Meet James Schaefer: Founder of DeliveryMaxx

We had the good fortune of connecting with James Schaefer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?

Due to the Coronavirus and all of the contradicting information our media continues to give, businesses; especially small businesses will have to make some very difficult choices on whether to keep going or giving up. As an entrepreneur, giving up is not in our vocabulary. Therefore we must adapt to the environment around us. Plato once said, “Necessity is the Mother of Innovation”. As government continues to order businesses to close and people to stay home, as business owners, we have to focus on staying alive. Utilizing common sense and today’s technology is more important now than ever. We know our consumers are online. Therefore, we have to adapt and still find ways to spread our message to the consumer and that means creating a digital media strategy do remain operational until we can get back to normal.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

DeliveryMaxx has been the leader in this arena over the last decade and continues to help businesses in all sectors reach their potential customers through the most innovative digital strategy utilizing common sense and today’s technology. Our clients experience positive Online Reputation, stronger SEO, concise content management, increase in social media engagement and advertisement and higher customer retention. We are able to customize and create a strategy for any entity that is trying to gain more exposure on the web. With clients in multiple industries and across the country such as Automotive Dealerships, Real-Estate Brokers & Agents, Churches, Service Industry, Sports Teams, Non-Profit Organizations and more; we utilize our Patent-Pending Program to develop a digital strategy that will meet the needs of sales, service and messaging to the masses. James Schaefer started DeliveryMaxx in the last Great Recession of 2008 without government loans or private financing. Utilizing his personal savings, he has poured in millions over the last decade to create a program with will help any one or any business needing maximum exposure on the web. He understands the challenges business will face, especially in today’s environment. Utilizing common sense and today’s technology he is able to help companies overcome the odds through a complete digital media strategy.

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?

DeliveryMaxx is based in Rockwall, Texas which is a nice lakefront community outside of Dallas. Anyone visiting Texas has to have the best BBQ and therefore we would go to Sideways located at the Harbor on the lake. Sideways is a small business that has live entertainment and the best Texas BBQ in the country. Not to mention, they are a DeliveryMaxx client and the owner, Josh Deaton used to be a partner of mine in DeliveryMaxx. Before we eat dinner, we would have to do a little bass fishing at Lake Ray Hubbard and maybe practice social distancing on the Golf Course.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

Society has rightly given a shoutout to our Doctors, Nurses, Police, Firefighters and other frontline services who are helping during the Coronavirus Pandemic. On behalf of DeliveryMaxx, we would like to give credit to all of the businesses that continue to have expenditures such as rent and payroll even though they don’t have the same revenue that is coming in. Like DeliveryMaxx, these are businesses that have started from nothing and provide an opportunity for others to have an income that keeps our economy strong. They are having to adapt in these chaotic times, and there are so many inspirational stories that are not being told by the media. Their struggle is real and DeliveryMaxx enjoys helping them provide a digital strategy to help keep their business alive by utilizing E-Commerce.

I would also like to recognize all of the 2020 High School and College Seniors. This is an unprecedented time for each of you. Having a high school senior myself who has missed his high school prom, will have an unorthodox graduation ceremony and the loss of the traditional senior memories so many of us have experienced in the past; my heart goes out to you and your parents. You will never be able to get these back. However, the future of our country will now rely on the decisions each of you make from here on out. Use your experiences to continue to make the world a better place.

Changing your Perspective and Adapting

Albert Einstein, the German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity has been credited and often cited as saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”  This quote has been used in countless arguments to persuade others into gaining a new perspective in the way things are currently being done.  It usually flows off the tongue and the recipient of the phrase has probably failed in their task, but continues to keep trying without adapting to the adversity.  Another of his famous quotes is, “Life is like riding a bicycle.  To keep your balance you must keep moving.”  Riding the bicycle in business is a perfect analogy comparing the two.  However, businesses can also look at the quote penned by Einstein whose name would become synonymous with ‘genius’ is, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.  Knowledge is limited.  Imagination encircles the world.”

