My ERM Career Journey - Tell Me About Yours

ERM on the Farm?

Eight of us graduated high school together in a small school in the southern part of the USA. Farm work, taking care of cattle, building fence were all just part of our daily life. Believe it or not, farmers and ranchers are the ultimate entrepreneurs. My grandfather always seemed to know what to do and when. He knew when to bale hay and when to sell livestock. He took advantage of the best opportunities at just the right time. I never seemed to really catch on to the big picture, so I mostly did what I was told. 

Mapping What Could Go Right and Wrong

I became intrigued with ERM when it was first introduced to me as a manager at Arthur Andersen. Andersen got a bad rap, but to this day I have never seen another organization invest more in people or customers. ERM tools and training were provided so we could help our clients succeed in strategy execution.

What I loved about the concept from the beginning was how we started with a holistic map of "business risks" every company faced. The more I dug in, the more I realized that this "risk map" stuff actually represented the issues every entrepreneur thinks about on a daily basis without even knowing it.

ERM helped me understand how my grandfather used to think and prioritize his time and mine. He had his own little ERM risk map for the farm in his head.

Franchising the Business Owner's Thought Process

ERM in reality is the process of franchising throughout the organization the type of entrepreneurial thinking that goes on inside the mind of the business owner. It helps to create a holistic process for asking the right questions, "What risks should or could we take?" and "What risks should I avoid?"

My journey started with a technical understanding of ERM. Over time I had the opportunity to apply and practice the concept. In the organizations I have been involved with, watching ERM become a key way of thinking has honestly been some of my most memorable career moments. 

Your Story?

Tell me about some of your most memorable career events. I would love to hear them.  ty