Dave Rouse, CEO & Professional Director, Talks Worst Mistakes
If you didn’t need money, what would you do?
I’d help to solve some of the environmental problems we face thanks largely to consumerism – pollution & climate change, single use plastics, and I’d focus on circular economy development. I’m lucky enough that, aside from lobbying efforts in these spaces, I’m a founding Trustee of the SeaCleaners Trust charity, and a founder of CarbonClick – which address the first two categories anyway. If I had an unlimited pot of gold, the only thing I would change would be to scale these entities faster.
What is the worst mistake you’ve made and how did you fix it?
The worst mistake I made was underestimating the power of an ego. I thought through DISC profile and psychometric testing, I could predict how a key leader of an organisation would perform as we drove the business plan. I failed to see what motivated this person, and to respect that it wasn’t actually business success or money, it was ego.
If I played to that persons ego correctly, I would have avoided two years of tearing my hair out and well into the millions lost, between funding and sweat equity. That person refused to support the repositioning of their role to allow a C-level to come over the top, so we burned so much cash during the transition phase that it all but wiped the business out and lost all of the momentum. I certainly learned an expensive lesson there.
What is your advice for people to fund their dream?
I’d apply for a suitable accelerator program – you’ll likely learn enough to kick off, build relationships with mentors that can help keep you on a path that’s likely to succeed, and you’ll build a network of others in the same position that you can bounce ideas and questions off.
What is the best bit of advice, or quote, that resonates with you?
“If you help enough people get what they want, you’ll get what you want” – Zig Ziglar. It resonates with me on so many levels. Customers – give them what they want! Shareholders want returns through execution and delivery (and communication) – give them what they want! Staff – they want leadership and a vision and to know their meaningful position in that, so they can help be a part of the success well beyond any wages.
Give all of these people what they want, and you are setting yourself up for overwhelming success too – not just financial success, but with relationships and respect that you will enjoy for years to come.
