survive but thrive on a grand stage.
Let's redefine success in leadership. It's not about the fastest sprint to the CEO chair; it's about the disciplined journey of operational mastery that prepares you for the weight and responsibility that come with the title.
Are you ready to master the untold art of becoming a true top level business executive?
Founder Quintuple Aim Solutions | ex DispatchHealth | ex Optum
2moLove the article! Can't help but to wonder how much the success of the Chief Commercialization Officer also depends on their infrastructure, the sellability of their product, dynamic landscape they sell into, and clinical executive support.