Scrappy Builders Add Value

by | Jan 16, 2025 | Leadership

Last week, I talked about why you should Connect With Interesting People. This has always been a core part of who I am and what we focus on at Service Express. It’s how we learn, grow and expand our thinking. I like reaching out to interesting people who are doing cool things or are where I want to be.

However, the people who resonate most with me and who I find most valuable are the scrappy ones—the builders. These are people who have truly built something from the ground up. They didn’t join an organization and ride the wave. Sometimes, when you talk to people, you realize they didn’t really do the work—they just oversaw it or were part of it but didn’t get their hands dirty. When hiring or interviewing, this is a great thing to watch for. Did they really make it happen, or were they just along for the ride?

I like doers. I like people who see a problem and run toward it. People who are excited about challenges and say, “I see this problem, and I can help,” or better yet, “I don’t know the answer, but I’ll figure it out.” These are the people who inspire me—those who are energized by challenges and dive in to solve problems.

On the other hand, some people run from challenges. They complain about how hard everything is, and that drains my energy. It’s not that challenges aren’t hard or that we don’t all need to recharge sometimes. But I’m drawn to people who see challenges as opportunities and who get excited about building, problem-solving and partnering to figure things out.

That’s where the most success has come from—both at Service Express and in my personal life. The people who I love to have surrounding me, personally and professionally, are scrappy, energized builders.

Who do you like to surround yourself with?

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About Me

I am the President & CEO of Service Express, a National Best & Brightest Company to Work For. Service Express has averaged double digit growth every year since 2001.

We attribute our success to a unique corporate culture that we call The Service Express Way. I am a member of the Young President Organization and sit on the Board of the Spectrum Health Foundation.