Leadership 2021: Jim Pattison reveals the secret of his success, shares his eco-friendly agenda and explains why he keeps on working

Photograph credit score: Jim Pattison Group

After six many years of his enterprise profession, the billionaire nonetheless sees many alternatives

At 93, with no signal of slowing down, Jim Pattison nonetheless goes to his workplace in downtown Vancouver seven days every week. From there he heads a various worldwide enterprise empire that grew from humble beginnings in 1961 to gross sales of 12.7 billion. The privately owned Jim Pattison Group which employs roughly 51,000 individuals wherever he’s from and wherever his enterprise goes.

What would you think about your best enterprise achievement?

The primary dealership we obtained. I had no cash, and I had $ 7,000 in fairness in my home, and Common Motors gave me a Pontiac-Buick franchise on 18th and Cambie that wasn’t doing nicely. That may have been an important transaction in my enterprise life.

Is that this only a legend, or is it true that once you began your gross sales pitches at 8 or 8:30 a.m., you locked the door on anybody who wasn’t there?

All the time. We at all times begin on time. Typically we begin early, however by no means late.

You at all times rise up to fulfill somebody, shake palms and greet them. Is that this a behavior you’ve got had all these years?

My mom and father had been very robust at being well mannered and courteous to individuals. And naturally I’ve been promoting all my life, and as you recognize, the client is king. It’s subsequently at all times good to be constructive and pleasant with prospects.

Had been your mother and father your most necessary position fashions at first?

Completely. We did not have any cash, however I can inform you that I could not have had higher mother and father than my mom and father.

Who’re your position fashions immediately? Who’re you in search of inspiration from?

Anybody who’s constructive and optimistic does not cry on a regular basis about how unhealthy issues are. I like individuals like that … Have a look at the people who find themselves profitable in life, they’re the people who find themselves optimistic, not the people who find themselves at all times whining and kicking about one thing. There may be at all times one thing that, ultimately, is not proper for everybody, so it is necessary to have a constructive angle.

What does it take to be a Jimmy Pattison?

It takes time from the banks to borrow the cash. I spent most of my time on the banks borrowing cash to see if we may do enterprise and develop the corporate. I would not be right here immediately with out the Canadian banks.

The place do you suppose you’ll be able to take the Pattison Group within the subsequent 5 to 10 years?

Hell, we’re centered on constructing the enterprise proper now. As quickly because the border is straightened right here within the subsequent few days, I will drive to the States to see if we will purchase an organization down there that we wish to purchase. So we’re within the enterprise of rising the enterprise.

Moreover loving Vancouver and BC, is there a cause you stayed proper right here on this metropolis?

My mom. After I began we determined it was rather a lot simpler to do enterprise within the US and develop the enterprise what we wished. However I used to be an solely little one – my father had died and my mom had obtained up for years and I did not need to go away her right here alone. So I stayed in Vancouver and saved this as our headquarters.

What are your ambitions for the group?

I am concerned with rising the enterprise and we deal with issues which can be environmentally pleasant. Absolute #1 on our agenda immediately, in every part, is the surroundings. And since we’re within the auto enterprise and different areas, we have to maintain shifting to get entangled in issues which can be good for the surroundings. And so we develop the enterprise, No. 1 [question] We now ask ourselves: is that constructive for the surroundings? Is it unfavourable?

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Is there one facet of the pandemic’s impression on what you are promoting that has stunned you essentially the most?

Our poster enterprise. We do outside promoting. We’re on buses, we’re on subways throughout Canada. We’re the biggest outside firm in Canada and we have now leases with airports and transit methods and property homeowners the place we have now billboards. They usually all have long-term leases – like 5, 10, 20 years. When the pandemic hit, the general public stopped promoting, however you continue to have the leases we’re accountable for. So the enterprise that was hit hardest right here general was the poster enterprise.

You informed me that you just had been stunned at what number of used vehicles you offered.

When the pandemic got here, individuals did not need to trip the buses, they did not need to carpool. And so, individuals had been shopping for new vehicles, and individuals who weren’t shopping for new vehicles, there was an enormous surge in used vehicles.

What’s your recommendation to younger individuals who need to benefit from their life?

I’d encourage them to do what they like to do. In case you get pleasure from enjoying the violin, be part of the music and revel in what you’re doing. I’m going to work every single day as a result of I get pleasure from going to work. It is enjoyable to speak to and meet individuals such as you and that is what I do. In case you like what you do, you are often good at it.

What’s your prayer for you, your loved ones, and what you are promoting?

I at all times pray every single day. I’m going to church on Sunday. And that does not make me excellent by any means, however I consider in God and the Christian religion. I believe the primary factor is that you just attempt to be truthful. Properly, that is a disagreement with individuals generally, which is truthful. However the primary objective is to rise up within the morning and revel in what you’re doing. And naturally, your well being is essential.

The opposite factor my mother at all times taught me is that it is best to make good associates as a result of they’re a robust affect on you. I at all times remembered that, and so in all of the years rising up, I at all times tried to verify I appreciated not solely my associates however my mother as nicely.

What’s the remaining problem for you?

We’re simply getting began. We’ve got many alternatives. We at all times have some sort of bother, so it’s our job to remain out of bother as a lot as attainable and develop the enterprise. And rise up each morning and might’t wait to go to work.

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