This interview is a copy of the original, published by Authority Magazine.
All in Attitude. This is a given. If you don’t believe in yourself or your mission, how can you expect others to? I am never above doing the basic tasks, such as pushing a broom or cleaning equipment. It sets the example for everyone else that you’ll never forget where you came from. After all, nothing beats a great attitude!
Steven Poore, UniMovers Wilmington
Being a founder, entrepreneur, or a business owner can have many exciting and thrilling moments. But it is also punctuated with periods of doubt, slump, and anxiety. So how does one successfully and healthily ride the highs and lows of Entrepreneurship? In this series, called “How To Successfully Ride The Emotional Highs & Lows Of Being An Entrepreneur” we are talking to successful entrepreneurs who can share stories from their experience. I had the pleasure of interviewing Steven Poore.
As a firefighter and entrepreneur for UniMovers Wilmington in Wilmington, North Carolina, Steven has learned how to ride out the highs and lows in the professional world. Through the adversities, he has learned an exceptional amount of what it takes to always keep moving forward. He believes it’s less about the work and more about the people who depend on you.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
Of course! I grew up in Michigan enjoying the great outdoors. I experienced the highs and lows of the economy throughout my younger life. Once I graduated high school, I realized how tough it can be. My professional experiences, good and bad, led me to where I am today. Those experiences left an impression on me that resulted in me becoming an entrepreneur, so people I’ve grown to care about, didn’t have to experience the bad.
What was the “Aha Moment” that led to the idea for your current company? Can you share that story with us?
My creative side is never ending. I always seek to make improvements. My “Aha Moment” came during the early morning hours running through scenarios on how to better serve people in a longstanding industry. I found it extremely important to provide an honest service that is affordable for the customers. Furthermore, making sure your crew is taken care of from the start with opportunities to grow. Not only will you have repeat customers from word of mouth, but your crew will provide the service exceptionally. It makes for an enjoyable experience for everyone!
In your opinion, were you a natural born entrepreneur or did you develop that aptitude later on? Can you explain what you mean?
Without a doubt, I was a natural-born entrepreneur. I felt that spark within me going back to shoveling driveways and mowing lawns. Although, it is more important to know that my skills developed through long hours, failures I learned from, hard work, and long-lasting relationships.
Was there somebody in your life who inspired or helped you to start your journey with your business? Can you share a story with us?
It was as simple as little league football. I had the privilege to serve as quarterback. I had setbacks through my younger years and frequently felt unwell. My parents showed me how to be present in every single moment. We made it to the little league championship and I was able to provide the classic heartfelt halftime motivational talk in the locker room. By the end of the 4th quarter we celebrated and our parents in the stands cheered and rushed down to the field. Through the highs and lows, our team allowed nothing to stand in our way. My parents allowed me to work through it with their guidance and an incredible amount of strength they always provided. I am certain that with their support, it provided that spark of inspiration to allow me to take on the journeys and to accomplish any adversities standing in my way. This experience may seem insignificant to some, but to this day, it means everything to me.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
Compassion. Recently I had an elderly lady contact me. She had left Oklahoma trying to get back to North Carolina. Her husband had passed years back and he had always done the driving, she was lost. I had to ask her for landmarks to discover where she was, which turns out was right next to the Mississippi River in rural Arkansas. I led her by phone while utilizing Google Maps, into Nashville Tennessee, where I called in advance to reserve a hotel room for her overnight. She was exceptional at describing the street signs along the way and had a wonderful sense of humor. All in all, this spanned over the entirety of three days. She made it back safe and sound. This had nothing to do with the company, but it had everything to do with helping a sweet lady full of wisdom. I will never forget her and how much the experience meant to me. An hour’s wisdom is worth more than any hourly rate.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Accountability. You must be accountable to yourself before you can expect others to be accountable to you or your company. This must be a consistent trait every single day, it’s really non-negotiable.
Enthusiasm. This one word covers many other traits for me. It’s the genuine interest in what you do and how you do it. Really, it inspires others and you do it without even trying to.
Appreciation. Fully experiencing situations and the experiences you’ve taken from them. I believe that’s where true growth comes from. It’s very relatable and important to express to those around you.
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Often leaders are asked to share the best advice they received. But let’s reverse the question. Can you share a story about advice you’ve received that you now wish you never followed?
Why did I instantly laugh? There are many examples that could be given here. The best example would be “keep your head down and mouth shut”. Let’s be real, there are times when exercising this may be beneficial, but in very limited and specific circumstances. I wouldn’t necessarily show all the cards in your hand either. Be honest and open with your intentions and give it your all. If it is not perceived well over time that situation may not be a good match for you personally, and that’s perfectly fine.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them create a work culture in which employees thrive and do not “burn out” or get overwhelmed?
