This interview is part of our Researching Bridges Project. Learn more about this project or read other interviews we have conducted in this endeavor.
Note that not all content below is verbatim, but all concepts are taken directly from information gathered during the interview.
Taller Than Most: About Mike Tollar
Originally hailing from Canada, Mike spent time with the Canadian military as an electrical engineer and project manager. He is now working as a Pre-Paid Legal representative in the Indianapolis area, providing access to all your personal and legal needs for as little as 53 cents per day. Mike also is the organizer of local Power Circle Luncheons held monthly; each event combines a networking platform with 30+ attendees with multiple speakers who share their professional insights. To contact Mike regarding Pre-Paid Legal or the Power Circle Luncheons, write mike at moreprospectsinc dot com or 317.455.5656.
Design From An Engineer’s Perspective
In your own words, what is “design”?
Design is the process that helps clients translate their desires & requirements into a functional reality. More succinctly, translating requirements into form.
What is the purpose of graphic design in the business process?
Design provides a uniform look and feel. It is form and function that is experienced but not seen.
Have you ever contracted the services of a professional designer? Describe that project.
I hired an agency to design a logo for More Prospects, Inc., a platform on which I market the Pre-Paid Legal products to insurance agents. The design met my needs, though I don’t necessarily consider it to be “great”. However, I hired the agency because of their experience in the insurance market sector, and I consider it to be a successful project overall. The most difficult part of the project was for me to figure out what I wanted. Helping customers understand what they want is tough.
Breaking Into The Business Process
What is one business process that you find to be most valuable?
Networking. I have generated many sales, found many recruits, and received a great financial benefit from networking with other professionals. However, if I did not follow up with the people I met at these events, I would not have gained these benefits. Follow-up is where the rubber meets the road. To make networking actually work for me, I had to follow up with the people I met.
Have you actually measured the success of this business process?
Though I haven’t actually run the numbers, I can track many relationships back to specific networking events that have led to my overall success. For example, I can track the relationship with my wife back to a specific networking event.
What measurable results of design would be significant to you?
Analytics, and knowing that my website generates traffic, is what appeals most to me.
Thank You, Mike!
I would like to yet again thank Mike for taking time with me last Thursday for this interview. It is always a pleasure to chat with you! I have gained much insight from just this one interview, and I am very excited for the next few. I have drawn a few conclusions just from this brief Q&A, and I anticipate that The Value of Design Volume II will be far more refined and even more beneficial to those who read it.
Four interviews this week from various professionals. Stay tuned!