Raul Nazario was interviewed by Authority Magazine as a part of their series called ‘Five Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became A CEO’
Read it below:
Success leaves clues — When we look at successful companies, people or activities, there is always a lesson to learn. Focusing on the causes of what made them successful is important. Usually, you can integrate what you find into your own life/business/product. Find the parts that make sense to integrate and integrate them. This is why the importance of a good mentor cannot be overstated. Also don’t deny good advice. I allowed my own hubris to drive a lot of bad decisions when I first started. This caused a lot of headaches that could have been avoided. Lastly, you can learn as much from someone else’s failures than you can from their successes. Sometimes we hyper focus on what was successful but don’t revisit our failures nor learn from the failures of others.
Raul Nazario is the founder and CEO of SharpShell Digital, an agency with a mission to empower businesses by unlocking the full potential of digital marketing and automation. With a wealth of experience, Raul strives to be more than just a service provider; he aims to be a growth partner that brings a personal touch to every strategy.
Do you think everyone is cut out to be an executive? In your opinion, which specific traits increase the likelihood that a person will be a successful executive and what type of person should avoid aspiring to be an executive? Can you explain what you mean?
Is everyone cut out to be an executive? Of course not. I would argue depending on who you are, it isn’t even desirable. Too many people focus on getting as far up the latter as possible without considering what would bring them the most joy. There is a specific temperament that is required to be effective as an executive and it’s the willingness to accept new input and course correct. This is true for product development as it is for people development. Being able to take in new feedback, whether personal as a leader or data driven for the business is ultimately a superpower every effective executive I have ever met has — this along with self-awareness, openness and sincerity in communication.
Here is the primary question of our interview. What are your “Five Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became A CEO” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)