Richard Porter is the president of Worcester tech firm Cinch I.T. Reach him at rporter@cinchit.com.
Updated: February 20, 2023
5 Things
5 Things I Know about ... Being the dumbest person in the room
By Richard Porter
“If you’re the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room.”
This quote has been attributed to various leaders, illustrating the importance of surrounding yourself with people smarter than you. If you strive to surround yourself with people more knowledgeable and experienced than you, you will learn from them.
In my earlier years of business, I hadn’t grasped the importance of the company one keeps. I learned if I wanted to be invited into the right rooms with the right people, I would need to level up. So, I began my business and professional development journey with audiobooks. The authors of these books became some of the first people in my room. Here are my top five business books and lessons learned from them, so I won’t be the dumbest person in the room forever!
5) A product for everybody is a product for nobody. “Purple Cow” by Seth Godin. Every customer is different, and you will find more success creating exactly what a smaller group needs than with a watered-down version to please the masses.
4) No room for activities. “How Google Works” by Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg. We design our offices to maximize interactions, because the energy and enthusiasm you get when you cram people together is combustible and infectious. Ignore “Step Brothers” (sorry, Brennan and Dale), you don’t need room for activities.
3) There are no bad teams, only bad leaders. “Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink. Own your mistakes. Squash your ego and take responsibility for not only your failures but the failures of your team. A good leader identifies weaknesses without shifting blame and takes ownership of guiding their team toward success.
2) Understand the value of the dollar. “Sam Walton: Made In America” by John Huey. When Walmart Founder Sam Walton was named the richest man in America by Forbes magazine, reporters were shocked to find he drove an old pickup truck and got his hair cut at the local barbershop. No matter your level of success, never forget the value of the dollar.
1) Absolutely everything can be learned. “Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight. When Nike Founder Phil Knight opened his first factory, he had no idea how to run it. He told readers “I was willing to learn.” Knowledge is compounding, and learning is endless. So, I will learn and someday won’t be the dumbest person in the room.
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