A Personal Note from Kevin McCann
How losing a job prompted—and inspired—Kevin McCann to start McCann Window and Exteriors more than 30 years ago.
I fell into the window industry by happenstance. I was a young adult and worked in everything from a lumber yard to concrete installation to landscape design. Although I had jobs, I didn’t have a career path—until my parents decided to move to Wisconsin. I did not want to move with them, so I decided it was time to get serious about making a living.
My best friend at the time was selling windows for a large, national window company, and I decided to give it a go. I loved the people part of the job, and as it turns out, I was pretty good at it.
Fast-forward about 10 years: I was working for a different window company and was halfway toward a Master’s degree in social work. My wife and I had just our second child. We were living in a condo and needed a house. My sales manager was going to start his own window company and invited me to join him. Although I was not yet certain that I wanted to go with him, our boss got wind of what was happening, and I quickly found myself without a job.
See our 10 Principles for Integrity and Service
The day it happened, I called my mentor and said, “I’m freaking out here. I have two kids. I just got fired.” Very calmly, he said to me, “Your unconscious mind is giving you what you wanted. Hit the ground running and start your own business.”
So I did. It was 3 pm on Friday, and I said I’d give it the weekend and get started on Monday. Again, my mentor pushed me. “Why would you put all that stress on yourself for the whole weekend?” he said. “Make the calls today that you need to get going.” I took his advice, set up the meetings I needed, and by Monday, I had lines of credit with two windows suppliers.
Until that point, I had a notion that I should pursue a career in social work or a similar field. I thought that would make me a better person. But then, I realized that I could have a business and still help people.
The key is operating with honesty and integrity, and that’s exactly what we’ve done since day one. We are with our clients every step of the process. We provide the best care for our clients that we possibly can. I know—I’m helping each of them move toward a better situation than they were in before they met us. And that’s what I love about what I do.
Thank you for considering McCann Window,
Kevin McCann