Over the last 3 months, America has entered into The 2^nd Great Depression with over 38.6 million people losing their jobs.  Businesses such as Pier 1, True Religion, J. Crew, Neiman Marcus, JCPenney, Tuesday Morning and most recently Hertz.  These are the big names that have been causalities of our reaction to a seasonal virus.  There are a plethora of small businesses that will enter the grave as an unknown.  A virus that has a cure rate of over 99.9% has frightened people into wearing mask and gloves while they are driving as well as terrified people into avoiding eye contact with friends and neighbors at the local grocery store, has presented challenges to many businesses.  Those businesses must change their perspective and quickly adapt if they don’t want to be added to the growing list of companies that will shut their door forever.

·         Change Your Perspective.  Being well-informed can be frustrating.  You probably knew that there was no way that a flu-like virus would kill 2.2 million Americans by April 15 as the famous Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson predicted and so many of our local politicians shouted behind a podium.  You did the simple math and looked at the misinformation that the media published and quickly saw that 6027 people would have to die a day just to hit that number in a year, and over 36,666 people would have to die a day to meet the doomsday prediction of an epidemiologist who has a history of being wrong many times before.  Yet, even though you used common sense, many people do not.  It’s easier to follow than it is to lead.  Therefore, change your perspective to utilizing your business to meet the needs of potential customers.  Your customers are scared and instead of being mad at them, have empathy.  It takes time to research.  There are also many egos involved.  Nobody wants to be told they are wrong (and there are millions of Americans that have fallen for the overhyped rhetoric).  Identify what people want out of life.  They want to be able to have a story of overcoming adversity of some type.  They want to have a purpose that they can be proud of.  This virus, if it lived up to the hype, would have been that perfect story for them.  Therefore, look at ways that you can provide your customers satisfaction and some significance in their existence.  Realize that they want to feel valued and if you show them this they will become a customer for life.

·         Adapt. Remember, your customers have been told they can get the virus which they believe will be deadly just by swimming in a pool.  They have chosen to try to save face by only listening to reports that fit their narrative.  Have you ever tried to make your kid eat a vegetable they don’t like?  It is a battle that you won’t win even if you use logic and common sense.  You will need to invest in PPE products, at minimum hand-sanitizer and cleaning solutions.  Become more transparent with your employees and customers alike.  Let them know you care about their health.  If putting up Plexiglas dividers will allow you to continue to do business than do it.  Also focus on how your customers receive their information.  Our society ingest its information from bold sensationalized headlines, innovative memes and 15-30 second videos.  Leaders will need to make sure their business is able to reach, communicate and provide goods and services using today’s technology.  This includes marketing, advertising, e-commerce and informing your customers and potential customers in the digital arena.  Digital Advertising is less expensive than traditional advertisement, but it has to be done right.

Einstein said, “A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.”  Our country is divided into those who use logic and those who need to be told what to think, and realizing this will give you a new perspective and allow you to adapt in order for your business to survive.

DeliveryMaxx is a small business that takes pride in helping other small businesses succeed in an increasingly digital world.  That was our mission prior to this outbreak which has now shown it is more important than ever.  If you need help navigating a transition to becoming more active on social media, building an e-commerce website, or post-sale communication with your clients we are here to help.  Our clients experience positive Online Reputation, stronger SEO, concise content management, increase in social media engagement and advertisement and higher customer retention. See how we have helped clients in multiple industries across the country such as Automotive Dealerships, Real-Estate Brokers & Agents, Churches, Service Industry, Sports Teams, Non-Profit Organizations and more as we utilize our Patent-Pending Program to develop a digital strategy that will meet the needs of sales, service and messaging to your audience.  www.deliverymaxx.com or give us a call at 888-936-6299 today or watch the DeliveryMaxx Introduction Video!