How do you define success? A quick Google search will show that the word has two basic meanings: ‘the accomplishment of an aim or purpose’ or ‘the attainment of popularity or profit.’
Most people would be able to identify with either of these meanings. Dazzle recently had the privilege of interviewing Ottis Effs, the General Manager of Real Foods Inc. the company that operates the St. Lucia franchise of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). The eldest of four children of a Jamaican dad and Saint Lucian mom, Ottis has gained extensive managerial experience working both in St. Lucia and overseas.
During our chat with him, we discovered that not only is Ottis a highly motivated and thriving businessman, he has discovered that there is a further way of experiencing success that can be even more satisfying. He explained how he has been able to achieve it.
Dazzle: How did this journey start off for you?
Ottis: Well, first of all I attended the best school on the island: Saint Mary’s College (laughs). Samarian for life! After that I completed my A Levels at SALCC before moving on to the Student’s Accounting Centre in Trinidad. I studies there for two and a half years, after which I moved to London to finish of studying over the next three years.
Dazzle: What was your experience like working in London?
Ottis: While in London I was very lucky to have worked as an Accountant. But at that time in my life it was a real challenge for me. Dealing with unpleasant situations, the cold, dreary weather, being away from home and not having that safety net made it worse. I knew that I wanted to be an accountant but I didn’t want to be doing it in that setting. I do appreciate gaining that experience, but it wasn’t the end for me. I didn’t see it as the place I wanted to be forever. It didn’t make me as happy as I could’ve been.
What really brought me back home was the loss of a family member. She was a cousin that I grew up with, more like a sister to me. Even though I got to travel a lot and gain useful experience, there was just that void that needed to be filled. And coming home to my family fixed that for me.
Since coming home it’s been a huge improvement for Ottis, but not without its own troubles.
Dazzle: How would you describe your career and what does it require of you as a professional?
Ottis: It’s quite hectic; you have lots of fires to put out. Running four restaurants of an international brand with its own standards can be very stressful. Anything can go wrong at anytime and you need to be able to remain composed and respond to that issue quickly and effectively. With two hundred team members on staff, all with different backgrounds, cultures and mindsets, there are also personality clashes. Which means you must foresee them to prevent this and maintain harmony.
Dazzle: As a General Manager, how do you inspire your team?
Ottis: By trying to ensure that the environment is fun and not just all work. It is a very serious job but we try not to take ourselves so seriously. Always being able to lighten the mood at work allows them to keep coming in without dreading it. I would want them to feel how I feel coming to work. We try to create a culture where you know it’s a fast-paced job but it’s also fun, there’s room for you to grow and learn. It feels like a family.
Dazzle: What would you say is your biggest accomplishment so far?
Ottis: Being in a position that’s challenging but fulfilling, and liking what I do is important. It’s not a drag to go to work every day and I think that that is a big accomplishment. It speaks to a level of happiness and I equate that to a level of success. If you’re happy with what you’re doing then I think you’ve found some measure of success.
Dazzle: What are your strategies for keeping organised?
Ottis: My phone and calendar. But for me, keeping organised also means having a clear mind. Self care is absolutely important after a long day of work. It allows you to process and think better once you get back to your working routine. Being able to set aside an hour or two in a day just to do something I love is important. For me, I collect music on vinyl and CD. On the lighter side I’m getting into photography and aerial photography as a hobby, and occasionally scuba diving. It’s not just up to me though, my team at work also help keep me on par by taking away some of the stresses that I’d have to face. Even having an understanding family is important when trying to be efficient at work.
Dazzle: How have you been able to lead the way in disaster preparedness for KFC St. Lucia?
Ottis: After noticing how the recent weather events affected Dominica and St. Maarten we lent a lot of support to them in helping them get back on their feet. That prompted us to step up our game where disaster
preparedness is concerned. We’ve developed a disaster preparedness team made up of various staff members who are assigned to specific things; staff, infrastructure, products and warehousing, business continuity and so on. It’s a plan of action to prevent as much damage as possible, as well as a means of a swift recovery and return to regular activities. Most of the initiatives taken were developed locally and came from our own experiences. However, we try to keep up with the best practices so that we are prepared for any natural hazard; fire, earthquake, flood etc.
Dazzle: How have you managed to change or improve upon the brand since becoming General Manager?
Ottis: Maintaining the brand standards; food, taste, product quality and safety, and these are big things for us. I love what KFC is doing outside of restaurant walls, in giving back to the community with sponsorships for education, sports and even cultural events like carnival. You can see KFC become more a part of the fabric of the society with these things. That’s what my team and I have been able to maintain and hopefully improve.
Dazzle: How do you foresee change or improvement for KFC within the next years?
Ottis: We want to grow accessibility by adding one more store. There are still a couple more renovations to be done to improve the face of the brand just a bit. All of which should be done in about a year and a half. Deliveries are also another thing that we are looking into, but to execute it well we must approach it with patience!
With a few more qualifications in his sights (a Master’s of Science & Accounting and an MBA with a Concentration in Marketing), Ottis is well on his way to achieving more success. We wish him all the best in his endeavours!
