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21. Why do people refer to you as a 'hands-on executive"?
I guess because I am involved at many levels in the businesses that I operate. When I was a club owner, most of the customers thought I was the doorman, or a bouncer. I dressed like everyone else and worked like everyone else. I try to lead by example, which I hope is always positive. I really enjoy ?operating? a business, and to do that you have to know what everyone does in every department. So I think that makes one ?hands on? just by that management style.
22. How many people work for you now?
About 20.
23. Discuss visa mastercard and amex and working with them in the adult arena.
A big subject. But one that can be summed up in a few words: You don?t work ?with? them; they allow you to have a voice, if they so choose.
These are wildly successful, powerful and far reaching companies that do not ?need? our business. The issue was never one where I was able to strong arm any of them to help us out or the industry. Rather, it is a give and take and exchange of ideas that made the difference.
To me, putting a ?face? on the industry, that was not content and not a sponsor program was important. I essentially cold called Visa about a month after I joined Paycom. It was not a friendly meeting to start, but it ended up very well, and I actually made a friend or two that day. We developed a relationship and they have helped us out, as an industry. The rules are the rules and they are tough, but they could have been worse. Ask Ron C, he knows what I?m talking about. Guys like Ron and those of us at Paycom back then did a lot to instill a confidence that the wild west days were over and that this industry was a business that had meaningful volumes and more importantly, provided goods and services that THEIR cardholders wanted. It worked out well, I think.
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