John Tuttle

A former high school and college football player, John Tuttle, who played wide receiver at Eastern Michigan University, grew up wired to compete. But when it comes to winning, he learned his most important lessons while working for 17 years at the New York Stock Exchange. That’s where he observed the traits of those who succeeded in business and leadership at the highest level (and where he saw others succumb to failure).

Of course, nothing is easy when you’re scaling one of the fastest-growing fintech companies in the world. But Tuttle doesn’t shy away from a challenge.

“Run to where the problem is, and not from it,” Tuttle said on a recent Corporate Competitor Podcast. “You’ll learn so much. You’ll gain people’s trust and respect, and you know you’re in the arena, you’re helping, you’re in the game, versus being on the sidelines hoping somebody else solves it.”

In just over a decade, thanks to this philosophy, Acrisure, which boasts 19,000 employees across 22 countries, has grown from $38 million in revenue to nearly $5 billion.

Today, its name also proudly sits on the front of the Pittsburgh Steelers stadium. Acrisure Stadium is the site of many gridiron clashes. Just like those on the field, though, some teams in business are successful and some are pretenders. It takes a developed eye to see the difference.

In this episode, you will learn how to:

• Expand your surface area: The former wideout explained that maintaining a broad sense of curiosity can lead to innovative insights. “The broader the aperture,” he said, “the more dots you can connect that others can’t see.”

• Resist the scripted path: Tuttle warned against following someone else’s idea of success. Instead, he said, step off the beaten path. To pave your own way, leverage your own curiosity and enact the strategies you think are best. 

• Be humble: It’s important to check your ego, even in the best of times, Tuttle explained. Similarly, he noted, it’s important to be able to accurately self-assess your skills and weaknesses. Those are traits that lead to winning, on and off the field.

Resources:

• Connect with John Tuttle on LinkedIn