Melissa Petty

The only way to find happiness and success is to be positive and work hard.

 

Melissa Petty is the HR Manager for Fundmerica in Anaheim, California.

Fundmerica is making it possible for thousands of people to achieve the highly coveted American dream. There are dozens of reasons why small businesses fail, but the second most cited reason, at 29%, is running out of money. Realizing that this was a problem for thousands of Americans looking to fund their dreams, Fundmerica wanted to make it possible for start-ups to get off the ground.

Providing access to capital for entrepreneurs and small business owners, Fundmerica is dedicated to providing personalized financial solutions tailored to their clients’ business needs. With an easy application, opportunities to grow your business and get working capital, Fundmerica is here to support your dream.

Where did the idea for Fundmerica come from?

For many budding entrepreneurs, they’ve got the business plan, skillset, and experience to build their start-up, but no financial capital to make it happen. Fundmerica’s goal is to fulfill the need for small business owners to obtain capital when banks will not lend them money. We work with entrepreneurs to help bring their ideas to life — everyone deserves a chance to live out the American dream!

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

At Fundmerica, we speak with roughly 100 merchants per day, trying to find the best product to fit their specific business needs while trying to obtain the best rate possible. Every client is different, so it takes a lot of time and patience to provide the best service. We make it productive by ensuring staff are supported in the ways they require. There is a lot of open communication among our team and that is the greatest tool for productivity in our arsenal.

How do you bring ideas to life?

We bring ideas to life through active collaboration with our clients. In addition to finding the best solutions we can for our clients’ unique needs, we always work hard and maintain and create relationships with private equity firms to offer a variety of products to clients.

What’s one trend that excites you?

The rapid acceleration of technology has made it possible for anyone to access the information they need to start a business. While you used to have to go to school and get a degree or certification to be qualified to start a business, people all over the country now have the tools they need, which are available to them 24/7 online.

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

It can take different forms, but nothing beats hard work. Remaining open minded, soaking up every new piece of information, and putting in the hours are three sure-fire ways to be productive. You want to be able to make the most out of the time that you have. Talent is nothing without spending every minute trying to improve and there is always room for improvement.

What advice would you give your younger self?

When I was younger, I had a desire to succeed quickly and I now wish that I had enjoyed the process and hard times. The greatest lessons I have learned have been through failure and adversity. While we may resent the hard times, it is often those experiences that give us the strength to be who we are. It is about the journey, not the destination.

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

I believe that positive thoughts and energy create positive outcomes. It is very difficult to draw a direct line of correlation, but it has rung true time and time again in my life. The more positive you are, the more likely it is that you will see positivity everywhere. It is the key to a happy life.

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

You have to be willing to evaluate your systems to make things smoother and faster for your clients. As we have learned, every business takes a bit of time to get its footing through refining and streamlining processes. Additionally, industries and businesses change over time and you have to be willing to evolve and re-evaluate whether what you are offering is still relevant and useful to your clients.

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

The advancement of technology has made it easier to reach a wider audience and to create smart and efficient systems. Start-ups typically try and cut every corner to save money and understandably so, but we invested in technology upfront, so our process was smooth for our employees and clients.

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

I have failed over and over on several occasions and situations — all entrepreneurs do. If you are not failing, you are not learning. I learned from every mistake that I have made, which in my eyes is not considered failure. The only real failure is giving up when things get difficult.

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

I have always been interested in recycling centers. We have funded several and the cash flow is strong while the overhead is small. Once you obtain a space on a lot whether it be a grocery store, liquor store etc. The clients come to you and the county pays you for the recyclables. It is a great way to fulfill a need in the marketplace, as well as remain sustainable. There will always be goods that need recycling.

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

I recently purchased an external charger for my phone and it has been transformative. I am constantly connected and available to my employees and clients and as a result spend a lot of time on the phone. The external charger helps extend the life of my phone when I need it most.

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

Centrex Software. This software automates our services for the employees and clients. We literally click a button to have files submitted to underwriting and approved. Technology like this makes business more efficient, allowing us the time we need to spend with clients.

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

The power of positive thinking by Norman Peale. This book explains the effects of how positive thoughts lead to positive outcomes. As I have learned over my career, it is not situations that define you, but the way you frame and view them. I recommend this book to everyone I meet.

What is your favorite quote?

“I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.” – Kobe Bryant

Key Learnings:

• The only way to find happiness and success is to be positive and work hard
• Pushing past failure is the only way to grow as an individual
• Technology is a powerful tool that can be leveraged to help you and your business succeed