Steve Satterwhite is a thought leader, an entrepreneur, an author, and CEO. He’s built a business that has grown despite significant environmental and internal challenges.
He set out to build the company he always wanted to work for and he based the company on the simple and personal philosophy that he shares with us in this Paper Napkin Wisdom: “Everything we think, say or do is either above the line or not…It’s either adding to or taking away.”

Above the Line

Steve calls his philosophy the Above the Line philosophy. He believes that everything we think, say, and do ought to be designed to give our employees, customers and partners a “WOW” experience with us. It’s an idea that, for him, started as a life philosophy and was later rolled into his business. It’s simply thinking about what thoughts, words, and actions we can do for our employees and our customers. It’s a frame of reference and a starting point. Steve says, “It’s very values driven. It’s just doing the right thing.” He believes that everyone knows what the right thing to do is and we embody the Above the Line philosophy by simply asking ourselves: “Are we lifting people up or are we tearing them down?”

“Are we lifting people up or are we tearing them down?”

If we as leaders live through this philosophy, we make our businesses into a place where people feel valued, everyone has the chance to be the best possible version of themselves, and employees are comfortable being authentic. When we have that kind of culture, productivity is higher, our teams are engaged, and that leads to both financial and non financial profit. Steve shares the very personal story of how the death of his best friend lead him to really implement this in his business. The benefits of living and leading through this style have been innumerable for him, what might they be for you?
Listen to my conversation with Steve here:

Get Steve’s book Above the Line: How the Golden Rule Rules the Bottom Line