We were lucky to catch up with Odie OConnor recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Odie, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience in business is a trait that I have to continue to work on, it’s not necessarily something I was born with. When I first started my business, it was sink or swim- and I knew the only choice I had was to keep going no matter what challenges presented themselves so I could pay back investors and continue to grow my business. Anyone can learn to become resilient if you focus on a few core tenants in your business (and life) practice.
1. Adaptability: Resilient individuals and businesses can adapt to changes in the market, industry, or economic conditions. Being flexible and open to new ideas allows for quick adjustments to challenges.
2.Problem-solving skills: The ability to analyze and solve problems efficiently is crucial. Resilient individuals can navigate obstacles, find solutions, and learn from setbacks.
3. Positive mindset: Maintaining a positive outlook in the face of adversity helps individuals and businesses bounce back from challenges. Optimism can foster creativity and perseverance. If I find myself in the “what if everything goes wrong?” mindset, I take a few deep breaths, ground myself, and immediately begin repeating “what if everything goes right?”
4. Emotional intelligence: Resilient leaders understand and manage their own emotions while also being attuned to the emotions of others. This enables effective communication and relationship building. Treating employees with respect is the only way to retain staff. Employees are essentially volunteers, because they really do not need to show up- there will always be another job out there for them. You need to make sure that what you’re offering them is above market standard in both pay and treatment. Be as specific as you can when complimenting and critiquing. Recognize strengths and promote from within whenever possible.
5. Risk management: Resilient businesses often have robust risk management strategies. They assess potential risks, develop contingency plans, and implement measures to mitigate the impact of uncertainties. No one can predict the future so it’s important to plan for many different scenarios.
6. Continuous learning: A commitment to ongoing learning and development allows individuals and businesses to stay relevant in a dynamic environment. This includes staying informed about industry trends and acquiring new skills.
7. Strong support networks: Having a network of mentors, advisors, and supportive colleagues can provide valuable guidance and encouragement during challenging times. Reach out if you’re struggling. I’m apart of a group of pizza shop owners who meet up biweekly to talk about how things are going and bounce ideas off of each other. Surround yourself with people you respect. The flip side of this rule is to not take criticism from people you would not take advice from, because everyone has an opinion. It’s important to recognize who has your best interest in mind.
8. Financial stability: Businesses with solid financial foundations are better equipped to weather economic downturns. Maintaining a healthy cash flow and managing resources wisely contribute to long-term resilience. Be prepared to cut costs (but not quality or consistency) and tighten your belt should the economy take a down turn.
9. Effective communication: Clear and transparent communication is essential in times of change or crisis. Resilient leaders keep staff informed and engaged, fostering trust and confidence.
10. Strategic planning: Resilient businesses often have well-defined goals and strategic plans. This helps them stay focused on their objectives, even when faced with unexpected challenges.
It’s important to note that resilience is a dynamic quality, and individuals and businesses will need to continually adapt and evolve to maintain resilience in a rapidly changing business landscape.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I opened up Boxcar Pizza 4 years ago after 3 years of owning and operating a food truck. Boxcar is a vegan, Detroit style pizza shop offering unique pizzas and gluten free options. I’m in the process of opening up Odie’s Pizza Co with my Partners Clayton Wheeler and Craig Applegate in San Diego, CA. Odie’s Pizza Co is a combination of New York and Neopolitan pizza- we call it Neo-Neopolitan. We offer round, Sicilian, and gluten free pies with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. What I’m most focused on with my businesses is creating a unique experience and brand. There are a lot of pizza shops in cities, so to stand out and create a loyal customer base you need to create a relatable brand and have good social media and marketing. The days of cookie-cutter social media posts are over, people want to see real people doing real things.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The 3 most important qualities on my journey thus far have been determination, perseverance, and being grateful. In any business there will be countless setbacks. If you can remain level-headed and solve problems in a way that tries to ensure you will not face that problem again, you will have a better chance of success. You’re going to get discouraged along the way and want to quit, in those moments it’s important to reflect on why you started. To put it simply: if you quit- you definitely will not succeed, if you do not quit- you have a very good chance of success. Expressing gratitude for where you are and how far you have come is very important if you want to stay motivated. Being grateful has an extremely beneficial impact on your day-to-day attitude, it’s easy to find the wrong in any situation- challenge yourself to find the good in both people and circumstances.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was to teach me how important being honest is. Growing up I was always told, “if you lie to someone one time, they will never trust you again.” And they also had a habit of telling me, “remember we’re on your shoulder” when I was younger and going out to parties with friends.
Being honest in life and business is one of the most important things you can do. If you do not want to burn bridges and if you want to create lasting partnerships always completely honest and transparent. Furthermore- if you would not say something about someone while they are with you, do not say it about them behind their back.
Contact Info:
- Website: boxcarpizzapdx.com
- Instagram: @boxcarpizza @odiespizza
Image Credits
All images were taken by Cameron Salazar-Smith @camerondavidsmith
