Paul Stepanek Took the Stage at the Scale Up Summit

Can Scaling Up be applied successfully in China?  “Absolutely,” explained Paul Stepanek, President, Complete Manufacturing Solutions, as he took the stage at the ScaleUp Summit Fall 2017 Conference in St. Louis on October 17th.  “We make it personal, we make it real, and we make it part of a daily routine.”

Summit is an annual gathering of hundreds of senior-level executives from FORTUNE’s “Fastest Growing Companies” as well as hundreds of senior executives of fast-growing mid-market firms.  Globally recognized authors and experts share new best practices in leadership, strategy, marketing, sales, operations, and finance.   

In the late 80s Paul arrived by boat in Shanghai with a backpack. A lifelong learner and hopeful entrepreneur, he took advantage of being in the right place in exceptional times, and began building a unique business in China. Along the way, years later he discovered his first copy of Verne Harnish’s book – an English language version of Mastering the Rockefeller Habits. The team struggled along – frustrated – confused at times, yet persistent and reasonably disciplined, in applying the Rockefeller Habits within a company composed almost exclusively of Chinese citizens, an adventure in translation unto itself.  

A Mandarin edition of Mastering the Rockefeller Habits was introduced to the team – and things really started to click. The CMD team stuck with it – each year re-reading the book – gleaning ideas and inspiration for how growth could be accelerated. Each year, implementing more of The Habits – getting bigger and stronger.

Summit offered an opportunity for reflection on progress, as well as networking with like-minded innovators always on the hunt for creative ways to accelerate their business.