Making a Lasting Difference

Steve Chapman
President & CEO
Ruan Transportation Management Systems

Several months ago, New View’s Danny Beyer, whom I had never met at the time, requested a meeting with me to discuss my career and how individuals can make a difference in their communities. While flattered, I was not sure why he contacted me instead of other community leaders. However, we met over coffee and talked about the importance of volunteering, getting involved and giving back within our community. We had a great conversation, and it caused me to think back about myself at his age and my desire—just like his—to make a difference.

Last week, Danny sent me an e-mail asking if I would be willing to write New View’s guest blog for June. He said it would be great if I would write about personal mentors who I have been fortunate to work with in my career. As I think about the many individuals who both intentionally and unintentionally mentored me throughout my career, I realize they made a lasting difference in my life. And I am now at a point in my life when offering my time and guidance to younger, determined generations is so very important. I hope to impact them the way my mentors impacted me.

I have been very fortunate to have had a successful and rewarding career. That process began with the best and most important mentors in my life—my parents. My parents taught me that I truly can do anything as long as I am willing to put in the time and effort required to succeed.  When I needed help or did something wrong, they were always there to pick me up, allow me to learn from my mistakes and get on with my life. They taught me values that will always guide my life and my decisions. I was taught that there is right and there is wrong—nothing in between. As a result, decisions came easy for me because I never looked beyond what was the right thing to do. My parents taught me the importance of caring for others and always putting their needs above my own. 

After completing my studies at Drake University and entering the workforce, I was determined to succeed in business. But I also wanted to succeed in being an engaged citizen within my community. So with every opportunity I was given, I worked extremely hard to make a difference, and the impact of my efforts on others was always in forefront of my thought process. I was taught that success is shared, and it always felt better when that success had a positive impact on others. As my responsibilities expanded, I looked for ways to get involved and give back to this community in which I was so fortunate to live. That is where my second group of mentors came in.  

One thing I learned quickly was that the most involved and successful business leaders in our community welcomed individuals like me to the table as long as we were willing to work. I first became involved in what was then the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce by volunteering on various committees focused on economic development. It gave me the opportunity to meet and work with successful, philanthropic individuals like John Fitzgibbon, Bill Knapp, Marvin Pomerantz, Dave Miller, Connie Wimer, David Hurd and many others. Each of these individuals—whether they knew it or not—guided, coached and mentored me in so many ways. They taught me so much, but most importantly, they taught me the importance of giving back. At the time, they made it clear that they did not expect my financial contributions to the community to be the size of theirs but, as my career grew, so should the size of my contributions. They were always willing to offer their time to help me better understand the needs of our community and how to address them. I feel very fortunate to have become close friends with many of the leaders who truly define this community.    

In fact, I was asked to speak at the funeral of a friend and mentor during their last days of life. This individual was such a strong personality and leader that once I hesitantly agreed, they proceeded to tell me what they wanted me to say at their funeral. I was directed to not speak about them, but rather about this great community and the work that still needs to be done. It was a demonstration of leadership that never fades because it is instilled in others.  

The leaders and mentors I have been so fortunate to know taught me the importance of working together within our community to overcome challenges, create opportunities and make it an even better place to live, work and raise a family. It’s people who truly make a difference through their willingness to stand up at the right time for the right cause—and Des Moines has been blessed with many leaders who selflessly donate their time and financial resources to the community. 

Today, I still consider myself that young businessperson looking up with respect to the leaders who have mentored me and made a lasting difference in my life. Now, I’m honored to have the opportunities to speak to organizations like the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute and United Way’s Education Leadership Initiative, as well as work with young people, like Danny, who want to get involved in their community. I was taught well by my many mentors, and I will do everything I can to continue to teach the importance of getting involved, giving of time and resources and always acting for the right reasons.

Finding a Plumber...

Mike Draper- RAYGUN owner

When I started RAYGUN, the whole venture seemed a little uncertain. I had never screenprinted, I had never used design software, I had never worked in retail, I had never used a cash register, and I didn’t know anyone with similar businesses. I was a 21-year-old history student at the University of Pennsylvania and only knew that I wasn’t cut out for a regular job.

Now when I look back at the trajectory of the company, since it all really started in 2004, I realize that you may need artistic talent to be a great artist. But if you’re looking to build an artistic company, being a great artist isn’t even in the top three things you need.

Number one above all else: reply to all your e-mails as soon as you can.

This really applies to any field. And if you can do that, your odds of success sky-rocket. Replying to all e-mails as soon as possible will help establish some personal discipline, which lets you slog through the endless bullshit that small businesses really face (finding a plumber, fixing a messed-up order from a supplier, find the right kind of track-light bulb). It’s a simple base of your daily routine.

Replying to all e-mails also establishes an aura of dependability with those you’re corresponding with. And dependability is the top thing  you need to run a successful artistic, or non-artistic company. Because at the end of the day, a customer doesn’t necessarily know amazing art from great art, but they do know if it’s a month late. They do know if they’ve been disrespected or not appreciated.

In the beginning, I used to do custom printing and design for other people (that side was sold in 2010), and dependability was my main business edge.

Say you’re a potential screenprinting customer, and your boss has given you a job: have 500 purple t-shirts with a log on them by Friday or you’re fired.

Now, say you have two friends: one is the Picasso + Michelangelo +  Da Vinci of screenprinting, but he only gets stuff done on time 50% of the time, the other friend is me, owner of RAYGUN, who does fine work, but has it done 100% of the time.

You’d have to be high on mescaline to choose the non-dependably guy. Your assignment is not to get great on a t-shirt no matter how long it takes, your assignment is just to have t-shirts by Friday.

There’s an upside and a downside to this business advice.

The upside is that anyone has the potential to do it. Any able bodied person can be dependable, just like any able bodied person can lose weight or control their diet.

The downside is that barely anyone can really accomplish it. Being dependable involves showing up every day. Working hard. Just like losing weight requires eating right and exercising.

The steps are simple, the implementation is hard.

But like losing weight, most people will tell you that there was one small, turning point when they knew they had to do it. For me, the most important thing was my decision that I knew I didn’t want a regular job after college. I wanted to do something creative, and I’d do whatever it took to realize that. Only then, when I was pointed in the right direction, in the direction that I cared about, was I able to muster the discipline to keep my dependability up every day for years on end.