You’re the CEO, so you think you know more about the business than anyone and for the things you don’t know – you’ll figure it out along the way. After all, you’ve got a business to run, so you have to move quickly and aggressively. Not quite actually.

“It is a blessing to acknowledge when you come across something you donโ€™t know.”ย 

One of the most important lessons I learned at my company was that it is a blessing to acknowledge when you come across something you donโ€™t know, not a curse. When you first start, you think if you donโ€™t know something or the company canโ€™t do something, it is a flaw. Itโ€™s quite the contrary. Itโ€™s critical that you understand, recognize, acknowledge and embrace your flaws and the companyโ€™s shortcomings. This is counterintuitive. Entrepreneurs are driven, intelligent and confident. Not knowing something seems like a sign of weakness. Itโ€™s the opposite.

Humility is a trait of strong leadersโ€”the type of leaders employees want to work for and investors want to fund. One of the most important days in the history of my company was when I realized being a CEO was a skill that needed to be developed with the same perseverance, ferocity and willingness to learn that athletes apply to their training. It was no different than ballet or working on your golf game. This is one of those skills that must be genuinely developed. Once you embrace this as an opportunity, you wonโ€™t be wasting time criticizing yourself for a lack of knowledge, and instead will embrace the opportunity to learn and grow.

Follow Us on Social Media

Join The Learning Community

Where do you turn for answers? Our Learning Community gives you a one-stop shop for answers. 150 learning modules organized into the 12 areas you need to know.ย  We entrepreneurs can’t afford to waste time and money – and we help you learn in one place to help you avoid mistakes and drive success.