Ted's Take

I just returned on a red-eye from a cross country trip where I met with the founder/CEO of a very important company. I had to travel out on Sunday night; take the meeting on Monday; and then take a red-eye flight back home late Monday night and have just arrived back in DC.

The meeting was originally scheduled from 1:00 to 2:30pm. It in actuality went from 1:00 to 3:15pm, so two full days of travel for a two hour meeting.

When we arrived, we were greeted warmly. The meeting started EXACTLY on time. The Founder/CEO came in to the meeting on time; warmly welcomed us; and asked us if we wanted any coffee or something to drink.

We then presented a deck that we had worked very hard on. The meeting had in attendance the CEO and five other key execs. We all exchanged business cards and personal introductions. They had been briefed in advance on our meeting and had seen the deck.

We met for more than two hours. The CEO never left us in the meeting and he never once checked his mobile device or did email or a call. He was focused and honest and probing. He asked lots of fair and tough questions but never made us feel uncomfortable. 
He was warm, engaging and he made us laugh.

When the meeting ended, he lingered to ask some family and personal-oriented questions. We discussed follow-up. He then individually thanked all of us; shook all of our hands; and discussed the best way to perform next steps. Then his assistant met us and escorted us out to our cars asking if we needed anything to make us comfortable, a car? An office to do email or make calls? The bathroom?

As we left, I have to admit that I was stunned that such small common touches as being on time to a meeting; NOT doing email on a Blackberry; and being focused and prepared seem foreign to people sometimes. This Founder/CEO is a giant, a legend and is a historic figure. His success hasn’t spoiled him at all. He showed true empathy for all of our work and travel and care in which we prepared our proposals.

I will make sure that everyone who works for me in all of my companies understands how important the little things are. Common respect and dignity are in such short supply these days. I have to admit - regardless of the outcome of the meeting - I was reminded that treating people well is the best business policy. It has raised the bar for me on how I treat people that come to sell me something or for my behavior in all of my meetings.