Meet Michael Burks Jr. Ph.D | Business Consultant & Advisor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Burks Jr. Ph.D and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I wanted to make sure that what I would be doing aligned with my own values and beliefs. So what I did is identify why I was going into business. This was important for me to understand. I believe that no business should exist for the sole purpose of making the company and its stakeholders profit. The foundation on what a business should be built on is offering a product and/or service that filled a gap in the community it serves. Once I obtained that answer, I located the market that match that particular need I was servicing. It is important to me to not provide value where it’s not needed or wanted. Nite often I see business in the wrong area and they set themselves up for failure when you do that. It’s important to make sure the demand for what you offer out weighs the supply you provide. Once all that was done, I had to develop a system so there would be no gap between the service I provided and the customer. Having a system and process is important so that you don’t get stuck working in your business and not on your business. I

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I specialize in helping executives and business owners across the nation, with operational efficiency issues. defining the best practices and competitive advantages for their companies. This can include organizational development, process management, internal auditing, information technology, reputation management, and international business development. What separates me from other executive coaching or consulting firms is we work closely with our clients to build a customized and predictable strategy model for results. Working with Execuvisor means your not just a client number in our logs but a close member of the Execuvisor family and the firm takes its values straight from the founder. Family first! Did it come easy (breathing deeply) …not at all. Never comes easy is the backdrop to my life story (laughing). When I finally made a decision to start my own company, it was very difficult at the beginning. I had to fight through my own limited thinking and mental challenges along the way. Not understanding who I was, what my talents were, how I can use them to help people, was all so frustrating and I was ready to quit so many times. Thinking on it now kinda makes me tear up. I just remember the fight to find the right leadership for my journey. It always was some sort of obstacle I had to endure like; not having the monetary resources to pay for good mentorship /coaching or finding someone that matched my learning and development style. In the midst of all that, my wife lost her mother in 2015 and her brother in 2017. So I had to put my development and my business on hold to help with home hospice care ( for both of them), funeral arrangements, and assisting with the grieving process afterward. As I think about all those challenges I wouldn’t change a thing. Because through it all I was able to build a fantastic life and career from it all. Obtaining my Ph.D. in business, having written two books, Spoke all over the US, helping hundreds of businesses locally and abroad. what I am most proud of is the close connection i have made to my values and the companies values. Putting family first and serving on the highest level is what we have built the company on and i wouldn’t change that for anything.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
well, I am just a Chicago boy but I understand that I live in Dallas now. So that means we have to do it BIG! The first night we are at buffalo wild wings for some good drinks, fried food, and some catching up. our mornings would start early with a short workout, breakfast at Benedicts’ Restaurant checking emails, and exchanging ideas for the future. Over the next few days, we would take in some art and culture. We’d spend some time at the Dallas Art Museum, The Perot Museum, The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, Dallas Aquarium, and The African American Museum. After dragging my friend from location to location we would enjoy a good meal from places like Dakotas Steak House, Del Friscos, Ocean Prime, and Nick & Sams. and at the end of the week, we would enjoy some of Dallas’s great nightlife and go bar hopping in places like Deep Ellum and Midtown.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A lot of who I am is an accumulation of mentors, coaches and books throughout my years. If I can named some it would be: My family of course for being my support system. Kendall Ficklin of Grindation David Shands of sleepis4Suckers The One Thing by Gary Keller My mentors Dr Fred Jones & Doreen Milano My Good Friend, Coach Rice, Paul Garrett, and Johnathan Wilkinson

Website: www.iammikeburks.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/michaelburksjr

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/michaelburksjr

Twitter: www.twitter.com/michaelburksjr

Youtube: www.Youtube.com/iammikeburks