The mark of a successful entrepreneur is the ability to identify and serve a need in the marketplace and, with the rise of the pandemic, the need for door-to-door healthcare delivery became critical. Today we're talking to Derrick Miles, Founder and CEO of CourMed, who not only provides such deliveries and services to your door but are revolutionizing healthcare by putting encouragement at the center of the patient experience! In this conversation, he talks us through the turning point that drew him to leave a six-figure salary to start this venture and critical inflection points that have allowed them to keep growing. We dive into his intentionality in creating generational wealth for his sons, and his personal philosophy of remembering the value of real relationships. Listen in to discover Derrick's innovative tactics for securing world-class talent, and what it takes to bring a board of directors' strategic vision to create value in the market. You'll also hear stories of the clandestine meetings that set him on the path to his hard-won success, as well as an outline of how his leadership principle of encouragement filters through to every level of the company. To hear Derrick’s top advice for other entrepreneurs thinking of taking the plunge, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Derrick Miles introduces CourMed and how it has revolutionized healthcare delivery.
• Hear the inflection points that allowed the company to grow and build.
• Reflections on how margin is the biggest influence in any pivoting decisions. 
• Strategically choosing the board of directors in order to leverage their expertise.
• The life-changing advice he received early on that saved CourMed time and time again. 
• An innovative approach to staffing and how he's built a team of A-players.
• Derrick shares his top leadership principle: the power of encouragement.
• The hugely positive feedback that's letting them know the customers feel encouraged.
• How they've also used encouragement to build revenue for community pharmacies. 
• Some great advice for anyone considering leaving stability to become an entrepreneur.
• Hear some stories of meetings with people who changed the course of his life. 
• The story of growing up in a low-income area and deciding he wanted more for himself.
• Derrick shares the importance of family to him and a great book recommendation!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Derrick Miles on LinkedIn

CourMed

CourMed on Twitter

McKesson

AmerisourceBergen

Cardinal Health

University of Alabama

University of Florida

Advocate Health Care

Vizient

Henry Schein

UCLA Health

Abbott

Peter Daniels

Kneeland Youngblood

Jeremy Utley

Mar Hershenson

Reach Records

Portrait Coffee

Standford d.school