Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joe Altieri. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Joe, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

I was tired of the century-old standard technology of flimsy, aluminum window screens that everyone hates, so I set out to do something different and invented FlexScreen – the world’s first and only flexible window screen. With zero attachment hardware, the FlexScreen frame is made of PVC-coated spring steel and is held inside the window frame with tension. FlexScreen installs and removes in seconds and is the most beautiful, durable, and simple window screen in the world. I appeared on Shark Tank and got a deal with Lori Greiner who called FlexScreen “the best better mousetrap that’s ever come into the Tank.”

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’m a serial entrepreneur – born with both an adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit; I’ve spent my life believing there’s always a better (and more fun) way to do just about everything. Eventually, that innate curiosity and drive for a better mousetrap led me to invent the world’s first and only flexible window screen – which landed me on Shark Tank – which resulted in a deal with Lori Greiner (the Queen of QVC) – which catapulted my business in some pretty unbelievable ways.
Although I’m old enough to be a grandfather, I’m still young enough to think I’m not that old, and I act accordingly most of the time. Seeking outdoor adventures has led me to many exciting and sometimes dangerous places where I take some calculated risks – some that work, some that don’t. In this way, my personal life parallels my professional life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. As the great Wayne Gretzky once said (or was it Michael Scott?) – “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” I don’t mind missing once in a while, but you’ll never find me on the sidelines without the ball.

Now I spend my days leading, speaking, training, blogging, podcasting, and, of course, still dreaming of better mousetraps. I’ve gained a large following as a leading expert in the window and door industry, but my experience as an inventor, a leader, and an entrepreneur reaches far beyond any one industry. Using all that I’ve learned to help others reach their full potential is a big part of what I aspire to.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I emerged from my garage with my “bubble gum and duct tape” flexible window screen prototype and shopped it around to some industry professionals, everyone seemed extremely impressed and I was immediately advised to patent my invention and do whatever was necessary to get it to market as soon as possible. After many talks with my family and trusted advisors, I decided to go all-in. I quit my job, investors were secured, patents filed, a plant location finalized, custom machinery tooled, and my business was official.

At that point, marketing to the B2C sector wasn’t in the plans. But the “slow yes” from established window manufacturers and dealers to onboard was unexpected and problematic. This prompted me to pivot, rethink, and expand my strategy, eventually hiring a local boutique marketing agency to build an e-commerce website, create a robust social presence, and market directly to homeowners.

This move led to the game-changing moment when I received an email from a Shark Tank Producer saying that they found my product on social media, thought it was a perfect fit to pitch to the Sharks, and asked if I would be interested in coming on the show.

Any advice for managing a team?

My Lessons From The Tank blog titled “A Towering Truth About Leadership: It’s The Little Things” sums up my thoughts on this perfectly. Excerpts below (entire blog can be found at joealtieri.com):

I think it’s extremely important to be a present and hands-on leader. I am the CEO of my organization, and from keynote speaker to road crew and everything in between – if there’s a need and I’m able to fill it, I will. Of course, we can’t be all things to everyone, and we shouldn’t try. I’m a huge proponent of delegation and empowering others. In fact, it’s our primary responsibility as leaders to do just that. What I’m talking about here is not stepping in to do someone’s job but helping them if and when they need it if you’re able to, no matter what that job might be.

Time is money, and you’re not being paid to push a broom, I know. But what is the result when your reports see you jump in to help, problem-solve, and move things forward when time is tight, deadlines are looming, or production is temporarily struggling to meet demand? Can we really calculate the ROI that a humble, genuine “can do and will do” leadership attitude brings?

How many of us can relate to the absentee leader who is rarely visible and definitely not known for their “boots on the ground” approach? It’s almost a guarantee, in this case, that team members will feel unheard and unvalued, tensions will rise, and constant frustration will lead to a high turnover rate of talented people who start out passionate and highly committed but flame out over time. This is a tragic and unnecessary direct result of “ivory tower” leadership, and I’ve seen it happen far too many times.

Leaders who are frustrated with team performance but have nothing to do with the team (in my opinion) have nothing to say – at least nothing that anyone is eager to hear. A leader who is willing to get their hands dirty will always have a more loyal following than the one who simply points a clean finger.

Contact Info:

• Website: joealtieri.com
• Instagram: @joealtieri
• Facebook: @JoeAAltieri
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaltieri/
• Twitter: @joealtieri
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/flexscreen