New Series: Simple Secrets to Success From Execs Who Know
WashingtonExec reached out to area executives to gain insight and share local “secrets to success” stories.
Fairfax Chamber President & CEO Jim Corcoran’s distinguished career has woven him through the marketing and confectionery industries and landed him in Fairfax County, the epicenter of business in Virginia.
Through personal anecdotes and stories, Corcoran provided WashingtonExec with some solid “secrets to success.”
- Observe and learn from others. As a 10-year-old, Corcoran was taken to a golf course to caddy for a group of golfers. “That fateful day launched a love affair with the sport that really opened up a new world for me,” he says. “I was able to observe and learn from a wide range of white collar professionals who were successful business professionals and entrepreneurs, and I absorbed many of their traits and relational styles. It was Business Development 101, and I had a front-row seat.”
- Make decisions that matter. Jim attended St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia because he knew its food marketing major had a 99 percent employment rate upon graduation. He knew that if he went to college there, he would have more of a chance of achieving his goals and getting on the path of becoming a successful business executive.
- Build trust in relationships. “It’s a lesson I learned on the golf course, building a bond of trust with the person I was caddying for,” he says. “Trust isn’t just given to you, it’s earned, and this trust factor is very important to me. I may not be able to do everything for everybody, but I make sure that I can always be taken at my word.” Corcoran stresses the time and energy he’s put into building relationships with customers, colleagues, employees, and even golf buddies, have been a key driver in achieving success.
- Hold yourself accountable. Jim learned from his parents that there is no replacement for effort or hard work. His strong sense of personal responsibility is integral to this concept. “Show up to work an hour early each day,” he says when talking to his children of mentoring a young professional. “It provides a head start over your competition.”
- Do what you’re passionate about. “I think all successful entrepreneurs are extremely passionate, and they show it in different ways,” he says. “If your business is your dream, then giving it everything you’ve got isn’t so hard.”
- Failing is an opportunity. “When I hear people saying we should have done something differently, I’m typically thinking of what we’re going to do differently to improve. You must learn from mistakes, not lament them.”
- Be a good team member and motivate others. “The Chamber is about collaborative creativity,” he says. “We have people that are as driven and as passionate as I am, and they play a crucial role in achieving our goals. In promoting that role, it’s important to find out what your employees and members are passionate about and then help them identify how that passion fits into the overall organizational objectives and goals.”
- Get the word out. Promote yourself and your business. “It’s our job to get the word out that the Chamber is about so much more than just networking.” If you don’t tell your story, no one is going to tell it for you. Acknowledge your good work and what you have to offer and make sure to communicate it at every opportunity.