"Success, to me, is getting to do what you set out to do."
Jack Miller Tweet
Jack Miller is the founder of How I Get Rid Of. He is a home improvement and pest control expert with more than 15 years of experience. He enjoys helping homeowners create their dream homes, complete home remodeling projects, and get rid of stubborn pest problems.
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Let’s start with a brief introduction first. Introduce yourself to our readers.
Jack Miller: My name is Jack Miller, and I am the founder of How I Get Rid Of, a leading home improvement blog. I am a home improvement and pest control expert with more than 15 years of experience.
Our audience is interested to know about how you got started in the first place. Did you always want to become a CEO or was it something you were led to? Our readers would love to know your story!
Jack Miller: I genuinely enjoyed being in the profession I am in. I found satisfaction in getting to help people deal with any issues they may have with regards to home improvement. But when I found an outlet like a blog site along with the opportunity to reach a larger audience much easier, I transitioned into becoming a digital entrepreneur.
“Selfmade” is a myth. We all received help, no doubt you love to show appreciation to those who supported you when the going got tough, who has been your most important professional inspiration?
Jack Miller: In my case, there is no one person. It was more of a collective influence from former bosses and the people I’ve worked with over the years. My attitude’s always been to try and learn something from every person, whether it’s a less-experienced colleague or a supervisor.
How did your journey lead you to become a CEO? What difficulties did you face along the way and what did you learn from them?
Jack Miller: The difficulties were mostly the self-doubt that crept in as I decided to run my own business. All the what-ifs flooded my mind, and because of that, I found it challenging to move forward. But through the guidance of former mentors and peers, I was able to move on from this slump and do what I set out to do.
Tell us about your company. What does your business do and what are your responsibilities as a CEO?
Jack Miller: I run a website that’s meant to help and educate homeowners on the best ways to make home improvements, as well as some of the best practices when it comes to pest control. I oversee the operations of the website with the help of a small team of content creators, SEO experts, web designers and developers, and social media experts.
What does CEO stand for? Beyond the dictionary definition, how would you define it?
Jack Miller: A CEO is the company’s ultimate decision-maker. The buck stops with this person, and that’s a huge enough responsibility. I may not officially have a CEO title, but I do fulfill the role.
When you first became a CEO, how was it different from what you expected? What surprised you?
Jack Miller: It was indeed quite a transition from being someone who follows orders to someone who gives the OK. The necessary mindset shift took me by surprise a bit, but I was eventually able to make the adjustments.
There are many schools of thought as to what a CEO’s core roles and responsibilities are. Based on your experience, what are the main things a CEO should focus on? Explain and please share examples or stories to illustrate your vision.
Jack Miller: As a CEO of a small business, you’re playing a different ballgame. In my case, I am still very hands-on when it comes to running the business. I do some content creation myself at times, while in some cases, I take care of the social media activity. It’s very different from a corporate CEO who is more focused on the decision-making aspect of the business. They aren’t as hands-on.
How would you define success? Does it mean generating a certain amount of wealth, gaining a certain level of popularity, or helping a certain number of people?
Jack Miller: Success, to me, is getting to do what you set out to do. That if you answer your “Why am I doing this?” question, you’ll be proud of yourself for being right on track. Wealth, popularity, and recognition are the sweet bonuses of a mission accomplished.
Some leadership skills are innate while others can be learned. What leadership skills do you possess innately and what skills have you cultivated over the years as a CEO?
Jack Miller: I’ve always taken pride in my ability to empathize with others. Surprisingly, some see it as a weakness, but for me, getting to put yourself in other people’s shoes is something not many people can do well. As for the learned skills, I’d say mine would be being more decisive. My decision-making skills were indeed put to a grueling test, especially during my earlier years. But I’m proud to say I’m much better at it now.
How did your role as a CEO help your business overcome challenges caused by the pandemic? Explain with practical examples.
Jack Miller: Knowing how to pivot helps. During the height of the pandemic, we were all forced to move from a hybrid work set up to fully remote. It made collaboration and brainstorming much more challenging, especially with the kind of culture I’ve cultivated. But it was something that was needed to be done to keep the business afloat during these trying times. And I’m proud of my team that we were able to pull through.
Do you have any advice for aspiring CEOs and future leaders? What advice would you give a CEO that is just starting on their journey?
Jack Miller: Don’t be afraid to take risks. As long as you’re not stepping on anybody’s toes, take the plunge and do what your gut tells you. Forget about potential losses and all the other things you can’t control. If you feel like you’re on the right track, go ahead and dive in headfirst. You’ll thank yourself later.
Thank you for sharing some of your knowledge with our readers! They would also like to know, what is one skill that you’ve always wanted to acquire but never really could?
Jack Miller: Learning multiple languages. It’s not that I never really could, but it’s more of I don’t have the time to do so.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Jack Miller for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Jack Miller or his company, you can do it through his – Facebook
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