Smith Electric Vehicles (SMTH)

[Joz]

Bloomberg feature, Smith chief Hansel:



AN ARMY OF ONE

Where there is innovation, there is a warrior. Without such a leader, nothing meaningful gets done
January 10, 2012 By G. Michael Maddock and Raphael Louis Vitón

If you want to be associated with success, then align with, support, or be the creator. You may like what creators have to say. If you don’t, it doesn’t matter. They are going to make their mark anyway. To oversimplify, we have found that creators very often fall into one of these three categories.


1. The Conscious Capitalist

We know what you’re thinking. “Who would want an unconscious capitalist?” But bear with us as we try to explain this special type of enlightened leader who today runs companies like Patagonia, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and the Container Store (all of which consistently outperform the competition).

Conscious capitalists know how to generate emotional, social, and financial value simultaneously for all stakeholders. And when they do, they start crusades that have a unifying purpose. The hard data show that these innovative and purpose-focused firms create exponentially more economic value (than typical companies and even more than the “good-to-great” companies), and endear more customers and more employees to their mission year after year after year. They unlock new economic value that others have missed.

How do they do it?

Take Bryan Hansel, co-founder and chief executive officer of Smith Electric Vehicles. He makes electric trucks. He knows that electric delivery trucks, school buses, and the like will help save our planet. He also knows that to create a “sustainable” product, he has to have a sustainable business model; he has to make money; he has to have a committed, incredibly competent team. Simply surrounding yourself with a group of people who are passionate about a worthy “cause” and willing to work for free won’t cut it. Conversely, and ironically, singularly focusing on profits won’t get you the maximum sustainable amount of profit.

Hansel is pragmatic. He knows that while one man can’t create a new industry on his own, aligned leaders can create the right dialogue, vision, and strategy. That’s why he invited the heads of 20 of the largest truck fleets—including Frito-Lay, Staples, Coca-Cola, and all the major package delivery companies—to a meeting. He opened his books. He showed them the possibilities of a new type of trucking business. His bold message to each company? “You’re all in or you’re all out.”

The result? All 20 companies signed on to the concept.

The world needs creators who are conscious capitalists. Do you lead with social, economic, and emotional benefits in mind?



http://www.businessweek.com/management/an-army-of-one-01202012.html