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Ambassatours Gray Line Featured in Travel CourierNova Scotian Profile August 2006Written by: Abraham Zive "If you trust people and let them take ownership, it pays off 98% of the time." Dennis Campbell: I don’t believe there is any one key character ingredient that has helped to make it happen for us. I would say that like any good recipe, it takes a number of key ingredients, such as determination, persistence, dedication, creativity, strong work ethic, positive attitude and a healthy dash of being humble so as not to lose perspective when times were good along the way. These are the ingredients you might expect. The ingredients that have also helped but you might not expect are ignorance and blind faith. Nova Scotia Business Journal: What big management lessons did you learn along the way? How did that learning experience help build the company? Dennis Campbell: I learned not to micro manage. If you trust people and let them take ownership, it pays off 98% of the time. The other 2% is a small price to pay. I learned the fact that everybody has their own strengths and weaknesses. I learned that while I am good at some things, I’m amazed at the stuff I just can’t do well, and that’s OK. I learned the importance of life balance. Had I not learned this, I would have burned myself and my staff out a long time ago! Nova Scotia Business Journal: What was your central goal for yourself and the company when you started out? Did they change over the years? Dennis Campbell: My central goal for the company was to create a return on investment. This was not a big task, as I did not have a huge investment starting out…$3,500. As time went on, however, the goals did get bigger and bigger and continue to do so which is a big part of the excitement. Nova Scotia Business Journal: Have the awards you’ve won changed your expectations of yourself? Nova Scotia Business Journal: What do you feel the future hold for yourself and your business? If you come to a point where you can no longer expand, will you diversify? Dennis Campbell: I feel optimistic about the future even though our industry continues to go through turmoil as a result of outside influences. The fact that we continue to grow as our industry is shrinking is a great feat in itself and a tribute to our great team. Given the seasonality of our business, we have already diversified considerably beyond our competitors. It has paid off in almost all areas. The future for me? I have told our team to get ready to fill my seat. I have given them my 5 years notice and explained that there is plenty of room for career opportunities at the top of our company. I may continue to be a shareholder after that time or not, but since I have been doing this for 23 years (since I was 14) I am ready for a change. As much as I am really having a ball growing our company I would like to see what else I can do. I have some interesting plans that I have been considering for a whole new opportunity when the time is right. Nova Scotia Business Journal: What are the characteristics of the day-to-day business culture that you’ve built at Ambassatours? What shows you that your culture works – your staff’s contentment or the awards the company has won? Dennis Campbell: The day-to-day business culture is one of a very good place to come to work. People (for the most part) truly do enjoy coming to work at Ambassatours. If you don’t enjoy coming to work here then you are in the wrong place. We have worked hard over time to create a culture that respects our people’s family life, and work life balance is very important to us. Our staff is content and we have won the awards that show that our corporate culture works for us to help us grow through diversity. Nova Scotia Business Journal: Are there fundamental differences between Halifax’s management culture and the leadership style you have developed? Have you anything new to teach Halifax business? Dennis Campbell: Yes, there are fundamental differences. As much as I love Halifax and Nova Scotia — and again I see a very bright future for our region — I have to say that there is not enough open minded and progressive thinkers in our region. Sometimes, we are our own worst enemies in terms of fostering progression and business generation. I don’t know if there is anything I can teach Halifax business. Those that get it get it. Those that don’t, don’t! To those that don’t get it, I say lead, follow or get out of the way. Nova Scotia Business Journal: What central piece of advice would you have for young entrepreneurs looking to build a successful start-up business? Dennis Campbell: Go for it! It is likely going to be a roller coaster experience with lots of ups and downs, but it can be very rewarding, a learning experience like none other. Always remember the expression which helps me in the very toughest of times: “Inch by inch, life is a synch; mile by mile, life is a trial.” Inches are much easier to worry about in tough times. Make sure you get yourself a positive meter or group of mentors to meet with regularly and keep you on track. Ambassatours Gray Line |