Welcome to "Morgan Entrepreneur Spotlight," our monthly-ish showcase where we shine a light on Northeast Ohio's entrepreneurial superstars. Each feature delves into the journeys of individuals who have participated in our programs and are harnessing their learnings to fuel impressive growth and innovation.
Adam Bickel is the President of All Pro Recruiting. Adam recently completed the System for Integrated Growth (SIG) program, and he is scheduled to attend a Leadership Retreat in September, both of which are offered through a partnership with the Edward Lowe Foundation and Burton D. Morgan Foundation.
Tell us about your business.
“All Pro Recruiting launched in 2019 with a mission to provide cohesive solutions in the recruiting process. We help organizations acquire talent in a variety of disciplines, by fully understanding their internal process, culture, goals, and key components needed in a candidate. On the other side, we help candidates advance their careers by making connections to opportunities, improving their branding, and being their liaison in the search process.
I said 'help' a couple of times, and it’s a genuine description of what All Pro Recruiting’s purpose is. It’s an important and gratifying responsibility. In working on my Why Statement (inspired by Simon Sinek’s Find Your Why), I continue to come back to “bringing people together to enhance relationships and experiences while inspiring and motivating others”. As a professional recruiter, it’s fulfilling to connect great employers/opportunities with an equally great candidate that will grow their career. Even outside of recruiting or a direct benefit to the business, I love making connections that help others with their ongoing missions.”
Can you share your thoughts and key takeaways about the foundation-sponsored entrepreneurship programming you have participated in?
“I found the SIG program to be extremely beneficial. First of all, it is a very well-run program with excellent communication from all parties involved. I’m very appreciative of it. The team was well put together to work through key improvements I was seeking.
More specifically, Jolee was extremely valuable - our conversations tackled challenges related to organizational improvement, leadership, and maximizing both employee performance and various tools that support their success. Eric was very helpful in brainstorming sales tools and setting up a much more efficient platform for managing daily tasks. Sarah also provided valuable insights into sales plan development and inspired me to adopt a “where we were” versus “where we’re going” mindset.”
Please tell us about any growth or key wins you've experienced since participating in these programs and what your goals are for the next twelve months.
“Since completing the SIG program, All Pro Recruiting has made great strides in overall organizational structure and daily operations. Our team has lofty goals in terms of output, and we’re focused on equipping ourselves with every tool and resource needed to succeed. One of our top goals is to develop a consistent and uniform sales plan throughout the organization. With the help of our SIG partners, I’m confident we will achieve our goals!”
What is your favorite quote?
“A lot of quotes come to mind, but let me share a couple:
First, an African proverb: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ Togetherness, collaboration, partnering… these are all very important aspects in my world, whether in business or socially.
The sports enthusiast in me has to pick a Muhammad Ali quote as well: ‘I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”’ A reminder that the grind should be embraced!”
What is the last book you read?
“The last one is a cheat because I read it often - The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz. It’s such a helpful tool towards clarity and peacefulness.
Next up is Good Profit by Charles Koch after a recent recommendation. And a favorite of all time is Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey.”
What advice do you have for budding entrepreneurs?
“Meet people. Network. Have conversations. Being in the right room with inspiring minds is essential. You don’t have to change your entire business model or be siloed in just one industry focus. There are so many tips, tricks, and resources that can inspire from multiple angles. Hearing different perspectives is important - and admittedly, it’s something I wasn’t great at. But we don’t know everything, and gaining insight from a simple conversation can go a loooooong way.”
To learn more about Morgan Foundation sponsored programs and opportunities for second stage entrepreneurs, contact Michal Marcus.
If you have participated in Morgan Foundation sponsored programs and are interested in being featured in the Spotlight, contact Gina Dotson.