Chatting With Linda Bennett, COMMWORLD
Linda (right) and her husband, Bob, bought COMMWORLD of Kansas City in 1983 and have been achieving their goals ever since. For more information, contact Linda at 816.763.1100.
Interviewed By: Sheridan Sechter

>Sheridan: Tell me about your company.

>Linda: We provide, install and service business telephone systems, voice mail and related voice/data products and services. Our goal is to help clients benefit from using the right technology to solve their business issues.

>Sheridan: How did you get into this business?

>Linda: In 1980, my husband, Bob, and I left good, stable positions and embarked on our first entrepreneurial journey. We became minority owners in a start up business. By the following summer, we left that company because of differences with the other partner.

Bob and I were at a turning point. We were both well educated, but we were out of work and, since we had lived on my teaching retirement for the previous year, we were broke. We needed to overcome disappointment and decide what to do next. There we were at what felt like the bottom, and we made a list of goals that seemed totally out of reach - including owning a successful business.

Bob’s job search led him to COMMWORLD and he opened the office as Branch Manager. I took a marketing position with a medical equipment company. When we were offered the opportunity to purchase COMMWORLD of Kansas City out of the profits generated, we jumped into it. By 1983, Bob “recruited” me to work full time at COMMWORLD and we have been working together ever since.

>Sheridan: What have some of your struggles been and how were they overcome?

>Linda: Some of the greatest challenges have been as a result of being in the telecom industry. In the early 80’s the country was in a deep recession while we were building a business to compete with the largest corporation in the world - AT&T! We also had to overcome the fears of customers who asked, “If I buy my phones from you, will the phone company shut off my service?”

In the mid 80’s, there were industry-wide product shortages. Sometimes we would install one phone system until we could finally get the right one and then our technicians would install it. That meant twice the labor for no additional charges to the customer, but we did it because it was the right thing to do.

The dot-com bust of the 90’s and the recent economic downturn significantly impacted the industry creating a huge “shake out”.

Goal setting has helped me and my company overcome challenges and chart our way. We still have the list of goals from 1981. Of course, some goals have changed and others have been added, but it is amazing how many of those goals we have achieved.

>Sheridan: As a business owner, what brings you the most satisfaction?

>Linda: I love the positive feedback we get from customers. For most clients, if their telecom system fails, they are out of business. The fact that they trust COMMWORLD to provide and maintain their communication with the world brings a great deal of satisfaction and pride.

Still being in business 24 years later also makes me proud. The success rate for small businesses is very low and for telecommunications companies, it is even lower. Since 1981, we have watched over 180 competitors come and go in the Kansas City area. (Yes, we really did count!). I am very proud that our COMMWORLD team has created stability, loyalty and honor in a “wild and crazy” industry.

>Sheridan: What advice would you have for someone who is considering starting a business?

>Linda: Do your homework before you begin. Read some good business management books like The E-Myth and put procedures in place. (I think we made every mistake described in that book during our early years!) Find a mentor or mentoring group. Surround yourself with good people. Always do the right thing. Never stop learning. Believe in the power of goal setting.