Five Years Later: A note to a younger version of myself…

Last month ADV Integrity, Inc. celebrated its 5th birthday. If you’re a “seasoned parent” like I am, ?you’ve likely had a 5th birthday party for one of your kiddos (I have 3 under my belt). Fifth birthday parties are a big deal for children as they mark a transition from “being pretty dependent on Mommy and Daddy” to “I’m a big boy / girl and I don’t need your help as much anymore.”

In some regards I would say ADV is experiencing some of the same responses. As president today I don’t tend to be anxious about some of the things I did the first several years, namely because ADV Integrity has an incredible staff and leadership team that works very hard to make sure things runs smoothly.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 20% of new businesses will fail during their first two years, 45% during the first five years, and 65% during the first 10 years. ?That’s sobering data. I would imagine that when the dust settles and we analyze data over the past three years, these number are going to be even worse because of COVID.

At ADV we’ve been blessed as our first five years have been marked by some amazing successes. Listed below are five things I’ve learned and insights I wish I would have either known or better understood back in the summer of 2017 when I started ADV. Of course, life never works that way. The only way to get better is to try something new, make mistakes, and then try to actually learn from those mistakes!

1.?????Business is all about people. I knew this going when I started ADV but did not fully appreciate it. Fortunately, I really like people, so my natural bent is to want to serve both clients and our employees. ADV’s leadership team is working to build a culture where people feel valued and trusted. Our Core Values of Trust, Resourcefulness, Encouragement, Accommodating, and Teamwork (which conveniently spell TREAT!) dictate what we do and what we expect of each other. We’re not perfect, no company is, but we’re constantly pushing towards a better version of ourselves.

We’re not perfect, no company is, but we’re constantly pushing towards a better version of ourselves.         

2.?????Not everyone is a risk-taker. When I started ADV I was a bit naive because I thought more people would be willing to join a start-up. Boy, was I wrong! I’ve learned it takes a very special person who’s willing to leave what they know and join the uncertainties associated with a start-up. The perceived risks are just too high for many people. Today, when I talk to prospective employees about joining ADV the conversation is very different than it was five years ago. The fact we have almost 25 people in the organization communicates that we’re growing, and I think people want to be part of that (especially early stage employees).

3.?????Be prepared for challenges. This is not a matter of “IF”, it’s a matter of “WHEN.” In a note to a younger version of myself I’d make a couple of observations. First, not everyone wants you to be successful and there are some people who literally “want to take you down.” It’s a sad fact (and I hate it), but there are some people and companies who are less focused on building their own business and more focused on destroying what others are building. It’s not a good business model and they’ll likely go out of business at some point because the most valuable employees will eventually leave this type of culture. Secondly, don’t be afraid of challenges as they make you stronger. Like muscles in the human body, we only get stronger after we’ve been broken down. For me, the key in getting through tough times is having a deep faith in Jesus, praying a lot, and having a strong group of advisors who can both encourage and exhort me.

4.?????Building a company is both fun and rewarding. Sometimes I have to remind myself that life needs to be fun. How sad is that?! Fortunately, my beautiful blonde wife, Tanya, is a constant reminder of the importance of having fun. Not only is building a company fun, but building a company is rewarding for both the employees and the clients / customers it serves. I often tell our staff that as much as I love work, I’m not going to work forever. Eventually, ADV will be their company. I think this “transitional” mindset helps us look towards the future. It also helps us enjoy the process of building something together.

5.?????Focus on people first, nor profits. This is somewhat related to Insight #1 above; however, this one is more specific and has benefits if done well. I’ve grown to love and appreciate the leadership team at ADV. We don’t always agree, but the collective wisdom among our ranks has allowed us to grow at a very fast pace. Specifically, I’d like to thank the following leaders at ADV Integrity and ADV Marketing: Wendy Courtright, Chantz Denowh, Ryan Phillips, Atul Ganpatye, David Futch, Christopher De Leon, Rhett Dotson, Buddy Powers, and Kara Turner. You all rock!

If you made it this far, thank you for reading this article. LinkedIn has become a big part of my life over the past five years. It’s been wonderful to share with you my thoughts, our successes, and the drone footage of our new facility in Magnolia. Lord willing, the best is yet to come for ADV Integrity...?