We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Troy Moore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Troy, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
I recognize it’s completely cliche to pay tribute to your parents for the life lessons they taught. But I truly believe the guidance they provided me growing up made, and continues to make, a difference in my life. My father worked hard every day as a second-generation small business owner. He and his two brothers ran a heavy equipment and excavation company that my grandfather started in his early years. My dad always said they’d “do anything to make a buck”. “Sometimes it’s glamorous, profitable and successful, while other times it’s muddy, late and frustrating. At the end of the day, sometimes you’re going to have to push a broom.” I use that philosophy in my luxury home building business every day. We strive to design and build beautiful homes for deserving clients but recognize there are days when it’s going to be stressful, challenging and unpredictable. (And yes, I can push a mean broom.) Showing our customers, subs and suppliers that we’re willing to jump in the trenches to make it happen illustrates our commitment to excellence and our desire to create something amazing. Growing up with a supportive mom, she along with my dad never made me feel what I was doing was insignificant or wrong. I spent my entire adolescence stepping outside of my comfort zone on a daily basis. I was a gymnast, yell leader, sang in the choir and loved great design. There were a lot of haters, bullies and judgmental peers that tried to make my life miserable. My parents loved me, supported me and told me that one day my perseverance would pay off. The encouragement to stay the course, blaze my own path and keep moving forward through adversity has benefitted me immensely. I’m doing work that I love, that inspires me and that I’m proud of. Great success, respect and accolades have followed throughout our 20+ years in business…and there’s nothing better than proving someone wrong who tried to hold you back.
Troy, 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?
Proudly serving as the creative captain and “Chief Experience Officer” of the Madi Mali Homes team, I’ve spent my entire life creating. I loved art class, holiday home tours, playing with blocks and designing my future dream home with a t-square and pencil my dad and mom bought me one year for my birthday. I grew up in the Midwest, had a great family upbringing but was always encouraged to dream bigger than what my little town could provide. I graduated with degrees in Architecture and Construction Management from Indiana State University and set my sights on seeking out a job that allowed and appreciated creativity. Although my various jobs working as a Job Coordinator, Project Estimator and Overland Park Building Inspector weren’t dream jobs, they provided the necessary tools, skills and knowledge needed to start my own business, We opened MMH in 2003 and have been learning and growing ever since. We understand that designing and building a luxury custom home can be overwhelming. There is faith, trust and respect required to make the relationship work. While we believe that every project should be exceptional, unique and reflect our client’s personal style and taste, we also want MMH to be attainable and aspirational. In 2024, we will launch our Signature Series, which will feature carefully designed semi-custom homes at a less expensive price point. This will broaden our client base and provide an opportunity for others to see first- hand the MMH Experience. Interior Design, Concierge and Consulting services will be included, plus we’ll offer a curated selection of art, rugs and accessories that will be available to purchase from our online gallery. Building the brand…and sharing it with a bigger audience. We can’t wait for what’s next!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Owning your own business is probably the hardest thing you’ll ever do. You’re the first one there, the last one to leave, the most passionate about the work, the most affordable sales/marketing/HR person, and the most vulnerable one on the team. And if you’re lucky, they’ll be enough money left over at the end of the month…to do it all over again. Resilience is a tough one to maintain. Yet it’s imperative in order to grow and sustain the challenges you WILL experience. Trusting your gut with clients, hiring the right people and staying true to your core values and goals is difficult. There will be those that deceive and hurt you, those you trusted that prove to be untrustworthy, and experiences that you wish you could do all over again. But differently. My resilience has come from admitting responsibility when it was ours to own, but also being less emotionally-exposed, trying to please everyone else and losing sight of the business plan. When you’re self-employed, it’s impossible to not be emotional about your business. What I’ve personally learned is that you need to remain objective, solution-focused and always protective of what you’ve created. Maintain great records (which we do), be direct and do whatever it takes to keep your business moving forward. Recognize that not every job is a good job and nobody will ever love it as much as you do. When you figure that part out, the RIGHT jobs, clients and employees come along. And once you have them, appreciate and nurture them for as long as you can keep them.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Ultimately, the work will speak for itself. What I believe most in running a business is that you have to appreciate those around you that help you do what you do. I give thanks every night for the support my wife, kids and family provide. I’m thankful for my team that supports the vision and goals I have established for the company. I express and show appreciation to our subs, suppliers and colleagues that work with us to create something amazing. I humbly remind our clients how much their faith and trust mean to us. We’re not just selling t-shirts…our projects have never been built before, and they’re spending a lot of money with us. There are challenges on every job, surprises that reveal themselves and unique circumstances we have to overcome. But our reputation has been built on kindness, gratitude and respect…while producing an amazing product. We build beautiful homes for clients that will spend their lives making memories in them for years to come. When it becomes less about the job or the money and more about the responsibility we have to do it right, the joy and pride we feel turning the keys over is the best feeling of accomplishment. That to me is reputable…and luckily, our industry and community feel the same way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.madimalihomes.com
- Instagram: @madimalihomes, @troymooremmh
- Facebook: Madi Mali Homes
- Linkedin: Troy Moore
Image Credits
Nate Sheets Photography @natesheetsphoto