How I Succeeded is a regular series on Lifehacker where we ask business leaders for the secrets and tactics behind their success. Today: Craig Beveridge from Jade Software.
Current gig: Chief Operating Officer and General Manager for Jade Software in Australia
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Current mobile device: Apple iPhone 6
Current computer: Lenovo X1
One word that best describes how you work: Positive
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
Pen, paper, whiteboard, Evernote, Podcast Player, VC Software, access to good data and business intelligence tools.
What social network do you find the most useful?
LinkedIn can be great for finding great talent.
What were the most important lessons you learned while growing your business?
Invest as much as you can in people and culture. And don’t get captured by the trends and flavours of the day, pick and apply the best of any tool or management idea and keep evolving.
What has been the most surprising part of your business journey?
How very quickly an organisation or market can completely change over the course of a couple of short years. Sometimes these sneak up on you but it’s very affirming to notice the difference.
What everyday thing are you better at than anyone else?
I’m a rational/logical thinker so I tend to structure and break down problems and solve them incrementally that way. I wouldn’t claim to be better than everyone else but it’s something I can say I do consistently and it works for me. If your ideas are backed up with facts few conversations are daunting.
What’s your sleep routine like?
I get up early and sleep well. Really annoying for my wife that I can fall asleep instantly. If I miss a night’s sleep it definitely affects my performance.
What advice would you offer to other businesses on how to succeed?
Put in the work to understand and quantify what you’re trying to achieve, and work backwards from there. Build a business that does great work, work with people you respect and enjoy working with.
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