THE ROCKS BEHIND OUR SUCCESS

I was reminded recently about the impact our industry has had on my life. Like most of us, my beginnings in the PEO space were born out of a dissatisfaction with my current job and industry (radio advertising) and the rapid changes that were occurring due to this new thing called “industry consolidation.” Sound familiar?

I was referred to a friend’s spouse who was looking for a salesperson for this new idea (at least to the market) they were rolling out called a PEO.  The parent company (a staffing company) had it in their mindset that they were doing almost all the things a PEO did (payroll, workers’ comp., taxes, some benefits) and only needed to add an HR function to the offering. I didn’t know this industry existed but I immediately saw how a small business would benefit from the service offering.

What I didn’t know then that I know now is that it is really easy for a PEO to add a staffing offering to their product mix simply by hiring a recruiter. But going from a staffing company to a PEO is a whole new set of resources that a staffing company can’t come close to duplicating. Plus, the complexities that a PEO faces in every facet of the services we provide cannot be delivered by an infrastructure set up for a similar, but very different business model.

When I started Syndeo in 2002, I made a commitment to my family that this wasn’t just a new business venture, this would become our runway to living a better life (I am, after all, a sales guy). I hoped someday to be successful enough to pay our bills and have a little extra to save for retirement (which my wife now says I’ll never do). I never dreamed that I would be asked to serve this industry I love as board chair. I would not be where I am today without the loving support of my wife, Linda, and my four adult children. They have truly been my “rock,” supporting me when I least deserved it and sticking with me through thick and thin.

I tell you all this because I am not the lone sailor in the ocean. Every PEO owner or operator who has built something from nothing couldn’t have done it without the support, love and tolerance they receive from their family. As we all endeavor to serve our clients and our employees, always be mindful of the families who support them and give thanks for the many blessings we all receive every day.