When you can’t find a job that allows you to use your skills, gives you opportunities to have positive impacts on others, and dare we say, brings you joy, what do you do? In the case of David Gracey, founder and president of Network 1 Consulting which designs, builds and supports IT for small businesses in greater Atlanta, you create your own job.

After graduating from Georgia Tech with an industrial engineering degree in 1989, David worked for two small consulting firms where he learned what not to do as a leader. “You can learn just as much from a bad boss as a good one; the lessons are just different,” David shared. What lessons did he take to heart? “Young employees crave knowledge, guidance and feedback, for starters. Additionally, consistent communication from management and a healthy corporate culture are vital for a small business to grow and thrive,” David continued.

Approaching his 30th birthday, realizing his career was not going anywhere at his current company, and believing he could do a better job of running a company that his employers were doing, David started planning the launch of his own company. “That was the scariest – but best – career decision of my life,” David said.

Growing up in Clarksville, TN, David learned early lessons on workplace culture from local professor-turned-businessman, Dr. Harry McLeod. After 40 years of teaching chemistry at the local college, “Dr. Harry” started a small chemical manufacturing business with his wife, Ruby Jean, who managed the company’s finances. Dr. Harry employed David and many other local high school students, paying them minimum wage for their hard work. “My experience working for the McLeods taught me the value of hard work and to be proud of what I had accomplished at the end of the day. I also discovered that I wanted to earn more than minimum wage,” David laughed. He learned different lessons from Ruby Jean. “I learned that the customer isn’t always right, but they are always the customer. If you greet them with a smile and treat them fairly, you’ll have a customer for life,” David said. “On top of that, treat your employees like family, since you spend more time with them than most of your family members.” Decades after working for the McLeods, David still keeps the paperweight they gave him when he started Network 1 on his desk. “I keep it as a reminder of the people who taught me important life lessons and how to successfully run a business.”

Network 1 now employs more than 40 people and is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023. In that time, David has navigated quite a few changes in an industry that is always in flux. Remaining humble about his role, David believes his single most important skill as CEO is to be good enough at a particular position until he can hire someone who is better at the job than he is. “I’m not the best IT engineer, salesperson, accountant, client manager, trash taker-outer or dishwasher emptier, but I could perform all those jobs decently enough to get us to the next level,” he said.

As Network 1 grows, David spends time ensuring it continues to meet client needs by improving communication methods, expanding systems and processes, and adjusting team structures. While all of that is essential, David’s sees his most important leadership role is to present a clear vision, demonstrate a positive attitude, and create a company culture that is challenging, compassionate, and growth oriented.

David’s counsel to others thinking about taking the entrepreneurial route is pragmatic in nature. “Make sure you are prepared to go without a paycheck for several months, serve as the company’s only employee, and be realistic about your revenue projections,” he advised. “Also, envision where you want the company to be in five or 10 years and honestly gauge if that excites you,” he continued.

Outside of the office, David’s focus continues to be positive in nature. He is laser-focused on health and fitness and does some sort of workout every day. With Younger Next Year as a guide, he spends a good deal of his free time biking with friends, playing golf and has recently become addicted to hot yoga. Additionally, he loves spending time with his children and two recently adopted energetic dogs, and engaging his latest interest in mixology, perfecting recipes for cocktails including his mouthwatering Espresso Martini and Bee’s Knees.