Leadership of Travis Dexter

​Hello Travis. I trust you are doing well! 
 
Let’s talk about you:

• What is your business?

Ridgeline Floors, LLC. We provide Installation Services for all hard surface flooring such as tile, stone, laminate, LVP, and hardwoods. We also refinish floors and do custom tile work like accent walls, showers, and fireplace surrounds.

• How long have you been in business?

5 years

• What inspired you to start this business? What was your "aha moment"?

I used to be on the corporate side of this business, I managed hundreds of businesses just like the one I operate now. I worked with company owners from all over the world, all social classes. After working with these folks for several years I knew I wanted to give it a go on my own. I had the pleasure of working with many business owners because I managed an installation services program.

• What was your “day job” before you started up your business?

I was an Account Manager for an installation services company. We would offer an installation program for service retailers who sold products but did not want to manage installation also. I traveled the country for about five years managing and growing the program. In that time, I met hundreds of business owners and created relationships that I still lean on today.
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• What motivates you every day?

My family, most importantly. Now that the business has grown it is the folks that rely on my business for income. That grows by the day, and I want to make sure everyone is growing and making a decent living.
 
Let’s talk about business, in general:

• What's the biggest problem business owners don't know they have?

Inefficiencies. It is difficult to step back from your daily operations and focus on systematic changes or personnel changes that could make things easier for everyone involved. For some reason we find it easier to push through those inefficiencies because we cannot find the time to
improve them.

• What advice do you have for small business owners in order to make a successful new hire? (Including mindset, character…)

I always trust my gut; I like to have a conversation with someone before doing any sort of interview. If having a common mindset throughout your team is important you can usually identify if a person will fit in with your team through a simple conversation. Your team is everything, make sure they are happy and comfortable.

• What advice do you have for small business owners to consider taking on a business partner? (Including mindset, character…)

You need to have a business plan in place before partnering with anyone. Partners might have different end games and goals, that is all right if it is clear and understood by both. You can accomplish different goals by working together on the same plan.

• How do you measure the value of a business? (Monetarily and otherwise)

We focus on happy customers, happy workers, and happy installers. Usually, the rest will follow.

• Are mentors in business important? (If so, whom do you seek advice from for your business)

I have leaned on so many mentors in my business, I feel extremely fortunate to have numerous contacts to call if I need guidance. Starting a business is daunting and difficult, mentors can be everything during trying times.

• What advice would you give wanna be entrepreneurs?

If you are interested in something and you think you have an opportunity to be successful just do it. I met so many people who were on their 3rd, 4th, 20th business and they had failed so many times but were just going to keep trying. I have only started and operated one business and we are fortunate enough to be profitable. Yes, I worked hard but I also got lucky, saw an opportunity, and ran with it.
 
Time for leadership questions:

• Are character traits between successful leaders and successful entrepreneurs common?

You need both to be successful, whether that is one individual or multiple. If you are not a great leader and you have the awareness to see that, you can always hire one. That goes for any role or trait.
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• Have you ever failed? If yes, how did the failure set you up for later success?  A different question would be; What has been a difficult challenge and how did you pivot to overcome it?

When I first started Ridgeline Floors I launched wood and tile. I quickly found out that in the beginning I did not have the capacity to also handle the tile projects. I focused only on the wood flooring categories for my first few years which allowed me to grow and hire someone to help me with tile. Now we are at full capacity in both categories, with logs of happy customers! Sometimes you just must accept that things will take time and you need to grow into the business.

• How do you manage your day and distractions? A different question would be; Is there a specific (written down) checklist for daily use?

I use an old school agenda, every task in my day gets written down and once completed crossed out. If I do not complete a task, I move it to the next day until I have crossed it out. It helps organize and clear my mind.

• How do you boost engagement if a team player is struggling to stay motivated? Or what do you do to keep the team motivated?

I always look inside; I need to understand if I am setting them up for success. If production is low and I genuinely believe I have done everything I can to help them be successful, you then must accept that it is not a good fit.

• Is your business (or are you) guided by a set of Core Values? If so, what are they?

Keep it simple, enjoy each other, ask for help, stay organized, be loud about ways we can improve, take care of each other (installers, workers, customers)


Let’s wind things down:

• Who or What shaped who you are?

There are far too many to name. I have taken small and large bits from numerous leaders, mentors, and peers to help me navigate my own adventure.

• My daughter has completed the first year of her high school. What advice would you give yourself if you had been taken back to the second year in high school to prepare yourself for the future? What advice should you ignore?

I do not think you should only be worried about grades, always try your best and you will get superior results. It is equally important to really experience the people and the environment you are in, or you seek, the true-life lessons are there.

• What do you do to take your mind off business? Or to relax? Or to have fun?

Time with the family, playing with the kids. Working in the yard and gardening is something I really enjoy. I play soccer, that might be the only time I can completely remove the business from my mind.

• Let’s end this session with a philosophical answer. Truly knowing yourself requires serious effort. How did you find yourself (i.e., what you are capable of) and what questions should we ask ourselves?

My family and my business have been everything for me. I really did not have a path until those two entered my life around the same time five years ago. I look back on my youth and think about what kept me busy and where I spent my energy. I would have never thought that I would use that same energy and focus on starting a business, it seems that I was always geared for this and just did not know it. Professionally and personally, who are you working for? Why are you doing what you are doing every day? Does it make you happy or keep you motivated?
 
Travis, I appreciate your time. Thank you very much. I wish you all the best.

Ridgeline Floors is known for its quality craftsmanship, flooring installations, and refinishing services. You may connect with Travis via (770) 862-2119 or https://www.ridgelinefloors.com/
The quality of his work can be seen on the gallery page of the website or Instagram; @ridgelinefloors.