Mr. Edgar Damian, Chief Executive Merchant Floor and Decor, Roswell, Georgia

If you have visited the Floor and Decor in Roswell, Georgia, you may have interacted with an unassuming, soft voiced young gentleman. The one with the perfect haircut, dressed in black shoes, black pants, and black vest with the company logo. Perhaps that interaction was at the cash register, or while choosing the best flooring for your home. His name is Edgar Damian, and he is the Chief Executive Merchant (CEM) of the store.

Often when we discuss leaders, we imagine tall men with grey hair, glasses and dressed in a suit. One who sits in a suite with multiple computer screens on a large desk. But Edgar has shattered this stereotype.

With great curiosity, I reached out to Mr. Edgar Damian to get to know him and his style of leadership. He happily obliged!

• How long have you been with Floor & Decor (F&D)?

14 Years. I started as a Part Time associate and moved up to different roles; Full Time, Assistant Department Manager, Department Manager, Operations Manager, and now CEM.

• Is F&D your first job?

 It is my 2nd job. My first job was at a restaurant. The Cheesecake Factory!

• You look very young for a CEM. How old are you? Just an approximate; late 20s or early 30s? 

Thanks, I am 33.

• On the first day (or the week) of F&D job, did you have aspirations to lead F&D in some capacity? 

Yes. Since the beginning I realized that the company had a bright future and that I wanted to be part of the growth. 
 

• If you an immigrant or a first-generation immigrant, please give me some background – your usual spiel!  

I’ve been in the US since the year 2000. I’m originally from Puebla, Mexico. I lived with my parents in Washington State and as soon as I could I moved to Georgia mainly because of the weather. I have been in Atlanta since 2004 and don’t plan on moving any time soon.
 

• Did someone teach you leadership? Or were you a born leader? Or did you inquisitively learn the best from others and assimilated into your style of leadership? 

I would say a little bit of both, I have always been in to sports and have had a leadership mentality along with a competitive nature. Floor and Decor has taught so much. The company culture and nature of the business pushes the best in you. I have had great mentors along the way and now I read books to keep leaning and growing.

• What is your leadership style, or leadership way? 

Servant leadership as well as leading by example.

• Have you ever failed? If yes, what happened? 

Yes, failed to meet a deadline or goal.

• If you failed, how did the failure set you up for later success?

I try to learn from my mistakes, make a plan so it doesn’t happen again and keep moving forward.

• What is the best investment you have ever made? (Time, effort, books, people, money…) 

I believe anything you can invest in yourself is the best investment you can make, for me personally it would be books (leadership, self-improvement, sales, finances and investments). I also really enjoy having a gym membership, keeps me active and helps to release stress.

• What is an unusual habit you have? 

When I eat a burger and fries, I usually eat the fries first.
 

• What beliefs and behaviors of yours most contributed to your success?

Success is my duty, obligation and responsibility. Work from the inside out, what can I do get the results I want. Be proactive and begin with end in mind, have a goal, come up with a plan, and put in the work. Surround myself with great people and understand not everyone sees things the same way I do. Seek to understand than to be understood and treat people the way they would like to be treated.

• Any new beliefs and behaviors have you added to your character in the last 5 years?

Never be satisfied and stay out of your comfort zone.

• Looking back, I see how my parents’ influences shaped me. Can you share a couple of characters you inherited from your parents that contributing to your success now? 

My dad taught me to always have a positive attitude no matter what, he would always tell me “you can complain all you want but you are still going to do it, so why not do it with a smile on our face and get over with”. My mom always taught me to be kind and respectful, she would say things like “if you have nothing nice to say then just don’t say it”.

• My son has completed the first half of his very first year at College. What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the real world in a few years? 

Build great long-lasting relationships and don’t give up.

• What advice should he ignore?

Ignore negative people, specially people that complaint about their lives and view themselves as victims.
 

• As a leader at different levels (before becoming a GM) were you good at saying no to things – Are those Nos because of certain experiences in life or realizations? 

It was difficult at first and can still be at times, when you say yes to something you are saying no to other things, once you know your priorities it becomes a bit easier.

• When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused or lost interest, what do you do? What do you tell yourself?

I like to re-read a book that inspired me before and helps me get my mind on the right track.
 

• You lead one of the most successful F&D stores in the company. Did that happen under your watch or you inherited it?

Both. I have been at this location for 7 years. When I first arrived, the store was not performing as well as it could, I was soon promoted to Operations manager and helped the previous CEM get the store to be a top performing location. When he got promoted, I took over the store and have been a CEM for the last 3 years.

• How do you guide your team to achieve goals and develop their individual skills?

I value their opinions and empower them to make decisions.

• What do I need to get better at so I can run my own business someday?

I have not had the pleasure to work with you long enough to provide feedback.

• Who are other leaders you look up to?

Several within Floor and Decor as well as Andrew Carnegie, John D Rockefeller and Steve Jobs.

• Did you have any mentors?

I have had a couple great mentors along my Floor and Decor journey. 
 

• Do you mentor others?

Not officially but I would consider part of job responsibilities to help develop and mentor my team of associates and managers.

• Any good book recommendation?

I noticed in your blog that you read “Good to great”. So, I would strongly recommend “Built to last”. Also, “How to win friends & Influence people”, “The servant”, “Leaders eat last” and “Extreme Ownership”. Just name a few of my favorites.

• Do you travel? If so, what are your favorite locations?

Not as much as I would like. Every once in a while, I enjoy going on a Cruise, Las Vegas, a nice beach, or somewhere up in the mountains.