In this edition of Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Spotlight, we're excited to introduce Jamie Kostelac, one of the innovative minds behind Titan Group, a company that specializes in cultivating top-tier performers, crafting impactful marketing strategies, and providing expert recruitment and brokering services, particularly excelling in the Home Services sector. Join us as we dive into Jamie’s experiences, challenges, and the invaluable insights he's gained along the way, offering a wealth of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere.
Hi, Jamie! Thanks for joining us today. Tell us about your business. Who do you serve, how do you serve them, and what's the impact that your business and work makes?
Titan Group is a consultancy renowned for cultivating top-tier performers across all sectors. Our focus lies in delivering high-caliber training, crafting tailored marketing strategies that make an impact regardless of your budget, providing a recruitment arm to source the right talent for your organization, and offering brokering services to optimize your investments or assist in business acquisitions. With a portfolio of thriving businesses in various sectors, our expertise shines brightest in Home Services. We possess the blueprint for success in any industry.
Tell us about the moment you finally felt like you went from wantrepreneur to entrepreneur.
In my early twenties, I seized my first ownership opportunity and emphasized training, development, and servant leadership. As a result, we consistently achieved year-over-year growth ranging from 60-100%. Effective delegation to the right individuals in the right place is crucial for business expansion. It's essential to develop more skilled managers each year. Internal promotions have significantly benefited our expansion. Onboarding someone well-versed in their role is smoother than training a seasoned manager unfamiliar with the nuances of the trade. Scaling a business requires a shift in approach as it grows. The strategies that worked for a $1 million business won't suffice for a $3 million one. Scalability is the key to success.
Describe the moment or period in your life/career that motivated you to make the entrepreneurial leap.
My path to entrepreneurship is quite unique. Originally a college athlete with plans to join the Kansas City Fire Department, I took on a franchise job in Kansas City for fun while waiting to start at the fire department. After excelling in my role for a few months, the company offered me the chance to manage a remote franchise in Oklahoma City. Opting out of the Fire Department offer, I made the move to Oklahoma City. The satisfaction I derive from my work comes from the opportunity to positively impact individuals' lives who lack a guiding mentor. I encourage them, affirming their potential for greatness and supporting them in achieving it. Ensuring accountability to the company's standards distinguishes team members aiding growth from those hindering scalability. These checks are vital for excellence. Observing their progress and passion for work is deeply rewarding. By focusing on team development, financial success naturally follows, propelling you toward your financial aspirations.
Describe a tool, service, or software that has been a game-changer for your business. How does it contribute to your success?
Previously, I've utilized ASANA for some organizations we've collaborated with. I'm a proponent of the EOS system for its ability to hold the leadership team accountable and provide clarity on the desired direction. Metric tracking is imperative for any organization to gain an unbiased view of team performance. Relying on subjective feelings about a team member can cloud judgment and lead to overestimating their effectiveness. Objectivity in performance evaluation and adherence to KPI standards are crucial in combating complacency and enhancing team output. Leveraging Excel spreadsheets and performance rankings has consistently benefitted us in this domain.
We know that success is very often a non-linear path. Tell us about a failure, pivot point, or lesson that changed your course or direction and helped to get you where you are today.
Upon my arrival in Oklahoma City, I found myself at the helm of the poorest-performing franchise among 152 locations. The franchise had only brought in $200,000 the previous year, a stark contrast to my previous experience with a franchise generating $5 million. Faced with limited job opportunities, I struggled to provide enough work hours for my team, resulting in a slow job count during the initial years. While my peers effortlessly saw job growth in their markets, Oklahoma City posed a unique challenge. Working 7 days a week the first year and 6 days the second year. I knew it was required for us to have long-term success. This pushed me to think innovatively, building relationships with local businesses and charities. We collaborated with several charities for events, and I even joined the board of a local Entrepreneurship group. In my final year in OKC, we were honored with the Small Business of the Year award. I never overlooked a single job on the schedule, maintaining this mindset even after surpassing the million-dollar revenue mark. Within four years, Oklahoma City transformed into a Top 5 performing franchise, leading to a corporate invitation to consult for franchises three to four times larger than Oklahoma City. The foundation of my daily approach was established during the early years of adversity, when opportunities were scarce, setting me apart from other business owners.
What unconventional strategy did you employ that significantly impacted your business?
Being actively involved in the operational aspects of the business, I take pride in demonstrating how to deliver services personally. Junk Removal, being a blue-collar industry, underscores the importance of leading by example and showing the team that no task is beneath anyone. By not just delegating but also performing challenging tasks on-site, it instills confidence in the team to handle any responsibility, even in your absence.
What’s something you wish you knew sooner that you’d give as advice for aspiring or newer entrepreneurs?
Irrespective of your industry talent, your team is indispensable. While profitability is achievable solo, the path is slow and painful. Fostering individual growth within your organization and valuing their insights in decision-making is the key to scalability. Having five adept individuals drive business growth is far more effective than one person alone. This approach allows you to focus on expanding the business rather than being consumed by daily operations. If you're away from the office for a few days, can your business operate as smoothly as when you're present? This directly reflects the scalability of your business. It took me years to perfect this strategy, yielding remarkable results. By prioritizing your team, they, in turn, prioritize the customer, ultimately taking care of the brand.
Want to go deeper into Jamie's work? Follow the links below...
- Visit Titan Group's Website thetitanway.com
- Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn: Jamie Kostelac
