Mar 10, 2021
Mick McGraw, President and CEO of Grand Rapids-based Eastbrook Homes is a champion for housing, community development, and environmental sustainability in construction. He joined the illustrious Michigan Construction Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Constructor at Ferris State University in 2016 and has served on various non-profit boards, including the Grand Valley Metro Council and Community Link Boards during his career. Mick also holds two annual camps for underprivileged youth at his working ranch in Montana to help them develop self-reliance and confidence and enjoy the Great Outdoors.
Mick joins me today to share the process of growing and developing as a leader; he describes his experiences as an emerging leader at the start of his career and the importance of learning to lead incrementally and listen to wise voices around you. He describes why you should use mistakes as a learning experience, not see them as a source of shame, and how he has managed to advance through his reverses at times. Mick also describes how he learned to sail a partner ‘ship’ successfully and why building relationships is a critical part of being a successful leader
"You’ve got to learn to be both conservative and cautious, and at the same time throw out almost every rule and reinvent yourself.” - Mick McGraw
“If you’re creating a community, it has to be just that; the community’s not just one price point, one type of house - when you put that together, great things happen. As a builder, what can we do that allows that to happen.” - Mick McGraw
“God honors an effort to do things as well as you can do them and to do the right thing on every occasion.” - Mick McGraw
This week on The Wow Factor:
Mick McGraw’s Words of Wisdom:
Integrity, persistence, and candor should be central to everything you do as a leader. Hang in there, give it everything you’ve got, and keep in mind those three things that trump almost anything else.
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