Brian Laden

Work hard and be organized.

 

Brian Ladin grew up in Houston, Texas and attended Tulane University. Brian is a Chartered Financial Analyst and is currently the CEO of Delos Shipping. Brian started Delos Shipping in 2009, and grew the business from no ships to 58 vessels from 2010-2016. In 2016 Delos sold most of its assets, and re-focused the business on long term lease opportunities.

Where did the idea for Delos Shipping come from?

The idea for Delos Shipping came from an investment that I made in 2005 in the shipping industry. I started Delos to make investments in the shipping industry.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

A typical day for me is that I am up at 3:30 am and at the gym by 5am. I am in the office by 7am and work until 5.30 or 6. I spend 100-150 days on the road every year visiting customers.

I find I am most productive when I make lists and stay organized. Given my travel schedule, organization is a huge key to success.

How do you bring ideas to life?

The way I bring ideas to life is to I write things down and put them into action.

What’s one trend that excites you?

One trend that excites me is the proliferation of online education and the ability to learn about many topics online.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

One habit that makes me productive is getting up early every morning and exercising it helps me focus.

What advice would you give your younger self?

The advice that I would give my younger self is to work hard and be organized.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Generally, we seem to agree on work. I have been lucky to have great support!

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I try to make ten phone calls every day. I recommend everyone else do the same.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

I find actively marketing Delos’ leasing capabilities leads to new business opportunities.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

There are always challenges at work. If an issue arises, I get things back on track right away.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Well, it seems like social media is everywhere. I would like to see a new, better site for that.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I bought ten audiobooks that I listen to when I travel.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

I use Microsoft Excel to make all my lists and keep myself organized.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Snowball, it is Warren Buffet’s biography. It is a good story on hard work and persistence.

What is your favorite quote?

You’ve got to break a few eggs to make a good omelet.

Key Learnings:

• Work hard
• Keep organized
• Exercise to clear your mind

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