Hidden Gems: Meet Philip Pelto of MyFirestorm

Today we’d like to introduce you to Philip Pelto.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I fell into sales 25 years ago when I got offered a job in telemarketing. It paid better than pulling chairs at the local ski hill, so I decided to take it. It turns out I was actually good at it and I enjoyed talking to people. In 1997, I was recruited to sell Cutco knives. I learned quickly that referrals were the way to go and latched on to that idea and practice. I got so good at getting referrals that people would have listed already prepared for me when I showed up for our sales appointments. I took that skill with me to a few other sales gigs and then decided to start MyFirestorm in 2005.

I was living in Minneapolis, MN and working for Tom James selling high-end custom clothing. I was looking for ways to grow my business when I started participating informal networking events and meetings. I saw an opportunity to improve upon that model and go deeper with the connections and the relationships which is why we started the business. Now, in 2021, we’ve grown to be the premier relationship-building organization for business to business professionals. We help people grow their top line revenue with referrals by providing structure, framework, education and accountability. It’s pretty amazing and humbling to see the impact we’ve had on the small business community over the last 16 years!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Hahaha! No. I don’t think any person, successful or not, experiences a smooth road to where they are. I’ve made bad hires and watched them destroy years of work in a matter of months. I’ve spent all sorts of money pursuing opportunities that didn’t pan out. I’ve let my own ego get in the way more than once. I’ve spent too much time worrying about things that didn’t matter in the business. But I enjoy the challenges and I try my best to learn from all of my mistakes. And my Dad always tells me when I complain about sinking money into a bad deal; “Well, that’s tuition in the school of life.” All that matters is forward progress. Keep moving. It’ll all work out in the end.

We’ve been impressed with MyFirestorm, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
MyFirestorm helps you grow your business. My background in sales permeates the organization. Our mission is to grow top-line revenue with strategic partnerships and referrals. Our system helps put some structure and intentionality around building and nurturing a network. The thing I’m most proud of is the success stories that I hear from our members and the fact that we are making a big difference for the small business community. Relationships are the new currency of business. And just like compound interest, you can’t make up for lost time!

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I learned that people are resilient and adaptable. If they are focused and motivated to succeed, nothing will stop them. Whether they had to go over, around or through obstacles, I saw people conquer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.myfirestorm.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfirestorm/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myfirestorm/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/myfirestorm
• Other: http://thereferralbench.com/