Amanda Chavez Thomson | Local Leaders Achieving Success
Seven local entrepreneurs share their journeys from humble beginnings to thriving businesses. Discover the challenges they faced, the breakthroughs that fueled their growth and the insights that drove their success.
Amanda Chavez Thomson
Chavez Inc.
What was your first job and how did it impact you?
After graduating from college, my first job was with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. I was there during the era of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, and I witnessed their incredible team chemistry that led to championship seasons. I was responsible for managing 300 accounts of season ticket holders who were dedicated to the success of the Spurs. This experience taught me valuable lessons that I could apply to the small business world. Similar to the sports world, small businesses have their share of ups and downs, successes and failures. As business owners, we function as the general manager and look for managers who can effectively coach employees. We constantly seek employees who contribute to the team’s chemistry and distance ourselves from those who hinder the team’s goals. This is the essence of a small business.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to run their own business?
Be prepared for the not-so-glamorous side of owning and running a business. I think it’s easy to look at a business owner and believe that “they have it made,” they can make their own hours, rules, etc. To some extent, that can be true. But what often does not get talked about is the weight of responsibility you carry as a business owner. You have employees who are counting on a paycheck, customers who are counting on a job well done, bills that need to be paid, etc. You are not able to leave your worries at the door once you leave work. Business owners carry their worries with them. But, if you go home more days than not feeling fulfilled and hopeful with the satisfaction of knowing you are providing a valued service, it can be more rewarding than you ever imagined.
What qualities do you believe are most important in a business leader?
In my opinion, compassion and vision are two qualities that a good business leader must possess. A compassionate leader combines awareness and empathy with action. We are all humans with work and personal worries. Understanding what your employees need to function at their best should be a priority. They should feel genuinely valued as individuals. It can be easy to get lost in the day-to-day work, but a true leader must develop a trustworthy team that can tackle a good portion of the daily grind, allowing leadership to focus on foresight and build on the opportunities of the future.
What strategies have been most effective for growing your business?
Two things stick out to me when thinking about how our business has successfully grown over the years. The first would be evolving as our customers’ needs have changed. My grandfather started this company as a carpet cleaning business. Over the years my dad and uncle spearheaded adding several services, including fire and water restoration, mold remediation and environmental cleaning. Now, 57 years later, we are still adding new services, asbestos abatement being the newest. The other strategy would be hiring genuine, good people to work for you. We can train anyone to do what we do, but we cannot train someone to care about our work and our customers. That must come from the top and be embraced by the employees. I am lucky to work with every single employee that we have here every day. They keep our business running, me laughing and our reputation solid.
What is your proudest business achievement?
Our proudest achievement has to be our longevity. This business was my grandfather’s “American Dream.” His parents brought them to Kansas from Mexico. He and his 13 siblings lived in a railcar while his father worked for the railroad. He quit school at 14 to help provide for his family. As the business evolved, he worked alongside his children and wife, doing what he loved every day. I remember visiting “the shop” as a child and seeing my family members and their smiling faces. My dad often worked long hours and every weekend as my siblings and I were growing up. This is the only job my younger brother, now here for almost 20 years, has ever had. It’s a unique experience to work with family every day. I never thought I would be part of the family business, but here we are into our third generation. I’m working alongside my dad, my brother and my aunt every day and I’ve never been more fulfilled.
