Having a positive outlook on life is an asset of immeasurable value. Many successful businessmen and women have attributed their success to more than just hard-work and sleepless nights; positive thoughts equal positive results. Essentially, your perception of something impacts your reaction toward it and ultimately the outcome. Dazzle Magazine features Kareem Michael Larcher, an avid young entrepreneur who uses his creativity and positivity to take his business to new heights.
Kareem Michael Larcher at 29, is quite industrious and continually productive. Those close to him know him as energetic and fun-loving and the perfect gentleman. On a personal level he keeps balanced as an art aficionado.
A young, ambitious Saint Lucian, upon completing his A-Level studies he furthered his education at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada where he majored in economics. Kareem made a proactive decision to study economics since he would be completing his degree in 2009, at the height of the global economic recession when there would have been a great demand for job seekers with economics degrees in the business community.
At the end of his university tenure, Kareem was offered employment as a financial advisor with Edward Jones Financial, a leading investment firm with over 11,000 offices throughout Canada. However, he could not relinquish his love for Saint Lucia. On returning home for a planned two week vacation before commencing work in Canada, he decided to stay home instead and utilise his new-found academic knowledge and skills to support the family business, J.H. Larcher’s Electrics Limited.
While studying in Canada Kareem would return home every summer to help out his dad, John Larcher. This motivated him to continue supporting the business and assist in developing the retail side. Five years later he has no regrets.
Kareem was happy to take some time off his busy schedule to chat about his fascinating journey and share some valuable insights on the key to achieving success in business.
What is your role in the company J.H. Larcher’s Electrics Limited?
I am the general manager of J.H. Larcher’s Electrics Limited. I focus mainly on the retail side of the company. It is divided into two divisions, the retail and electrical contracting departments. The electrical contracting division is managed by my dad, John Larcher. I manage other business operations – customer experience, procurement, supplier relationships and human resources. My job entails making prudent decisions which help to strategically grow the business.
What tools do you use to keep organised?
The nature of the business is quite dynamic so my work is not limited to my office. I am grateful for advances in mobile technology because these are the tools which I use when I am on go. My iPhone and Ipad are my hand extensions when it comes to business. Whether I need to take photos for future reference or navigate the internet in order to provide clients with pictures and additional information about a product, these devices work flawlessly. It is critical that I continue to oversee the operations of the business, remain in contact with team members and manage daily tasks, even when I am out of office. Therefore I make use of these tools and carry other resources such as my daily planner for managing my to-do list. These are the tools that make it possible for me to always remain productive.
What challenges do you face as a young businessman?
I have a very positive outlook; I don’t focus on challenges. I employ a winning attitude and therefore I focus solely on solutions. There will be challenges everyday, everywhere and with everything you do in life but if you focus on the solutions you see past the problems. Everything is perceived as manageable and you therefore find the way and means to deal with the situation, and problems ultimately get solved.
Have you made any significant changes to the business since taking on the role of general manager?
Yes I have. Most of the changes have been with the marketing and sales of the company. We have employed a more customer-oriented approach to our sales that has allowed the business to grow more efficiently.
Additionally, we have instituted a process-driven approach to the daily operations, which has allowed for controlled order and facilitated additional efficiencies. We have also used technology to improve our business operations and we continually innovate to drive change in our business.
Of paramount importance, we have focused on building the image of the company and maintaining our reputation by providing a high standard of work to clients. This has allowed us to significantly increase our customer base.
In what ways has your involvement in the company helped to raise the bar?
The efforts of my dad and I have created a synergy that has helped to make J.H. Larcher’s Electrics Limited more visible to our clients and the general public. This has helped to maximise our effectiveness as a company. It is more of a team approach between my father and I; it is not just me, I cannot take all the credit for it. We collaborate harmoniously and strive to exceed expectations.
I understand that customers’ needs are a key aspect of any company’s sustainability. Therefore, we listen to our customers and supply the things that they want. We are confident that our team delivers a delightful customer experience, having received proper training and coaching.
We also aim to provide to our clients other resources which they need to succeed in the industry. Every other year we host an electricians’ seminar featuring experts and professionals from the biggest brands in electrical products. The first seminar was hosted in 2011 in collaboration with Aurora Lighting from the United Kingdom. Last year, Contactum, a major supplier of electrical goods was invited to be part of the seminar. We had an extremely favorable turnout of electricians eager to learn in both seminars. The participants also engaged in discussions with the product designers and manufacturers of these electrical-goods giants. We undoubtedly felt a sense of accomplishment and definitely look forward to our next seminar.
Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond to get a job done.
This is almost a weekly occurrence. I have had to sacrifice my free time and sleep to assist customers who need materials and service. I try to remain accessible to clients. I have had to go out in the wee hours of the morning to a customer’s premises to supply them with goods which were critical to their business operation. We provide the human touch in our business.
What three bits of advice would you give a young person who wants to become an entrepreneur?
Be prepared for hard work but do not see the hard work as punishment. It is not what you want now but what you need for tomorrow. That is the attitude to employ in business, always keep your end goal in sight.
Be persistent in all that you do.
Keep God in your life; keep Him very close.
