Salon to Sales: Emma's Journey
EWM INSIGHTS with Special Guest Emma Busig!
Welcome to EWM INSIGHTS where we celebrate on HUMAN CAPITAL!
In this special episode of EWM Insights, we visit with Emma Busig and discuss her professional journey in the Pacific Northwest with Pacific Office Automation!
"Winners figure out how to get it done."
In this episode of Insights, we have a heartfelt conversation with Emma Busig from Pacific Office Automation.
Emma shares her journey from Wisconsin to the Pacific Northwest and her transition from working in a salon to thriving in business technology sales.
Emma shares her perspective on the ever-evolving world of office technology. With more people working from home and businesses adopting hybrid models, the demand for unique and innovative solutions has never been higher.
Emma’s story is a powerful reminder that career paths are rarely linear. Her journey from a salon to a successful career in tech sales is filled with lessons on resilience, adaptability, and the importance of investing in what you love!
Topics Covered:
• Going West
• The Changing Office Landscape
• Propelling Past Rejection
• A Grandparent's Legacy of Love
Note: This is personal discussion, and NOT an offer to purchase or sell insurance or investment products. It is Ellis Wealth Management’s expressed position that investments should be understood and discussed with an accredited financial professional before purchase. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Investments can lose value which includes risk to principal.
Contact:
Ellis Wealth Management
Paul Ellis: 425-405-7720
email: paul.ellis@elliswealthmanagement.net
Emma Busig
Pacific Office Automation
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-busig/
Additional Notes and resources have been attached below.
We hope our conversations will help you acquire more knowledge, become even more curious about the gifts that are in and all around us, while supporting you to reach new heights as we grow together.
You can subscribe and listen to EWM INSIGHTS on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or the Ellis Wealth Management Homepage: https://elliswealthmanagement.net/podcasts/
Above all, through EWM INSIGHTS we want to encourage you to:
INVEST IN WHAT YOU LOVE!®
Resources:
Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce
https://mukilteochamber.org/
Pacific Office Automation
https://pacificoffice.com
Transcript
Welcome to Insights.
Paul Ellis:This is Paul Ellis, managing director of Ellis Wealth Management, where we encourage you to invest in what you love.
Paul Ellis:Ellis Wealth Management is an independent financial services firm focused on planning, advice, coaching and investment management.
Paul Ellis:We are dedicated to the families we serve and we encourage you to invest in what you love.
Paul Ellis:Within Insights, we look at ways to make our world richer through focusing on sharing and developing human capital.
Paul Ellis:Well, all right.
Paul Ellis:What a great, great day it is in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Paul Ellis:It is a gorgeous day and we are very blessed to have with us today a new friend that I've met, Emma Busick.
Paul Ellis:Emma comes to us from Wisconsin and she is now a resident here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Paul Ellis:And I'm going to have her share with us what she does, what she's seeing in the future moving forward, and what we can learn from Emma.
Paul Ellis:I met Emma at a Mukilteo Chamber event and we hit it off right away having conversations about business.
Paul Ellis:And I was really intrigued by her energy and her insight.
Paul Ellis:And I believe you will be as well.
Paul Ellis:Emma, thank you so much for joining us today.
Emma Busick:Yeah, thank you so much for having me.
Emma Busick:I really appreciate it.
Paul Ellis:Oh, my pleasure.
Paul Ellis:My pleasure.
Paul Ellis:Hey, if you would, can you share with us a little bit about what you do and the company that you work for?
Emma Busick:Yeah, absolutely.
Emma Busick:So I am in business technology sales at a company called Pacific Office.
Emma Busick:We basically sell, like every type of business technology under the sun.
Emma Busick:So pretty much anything you can think of from, like, phones we use, security cameras, electric vehicle chargers, copiers, printers, the list goes on.
Emma Busick:So basically everything under the sun, we distribute that equipment and then we also service it as well.
Emma Busick:So we provide local support to businesses across the country.
Emma Busick:We do have offices across the country.
Emma Busick:Our headquarters is actually in Portland, Oregon.
Emma Busick:However, there is local decision making as well across our industry.
Emma Busick:So everything is still very local.
Emma Busick:All of our service is local, which is what I really like about, about the way that we manage things.
Emma Busick:Everything is very specific to the territory and where you are.
Paul Ellis:Well, that's interesting.
Paul Ellis:Normally when we think of office automation or office items, we think of copiers, we think of printers, but we don't think of electric vehicle charges.
Paul Ellis:What is an electric vehicle charge?
Emma Busick:Tesla is a good example.
Emma Busick:So a lot of people, especially out here in the Pacific Northwest, are driving electric cars, electric vehicles more frequently.
