By Scott Smith
Joe Cannon, CEO of Geneva Steel told members of the BYU chapter of The Golden Key National Honors Society to remember the importance of luck in business at the societies monthly doughnut shop meeting Friday, Nov. 10.
“Never underestimate the power of serendipity in your life,” Cannon said, “A lot of luck is involved in anything one does.”
Cannon said he was not expecting to become CEO of Geneva Steel, but when he became involved with purchasing the plant in the 80’s, he was assigned to be the CEO.
When the opportunity to purchase Geneva Steel came, Cannon said he was living in Washington D.C. and working for the Environmental Protection Agency.
He said the idea of moving back to Utah was not even a consideration at the time.
Cannon told the members of the Golden Key National Honor Society to always be able to accept the changes and adjustments the lord will want for them in the future.
“I do not want to say that you should let life happen to you,” Cannon said, “but too many people overstructure their lives and don’t make important coarse adjustments.”
Cannon was invited to speak at the honor society monthly doughnut shop meeting because of his position at Geneva steel said Jacob Evans, President of the BYU chapter of the Golden Key National Honor Society.
Evans, 24, a senior from Falls Church, Va., majoring in electrical engineering said the purpose of the ‘doughnut shop’ meeting is to provide a forum where students can listen to experiences of executives or entrepreneurs, and enjoy some doughnuts.
“I am always interested in learning about others’ ideas and how they plan to succeed,” said Clint Rogers 23, a senior from Eden Prairie, Minn., majoring in Marriage Family and Human Development.
Evans said that is the purpose of the doughnut shop. Following the speaker, students have the opportunity to ask the speaker about their own business ideas and receive input on their plans, he said.
“The meeting always takes on a life of its own,” Evans said, “people come with their own ideas and they get to voice the idea and develop it.”
While Cannon said he does not consider himself an entrepreneur, he said he serves on the entrepreneurial committee of the National Advisory counsel of the Marriott School of management.
