While in an installation support in Canada, I was pleased to meet Mr. Powell, an entrepreneur in the fiber optic industry, his newly created Company is taking big steps in the manufacturing and distribution of cable assemblies for fiber optics systems.
Mr. Powel tell me a little bit how you started your company?
Powel: We build Fiber Optic accessories and components, which consist of cable assemblies, various distribution equipment and design of fiber optic systems for enterprise network; we also act as consultants on various systems operations and design.
Could you give me some examples to illustrate the challenge you faced in starting your company?
Powel: One of the main challenges was raising capital, you have to make sure that a solid business plan exists and a clear picture of where you want to take your business.
How do you resolve problems when they arise?
Powel: I take a logical systematic approach, first I need to find the problem, and I gather data on it, I analyze the data to see where I am at, then I finally make a decision based on my findings, sometimes I have to make a quick decision to get things going, but I try to find the root of the problem so it does not happened again.
How have the experiences that you have had during your entire career influence the way you run your business?
Powel: The experience with managing people has been a key thing because machines or computers do whatever you want them to do without an issue, humans are more challenging to understand what motivates them and what affects their actions.
How do you motivate and reward your employees?
Powel: So different people are motivated by different things, first I try to understand the individual because each employee is motivated differently, some like money, some like a challenging task, and some others are motivated by knowing they have job security.
How do you select people to join your company?
Powel: First of all, they have to be a good fit as far understanding the goal of the business, they have to take initiative, and obviously they need to have intelligence, they have to have some kind of technical ability, personality wise they need to interact with people and be respectful, with co-workers and customers.
How do you keep up with best practices in your company?
Powel: that is a continued challenge, I have to make sure we keep tight ends with companies in similar industries, and also is very important to look at companies outside of the industries, we visit a lot of trade shows, visiting customers, visit other industries, we keep good contacts, we subscribe to several magazines that have to do with the fiber optics industries.
How did you first enter your line of work?
Powel: I started working in the fiber optic test equipment industries, from there I went into fiber optic manufacturing and production, then I went into fiber optic technical support, and then with the combination of all those experiences I started with my business.
What advice would you give to someone who was considering a career in fiber optics?
Powel: my advice would be to become well rounded as far as understanding the technical foundation of the industry, you can not fully understand the full impact of the business unless you understand how things work.
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