Mavericks Success (Volume 1) Unlock Your Potential

By Rod Ross

20 KEYS THAT SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THAT THE OTHER 96% DON’T

Why don’t we ask for help?
When did we stop asking for help?
The majority of Canadians do not ask the key success questions, but are resigned to life as it is. Many will loudly complain about their wealthy in-laws but will not humble themselves and ask for wisdom from those relatives. This book project asked the questions...and you and the students who did the interviews received the answers.
We can all be confident about the future if we welcome asking questions. Our country’s success in founded in the collective success of its citizens. We need the next generation to be live to their full potential. It is for this reason that Mavericks Success was birthed.
Don’t stop asking!

Rodney J Ross (BA, BEd) A business educator, innovator, leader and learner. Rod is passionate about “making a difference” with everyone he meets. His vision is to take his growth passion to encourage individuals, cities and countries. Founder of Maveriks Business Club (maveriks.ca) He has received Lifetime Achievement Recognition by the BC School Trustees Association. As Founder of the Langley School District Foundation he understands the importance of funding dreams. He still asks questions and invites you on the adventure of life. Rod and his wife Valerie and two children live in Langley BC and summer in Cultus Lake, BC.
Casey Langbroek

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rod Ross
• Release date: Jul 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9780994754202

Rod Ross

Rodney J Ross (BA, BEd) A business educator, innovator, leader and learner. Rod is passionate about “making a difference” with everyone he meets. His vision is to take his growth passion to encourage individuals, cities and countries. Founder of Maveriks Business Club (maveriks.ca) He has received Lifetime Achievement Recognition by the BC School Trustees Association. As Founder of the Langley School District Foundation he understands the importance of funding dreams. He still asks questions and invites you on the adventure of life. Rod and his wife Valerie and two children live in Langley BC and summer in Cultus Lake, BC.

Book preview

Mavericks SuccessKey

Mavericks Success

Unlock Your Potential

Rodney J. Ross

Editor

Copyright © 2015 Chilliwack School District #33

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise — without prior written permission of the publisher.

Copy editing and proofreading by Jan DeGrass

Book cover design by Andy Bratton and Jan Westendorp

Book cover photo © sad444 / Shutterstock

Interior page design, layout, and typesetting of print edition by Jan Westendorp

Ebook design by Jesse Marchand

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Mavericks success : unlock your potential / Rodney J.

Ross, editor.

(Mavericks success ; vol. 1)

isbn 978-0-9947542-0-2 (pbk.)

1. Businesspeople—Interviews. 2. Civic leaders—Interviews.

3. Success in business. 4. Success. I. Ross, Rodney J., 1957–, editor

hf5386.m375 2015 650.1 c2015-903513-9

Published in Canada by Chilliwack School District #33

Contents

Editor’s Preface

Introduction

Dedication

Mavericks’ Success Interviews

Casey Langbroek — LLT CGA

Bill Kerkhoff — Kerkhoff Construction

Blair Hagkull — RSP Group

Bill Tuytel — Downrite Drilling

John Pearson — Land Rover Owner International

Mike Robinson — Toft Logs

Brian Minter — Minter Gardens

Eric van Maren — Van Maren Construction

Jim Pattison — The Jim Pattison Group

Keys to Success

About Mavericks’ Business Club

EDITOR’S PREFACE

The Purpose of Mavericks’ Success … Get Wisdom.

The interesting thing about entrepreneurs in general is that they are a quiet lot. They tend to operate under the radar. Many successful business leaders drive used cars and live in the same house for years. George Tidball, founder of Keg Restaurants and McDonald’s in Canada, told me the story of when he sat on the Board of Nike Corporation. He was there the night that founder Phil Knight’s stock made him a billionaire.

George asked him, Phil, what are you going to do differently tomorrow now that you are a billionaire?

Phil looked at and him and responded, I am going to go out and buy a brand new car! Phil never had a new car until he became a billionaire. Seems like successful leaders are a frugal bunch. Perhaps we can learn something from this kind of Maverick? Many of these powerful stories are never shared openly . . . unless you ask.

The purpose of Mavericks’ Success is to quietly ask for the wisdom of our elders. To give them an opportunity to tell their story to the next generation. How will we know if we never ask? As an educator and politician I have learned the power of asking good questions. In the following pages we have thoughtfully prepared over 50 questions that we hope and trust will assist the reader in guiding you with wisdom from their experience.

May I encourage you to be bold and be an asker. Perhaps the wisdom from your ask will solve a personal, community or even world problem. But you will never know until you ask!

The Vision of Mavericks’ Success … Maverick Mentors

Annually, we intend to scour our world for successful Mavericks that have a willingness to share their story. Our hope is that with this body of knowledge we can support the next generations of business, community and world leaders. Our intention is to form a learning organization that will gather and share its understanding and share it with those that desire it.

