We recently connected with JAMES ROSS and have shared our conversation below.
Hi JAMES, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
Most stories of optimism seem to come from an individuals childhood. In some cases from positive influences, in others from realizing that life could be better if you try to make it better. For me, life was developed from a childhood that centered on adults that drank too much, talked too poorly of others and blamed their unfortunate circumstances on people around them.
At 20 years old, as I stood on the pier that the Navy ship I was stationed on was tied up, I decided that my life would be one of a positive vision. The more focus on doom and gloom and blaming others, the more likely that would be the outcome. Life has presented me some serious challenges, an optimistic approach made things better.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
The Ross Group, LLC was formally launched in January 2020. We worked with DEED, Minnesota Dept of Employment and Economic Development to assist in the development of the company. Our mission and focus is to use our consulting business to assist other companies in recovery from financial set-backs, but wish to keep their company viable into the future. We will sometimes acquire a company if it is determined that the Red Wing community benefits from a particular service or brand. One example is The Red Wing Trolley, which was purchased from a bank after the previous owner struggled with operations. The Ross Group motto is “To Be Successful…Be Respectful. In business as in life, we don’t approach either with “I can’t wait to fail”, sometimes things just wrong.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
An over exuberance of naive excitement led to a complete collapse of a lifetime of hard work. From 2009 to 2012 I took a real cash loss of around one million dollars. I lost everything. And it hurt. However, the decision was made to take absolute and full responsibility for the terrible financial failure. I had to own it. So, against all logic and odds, I set out to overcome the nightmare. It started with a statement “I don’t want to file for bankruptcy”, even the lawyers said “impossible”. But from my office where I showed up everyday, there was not a “friend in sight” everyone (including people close to me) never even asked “how are you” “can we help” etc.
The work was done, without bankruptcy, without faulting anyone else. In June of 2021 we exited the final debts (over a $500000.00 on top of the million in losses). These days no one enters my office without a contract, that’s a joke, but I am incredible cautious and con artists need not apply.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
Dale Schenian was among my most impactful mentors. He taught me that business is tough. He stayed focused and good to his employees. I looked up to him. On the opposite end of that, was a Commanding Officer that I had in the Navy. He was more interested in power for self gain, as opposed to power for betterment of ones character. I learned a style that has saved me more than once throughout my long business and political career.
I have long believed you learn from positive and negative personality types. What I no longer tolerate are people who back stab, back bite or disrespect me behind my back. When I find this type of thing out, I move on from them, no matter the “cost”. If it is a younger person, we talk about it for the purpose of self-growth. I always say…..”I have never fired anyone, they fired themselves”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.therossgroup20.com
- Instagram: stoneware cafe-red wing trolley-Bordertown Made
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-ross-6b2920231/
Image Credits
Alyssa Wells
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
