Mindy?s Rules: Building Blocks to Business Leadership

Mindy?s Rules: Building Blocks to Business Leadership

Mindy Herman, President and CEO of E! Networks, is recognized as one of the pre-eminent leaders in entertainment and an entrepreneur par excellence. How did she get from ?there? to ?here?? At WLE?s 2003 Southern California conference, Mindy shared the rule book that paved her path to success, and encouraged entrepreneurs to put their own twist on a game plan that can win customers and build solid business relationships:

Mindy?s Rule #1: Get in the door. Be willing to accept an entry level post, or start from the bottom. ?My first job (at FOX) was a major step backward for me, but not in the one area where it mattered the most ? pursuit of my dream.?

Mindy?s Rule #2: Work harder than anyone else. ?You see, I?m not just an entertainment junkie ? I?m a workaholic entertainment junkie. Because my work has always been my passion, I?ve always found it easy to outwork the competition. ?

Mindy?s Rule #3: Get to know the team, and make sure they get to know you. ?Many women work hard, wait to be noticed, and then are frustrated when the phone doesn?t ring. At Fox, the big guys were very into sports and so was I?and I let them know it. After all, I think I was the only female executive who knew what icing was (this is LA, not New York). We bonded?.they knew I worked harder than any of them, and when they decided to launch FOX Sports, it was my phone that rang. ?

Mindy?s Rule #4: Speak up and have a point of view. ?Always have a take. Even if your point of view isn?t a popular one, you have to be willing to give an opinion. You can?t be a leader if you don?t know where you want to go.?

Mindy?s Rule #5: Compete hard, but play fair. ? I have always believed that character counts ? that your word must be your bond. Honesty, loyalty, and integrity can prevail.?

Mindy?s Rule #6: Be yourself.

Mindy?s Rule #7: Commit to a shared goal. ?Success requires each and every player on the team to commit to a shared goal. You can have everything else going for you, but if you don?t have everyone going in the same direction, you?re captain of a sinking ship.?

Mindy?s Rule #8: Take risks. ?Taking chances might bring hardship; but it?s worth it to continue to strive anyway. And, to relish the whole experience along the way. If you?re not enjoying, is it really worth doing? ?