Change management is a strange thing. People want to grow and change for the better, but with much striving, personal growth is marginal at best.

I learned years ago when I was attending an Alcoholics Anonymous lunch meeting that change was possible and that it could have powerful ramifications in the lives of people. The secret to change as I see it is the relationship of the alcoholic and their sponsor or mentor. The importance of having someone who has previously walked the road ahead who puts their arm around you and guides you through life’s journey. You can do it. I believe in you.

Our next product after the successful launch of Mavericks’ Success is Maverick Mentors. Get on board and make a difference that makes for real change.

Thank you to my mentors in advance for their encouragement. Professors Michel Mestre and Rick Goossen have been great supporters in this project. Also thanks to my best friend Val Ross for her constant love and understanding!

Rodney J. Ross, Editor

INTRODUCTION

Mavericks’ Success is a most unique book. I am not aware of any book wherein a team of young, future entrepreneurs sought gems of information from highly successful people. One can find thousands of books in any major book store, relating to Success Theories or Strategies or Quick Fixes to Success. This book takes a different focus — that’s what successful Mavericks do! They go their own way; they are adventurous and are passionate about their work. They cannot be corralled and they will jump any fence to achieve their dreams. This is the story of The Little Engine That Could from your elementary school reader days. These little engines, mostly from Chilliwack, BC, Canada, are now major movers nationally and in the world.

The vision of this unique book is to connect with highly successful people, ask key questions and begin to develop an understanding of the journey to success. The majority of Canadians do not ask the questions, but are resigned to life as it is. Many will loudly complain about their wealthy in-laws but will not humble themselves and ask for wisdom from those relatives. This book project asked the questions . . . and the students received the answers. Research demonstrates and common sense shows that adults can make a positive difference in young people’s lives! We just need to get them in the same room! I am very excited about the future potential of these relationships as the young adults seek out more wisdom from these wise guides. One should never despise humble beginnings.

Mavericks’ Success will demonstrate how successful people hold on to their vision, yet never surrender their values to success, keeping their focus near, yet never losing sight of the dream. I know you will be impressed with their journeys.

I attended the Marketing 12 Class at Sardis Secondary, during the first week of the Project Launch. I was struck by the enthusiasm, yet quiet, focused approach as the Team held their daily huddle, reporting out to their Team Lead. I felt I was in a corporate boardroom! Everyone was on board, everyone knew their roles and responsibilities, and most importantly, everyone was a producer. The atmosphere demonstrated full collaboration and engagement.

I wish to acknowledge and genuinely thank the students for compiling a book of great stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Thank you, students, for your vision and full completion of this learning project. Congratulations to each of you and I wish you continued success in the next leg of your journey. I also wish to congratulate and thank Rod Ross who continues to inspire students to aspire to greatness! Rod Ross lives by the adage: Your potential to make a positive difference in our world is boundless — there are NO boundaries . . . JUST DO IT!

I trust that you as a little engine will be inspired to check in with these successful Mavericks and I wish you great success! I trust I will see your name and interview in the future volumes of Mavericks’ Success.

Walt Krahn

Retired School Principal,

School Board Trustee,

Chilliwack, B.C.

DEDICATION

Whether You Think You Can Or You Can’t

You’re Probably Right

— Henry Ford

If You Think You are Beaten

If you think you are beaten, you are;

If you think that you dare not, you don’t;

If you’d like to win, but think you can’t,

It’s almost certain you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost;

For out in the world you’ll find

Success begins with a fellow’s will

It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are;

You’ve got to think high to rise;

You’ve got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go

To the stronger or faster man;

But sooner or later the man who wins

Is the man who thinks he can.

— Walter D. Wintle

To the Mavericks’ Success Team:

Rebekah Alleckna,

Conner Anderson,

Jacob Broadbent,

Riley Clemons,

Adam Garner,

Quinn Hoeppner,

Orlando Daegi Hong,

Matthew Houweling,

Cameron Marshall,

Jamie Monaghan,

Kayla Parker,

Morgan Roueche,

Josh Sloan,

Kai Soltys,

Brenden Toriumi

Go Out and Do Great Things!

Mavericks’ Success

Interviews

Key

Casey Langbroek

LLT CGA

At what age did you start your first entrepreneurial venture and what was it?

When I was about 12. It was a paper route, delivering the Province newspaper.

What originally motivated you to pursue entrepreneurship and what has maintained your ongoing entrepreneurial focus?

Originally it was a matter of making money and being self-sufficient, or trying to be as self-sufficient as I could. I came from a large family of immigrants, we didn’t have a whole