Dear friends, welcome to the March issue of BIC Magazine. As I write this missive, I am reflecting on perhaps the best month in the history of our publication. This comes on the heels of the best year in our history. BIC has enjoyed all-time highs in readership and revenue. We seem to set a new Web traffic record each month at BICMagazine.com (over 29,000 unique visitors last month). We have hired more employees than ever. We are expanding our recruiting services into new areas. We have recently moved into a larger and beautiful new facility in Texas. This comes with wave after wave of activity. The planning, effort and activity never seem to end.
I typically enjoy the busyness quite a bit, as I am a left-brain thinker. While it serves me well as chief operating officer of BIC Alliance, I will confess my lean toward left-brain thinking can be a weakness, if I allow it.
For those of you not familiar, the right-brain versus left-brain theory is one of the structure and functions of the mind. It suggests the two different sides of the brain control two different “modes” of thinking. It also suggests each of us prefers one mode over the other. Left brainers tend to think in ways that are sequential, logical and analytical. They are typically objective and like to break things down and look at the parts of problems. Right brainers, on the other hand, are typically more random and intuitive. Their thinking is more holistic, creative and synthesizing.
In his book “Anatomy of an Entrepreneur,” John Jacobs opines the strong majority of entrepreneurs are right-brain dominant, and he discusses how these traits are mandatory to the strategic start-up and long-term success of any organization.
Fifteen years of working alongside my business partner Earl Heard, CEO of BIC Alliance, has taught me more about the entrepreneurial mind than any number of graduate courses might. The difference in our thought processes is striking at times. Our mission at BIC Alliance is to connect people in business and industry for the betterment of all. I tend to work day to day to further this mission. I like to tell folks I am usually engrossed in this mission, fighting the challenge immediately before me, sensing the urgency of the matter. Earl, however, has a natural ability to stand on a ladder in the middle of battle to survey the distances and evaluate the bigger landscape for opportunity to further this same mission. I admire this skill and intentionally work to hone this skill by emulating it.
I believe for one to reach his or her full potential, one must develop a full set of skills to become a whole brainer. We all like to practice skills in which we are adept; it makes us feel competent. Often we are loath to practice our weaker disciplines. Some of the business tools that lend themselves to right-brain thinking include brainstorming, setting goals and planning.
Recognize while it may feel unnatural to use tools that do not play to your strengths, having the full set of skills will only increase your success, be it on the job or off. To use a sports analogy, think of it as practicing to be a switch-hitter in baseball, or practicing left- and right-handed jumpshots in basketball. You will use the most effective action based upon the situation at hand. The end of the year is a great season to set aside some time for brainstorming, goal-setting and planning so you may better achieve your personal and professional missions.
Some time ago, my right-brained, creative thinking partner challenged us to start an epidemic of thankfulness. I want to thank you, our loyal readers, and the BIC Alliance partners listed in our directory in this issue for making BIC Magazine the tool of choice for connecting people in business and industry. I thank the aforementioned best staff we have ever had at BIC, particularly our Baton Rouge management team of Heather Cavalier, Kaye Benham and Theresa Kennedy for their commitment, loyalty and grace. And I thank my mentors for their wise counsel and patience.
In this issue of BIC, we include insight from Jack Gerard, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute; Roderick Herrick, vice president and site manager of Covestro’s Baytown Industrial Park; Pat Kahanek, co-owner of Gulf Coast Tool & Rental; Ray Torres, president and CEO of Checkers Industrial Safety Products; and Jamie Todd, Americas business leader of Hydratight.
We also feature the “best of” on a variety of topics to help you in your job, including continuous improvement, transforming reliability, developing a culture of safety, new and upcoming regulations, emergency preparedness and much more.
As always, please share this issue with your friends and colleagues by passing along this copy of BIC or referring them to BICMagazine.com. May God give you the desires of your heart, and may all of your plans succeed.
