Ona Gem

Background

About Ona Gem

Someone once told me, “You manage things and tasks, and you lead people.” This statement has been a tenet in my professional career ever since. If I had to choose one word to describe myself, I would say that…. I Am Awesome. Those of you who don’t know me may be offended by this statement, but most that do know me would agree. There is no hubris or conceit when making this statement. It’s just true, and if you ever got the chance to know me, you would understand.A few months ago, I had an epiphany. What we do in the outside world - what we call a job or a career whether it is to construct, destruct, procure, or sale - it is all about dealing with a widget, and while dealing with this widget, we interact with people. Ultimately, what I have come to realize is that my career is not about this widget; my career is about dealing with the people and creating relationships. I decided right then and there that I am no longer in the business of constructing, but instead, I am in the business of people. I am in the business of creating relationships, empowering those around me, and finding solutions.I believe that there are two types of people in this world. Either you can lead with respect, or you can rule by fear. I'm sure that most people believe that they are the former, but I also know that people typically think higher of themselves than what is perceived by the outside world. If you really want to know what kind of leader you are. Look at the people that work for you and count how many of them would follow you into the depths of hell on some known "crappy" job regardless of pay just so they could work on your team. Then, you'll really know what kind of leader you are.