We caught up with the brilliant and insightful James LaJoie a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

James, appreciate you joining us today. Looking back on your career, have you ever worked with a great leader or boss? We’d love to hear about the experience and what you think made them such a great leader.

I had the privilege of working with a Boss during my tenure at FedEx who would constantly remind our team not to be low-hanging fruit. What he meant by this was that while anyone can be replaced when it comes to performing a specific task, it’s much more difficult to replace the unique mindset, experience, and expertise that someone brings to the table. He believed that as you continue working in a particular field, your understanding of it deepens and you become more adept at identifying ways to improve and excel in your role. This boss was a great leader because he valued the individual strengths and perspectives of each team member, and he encouraged us to continually grow and hone our skills. His approach not only fostered a positive work environment but also inspired us to give our best to every project we tackled.

James, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a passionate and experienced professional specializing in Marketing Management, client success management, business development, and customer service. My journey began with a natural aptitude for connecting with people and solving problems, which inspired me to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Metropolitan State University In Denver.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with various organizations, allowing me to hone my skills and expertise in client success management. Currently, as the Chief Operating Officer at PSP Compass Solutions, I am devoted to ensuring customer satisfaction and maximizing clients’ return on investment. I do this by managing client portfolios, developing customized solutions, and identifying opportunities for upselling and cross-selling all within providing marketing services to our B2C clients. .

One of my core strengths is my ability to build and nurture long-term relationships with clients, fostering trust and mutual respect. I believe that strong client relationships are the foundation of any successful business, and my unique approach to client success management reflects this.

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, exploring the great outdoors, and staying active in Golfing, Mountain biking, and Snowboarding. I also value personal growth and continuously seek opportunities to learn and develop new skills that will benefit both my personal and professional life.

In my work, I am deeply committed to providing exceptional service and support while creating lasting relationships built on trust and mutual respect. My dedication to continuous improvement and adaptability sets me apart in my industry, ensuring that I can effectively address the ever-changing needs of clients and organizations.

I am excited to connect with new clients and businesses, helping them achieve their marketing goals and thrive in their respective industries. To learn more about me and my company’s work, please visit my LinkedIn profile.

How’d you meet your business partner?

After leaving my corporate job, I decided to take a year off to explore new opportunities and determine my next career move. During this time, I became involved with Denver Startup Week and attended a recruiting fair in search of potential prospects.

Initially, I was focused on a company that primarily specialized in consulting. However, as I walked through the fair, I stumbled upon a booth that caught my attention. This booth had no swag or pamphlets describing their services, which piqued my curiosity. Intrigued, I signed up for a meeting to learn more about what they had to offer.

That chance encounter led me to work with a startup marketing company for the next two years. During my time there, I collaborated closely with my now business partner to develop and implement sales processes and management strategies for the company. Our shared experiences and successful partnership laid the foundation for a strong professional relationship.

Eventually, we decided to take a leap of faith and embark on a new adventure together. We left the startup marketing company and established our own firm, leveraging our combined skills, experiences, and passion for creating a business that embodies our shared vision and values.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

There were numerous occasions when we almost didn’t have enough money to cover payroll. I’ve had to make some tough decisions, like running payroll even when I knew we’d end up over-drafting our account. But at least this way, everyone would get paid, and the payroll company would give us a heads up to square things away before they’d process it again. This would buy us a few extra days or even weeks to gather the funds and catch up.

Dealing with ups and downs like this that come with running a business can be incredibly stressful, and I won’t lie – sometimes it doesn’t feel great having to resort to certain measures just to keep the company afloat. But we’ve managed to push through and continue striving. I have had to face challenges and figure out the best way to move forward throughout this journey and I am grateful for the things I have learned and also the mistakes that also taught me what not to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pspcompass.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslajoie/