From DJ to Entrepreneur: A Conversation with Peter Schroeder
As the host of the Sales POP Online Sales Magazine and Pipeline CRM, I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Peter Schroeder, an award-winning DJ turned entrepreneur. Peter’s journey is a testament to the power of focus, resilience, and the importance of overcoming overwhelm in business.
Meet Peter Schroeder: The Man Behind the Music and Business
Peter Schroeder is not your average entrepreneur. With a background as an award-winning DJ, he has worked with industry giants like Facebook, Samsung, and Airbnb. His accolades include numerous platinum and gold records and nominations for the Danish DJ Awards. But his journey hasn’t been without its trials. Peter is also a plane crash survivor, an experience that has undoubtedly shaped his perspective on life and business.
A Life-Changing Incident: The Plane Crash
During our conversation, Peter opened up about the plane crash incident that had a profound impact on his journey. The memory of the crash, where the landing gear collapsed and the propeller went through the fuselage, had been locked away until it resurfaced in a conversation a few years ago. Miraculously, no one was seriously hurt, but the experience left an indelible mark on Peter.
Peter’s entrepreneurial venture, Tells You, started as a business phone service provider for startups and small businesses. Over the years, it has evolved into a comprehensive communications suite, offering phone service and texting. What sets Tells You apart is its commitment to fairness and transparency, a value that Peter emphasizes is deeply ingrained in the company’s DNA.
The Mission Behind Tells You
The goal of Peter and his co-founder, Jonas, is to establish a fair telephone company that people regard as fair. They have designed a simple and transparent billing system that charges per minute of usage and provides all features from day one, regardless of the size of the business. This approach reflects their belief in not taking advantage of others and their commitment to building trust and transparency in today’s post-COVID world.
Peter’s experience as a DJ has played a significant role in his entrepreneurial journey. The self-sufficiency and business sense required in the DJ world have been invaluable in his business ventures. He acknowledges the challenge of delegating and trusting others to handle certain aspects of the business but emphasizes that this is necessary for growth.
Building a Business: Profitability Over Hypergrowth
Peter and I discussed the different approaches to building a business. While many companies focus on sales and marketing during the hypergrowth phase, often accumulating debt and sacrificing profitability, Peter believes in prioritizing profitability. He is excited about the changing communications industry and how Tells You is adapting to meet customer needs.
The Importance of Customer Communication and Retention
Peter shared a personal experience of buying a car, where the lack of communication from one dealership led him to purchase from another. This story underscores the importance of being available to customers through various channels, such as email, phone, and social media. Peter attributes Tells You’s success to having happy customers and a reliable product. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on customer retention and providing excellent service.
In conclusion, Peter Schroeder’s journey from DJ to entrepreneur is a testament to the power of focus, resilience, and the importance of overcoming overwhelm in business. His story serves as an inspiration for all aspiring entrepreneurs.
Our Host
John is the Amazon bestselling author of Winning the Battle for Sales: Lessons on Closing Every Deal from the World’s Greatest Military Victories and Social Upheaval: How to Win at Social Selling. A globally acknowledged Sales & Marketing thought leader, speaker, and strategist, he has conducted over 1500 video interviews of thought leaders for Sales POP! online sales magazine & YouTube Channel and for audio podcast channels where Sales POP! is rated in the top 2% of most popular shows out of 3,320,580 podcasts globally, ranked by Listen Score. He is CSMO at Pipeliner CRM. In his spare time, John is an avid Martial Artist.
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