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want people to know that it’s ok to be
insecure, that it’s ok to be scared, that
it’s ok to be depressed once in a while,
it’s ok to feel sorry for yourself. But it
doesn’t change the fact that you still
have to do your thing.”
Lemonis continued on. “Society has
created this veil that you have to be superman
and superwoman. The number
one thing that the show has done
for me is it has freed me of having to
worry about what people think about
me. It’s freed me from having to do
something or say something different
than what I really feel.”
Being a problem solver is a requirement
if you want to be an effective
leader according to Lemonis, and “The
Profit” is all about problem-solving.
“You have to be empathetic and sympathetic
to people, and you have to be
humble enough to think it’s important
to do that,” Lemonis said. He tries
to understand the history of a situation,
people’s perspectives—and their
pride. “You also have to be willing to
put yourself out there and be vulnerable.
Too often, people try and create
this persona that’s larger than life
without any frailties. I have found that
the more vulnerable I can make myself
to people, the more open and critical I
can be of myself, then the easier it is for
people to take criticism of their style,
or product, or whatever it may be.”
It was through Lemonis’ own struggles
that he evolved into his leadership
style of today, and he reflects back to a
time that was difficult, if not financially
devastating for him and for millions of
Americans.
“Two-thousand eight and 2009 were
the hardest thing that ever happened
to me,” admitted Lemonis referring to
the epic fail of the U.S. economy. “It
takes something very cataclysmic to
bring you back to earth.”
Just a few years prior, Lemonis was
caught up in what he now considers
to be lavish spending—not all that uncommon
for a single man in his thirties
experiencing sizable wealth through
his own accomplishments.
“As quick as you can make it, is as
quick as you can lose it.” Lemonis said
as a personal testimony. “So I have a
different perspective today, and I also
learned about myself. I learned about
what my priorities should be and how
to focus on the right stuff, and not to let
my thinking get out of whack.”
So how does Lemonis bring the
fruits of his own experience to aid and
assist—better yet, save other businesses?
Here’s how.
“When I meet with these small businesses
that are on death’s doorstep…I
tell them three things,” Lemonis explained:
‘One: You’re on death’s doorstep.
Two: You are about to get life-saving
surgery, but I can’t give you any anesthesia,
so it’s gonna really hurt.
Three: It’s a painful process. But
if you trust me through this you will
come out on the other side a lot better.’”
Marcus Lemonis said he performed
“self-surgery” on himself in 2008-09.
“I learned a skill…that gives me the
ability today to look somebody in the
face and say, ‘You have no choice but
to change.’”
THE SUIT MAGAZINE p.15