227: Navy Veteran transforms a struggling Info Tech Business into an Inc. 5000 Superstar – Thomas Douglas of JMARK

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Background on Thomas Douglas of JMark:

Thomas Douglas joined the JMARK team in 1997 upon the completion of enlistment to the U.S. Navy, where he won an achievement medal for his design of a financial reporting database. Starting off as a level one engineer at JMARK, he worked his way up the ranks before purchasing the company in 2001. At the time, JMARK’s business model was structured in a way which had an unpredictable revenue stream, so Tom formulated a levelized billing method which would provide a predictable revenue stream for JMARK. This shift transformed the way the region engaged technology services and put JMARK on a growth trajectory that continues to this day.

As JMARK’s president and CEO, Tom is a trusted technology adviser to a global list of clients. He is recognized as a leader in the managed services industry, being named to the annual MSPmentor 250 list multiple times. Additionally, the Missouri Branch of the U.S. Small Business Administration chose him as the 2013 Missouri Small Business Person of the Year. Nationally, he is also well-known as an engaging speaker on topics such as executive strategies, entrepreneur tactics, technology trends, I.T. maturity methodologies, cybersecurity, and other leadership and technology subjects.

Under Tom’s leadership, JMARK has experienced 70% growth in the last three years. In fact, the Missouri-based company has been recognized on Inc. magazine’s list of the top 5,000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America for nine consecutive years.

Time-Stamped Show Notes:

  • [1:44] Thomas Douglas, 49 years old, is the CEO of JMARK Business Solutions. After serving the Navy for 4 years, He joined JMARK as a level one engineer. In 2001, Thomas bought the company from the owner.
  • [5:00] JMARK won an award as one of the top 20 places to work in Springfield, Missouri.
  • [8:34] Transforming the company to become more outcome-based created a better environment for Thomas and his team during the early days of the business.
  • [11:09] When Thomas started transitioning the company, he did not understand how much it cost to run an IT business.
  • [15:42] Thomas is a PC guy and he gets more done in a Windows environment than in a Mac.
  • [17:12] For Thomas, college wasn’t really for him and he wasn't learning anything so he dropped out.
  • [21:24] While being in the Navy, Thomas was assigned to the logistics and financial management for the ship.
  • [23:44] Being in the military gave him the structure that he needed in life.
  • [25:03] Thomas shares some of his learning experiences in the navy.
  • [28:21] Austin and Thomas talk about some of the IT jokes and pranks that they’ve experienced in the past.
  • [35:14] The experience of being under bad leadership in the navy helped Thomas realize what a good leader should be.
  • [43:30] Thomas talks about how he was able to buy JMARK from the previous owner.
  • [49:40] Transitioning and growing the business was not an easy task for Thomas. He is also in the process of finishing a book called Adapt or Die, which shares all of the lessons he learned for the past 25 years.
  • [54:17] Thomas enumerates some of the biggest challenges he faced when growing the company.
  • [56:57] Balancing his business life and personal life were also extremely challenging.
  • [1:05:02] One of his biggest beliefs is that small businesses can change lives.
  • [1:06:36] A good morning routine is important for Thomas.
  • [1:10:11] One last tip from Thomas on how to make the not so enjoyable tasks more enjoyable.

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Fabulous 4 Questions:

  1. 📖📚 Favorite Books? The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone, The Buddha and the Badass by Vishen Lakhiani
  2. 🙌😎 Favorite Amazon.com purchase? Adjustable Weights
  3. 🌱💸 Favorite Tool that's GROWN your Business? Trello, OneNotes, Workplace from Facebook
  4. 💭💡 BIGGEST Challenge keeping your Business from GROWING? Finding enough qualified prospects

Key Point from the Interview:

  • “You can’t lead others if you can’t lead yourself, you have to be good at that, and I think it requires a certain self-discipline to be able to do those things that lead to successful outcomes.”

Resources Mentioned:

 

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