I like to exercise first thing in the morning, so I wake up pretty early and either go to the gym or ride my bicycle, depending on the weather. I have found that this early-morning routine helps to energize me and allow me to focus on the important tasks of any given day.
Doug Pitassi is the president of Pacific Office Automation, a company that has thoroughly evolved since its humble beginnings selling copy machines. The company now offers the most cutting-edge office management solutions and is able to provide some of the most highly sought-after consulting services across seven different states.
Pitassi’s role has expanded since he joined the company in 1997, and he is responsible for the growth that has seen Pacific Office Automation open 25 offices in states that include Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Pitassi can also claim responsibility for the company’s sterling reputation with clients, as the president of Pacific Office Automation has worked diligently to ensure that every client receives the best possible goods and services that the company is able to provide.
One of the key principles employed by Pitassi and his staff is related to the idea that a strong partnership is the key to long-term success in any endeavor. It is for this reason that Pacific Office Automation ensures that its clients have access to dedicated engineers and technicians at every step of the way, thereby helping to secure the best possible outcome from the products and services that the company provides to its clients. At Pacific Office Automation, Pitassi believes that it is important to offer both the best products and services to clients on a consistent basis.
Where did the idea for Pacific Office Automation come from?
Pacific Office Automation was founded long before I joined the company in 1997, but the products and services that we now offer are vastly different from when the company first began. It is our goal to offer the most comprehensive and cutting-edge products that assist in providing office workflow solutions combined with superior service along every step of the way.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I like to exercise first thing in the morning, so I wake up pretty early and either go to the gym or ride my bicycle, depending on the weather. I have found that this early-morning routine helps to energize me and allow me to focus on the important tasks of any given day. Each day presents new challenges, so each workday is quite unique. I do make every effort to talk to as many members of my staff in person on a daily basis to build rapport and to stay current on how smoothly our office is functioning.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I am very fortunate to be surrounded by an excellent staff of motivated and talented individuals. We meet regularly to discuss new ideas and how to implement them in a manner that will best assist our clients, and I try to give everyone an equal opportunity to listen and be listened to.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
Rapid technological advancement has made our industry incredibly fast-paced. There is a lot to keep up with, but in order to provide our clients with the best possible products and services we must remain on the cutting-edge with regard to technology.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I have always tried to keep an open mind. I know that I am not always right and that my ideas are not always better than someone else’s. Pacific Office Automation has thrived because we have created a culture in which all ideas are valued equally and considered according to the merits of the idea rather than the source.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
One thing I learned very early on was to appreciate any employment opportunity and to always value every opportunity. Every job is meaningful so long as you give the best effort possible, and there is a lot of good that comes from developing a strong work ethic in any endeavor that you pursue.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
I don’t think I would change a thing. I am the leader I am today because of the mistakes I made in the past, and our company is better for having been willing to adjust our strategies according to the changing needs of our clients.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I can’t say that I would do anything over. Certainly there are going to be regrets over decisions that do not work out as well as planned, but those are valuable learning opportunities. I would recommend that entrepreneurs see the value in the bad decisions they make and recognize that it is not the failure that matters, it is what happens following the failure that truly matters.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
We focus on our clients and ensure that they are getting the very best of what we can provide. Our business has grown the way it has because our customers have seen how beneficial our products and services are and recommend that others utilize them as well.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
I have been fortunate that I have had many failures as an entrepreneur, but those failures have helped make me who I am today. As I said before, failure is an excellent opportunity to learn something valuable for the next venture, so I have wholeheartedly embraced failure and moved on with the knowledge that I have learned something very valuable.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
It’s hardly my own, but I always liked the make-your-own-pizza idea from Seinfeld. I know it is kind of silly, but I feel like allowing customers to be a part of the process would really enliven the experience of dining out and make it fun.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
The best $100 I have spent recently was on a pair of tickets to a Portland Trail Blazers game. I took a friend who is also a client to the game and had a blast despite the fact that the Blazers lost.
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
Technology is such a major part of what we do that it would be impossible to go through everything that we use on a daily basis. Our business is helping offices streamline workflow solutions, so I love when new technology is developed that enables us to be even more effective than before.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Oregon is home to one of America’s greatest writers in Ken Kesey, so I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Sometimes a Great Notion as a book worth reading. Kesey might be better known for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, but Sometimes a Great Notion is a wonderful story that really tells the story of many families who settled down in this beautiful state.
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
Bill Bowerman had a big influence on me for a lot of reasons, but mainly because he was such an innovator and because he was so confident in manner in which he did things. Obviously what we do is very different from what Nike does, but the constant adaptation and willingness to experiment with new ideas is something that everyone should value.
Connect:
Pacific Office Automation on Facebook:
Pacific Office Automation on LinkedIn:
Pacific Office Automation on Google+:
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.