What's Your Escape Velocity?

004 / Drew de Michaelis / "Focus on the people"

Listen Later

ABOUT THIS EPISODE


Drew de Michaelis left a career in finance and customer experience to grow the family business: cremation services.


HIGHLIGHTS

  • 1:52 - Drew's journey from finance to the death industry
  • 6:28 - The broad trend toward cremation and away from funerals
  • 9:36 - The demographics of cremation customers
  • 11:40 - Customer service training in the death industry
  • 13:45 - Treating customers well
  • 19:38 - An optimistic outlook starting the job
  • 24:15 - Finding meaning in the day-to-day
  • 29:35 - Working with a sibling


    • QUOTES

    • "Once I was sold and committed to joining, I was super optimistic with the business's upside. [...] I was focused on looking up as opposed to saying, 'Look at all the things that could go wrong.'"
    • "I enjoy my work now more, and so it doesn't feel like I'm working as much as I probably am."
    • "I don't think that people should have to be burdened by this end-of-life expense. We know it's coming for everyone. [...] If the business exists, I think we should operate not as a super capitalist mindset but as a super people-focused mindset. The money will come. I think we can take the greed off the table and focus on the people and you tend to get good results that way."
    • "Treating people well is a good practice in business. I think it comes back in a lot of ways that bring you more success and also more enjoyment out of your work."
    • "Our families get great care when our team feels they're cared for. And so in any way I can do that, I try."
    • "I've taken the approach of, 'You guys are going to give me all your good ideas, and I'm going to help you make that a reality if I can.'"
    • "That's what we're trying to measure our success by, 'How many people can we get to have a great experience and be treated with fair pricing and a great team?'"


      • SOUNDTRACK

      • "Palms" by Text Me Records / Bobby Renz
      • "Trip to Ganymed" by KieLoKaz


        • ___

        Presented by Modern Wordshop www.modernwordshop.com

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store
        What's Your Escape Velocity?By Kevin Sawyer
        • 5
        • 5
        • 5
        • 5
        • 5

        5

        1 ratings