Eddie Karr Of Bellareed: Five Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became A CEO
More people want to see you fail than succeed — It’s unfortunate, but most people don’t believe you can do it, and they don’t want you to be more successful than them. You have to completely cut out all the negative influences in your life and focus on achieving your goals.
As a part of our series called ‘Five Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became A CEO’ we had the pleasure of interviewing Eddie Karr.
Eddie K. Has been a disrupter entrepreneur since he was 8 years old. From selling soda cans on the beaches of Israel, to running martial arts schools, construction companies, financial services brokerage firms, to now, making quite the splash with Bellareed Luxury Pools — he is now disrupting the way pool construction is done, and has been for decades
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
I was born and raised in Jerusalem, Israel, and immigrated to the United States in 1995. I came chasing the American Dream. Growing up in Israel, you learn real quick how to fight for every inch and never take anything for granted. That came in handy when I moved to the U.S. I started in the hospitality industry working in a few restaurants, but growing up as a Krav Maga practitioner, I enjoyed getting into the martial arts business. I joined forces with a franchise that was based out of California, and they soon promoted me to the district manager for the state of Texas. Around 2006 the economy went down the drain, and the first thing to go when things are bad is extracurricular activities. I decided to make a shift into another industry. I wanted to find a product that was recession-proof. I quickly discovered that there may not be a product that is recession-proof, but there is a “Client” that is. Those are your oil executives, attorneys, doctors, etc. I decided to drive around and see where “This Client” lives, and I saw how beautiful their homes looked from the outside. That is when I decided, I wanted to go into outdoor living construction. I fell in love with building things, and shortly after I started, I became the largest company in town. Fast forward 17 years later, I found myself retired in Atlanta, GA with the Covid-19 pandemic in full swing. I quickly recognized that due to the inability/lack of desire of people traveling now, the in-ground pool business was going to sky-rocket. That is when I formed Bellareed Luxury Pools. The plan was to disrupt and revolutionize the pool industry, and make Bellareed Luxury Pools the largest and the only authority on outdoor living construction. In less than 2 years we are now in 3 states and counting, and we are officially the largest pool builder in the Southeast.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?
I realized quickly, that just because everyone has been doing things the same way for a long time, doesn’t mean there isn’t a better way of doing things. I was waiting for materials at one of the distribution centers 2 years ago, as an older gentleman walked in complaining about how he can’t get any of his sub-contractors to fit him in, and how he is not able to build pools like he used to pre-Covid-19. He then turns to me and says “are you getting pools dug?”, I answered “Yes”, and he asked “how?”, I said, “I actually don’t have any subs, I do all the work in-house”. He didn’t miss a beat and told me, “that doesn’t last. You are going to fall hard, once this covid thing is gone”. 2 years later, we are in 3 states, and the largest luxury pool builder in the Southeast
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I have always believed that mistakes are important lessons. As long as you only make them once, they are a lesson. If it happens again, then it is a mistake. I challenge my team to always find new and improved ways to screw up. The funniest mistake I made starting up this company was when I decided to dig the first pool myself. I rented a bobcat and started digging that pool. The next thing I know, I ended up flipping the bobcat upside down, because I was too close to the edge. I had to rent a much bigger machine in order to flip that bobcat back on its tracks. I hired a bobcat operator to dig the pool the next day.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Nobody achieves success without the help or support of others. I have so many people to be grateful for and so many business mentors, but If I had to pick one person, that would be my late father, whom I’ve always looked up to, and continue to do so. He has taught me so many things, but the main two I would say have to be 1. Be impeccable with my word, and 2. Always do the right thing. I remember being 14 years old, and I got a call from my best friend on the house phone, he asked me to come over to hang out, and I said I will be there in 10 minutes. As soon as I hung up, my dad asked me why I said 10 minutes. I should have said, “I am leaving now, and will get there as long as it takes”. If it took me 15 minutes, I would be a liar. He was a person who did what he said, and never wavered on his principles.
As you know, the United States is currently facing a very important self-reckoning about race, diversity, equality and inclusion. This may be obvious to you, but it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you articulate to our readers a few reasons why it is so important for a business or organization to have a diverse executive team?
Absolutely. The biggest mistake any CEO could make is to feel that he or she is the smartest person in the room. I have always aimed to hire people who are so much more knowledgeable, and experienced in their fields, than I. My executive team currently has women and men from 5 different countries around the world. They all bring so much to the table, which allows us to always step up our game. Diversity brings so many more points of view, which allows you to see things from different angles, and make the best decision for your company
As a business leader, can you please share a few steps we must take to truly create an inclusive, representative, and equitable society?
