THE CEO

Being the CEO, the Chief Executive Officer, is a title that many business people aspire to achieve.  It represents the pinnacle of success, where YOU are the one calling the shots.  You have absolute POWER.  You set the direction, you determine the strategy.  You motivate.  You inspire.  It's The Kwon: love, respect, community and the dollars, too!

We imagine that being the CEO is the easiest job in the world.  In complete control, everyone does whatever we ask, and would do anything to get our approval and recognition.  The CEO flies in a private jet, dines in Michelin-starred restaurants, wears $10,000 suits and drinks Cristal like Perrier.  The CEO has "big conversations" on the golf course with other CEOs at the "Successful People Country Club" where everyone nods approval at every lifestyle choice.

Well, there's some good news and some bad news.

First, the bad news.  Being CEO is probably the toughest job there is.  The CEO is the public face of the company.  The one to blame for every wrongdoing.  Rather than being in absolute control, the CEO is beholden to the board of directors, who (should), in relentless pursuit of goals that magnify shareholder value and returns, drive the CEO to seek greater and greater achievement for the company.  The CEO is under the microscope constantly, his/her every move is scrutinized by the board, the employees, their peers/competitors, their customers and the media.  For listed companies, the brutal truth is reflected daily in the swings of their stock price (or their cost of borrowing/issuing bonds) and is seen and analyzed by millions.  Sure, there can be a lot of money involved, but many companies also explicitly or implicitly require the CEO to tie his/her personal fortune to the company's success - meaning failure can lead to financial as well as reputational ruin.

Most people experience a majority of their stress from their job.  In the case of the CEO, this is magnified to almost intolerable levels.  It's certainly a 24/7/365 commitment that is not to be undertaken lightly.  Most of us are afraid of the big risk of (public) failure that comes with being a CEO.  We think we could do better (maybe we could) but we are afraid to try.  In the end, most of us end our careers without ever knowing the answer.

CEOs are reliant on strong management teams that help refine and execute the strategy, since delivery is the key to results.  Good CEOs are careful not to just pick "Yes Men" but to surround themselves with ethical, critical thinkers that can add value to the vision, help identify strategic opportunity, and embody the corporate culture.  In business, like attracts like, and CEOs often develop management teams that embody both the best and worst of their own dynamic personalities.  Good CEOs have some important attributes.  Here's a simple list... Here's another.

The Good News.  We ARE the CEO of our own life (and we can never be fired!).

As CEO, like the picture shows, we have authority to make key decisions.  We also have the authority to hire, fire and promote our personal "management team" which are the cast that support us in realizing our visions and goals.  In context, it means that we have the authority, nay the RESPONSIBILITY, to surround ourselves with positive people that encourage our growth and achievement rather than negative people who constantly bring us down and limit our progress.  We can and must shuffle as needed to create and maintain the best mix of people in our circles.  When we treat those around us poorly, we can expect them to "quit" or at least to stop being invested in our success.

Like attracts like, so as good CEOs, we must keep ourselves energized and hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards so we can attract others who will do the same.  We must remain fully invested in our own outcomes, which forces us to take responsibility for refining our vision and executing against it.  CEOs are stewards of their corporate culture, and likewise we are stewards of our personal "brand" and what that will mean to those around us.  This underscores why integrity is so important for success.  Good CEOs are both mentors to others and are mentored by others, always open and willing to learn and get advice from anyone who can give productive insight.

In my case, I have been very fortunate to have a team of instructors with tremendous caliber personally and professionally.  In addition to being excellent martial artists and instructors, they are extraordinary people.  Each one has faced and overcome many challenges to drive their lives forward.  They motivate and inspire me, and are never afraid to call me out when I make mistakes.  We could never have the elite community in KM Japan that we have without their support.  I am blessed and filled with gratitude.  I'm lucky, and so are our KM Japan students.

I like the idea of running my life like a CEO.  It forces me to have a mission statement, a brand and a strategy.  It forces me to think about my values and beliefs and to make deliberate plans to execute and deliver on my life objectives.  It helps me remember to seek out contributors and service my ecosystem - the many people who are in my extended network and who care about me.  It keeps me focused on my customers --- MY STUDENTS and how to do the best for them every day.

I encourage you to become the CEO of your own life - it will be the best "job" you ever have!