Summary of Kevin Poland’s leadership interview
- Leadership Mentor/Role Model: Kevin looks up to his grandfather, who had a long career in law. He frequently discusses business, market changes, and strategic decisions with him, valuing his insight and experience.
- Surprise About Leadership Role: He was surprised by how quickly he rose to his current position. His career path was more abrupt and unconventional than expected.
- Biggest Leadership Lesson Learned: Patience is crucial. He has learned to carefully analyze problems before jumping to solutions, ensuring he fully understands the situation before making decisions.
- Best Leadership Decision: Leading by example. In the pest control industry, he believes it’s essential to be hands-on and show employees that he is willing to work alongside them. This helps build trust and alignment with the company’s mission.
- Worst Business Decision: While he makes small mistakes regularly, he sees them as learning opportunities. His biggest challenge has been ensuring clear and concise communication so that his expectations are fully understood by his team.
- Excitement About the Future of the Company: American Pest will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025, and Kevin aims to achieve a revenue milestone of $100 million by then. He acknowledges that this will require hard work, luck, mergers and acquisitions, and team determination.
- Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Don’t give up. Success requires hard work, sweat, and persistence. He believes that if more people put in the effort, the world would be a better place, and there are many opportunities for those willing to work for them.