We recently connected with Malcolm Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Malcolm , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

When I launched Victory Lab Micro-Clean, I was still a network engineer, the main provider for my wife and our five children. My job was rewarding, but over time, I felt the pull—Victory Lab was where my heart was. Balancing both became impossible, and I was torn between staying in the comfort of a secure job and chasing my dream. The thought of leaving before Victory Lab could financially support my family was terrifying.

But I couldn’t stay stuck. So, I set a deadline and wrote my 2-week notice in advance. Little did I know, halfway through that period, my corporate job announced massive layoffs. That’s when I knew: it was time to leap. Weeks after going all in, Victory Lab’s revenue doubled. My kids don’t even know I got laid off; they just see me around more—happier, more focused, and thriving. It turns out, fully committing to your dreams pays off.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My story starts with a love for vacuum cleaners as a kid, which later evolved into my first business at eight years old. I convinced my mom—a single mother working multiple jobs and attending college—to buy me a carpet cleaning machine for Christmas. It wasn’t an easy ask, but she turned it into a lesson in belief and faith. That’s how ‘M.V.P. (Malcolm’s Vacuum Power)’ was born.

After graduating high school and starting my own commercial cleaning business, I eventually pivoted into corporate America as a network engineer. It was a welcome break from being the ‘chief everything officer,’ but entrepreneurship never left me. In 2019, my nephew’s health scare shook our family and became the turning point that led to Victory Lab Micro-Clean, a cleaning company focused on health and hygiene. Then came COVID-19, and the world started to see the importance of cleanliness in a new light.

Victory Lab Micro-Clean is now much more than a cleaning company. We use technology to monitor and validate cleanliness in real-time, ensuring safe, spotless environments for healthcare, educational facilities, and critical environments. We offer facility hygiene solutions for everything from indoor air quality to comprehensive janitorial management and more. Together with my wife, we’ve faced every obstacle head-on, from funding challenges to losing a business partner, and now, Victory Lab is thriving. Our goal? To set new standards in facility hygiene and make a lasting impact.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

For the first three years, we struggled to break even $30K in revenue. Despite strong support from local businesses and the startup community, we couldn’t seem to turn that goodwill into meaningful contracts. But Victory Lab Micro-Clean was named for a reason—because true victory doesn’t come from giving up. As Nipsey Hussle of “Victory Lap” said, “The only distinguishing factor between me and anyone else… is that I just didn’t quit.” and neither did we.

This year has been pivotal. Victory Lab Micro-Clean has grown from a business just trying to survive to one that’s ready to thrive. It’s like the baby can walk and is potty-trained. Now, we can focus on expanding our reach, developing more advanced solutions, and truly making an impact.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Scaling a business requires smart delegation, and I’m a strong advocate for the 80/20 rule. However, when you’re in the early stages, you have to get your hands dirty and handle many of the tasks that should ideally be delegated. I went in thinking I could immediately hire the right people for the right roles, following the E.O.S framework. But at the time, I either didn’t have the budget or the timing wasn’t right. That’s still true in some areas today, but we’re making progress with the team we have and delegating more as we grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://victorylabclean.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorylabclean
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/victorylabmicroclean
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/victory-lab-micro-clean-llc/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@victorylabmicro-clean-facility

Image Credits

PureNRG Cycle
Dallas Franchise Week
S.I.P.S. Consults Sterile Processing
Kiesha Smith