Meet Cleophus P. Franklin Jr. | Author/Entrepreneur/Professor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cleophus P. Franklin Jr. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cleophus P., what role has risk played in your life or career?
First, I must disclose that I have always been a risk-taker. It’s not that I move about with a cavalier and overconfident attitude; it’s just that I view taking risks as an opportunity versus something that is to be feared. To go from good to great is all in your ability to take risks! There’s a quote from a story in my leadership book, Conversations From Cleo, that also illustrates my perspective on taking risks. The quote is, “Don’t wait to create. Because while you wait, someone else is perfecting what you are waiting for!”

The story dives into the benefits of not being afraid to pursue the things that matter to you versus waiting for the perfect moment to take a chance. I also discuss why time is one of the few precious commodities we never accumulate, but instead, it is something we lose from the first day of our lives. Time waits for no one, especially those looking for the right and perfect moment to launch a business, test a new product, or begin a new project. The perfect moment will always be the moment that “you make perfect.” And you can’t do that if you are waiting for perfection to knock on your door!

For example, I decided to attend a high school outside of my neighborhood and later attend a college on scholarship, where I knew no one, which can be risky. I left a promising career in banking to join John Deere and worked my way to become a thriving junior executive there for 21 years. However, I left Deere to take on a leadership role with their top competitor and run their North American sales and operations business. In addition, I retired early from Mahindra to start three new business ventures while becoming a published author and adjunct professor at the University of Houston, Downtown. Each of these moves chronicled in my life involved taking a risk, and yes, I have always and still comfortable with a risk taking mindset…

When I look at the innovators, game changers, and trendsetters in business, they are all risk-takers who fanatically pursued their passions and dreams and did not wait for approval or the right moment. Don’t get me wrong. You can win significantly from taking a risk but also lose considerably more. However, when it comes to risk-taking, one must assess, weigh the benefits, and manage it. But as the saying goes, “nothing ventured, nothing gained” – because you can’t expect to achieve anything if you never take risks. I like to analyze and become well-informed before I take a risk and then manage it. For example, it’s essential to be well aware of the risks to understand and weigh the benefits and disadvantages. These are just processes I use to help me manage the opportunities and pitfalls that come along with risks.

In summary, there is always a risk of staying put and not moving forward with a plan, initiative, or action. I am more comfortable finding a way to move forward with the critical activities in my personal and business life rather than waiting on them. Why? Because when I am in motion, I am learning, adjusting, and adapting despite those who are more risk-averse. So, I’ll leave you with this. When you are waiting for the right moment, It is no different than procrastination. Sometimes, we choose not to take risks and stay put! However, please remember, while you are waiting to avoid the risk, someone less risk-averse has taken action, is learning, and is likely perfecting what you wanted to do. So, don’t wait to create!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What’s unique about my thirty-plus years of working in agriculture is that I am one of the few executives who worked for the top three global brands in the industry (John Deere, Case-New Holland (CNH), and Mahindra). My career journey has not been easy, but I can tell you that it has been more than gratifying as I have been blessed with so many valuable lessons, insights, and experiences from across the globe that have helped me become a better leader, entrepreneur, consultant, and professor.

I enjoyed my twenty-one years with John Deere, as I fast-tracked through fourteen assignments in the finance, agriculture, commercial, consumer, government, parts, and service business departments. These leadership experiences allowed me to acquire a wealth of cross-functional and global business exposure through diverse roles and opportunities that were both challenging and rewarding with a global market leader and iconic brand.

Deere is a Fortune 500 company and one of the most admired brands in the world, according to Fortune Magazine’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list. It is also a company where many employees work hard to join, and one would not easily entertain the thought of leaving a global leading brand. But I did when the opportunity came to joined their biggest competitor, CNH Agriculture, to lead ther multi-billion dollar North American sales and operations business.

I attribute my decision to take this leadership assignment with another company to my curious and “beginner’s mindset.” I have always been a voracious learner and seeker of opportunities to expand my skills, and this opportunity allowed me to acquire new skills and experiences from a different perspective.

