POST #10: A Snickers-Flavored Journey: Unearthing the Joy in My Work Life
If I were to dive deep into my memory vault, one of the most vivid recollections that would surface is a seemingly mundane Costco shopping trip with my parents. On this particular day, however, it took an exciting turn. We usually steered clear of the candy aisle, but my dad, with an adventurous spirit, ziplined towards the large boxes of candy. Before long, our cart was overflowing with an array of sweets. Amid this abundance, my eyes remained firmly locked on a box of Snickers bars. My heart was set on claiming every single bar as my own. Imagine my surprise when, instead of heading home with my prized possession, my dad drove us to his gas station to unload everything.
Feeling deflated but not defeated, I snuck a dozen Snickers bars into my pockets, only to be apprehended almost instantly. That day, my punishment was a comprehensive lecture on gross profit (GP), the break-even point per box, and the method of calculating the same ratios for other products.
By the tender age of nine, I had a rudimentary understanding of a profit and loss statement, thanks to the real-time business lessons I received that day. The concepts started to fall into place. Money flowed from the customers to the register, out to cover expenses, and whatever was left belonged to us. The notion that every sale must yield a certain gross profit to be profitable and that reducing a discretionary SG&A expense could achieve the same effect was mind-boggling. Sometimes, even today, as I calculate GPs, I'm taken back to the memory of those Snickers bars.
That unique experience transformed me into a child entrepreneur. In high school, I managed to persuade the administration to fund a student supply store, which I oversaw until graduation. All the profits were donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Boise, Idaho. In its first year, the store generated over $3k in profit! Owing to the success of the store, a business club was formed to sustain it post my graduation. That was my first experience preparing a transition plan and writing SOPs for critical functions.
Over the past decade, I've been privileged to helm numerous successful ventures both domestically and internationally. From building a call center in Brazil for a client, part of a post-acquisition strategy, to supervising over 300 staff as an interim VP of Operations for a vocational school chain, my journey has been quite diverse. I've played a part in developing national and international corporate M&A strategies and led numerous operational restructuring projects and turnarounds.
My interest in business stemmed from understanding how my father's small businesses generated income, ensuring our family's sustenance. In business, no detail is too small to ignore, and proactive risk identification is essential for success. For instance, as a Junior Analyst, I flagged potential financial risks related to cash stipends for international travel and receipt collection for reimbursement during my first overseas business trip. Though my recommendations did not yield immediate financial gains, they did lead to improved cash management and were crucial in expense management as we expanded.
The joy I derive from making process improvements and achieving strategic objectives while minimizing unnecessary expenses is unparalleled. To anyone who asks about the most fun I've ever had at work, I'd narrate the tale of my ten-year-old self with stolen Snickers bars and the exhilarating journey that has followed.