299. A Life-Long Curiosity About Everything and a Love of Learning Drives His Career
Joe Calloway
In his early twenties, two roads diverged for Joe Calloway: working for the President of the United States or leaving politics altogether, moving to the Pacific Northwest to help his brother-in-law start a real estate business.
Joe is a leading performance expert with a client list that reads like a Who’s Who in business, including companies from Coca Cola and Verizon to Cadillac and American Express. He is the Executive in Residence for Belmont University’s Center for Entrepreneurship, and is the author of six books on business success including “Becoming A Category of One,” which received rave reviews from The New York Times, Retailing Today, Publishers Weekly, and many others. He is an investor in and advisor to start-ups ranging from a concert promotion company to a snowboard manufacturer.
How Did You Start Using Your Talents?
“In my 20s, I knew I was interested in politics. I was a political science major and actually worked in a political job for two or three years for the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the state of Tennessee. I loved doing that. And, I reached the realization that, I didn’t want to pursue this as a career. What I liked was the day-to-day interaction with the people involved in government, the creative aspect of the work itself.”
The Most Impactful Turning Point?
“A turning point was when I had two options at the same time. One was to go to Washington, DC, and be on the staff of a Congressional liaison for then-President Carter, or, I could move to the northwest and help my brother-in-law, who was starting a little real estate company. I just looked at the two and thought, you know, I think I want to try something different. I want to see what business is all about.” Moving back to his home in Nashville, Tennessee after a few years, he landed a job as marketing director for a real estate company. “Through that, the training of the agents came under my responsibility. I designed and did a lot of the sales and business training. That’s what clicked. I really, got a charge out of coming up with ideas that I can pass on to people, that help them be more successful and be happier with their work.”
The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?
“We spend too much time looking ‘over there’ and saying, ‘if only I were over there, my life would be better,’ instead of saying, ‘let me look at what I’ve got, where I am, and maximize my opportunity, my enjoyment and my engagement right here’. I include myself when I say that I think we all can open up our thinking to opportunities more than we do.”
Steps to Success from Joe Calloway
1. Cultivate a lively curiosity and never stop learning.
2. Distinguish yourself to become a category of one.
3. Stay at the cutting edge of knowledge in your field.
4. Look for ways to create value in whatever you do.
On His Bookshelf
Books written by Joe Calloway, available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. See descriptions at JoeCalloway.com.
Magnetic: The Art of Attracting Business (Fall 2016 release.)
Be the Best at What Matters Most: The Only Strategy You Will Ever Need
Becoming a Category of One: How Extraordinary Companies Transcend Commodity and Defy Comparison
Never by Chance: Aligning People and Strategy Through Intentional Leadership Indispensable: How to Become the Company That Your Customers Can’t Live Without
Work Like You`re Showing Off: The Joy, Jazz, and Kick of Being Better Tomorrow Than You Were Today
Email: joe@joecalloway.com
Websites: joecalloway.com
Facebook: Joe Calloway Business Success
LinkedIn: Joe Calloway