Emma Busick:So a lot of businesses such as, you know, apartment complexes or hotels is the main industry.
Emma Busick:Even some office sites or office buildings are kind of transitioning to meet that need.
Emma Busick:And it's also an opportunity for them to, you know, provide A service and a good.
Emma Busick:But also they can, you know, earn.
Emma Busick:Earn from that on the back end.
Emma Busick:So they can charge people to come on the weekends.
Emma Busick:Like, even if they're not open, you know, they.
Emma Busick:There's usually a cost associated, just like gas with recharging your vehicle.
Emma Busick:So that's.
Emma Busick:That's the typical.
Emma Busick:The typical field or industry where they.
Emma Busick:They're most common right now.
Paul Ellis:Wow.
Paul Ellis:So you not only service the inside of the office, but you can help provide service on the outside of the office.
Paul Ellis:That there is real service.
Paul Ellis:That is.
Paul Ellis:That is terrific.
Emma Busick:Yeah.
Paul Ellis:So what influenced you to get into this field?
Emma Busick:Yeah, it was actually very random.
Emma Busick:It was not intentional by any means.
Emma Busick:I had just moved to Seattle and initially, you know, I was working at a salon all throughout college, and I really enjoyed my time there.
Emma Busick:But, you know, when I moved, it just wasn't.
Emma Busick:Wasn't quite the same for me.
Emma Busick:I was ready for some growth and change in my career.
Emma Busick:And one of my favorite clients from the salon, she's been a sales role for her whole career, and she recommended.
Emma Busick:After getting to know me pretty well, and I know her pretty well, she thought that I would do well in a sales role.
Emma Busick:So I just started looking for pretty much anything I could find.
Emma Busick:And from Pacific Office without really knowing what the industry is, without having any sort of technology background, really.
Emma Busick:And I just got really extremely lucky.
Emma Busick:I had a really good gut feeling throughout the interview process.
Emma Busick:They were very transparent about the opportunities here in the environment as well.
Emma Busick:And so I just felt really good about it.
Emma Busick:Got very lucky that they, you know, gave me the opportunity to start my career here.
Emma Busick:And it's been almost two years now.
Paul Ellis:That is excellent.
Paul Ellis:You know, that really speaks to your resolved and determination to move to Seattle area, move to the Seattle area and then look for a job without necessarily having a lead or having a introduction beforehand.
Paul Ellis:That.
Paul Ellis:That speaks volumes.
Paul Ellis:That's terrific.
Paul Ellis:That really, really is.
Paul Ellis:That's a real strong character trait that I.
Paul Ellis:I really, really, really like.
Paul Ellis:Now you move from Milwaukee, so there's kind of a change in the weather from Milwaukee to Seattle area, isn't there?
Emma Busick:Oh, yeah.
Emma Busick:Very big one.
Emma Busick:I don't miss winter one day in the Midwest.
Emma Busick:I do.
Emma Busick:I do miss it.
Emma Busick:And Christmas, I will say, is the only time that sometimes I wish there was a little bit of snow on the ground.
Emma Busick:But other than that, it's a world of difference.
Emma Busick:I went home in May, and even, you know, winter is a typical thing that people think of is the difference.
Emma Busick:But even going home and the humidity and the mosquitoes.
Emma Busick:Yeah.
Emma Busick:I was very grateful to come back to Seattle afterwards, for sure.
Paul Ellis:Well, the snow in Seattle.
Paul Ellis:Snow in Seattle is not like snow in the Midwest.
Paul Ellis:Snow in the Midwest piles up high, but it is flat.
Paul Ellis:Snow in Seattle is like an ice skating wreak in San Francisco.
Paul Ellis:It's not quite the same.
Paul Ellis:So, you know, we like to see, we like to see the powdery stuff, but we like to see it up on the trees and off the road.
Paul Ellis:For sure.
Emma Busick:Yeah.
Paul Ellis:You know.
Paul Ellis:Well, one of the things that you talked about when you and I were having a conversation is about the journey moving forward.
Paul Ellis:And one of the questions I always like to ask individuals is when did you know that your particular field was calling to you?
Paul Ellis:And you said something very fascinating to me.
Paul Ellis:You said, to be honest, I still don't know.
Paul Ellis:And that sounds amazing from the aspect of the wonder and the thrill of the journey sometimes and many times when we're talking to individuals, they've held a position for 20 years, 30 years they've been in a particular field and they're looking back over their accomplishments.
Paul Ellis:It's an entirely different feel.
Paul Ellis:Looking forward to the future and the journey before you.
Paul Ellis:So one of the things that I think, one of the things I think is really fascinating.
