Smart Business Magazine, February 2016

February 2016 Smart Business Columbus 9 JANE GROTE ABELL RISING TO THE CHALLENGE JANE GROTE ABELL Chairwoman of the Board Donatos Pizza A founding family member of Donatos Pizza Jane is heavily focused on the chains mission of promoting goodwill through product service principles and people She was recently named CEO of the Year by Columbus CEO featured in CBSs hit series Undercover Boss and released her first book in December 2015 The Missing Piece Doing Business the Donatos Way www donatos com Risk is opportunity Taking risks are critical to creating new paths in business and in life Over the years Ive gained a lot of experience and come to understand my strengths as a business leader but Ill readily admit that its becoming harder to take risks and push myself into uncharted territory So as we ring in a new year I thought it would be fitting to share my personal experience with risk Dont talk yourself out of taking risks I believe that taking risks is critical to creating new paths of continuous learning in life and in business For a business risk can uncover new markets new audiences and new capabilities Risk forces leaders to set aside their fears and take strides toward future success Although many people myself included are tempted to succumb to excuses like this isnt the right time or I dont think I can do it learning to move past such insecurities will lead to new levels of success for you and your business I first learned about taking risks from my father a small business owner with a dream to expand his pizza shop Having worked alongside him for years I experienced firsthand the effects of stepping outside of my comfort zone In most cases those calculated risks preceded some of my greatest business accomplishments Throwing doubt aside one more time This past year I was challenged to do so again when a mentor of mine Paul Otte pushed me to write a book Im a wife a mother a businesswoman and a philanthropist but becoming an author was never on my bucket list But the more I thought about it the more I thought I owed it to the family legacy to share the Donatos story While this book is the history of our business as a small pizza shop on the southside of Columbus that eventually sold to the biggest restaurant company in the world my hope is that it can inspire and help other small business leaders Thus I put pen to paper threw doubt aside and wrote from my heart My first book The Missing Piece Doing Business the Donatos Way was published in December Its my account of a lifelong education in leadership authenticity and running a values based company And its tangible proof that Im still up for taking risks When I was younger I used to joke that my lack of experience allowed me to be wide open to learning new things and taking risks http bit ly 22lu8WH www facebook com DonatosPizza @ Donatos www janegroteabell com