“I’ve done the job before, and anything I didn’t know about I intended to learn at the earliest opportunity. That gave me the confidence needed to put myself out there and devote myself to learning what I needed to know to be good at my chosen career.” – Aaron Regev
How do you find success in such a crowded market? How do you pick yourself back up on your feet after being pushed down again and again? Is it even possible to win?
At one point or another, these questions will pop up in the heads of all entrepreneurs. They’re not particularly helpful. They’re more likely to pull you down than push you forward (although I suppose miracles can happen?)
In any case, everyone has their own unique story to tell — different bumps, different turns, different destinations. Today, we look into the journey of Aaron Regev, and how he was able to find success despite the terrible questions that plagued his mind as a young entrepreneur.
Let’s start with a quick introduction for our readers! Tell us, who is Aaron Regev to you?
Aaron Regev: Who am I? My name is Aaron Regev, I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and God graced me with wonderfully supportive parents who taught me to work hard for the things that I wanted in life.
What is your favorite quote? (Why is it your favorite? Does it have any special meaning for you?)
Aaron Regev: I say this all the time, but my favorite quote is “always be content.” It was my grandmother who told that to me — and in that way, it’s definitely special. But, even more than that, these wise words from her enabled me to be a little more honest with my work — to treat my responsibilities with the highest regard and humility that it deserves.
The best thing about it is that it is interpretive. It can mean a lot of different things. For example, for me? It’s always meant being happy about what I’ve accomplished. But it also means that I need to slow down sometimes and refresh my way of thinking — that I need to recalibrate my mind a bit so that I don’t make any mistakes out of a too-hasty desire to achieve success.
What kind of struggles have you faced in recent times that shook your confidence?
Aaron Regev: I’m not sure about recent, as it was a couple of years ago. But I was actually unemployed for a while in the mid-2010s. The company that I was working for had failed and everyone was laid off. In the end, I was able to find work in the home warranty industry (where I was hired to make use of my years of experience in Sales to train a team of salespeople to improve their skills), but it was definitely a difficult time.
I think, if my parents hadn’t raised me so strictly (they were the ‘tough love’ kind of parents) it would have been a lot harder for me. But they did, and my family, who I wanted to make sure to support, were there to keep me going.
How did you keep yourself from giving up then? Are there any tips that you can impart to someone who may have ended up in the same position as you did?
Aaron Regev: Honestly, I think it was all about confidence — or building confidence, at least. That’s not to say that I’m particularly arrogant, or anything like that. Perhaps even the opposite, actually. But, even so, I’ve done the job before, and anything I didn’t know about I intended to learn at the earliest opportunity. That gave me the confidence needed to put myself out there and devote myself to learning what I needed to know to be good at my chosen career.
Do you have any role models that you look up to? (Who are they, and why and how do they inspire you?)
Aaron Regev: When it comes to role models, I’ve had plenty. One that’s particularly close by is my boss (David Seruya, the CEO of the company that I work for.) He drives the business with his passion and experience. He’s the kind of guy that walks into a room knowing exactly what he needs to know to understand how things work — and how to make things better. I like to joke sometimes that he’s kind of like the Michael Jordan of the home warranty industry. And it’s true in the sense that he really knows his stuff. I don’t think there’s anyone else in the industry that is capable of pulling that off with as much grace as he does.
Last question! What have you done to emulate the role model that you mentioned in the previous question?
Aaron Regev: I learn. I study. His experience and his knowledge are the reasons why I believe he’s such a good CEO. So, I learn as much as I can — in whatever way I can, to make sure that I’m constantly bettering my skills, like he is.