Bud Frith Working Past 80

Bud Frith has a history of decades of executive leadership in various high-tech companies, often serving as the CEO.

Bud’s father served as a chaplain in the Army in World War II, landing in the second wave on Omaha Beach. After returning from the war his father was a church planter/developer with common sense and love for all people, serving in southwestern Virginia. After many years in church ministry, Bud’s father and mother “retired” and started a foster home for disadvantaged children. Watching his parents’ ministry, both in church ministry and as foster parents, greatly influenced Bud.

After graduating from Virginia Military Institute and service in the Air Force, Bud worked on the first manned space program, developing clean room standards for NASA/ Military contractors. Bud served as an USAF officer and then resigned to work in industry, still the space program but with a new start up technology company.

He met his wife Jeanne organizing a new singles group in a Baptist church in Orlando. Seven young men and over 100 young women showed up the group’s first meeting including his future bride now of over 55 years. He credits her influence and patience with most of his success, both as a business leader and as a father.

His career included stints as CEO of various successful tech ventures, first in Orlando, then Boston. In 1983 he and his family moved to Boulder, Colorado, to be a turnaround CEO of a technology company there. Stints as CEO of tech companies based in Los Angeles and Minnesota followed.

Bud states that at age 70 “I had a come to Jesus meeting with myself. I realized I wasn’t having fun anymore and I wasn’t productive. I was extremely busy. I was putting out fires, but it wasn’t what I wanted to be doing, and I was spending a lot of time not accomplishing anything, either for myself or the companies I was trying to help.”

Bud cites the wisdom shared by his friend, pastor, author and former CEO of World Vision, Gordon MacDonald, as being extremely important at this phase of life. Bud reports a conversation with Gordon many years ago, where Gordon asked him “What are you really accomplishing, Bud? And are you enjoying it? If you had another 20 years, what is that going to look like?

Here is Bud’s summary of Gordon MacDonald’s thought, from a recent talk Dr. MacDonald gave at Denver Seminary:

· Protect and nourish key relationships.

· Seek fresh ideas. Keep learning and growing.

· Maintain health: Rest, nutrition, exercise.

· Regularly recalibrate expectations. Bud reports that at age 82, some things, like preparing his taxes, take twice as long as they did a 65. “It takes me a lot longer to figure out how much money I spent and wasted in the past year.”

· Spend/Save/Give by plan and principle.

· Reallocate work/play/learning time.

· Eliminate non-essential stuff. Downsize.

· Resolve resentments.

· Encourage younger people.

· Expect obscurity. The younger generation will have the seats in the future. You are still going to be the mentor, the consultant. They are going to call on you, but don’t think they are going to think you are the one making them successful.

· Maintain public and private worship.

· Cultivate a thankful spirit.

· Anticipate Increasing amounts of loss. Medical problems and passing of friends.

· Build a legacy.

Bud continues to mentor young technology entrepreneurs in Boulder, Colorado. He continues to serve on various charitable boards. He has served as an elder at his church. His highest reward in his life is the continued legacy of Christian faith he sees in his children and grandchildren, “knowing the next two generations have been influenced by God through me.”

Jeanne’s perspective: Bud needs to say “no” more often and reduce his willingness to be the person who cleans up messes in the non-profit space.

Bud agrees with Jeanne that he needs to slow down. “I’m on overload.” He would like to focus more of his time on helping in the businesses of his son and son-in-law, who both desire his help. The next season of life his challenge will be to say no, so he can focus on the most important priorities.

Perhaps the biggest challenge of aging, when one has been a doer and a leader for decades of a very productive life, is to recognize and act on the need to downsize not just possessions, but life activities.

Focus on the essentials.

Set boundaries.

Say no more often.

I am reminded of a story, told by a young business executive, of an encounter with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at the ice machine on their hotel floor. He asked Dr. Kissinger if he could share his secret of negotiation. “No.” was the deep gravelly reply. The young executive immediately apologized, thinking he had offended the great negotiator. Dr. Kissinger continued, “No, young man. The secret to negotiation is no. Always begin with no.”

Do you know someone who is actively working or volunteering past age 70? I would love to hear their story!

russ@strategicexit.com