The story of me resigning as President of Jackson Kayak and starting Apex Watercraft.
I have been asked time and time again- “why?”.
Here is my analogy that I think speaks to it pretty well.
When you have kids, you start with them depending upon you for everything to survive. They are there because of conception, they survive because you feed, them cloth them, and house them. Over time you teach them what you can to begin to survive on their own. At first they resist doing the actions that make them self sufficient. They like having everything taken care of.
Eventually, once they get older, they become confident in one area of their life at a time. They even resist input from you at some point in areas they feel good about doing themselves. And, finally, they are ready to run their own lives, and hopefully, do it even better than you do.
Jackson Kayak was very much like that. I was President/CEO, Marketing Director, Sales Manager, R+D manager, Athlete, etc… Over time, however, as the company grew I put people in places of responsibility. 2009 Tony Lee comes R+D director. Same year Marty became Sales Manager. James McBeath becomes Marketing Director. Joe Pullium and Dave Olson started running the business from the administrative point of view as well. I got to the point that even team JK was being managed by my daughter, Emily, Clay, and Aaron.
There was no shortage of stuff for me to do, of course, but in the process I had such a strong management group that it was like me dictating to my adult kids how to live. Each person brought such a strong skill set and knowledge and their own way of doing things. This is what you want in your kids, and this is what you want in your business. However, I think I am a bit like my wife Kristine- and here I go on a tangent…
Kristine came to me in 2008 when Dane was 14 and Emily was 18 and said she wanted to have another child. I felt I was at the “end zone” raising my kids and wasn’t sure I wanted start from scratch again. She, very specifically said she wanted to raise another one. She wanted somebody to truly “need her” again. I said, “your kids do need you!” She wanted an infant that depended on her, as well as her young adults that could survive on their own. I offered to take that role, but she kindly declined, and that is where KC came from.
I was the same way with Jackson Kayak. Everyone wanted to run their own departments how they were capable of doing, while I was ready to be in charge of things again. It made more sense to me to start a new business and let Jackson Kayak run the business with the amazing people there already doing the job, than to bully my way back in to every department. My little business started in 2004 was all grown up and has a mind of its own. It was time for it to have the freedom of operating without me and me to have the opportunity to raise another company from infant to whatever stage I am qualified to bring it to.
Like having kids, you can’t run a business like this by yourself. I have a host of characters that I call the Apex Party, and they are the best at what they do. I am the sole owner of my new business which gives me the opportunity to make my own mistakes and not have anyone else affected, as well as make good things happen and be able to enjoy the benefits and share them. Of course, you can’t give something to somebody that you don’t have, so sharing in the success requires success first.
It is my hope that Jackson Kayak will hit its stride with new leadership, in that leadership’s own style, not being held to my personal set of rules. My kids are still working hard at Jackson Kayak, and so many amazing people who are my friends and allies. It is a bit scary leaving the company without me in a leadership role, but not that scary; Much like watching Dane or Emily head out on their own kayaking trip overseas without Kristine and I. They won’t do everything how we would, and it would be easier for them in some cases if we were there, but in the end, they will find their way, and likely do it better than we ever did.
Meanwhile- I have an infant that needs feeding…. Her name is “Apex”, you can find baby photos and stories here at www.apexwatercraft.com and on Facebook at @apexwatercraft or Instagram at @apexwatercraft
EJ