The Best Managers Have Dusty Shoes

by michael 17. June 2011 15:19

Before you criticize, walk a mile in their shoes.
There is not a single job at MCC that I have not done. From approving the weekly payroll to answering phones, from sales calls to truck-cleaning – I have done every job in this company, and then some.
 
This is how I know that every job has a great deal of merit and worth, and I am slow to criticize, and quick to praise.
 
I've walked the walk. I've talked the talk.
Now I live the life as an owner and manager. It took me some time to be able to let go and delegate responsibility. I went out in the field. I learned how to sell, how to listen and how to react. After years of success doing this, I have learned how to teach others to sell MCC services as I would. I let them learn for themselves without being overly critical – and without demanding the impossible.
 
I am a better manager because I was a salesperson for 5 years.
 
I did it. Now I delegate it.
A little bit of trust is a wonderful thing. I like to think of car cleaning experience as an example. I like my SUV to be sparkling clean, and so every once in awhile, used to take 3 hours of my own time to get it beautifully, perfectly clean.
 
Yes, it always looked great when I was done, but the time investment seemed extraordinary to me. One day recently, I picked up the phone and hired a professional to come clean my car for me, inside and out.  Since I have done this job many times before, I was a little nervous. Would he do as good a job as I did? How long would it take? How much would he charge?
 
I decided to leave the guy with my car and pray for the best. When I returned, the car was incredibly, spotlessly shiny. For a very reasonable amount, he did a better job than I could have done myself. What an incredible value and lesson for me. My time is worth so much – it only makes sense to delegate this activity to someone who may actually do BETTER at it than me.
 
I choose to apply this lesson on every level of my company, from now on. 

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Business Observations | MCC Recycling Services

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I am the creator of MyRecyclingReports.com, the CEO of MCC Recycling Services, a public speaker, a serial entrepreneur, a father and a gentlemen mariner.

I think the entrepreneurial code has been programmed into my DNA since birth. Like most entrepreneurs I have a long list of failed ideas, short lived companies and other various businesses experiences that date back to the single digits of age. One of the more comical ones happened when a buddy and I decided that we should start a maintenance company for one of the retirement communities in our hometown. Cell phones weren’t popular yet so I put my beeper number on a flyer and distributed it to the residents in the community. Within about an hour we had our first “beep”. Turns out the existing maintenance division wasn’t too pleased with our new venture. Including the time to print the flyers in my mom’s basement, I think we were in and out of business in about 12 hours.

Join me on the water one afternoon and I’ll tell you about a dozen or so other stories like this, all ending with the same result. However, I think it really started to get serious back in 2001 while attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I managed to pass eight semesters of technical and mathematical classes while earning a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a Minor in Mathematics. By sophomore year I had I launched my first recycling company and eventually my second. By junior year both were belly up, I was out of money and tired of running a start-up.

I graduated in 2003 moved back to NJ and accepted a salaried engineering job. It was more of a civil than mechanical job and the salary sucked but they had a very unique offering. The company served a wonderful catered breakfast and lunch every day at no charge. New job, new suit and free lunch, I thought I was ready to start a career. I lasted about 4 hours before becoming depressed and by 5pm on day number two I had quit.

Instead I surrendered to my real passion, starting and running businesses. I launched my third recycling business, MCC Recycling Services and haven’t looked back since. The success we are having is staggering. We run extremely lean, have a very healthy gross margin, innovate daily and turn a profit. We’re growing at a very steady 20% each year. I attribute most of our success to being obsessed with customer service.

In 2005 I created HullScan, LLC. It was destined to be the next generation of non-invasive inspection for boat hulls. Apparently a great idea with poor execution won’t take you very far. I still regret letting that one die.

In 2010 I’ve created MyRecyclingReports.com. It’s an online web application designed for recycling companies around the country. A large part of this blog will be dedicated to the build of this new venture.

I boat, I fish, I live to eat sushi that’s only hours old. I love to ski and I’m learning to golf. I have been blessed with an amazing son. I am 29 years old.

Email me for speaking, interviews, anything.