“I have always found it interesting that corporations across the globe will be interested in a candidate and immediately it is that new candidates unwritten mission statement to prove to his or her new corporation that the manager made the right decision. “Welcome aboard! Now make us proud, prove to us that you are the right candidate for the job. That philosophy is backward. Here at Axis, we operate with a different atmosphere and philosophy. When we hand pick a candidate and he or she is about to put faith, future and career in our hands, I make it my personal responsibility, and Axis as well, to prove to this person that rather he or she made the right decision. The company should be the first ones doing any proving to anyone. Our 17 year history, name brand clients and products, and success to date, and everything else we proudly accomplished in the past, by itself, should not be any to our ideals nor should it warrant any unjust pride. Only what we do now, today and tomorrow will speak volumes of how much we care for our people, their futures, their dreams and their careers.”
 Craig Hinshaw
 
How did your childhood values benefit you in the business world?
There are important values that I think you need in business and I learned them from both of my parents. Number 1 is the work ethic. Everyone needs to realize there is no such thing as a ‘get rich quick’ scheme. Life is meant to be tough with challenges and I think the only thing that separates people who are successful from those who aren’t successful is work ethic. You have to work for it. I saw my parents working hard my entire life and that’s what I’ve always known. The one who works the hardest wins and I think that’s true of every industry as well. The other thing I learned from my parents growing up was caring about other people. I truly believe nice guys finish first. You have to take a sincere interest in helping people hit their goals and your ultimately hit yours. In a leadership role, if you can learn to care about others first and yourself second and have that unselfish mentality, you’re going to find that while you help others around hit their goals, they are, in return, going to work day and night making sure they come thru for you and help your goals too. It’s much easier to achieve success when it’s not just your working towards it, but an entire team working towards it.
 
What, if any, discouragements did you get from family or friends when they first learned about the career you had decided to pursue?
I did not get any discouragement or negatives from my family. I was fortunate that my family was supportive of my decisions. I lived in Denver, Colorado and they were in Naples, Italy. I told them about the career possibilities and they supported my choices. My friends on the other hand did not understand the time and effort that I was putting into the company. They thought the hours and time was a negative to them. The company was not a 9-5 job, but it also didn't end up paying me a 9-5 salary either. It was much more than that, but they thought I was making too many sacrifices. That's how they referred to it, as a sacrifice. I think that a person's point of reference makes a big difference. They looked at it as a sacrifice, and I looked at it as an investment into my future.

How do you handle discouragement?
Most people in business quit when it gets tough. If people had a crystal ball and could see their growth in their career, they would see that right about the time they quit, they were probably already hitting bottom and that was probably the time their learning curve was about to kick in. If they can just get past the lowest point, then they probably have seen the worst of it. I think you have to struggle and although it’s tough as we go through it, those challenges and tough times in business are all the points of reference you’ll need in the future for training, mentoring and coaching new people. If you never struggle, then how will you relate to anyone who is facing challenges or struggles? Without those struggles and challenges yourself, you’d be a manager that could not relate to anyone in real life.
 
If you had a chance to change anything, what would it be and why?
I wouldn't change a thing. Everything in life happens for a reason. The negatives and challenges in my life are my points of reference and that's how I can relate to my people and get them through the rough times. Everybody wants above-average things. If people want an above-average income, an above-average home and family, then it's just realistic to expect to have some above-average challenges or negatives. Everything that has happened in my life and business is drawn on daily to help my people. The experiences will continue to grow ad we grow in life and business
 
What advice do you give to any person just entering into the marketing, sales and advertising industry?
Bigger goals = smaller obstacles. One of the biggest pieces of advice I give to people in our business about life in general, is that the larger your goals the better you can focus and overcome the obstacles along the way. For example, if your only goal is to make it to Friday, between now and then the peaks and valleys are going to be huge. You’ll have one day that you feel like King of the world, then the next day you fill your entire world is crashing around you. But, if your goal is to retire early and send your children to any university they want in the country, between now and then, you can have an off year and it isn’t so bad. So I feel it’s important to set your goals much further out so that the peaks and valleys you go through day to day in life will seem more like rolling hills and easier to tolerate and overcome. Think big and have huge goals!
 
 
What are your goals for the future?
Personally, I want to be able to provide a solid financial future for my family. I never want to not be able to attend any of my children’s functions or afford them the choices they deserve. I want to put myself into a situation where I can attend every school event, or athletic event they participate within. If I work hard today, then tomorrow I will be able to spend the quality time with them. Professionally, I want to open between 6-10 locations across the nation this year. I want for managers to be able to afford the opportunity to purchase homes in my neighborhood and have our kids develop together. I want to see my managers have the financial freedoms of not worrying daily about there futures financially. I want to have the managers within Axis' organization being able to have the choices of early retirement.
 
What are you hobbies and what do you do in your leisure time?
I love spending time my family (Jessica, Nicholus and Mackenzie). I enjoy watching the children grow, develop and become independent people. My son plays travel hockey so we spend a lot of time at the ice rinks on the West Coast for him to succeed and develop as a productive citizen. I enjoy motor sports, golf, and watch live sporting events in Phoenix. I also spend time with the top people at Axis to continue the friendship to help mentor and build their careers.
 
Are there any words of wisdom that you would like to offer our readers to help them achieve the same success you have achieved?
If you want to be the best, then you need to work the hardest. If you quit, you lose! Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say, so keep striving towards your goals and don't give up on yourself. When you hit those peaks and valleys, just keep on going! Nothing comes easy in this life, but if you're willing to work the hardest in your career, you will naturally achieve the success you are looking for. Success is something earned, not something handed to you, so go out there and earn it!