Episode 171: Winning at Business and Life with Chris Thomson

This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast, where business leaders share their insights. It is 6 questions in 7 minutes because successful business leaders are busy and rarely have more time to spare. So let's get to it. Question number 1: In a few sentences, please tell me who you are and what you do.

My name is Chris Thompson. I'm the head coach of the Student Works Management Program. We teach university students across Canada about how to run their own home residential maintenance or window cleaning business.

Chris, it's so great to have you on the show. Question number 2: What's the best thing about working in your industry?

Well, working in my industry, I think, is really tough. It's commoditized, it's hard, but the way we do it is is really fun and incredibly enriching because we are all focused on student leadership.

I like that a lot. Question number 3: I have a fictitious book with all the answers for business. What chapter would you think most companies should read?

I think they should read about how to create a unique process, how to actually separate themselves out so that they're not commoditized. As an example, we're in a standard business— painting, window cleaning— anybody can do that. But we've created a way to not be commoditized, to have customers love working with us, and have the best of possible students come and approach us and want to work with us.

Mm-hmm. And I like the fact too that it also seems to be niched because even though it's a larger kind of industry, because you guys have personalized it to a very specific type of painter, it really is a unique message strategy.

It's a unique proposition. Clients love to support local students. That's something that they just love to feel good about hiring that local entrepreneur that's a student.

I love it. Question number 4: Other than the generic work harder, have a great attitude, and care for customers, what advice or insight would you give to other business leaders?

Well, Professor Pete, to me, it's the big thing I would focus on is integrity. So, you know, first of all, integrity in your business, doing what you say, finishing what you start, you know, and really doing everything you can. And then it also comes from what about you in your life? So when your alarm goes off, do you hit that snooze button and miss your first commitment of the day? Or are you committed to all the tasks that you've committed to? Because if you do that in your personal life, your business will flourish. If you do that in your business, your business will flourish.

It is That's so sage advice that you have there. And it also, in my mind, when I hear you talking about that, I think that it also, that integrity extends to the trust that people will have with you if you deliver on what you say. Am I reading that right?

You are totally reading that right. And in our business, you know, the painting and window cleaning business, contractors typically don't do what they say, typically don't finish what they start. So this is a real strategy as well of separating yourself out from what other people largely will do. And then you also feel great about your business. People feel great about your business and they'll refer you.

And that's key. The referral business is gold. Yes, really is.

Yes.

Wonderful. Question number 5: What other business leader like yourself would you like to acknowledge and invite to be on my podcast?

Well, I'd like to acknowledge Jay Wong, who helped develop our podcast. It's called The Leaders of Tomorrow. And Jay is an incredible speaker, a fantastic personality, and I know he would offer your audience a lot of value.

Wonderful. I'll reach out to Jay. Appreciate that referral. And our final question, question number 6, please tell me about your first job.

So I was a competitive swimmer, so I couldn't get a regular job. And my dad said, hey, what about shoveling snow? And so my first job was going around the neighborhood and knocking on doors and getting snow clients, and then later on it was gardening clients. So that was my first job experience.

Oh, and I can imagine, especially the snow shoveling. That's something nobody wants to do when they have to get their car out of the garage. So you must have been a popular person.

I was, and waking up early before everybody went to work. So, uh, so yeah, that was something I did. And, uh, and it's, it's, it's a good habit, learning how to get up early.

Yep, yep. And it shows commitment, as you said. So I love it. Great story. So Chris, thank you so much for being on the show. How can people find you?

Well, they can find me on LinkedIn. They can find, find our business on studentworks.com, and they can find my podcast, The Leaders of Tomorrow, on any podcatcher.

Perfect. This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast. Thanks for listening.

Fantastic.