I recently went one on one with Bryan Park. Bryan Park is the founder and CEO of Footprints Floors, one of the largest hardwood installation providers in the country. 

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?

Bryan: Prior to starting Footprints Floors, my knowledge of the ins and outs of flooring was limited. It wasn’t until I needed my own floors redone that my curiosity was piqued. I ended up getting a job working for the flooring company that I had hired to do work on my own house. My goal was to work my way up and learn as much about the flooring industry as I could in the process. In 2008 that company went out of business and I was laid off as a result. Without a job and in need of a way to support my family, I began charting my next steps. The flooring industry was (and still is) filled with unscrupulous, dishonest, disorganized and lazy installation companies, making it nearly impossible for consumers to get their flooring projects done in a timely manner, the right way and with integrity. So at the height of the Great Recession, with the goal of offering great floors and great impressions, Footprints Floors was born.

Since 2008, I have learned a tremendous amount about the industry and what it takes to run a successful business. Footprints Floors has grown from a small operation I ran out of my truck into a fast-growing company with 50+ franchise locations across the US.

Adam: How did you come up with your business idea? What advice do you have for others on how to come up with great ideas?

Bryan: The idea to start Footprints Floors came to me when I was exposed to the problems that were and still are ailing the flooring industry. Consumers were in desperate need of an honest, forthright company capable of installing flooring and tile with integrity and excellency.

To those who are looking to start their own business, I would say first find a problem then see if there is an adequate solution. If the problem you’ve found is big enough and the current solutions aren’t good enough, then you might have the foundation for a successful business.

Adam: How did you know your business idea was worth pursuing? What advice do you have on how to best test a business idea? 

Bryan: Through my time in the military, I learned the value of integrity, honesty and hard work. When I came across the flooring industry and saw that it was seriously lacking in those areas, I knew that it was worth pursuing a business in. People value honesty, integrity and hard work, and we are no different as consumers. When an industry or business is lacking one or all of those values, people will look elsewhere to meet their needs. If they find a company that does hold to those values, they’ll be customers and advertisers for life.

I don’t think there is any secret or recipe to finding the perfect business idea. Sometimes all it takes is trying in order to test an idea. Some of the greatest entrepreneurs in the world have failed hundreds if not thousands of times before finally landing on the right idea. The key is that they never would have landed on their successful idea if they hadn’t tried and failed on all of the ideas before. Entrepreneurship takes effort and trial and error.

Adam: What are the key steps you have taken to grow your business? What advice do you have for others on how to take their businesses to the next level?

Bryan: I think growth in business comes when customers are treated well - often and consistently for a long time. When businesses fail to treat their customers well, they lose their customers and without customers, businesses die.

When running a business, there are a plethora of things that can distract, draw attention and take time away from the things that really matter. It’s important to always return to the basics and remember why your business exists and who your business is for. If a business is actively providing a good solution to a real problem and treating customers well, growth will come naturally.

Adam: What are your best sales and marketing tips?

Bryan: When it comes to sales, I would say that everything I’ve hinted at above, applies. Consumers want to be treated fairly and with integrity and they want to receive an excellent product or service for their money. Cutting corners, lying, and cheating consumers can only take a business so far. Honesty, hard work and providing real value will fuel a business as far as you want them to. Making sure your marketing and sales tactics highlight and take advantage of these qualities will go a long way.

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level? 

Bryan: The most effective leaders are excellent followers. To be an effective leader one must first learn how to follow well, serve well and value others above themselves. Additionally, effective leaders are great listeners, they’re understanding, they learn as much as they can about the personalities and needs of their team and they are expert delegators.

Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading and managing teams?

Bryan: I love to take advantage of personality tests and enneagrams when building, leading and managing teams. I’ve learned that when I understand the different personality quirks, strengths and weaknesses, needs and desires of my team I can be a much more effective leader. The more you understand about your team, the more you’ll be able to get done together and the more rewarding the process can be for everyone involved.

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives and civic leaders?

Bryan: Learn to value and practice honesty, integrity and hard work. Great followership is the way to great leadership. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Bryan: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. - Philippians 2:3


Adam Mendler is the CEO of The Veloz Group, where he co-founded and oversees ventures across a wide variety of industries. Adam is also the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one on one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. Adam has written extensively on leadership, management, entrepreneurship, marketing and sales, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities and non-profit organizations.

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