What were the biggest challenges you have faced and how did you overcome them?
I think the biggest challenge throughout the past 10 years was making bold recommendations to my business model that required a “powerful pivot” and was not favored at first by the majority of the leadership team and employees. I overcame this barrier by communicating a comprehensive vision backed by data with analytics that backed my “powerful pivot” in which slowly leadership started to get on board. After the changes occurred, employees recognized the benefits of the shift and the acknowledgment of my foresight in making a powerful pivot even when it was not favored at first by the majority.
What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you at the start of your career?
I wish that someone had told me to “look not listen”. There are a ton of people offering advice and trying to influence you via words – but “the proof is in the pudding” – and visually seeing data and evaluating something through seeing it is so essential. As the great saying goes, “talk is cheap” and I wish I had recognized that before putting trust in others based solely on what I heard.
Who are your biggest influences and people you admire and why?
My biggest influences are my family. Both of my grandfathers were successful entrepreneurs in which they taught me the value of a customer and the importance of “exchange”. My parents were entrepreneurs who taught me my work ethic and pushed me to be my best. My mother-in-law and father-in-law who gave me an incredible opportunity to lead their organization and invested in my continued growth and learning. Last but certainly not least, my wife who believes in me day in and day out and ultimately sacrifices so much every day in taking care of our family while I work 12-16 hour days and travel all over the world to live my business dream!
Name a person who helped you along the way?
My Mother-In-Law Fredlyn Berger has helped me along the way in a multitude of ways.
