Christopher Mickey is a dynamic entrepreneur from New Port Richey, Florida, with a rich history in business and innovation. Raised in his hometown, he began his career journey early, gaining his first work experience at Winn Dixie. Demonstrating independence and ambition, Christopher moved out at 14 to carve his path to success.
Christopher pursued higher education rigorously, earning an Associate’s Degree from St. Petersburg College and a Bachelor’s in Economics from the University of South Florida. Furthering his expertise, he achieved a Master’s Degree in Economics and obtained his HVAC License from Marchman Technical College in 2017.
At 21, Christopher ventured into the restaurant industry by acquiring a Westshore Pizza franchise, which he transformed into one of the top-performing locations within three years. This success fueled his passion for business, leading him to sell his restaurant holdings at 25 and dive into real estate. Over the past 17 years, he and his wife have flipped 545 houses, showcasing his adeptness in identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities.
Christopher’s entrepreneurial spirit led to the establishment of Airheads HVAC, an air conditioning business born from a gap he noticed while flipping houses. His commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction has made Airheads HVAC a respected name in the industry.
In addition to Airheads HVAC, Christopher owns a real estate investing company, a property leasing company, and a finance company, reflecting his diverse business interests and acumen. Despite his busy schedule, he finds time to travel and unwind at his beach house in Indian Rocks Beach.
Christopher is deeply involved in philanthropy, supporting organizations like Metropolitan Ministry and Habitat for Humanity. He is also a dedicated supporter of educational initiatives in Pasco and actively sponsors local youth sports teams.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day starts early. I’m up by 5:30 AM and like to get a head start with a quick workout to get my energy flowing. I then go through my emails and prioritize tasks for the day. I focus on key activities that drive my businesses forward, such as strategic planning and client meetings. To stay productive, I always make sure to delegate tasks to my capable team and use technology to streamline processes. I like to keep my afternoons open for site visits and business development, which gives me a clear picture of how things are running.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I believe in the power of taking action. Once I have an idea, I research it thoroughly to understand its feasibility. Then I like to get feedback from trusted advisors and team members. Once I’m confident in an idea, I set clear goals and break them into actionable steps. This way, I can track progress and make necessary adjustments along the way. I also think it’s important to stay flexible and open-minded, as initial ideas often evolve into something even better.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The shift towards energy-efficient solutions in the HVAC industry is something that really excites me. With growing awareness about environmental impact, more customers are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and save on energy costs. This trend opens up opportunities for offering innovative, sustainable HVAC solutions that align with customer needs and values.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
One habit that really helps me is setting clear priorities at the start of each day. I make a to-do list and focus on the most important tasks first. This helps me stay on track and ensures that I’m making progress toward my goals. It also prevents me from getting bogged down in less critical tasks that can easily eat up time.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I’d tell my younger self to not be afraid of failure. Every failure is an opportunity to learn and grow. I’d also advise myself to trust my instincts more and not overthink things. Some of the best decisions I’ve made were based on gut feelings and a willingness to take risks.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe that work-life balance is overrated. To achieve big goals, you need to be fully committed and willing to put in long hours. Of course, it’s important to take breaks and recharge, but I’ve found that true success often requires sacrifice and a relentless drive. Not everyone agrees with this approach, but it’s worked well for me.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I recommend taking time to reflect on your progress and goals regularly. This can be daily, weekly, or monthly, but it’s crucial to step back and evaluate where you’re heading. Reflection helps me stay aligned with my long-term vision and makes it easier to make informed decisions.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I feel overwhelmed, I take a step back and try to clear my mind. This could mean going for a walk, spending time at the beach house, or simply disconnecting from technology for a while. This helps me gain perspective and return to work with a fresh mindset.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Building strong relationships has been key to my success. I make an effort to connect with clients, partners, and employees on a personal level. This not only helps build trust but also opens up new opportunities for collaboration and growth.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
One of my early ventures didn’t go as planned, and I ended up losing a significant amount of money. It was a tough experience, but it taught me the importance of thorough research and due diligence before jumping into any project. I learned to analyze risks more carefully and ensure that I have a solid business plan in place.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I think there’s a lot of potential in creating a subscription-based maintenance service for HVAC systems. Customers could pay a monthly fee for regular maintenance checks, filter replacements, and priority repair services. This model provides recurring revenue for the business and ensures that customers’ systems run efficiently year-round.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I use project management software like Trello to keep track of tasks and projects. It helps me organize my day-to-day activities and collaborate with my team effectively. I can assign tasks, set deadlines, and monitor progress, all in one place.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
One book that’s had a significant impact on me is The Lean Startup by Eric Ries. It offers practical advice on how to develop a business through continuous innovation and adaptability. The concepts of testing and iterating have been incredibly useful in my entrepreneurial journey.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently watched the series Billions and found it fascinating. The show’s portrayal of high-stakes business decisions and strategic thinking is both entertaining and inspiring. It offers insights into the complexities of running a successful enterprise and the importance of staying ahead of the competition.
Key learnings
- Embrace Failure as a Learning Opportunity: Christopher emphasizes the importance of viewing failures as valuable lessons rather than setbacks. This mindset can help entrepreneurs grow and improve their business strategies over time.
- Build Strong Relationships: Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with clients, partners, and employees is crucial for long-term success. Trust and collaboration can lead to new opportunities and business growth.
- Stay Informed and Adaptable: Keeping up with industry trends and technological advancements is essential for staying competitive. Continuous learning and adaptability are key components of Christopher’s success in the HVAC industry.