25 Years of Liquid Capital: Helicopters and Life Lessons
As we celebrate 25 years, we’d like to blather on about our accomplishments. But instead, let’s take a slightly more embarrassing route and talk about the reality of growing a business through the eyes of our team.
When Deodorant Isn’t Enough
Sometimes, deodorant will do. Other times, you really need the antiperspirant.
One of our long-time team members recalls their first networking event after training:
« My first networking meeting after going through training was at a local chamber of commerce. I walked into the room full of people and attempted to sound experienced and confident. But inside, I was terrified. What would I do when someone asked me a question I couldn’t answer? How do I approach people I’ve never met before? How do I explain what factoring is? Well, it turns out it wasn’t so bad. People were friendly. So I told my stories and moved on to subsequent networking meetings, and my confidence grew and grew. »
The lesson? People are mostly friendly if you’re friendly with them. And she didn’t need the antiperspirant after all.
There’s a Reason We Have Two Ears and One Mouth
Of course, not every interaction led to immediate success. Another team member shares a valuable lesson from their early days:
« My first real prospect was a commercial printer. I gave him my best pitch, expounding on the benefits of factoring. I didn’t end up signing the prospect. When I asked him why, he gave me some good advice. He told me he saw that I seemed too anxious to have him as a client. »
The takeaway: The best approach with prospects is to ask questions and listen, not talk (and talk and talk).
We’ve Pioneered A New Business Model
At the heart of Liquid Capital’s success was a groundbreaking idea:
« You have to give Sol, Brian, and Barnett credit. They created a brand new concept – franchising business lending. It had never been done before. Brian figured out how to sell it. Sol was always there for us to help solve client and customer problems. Barnett was LC’s rock, the hardest-working of anyone in the system. »
This innovation and collaboration set the stage for Liquid Capital’s growth and impact in the financial industry.
We Dared To Be Different
« We don’t just list our core values – we live them. »
Liquid Capital found power in thoughtfully choosing values that were meaningful and unique to us, rather than just picking popular buzzwords. Think about it: while most companies claim « integrity » or « collaboration, » the ones that stand out have values unique to their brand. We’ve learned that success comes when every decision, from investments to hiring to partnerships, flows naturally from guiding principles that are uniquely ours.
Take-away: When you align your decisions with deeply personal values and work, you create a compass that can navigate your firm around the perils and into profits.
We’ve Hired Leaders from Other Industries
As we look back, we also remember those who left their mark.
« Robert Thompson-So came to us from the investment banking world and wasn’t familiar with the factoring concept when we first arrived. But he learned and created a supportive team environment that made working at LC so special. I always appreciated that he never hesitated to join us to help in new prospect meetings. We will never forget you, RTS.
Robert’s journey from outsider to beloved leader exemplifies the growth and change that have been constant themes in Liquid Capital’s story.
We’ve Even Sniped the Occasional Lawyer
Our general counsel tells us how he joined the team:
« My first awareness of Liquid Capital came back when I had a private law practice. One day I was retained by a prospective Liquid Capital franchisee to review all the documents that had been presented to him by the Liquid Capital franchisor. I knew a fair bit about factoring and, after reviewing the documents, was so impressed I joined the LC team … and I am still here! »
This perspective reminds us of the unexpected twists and turns that can lead us to where we’re meant to be.
We’ve Had to Call Search and Rescue
Yeah, it’s exactly what you’re thinking.
« A part of the Liquid Capital leadership team barely survived an eventful hike up Camelback Mountain in Phoenix. We drove from the hotel in Scottsdale before dawn to the foot of the mountain. Many hours later, we trekked down into the dip of the camel’s back where Sol fell and broke his ankle. The sun rose, and the temperature climbed while a few of us waited with Sol for rescue. A helicopter followed by a group of firefighters found us and helped out. »
The unexpected crises we face as a team weld us together.
25 Years Changes You
Especially when it involves helicopters and deodorant. But one thing’s for certain. Our success is built on more than just financial transactions. It’s relationships, shared experiences, learning from our mistakes, helping each other and constantly pushing ourselves to grow and improve. Here’s to the next 25 years of innovation, community, and success.
We’ll pass on the rescue choppers.
