The IT Files – Terry Starbucker- Part 1

Terry “Starbucker” St. Marie is the Managing Partner of Inside-Out Thinking (IOT), a professional & business development partnership that focuses on leadership, customer care, and social media.  He most recently completed a successful 23 year tenure in the cable television business, and has extensive experience in cable field operations, customer care, call centers, and financial analysis. For the past 5 1/2  years he has also published a popular blog on business & leadership, “TerryStarbucker.com”, and with his partner at IOT, Liz Strauss, is a co-founder of SOBCon, a biannual business conference and one of the best learning & development forums for small and medium-sized business owners in the US. 

I was lucky to get to know him more. Here is my interview with him

Hall-fullism – love the term. Can you explain your story behind it?

I was declared a “half-fuller” by one of my former bosses who had a hard time dealing with my relentless ability to see the positive in just about everything.   It’s not a matter of ignoring the negative  - it’s really more of a matter of HOW we deal with negative. That’s why I define Half-Fullism as “dealing with the literal world in a favorable way”.

What is your leadership philosophy?

I call it “Leading Our Way To Happiness” – making personal connections with those you lead, respecting their work, finding out what makes them happy, and connecting that with the overall goals and “cause” of the enterprise.   The simple fact is, if you are happy and I am happy, the business or enterprise will be successful.

How has leadership changed in the last three decades?

Leadership has made a big change from “command and control” to a more personal, inclusive and collaborative science.   I think that model is still being tweaked, because I believe one can go too far in the other direction, which can lead to inertia – the buck still has to stop somewhere.

Personal growth and continuous learning – how important is this in our times?

More important than ever – because things are changing SO fast out there.  Technology has enabled so many opportunities, it really does take a big commitment to continuous learning and improvement to keep up with it all, and thrive.

Quality – what is your definition or understanding?

Getting it right the first time. Every time.