Many people have asked how I approach the first 90 days as a new CEO. While every situation is unique, I've found that a consistent blueprint dramatically improves the odds of success. Here are the five principles I come back to every time. 1. Make your own assessment. Don't inherit opinions—develop your own. Before making major decisions, validate everything through firsthand observation, data, and facts. 2. Cast a wide net. Meet with leaders, employees, customers, supplier

We all have those people we work with early in our careers whose influence we don’t fully appreciate until years later. For me, that person was Peter W. Shoemaker.