Kip

Tonight, a group of friends and I went out to dinner at California Chicken Cafe. As some of us began leaving, the remaining bunch talked about our jobs, explaining to each other what exactly we were doing as careers (which apparently isn't very easy). A couple of my friends quickly came to the conclusion that they were content with their jobs. I argued back, telling them they must stay hungry.

As I finished my piece, a man sitting at the next table interjected. He told us that he had overheard our conversation and would like to share his story.

And I would like to share his story with all of you.

Kip owns a cell phone service company that installs cell phones in the cars of high-end clients. These installations can include bluetooth, pioneer, satellite radio, ipod, and security technology products. What makes him stand out from all the other cell phone service stores is that he provides extraordinary service and smooth transactions to his clients. His clients are the type people that value personable interaction and service, and don't care much about figuring out the technology behind it. His client base includes media and entertainment celebrities such as Christina Aguilera, Michael Jackson, and Pete Sampras.

But this isn't important, the important thing is his story and the message behind it.

Seventeen years ago, Kip worked at Sav-On managing the liquor department. He told us he had nothing when he was growing up and was into drugs and alcohol and was in jail for a time; but he became extremely hungry to turn it all around after reading a book: The Four Agreements. After he was fired, he was able to convince a bulk (cheaper) cell phone service distributer to partner up with him and teach him the business by being extremely persistent and passionate. With no experience whatsoever, Kip did this by continually marketing his talent as a salesman, convincing the owner that he could double their sales in 90 days, and assuring the owner he didn't want to see his money until after 30 days when he's proven himself.

His first move was to hire five bikini girls on roller blades to pass out flyers that promoted cheaper cellphone bills at Marina Del Ray, where all the rich men keep their yachts. This was a time where only rich men had cell phones, and saving money was what made these men successful. Within six months the office got so many clients they had to move to a bigger office.

The second move he made was to aggressively target the managers of entertainers. By managers referring the artists to him, it not only made the managers commission money but made them look good as well since they were saving their clients' money. From there he expanded to five different locations across the country since one of the managers had five different branches in those locations. At the same time, he cut out the middle man and was able to go directly to the source, the service providers themselves. As time went on, he continually adapted to the changes in the industry and the cell phone service company he started seventeen years ago became the company he has today.

He left us with three key traits that defines his success.

1. Be Persistent

2. Be Aggressive

3. Be Passionate

While these attributes are important, I think the most important thing he shared with us was something he felt strongly about: Staying Together.

I believe we must help each other reach our successes, through the sharing of knowledge, the sharing of time, the sharing of resources, and really help each other get to that next level. This isn't an open invitation to use others to your advantage. Instead, this means that we must individually put in the work to climb to that next level after we have been shown the path and have been recommended the equipment to use.