Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Nick Friedman
What would you do if one of your employees accidentally damaged a client’s property at a job site? Would you pay for it? But what if there was some debate as to whether or not it was already damaged before your employee even touched it? Now, what do you do if the client was using a stolen credit card to pay for your service in the first place?
My company, College Hunks Hauling Junk, had been in business for almost a year and a half when this incident occurred. I’ll never forget it. The scared employee called my cell phone and said, “I think you’re going to want to get over here ... NOW.” I could feel a lump forming in my throat as he explained the situation. I felt sick to my stomach as I thought about the potential legal repercussions. That sick feeling gave way to anger at the patron, the situation … but mostly at myself for being unprepared.
After that incident, I promised myself I’d never be unprepared again. I started looking for resources to help. Eventually, I found EO and was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. The best part is that I didn’t just find a resource for legal advice— I found a network of perpetual support for legal, payroll, marketing and every other aspect of running a business. These experienced entrepreneurs have helped inform my decisions as they relate to my company, and in turn, I try to pass that knowledge along to any members I might be able to help.
As a busy entrepreneur, I can’t always think of every detail that might be important six years—or even six months—down the road. Who could? I lean on EO for that. By gathering input from so many seasoned business minds, I’m able to get answers to the problems I’m facing at a given point, while considering the questions that I might be forgetting to ask. For example, when I was facing the aforementioned legal issues, I leveraged Member Exchange and received instant feedback. The experience inspired me to join my chapter board and help others discover the benefits of EO membership.
In a way, you could look at EO more like a team than a group of entrepreneurs. We support one another when it comes to planning for the future, dealing with the present and building off the past. And like any successful team, we keep one another on our toes and hold each other accountable in order to help achieve our goals and dreams. My favorite quote, and the motto I try to live in my company, is: “Teamwork makes the dream work.” I have no doubt that, with a team like EO, our dreams will be in business for years to come.
Nick Friedman is the co-founder and president of College Hunks Hauling Junk. Fun fact: Nick has appears on two major reality shows: ABC’s “Shark Tank” and Bravo’s “Millionaire Matchmaker.”