KNOW YOUR PEOPLE! And then when you get to know them, never stop getting to know them! We all have goals and aspirations so learn your employees individually. Once you learn them, actively apply them to the mission of your company and adjust accordingly. You’ll be surprised how far it’ll take all of you. This has to be a very genuine process to be effective. If you can’t commit to it wholeheartedly, it’s likely best to not act as you can.
What would you advise other business leaders to do in order to build trust, credibility, and Authority in their industry?
I instantly think of transparency. This quality is a tradition-based value for me. You need to be open and honest with yourself before you can do so to others. If it is a product or service you offer, make sure you’d undoubtedly let your mother use it. If that doesn’t happen to be the case, reevaluate your intentions, or the ones with which you surround yourself. The best thing you can do is advocate for yourself and your company simultaneously.
Can you help articulate why doing that is essential today?
There are many companies looking for a quick fix to a million-dollar idea. They are willing to sacrifice everything for anything. Don’t be that company. While they may quickly gain traction, they’ll eventually fall twice as hard and are likely too arrogant to see it coming. When you are transparent, you’ll gain loyalty to your brand with the utmost integrity and respect. It’s something to be proud of.
What are the most common mistakes you have seen CEOs & founders make when they start a business? What can be done to avoid those errors?
Forgetting where they came from. All of a sudden, the huge fancy desk in the corner view office brings a sense of superiority, don’t let it. Think back to the times where you begged, and you wished for the opportunity to be where you are today. Sure you’ve worked hard, but so have your employees. Let them know where you came from. Continue to inspire them. Humility goes a long way!
Ok fantastic. Thank you for those excellent insights. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview about How to Successfully Ride The Emotional Highs & Lows Of Being An Entrepreneur. The journey of an entrepreneur is never easy, and is filled with challenges, failures, setbacks, as well as joys, thrills and celebrations. This might be intuitive, but I think it will be very useful to specifically articulate it. Can you describe to our readers why no matter how successful you are as an entrepreneur, you will always have fairly dramatic highs and lows? Particularly, can you help explain why this is different from someone with a “regular job”?
Nothing ever stays the same. Just as the day brings darkness, it is an evolving thing, being a successful entrepreneur. You’ll have many decisions to make along the way which influence your successes or failures. You find ways to adapt to the highs and lows. I believe it’s exceptionally different from a regular job due to the fact that you have a responsibility to everyone joining you on this journey. You do not want to let them down, they are seriously depending on you, and so are their families. It is no longer just as simple as punching the time clock and forgetting about the rest of it. It is a lot of weight to carry every single day. Even so, remembering the highs and learning from the lows will keep you grounded.
Do you feel comfortable sharing a story from your own experience about how you felt unusually high and excited as a result of your business? We would love to hear it.
I have more stories to share of the highs rather than the lows. My team is known to go the extra mile. I frequently hear positive feedback and how we are changing the industry. A wonderful Google Review or word of mouth referral always makes you feel good inside. In particular, I received a follow up call from a professional who has worked diligently within the field over the last 30 years. Going into this job, I was anxious and kept my schedule clear just in case we experienced any hiccups. Hours passed on, my crew completed the job, everything felt normal. Well, that was until the gentlemen called me. I remember being nervous as calls directly following jobs usually means there is an issue needing to be addressed. I couldn’t have been more wrong. He called and was over the moon on how well we did. I was caught completely off guard and had to take a moment to fully process what I was hearing. I described to him how I had recently implemented new changes to our team and how this was a pivotal moment for us. Once we said our goodbyes and well wishes, I went right into uncontrollable dancing and singing. For me, it felt like winning the national championship, and it was a win I shared with my team.
Do you feel comfortable sharing a story from your own experience about how you felt unusually low, and vulnerable as a result of your business? We would love to hear it.
I received a late call from a customer who had a compelling story of which I was empathetic. I went out on a limb and asked my employees to rise to the occasion, of which they did. The customer was not honest with us. It resulted in us not only sending our resources that night until 11 PM, but it also extended into the next day and into the following afternoon. The customer then refused to pay the invoice that was beyond agreeable in comparison to our competitors. My team showed up with 100% effort. The customer discounted us to 25%. It wasn’t the money; it was the fact that my team gave it their all and it still wasn’t good enough for this customer.
Based on your experience can you tell us what you did to bounce back?
I learned an incredible amount from this experience. I instantly felt the need to go back to the drawing board. I must’ve asked myself a thousand questions through that night, I am unsure I even slept. We pride ourselves with how well we treat our customers and how we provide exceptional customer service, so what’s the problem? It was me. I was taking these jobs and failed to see the context clues when a customer called. There are a few warning signs I should have recognized. From that point forward, and on the behalf of my team, I become much more confident in the services we offer. I have always modulated to customers extremely well, but it was time to become firm and direct when it came to the jobs we took on. Sometimes this even meant turning away business, which can be a blessing in disguise.
