Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/journeys-in-leadership-working-for-the-greater-good/5025750/
During a delightful conversation with Martin Bing, founder of 1 Place Childcare, which operates in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States, I asked if he’d always wanted to do something that benefited the early childhood field. Martin, who lives in New Zealand, laughingly told me that as a child he wanted to be a doctor, but his “grades weren’t good enough.” Then, more seriously, he explained how his early career as an accountant, and then his work for a large computer software company, led to his decision to start his own business.
Martin told me he came to realize that there were opportunities to improve the business aspects of child care. It has been deeply satisfying, he said, helping people set up efficient systems that save them time and money.
“If you can help people when the concrete hasn’t dried on how they do things,” he explained, “then it’s possible to make a significant positive difference.”
Contributing to the greater good by supporting child care, which he believes is essential to the backbone of societies worldwide, has been extremely fulfilling for Martin. When I asked about his leadership philosophy, he was quick with a reply: “Hire people who are smarter than you ...