Hello readers,
Some people talk about “community” like it’s a new idea.
But long before it became a buzzword, Eric Hawkinson was out there building them.
From the early days of HP’s Dscoop to launching Canon’s THINK community, Eric helped connect thousands of professionals across industries and continents—transforming how people share ideas, learn from one another, and grow together.
In this episode, we revisit those early days of digital print innovation and the lessons that still hold true today — how relationships shape opportunity, how leadership evolves through mentorship, and how the right connections make the world feel a little smaller.
Grateful you're here,
Larry
Big Ideas We Unpacked This Week
1. The World is Flat—If You Have Connections
Eric recalls how global collaboration turned from theory into reality. When you can pick up the phone and call peers in Japan, Australia, or the UK, the “global economy” stops being abstract — it becomes personal. It’s proof that opportunity scales with your relationships, not your geography.
2. Leadership that Listens
Eric contrasts two styles of leadership: the hard-charging visionary and the player-coach. The best leaders, he says, know when to set direction—and when to walk beside their team. It’s not about control; it’s about cultivating confidence and alignment.
3. Mentorship Works Both Ways
Larry shares one of his favorite lessons:
“A mentor’s hindsight is a mentee’s foresight.”
In mentoring others, we end up sharpening ourselves. Every conversation with someone younger, hungrier, or just wired differently expands our perspective.
4. From Politics to Printing: Organizing People Around a Vision
Eric’s early career in politics taught him how to rally people behind a cause—a skill that later shaped his approach to community and leadership. As he puts it:
“It’s okay to learn and then change your opinion based on what you’ve learned.”
True leadership is being flexible enough to evolve when new information appears.
What’s Up Next
🎙️ Our next episode drops November 3rd!
Our next episode features Jacqueline Jasionowski— a former BMW leader turned entrepreneur who’s redefining communication and confidence in the automotive world.
After twelve years with BMW, Jacqueline took a leap of faith to start her own coaching and training business, helping dealership technicians build trust and connect with customers through the power of video.
Subscribe to the Youtube channel below to ensure you never miss a new episode!
Got A Question For Larry?
Have a leadership challenge you’re facing? Curious about business, mentorship, or navigating big life decisions?
Now’s your chance to get those questions answered!
Going forward I will be answering real questions from real listeners and fans of the show — offering real talk, practical wisdom, and lessons from a life of experience.
Let’s turn your question into a conversation that helps everyone grow!
My Book – Business Cards & Shoe Leather
If you haven’t read my book yet, here’s a little about it:
In Business Cards & Shoe Leather, I share how I built a career in commercial printing while navigating the challenges of dyslexia and the realities of being an underdog. It’s filled with humor, hard lessons, and moments of clarity about what matters most: relationships, mentorship, and leading with integrity.
You’ll learn how I co-founded two international business cooperatives and why I believe cooperation will always beat competition.
The takeaways from this week are more than a history lesson — they are a reminder that progress doesn’t happen in silos. It happens when people come together, trade stories, and build trust.
For leaders, it’s a blueprint: listen first, lead with empathy, and never stop learning from the people around you.
Until next time…Make Today Count!