In this concise 7‑minute interview, Professor Pete Alexander asks logistics veteran and entrepreneur Martin Harschberger six rapid‑fire questions. Martin outlines his career trajectory—from a Fortune‑500 logistics role and a $50 million third‑party logistics firm to 15 years of consulting and a new focus on coaching small‑business owners. He highlights the joy of witnessing client transformation, stresses that a clear personal and corporate vision is the foundational chapter every company needs, and warns that many firms lack a solid business plan—citing statistics that only 5 % of companies both have and execute a plan. He emphasizes the value of the planning process, including defending assumptions, and recommends fellow leaders adopt rigorous planning and execution. Martin also refers a Memphis property‑management leader, Carl Barton, as a potential podcast guest, shares a humble first‑job story unloading trucks for $1.25 hour, and provides his contact channels (LinkedIn and martinharsberger.com).
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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.
I'm Martin Harschberger, and I've done a lot of things over my career, I guess. I started at a Fortune 500. I spent 15 years there. I started my own company. You worked for FedEx. I was in— I moved to Memphis from Minneapolis because of proximity to FedEx Hub. I had a value-add third-party logistics company. So, grew that to about $50 million in the US and Europe. And I've been consulting for about 15 years. This year I'm trying to do something totally different. I'm trying to start to work with coaches to see if I can help them provide more value to small business.
Well, Martin, it's great to have you on the show, and I love that extra connection about the Memphis hub that we have. Question number 2: What is something that makes you smile and/or laugh about working in your industry?
Well, I have such a— I do a lot of strategic planning and execution, which involves change. And you can see the disbelief, I guess, in a customer when they say, "Okay, we're gonna change something." But it's kind of cool to see when something actually does change and we get a win, to see them light up and say, "Oh, okay, this is possible." So I watch for that all the time.
I love it. And you know, it really, it must give you an extra satisfaction when you see that.
Yeah, for sure.
It's great to hear. Question number 3, I have a fictitious book. 'With All the Answers for Business.' What chapter would you think most companies should read?
Well, I've written a couple books myself, and one of the books I have, as I start at the end, which is really should be in the beginning of the book, which is vision. Most companies don't have a clear vision. When I work with company owners especially, I'll ask them to give me their personal vision and where they want to be, transition out of the business and what that's going to cost them. What do they have to generate from their business to get there? And we create a corporate vision from that and that drives everything else. Most companies don't have a clear vision, as far as I've worked with.
Yeah, it's interesting that you say that. I've actually worked for a few companies early in my career that didn't have a vision as well. So, I, I, I'm a total believer in that. So, thank you for that. Question number 4, other than the generic work harder, have a great attitude and care for customers, what advice or insight what insight would you give to other business leaders?
Have a business plan. Again, most companies don't have one. The stats say 50% of companies don't have a business plan, and only 10% of them execute, which is 5% overall, if you think about it. Especially in times like this. I mean, I was on a podcast the other day and they asked me about how business should come out of the pandemic. And, you know, I'm thinking, you're looking at it as a startup almost, saying the whole industry's changed. You better have a plan and a plan involves better understanding your business, looking for weaknesses, strengths, that kind of thing. And that drives everything.
And I think it's so insightful that it's not only having the plan, but actually executing the plan because you can have this beautiful business plan, say, okay, I got it done. But if you're not following it, what good is it? Am I right?
Absolutely. When you get value out of the planning process, if it's done right, You know, you think business owners— I'm going to keep it short— you think business owners understand their business. They understand the pieces they're comfortable with. And the planning process really is— the value comes out of that because I make them defend everything they tell me. So, you get some learning out of the process, but you're exactly right. It doesn't do any good if you don't execute it.
And I like that, that they have to defend it too, because that, you know, then they have to understand all the different workings of that plan. So, that's Really a good step to help them and support them. Question number 5: What other business leader like yourself would you like to acknowledge and invite to be on my podcast?
Perfect guy for you, Carl Barton. Carl Barton. He's on LinkedIn. You can search him out, send him a message and tell him you're going to contact him. He'd be perfect. He runs a company up in Memphis, property management company. I've known him for years.
Well, excellent. I'll reach out to him. Thank you so much for that referral. And our last question, question number 6, please tell me about your first job.
It was unloading trucks, semis in a warehouse for $1.25 an hour by hand. You didn't have a forklift. It was a small place and it was a toy warehouse and we had truck after truck.
And you probably slept really well every night after having to do a day of that, am I right?
We'd work for an hour and I'd look around the side of the truck and I was a third of the way in.
Oh my goodness, I could only imagine that. Kind of reminds me of doing sheetrocking for a neighbor who was building a house and I just went, oh my gosh, I have so much more appreciation for people who build houses now. Pretty tough too, yes. It's hard work. Anyway, so Martin, thank you so much for being on the show. How can people find you?
Uh, LinkedIn, uh, my website, uh, martinharsberger.com. And, uh, there's a contact form on there if they want to get in touch and set up a call.
Perfect. This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast. Thanks for listening.
