Omar Soliman is a published author, entrepreneur and TV personality. He is the Co-Founder & CEO of COLLEGE HUNKS HAULING JUNK, a national junk removal and moving franchise with over 120 franchises across the country. CHHJ was named one of the fastest growing franchises in the nation by Entrepreneur Magazine and currently employs over 2,000 people nationwide. Omar was named ‘Top 30 Entrepreneurs in America Under 30’ by INC magazine and is an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year winner. Omar has appeared as a frequent guest on FOX Business News, MSNBC and ABC’s hit TV show Shark Tank. Omar co-authored his first book along with his business partner Nick Friedman titled EFFORTLESS ENTREPRENEUR. The book has become a national best seller and is a must read for anyone looking to start a business. Omar is a guest speaker at universities, high schools and corporate events.
Entrepreneurial Role Models:
When business started difficulties overcame:
“the difficulties were many, many difficulties to start the business. The first one was people just doubting us. You tell friends and family that you are going to throwaway your university degree and your corporate job to start essentially a junk hauling business you are going to get some sideways glances. We were two 22, 23-year-old guys who had never run a business before, had no idea how to run payroll or how to do marketing or how to do anything. So just the lack of experience, the doubt from many, many people from banks to potential truck vendors. I remember we couldn’t even buy a truck because we couldn’t get a loan”…[Listen for More]
Favourite Books:
- Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action Book by Simon Sinek
- Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business Book by Gino Wickman
Favourite Quote:
“Don’t chase the paper- chase the dream” P. Diddy – The Notorious B.I.G, in the movie “Notorious
Recommended Online Resources:
EOS – Entrepreneurial Operating System for Businesses, home of Traction tools & library. The Entrepreneurial Operating System EOS helps owners and leadership teams create healthier, stronger businesses and achieve powerful results
Best Advice to Other Entrepreneurs:
“focus on a vision, focus on how that vision helps people, focus on how your company builds relationships and creates unique experiences for your clients and for your employees. And if you can do those things you’ve got something successful. You don’t need to invent the next Facebook or come up with some high-tech thing that nobody’s thought of. You can take simple businesses like moving like hauling like painting or plumbing and you can put a new-age spin on them and try to address and marketplace by solving the pain points that clients have. And you can do well at that so don’t always look for the next Google. Sometimes the business is right in front of you”…[Listen for More]
More About Omar Soliman:
College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving
Neil’s Quote at the Beginning:
“Business has only two functions – marketing and innovation.” Peter Drucker
Other Quotes From the Chat with Omar Soliman:
- “the difficulties were many, many difficulties to start the business. The first one was people just doubting us. You tell friends and family that you are going to throwaway your university degree and your corporate job to start essentially a junk hauling business you are going to get some sideways glances. We were two 22, 23-year-old guys who had never run a business before, had no idea how to run payroll or how to do marketing or how to do anything. So just the lack of experience, the doubt from many, many people from banks to potential truck vendors. I remember we couldn’t even buy a truck because we couldn’t get a loan”
- “when all loose it’s a helluva ride entrepreneurship, it’s a rollercoaster”
- “what I say I wish I had known the most which is to enjoy the ride”
- “I didn’t know anything when I started and I wish that I’d known everything that I know now back then”
- “surround yourself with people smarter than you. We are certainly not the smartest but we have been lucky to have advisers and mentors around us that have built businesses before and team members and employees as well. So, if you are always surrounding yourself with people that you admire or people that are smarter than you in certain aspects and you lean on those folks you are going to be successful”
- “don’t chase the money chase the idea”
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