Coffee Break: Brian Davidson, owner and founder XPECT, PLLC
Brian Davidson
Owner and Founder
XPECT, PLLC
1900 E Golf Road, Suite 950 Schaumburg, IL 60173
(224) 532-2815
Industry: Public accounting/professional services
Annual revenue: $225K
Number of employees: 2
Age: 50
Family information: Married (22 years), 2 sons - 19 and 15
Q: Describe your company.
A: XPECT seeks to serve privately owned businesses and provides professional advisory and accounting services with the goal of helping clients resolve issues, make better decisions, operate more effectively, and enjoy business more.
Q: Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
A: Yes. We are currently in the process of reevaluating and upgrading our tech stack and are also making additional investments in cybersecurity as part of this process. We would like to sustain sufficient growth to hire two to five professionals in the coming year.
Q: What will your company's main challenges be in the next year?
A: Our big picture challenge is to scale the business to support continued growth. With that in mind, we are focused on defining and refining how we serve our clients and how we work together as a team. We also continue to focus on marketing our firm and creating more opportunities to interact with referral partners and potential clients.
Q: What's the hottest trend in your industry?
A: I would say the continued diversification away from the more traditional accounting services. Accounting firms continue to look for new ways to bring value to clients and to look for niche areas where they can have a competitive advantage.
Q: If you had one tip to give to a rookie executive, what would it be?
A: Never take counsel of your fears. Everyone has fears, but you have to be determined not to let your fear influence or decide your decision-making. Effective leaders must take risks.
Q: Do you have a business mantra?
A: Not officially, but I would say "deliver value."
Q: From a business outlook, whom do you look up to?
A: I know professionals with other firms who have or had positions of high responsibility and I think I benefit from talking with them and hearing their insights. In addition, I admire other entrepreneurs and small business owners I meet at networking and business events who have taken the risk of creating their own business.
Q: What is one interesting fact about you or your company that most people may not know?
A: Most people don't realize that the bird in our logo is supposed to be a red crane. I have an extensive background working with Japanese-owned businesses and the red crane is considered a symbol of longevity and good fortune in Japan. I thought this was a nice fit for XPECT's goal of supporting the long-term success of our business clients. In addition, Japanese-owned businesses are a niche area for our firm.
Q: Was there a moment in your career that didn't go as you had planned? What lesson did you learn from it?
A: Actually, I had planned to launch my business with a partner. However, after several months of planning and talking about the business and doing some of our early client work together, this individual decided not to continue. I think the lesson I learned from this was that I had to have my own commitment to the business and not just rely on someone else to help me succeed.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I enjoy grilling on the weekend and am a craft beer enthusiast. I also read constantly and I enjoy watching football (particularly college football) during the football season.
Q: What book is on your nightstand?
A: At the moment, I have "True to His Word" by Jon Bloom, "Speaking from Among the Bones" by Alan Bradley, and "The Millionaire Mind" by Thomas J. Stanley.
Q: What keeps you up at night?
A: I would say managing cash flows and client deadlines are the main things.
Q: If you were not doing this job, what do you think you would be doing?
A: I would most likely be working somewhere for a public accounting firm. BORING!!!
Q: What was your first paying job?
A: My first paying job was probably mowing someone's yard. My first paying job with a business was at a local supermarket stacking groceries, stocking shelves, and cleaning the floors.
Q: If you could put your company name on a sports venue, which one would you choose?
A: I think I would choose Mile High stadium in Denver. XPECT field at Mile High has a nice ring to it!
Q: Two people to follow on Twitter (X) and why. (Besides your company)
A: I have a Twitter (X) account, but I'm not active. I don't have anyone in mind that I would want to follow.
Brian Davidson
Owner and Founder
XPECT, PLLC
1900 E Golf Road, Suite 950 Schaumburg, IL 60173
(224) 532-2815
<a href="http://www.xpectup.com">www.xpectup.com</a>
Industry: Public accounting/professional services
Annual revenue: $225k
Number of employees: 2
Age: 50
Family information: Married (22 years), 2 sons - 19 and 15