Faith is a driving influence in the life of Lee Flood, a gift and a set of beliefs he has embraced. But perhaps his gift to others he comes into contact with is empathy.
“I take my job very seriously, but it’s not the most important thing in my life,” Flood said. “Faith, family, then career. I keep that in mind when I’m working with others. You never know what someone else is going through. You have to approach each situation with an open mind and an open heart. I should love each person as I do myself.”
Flood, the sales manager for Pearson-Kelly Technology of Springfield, Missouri, and a 2019 ENX Magazine Difference Maker, invoked Philippians 4:12 from the Bible: “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret to
It was a time of need, incidentally, that guided Flood into the office technology dealer world. His wife, Jessica, was expecting with their second child, and Flood was about to student teach for his last semester at Evangel University. However, due to the recession, the Floods lost their source of health insurance.
A friend from church, Dustin West—a sales director for a dealership—recruited Flood into the industry. The two would eventually join forces at Pearson-Kelly Technology.
Fast Results
Flood wasted little time in establishing himself as a sales stalwart at Pearson-Kelly, and in early 2018 he was provided the opportunity to take over as sales manager. At the time, Pearson-Kelly had but two tenured reps, and as the top salesperson in his own right, Flood needed to replace himself. In short order, the sales staff increased to seven people, and Flood helped grow managed IT contracts by a jaw-dropping 1,900%. He is currently on track to achieve record revenue in his five categories of responsibility.
Perhaps his penchant for winning comes from a refusal to accept losing as the opposite result. “I never lose, I either win or I learn,” Flood related. “I spent a lot of my life thinking losing made me a failure. Recognizing the ability to learn from any loss turned me into a different person.”
He credits West with being a mortal guiding force in his professional career. Flood gained much perspective from West’s observation that “this industry is like drinking from a firehose.” It is an industry that is constantly changing, and being adaptive to its whims is a factor for success.
Flood is heartened by his sales department’s growth and lack of turnover since he took the reins. His “crew” constantly receives offers for employment from competing firms, and the fact that they pass on the offers indicates that Pearson-Kelly is doing something right by them. He loves coaching his staff and watching them grow professionally, simultaneously helping them discover their leadership abilities.
Looking Ahead
The sales team at Pearson-Kelly is shooting for 25% growth, aided by hiring specialists in various areas and vetting new avenues for revenue expansion, such as cameras, phones and audio/visual tools to go deeper with existing and new clients. On a personal level, Flood endeavors to enjoy the little things in life and not get overly absorbed into the daily grind.
Continuous improvement is definitely a professional driver for Flood. “I’m not convinced I’ve done a good job,” he said. “I can continue to ask for feedback from those above me. I can hold myself accountable through mentorships. I can take the time to evaluate each stage. It’s easier to see your successes and failures when you look at yourself daily.”
Jessica and Lee Flood have been married more than eight years and have three children—Alexa, Kingston and Scarlett. The family enjoy sports and outdoor activities, including swimming and fishing. The Floods lead a young adult group at North Point Church, which targets people in the 18-30 age bracket.
“We love being involved with that age group and are excited and encouraged for the future of these young people,” Flood added.
