Jeff Prouty

38 Years. 12 Nuggets. Endless Lessons.

by Jeff Prouty

As we head into our 39th year in business, and our 26th annual STRETCH Expedition, I thought it would be fun to reflect on all the people we have seen in action and some of the quotable quotes, and memorable moments, along the way.

In no particular order, edited for brevity and clarity, enjoy 12 nuggets I picked out:
 
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  1. “Never hire a VP of Sales who smokes a pipe and enjoys fishing.” Client CEO who shall remain anonymous. Just felt that anyone who smokes a pipe and enjoys fishing lacks the “killer instinct” to be successful.
  2. “The busier I get, the more I need to workout.” Ron Stark, President of Airgas North Central. A good reminder to all of us to not forego our workouts. Resilience is key.
  3. “Encourage is the most important word in the English language. Give courage.” Our good friend, and co-founder of No Barriers, Erik Weihenmayer, shared this with us. It’s wonderful advice for a business leader, a spouse, a parent, and a friend.

    4. Photos of Erik Weihenmayer, Jeff Prouty, and John O'Leary

  4. “I love you and there is nothing you can do about it.” From John O’Leary’s recently released movie, Soul On Fire.  It’s the only film Mary and I have ever invested in, and I truly believe it has the power to change the world. It’s now available on Amazon, so watch it and let us know what you think.
  5. “Short notes yield long results.” I featured Harvey Mackay, CEO of Mackay Envelope, in one of our early newsletters, and I love this line from Harvey. Whether you elicit a smile or a new piece of business, all good.
  6. “If the economics are right, the politics and peace will take care of themselves.” Mikhail Gorbachev said this, and we have used this “concept” with many professional services firm partnerships over the years.
  7. “Everybody is either a client or a potential referral source.” Gene Friedman, Vice Chairman, Coopers & Lybrand. I heard Gene speak when I was a young professional in New York City. Over four decades, we’ve had wonderful referrals from CEOs, receptionists, college students, etc. etc. etc. Treat everyone with dignity and respect.
  8. “Water is the medicine of the mountain.” Benhadad Maliti, our guide on our first STRETCH Expedition to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro (1999), 19,340-foot summit. Stay hydrated, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water every step of the way.

    9. Photos of Mt. Kilimanjaro hiking group

  9. “Give where there is pain.” Byron Wien, recently deceased Vice Chairman of Blackstone. I’ve shared one of his articles more than anything else over the past four decades. Byron reminded us that we should dig deeper, show up more, especially when someone is carrying real pain.
  10. “The money is made not in the buying or selling, but in the waiting.” Charlie Munger, recently deceased Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. I always enjoyed seeing Charlie in action at the Berkshire shareholder meetings. His witty candor was unmistakable.
  11. “TV BIKES.” My take on an article that appeared in FORTUNE magazine in 1987: “The Seven Keys of Business Leadership.” I think they’re just as relevant today as they were four decades ago: Trust. Vision. Be an expert. Invite dissent. Keep your cool. Encourage risk-taking. Simplify.
  12. “What are you doing for fun?” This client CEO always greeted me with this question. Or, as Anne Bancroft says, “What are you doing that makes your heart pound a
    little faster?”

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Cheers to a wonderful 2026 for all of us, and we look forward to seeing you soon. The Creative Think Tank, Strategic Leadership Lab, and Steinway Studio, all await.
 
Come visit soon,
 
Jeff

 
 
 
 

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