At State Farm, we help our customers manage risk and recover from the unexpected. I’ve learned the importance of failing forward when that happens to me.
Even though I’m an opinionated guy, I’ve learned to make it a point to listen twice as much as I talk. I’m also trying to instill in my kids that no matter how successful you are, true success is making time for your family and giving back to the community. It’s not an afterthought.
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When we started, we took every piece of business we could get because we needed the cash and didn’t want to take outside investment. I learned that there are times when a client is not a fit, even if that means your company grows slower. That’s the only way you can make time for family and your community.
...make it a point to listen twice as much as I talk.
The First 90 Days Michael Watkins
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Chris’s recommended reading about leadership:
Kristyn Cook-Turner
Area Vice President State Farm Insurance Atlanta
My dad, who was a high school wrestling coach before he joined State Farm, taught me that you have to earn people’s trust before you have the right to challenge them. That’s important because your organization is only as good as your team. State Farm is growing fast in Georgia, adding 1,500 people this year, attracting and retaining talent is so important. My role is to help my team be the best they can be, so I read a lot and seek to learn from other leaders.
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I’ve learned the importance of failing forward...
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Chris Sizemore
Co-founder and CEO Creative Mischief Atlanta
Creative Mischief is more a belief system than a company: employees first, clients second, community third. 10% of our business is pro bono or reduced rates.
I played women’s basketball at Syracuse. That’s where my coach inspired me to think bigger and where I learned about leadership from studying the great basketball coach John Wooden. Their lessons were to know where you’re going and understand that about others.
Kristyn’s recommended reading about leadership: Wooden on Leadership UCLA basketball coach John Wooden
The Georgia Influencer
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