Posted Under: Entrepreneurship, Our Heroes

Today we are talking to Tina Servis our next guest under the “Our Heroes” series. Working as a human resources manager for 7 years, Tina made the employee to entrepreneur jump when she decided to challenge herself further. Having a type A personality, Tina was uncomfortable with the idea that somebody else dictated her worth and her ability in the corporate world. Let’s talk to her and find out more…

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

TS: My name is Tina Servis, I was a Human Resources Manager for a high-tech industry in Rochester, NY. I held that position for 7 years, taking in as much experience about running a business as I could.

DD: What made you leave the job?

TS: I was ready for a new challenge, while HR is exciting and interesting, we had a very good culture and did not have very many employee relation issues, and therefore I was ready for a new challenge. Having a type A personality kept me focused on the goals of becoming an entrepreneur.

DD: When did you realize that you wanted to be an entrepreneur & why?

TS: I’ve known that I was an entrepreneur since I was in my early 20’s.  I recognized early on in the corporate world that someone else always dictates your worth and ability to make more money.  Unless you’re in sales, then your income potential can be higher, however, even in that case, you are limited. From being in Human Resources, I realized that the people at the top generally made out well, as they should, I believe, they are working hard to make the company run, effectively and efficiently utilizing the greatest strengths of the organization.  It wasn’t until about my second year in HR that I realized I was handing out merit increases at about an average of 2.5% to staff and also turning around and increasing their insurance premiums by 7.5% that working for someone else is fine if you want to maintain the status quo, but if you ever want to be in control of your own destiny you have to work for yourself.

DD: What did you do to break the corporate jail?

TS: I learned everything I could about running a business before leaving. I was blessed with an organization that saw my potential and taught me as much as they could about running a business. The company was small at the time about 50 employees, and I did much more than just HR, I also implemented an ISO quality system, I dabbled in Operations and Scheduling, I took accounting classes. I was in charge of developing my Annual operating plan for my department (of one) and having input in the company’s strategic plan.  I also assisted and worked with the CEO and CFO on mergers and acquisitions, which helped me to understand how to do company valuations.

While learning all of these skills, at the same time, I had my eye out looking for a franchise to purchase.

DD: How did you prepare for the employee to entrepreneur transition?

TS: The transition is the hardest part!  It’s important that new entrepreneurs understand and recognize what they will be giving up and what new skills they will need to gain.  I first got together my team of experts -an accountant, an attorney, and a mentor.  Once I decided on the business I wanted to implement, I began working on writing a business plan, and doing market research on the product.  My product was a newer concept so it was difficult to gather data; I was left at the mercy of other business such as mine, which was a total of about 200.  The planning is the most important aspect.  If you don’t have a good plan in place it’s difficult to execute and be successful.

DD: What are your suggestions for aspiring entrepreneurs?

TS: Study your product, know your market, work with several mentors, one who will give it to you straight, the other just to be there when you need them to listen.  Research a lot, understand that whatever you decide to do, that will not be your only “job”  You will now have several, i.e. marketing, sales, technician, etc.  Determine what position you want to be, technician, manger, visionary.

DD: How are you doing and how do you feel now?

TS: My first business didn’t make it, we opened in Oct 2007 (bad timing) it lasted about a year, however, I saw the writing on the wall, and started making the transition to a new endeavor, which has been very successful, so much so that we grew last year by 251%.  People are now coming to me and paying for my advice, I’m putting on seminars and tele-seminars telling others how to lay the ground work. It’s still a lot of work, but you learn to work smarter! And the best part is that you are now in charge of your destiny. Need a raise? Go get more customers!!

DD: That’s Tina Service of Maid 4 time. Tina’s story highlights how your corporate time and training can be used for the future entrepreneurial journey. Lesson learned, make the best use of your corporate time by exposing yourself to different parts and functions of a business, volunteer to participate in special projects, transfer between divisions and departments, take classes and such extensive training would helped you prepare for the road of entrepreneurship and all of its bumps.

Success To All!