Meet Shawn Blackwell. He is the president and CEO of his company Premier Choice, and has been a staple in the community for years. Prior to assuming the role of CEO, Shawn worked for other businesses but always had the mind of an entrepreneur. Today we sat down with Shawn for an exclusive interview.
As of today, how many businesses do you currently have?
Eight.
Premier Choice:
Testing
Misting
Magazine
Real Estate
Builders
Acquisitions
Unique Rentals
Merchant Services
What is the story behind your success?
I know how it feels to have little and I know how it feels to have a lot. I like a lot better, and I’m not speaking of money. I was never comfortable being an employee. I always thought “if they’re paying me this, imagine what they’re making”. So over time I studied them, improved on their product, and here I am.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming an entrepreneur?
You have to be willing to do without, and show up every day. Find a mentor. Learn from your mistakes. Pay the company before you pay yourself. Don’t listen to negative people.
What do you look for in an employee?
Someone who reminds me of a younger me.
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out?
Focus more. Charge what you’re worth. Scale faster. Hire staff to work for your business, so you can work on it.
To what do you attribute your success?
Hard work, dedication, and belief in myself.