Paul Ellis:I'm.
Paul Ellis:I'm going to w one of the young lions, as I call, as I call our amazing professional friends.
Paul Ellis:Young lions, hungry, strong, keen and being aware of the landscape and able to navigate it.
Paul Ellis:In the world of office automation, the landscapes change quite a bit.
Paul Ellis:We have more home, more individuals are working from home, they're doing hybrid working, that people are moving into their second career.
Paul Ellis:How have you dealt with that in your role over the last couple of years in servicing those types of businesses?
Emma Busick:Yeah, I think I started at Pacific Office at a very unique time, I guess you could say, right as things were starting to open back up after the pandemic.
Emma Busick:So I didn't experience, you know, that drastic, I guess, halt to things, you could say during the pandemic because, you know, essentially everyone went home, so.
Emma Busick:Or was working from home for the most part.
Emma Busick:I was just still in Milwaukee at that time, so my experience was a little bit different.
Emma Busick:But I do know, like a lot of people, you know, had to close their businesses for a period of time.
Emma Busick:And so I do know that Pacific Office did pivot and adjust where needed.
Emma Busick:But we have, since I started, they've done a really good job at pivoting to, you know, we don't just do copiers and print anymore.
Emma Busick:I think a lot of People when they think there's printing, they think of the volume going down, which it definitely did during COVID I'm 100% sure about that.
Emma Busick:Just essentially with people not being in the office, so many things switch to virtual.
Emma Busick:I personally don't think that printing will ever fully go away.
Emma Busick:I do think that maybe the volumes will kind of fluctuate over the next few years.
Emma Busick:But we really pivoted and shifted to offering a multitude of services.
Emma Busick:So we're still able to work with all sizes of businesses in a variety of ways.
Emma Busick:So even if some of my clients have their print volumes have gone down, maybe they're downsizing from four copiers to two or something like that, we're still able to help them with their phone service.
Emma Busick:We do IT management.
Emma Busick:So even if things have changed and people have, you know, potentially decreased the amount of printers that they have, or vice versa, we do IT management.
Emma Busick:So we're able to help them with their laptops, servers, any of that sort of hardware.
Emma Busick:And so we've just really done a good job at kind of shifting.
Emma Busick:So even though things have changed in the industry, our Pacific office is still up year after year in revenue.
Emma Busick:And it's a really cool thing to see just how well as a company we do every month we get together on a morning meeting.
Emma Busick:We get together actually bi weekly on a morning meeting at 7:30.
Emma Busick:But at the start of every month we review the previous month and see how we're doing in every single market, individually by branch, and then as a whole.
Emma Busick:And it's just amazing to see the growth that we have.
Emma Busick:And then at the end of the year we also in January get together in Oregon and the whole company comes, everyone from every single branch.
Emma Busick:And it's so great to meet everyone.
Emma Busick:But then we review how far, how far we've come in that past year.
Emma Busick:So I've had the opportunity to attend that event twice now.
Emma Busick:This coming year will be my third year going and it just crazy, you know, especially with the past year now of experience under my belt, you know, going last year versus the first year was a world of difference in understanding what those things actually mean and how they influence, you know, and affect my direct branch and location.
Emma Busick:So it's just cool to see that we've still been growing throughout all that change just because we've done such a good job of being flexible and adjusting to what people actually need.
Paul Ellis:Well, that's really interesting as you're talking about everything that your company does, if I were to think of it in a word, Picture it would be that your company, Pacific Automation, keeps my tools sharp both in the office and outside of the office.
Paul Ellis:Is that about right?
Emma Busick:Yeah, absolutely.
Emma Busick:And what I would say to kind of speak to that as well is really at the heart of what we do.
Emma Busick:Even though I am in a sales role, really what I do is very consultative.
Emma Busick:So I don't want to go in there and sell someone something just to sell them something.
Emma Busick:Obviously I'm in sales, that's my job.
Emma Busick:I do eventually need to sell them something.
Emma Busick:That's how I make a living.
Emma Busick:However, I'm not just trying to give them some random equipment.
Emma Busick:I'm trying to make sure, okay, do you actually have a need for this thing?
Emma Busick:Is this, is this device going to meet your needs?
Emma Busick:Does it have all the functionalities that you need?
Emma Busick:That part of it is really important to us as well is making sure that we're actually consulting the business and learning what they do as a whole so we can provide the correct type of equipment.
Emma Busick:Because sometimes, you know, if people don't need something or if it's not broken, it doesn't need to be fixed right away.
Emma Busick:Obviously, if there's a need, amazing.
Emma Busick:I would love to help them out.
