Successful entrepreneur examples from Tommy Mello
Entrepreneur examples are all around us if we just look!
Today’s blog is loaded with entrepreneur examples from Tommy Mello, a serial entrepreneur. He owns A1 Garage Service, and he was incredible to interview. We brainstormed about some different, and amazing business tactics and ideas.
Tommy hosts the Home Service Expert Podcast and is owner/partner or investor in 14 other businesses ranging from Christmas lights to real estate to mobile apps.
Tommy is a regular contributor to Inc., Entrepreneur and other business publications on the topic of entrepreneurialism and small business as well as a:
- sought-after podcast
- radio and;
- television guest
In 2007, Tommy became the sole business owner and operator of a single Phoenix-based garage door service. When he purchased this business, it came with $50,000 of debt. Fast forward to today, A1 Garage generates over 30 million in annual revenue with over 250 employees in 12 states.
I’m so excited to share his incredible, huge turn-around story with the top #1 entrepreneur example that every entrepreneur should know…
Colossal turn around
This guy has a ton of energy and a lot of creativity. Like I said, a serial entrepreneur. Tommy is also a featured speaker at the Relationship Marketing Grand Summit that’s going on August 9th here in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Right off the bat Tommy and I talked about how he took a home service business from $50,000 in debt to an astounding 30 million dollar annual revenue business. With 250 employees in over 12 states. It’s a colossal turn-around success story. So obviously, you’re probably going to want to know a little bit about how he achieved this huge success.
Because all of us are buyers of home service we sometimes need someone to fix our garage door, our roof or clean our windows whatever it is, any type of home service or whatever the case might be. So we’ve all had experiences with home service-oriented businesses that are good and bad probably.
So, how did Tommy turn this whole business around and make it such a successful business?
Obviously, a big part of that was by creating satisfied customers.
Create Raving Fans
Tommy’s passion is sales and marketing. But what he talks about in his book Home Service Millionaire is key performance indicators. It’s about WIIFM which means ‘what’s in it for me?’ Now imagine you’re the individual that Tommy is dealing with. Thinking, what’s in it for me to do this?
Above all, your focus should be on the thought of creating raving fans of your service or product!
Adding value and helping others creates:
- success and;
- happiness
There are three ways to learn:
- making mistakes
- read books and listen to others
- buy consultants
Tommy has done all three. For instance, by watching, admiring and learning from people, he learned to “send people stuff to make himself standout. He learned it from two powerful books full of entrepreneur examples of creating success in business…
- Bluefishing
- The Ultimate Sales Machine
Both books talk about sending things to make yourself stick out from the competition.
I run a company called SendOutCards.com, a premier relationship marketing system in the world today. We send greeting cards, real greeting cards and gifts over the internet for people to follow up with people in their business. So we’re a turnkey variable print-on-demand type of business so a completely different business model than home service.
Tommy’s book, honestly, is one of the best books I’ve read on business management. It’s simple, down to earth, with very simple principles. Without getting too sophisticated, it teaches you the fundamentals. So, HomeServiceMillionaire.com/success. Make sure you get a copy of it.
Embrace Criticism
One of the things that I love about this book, is the feature of on-site visits. Note, I’m not talking internet visits! I’m talking visiting personally with other businesses on-site to learn about their business.
Why is this strategy so important?
Simply and most importantly, you learn how to make improvements to your business by the feedback people give you.
We live in a day and age where people think they have to show their best selves all the time. You have to be super cool on social media. Looking perfect all the time.
Naturally, people get really sensitive to feedback, especially when it’s constructive and maybe even critical. Instead of being offended, embrace and celebrate these things.
Look, I know it’s hard sometimes to hear negative criticism and be understanding of it. Take that criticism with the attitude to always be improving.
“Don’t expect but progress” ~Tommy Mello~
Having a service mindset
“If you do something for me, I’m more than likely to do something back for you.”
I talk a lot on the importance of being in the service mindset all the time, not in the sales mindset. A lot of salespeople have a hard time with that because they’re like, “We got to sell, sell, sell. Well, that’s not the world we live in today. It’s a service industry today. It’s a service world today. If you want to set yourself apart from others, you’ve got to be in the mindset of serving people.
Simply put, the concept of relationship marketing focuses more on service. Building relationships and generating what we call referral business, rather than traditional marketing looking for leads and such.
Check out these multiple benefits of Relationship Marketing:
- gets you past the gatekeeper
- makes customers happier
- customers feel appreciated
- stronger relationships with vendors & employees
- amazing top of mind awareness
Get to the top of people’s minds by making an impact on their hearts.
Tommy Mello is an incredible student. His focus and emphasis on sales and marketing turned a failing business into an incredible success story.
In closing, I asked him…
What should people be doing to ten times their business?
Tommy Mello said… “Google could go away, a matter of fact everything could go away. However, you know what’s never going to go away? You know what makes me stronger than any other company?” “The relationships that I have built. Relationships that stay loyal, and are not calling anybody else, nor do they price shop. They love me, and I treat them right.” So building relationships is a lost art.”
Folks, there it is… the #1 top entrepreneurial example of how to be top in your industry!
See you all,
Kody B.
p.s. if you didn’t get a chance to watch the interview above, make sure you do!
