Michael Andrew Kergosien’s business administration education at the University of Mississippi laid a solid foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. Throughout his 36-year career, Michael Kergosien has received numerous honors and awards and achieved significant milestones in his business ventures.
While serving as a combat medic in the Mississippi Army National Guard, Mr. Kergosien earned recognition for his military service, including the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Stars. His dedication also earned him the Meritorious Unit Commendation and state-level awards, such as the Mississippi War Medal and Service School Medal. Moreover, he received medals for his role in the Kuwait conflict and the Cold War.
Since graduating, Michael Andrew Kergosien has owned two businesses in Oklahoma: Tiny Town Sales, Rental, and RV Park; and his current venture, Kergos Construction & Design. At Kergos Construction, he builds custom cabins and offers rental services, attracting customers from Oklahoma and beyond. The luxurious cabins feature unique designs that meet different clients’ tastes and are equipped with amenities such as full kitchens, hot tubs, washers and dryers, and ping-pong tables.
Mr. Kergosien also owns property in Watson, Oklahoma, located 30 minutes from Hochatown, one of his cabin rental locations. The Woodland of Watson is a 170-acre community featuring a grand entryway, a serene environment with frequent deer sightings, and amenities like water, electricity, and high-speed Internet.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day consists of drinking coffee, reading emails and texts, and planning out my tasks for the day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I first have a mission to complete. Then I imagine the most efficient and productive way to accomplish it. I look at the risk and reward of the end goal. Then, I employ the work.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I think the AI trend is exciting. It offers so many solutions and benefits. I also believe the trend towards a higher demand for work involving actual skills is also important. This includes vocational and practical jobs that require training.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
My most productive habit is taking out some time each day to imagine if there is or was a better way to accomplish the work ahead or the work completed.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t force things to happen. Do your job and trust in God more.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe in Sasquatch.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Think before I speak or act.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Take some time and deal with I can accomplish right now, within my control, then move to the next thing I can do next and so on without focusing on the whole picture.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
My best strategy is to have daily tasks, instead of weekly or monthly. I focus on completing one day at a time, with the monthly goal in mind.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
My one failure was not spending enough time with accounting. I paid too much attention to the big picture, and very little with the accounting.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Build a tiny home community for short-term rentals and include a sustainable farm.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I use Quickbooks. It helps me with accounting, but also does invoicing and helps me see where I am with revenue and profit goals.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
My favorite and most inspiring book is The Alchemist. It is a book about small and big hints and suggestions we should pay attention through life’s journey. There are lessons on how to hear, see, and feel them. The present may seem bad, but the future can and will be better if we just pay attention and we do the right thing along the way.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I like Severance. It was interesting and mysterious to me. Also, very creative.
Key learnings
- Consistency in daily planning and task management can drive both personal productivity and long-term business growth.
- Periodically re-evaluating one’s approach to work can uncover more efficient or effective ways of completing tasks.
- Building strong morale within a team—through simple gestures like shared meals—can meaningfully impact workplace culture.
- Remember to take time for yourself – the big picture includes all aspects of life, not just work.