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How
Do Christian Employers Cultivate Greatness on the Job?
Last time, Donna
Willard, the owner of two businesses, shared with us
some insights for cultivating greatness from employees.
As the Area Manager for Arbonne International, which
focuses on skincare products, and Managing Director
of eWomen's Network Atlanta --a national networking
organization for business women, Donna is well versed
when it comes to managing people. This week we'll continue
as Donna shares what it is like working with her husband
in her business.
Read
Part 1
The Interview
- Part 2
Sandra:
"How does that work out? Having your husband as an employee?"
Donna: "Oh,
he's wonderful."
Sandra: "Okay. So,
in essence, you're saying that you did not have to do as much
in cultivating him. Is that right?"
Donna: Exactly. God put
the two of us together, but he's the side of my brain that
I'm not." (Laughing)
Sandra: "So he might
have done some cultivating with you? (Laughing)
Donna: "He trained
me as much as I trained him!"
Sandra: "Okay!!!"
Sandra: "Is there
anything else that you would like to add?"
Donna: "Well, with
Arbonne, I have a lot of key members, and by that I mean I
have women and men that want to own their own home based businesses
and they have no idea how to go about it. That's my job. I
teach them how to do it. Then it is their business and they
can go forward from there.
Sandra: "They are
not really your employees, but they are in a role that could
very well be considered an employee. Is that right...because
you're training them?"
Donna: "That's right,
in one way! But, in the other way, we're a team. AND, there
is no "I" in team. So, we work together to build
each other up. The experience I have in the business, I work
with them to teach them all that I know. Then, they become
an integral part of my team so they then can teach others
what they know." It's in building the business and sharing
that we're all learning and growing and moving forward.
Sandra: "So, do
you choose them as part of your team, or do they choose you?"
Donna: "It works
both ways, but I am particular in that I want people that
really want to do this. I don't want people to . . . well,
I have learned in the past that people who thought they wanted
a business really wanted me to pull them along as an anchor
on dry land (laughing), and that's not the way to do business.
They have to want to have a business as much as they want
me to teach them how to do a business.
Sandra: "So, with
the people that felt that way, did you leave them alone, or
did you tell them you had to part ways? Tell me what happened?"
Donna: Well, some of
them decided it wasn't for them and they weren't going to
build a business. That was fine! I had no problem with that.
It's just completely fine! However, what I had to learn as
a business owner was to let that go because I really thought
they had potential--I saw potential. And, they really needed
an opportunity, but they weren't really ready for it!"
Sandra: "Well, so
you're saying that another trait in cultivating employees
is to know when to let go?"
Donna: "Yes"
Sandra: "Let go,
and keep moving forward."
Donna: "That's right!"
I don't consider myself a traditional business owner, but
I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, in that I enjoy
the work and I enjoy seeing the goals met. I am not a very
good 9-5 person." (Laughing)
Sandra: "Okay"
Donna: "I'm actually
harder on myself than I think any boss would be."
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