Member Spotlight on Miles Higgins
Member Spotlight on MILES HIGGINS
President/CEO, The Relocation Center
Interview conducted by Winnie Hart, Communications Director
Please tell us briefly about your company.
My
primary business is The Relocation Center. We are a full service
relocation company that assists corporations with their employee
relocations. The services we provide include home buyout assistance,
home selling & purchase assistance, household goods move
management, corporate housing, expense management, tax assistance,
policy development, counseling, consulting and more. TRC is also the
real estate and moving benefit provider to members of large affinity
groups such as AARP, AAA, as well as serving numerous clergy
denominations through clergymoving.com.I also own two other businesses,
a growing computer support business, TigerBytes, IT Solutions and a
catering business with Chef Scott Varnedoe.
Why did you join EO and how long have you been a member?
I
joined because of Kevin Langley's persistence! One of the attracting
facets was that EO offers a lot more than help with your business.
There is an emphasis on balance and that has been a consistent theme,
particularly in my forum. I have been a member for a little over 3
years.
How did you come up with an original idea for your business?
The
company was started while I was attending LSU. My father had been in
the household goods moving business and the industry was changing. We
decided to purchase a Moving Brokers License that would allow us to
offer more than one carrier to our clients. Throughout the evolving
culture of relocation we rapidly added more services.
What do you like best about your business?
Nearly
every day I learn something new! The thing I enjoy most in business is
the building and growing aspect. Relocation is now a fairly mature
industry, capturing the majority of the corporate relocation market.
That is one reason I have ventured off into the IT and catering
businesses.
How much money did you have to invest to start your business?
I
did not have to invest any money to start the business! I opened up a
small line of credit and was able to receive credit from our service
providers to get started.
What are your current annual revenues and number of employees?
A little under $5 million in annual revenue for TRC and a staff of about a dozen people.
What is your proudest accomplishment to date in your business?
Getting
Prudential Relocation, one of the largest companies in our industry, to
outsource a function of their business to us. There is really no better
compliment than having your competition realize there is something you
can do better and more efficiently.
When did you first realize you were going to be an entrepreneur?
I
think I always knew it. The only time I ever really got in trouble in
school was in the fourth grade. I was caught collecting cookies from
students that did not want them and selling them for a quarter to other
kids. After the third time, I was sent to Sister Flavia's office and
got paddled. I never did that again but it sparked the entrepreneur in
me.
What do you feel is the greatest accomplishment in your entire life?
My children, Maggie (11), Landry (8) and Lilly (2).
What are your greatest personal strengths?
I just pulled my Strengths Finder 2.0 book out, so I am kind-of cheating:
Competition - To me everything is a contest and I play to win!
Focus - I like to be efficient, concentrate on what I am doing and complete the task. "Stay on task."
Ideation - I enjoy coming up with new ideas and implementing "Blue Ocean Strategy."
Maximizer - Do things to their fullest and master the task at hand. Don't let off the throttle.
Significance - I like to be in charge and try to make a difference.
What about your weakness?
Temper.
Humility. Competition could also be a weakness because I can not stand
losing. I am a very gracious winner and a poor loser. I am trying to
get better!
Why do you think you have been successful?
Because I don't give up!
What is something that most people don't know about you?
1) I was born in Hawaii.
2) I went to Auburn my first year of college. I am a huge LSU fan and people are shocked when they hear that!
What is something you hope will be written about you in your obituary?
That he lived life to the fullest and gave of himself!
On a lighter note, what do you do for fun these days? Tennis!
My friends nicked named me "Gung-ho" because when I do something, I
become pretty obsessed with it. That is tennis right now!
Got anything big coming up on the horizon for you personally or with business that you want to share?
Yes, but I don't know what it is yet.
Who has the biggest influence on your life?
My wife, Missy and my great uncle, Frank Carruth!
What are the most influential books that you have read?
Swim with the Sharks, Without Being Eaten Alive. I read it cover to cover while driving solo from Baton Rouge to North Carolina as a freshman in college.
If you could spend an entire day with one person who would it be?
Nick Bollettieri (my current tennis obsession)
What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs?
Don't just hold on to your ideas, go for them and don't give up!
How long has your company been in operation?
16 years
What has been the best thing about being a member of EO New Orleans?
Helping me focus on having a balanced life between business, family, personal, community service and God.
