Lindsay Guion joins other business leaders in DotCom Magazine’s Leader Roundtable Interview Series.
Lindsay Guion is the Founding Chairman and CEO of Guion Partners. The company works with many prominent clients in the fields of sports, entertainment, media, and technology. With a background in music and technology, Guion understands how to apply the newest innovations to these fields, always staying current with his knowledge.
Let’s start by telling us about your business.
My business, Guion Partners, helps to promote and support artists and businesses who are involved in the sports and entertainment industries. Our company uses the newest technologies, including social media expertise, to make our clients household names and to bring them the best possible representation.
Q: Please tell us how you make sure your customers will become raving fans of your company?
We are all about results at Guion Partners. We believe that we get nowhere without the success of our clients. If you are not getting the sales or representation targets you want, we will work with you to make sure that you are promoted in the right way. We have many proven clients that you can talk with to explore our services and how they can help you.
Q: And to finish this section, please tell us what is the one major key to your company’s success?
The major key to our success is the way in which we approach problems. We are open to hearing about our clients’ complaints and whether they are satisfied with our services. We can always work with our clients to achieve a high standard of excellence.
Q: For our readers just starting to build a company, what advice can you give entrepreneurs just starting out with a new venture?
Starting a new company is one of the most difficult tasks you can imagine. You have to eat, sleep, and breathe your business if you want to succeed. Your family relationships may suffer, and you may have to give up other activities that you enjoyed at least in the short term. You really have to put your all into your business.
Starting a business is risky. You will need to have a reliable funding source to get started. Many banks will not lend to startup businesses, making it even more challenging to get your business off the ground. Be tireless and persistent and you will eventually succeed.
Sadly, you should know that over four-fifths of all new businesses fail within the first five years. This is a scary statistic, but you need to go into your business with hope and optimism if you want to succeed.
Q: For entrepreneurs seeking to build a business as successful as yours, what one big piece of advice can you give them when times get a little challenging?
You need to make sure that you have hired the right people to help you. No one can perform all of the necessary tasks associated with starting a business by themselves. You will need to have foresight when it comes to choosing your partners. You need to have an excellent core team as well as people who can handle the day-to-day operations of your business.
Be especially careful about the legal and financial representation that you choose. You will have to rely on these people, especially if you are in the entertainment industry.
Q: What is your “Why”? In one sentence, why do you get up in the morning?
I truly enjoy working in my business. Every day is a new adventure for me, and I wake up raring to go. The spirit of inspiration is the number one reason I get up in the morning. Even when times are difficult, I get a lot of personal satisfaction out of succeeding in my business.
Q: In one sentence, what is the most important thing one has to do to be a great leader?
To be a great leader, you always have to be willing to accept feedback. Many leaders believe that their word is law and that no one is allowed to complain. I think that it’s much better to allow room for your employees to give you good and bad feedback on your activities. If your employees feel like they have to tiptoe around you, they won’t perform at their best.
Q: In one sentence, tell us how something positive motivates our readers?
One of my favorite inspirational quotes is “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” It helps me to remember that no matter what we do in the present, we are building a future for our businesses. Our present activities may seem small, but they are laying the foundation for future developments.
Q: In one sentence, tell us how you start your day to get ready?
I spend about an hour getting caught up on the news, including social media. I like to do yoga in the mornings as well, it changes my attitude toward my day as well as making me strong and flexible. I like to think that yoga makes you mentally flexible as well as physically flexible.
I take time out of every day to meet with as many of my employees as I can, sharing their experiences and mentoring them. I think that starting out with a full understanding of your business’s daily activities is a great way to begin the day.
Q: In one sentence, describe what your hiring philosophy is?
My hiring philosophy is that I like to be open-minded. I believe that we may not always be able to tell which employees are going to be the best choice. You should take the long view when it comes to hiring and know that you can train someone to work in your industry. If you find someone with a robust work ethic and creative skills, you should snap this person up as soon as you can. That creative spark is rare, and your business needs as many inventive people as possible.
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayguion/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/guionpartnersinc
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindsayguion/
