“Leadership is lonely, leadership is tough,” notes Richard Siskey.  And Siskey would know.  The founder of a number of businesses, an angel investor and a national speaker, Richard Siskey has learned some major lessons in leadership over the course of many years in business.  “While I learned many valuable things during my studies and MBA program, there is no greater teacher of leadership than life and experience,” reports Richard Siskey.  According to the Charlotte, North Carolina-based businessman there are many life lessons he has learned, five of which he shares in this brief article.

First, Richard Siskey asserts that it’s critical to “not major in minor things.”  Over the years, he has seen many individuals in business major in the minor.  “I have watched leaders micromanage, major in details and pointless points and get nowhere,” explains Richard Siskey.  Individuals that follow this path “annoy their followers (if they have any) and frustrate themselves,” says Siskey.

The second principle of leadership that Richard Siskey shares is to “hire people smarter than you.”  The people around you, says Siskey, will determine your altitude in business.  Those who want to go farther and higher in business need to hire people who know more than they do.  According to Richard Siskey, arrogantly pretending to have all the answers will stunt growth.  “Confident people, not arrogant ones, can admit that they need other people to be a success,” adds Richard Siskey.

“You may have to lose a battle to win the war,” points out Richard Siskey, “is the third principle I have found important.”  Yet Siskey says that sometimes the battle may not be what you may think.  “Many times to ‘win the war’, a leader will have to lose the battle of self,” says Richard Siskey.  Losing the battle of self, according to Siskey, is swallowing pride, admitting mistakes and asking for help.  And while he says there are other battles that one may lose, “this battle of self being lost can win the war of leadership in and of others.”

When losing the battle of self, a leader will build people, Richard Siskey believes.  “That is why the fourth principle of leadership is that the greatest success is found when everyone wins.”  People who have no followers are not leading anything. Leadership requires an investment in people, according to Richard Siskey.  And when everyone wins, the success is greater for leaders like Siskey.

“We learn more from our failure than from success, is the fifth principle that I cling to,” continues Siskey.  Failure is an option, according Richard Siskey.  “Failure in itself is not a problem, it is the failure to learn from failure that is the problem,” notes Richard Siskey.  From the painful moments, leaders can garner so many lessons “if they are willing,” adds Richard Siskey. He concludes by pointing out that not only are these five principles true about leadership, they are true about life in general.

About Richard Siskey

Over a span of thirty years, Richard C. Siskey (Rick Siskey) has become known as a premier investor and advisor to numerous entrepreneurs and businesses.  Possessing what the Greater Charlotte Biz magazine dubbed, “an uncanny ability to discern situations in advance,” Richard Siskey knows what it takes to start, build, finance and sell businesses.

Motivated by raw challenge and competition, Richard Siskey founded Wall Street Capitol.  After spending years in the financial markets, Richard Siskey developed moves and strategies that were a proven success.  In establishing Wall Street Capitol, Siskey envisioned a company that would service all the financial needs expected by high networth clientele.  Today, with a phenomenal talent and skill set under one roof, Wall Street Capitol performs at a level not easily matched for entrepreneurs and individuals of financial means.

Richard Siskey is the Chairman of Siskey Industries, LLC.  Siskey Industries offers traditional and alternative sources of capital funding, strategic advisory solutions and alternative investment opportunities.  As Chairman of Siskey Industries, Richard Siskey joins his expertise to a network of industry professionals in the arena of private equity investing.

Known for his integrity, Richard Siskey has built his businesses based upon that value.  In a recent article one of Siskey’s clients commented, “Integrity, without question, has to be number one in financial services. I have personally seen his integrity moved from words to action.”

In 2000, Richard Siskey moved Wall Street Capitol to a specially designed 75,000 square foot office building located on prime real estate in the SouthPark area of Charlotte, North Carolina.  With the professional touch often related to Siskey, these offices have become the infrastructure for expansion.  Today Richard Siskey, Wall Street Capitol and Siskey Industries serve a diverse base of clients both regionally and nationwide.

Richard Siskey believes that community and family are to be valued above business.  He has supported and actively given to Queens College, Catholic Social Services and numerous charities that include the United Way.  In a long list of opportunities, Siskey points to one that has nothing to do with money or business:  the YMCA.  In 1995, Richard Siskey’s civic contributions and support of the YMCA organization were honored with the naming of The Siskey Family YMCA, a recognition for which he remains very grateful.

Richard Siskey completed his Masters of Business Administration at the Queens University of Charlotte.  Deeply grateful to have earned his graduate degree from the prestigious McColl School of Business, Siskey has lectured throughout the country on a number of fiscally oriented topics. Richard Siskey is also past member of the National Speakers Association, in good standing.

Richard Siskey has been a resident of Charlotte, North Carolina for over twenty-six years.  He is married to Diane and they have two adult children.