
A: During my undergraduate and graduate school years, I wanted to hurry up and complete my studies and begin scientific work in my field, and I did carry that same expectancy into business.
Q: People say that you are a very patient man, but that you have an urgency to get things done.
A: My drive to succeed is born out of a childhood decision to study hard to be the best, not only so I could succeed in life, but also avoid the challenges that I faced growing up in poverty.
Q: What is the meaning of the term Scitec Speed?
A: Scitec Speed was a term that we coined to help communicate a sense of urgency to get things done at a high rate of speed. Early one morning in the 1990s, I was sitting in my office at the then Scitec headquarters at University Avenue in Urbana, Illinois, and realized that by 6:30 a.m. I had already replied to all my emails, returned all my voice mails from different regions around the world, drank 2 cups of coffee, and read several news articles! Suddenly the term Scitec Speed came into my mind, so I immediately sent an email on effectiveness and efficiency to the entire staff. We were the new hotel phone manufacturer in the market, had limited resources, and needed to compete for and win every hotel phone sales opportunity.
Q: Looking back, it's remarkable how you were able to quickly accomplish so much with so little as a startup business venture.
A: To me, my early success is an example of the American dream. As Americans, each of us with a drive to excel and a willingness to work, are able to see our dreams come to life.