Lessons in Leadership with OfficeMax Founder Michael Feuer

Join us as we extend a warm welcome to OfficeMax Founder, Michael Feuer, on the inaugural episode of the Business Observer's From the Corner Office Podcast. Prepare for an engaging conversation as Michael delves into the essence of effective leadership, shares invaluable lessons from his tenure at OfficeMax, and recounts a bold encounter when he cold called none other than Jack Welch, one of America's most esteemed business executives, in pursuit of an investment.

3 Takeaways:

1. (16:05) "More 'we' and less 'me'"
2. (21:00) "Everyone in this world has something to prove"
3. (29:20) "Some people fall in love with ideas, I fall in love with success"

Timestamps:

01:10 - Michael Feuer introduces himself

02:13 - Michael is an “opportunist”

03:30 - Michael’s childhood

04:13 - How Michael got started

05:16 - Seize the opportunity… and be lucky

05:55 - “I’m America's worst employee”

06:30 - To be a CEO…

07:50 - “Do things you understand and know” - Starting OfficeMax

09:40 - Understanding your customer

11:29 - “You need to stand for something”

13:10 - Cold calling Jack Welch

16:15 - What makes a good leader?

18:35 - Finding leaders at OfficeMax

19:18 - You have to take ownership of everything you do

20:45 - Dig deep when interviewing people

21:40 - Following up with clients

25:20 - You can't bore people

26:45 - I try to give people memorable lessons

27:30 - Mistakes you made while running OfficeMax?

30:35 - Hot Seat Questions

31:30 - Taking customer complaints

 

To learn more about Michael Feuer, read the written article here.

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

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