Growing up as a student at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, MN, young Nick Roberts never dreamed that he would someday be on the other side of the desk. Admittedly, he was often glad just to get through the school day without causing too much trouble and completing his assignments on time.
As the National Sales Manager with Harmony Enterprises, the other side of the desk is exactly where he finds himself. Not so ironically, it is in this role that Mr. Roberts feels right at home.
Public speaking has been a staple of his work’s toolbox for years. The ability of a successful sales person to effectively tell their story and engage their clients often is the difference between a sale won or lost. Moreover, when the content of the story is personal in nature, the delivery is even more compelling. That is why Nick’s participation as a Junior Achievement volunteer instructor on the topic of entrepreneurship has been a perfect fit.
Learning from Example
Not only has Mr. Roberts been able to draw upon his own experience for instructional material with his Junior Achievement presentations, he has been able to incorporate lessons learned from a Minnesota-based entrepreneur who has made it his mission to benefit his community with his company’s shared success.
Steve Cremer, President of Harmony Enterprises, has been the visionary behind the third generation, family owned business’s growth during the past decade. Harmony has experienced exponential growth, including the acquisition of its European office, significant revenue increase, expanded demand on facilities, employees and processes, and the addition of a fully staffed customer service center.
One of the many dilemmas that Mr. Cremer has to face as an entrepreneur is weighing out how every decision made will affect each component part of his business. This includes the company’s suppliers, customers, employees, the potential for profitability, and the impact on the greater community. The ability to draw upon local resources and maintain a high level of success requires insight, experience, and networking. Mr. Cremer and Harmony Enterprises utilize collaboration, consistent processes, and diligence to continue to operate at this high level for the betterment of all involved.
Spreading the Message
During this spring semester, students in Mrs. Wojtsnowski’s fourth-grade class at Saint Ambrose School of Woodbury, MN, have been learning about entrepreneurship. Mr. Roberts has presented five different Junior Achievement sessions on this important topic. During these presentations, the students:
Learned the definition of an entrepreneur
- Learned the decisions that entrepreneurs have to make and how those decisions impact different part of business
- Started a fictional business
- Learned how to utilize local resources to make their fictional businesses successful
Mr. Roberts also imparted the fundamental personal traits inherent in successful entrepreneurs. Although these characteristics are often debated, experts generally agree that all successful entrepreneurs are:
- Confident/Determined
- Visionary/Forward-Looking
- Creative
- Intrinsically Motivated/Hard Working
- Resourceful
- Open Minded
- Relationship Architects
Through this “hands on” teaching strategies, these fundamental learning opportunities allowed the students to not only comprehend the material but also apply it to real-life business situations. Mr. Roberts hopes that his efforts might inspire a young person in the classroom to pursue his or her dreams of becoming a successful entrepreneur, someday giving back to their own community.
Harmony Enterprises is a global solutions provider in waste and recycling. We manufacture quality balers, compactors, beverage extraction, and full product destruction equipment. Harmony produces many innovative products and services, such as wireless monitoring, solar options, and customer service software. These differentiators, combined with our quality products, warranty programs, preventive maintenance options, and world-class customer service, create the enhanced value associated with Harmony Enterprises. We care about the communities in which we live and are always looking for ways to give back. To learn more about our company, products, or services, please Contact Us, or call us at (507) 886-6666 today!