Please join Michael Flock of FLOCK Specialty Finance as he interviews Michael J. Coles, Atlanta business executive, serial entrepreneur, education advocate, well-known public speaker, the namesake of the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University and author of Time to Get Tough: How Cookies, Coffee and a Crash Led to Success in Business and Life. His book explains how he started a $100 million company with only $8,000, overcame a near-fatal motorcycle accident, set three transcontinental cycling world records and ran for Congress twice.
Prior to writing his book, Michael was the Chairman of the Board for BrandBank and for Brand Group Holdings, Inc. Additionally, he was the former CEO of Caribou Coffee from 2003-2012 and co-founder of the Great American Cookie Company in 1977.
Moreover, he was in the clothing industry for over 19 years and launched two clothing businesses. Michael has been a highly engaged philanthropist with organizations such as Hillels of Georgia, the Georgia Film Commission, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, the Kennesaw State University Foundation Board and the Walker School Board. He and his wife, Donna, have also supported the American Lung Association, Georgia Special Olympics, Scottish Rite Children’s Medical Center, and the March of Dimes.
He and his wife reside in Atlanta and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Here is a glimpse of what Michael shared in the interview:
“…it doesn’t matter how many thousands of miles you ride, it doesn’t matter how many weeks, or months, or even years you might put into something, it’s the last five miles that count.”
“So, I’ve always believed that the difference between success and failure is how you’re prepared…How you deal with the unexpected.”
“Information, innovation… implementation, and then the last one, the most important one is improvement.”
About Capital Club Radio
Hosted by Michael Flock, Chairman & CEO of FLOCK Specialty Finance, Capital Club Radio provides a forum for middle market business leaders who have been under served by traditional banking.
CCR provides listeners an opportunity to gain valuable business insights and perspectives to deal with market uncertainty. Interview topics include: key success factors, both personal and professional, dealing with adversity, as well as outlook for the industry and your business.
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