I learned an incredible amount from this experience. I instantly felt the need to go back to the drawing board. I must’ve asked myself a thousand questions through that night, I am unsure I even slept. We pride ourselves with how well we treat our customers and how we provide exceptional customer service, so what’s the problem? It was me. I was taking these jobs and failed to see the context clues when a customer called. There are a few warning signs I should have recognized. From that point forward, and on the behalf of my team, I become much more confident in the services we offer. I have always modulated to customers extremely well, but it was time to become firm and direct when it came to the jobs we took on. Sometimes this even meant turning away business, which can be a blessing in disguise.
Creativity. As an entrepreneur, you should be open-minded and willing to try new things! Failure is a part of being creative, so that is perfectly okay. There are times where I may question the effectiveness of an idea, and suddenly I am surprised at how well it goes. It could quite literally impact your business and set you apart in a huge way!
Strong Work Ethic. There is literally nothing that can replace the grit of this. Your company’s success is solely based on your work ethics and how you portray them. Oftentimes, I find myself waking up hours ahead of my alarm clock to get to work. Most times it is attributed to higher productivity and a steady flow of new ideas.
All in Attitude. This is a given. If you don’t believe in yourself or your mission, how can you expect others to? I am never above doing the basic tasks, such as pushing a broom or cleaning equipment. It sets the example for everyone else that you’ll never forget where you came from. After all, nothing beats a great attitude!
Willingness to Adapt and Overcome. When things get tough you have to be tougher. You may have your plans set perfectly and ready to implement them, but then suddenly something gets in the way. You cannot throw in the towel, instead throw the towel at the task and get to work! Be flexible and do it with a smile as if you’d already planned it.
Never stop learning. Things can change rapidly. With my experience as a firefighter, this could mean in a matter of seconds. Educating yourself with the most practical ‘real world stuff’ will provide the best opportunity for a positive outcome. Just because you’ve never seen it before, doesn’t mean you can’t accomplish it. Is it scary? Surely. But if it was easy, everyone would do it.
We are living during challenging times and resilience is critical during times like these. How would you define resilience? What do you believe are the characteristics or traits of resilient people?
It’s your internal drive to not give up. When the road gets tough, breathe, and then plow right through it. I believe it takes an incredible amount of heart and determination. For me, I associate resilience with passion, fight, and resolve. Things may not go your way but there is no need to dwell upon it. Learn from it, move on, and do it better next time.
Did you have any experiences growing up that have contributed to building your resiliency? Would you mind sharing a story?
I am not sure there is enough time here to be specific. I’ll put it this way, from the moment I was born, life threw curveballs. I have had experiences most will not have. I never wanted sympathy. Actually, I wanted to pass on to others the lens of which I view things. I appreciated things that most kids wouldn’t begin to consider at that age. I had the unwavering support of my parents and they showed me how to overcome any obstacle. They were superheroes and it was hoped I would carry their strength someday.
In your opinion, do you tend to keep a positive attitude during difficult situations? What helps you to do so?
Absolutely I do. I love a good challenge considering my competitive nature. When faced with difficulties I approach them knowing it’ll only build character and strength. If I am unsure of a way, I will find it.
Can you help articulate why a leader’s positive attitude can have a positive impact both on their clients and their team? Please share a story or example if you can.
When challenges are presented, having a positive attitude changes the narrative. Your clients and your team will react to how you handle situations. When you approach things with a positive attitude it results in a positive outcome. It shows to your clients and your team that you will rise to the challenge and turn it into an accomplishment.
Ok. Super. We are nearly done. What is your favorite inspirational quote that motivates you to pursue greatness? Can you share a story about how it was relevant to you in your own life?
“Sometimes you’re the train, sometimes you’re the tracks.”
I view the tracks as the foundation to success. You are the support that has to be strong and built of great resistance. Your reach goes on for miles and miles. I view the train as bold and humble. There is no need to tell people to not stand in your way if they know what direction you are headed. The sooner you figure that out, the more of a following you’ll have and getting along to new places. But always remember that you need both the train and the tracks, you cannot get anywhere without one another.
How can our readers further follow you online?
If you’d like to keep up with what I’m doing in my current business, you can check out our Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/unimovers_wilmington/ or look up our username @unimovers_wilmington!
Also if you’d like to see the professional development and coaching I am focusing on you can check out @the_wilmington_collaboration on Instagram, which can also be found at https://www.instagram.com/the_wilmington_collaboration/.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success and good health!
