Posted Under: Entrepreneurship, Our Heroes

Today under the “Our Heroes” series we are talking with Peter Hail who adds to our repertoire of entrepreneurs who have broken free of Corporate America. For 25 years Peter worked in industrial technical sales but he grew tired of struggling against perplexing management decisions and decided to veer onto his own path where he could reap the benefits of his efforts. Peter launched Warehouse Cables and once he began to generate online sales his business took off with a bang… Let’s talk to Peter and find out more…

DD: Who are you and what kind of corporate job were you at?

PH: My name is Peter Hail. I’ve always been an independent sort, joined the military when I was 17 and took on challenges well above my pay grade. Worked 25 years in industrial technical sales both direct and as a manufacturer’s representative. During the 90’s I worked with one small company in that provided computer and networking cables to high-tech companies. Later, I joined a family-owned instrument manufacturing company as a manager for marketing, sales and IT administration.

DD: What made you leave the job? When did you realize that you want to be an entrepreneur & why?

PH: I grew tired of working for individuals with far less experience than myself and struggling against perplexing management decisions. It became glaringly obvious that as an employee, a company would never be working in my best interests. With a gloomy retirement picture ahead I decided to take a different path. I wanted to get out of the cube and do something from which I could create and receive the direct benefits of my own efforts.

DD: What did you do to break the corporate jail?  How did you prepare yourself for the employee to entrepreneur transition?

PH: I had been working with informally with computers and networks since the 1980’s. While employed as an outside salesman for one company, I saw what Lucent Technologies, one of my largest customers at the time, was doing in the lab with computer network copper and fiber cabling. This was an area I knew something about. I decided to begin researching cable suppliers, on-line marketing and building a web-site. Over the following year I created those building blocks for a functional business and finally unveiled Warehouse Cables, LLC. Still working nights at home, I slowly began to generate sales on-line. I spent the next 6 months juggling a full time job and the increasing demands of the new business. Finally, I quit the full time job (!) and continued to work from the house. Five months later I moved the business into a small commercial office where I hired one employee to help with shipping and receiving. Three years later we moved into a larger customized office with an attached warehouse and currently have three employees.

DD: What are your top tips for employees who want to be entrepreneurs but are hung up on something?

PH: 1. Do the homework. Learn all you can about how to market the business. Learn everything about your competitors.

2. Discover your customers emotional needs and present your unique selling proposition.

3. Be prepared. Minimize starvation by having all the building blocks in place before making a full-time commitment.

4. Learn the value of your time. Manage or outsource those things that interfere with growth.

5. Break a few eggs. Learn from your failures and move on.

6. Work hard and long but stay focused on growth. Don’t get lost in the day to day minutia.

DD: How are you now? Are you still in same business, and how do you feel?

PH: It’s been 6 years and the business is still enjoying steady growth and repeat customers. I’m working harder now than at any job previously held but with less stress and feelings of real accomplishment. Striving for growth can still be quite frustrating as is the managing of employees. However, I am in the driver’s seat and would not trade that for anything.

DD: That was Peter Hail everyone, founder of Warehouse Cables. It’s really exciting to hear that Peter’s company has experienced growth and repeat customers and is still thriving after 6 years of business. Well done Peter-it sounds as if you truly feel satisfied with your accomplishments in developing your company! A great point you raised: “Learn the value of your time. Manage or outsource those things that interfere with growth”. It seems you have mastered the art of time and resource management which has helped keep Warehouse Cables on top. Folks, this is a great piece of advice – focus on core activities that promote growth and progression for your business ventures!

Success to all!