Member Spotlight: Jerry Garcia of OE Tampa, FL
The Spotlight’s on Jerry Garcia of
NFM Polygraph Services in Tampa, FL
Are you a dreamer, risk-taker, or a doer?
Aloha! My name is Jerry, and I am a happy self-employed business professional. I say this with a smile because I sought a new venture in my life after 32 years of public service. Prior to my entrepreneur venture, I was affiliated with the U.S. government. I joined the U.S. Army straight out of high school and received my commission as an Army Officer. After 11 years of honorable service, I joined the FBI as a Special Agent and travelled the globe to safeguard our homeland and interests abroad. One of my many assignments included polygraph examiner. I helped detect and deter acts of espionage, sabotage, terrorism, and criminal activity worldwide. After 21 years of dedicated service, I retired and took a chance by opening my own private polygraph business. The future was uncertain but after years of persistence and hard work, the business is doing well, and my smile grows wider and wider every day. As for whether I am a dreamer, risk-taker, or doer, I believe I’m all three. If you want to find success in life, both professionally and personally, one must be all three.
As fellow entrepreneurs, we would love to hear about your business.
I am a travelling certified private polygraph examiner. I test for federal/state agencies, law firms, and private clients. I do all types of testing, some more challenging than others. I travel throughout the state of Florida and occasionally travel to other states and countries. My ideal office is professional and quiet, but I do carry a white noise device if necessary. A desk and three chairs are all I need to work my magic. Most clients are petrified of me, but once they finish and pass the test, they realize it wasn’t as bad as they thought. The opposite is true for those who fail.
Who is your ideal customer?
My ideal client is one who pays on time. It’s without saying—self-employed business professionals don’t work for free, so it’s important to find clients you can rely on. As for my ideal customer taking a polygraph exam, that person should be cooperative, of sound mind, and hygienic. The worst thing is a person smelling bad during the test!!
What are your top tips for entrepreneurial success?
“Mission First, People Always.” I heard this phrase for the first time when I was a young recruit, and I live my professional life this way every working day. You work for a reason, and the company you represent provides a service. It’s important to carry out that service (Mission First) but the people who work for the company are just as important. You can’t provide the service without them so you must always take care of the people (People Always) who represent the company.
“Treat others how you want to be treated.” Self-explanatory. The benefits of doing this are extraordinary. Your business will exceed all expectations if you apply this approach. People remember how you treated them, and if they are not treated right, they don’t come back. Competition is stiff, so don’t lose customers by not treating them with respect and dignity. That is a silly way to ruin your business and reputation.