Failure isn’t always a bad thing. There are invaluable lessons when things don’t go according to plan. This doesn’t just apply to business but also with your personal life, friendships, relationships. The important thing is to learn from it and move on.
Anthony Kolich is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist from Stamford, Connecticut. Born into a family of real estate entrepreneurs, Anthony learned the value of hard work and persistence at a young age. Now, as the founder and CEO of Kolich Holdings, Anthony owns and manages over a thousand real estate properties throughout Connecticut. To say he has mastered hard work and persistence would be an understatement!
Throughout his childhood, Anthony assisted his grandfather with maintaining various apartment buildings in Connecticut. He loved seeing his grandfather’s hard work transform an idea into a successful business venture, which ultimately became a major source of inspiration later in life. Upon graduation from high school, Anthony joined his father in the plumbing business. Although Anthony enjoyed this work, he ultimately decided to continue in his grandfather’s footsteps, establishing his own property management firm in 2000.
Currently, Anthony Kolich resides in Stamford, Connecticut with his two children. With the success of Kolich Holdings, Anthony is pursuing larger real estate opportunities throughout the United States.
Where did the idea for your company come from?
My grandfather and father were both entrepreneurs in the real estate industry, so I wanted to incorporate our last name in my business identity to continue their legacy. They taught me everything I know and gave me the support I needed to establish Kolich Holdings. We’ve been strong since 2000 thanks to them!
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I’m a single dad so my typical days always start with getting my kids up and ready for school. After I drop them off, my work day begins. My car is truly my mobile office so I will usually take phone calls from the car, while I bounce around from place to place. When it comes to my professional life, no two work days are the same, but for the most part it involves lots of meetings, calls and emails. It never really stops until my head hits the pillow.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Foundation, and other factors that come into play when dealing with real estate. I also prioritize discussing every idea and opportunity with my business partner and my staff. It’s very important to me to get the opinions of the people I trust, as it helps to build a well rounded perspective.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Minimalistic micro homes are fascinating. The concept that less is more amazes me, especially at a time when our society is focusing on consuming at an alarming rate. I hope to explore this trend in my business. Having grown up in the 80’s where opulence reigned and we all aspired to obtain it; bigger was always better, so the concept is foreign and intriguing.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Prioritizing self-care is imperative and definitely makes me a more productive entrepreneur. Ever hear the saying, “early bird, gets the worm”? Well, that’s me! I am an early riser. I am up with the sun. My motto is “new day and new opportunities to be great and do great things”. I also prioritize my health. Health is your true wealth. I exercise daily and eat healthy.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would advise myself to be less conservative with investments. Risk is daunting, but can pay off in a big way.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
That failure isn’t always a bad thing. There are invaluable lessons when things don’t go according to plan. This doesn’t just apply to business but also with your personal life, friendships, relationships. Etc. The important thing is to learn from it and move on.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I recommend everyone to follow their gut, their instincts. Trust the vibes and if something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it, don’t buy it. I am also a firm believer that our net worth is in our networks. Talk to people, hear their ideas, support the small business owners.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
My strategy is and will always be to stay true to myself. What I do isn’t rocket science but I have grown my business by respecting my customer, business associates, and employees. Compassion, respect, and kindness are free, everyone has it- it’s just up to you if you want to use it.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I don’t believe in failures, just minor setbacks. I overcome all setbacks, regardless of magnitude by staying focused on the big picture and remember that my kids are watching. They motivate me to do better and be better.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I guess it would have to be something with micro homes, minimalism, and sustainable living. Find a way that allows people to slowly let go of their things, and transform their practices into more environmentally friendly practices. It can’t be easy giving up everything all at once, so we’ll definitely need something that makes the transition easier. Maybe an app for your phone that gives you weekly challenges to cut back on something you use too much of, like paper towels or plastic cutlery. It would be incredibly interesting to look back on a year of challenges to see how much you have changed and how much these small changes have impacted the world and your health for the better!
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
Picked up groceries for my mom. Anything I can do for her makes me happy. I owe so much, if not all to her. She’s a real inspiration.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
Buildium, I use this software to manage our properties and tenants. I honestly don’t know how I would survive without it (or how I ever did)!
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
The Alchemist by Coelho. The lessons in the book are many, with my favorite being that fear is in our minds. I also learned to appreciate today, embrace the journey and live in the present.
What is your favorite quote?
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” – Jay-Z
Key Learnings:
- Prioritizing self-care is imperative
- Be more concerned with your character than your reputation.
- I don’t believe in failures, just minor setbacks.
Connect:
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.