Photos by Ralph Freso
“There are no perfect jobs.”
Tom Lewis, renowned philanthropist and owner and CEO of real estate investment company the T.W. Lewis Co., delivered those words Monday morning to Grand Canyon University students at Sunset Auditorium.
Lewis shared that insight regarding leadership, success and contributing to the community as part of the series of talks named after him, the T.W. Lewis Speaker Series.
His significant donation, part of a five-year agreement, enabled GCU’s Colangelo College of Business to start the series this fall, and Lewis spoke comprehensively on his experiences to help college students.
“One thing universities do a bad job of is preparing you for the day after you graduate for your career,” Lewis said.
After receiving his degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Kentucky, he recalled being told, “Good luck.”
The first part of Lewis’ chat included insights from his book, “Solid Ground: A Foundation for Winning in Work and in Life,” published in 2020. It revealed ways to achieve success while rejecting myths and overcoming roadblocks.
Five hundred copies of the book were purchased and will be distributed to students, CCOB Dean John Kaites said.
“When you graduate from college, what are you going to do?” Lewis asked. “The world is confusing, at best. You have to have a plan. I understand how that works.
“… You don’t have to pick the perfect job.”
Lewis recommended to a business student unsure of his post-graduation plans but considering an MBA: Continue your education.
The master’s in business administration, Lewis said, “That’s a differentiator.”
Lewis earned his MBA at the University of North Carolina and felt afterward that “I had an advantage after that. Get a job and move after two years.”
Lewis believed it was important to gain experience by working for several companies and moving frequently in his 20s. The son of a Navy officer, he moved often as a youth. He had six jobs over an 18-year period, stationed in places such as Richmond, Virginia, and Dayton and Akron, Ohio.
In 1979, Lewis married and moved west the next day to start a job with a home-building company.
“We loaded a Volkswagen Rabbit and drove to Phoenix,” Lewis said. “I was open to experiment. I was not afraid to move to take a new job.”
Lewis’ message to students? “You cannot be successful without taking some risks.” The opportunity to gain experience and meet people, “That’s how you grow.”
He started his own business in 1991, taking six years to “get rolling.” But his company earned $300 million in gross sales at its peak.
Lewis then shared some tenets of success from his book. They included:
- Set goals. “You want your dream to come true, but what’s your dream?” Lewis asked. “A person without a goal is a ship without a rudder. … Set goals that inspire you. Set goals with words, not numbers.”
- Work hard. Try harder. “You fail, get back up,” Lewis said. “In that cycle, there are great things that happen – resilience, persistence and self esteem go way up. That’s how you build competence and confidence.”
- Take risks. “There is no security. There is no safe place. Go out on a limb. Don’t be afraid to fail. Everyone does it.”
- Manage your career. “Be prepared to make moves. When you make moves, there are more possibilities. I encourage you to keep moving in your 20s.”
At the same time, be aware of myths, such as:
- Follow your passion. Do what you love is a key to success and happiness. Nope. “Success and passion are two different things,” Lewis said. “Success is the result of hard work and persistence.”
- You can do anything you want. “No, you can’t,” Lewis said. “I wanted to be a college football player but didn’t have it.”
- Work smarter, not harder. “That means you don’t have to work that hard,” Lewis said. “You have to do both.”
Lewis became motivated to write his book in 2010 after he and his wife, Jan, interviewed 40 applicant finalists for scholarships funded by their T.W. Lewis Foundation.
This was around the advent of social media, and applicants started saying they wanted to find their passion instead of pursuing specific careers, such as doctors or lawyers.
But Lewis’ attraction to college never wavered, and he found he shared similar values with GCU.
“I see smiles on students’ faces. I notice it’s a happy place, more than others.”
A bout with cancer seven years ago reinforced Lewis’ faith. He was raised a Christian, and reading the New Testament brought him calmness and confidence – and the motivation to assist GCU.
“I made a deal with God to keep me going,” Lewis said.
GCU News senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]
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