To Be Great, You Must Be Good

Avison Young’s Mark Rose says to focus on who you are before you worry about what you do.

In the wake of the catastrophic flooding and human tragedy in Texas and Louisiana that resulted from Hurricane Harvey, the words and actions of Jim McIngvale have struck a chord with a sympathetic nation. That is according to Mark Rose, chair and CEO of Avison Young. McIngvale, the Houston-area entrepreneur known as “Mattress Mack,” provided his furniture and mattress stores as places of refuge for those who were displaced by the storm, Rose says. Hundreds of area residents took him up on his very generous offer.

“McIngvale’s compassion is a classic example of a business leader doing the right thing –even when everything seems to point to the fact that it will hurt the bottom line,” he explains. “The reality is that the exact opposite is true. Culture drives revenues and profits rather than the other way around.” In the exclusive commentary below, Rose explains that the truth is that not caring about what your company can do is a missed opportunity. “You will ultimately be far more productive – and profitable – if you focus on who you are before you worry about what you do.