I treasure every opportunity to learn from gifted leaders whose knowledge transcends textbooks and deepens organizational understanding. I’ve had the great fortune in the past year to learn from such a Dreamcatcher whose global experience and economic acumen have reshaped my thoughts on entrepreneurship. J Brendan Logue is easily a fun-loving, family man with a passion for life; but, his brilliance in building business from the bottom up is nothing short of amazing.
I’m still marveling at his unconventional perspectives on what positions organizations for success. He flipped my ideas upside down, with perspectives that were both powerful and practical. In just a few, short conversations, I learned how to enhance key relationships from colleague to client, when to demonstrate flexibility and when to hold my ground, why fiscal health is critical before and after every transaction – and most importantly – that observations can never be undervalued on the dynamic road to success.
Brendan’s rich experience in multiple industries, from entry level employee to C-Suite executive, lends itself to an array of insights that are valuable in any business setting. He’s since taken his talents to entrepreneurship as the owner of the customer-service driven, expertise laden Tool Zone in Denver, Colorado. He’s set his sights on unparalleled success, and I’m learning from and inspired by every milestone. Please join me in celebrating this enthusiastic entrepreneur, who’s opted to share with me some of the best tricks of the trade. You can learn from Dreamcatcher J Brendan Logue yourself just by reading his responses below.
What do you feel are your personal and/or professional callings? How did you know?
I don’t feel like I have a single personal or professional calling. I feel like as long as I continue to grow personally, professionally and spiritually that I’m moving in the right direction – whatever that direction might be.
What was the defining moment that compelled you to choose this direction? What cemented your passion?
My personal life and career have been filled with a series of defining moments. To me it’s about identifying opportunities and taking advantage of them. It’s about recognizing whether the direction you’re going in is the right one or the wrong one and then being able to successfully pivot onto a different path. I’ve been a finance executive, a business executive and an entrepreneur. I’m still not convinced that my path is fully defined.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
When I was younger, my entire family was surprised that I didn’t go to art school. I love to build things and work with my hands.
If you had a catch phrase, what would it be?
I have lots of them! The most relevant and recent one is the question, “Does it make sense?” The corporate world can be filled with layers of management who believe it’s their job to question every strategy that’s developed. As an entrepreneur, speed is more important than certainty. You can always change directions if you need to.
When people see what you’re striving for, what would you want them to keep in mind? What can they do to help support this cause?
I would change the last question. [When working with organizations] I made it less about me and my cause than I did about people searching for their own cause. Perhaps: When people are striving for success, what would you want them to keep in mind? What can they do to help themselves?
Growth is not linear. Sometimes you take a couple of steps back to move a few steps forward. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. Sometimes you follow a well-thought-out and documented strategy. Keep your goals in mind, but keep your eyes open for new opportunities – they may not lineup with your current goals, so you should be prepared to evaluate your goals at all times.
Dr. Carla Michelle Brown * Speaker * author * Educator 