1. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: Operation Web is a digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, Website Design, PPC, and Reputation Management. The company was founded by Randy Myers in 1996 and is now wholly owned by MOB111 LLC.
2. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: Randy Myers – I started Operation Web in 1996. It was strictly a web design firm in those days. As internet marketing evolved in the early days, I saw the need to evolve into a full-service marketing firm. Previously, I owned several businesses including a carpet cleaning operation. All my life, I’ve worked for myself. I could not imagine it any other way.
3. What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans: Back in 1996, a friend of mine needed a website. Having never done such work, I volunteered. Through the process, I taught myself HTML and with each website thereafter, I got a little better until I was able to build with relative ease.
From there, I sold my carpet cleaning business and launched OperationWeb.com.
4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans:
1. Don’t quit. Adjust. Adapt. Reevaluate. But do not quit. If you don’t quit, you cannot fail.
2. Stay out of debt. It’s better to scale slowly than it is to grow too big too fast. Especially if you must leverage your equity and earning potential to do it.
3. Make a list! As an entrepreneur, your going to have to become a task master. Especially in the beginning. Spend some early time with your creativity and ideation. Then, hammer the list!
5. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Persistence. Goal Setting. Belief.
6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: Entrepreneurship is 24/7. I dedicate 10 hours per day, 5-6 days per week but really, if your business needs you, you must be there.
7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: I love to make money. I know that sounds greedy or uninspiring, but it is what it is. I don’t apologize for my desire for money. How else are we to keep score? Besides, the more you have, the more you can give. The bottom line is the bottom line!
8. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: Well we’re a web marketing firm, so we walk our talk. We do with our own company what we recommend for yours.
9. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: We scaled and thankfully have remained debt free. My partner and I are not interested in leveraging our equity in exchange for money. I’m not saying that doesn’t always make sense, but we were able to, and continue to, scale Operation Web without outside funding.
10. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Again, do not quit. I can’t state it more simply. That’s not to say you shouldn’t recognize that maybe you’ve got a bad idea or business model. I just mean don’t give up on your dream. If business number one doesn’t work, and it probably won’t, move on.
11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: I honestly feel like we’ll just scale bigger and evaluate when the time comes. I love this business and I don’t see a reason for an exit strategy. At least, not right now.
12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: I admire small business owners. I admire my clients. People who don’t have a lot of capitol but show up everyday to fight the good fight. They are who inspires me.
13. What motivates you?
Ans: My family is my greatest motivating factor. I feel good going home to my wife and son knowing I gave 100% today.
14. How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: I never stop thinking about solutions. The greatest source of problems to be solved is with fellow business owners. I pay attention to my clients and ask them, “What keeps you up at night?” Their answers reveal a lot.
15. How do you define success?
Ans: When I can answer “Yes” to the question, “Did you do your best today?” I feel successful.
16. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: My partner and I call the shots. With that comes pressure, but with that also comes freedom. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
17. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: Entrepreneurs crave freedom. I believe it’s something you either have or you don’t.
18. What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
Ans: Our company rewards based on performance. That said, we don’t like to work with people who are not nice. Life is to short to suffer through days with people you don’t like.
19. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: Rewarding
20. Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: I cannot state it enough. Do not quit. I’m not talking about your business. I’m talking about quitting on yourself.
21. Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Ans: My father. Through all of my trials and difficult times, he’s the one person who I can trust to say and do the right thing. He knows me better than anyone on the planet.