George Vélez of Komet Sales shares the top five books that have helped him become a better leader. Vélez was featured in the most recent issue of Floral Management.
Constant learning is the key to success for George Vélez, who heads up software implementation and customer/employee onboarding at Komet Sales in Doral, Florida. Colombian by birth, Vélez came to Komet with a host of business experience, including working in the tourism, financial and publishing industries. The floral industry was new to him, although familiar since his native Colombia is the second largest exporter of flowers in the world.
Vélez, who was featured in the “Employee Spotlight” section of the latest issue of Floral Management, has found the skill that helps him achieve success in every aspect of his position is reading. He admits he wasn’t the best student in school, but on a job it was required he read a marketing book. “From that moment, I fell in love with reading and learning,” he says. “It’s so easy — you read and you apply what you read.”
Learning for Leadership
That first book sparked a passion for reading. “The more I read about business, the more I see there are patterns in textbooks. It’s reinforcement. If everyone comes to the same conclusion, they’re all getting there on purpose,” he shares.
Vélez loves to read about the experience of others in business.
“If they’ve taken time to write the books, I’ll take the time to read them. In the end, we are , so we must do business well, not just flowers.”
As he devours books, Vélez uses his newly acquired knowledge to help his team lead themselves.
“As a leader, I’m reaching into someone’s potential so they can develop the treasure they have hidden. Great leaders I’ve had have given me the tools to seek that treasure inside myself. When I see new ideas being applied, it makes me want to keep on learning to help others think for themselves, feel appreciated and have added value,” he says. “That’s what everyone wants — to know that the whole process is easier because they’re part of the team.”
Recommended Reading
We asked Vélez for his top reading suggestions for business leaders. (Vélez’s reviews on these books can be found here.)
- How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age, by Dale Carnegie
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change, by Stephen R. Covey
- The Knowledge Illusion: Why We Never Think Alone, by Steven Sloman
- Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H. Pink
- Hacking Growth: How Today’s Fastest-Growing Companies Drive Breakout Success, by Sean Ellis
To learn more about Vélez’s training tips and his best tech advice, read the “Employee Spotlight” column in the July/August issue of Floral Management.
Julie Martens Forney is a contributing writer for the Society of American Florists.
