TOILET PAPER ENTREPRENEUR PROFILES
Luke Walling, Founder of Walling Data Corporation
Company Name
Walling Data Corporation
Started
Walling Data began in August of 1994 as a young teenagers dream, in the basement of his parent’s house with no startup funding.
Age
30
Service
Walling Data represents a group of divisions that offer technology distribution and support services throughout North America, traditional break/fix repair services from our two office locations in Catawba and Iredell Counties in North Carolina, as well as Virtual IT department outsourcing via our Guaranteed IT managed services program.
Startup Cash
In 1994 I borrowed my Mother’s credit card to buy service parts and parts for white boxes as needed. Growth was difficult. No investors were ever brought on.
Hardest You Ever Laughed
The first time my infant son stood up and danced to a tune playing on the radio.
Fly, Drive, Bike or Walk?
Fly. In my own aircraft.
A Good Night Out
A few thousand - I order tequila for everyone.
Most Extreme
I decided one day that I wanted to learn how to fly helicopters. The next week I started training. The next year, I bought one.
Biggest Accomplishment
Realizing and implementing the necessary structure to support growth and profitability without me being the “system” that makes everything work. Translation: I can take a vacation.
Biggest Mistake
Selling myself, and the company's services’ based on “price” and not “value”, for far too long.
Life of Passion
In many ways - yes. The technology business I started in my parent’s basement is now flourishing. It’s enabled me to pursue something I wouldn’t have even been able to afford without it, in the form of spinning wings (rotorcraft) which has translated into a new business venture.
I am personally interested in aviation, and am funding as well as directly overseeing the operation of a startup helicopter service and sales center in the Statesville, N.C. region starting next month with our first helicopters for inventory (already preordered) in early 2009. We’ll be applying the same value-added business model to that company as well which should have dramatic results. I presently use a Robinson R44 Raven 2 helicopter to travel to visit vendors, clients, and other business contacts up and down the east coast.
The Lesson
Plan ahead, far ahead, for far reaching ultimate levels of change and growth.
Contact information
Luke Walling
luke@wallingdatasystems.com
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