How My Early Life Shaped My Values
Starting at the bottom of my career and ending up as a four-time CEO, I often reflect on how fortunate I’ve been. Then, thinking more rationally, I realized my journey wasn’t just luck. It was built on values shaped from an early age, largely by my upbringing. My family life instilled the key qualities that guided me through my career. Many of our core values are formed during childhood, and mine certainly were.
My parents married just before World War II, and like many working-class men, my father was called up to serve. My mother worked in a munitions factory while raising four children. We lived in rural Yorkshire, where my father earned a modest living as a farm laborer. Despite limited means, he had a clear vision for us. He encouraged us to take advantage of the free education system in the UK and to pursue the university education he had never had. He was determined, and in the end, three of his sons went on to university—one becoming a Commander in the Metropolitan Police, one an architect aspirant, and one a chemist. The fourth son became a successful farm manager by choice rather than attending university.
My father believed in what he called the “University of Life”—the idea that learning through experience was just as valuable as formal education. This became a cornerstone of my own approach to life and career. As I worked alongside him on the farm, I absorbed crucial lessons that later became the values driving my success.
First and foremost, my father taught me the importance of hard work and perseverance. He believed in working hard every day, regardless of the outcome. Some days would go well, others not so much, but the key was to focus on the daily tasks and not give up. I learned that success comes from consistently putting in the effort, no matter the setbacks. This attitude carried me through my career, where the focus on daily progress helped me achieve bigger goals over time.
Respect for people was another core value my father instilled in me. He showed through his actions that people, whether customers or colleagues, should be treated with care and respect. I saw firsthand how important it was to build relationships and work alongside others. As a CEO, I applied this lesson by ensuring I engaged with my teams and valued their contributions. Success, I learned, is built on people and relationships.
My father also taught me the power of networking. Though we lived in a small rural community, he knew everyone, and I saw how those connections could be helpful in the future. Networking back then was all about face-to-face interactions, and I carried that lesson with me throughout my career. Building strong connections and maintaining relationships became critical to my professional success.
Another important lesson was understanding that the world is bigger than the place you’re from. My father recognized that the world was changing, and he encouraged us to leave home, go to university, and explore. This broadened perspective gave me the confidence to take on new challenges far from home, eventually leading me to spend the last 30 years of my career in Asia.
Facing reality and learning from tough feedback was something my father also emphasized. He taught me that it’s not the compliments that drive growth but rather the honest, often difficult, feedback. By being honest with myself, I could improve and move forward.
Perseverance was another crucial value. My father always told me to never give up, even in the face of setbacks. His belief in sticking with it until success came was something I held onto throughout my career. Whether it was a difficult business challenge or a personal setback, I learned to keep pushing forward.
Finally, my father taught me the importance of collaboration. He often enlisted help from others for challenging tasks on the farm, showing me that working together gets you much further than working alone. This lesson was a key part of my leadership philosophy, where engaging with others, seeking their input, having empathy and understanding, and working as a team led to greater success than I could ever achieve on my own.
Through my book Reflections of a Leader, I look back on my career and see how important the values my father instilled in me have been. Hard work, respect for people, networking, embracing challenges, facing reality, perseverance, and collaboration were the foundation of my success and can guide others towards individual and collective success.
“Reflections of a Leader” is a candid and insightful exploration of leadership, drawing upon Mike Plaxton’s 50 years of experience. This book and memoir challenge conventional wisdom and offer a fresh perspective on the complexities of leading people and organizations. With an emphasis on real-world application and personal development, this book gives readers the tools they need to reach their full leadership potential and leave a lasting impression on their personal and professional lives.
Through personal anecdotes, strategic insights, real-life examples, tips, and actionable advice, Mike Plaxton invites readers to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and leadership excellence.
Get your copy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1917399316/.
