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Have you ever worked for a terrible boss?

Let’s face it! We all have! If you’ve been fortunate enough not to have to work under anyone your whole life — count your blessings.

On the Inner Edison Podcast with Ed Parcaut, we love to discuss the topic of learning from our greatest challenges. But, sometimes, the most remarkable things we can learn come from other people’s mistakes.

That certainly was the case for Greg Kyler.

After working for over a decade of working union jobs with little say and terrible bosses, he left to start a business — in an industry, he knew nothing about — at the age of 40.

This is what he learned from the experience.

Becoming a Business Owner

Starting a business at 40 years of age sounds like a crazy idea, right? Especially when you’ve got a good-paying union job with benefits and security.

Well, Greg didn’t think so. He started a business with no experience in his industry he knew nothing about — signs.

All Greg knew for sure were these three things:

1. He had a good work ethic.
2. He always thought like a business owner.
3. He would never become the type of boss he regretted working for at his union jobs.

Armed with these three truths, he set out to create a business called City Signs. Twenty-four years later, he’s still in business.

Becoming the Boss He Always Wanted

Greg started his business knowing one thing for sure. He wanted to become the type of boss that he always wanted. So from the very beginning, he set out to create a business where employees feel valued.

When looking for employees, he says he always looked for good people first. It didn’t matter to him if they knew the business. He could teach them that. The one thing he could never teach was having the right attitude.

He would slide his business card to hard-working people he would meet in the community. It was a strategy that was successful for him.

Then he went about treating his employees like valued parts of the business. He provided handsome benefits packages and often came to his employees first to give them a raise — not the other way around.

With each successful year, he expanded his team using the same strategy:

1. Find good people.
2. Educate them about the business.
3. Help his employees feel respected, appreciated, and valued.

Greg lives by Dale Carnegie’s principle that “they don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Today, City Signs employs over 28 people.

Create a Business Your Employees Would Be Glad to Own

Greg kept his promise about never becoming like his former bosses at his old union jobs. Instead, he created a business that his employees could feel proud of owning.

Knowing that he couldn’t hold on to the business forever (and wanting to get out and golf), he sold his business to two current employees. It’s an extended contract to make it easier for everyone.

Just one more way that Greg shows that he appreciates and values his employees, even when he sells them the company.

Starting at 40 years old may feel old for most people, but Greg believed he could become a business owner his employees would respect. If you ask him, he’ll tell you that his business wasn’t about signs. It was about people.

Who were the most important people? His employees.

Edison Moments: Learned or Lived?

Sometimes we learn our Inner Edison moments from our problems and challenges. Other times, we learn from others what not to do.

However you get your Edison moments, lived or learned, be sure to check out the Inner Edison Podcast with Ed Parcaut.

For more great interviews, please check out our podcast page, or tune in each week.