(It’s All About You, the Owner)
By Dan Messina
I started my business career at a bank in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, back in 1966. Over the next 30 years or so, I worked in the computer industry and did not worry much about the structure of the company because it was already there. When I started my own business, I didn’t realize how different my life would become.
As the owner of my business, I was now responsible for everything that would happen. I was now in charge of:
- Finding a location
- Understanding all the laws and regulations for my industry
- Identifying the different types of people I would have to hire
- Hiring and firing of all employees
- Buying computers and software
- Buying other equipment necessary for my business
- Accounting
- Sales
- Customer service
- Setting objectives for the company
- Preparing a budget
- Running the day-to-day operation and keeping everyone happy
Everything comes back to “You” the owner.
The first thing I did was identify the type of person I was and what I believed in, because this is what my company would look like. As I looked at myself, I thought:
- I knew I worked better as a team player, not an individual that wanted or had to do everything.
- I knew I wanted a professional look. I want my employees to look professional but intimidating.
- I wanted my team to have uniforms.
- I wanted my equipment to look good with lots of bling.
There were other things we will talk about as we identify who “you” are. My only experience to this point was the sports teams I put together. I was a softball umpire for several city recreational leagues in the Dallas area. I wanted to put together a team to compete at a high level, so I started scouting teams that I was umpiring.
This was my interview process. I wanted my leadoff hitter to be left-handed with speed. This would increase his chances of getting on base. I wanted my 2nd and 3rd batters to be good hitters and get on base a lot, and I wanted my 4th hitter to be cleanup and have power to hit homeruns. My 5, 6, 7, and 8 batters were the same as the first 4. The 9th batter was usually the pitcher, and, as long as he could pitch, that’s all that mattered. Once I had the players, I dressed them to look good, which made them intimidating. Other teams feared us before we even took the field.
That was my philosophy for my softball team, and it was very successful. We played in several state tournaments and even made it to nationals one year. It was fun and very successful at the same time.
I took the same philosophy and applied it to my company. I knew I was a team player, so my first priority was to build a strong team. I needed a sales person. I found an experienced sales person that could bring me business immediately, but he wanted a large salary. Remember when you are starting a company, everyone’s salary seems large. We found a way to afford him by giving him other functions to do besides sales. We needed phone people, and we found people we liked and had good personalities and were upbeat people and they worked out great. My drivers were as honest as I was going to find in this industry, and most of their tattoos were hidden. I didn’t mind tattoos, but I wanted a professional look. This was easy to build because I know who I was and what I wanted my company to look like.
I had a competitor who spent some time in jail. When he got out and started his business, he used all the people he met in jail. Needless to say, his company was a little different than mine.
Back to my sports ventures, there was a time when 3 on 3 street basketball became very popular and cities would hold tournaments. Dallas would get over 250 teams to participate. I decided to put a team together and compete. I looked for a ball handler, a shooter and a big man. Each team had four players, so there was one substitute. I was the brains behind the team. I was also the only white guy on the team. Once again, I was looking for skills for the team. Once again, we were very successful. We played together 4 years and won in cities all over the southwest.
I relate what I’ve done in sports and tried to show you how it related to my business. Everyone is different; as you evaluate you are and your strengths and weaknesses, you will see what you need for your company to make it better. Don’t hire everyone just like you or you will be strong in the areas you are good in and weak at the areas you don’t like.
I was opening up an auction business one time, and I needed to get a zoning change for the property I wanted to occupy. My landlord let me run my business there while I worked on the zoning change. I thought I could do it myself. This is something I never had any experience in, and it was quite a lesson to be learned. I had to deal with:
- Selling multiple city council men in Dallas
- Attending and presenting my opportunity zoning no less than 4 times
- Walking the neighborhood getting a petition signed by residents
- Presenting my opportunity to city council twice
After several months of fighting with the city, I did not get the zoning change, and I gave up on the business. As I was going through this, I met a consulting firm that want to help me. They were Dallas council men and had all the connections. I chose to go it alone and lost.
Several years later, I had a business that I want to move to a larger location. That move required a zoning change. Do you think I tried to do it myself? Hell no. I found that consulting firm and gave it to them. In less than 60 days, I got the change and moved. Don’t try to do things yourself. Find people talented at what you need and use them.
After I got the new land, I needed to develop it. I needed:
- A city of Dallas Fence Permit
- A city of Dallas Building Permit
- A city of Dallas Landscaping Permit
- A city of Dallas Building Permit
- A city of Dallas Electrical Permit
- A city of Dallas Plumbing Permit
- A city of Dallas Concrete Surface Permit
I thought this would be easy, so I went to the city and applied for all the permits. They required something new every day, and, after 3 weeks of aggravation, I thought I would escalate my problem to a higher level. While I was waiting for my meeting, I met a young lady in the waiting room who was saying hi to all the city employees as they came in. I commented to her that she knew everyone and asked if she could help me. She said yes. I asked her to wait until my meeting was over and I would talk to her. I met with the escalating people, and they said it would cost me $500 an hour and a minimum of 5 hours to get my permits. I asked them how long it would take, and they told me another 3 weeks. I left the meeting.
On the way out, I asked the young lady to meet me outside. When we got outside, I asked her what she could do for me. She said I needed $1,500 cash and I would have the permits in less than 7 working days. I gave her the money, and we went inside and started the process of applying for permits all over. She was right; in less than 7 business days, I not only had my permits, but I also had them green tagged and approved.
The point I want to make with all these stories is that you can’t do all the work yourself. Not only do you not have the skills, but you don’t have the time, either. Don’t be afraid to use others to help run your business. It will make your life easier and definitely more productive.
Everything in your company falls on your shoulders; share the load. Our advice in running your business is to surround yourself with people smarter than you and have fun. Someday your life will flash in front of you, so we want to make it worth watching.
Visit www.danmessina.com for more information.
