Smart Business Magazine, January 2018
January 2018 Smart Business Cleveland 39 of problem solving can be traced back to his childhood when Fedeli forgot to bring his lunch to school one day My mother didnt drive a car so she couldnt bring it to me he says I was hungry so I said to another kid Are you going to eat that apple and that half of a sandwich If you are willing to share that my mother makes homemade pizza On Friday Ill bring you some On Friday I brought a whole sheet of pizza and it was good Now I can forget my lunch all the time because everybody wants me to bring pizza for them I had to be resourceful because I didnt have resources Whether he was a young boy trying to get some lunch or a seasoned professional trying to help his peers capitalize on a new business opportunity the approach is remarkably similar Its really simple Fedeli says If you want a friend you need to be a friend The law of reciprocity is you have to give away what you want without expecting anything in return Look at the need of that person the need of that customer the need of that friend who has a specific request or concern Whats good for them Umberto is Warm genuine and incredibly connected at the local state national international and perhaps intergalactic levels He is very smart hard working and possesses an encyclopedic memory But he is also humble and truly a servant leader who is committed to the success of our city region and country He has strong values but an open mind and a heart as big as all of Italy STEWART KOHL CO CEO THE RIVERSIDE CO Fedeli recalls an instance when he was able to make a connection for a friend that ultimately prevented him from making a big mistake This friend was looking to spend tens of millions of dollars building plants and equipment in a new location I said How do you know this opportunity is going to exist to build these things Fedeli says He said Well we think there is I introduced him to someone who was in a very highlevel position that had both the knowhow of the industry and the contacts I set up the meeting he went to Washington and when he came back he was so excited I said So its going to work As it turns out his friends excitement was actually a deep sense of relief The meeting had revealed that it wasnt the right time at all for a project of this scale He would have done it and it would have been disastrous were it not for that meeting Fedeli says He was happy he didnt go and take on something that would have been very difficult to get done Its that selfless commitment to helping people that made Fedeli a trusted resource for so many business leaders in the Cleveland area Umberto never forgets his roots Kohl says He is a self made man but one eager to help others also succeed And he wins by doing for others Its all about the result Fedeli is a fierce advocate of the Cleveland Clinic He has served on its board since 2000 and is also chair of its Umberto welcoming former President George W Bush
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