Introduction

Have you ever thought about advancing in your career without a college degree? Trust me, I’ve been there. The good news? It’s entirely achievable! While the road isn’t smooth, with hard work and dedication, you can reach your goals too.

Let me introduce myself: I'm Mike Atkinson, the CEO of a national retail company named Seattle Coffee Gear. With just a high school diploma, I might just be the most resourceful individual you’ll encounter. Here’s a piece of advice: if you aim to climb the corporate ladder sans degree, resourcefulness is key. Additionally, networking is crucial. Throughout my career, having strong relationships has been essential. As a leader, it's vital to motivate, support, and communicate effectively with your team. If you excel in these areas, you’ll achieve results, which is how success is ultimately measured.

After graduating high school with a modest GPA of 3.2, I wasn’t accepted into any universities. This was just as well, as I was eager to dive into the workforce. Motivated by financial success, I relocated to Seattle and secured my first “real job” as an inside salesperson at a fastener company. This role would significantly shape my leadership journey.

Mentoring Years

Working alongside Lynn and Ken, the father-son duo who owned the fastener business, I learned invaluable lessons. After proving myself as a capable salesperson, Ken recognized my potential and promoted me to sales manager in my mid-20s. He emphasized that as a leader, the most critical skill is to listen. Take a moment to let that sink in—listening is key. I embraced this advice and, over the following two years, led our small sales team to become the top fastener business in Washington state. Not exactly glamorous, but we all start somewhere!

Lynn, the father, took me under his wing as well. In his 60s, he had spent his life as a machinist and had a unique ability to connect with people and share a vision. He reiterated the importance of ensuring everyone felt heard and of articulating a clear vision to keep the team aligned toward common objectives. I absorbed everything these remarkable mentors shared, and both the business and I thrived.

Change Ahead

Three years into my tenure, Lynn and Ken decided to sell their business to capitalize on their investment. The new owner, a wealthy corporate individual, turned out to be quite the opposite of a great leader. I had witnessed effective leadership, and now I was about to learn what poor leadership looked like. Dave, the new owner, arrived with grand ambitions but a disregard for the importance of listening. Over the next 18 months, he dismantled the foundation that Lynn and Ken had built over the years. His lack of strategic direction and micromanagement eroded trust, leading to a mass exodus of loyal employees, including myself. Ultimately, the business collapsed within three years.

Opportunities Through Networking

I connected with Jim through LinkedIn networking. He owned a high-end remodeling business and was seeking someone to build a distribution business for a premium kitchen appliance line he had acquired. Jim, in his early 80s, wasn’t keen on starting from scratch, so he entrusted me to lead the new venture, Luwa Distributing Company.

Over the next five years, I secured additional appliance lines, hired a team, and grew the business from nearly zero to about $8.5 million in annual revenue. As Jim prepared to sell the business, I seized the opportunity to present my vision and strategic plan to buy it from him. It was successful! My top salespeople and I combined our resources, secured a business loan, and became owners. While I wasn’t officially a CEO yet, I was on the path thanks to Jim.

The ensuing decade was filled with business growth, personal development, and networking. From 1998 to 2008, we increased our annual revenue from $8.5 million to nearly $19 million. I had a fantastic management team, everyone was committed to the shared vision, and I felt like I had reached the pinnacle of my career—I was a CEO.

However, the economic downturn from 2008 to 2011 changed everything. Our business heavily relied on home remodels, and when the market collapsed, our revenue took a nosedive. The final blow was when our largest supplier decided to go direct to the market, ending our distributor agreement. In just three years, I went from a thriving CEO to a bankrupt one.

Learning from Failure

Experiencing failure is another essential lesson for leaders. My 18 years at Luwa Distributing were filled with valuable insights, and I was ready to apply those lessons in my next venture. Thanks to the networking I had done, new opportunities arose.

A Fresh Start

At the beginning of this narrative, I emphasized the importance of being resourceful and networking. Following the collapse of my previous business, I leveraged my connections, reaching out to hundreds of people to market my leadership skills. After a few years in senior management at a larger firm, my next opportunity came.

I met the founder of Seattle Coffee Gear in 2016 through a mutual acquaintance on LinkedIn. He sought someone to lead his business, describing the ideal candidate as “a people whisperer.” I fit that description and was hired as the VP of Operations in 2017. He had built a solid foundation but lacked a management team and strategic direction. Over the next three years, I helped scale the business from $17 million in annual revenue to over $50 million, established a top-tier executive team, and created a clear vision for the future.

In 2020, I was promoted to CEO, and we were acquired by an investment firm, allowing him to retire comfortably. Once again, I had reached the pinnacle of my career.

Today, in 2024, I’m still actively networking. I’m engaged on LinkedIn and joined a leadership peer group called Vistage in 2020, connecting with thousands of other business leaders across the country. When the time comes for me to step down from Seattle Coffee Gear, I’ll have already paved the way for my next leadership opportunity.

In conclusion, your journey to becoming a CEO isn’t dictated by your degrees, but rather your determination to conquer obstacles and your unwavering belief in your capabilities. Thank you for reading, and I wish you the best on your journey to becoming a CEO!

The first video, "No Limits, Only Boundaries | James Officer | TEDxHobartHighSchool," discusses how to overcome personal limitations and embrace possibilities.

The second video, "No Limits 0° Sleeping Bag Review," provides insights into outdoor gear, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right equipment for your adventures.