Emma Busick:But sometimes in that process of doing the consultation, sometimes you find, okay, hey, like, you know, maybe right now isn't the best time.
Emma Busick:Maybe we need to wait, you know, another 12 months or maybe your copier is good, but hey, your phones are 12 years old.
Emma Busick:Like that's the priority right now.
Emma Busick:So that's a big part of it as well, is just making sure that we're really consultative in what we do, in making sure that everything is applicable and fits well into what a business actually needs and how we can make things easier for them in the long run and the best choice for them financially as well as, you know, what's going to make things easier for them in their day to day.
Paul Ellis:Well, let me ask you this question from a proactive standpoint.
Paul Ellis:Is there a checklist that clients or prospective clients can complete that would allow you to assist them more efficiently?
Paul Ellis:So you mentioned phones, you mentioned copiers.
Paul Ellis:Is there a checklist that Pacific Office Automation has that prospective clients can kind of take a look in inventory prior to meeting with you so that you can assist them more efficiently?
Emma Busick:I think a big part of it is the functionality of things.
Emma Busick:So there's not necessarily, it's not a one size fits all approach.
Emma Busick:What's working well for one company might not be working well for another company.
Emma Busick:You know, that's why we have so many different manufacturers because part of it is just preference.
Emma Busick:So I don't think necessarily there's a one size fits all.
Emma Busick:I do think that as far as, you know, were concerned, typically the industry standard is five years for replacing things, because at that point, you know, there's enough changes in firmware or changes to the technology in general that I typically recommend, you know, every five years is a good timeline, like, hey, we should start looking at things.
Emma Busick:But it ultimately comes down to preference and what people prefer because.
Emma Busick:And I think that's part of why it's so important for us to go into things as more of a.
Emma Busick:As a consultation and trying to really understand how a company works, what, what makes them function well versus just trying to find any random product.
Emma Busick:So I think, I think that having a conversation with, you know, whatever rep is in your area and just really letting them understand who you are as a business will help them to understand what's going to be best for you.
Emma Busick:But I think if you're looking for like a general, like, should we start looking at this?
Emma Busick:Anything 5 years and older is usually when it's like, now is probably a good time.
Paul Ellis:So you have a very consultative role in your firm and how you work with clients outside of work.
Paul Ellis:What would you say your passion is?
Paul Ellis:Because I can see that you're definitely passionate about assisting clients and helping business owners outside of work.
Paul Ellis:What would you say that some, two or three of your.
Paul Ellis:Your favorite passions, your things to do outside of work?
Emma Busick:Definitely.
Emma Busick:I love to travel, I love to cook.
Emma Busick:I love to spend time with my fiance and my family or some of the big things, for sure.
Emma Busick:Really what I just love is like, spending time with the people that I love and also just meeting new people, because you can learn so much from knowing people with different experiences.
Emma Busick:And I just love connecting with people and experiencing new things, for sure.
Paul Ellis:Well, I'm a firm believer along with you that you really can learn a lot from getting outside of, outside of your professional bubble and interacting with people in their own space and while they're in the middle of their passions, whether that's paddle boarding, fly fishing, or just really enjoying the great weekends here in the Pacific Northwest.
Paul Ellis:So I think connecting with people is really, really a top, top value.
Paul Ellis:Who or what's been the biggest influence in your life to date?
Emma Busick:I would say this is.
Emma Busick:This is always a tough question for me to answer because I think that there's so many people who have impacted me and made me who I am today.
Emma Busick:But if I did have to pick one I would definitely say my grandparents, they were so hardworking and also just had such a genuine love for one another.
Emma Busick:They met when they were, I think, 17.
Paul Ellis:Oh, my word.
Emma Busick:Yeah.
Emma Busick:Yeah, they fell in love and, you know, had my mom, had my uncle and, you know, they were in love for ever since then.
Emma Busick:But after my mom and my uncle went to college, my grandparents adopted three girls.
Emma Busick:So, you know, they just had so much love for everyone and really just built my family and yeah, I love them so much and respect them immensely.
Paul Ellis:That's amazing.
Paul Ellis:That's amazing.
Paul Ellis:How long have they been married?
Emma Busick:So they met at 17 and they were married, I think about a year later, like 18 or 19.
Emma Busick:Unfortunately, they have both passed away, but they were together for over 50 years.
Paul Ellis:Wow.
Paul Ellis:What an amazing legacy.
Paul Ellis:Together for 15, 50 years.
Paul Ellis:Wow, that is beautiful.
Paul Ellis:That is beautiful.
Paul Ellis:And they adopted.
Paul Ellis:They adopted three other children after.
Paul Ellis:After having two of their own.
