We were lucky to catch up with Joseph Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Joseph 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 get my work ethic from my parents. They instilled in me at an early age if you want things you have to work for them. For example when I started driving, my parents let me know that if I wanted a car I would have to buy it, even though I had friends that were receiving cars for their 16th birthday. I started working at 14 at the local grocery store even though I could only work 3 hours a day because I was a minor, but over the summers and doing odd jobs like yard work I saved enough to buy my first car when I turned 16. I took so much pride in my car because I bought it myself. It was these types of life lessons they taught me early on that shape my work ethic.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
While still working my full time job I am currently building my company Bento Move. Bento Move is a rentable moving box company that helps people move smarter and more sustainably. Instead of flimsy cardboard boxes, we provide clean, durable, reusable plastic bins delivered straight to your door. Our boxes are ready to use — no tape, no assembly — and stack perfectly to keep your move organized and efficient. When you’re done, we pick them up from your new location. Bento Move simplifies the process while reducing waste. It’s an easier, greener, and more reliable way to move.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
For this particular business venture I think the skill of customer service, problem solving, and having the right CRM (customer relationship management) software in place. Bento Move is a service based business in the moving industry which is a particularly stressful because of all of the moving parts. I think the customer service aspects that I learned in early jobs help me treat my customers as best as possible and solve any problem that arises quickly. Also the CRM aspect I have learned from other entrepreneurial ventures as well, the easier that it is to track and interact with customers just makes running the business easier. Finding the right CRM for you business is really important.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
All though I’m a firm believer in constant self improvement and trying to get better at things, but in business it better to focus on what you are really good at and partner or outsource what you are not good at. I see it this way because in business time to action is really important if you are spinning you wheels trying to learn a new skill, the business opportunity may pass you by.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bentomove.com
- Instagram: you.knowjoe/bentomove
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-smith-iii-macc-78511322
