We were lucky to catch up with Lauren Jett recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Lauren with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I learned work ethic from my parents. Growing up, my Dad worked all the time to provide for our family. He always made time for us and came home for dinner but then would often go back to work and work through the night. I saw and admired how hard he worked. To this day, he still works pretty much every day, even on weekends. He can’t sit still and always has a project or is lending a hand to someone in need. My mom stayed at home with us when I was young, but she volunteered at school and with various charity organizations. Like my Dad, when she participated in something, she always gave it 120%. They both believed that if you don’t do something well and with your all, then it’s not worth doing. And that mentality was instilled at me from an early age. While it’s more challenging for me these days with two young girls, I still work hard every day and am a firm believer that good things come to those who show up, work hard and do something good each day.
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 am a manager of a family-owned small business. My Dad, my brother and I run an HVAC business. We specialize in residential and commercial services, including installations, maintenance and service/repair. We have 40 employees. I wear many hats, as most small business owners/managers do. And it’s not always a glamorous job. Every day is different!
But we provide an essential service, and we strive to be the best at that service every day. My favorite part of the job is the team that I work with each day. I think it’s very rare to be able to say that you genuinely like, respect and appreciate each and every person that you work with, but I can confidently make that statement about our team. And it’s something that I don’t take for granted. Our brand is centered around the concept of good people, and we are often recognizing our team for their contributions and years of service (one has been with us for 30 years!), loyalty, professionalism, knowledge and dedication. And because we have good people, we differentiate ourselves from the other HVAC companies in our area. As I often tell our team, we are all selling the same products/services, the only thing that separates us from them is you! I’m thankful to surround myself with these people every day.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Work hard, prepare for the task at hand, and do what you say you’re going to do. All of these qualities will you serve you well in your journey. I think they are self-explanatory, but I find that all of these qualities are rare to find these days. They aren’t hard, just put in a little effort (maybe a little more than the person next to you) and you will go far in life.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The challenges that we face as owners/managers in a service industry that offers a 24/7 service are too many to count. There’s vendor challenges, supply challenges, employee challenges, customer challenges and the list goes on. My main piece of advice (one which I am still learning myself) is to not sweat the small stuff. Tomorrow, you will look back and realize that most of it is “small stuff.” And everything works out in the end. There are seasons of life that will be more challenging than others. But they are seasons, and they will pass. How you react to these seasons is what will set you apart. I’m currently in a difficult season myself. And it’s difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel most days. But I still get up, show up, and do the right thing each day. I’m also working on gratitude. I try to think of three things that I’m thankful for each day and it usually changes my mindset. It’s not what I “have to do,” it’s what I “get to do.” I read something the other day that said, “your normal day is someone’s dream, so be thankful everyday.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tommygarner.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommygarnerac/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TommyGarnerAirConditioningandHeating
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Consociate Media
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