Now I'd like to let you know about another helpful organization that has a different spin from those I've written about in the past. TEC, or The Executive Committee, is an international organization of more than 4,500 CEOs, company presidents and business owners. Combined, TEC members oversee companies with more than US $175 billion in annual sales and more than one million employees.
Within TEC, small groups meet once a month for day-long confidential sessions, often with speakers, to discuss issues, ideas, questions, problems, etc. Each member also meets for two hours a month with his or her group chair.
Joining Up. Before my work at Seattle Bindery, I was a certified public accountant. In that profession, I simply walked down the hall anytime I needed to strike up a collegial discussion about the latest professional issue. But soon after my major occupation switch into postpress work, it became clear to me that my professional support circle was shrinking.
Of course everyone at Seattle Bindery is incredibly communicative, which is a blessing and something we work on. But I don't want to pull a machine operator from a job to talk about finance issues, and she doesn't want me to either. That would be ludicrous. So, I decided to form an advisory board. In the midst of doing so, though, I was invited to an informational meeting about TEC and realized that here was what I was looking for-ready-made.
Benefits. When I think of what I have gained from TEC after five years in the organization, seven main benefits come to mind.
1) A group of peers. The twelve members of my TEC group are all business leaders. We face the same issues and have survived many of the same trials. Our last meeting was held at the Chair's house, complete with a crackling fireplace and snoozing dogs. It's a comfortable group with wisdom to share.
2) Peers with no agenda. TEC requires that no members of a single group work within the same industry. Therefore, no one is there to sell or buy. No one has anything to lose by sharing because everyone wants to offer ideas and get input, not to judge or worry about the bottom line.
3) Answers are questioned. In most professional groups, it's not appropriate to tell someone that their grand scheme is riddled with holes and possibly crazy. But at TEC meetings, someone will jump in and make you explain yourself. It's a great opportunity to examine the full extent of what I'm planning to do before I leap.
4) Accountability. If I tell my TEC group that I'm going to take a certain action at work, they expect me to do it. They're anxious to hear what happened. On the other hand, if I bring up the same issue two months later and haven't made any progress, they call me on it. They ask why I'm wasting their time.
5) New ideas. Since the group isn't industry bound, I get a chance to hear what's working elsewhere. One group member makes countertops, which did not immediately strike me as similar to postpress work. But the two of us are constantly amazed how closely our issues align. For example, we've often compared notes about estimating issues.
6) Experience. Where else can I receive monthly input from eleven been-there-done-that executives? Our group focuses on the problem at hand, and brings a considerable amount of weathered smarts to bear on what's under discussion. Even if I hired a premier consultant, I would hear from only one or two professionals, tops. TEC offers more.
7) Personal interest. There's a sense of camaraderie, empathy and compassion at our TEC meetings. Members have come to understand me and my business. We look out for each other. Recently, one member sold a company for a huge sum. Since we had all experienced the ups and downs of that business with him, we consider his success ours (even if we don't get the money).
For You? Obviously, I'm happy with TEC. Monthly meetings provide me with an opportunity for significant conversations about my business. I gain immeasurably, and for a reasonable expenditure in money and time. There was a small initiation fee and now I pay dues by the quarter. There's no contract to stay involved, so I can drop out at anytime. And one day-long meeting and one two-hour meeting a month are certainly doable.
There are about a dozen TEC groups functioning in the Seattle area right
now, and I'm sure more will form. If anyone would like more information about TEC, please
check out www.tecceo.com. In the meantime, if you try to call me on the second Tuesday of
the month, you'll have to talk with my second-in-command -I'll be at TEC.
Milt Vine is president of Seattle Bindery, a postpress house specializing in custom tabs and presentation folders; folding and stitching; foil stamping, embossing and die-cutting; plastic spiral, Wire-Oš and perfect binding. You can reach Milt at 206/682-2558. For more information about Seattle Bindery, check out their web site at www.seattlebindery.com. ©1999, Seattle Bindery.