John Middleton began his working career as a Mechanical Engineer with the family business which was manufacturing and marketing lawnmowers. During his MBA studies he realized that he had more passion for the commercial side and less for the manufacturing part of the business. After selling the family business, John joined an international lock company as Sales and Marketing Director.
Fast forward a good few years and heaps of experience gained, John is currently the Market Region Manager for Assa Abloy for Africa and the Middle East.
I Am Driven By | I believe in the parable of the 5 talents. If you are given talent, you must use it. I hate to see people waste the opportunities given them. I strive to reach my true potential.
A Key Talent | I believe in people and start by putting my trust in them. I give them responsibility, and guidance so that they are able to do a good job. My basic belief is that people come to work to do a good job. It is my job to see that there are no obstacles in their way to prevent them from achieving.
The Characteristics Of Success | I think listening is the greatest habit to develop. I like to listen, question, and then listen again. This way I end up with a good understanding of the situation and then am able to suggest a solution or strategy. Many people are thinking what they want to say rather than listening to what others have to say.
Principles I Live By | Honesty and being true to yourself are my most important values. It is too easy to sell out for money. One needs to be absolutely firm about staying honest.
Lessons I Have Learnt | You can’t achieve anything unless you take people with you. You have to sell them the vision and inspire them to adopt the vision. Once people are bought in you can achieve great things.
Performing At My Peak | You have to find a balance in your life. You need to have an exercise program and a way of unwinding from the stresses of the ‘fast lane’. This will help you stay at your peak.
My Future Dreams And Ambitions | I would like to do volunteer teaching in my retirement, to give disadvantaged kids a chance to make something of their lives.
The Best Advice I’ve Received | Don’t chase money. Dedicate yourself to your career, work hard, take responsibility, hold yourself accountable, and success will follow. Maybe not as fast as you may think you want, but you will win through eventually.
I Am Inspired By | I had a CEO who was a true leader. He led by example, was interested in his people, and was able to inspire us to believe in his vision. He taught me to remain humble and that ‘servant leadership’ really works.
