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You think you know how to do nothing? You ain’t see anything unless you’ve seen Rob Augg do nothing. Reading his answers, it might be hard to believe that Rob has the time to do nothing, but when he does, he does it like a pro. Read on to learn more about Rob, how love got him into this industry, and what he does to avoid having to work in silence.
Name: Rob Augg
Job Title: Chief Revenue Officer
Company: Renkim Corporation
Length of time at current company: 20 years total, current stint is 12 years running
Length of time in industry: 26 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
I was actually a hair stylist and worked weekends in a restaurant/bar. One of our regulars had been trying to get me into sales for a long time. My future father-in-law, an old IBMer , didn’t think I had much of a career to be courting his daughter, and I sure did like his daughter.so I had to pivot. I started working for Focus1 shortly thereafter and took a giant pay cut but it worked out in the end.
What is your career highlight so far?
Having a hand in taking Renkim 100% Employee Owned in 2016. We’ve seen a 300% increase in our stock price since that transition.
When or how are you most productive?
It will sound strange to most but I cannot sit in silence and work. I need a podcast, tv running or music in the background. I believe I have been through The Wire, Sopranos, Breaking Bad, and Game of Thrones 10 times each, I just need some sort of noise around me.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
Wow, this is a brutal question because there have been so many people that I have looked up too and have influenced me along the way.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
Nothing, I would put my “doing nothing” up against anybody else’s “doing nothing” any day of the week. The ability to unplug and just be still…
What do you like most about this industry?
The family environment, “we are all in this together” attitude. Nothing exemplified this more than the Hunstein v. Preferred Collection and Management Services, Inc. case in the 11th Circuit Court. This was an uncertain time in the industry that was already scrambling to make sure they understood the Tolstoy novel that was Reg F and now they have to go buy printers and inserters to do their own mail in-house?? Within days you had 11-12 print vendors on the phone with John Bedard to gather information and state our case. It was really cool to see “heated” competitors pull together for a unified cause. Now you can call that self-preservation if you want but it was something to see.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
I‘m sure it’s been said 100 times in this format but the stigma the industry has in the public’s eye. We are here to help people, help the economy, help business owners… This isn’t the wild west as in days past, we are an industry of professionals here to help in what could be a very difficult time in someone’s life.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
Well, you have seen my answer as to what I was doing prior too the industry. I guess I would be a 56-year-old hair stylist with bad knees, carpal tunnel and listening to a client complain about their significant other. Either that or working at my Church’s Food Pantry.
Describe a typical work day.
I guess it would depend on where that day started: airport, hotel room, home office or corporate office. However, most days are spent directing traffic. I do miss the days of getting up with the sole purpose of hunting. The transition into pure management is always hard for a true salesperson. However, I have learned to find immense joy in watching others grow professionally and personally.
What is your guilty pleasure?
RomCom, I love a good cry!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
It actually came from a book, “A Purpose Driven Life“. Everything in life is temporary!!! Decisions and actions are evaluated by how they prepare you for eternity, shifting focus toward relationships and character rather than temporal achievements. Struggles and unfairness on Earth are expected, as this life is not the final destination.
What are you currently reading?
I’m more of an audio guy, I do not have the attention span to sit down and read a book. However, there is one book I do crack almost every day: The Scripture. It is more motivating to me than any color by numbers self-help or sales book I’ve ever read.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?I’m a man of Faith, I often fall short of The Glory but it is my foundation.
Who would you like to see answer these questions?
Matt Campbell with Renkim