Paul Ellis:Is that correct?
Emma Busick:Yep.
Paul Ellis:Wow.
Paul Ellis:That is.
Paul Ellis:That's amazing.
Paul Ellis:Well, it certainly sets the table for who you are, the energy that you have, the passions that you have and moving forward.
Paul Ellis:Now you're living your life in a manner that backs their signature.
Paul Ellis:What an amazing, amazing thing.
Paul Ellis:What do you wish you would have known before you got.
Paul Ellis:You got started?
Emma Busick:You know, I think as like, silly as it sounds, I wish I could have like, told myself, you know, that it's really just.
Emma Busick:It's not going to be easy.
Emma Busick:It's still not easy for me.
Emma Busick:I have so many late nights and so much rejection.
Emma Busick:So much of sales is rejection and it has for sure gotten easier, but it takes a lot of getting back up and trying again.
Emma Busick:I've been here for almost two years now, but, you know, a lot of that first year is, you know, you're making so many calls.
Emma Busick:We typically average, you know, about 200 plus phone calls a week per rep.
Emma Busick:So it's just a lot of getting yourself out there and putting in the time and the effort and yeah, I think that.
Emma Busick:Just really understanding that.
Emma Busick:But then it does feel silly to say that, like I said, just because I think part of it is just having to experience it and learn it and figure out how you're going to get through it.
Emma Busick:What works for you is different for every single person, but it just takes a lot of following up, following through.
Emma Busick:That's the biggest part.
Emma Busick:Showing up, being yourself.
Emma Busick:And, you know, so many of those opportunities that I cold called my first week on the job didn't end up purchasing something or becoming a client until, you know, eight months to sometimes, you know, a year and a half later.
Emma Busick:So getting a no at, you know, one point doesn't mean that, you know, you're never going to earn that business.
Emma Busick:So I just think it's so much of disproving that he, hey, I want what's best for you.
Emma Busick:I, you know, want to help you figure out, you know, how I can support you guys.
Emma Busick:So I think it's just following up, but it definitely, it definitely takes a lot of rejection and resilience and just, you know, trying, trying again.
Paul Ellis:Well, you're a winner and I'm going to share something with you that, that others can have an opportunity to listen to.
Paul Ellis:At the same time, you are a winner.
Paul Ellis:And your resilience, your passion, your care and the fortitude that you have and that you've shown throughout your beginning career here is going to pay great dividends for you in the future because it's a career, it's a journey.
Paul Ellis:It's not a short race, it's a, it's a long one.
Paul Ellis:But it's made up of decisions that we make day to day, moment by moment, and, you know, week in and week out, whether it's in sports, in business or in life.
Paul Ellis:It's not easy.
Paul Ellis:It's not supposed to be easy, but winners figure out how to get it done.
Paul Ellis:And you, Emma, in my book, are a winner.
Paul Ellis:So thank you so much.
Paul Ellis:My pleasure.
Paul Ellis:So, as we wrap up today, because I definitely need to have you back, but I know that your calendar is booked, I know that you've got to meet with clients and we definitely need to continue this conversation.
Paul Ellis:If people are interested in connecting with you at Pacific Automation, what's the best way for them to reach you?
Paul Ellis:What are the, what are the coordinates to follow you either on LinkedIn or get in touch with you?
Emma Busick:I definitely am active on LinkedIn.
Emma Busick:You can just search my name.
Emma Busick:It's Emma Busage, so busig and it should pop up.
Emma Busick:I don't think I've ever found anyone who I share my name with, so should just be me.
Emma Busick:And Then also my LinkedIn does have this information as well with my direct office line as well as my email.
Emma Busick:It's in the bio of my LinkedIn as well.
Emma Busick: -: Emma Busick:They should transfer you right to me.
Paul Ellis:I tell you what, I have no doubt that anyone who is listening, who is interested in having sharp tools in their office will be giving you a call because you're one of the sharpest, smartest, most energetic individuals I have ever spoken with in this field.
Paul Ellis:So I want to thank you for your time today.
Paul Ellis:I want to thank you for.
Paul Ellis:For all that you do for our community, too, being at our events and making the life within Mukilteo in the business community as fun as possible.
Paul Ellis:I truly appreciate you.
Emma Busick:Yeah, thank you so much.
Emma Busick:I appreciate you as well.
Emma Busick:And the opportunity to come and talk to you more about what I do.
Emma Busick:And thank you so much.
Emma Busick:I look forward to staying in touch.
Paul Ellis:My pleasure.
Paul Ellis:And whether you're investing in your business, whether you're investing in your home business, I also want to always encourage you to invest in what you love.