From Owner to Steward: Leading Your Business with Purpose

By Sarabeth Stone

“I felt like everything was at stake. Our people, their careers, their livelihoods, our customers, the plants we were responsible for, my own reputation. As a result, my response was to try to control everything.”

When Ben Fields assumed ownership of Operators Unlimited in 2015, he faced a unique level of fear and pressure. His predecessor and mentor, Ray Patton, had built the company, which treats wastewater for manufacturers across the Southeast, from the ground up with a charisma and magnetism that drew customers and employees alike. Ben knew he wasn’t Ray, and he wasn’t sure if he could fill the shoes of the legendary founder after his passing. Ben soon found himself carrying an immense burden—convinced that everything depended on him.

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