Allan Draper is a serial entrepreneur, investor, growth expert, attorney and host of the successful podcast, “The Business Growth Pod”. He specializes in scaling small businesses and helping entrepreneurs transform an idea into a thriving business. Through a dedicated approach to business analysis, Draper has contributed to the growth and development of startups in a variety of industries transforming them into multimillion dollar enterprises.
What is Proof Pest Control all about?
My brother and I created proof. with the vision to provide our customers with a service that gives them peace of mind and to provide our team members with a place to work that they would be proud of. Thanks to our dedication to that vision, we are now located in 7 different states and growing very rapidly.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your business?
My brother and I worked for a pest control company in 2006 with the intention of starting our own pest control business in 2007. However, for various reasons that plan fizzled. He stayed in the pest control industry and I went to law school and practiced law for a few years. In 2014 the idea of us taking another shot came up. We were in a lot better position and we decided to pull the trigger.
How have the pandemic affected you or your new business?
Shortly after news broke regarding the extent and severity of the pandemic, I instituted a number of company-wide changes in reaction to the news. Unfortunately, such changes were made solely based on fear. As an entrepreneur, I had never faced anything like COVID-19. Few, if any, had.
Two of the changes I instituted were immediate hiring and pay raise freezes. Such changes were short-sighted and not based on accurate information. Fortunately, it only took a matter of days for me to realize that such fear-based changes were unwarranted.
Ultimately, the pandemic has been a net positive for Proof Pest Control and our affiliate companies. What I mean by that is there have been some challenges but those challenges have been outweighed by the successes. Not all companies can say that. Shortly after the pandemic began, the Department of Homeland Security identified pest control workers as essential. This allowed Proof to continue its operations. However, we took extensive measures in every department to ensure the safety of our team members and our customers. Being able to adjust quickly to the changes around us led to great results. Proof was able to add 30% to its employee base and grow even faster than we had projected.
What were the top mistakes you made starting your business and what did you learn from it?
Believing in myself-I am a naturally very frugal person so it was difficult for me to invest and reinvest in my business early on. I realized that the reason that I was not investing in my company was because of a lack of confidence in myself to make the investment profitable. By believing in myself and building confidence in my company, I was able to scale by reinvesting in growth. I am glad that I did not wait longer to do so but my companies would have grown even faster if I started reinvesting sooner than I did.
Relying on systems to scale properly-Systems are crucial to a scaling company. As a company grows, any mistake that exists is multiplied. With systems and protocols in place early, a lot of these mistakes can be avoided. Systems should be reviewed occasionally to make sure that they are still in line with the vision of the company. However, an early focus on systems will add structure and facilitate the success of a company. Examples of a few of the most important systems include: software systems to manage customer interaction, data, employees and financials processes for developing the product or performing the service, employee onboarding, and training protocols
Hiring the wrong people-as a growing company, the people you hire will make or break you. Nothing is a greater asset than someone that joins your team for the right reasons. On the other hand, nothing can cause more damage faster than hiring someone that is untrainable and not focused on the overall goals and vision of the company. In the early days of Proof, I did not spend enough time attracting top-level talent and vetting potential employees. This is a common mistake with new companies simply because entrepreneurs can be so busy early on. However, even a little more time invested in getting the right people on board early multiplies your time in the long run.
What is one thing that you do daily to grow as an entrepreneur?
I read daily. And I don’t just read “businesses” books. I read fiction, religious, motivation, personal development, and financial books. While there is nothing more important than experience to an entrepreneur, learning from others’ experiences is a close second. Reading also allows entrepreneurs to come up with ideas on how to improve their businesses and differentiate their products or service.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
Proof has a large network of individuals who go door-to-door to sell pest control accounts. Yep, just like people used to do with vacuums and encyclopedias. The idea sounds a little crazy and old-fashioned. In fact, like other forms of marketing, it definitely has its challenges. However, after seeing millions upon millions of door-to-door revenue, we have proof that some business strategies stand the test of time.
What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
The best piece of advice for an aspiring entrepreneur would be to learn how to embrace and even enjoy failure and mistakes. That may sound a little counterintuitive but challenges and failure are not only a part of business, they are essential to it. There is not a single successful entrepreneur or company that hasn’t had its fair share of challenges. In fact, the best companies out there are those who have taken on and overcome the most difficult challenges. The good news is that with the right mindset and sufficient determination, there are very few challenges that an entrepreneur cannot overcome.
What’s a productivity tip you swear by?
A morning routine-Every morning I wake up at the same time so that I can have about an hour to work on myself before I work on my businesses. That morning routine includes prayer, religious study, journaling, reviewing my goals, stating positive affirmations, visualizing where I want to be with my goals in the future, and meditation.
This morning routine allows me to get my day on track and helps get my mind right for the challenges that will inevitably come my way.
What is your favorite quote?
“Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare. ”
What is your definition of success?
My definition of success is being in a position where I am able to control how I spend my time. This definition includes all 7 areas of focus that I have and the areas where I create and monitor goals:
Spiritual-Am I in a good place with my religious beliefs and living in harmony with those beliefs so I am able to thrive and not deal with internal dilemmas?
Family-Are my relationships with my family healthy and strong and not holding me back?
Mental-Am I growing and improving so that I become more efficient and successful overtime?
Physical-Am I in a state of health that allows me to spend my time how I want-whether that be exercise, traveling, playing with my children, etc?
Professional-Am I fulfilled and challenged by my work so that I am able to perform at a high level and I am not in constant search of something else?
Financial-Do I have the financial resources to do whatever I want with my time? Could I quit my current profession and use that time to do something else without incurring financial strain?
Social-Do I have a network of people around me that is supportive, which encourages me to reach my goals and live consistently with who I believe I am?
How do you personally overcome fear?
Fear ran rampant during the pandemic and I was not immune to it. Most fear, especially those facing entrepreneurs, is rooted in the unknown. As humans, we are naturally afraid of the unknown, and a lot of times, we just assume that the worst is going to happen. Two things that I do to overcome fear are:
- 1. focus on optimism and positivity.
- 2. consider what is the worst thing that could happen.
The best way I have found to be positive is to focus on the things that I am thankful for. It is very difficult to be thankful and negative at the same time.
When we truly think about the worst that could happen and allow ourselves to logically consider it, our fears will shrink before us. This is mostly because fear can often be a “knee-jerk” and emotional reaction. But when we remove the emotion and illogic from our fears, the worst result will not be as terrifying as our initial reaction made them appear to be.
How can readers get in touch with you?
The best way to reach me is on Instagram at allanrdraper or, for business advice, on my website at allandraper.com
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