In addition, I always embraced the opportunity to invest in building my business experience vertically and horizontally. Joining CNH broadened my business perspective, as I experienced the global agriculture industry from a different vantage point and competitor’s point of view. So when the chance came, I jumped at it!

One lesson I learned was to let failure and struggle become your springboard to success! I believe the experience of failure may bring you experiences you may not want, but it will also provide invaluable learnings you truly need. Failure offers us tough lessons through difficult challenges. But is also brings opportunities, insights. and skills like none other. This perspective has strengthened my tenacity to see things through personally and professionally and continues to guide my decisions and career path.

When I joined CNH Agriculture, I also learned that “one size does not fit all” in business and to continuously “adapt what you know to help take you where you want to go.” Transisitioning to lead a new business from one company to another in the same industry can be challenging if you are not willing to roll up your sleeves and take time to understand the drivers of the culture and perspectives of a different organization. Balancing what you bring from one experience is essential because companies hire you for your talent and knowledge. However, this can be tricky because what works in one place may be ineffective in another.

Sometimes, significant changes come in small increments, and I learned that the success of any performance expectation is driven by aligning and managing expectations upfront and the best validation is through your actions and ability to deliver upon those expectations. More importantly, it is critical to always validate expectations by showing your ability to focus on “doing the right things right” on the business priorities that matter. My advice to anyone experiencing a challenging situation is not to become dismayed and to stay after it. Develop a network of mentors who can provide you with new and different perspectives. Lastly, always be open to understanding the nuances of the business culture and how decisions are made, and never lose focus on the metrics that matter,

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you’re coming to Houston, be prepared to sample its diverse cultures, places to see, and the people who make the city a must-see location! Houston possesses a vibrant personality from its award-winning restaurants and thriving communities, which offer rich, unique experiences. When visiting, I would always recommend checking out one of “H-Town’s” sports teams, from the Rockets, Championship winning Astros, Texans, or Dynamo…as no matter the season, our teams will put on a show at its world-class venues!

Now, let’s discuss what and where to eat. Whether you are interested in Texas BBQ, Seafood, Steaks, Tex-Mex, or Asian food, the choices are vast. So please do yourself a favor and sample them all! From visiting Katy’s Asian Town to Papadeuxs for some great seafood or Truth or Papas BBQ, you can’t go wrong.

By the way, we are just an hour from Galveston, a great place to visit for those who love the beach. This town has lots to offer, especially during Mardi Gras Season. The Space Center is a must-visit location, and our downtown skyline is pretty, too, as the museum and theater districts will deliver all-year-round entertainment for your pleasure.

As the fourth largest city in the United States, I can tell you that when you visit and are bored…it is your fault because Houston has so much to offer and will keep you busy and hopping once you are here!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shout-out and recognize Laddering Your Success, its founder, Festus Amoye, and my LYS colleague, Olay Shorunke. I am the CMO of this company and enjoy working with this innovative education technology platform, which is not only a difference-maker but will also positively change lives.

Laddering Your Success’s sole purpose is to help mentor, coach, and create the next generation of future leaders by investing in the professional and personal development of junior high and high school students and the teachers who help them turn their learning into real-world applications! This organization has taken education technology, lesson planning, and mentoring to the next level with results that impact the education delivery process like none other. My experience working with these young up-and-coming Houston entrepreneurs has sparked my entrepreneurial interest and helped increase my business acumen and strategic agility to enhance my network further because ‘your net worth is equal to your network!” So, please check them out at https://ladderingyoursuccess.com/.

Website: www.franklinss.com and www;coffeewithcleo.com and https://www.morningside.edu/student-life-and-arts/leadership-development/franklin-leadership-foundation/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coffeewithcleo/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleophus-cleo-franklin-jr-b351b82/

Twitter: https://x.com/cleofranklinjr

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cleofranklin6631