Kindly share a story or example for each. Today’s world seems to be very influenced by politics and political agendas. I work on much simpler principles — Is this in the best interest of the company, and will this help people or hurt them? What we do is not only uniting the family again, but also creating memories, improving the health and mental wellness of Americans, and so much more. If more CEOs took a stand on doing what is right and built a work environment that empowered people, and made them feel as if they are building something for themselves as well and not making someone else rich, they could accomplish so much more. When we hire people, we hire the right person for the job. I don’t care what country they came from, what religion they believe in, what’s the color of their skin, or their sexual orientation. Can they do the job? Do they make us stronger by being part of the team? Will they contribute to our team culture? Those are the only 3 things we care about.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Most of our readers — in fact, most people — think they have a pretty good idea of what a CEO or executive does. But in just a few words can you explain what an executive does that is different from the responsibilities of the other leaders?
As a CEO, my job is to make sure the company is operating successfully, efficiently, and exceeding the projection we set out to achieve. A CEO works on the “long game” of the company, whereas the other executives are working on the “short game”. Being able to put a 5-year plan of attack, for example, and see to it that the company is on track to hit every milestone along the way, is crucial. Someone once told me, that a goal without a plan, is just a wish.
What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a CEO or executive. Can you explain what you mean?
Yes, most people think that the CEOs are sitting on the top floor of the building or playing on a golf course every day, earning fat bonuses. As a Founder/CEO, I am the first one into the office and the last one out. I work harder than everyone else in my company because I lead by example. There is nothing I ask or have asked from anyone, that I have not done or do myself. A successful CEO must be a leader and not a boss.
What is the most striking difference between your actual job and how you thought the job would be?
I am a very grounded individual, so I never thought that being a startup CEO was going to be glamorous. The glamour will come much later when we hit the BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) we set out to hit.
Do you think everyone is cut out to be an executive? In your opinion, which specific traits increase the likelihood that a person will be a successful executive and what type of person should avoid aspiring to be an executive? Can you explain what you mean?
Oh, definitely not. There are very unique qualities you need to possess to be asuccessful executive.
- Time Management — You are going to run 100 miles a minute. Being able to manage your time, will be the only difference-maker, in accomplishing everything or nothing in a day.
- Fire in your Belly — you have to be a go-getter. You have to fight for it every day like it is your last. You have to fight like you are the 3 rd monkey trying to make it on Noah’s ark.
- Leading from the front — If you are leading and nobody is following, then you are just out for a walk. Do as I do, and not as I say. Your team has to know, that you are capable of doing the things you are asking them to do, and show them how it is done.
What advice would you give to other business leaders to help create a fantastic work culture? Can you share a story or an example?
Someone once told me “A job is somewhere that they pay you just enough not to quit, and you do just enough not to get fired”. When I first heard that, it hit me like a ton of bricks. How screwed up is that? From inception, I have designed this company to include every member of the team in all of its success, and for them to have a piece of the company. As I mentioned before, people want to feel like they are working towards more than just a paycheck. Why should they go above and beyond? Create some kind of a bonus program, or better yet, an employee stock option plan, that rewards your loyal team members for every year they are with the company.
How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
I would say without a doubt, yes. We have created a company that is providing a great income for hundreds of people, thousands in the very near future. A company culture, that people love coming to work to be part of, and we are selling a product that is bringing families together again, away from the screens and devices, and physically active again. Fantastic.
Here is the primary question of our interview. What are your 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started & and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)
1. You don’t get any sleep — The excitement of planning the next day, week, month, or quarter, keeps me up at night and constantly thinking.
2. Your family is going to grow substantially — When people come to work for you, they are now your responsibility. They become your family. Just like having a child, you no longer make decisions that affect only you — I have to keep in mind everyone who works for me in every decision I make as a CEO.
3. More people want to see you fail than succeed — It’s unfortunate, but most people don’t believe you can do it, and they don’t want you to be more successful than them. You have to completely cut out all the negative influences in your life and focus on achieving your goals.
4. Don’t take anything personally — This is easier said than done, but if you don’t master it, you will be too depressed to work.
5. There aren’t 36 hours in a day — Work never ends, and even if there were 36 hours in a day, it would still not be enough. Learn how to time manage and prioritize.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
Entrepreneur and Startup Movements — I think more people need the push in the right direction to be starters and entrepreneurs.
Even though the information is all around us, people react and act more when they are part of a movement or group
Can you please give us your favorite "Life Lesson Quote"? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Zig Ziglar’s “For you to get what you want out of life, you have to help others get what they want out of theirs” — It took me a few years, the better part of my 20’s, to really understand that, but helping others along the way, not only gives a huge sense of gratification but will help build your army that will fight by your side to achieve greatness
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?
He or she might just see this if we tag them Bill Gurley from Benchmark Capital — I have followed a lot of the companies that he has personally been involved in, and have always wanted to be one of his starters.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
