Everyone has their own reason for starting a business, today, we’ll be taking a look at another’s story. More specifically, we’ll be peeking at the perspective of the founder and CEO of ServicePlus, a home warranty company that was established in 2016.
ServicePlus Home Warranty’s CEO, David Seruya, kindly agreed to answer our questions and release the transcript of the complete interview, which we’ll be sharing below:
Hello! Thank you for agreeing to participate in this interview! Please introduce yourself to our readers!
David Seruya: Hello, my name is David Seruya. I founded the company, ServicePlus home warranty, in 2016, and I’m currently working as its CEO.
How long have you been in the industry?
David Seruya: Since I was 25! A college friend of mine had introduced me to it, stating that it was an excellent industry to make some waves in, especially as there was a pretty big competitor back then that was reportedly making it big.
Before that, I was working as a mortgage broker, but I quit in order to start a home warranty company with the aforementioned friend.
If the home warranty industry was not your initial pick, what were your main interests back then?
David Seruya: Outside of real estate? Well, believe it or not, I was highly interested in Architecture and Interior Design in the beginning. You might call it more of a hobby than anything else though.
Why did you decide to stay in the home warranty industry?
David Seruya: Back when I was younger, I entered the industry without considering the risks and ended up having to learn a pretty big lesson when my first business failed on me. Perhaps some people may think that this should have been the time for me to make my exit, but, at the time, I rather thought that this failure was a big opportunity.
At that point, I had already been embroiled in the home warranty industry for quite some time. I learned a lot in the process and only had to march forward knowing what mistakes I made and how to correct them. So, there was no reason for me to leave.
Speaking of lessons, based on the experience that you described, do you have any advice for first-time business owners who are down on their luck?
David Seruya: If you’re doing business for the first time and you’re having trouble moving forward then you need to look first at yourself and then at your business.
In terms of self-improvement, first and foremost, consider whether or not you’re doing a good job leading your people. Issues with delegation were one of the first things that I had to contend with as a first-time business owner. I had a tendency to over-insert myself in everyday proceedings and, as a result, I hindered my personal development and the development of my team and business.
As for business development, the thing that you need to consider is whether or not you’re taking enough risks. I wholeheartedly believe in the saying that innovation is the key to success. And, in accordance with this, I believe that, unless you put yourself out there and take some risks, you’ll never be able to beat your competitors.
How about advice for business owners and entrepreneurs that are a little further along in their journey? Is there anything you can share with them?
David Seruya: Well, one of the most common issues I think most experienced entrepreneurs find themselves entangled with is the matter of burnout. After working for so long, toiling day in and day out, it’s easy to get tired. For those that are in such a situation, finding a solution is a lot easier said than done. After all, people have their own unique ways of de-stressing.
My only advice is that you don’t let it get too bad. Once you start to notice the issue, don’t ignore it! Burnout can seriously affect your mentality. And, once you’re mentality starts to shake, things fall apart more easily.
Saying that, what do you personally do in order to de-stress and get rid of the risk of burning out?
David Seruya: I rely on my passion for my work and the time I spend with my family. These two things are what drives me to do what I do. And, by having them as a constant reminder, I can move forward more confidently than I would have otherwise.
Thank you again for answering our questions! To finish us off, what are you looking forward to most in the future?
David Seruya: On the business side of things, I’m of course looking forward to the advancements that we’re hoping to make in our services at ServicePlus. As for the personal side of things, I just want my family to stay healthy and happy.
Cameron Dickerson is a seasoned journalist with nearly 10 years experience. While studying journalism at the University of Missouri, Cameron found a passion for finding engaging stories. As a contributor to Kev’s Best, Cameron mostly covers state and national developments.