Q&A with Kenji Chilcott

Prior to joining Lyngsoe Systems, what did you do?

I’ve had a wide variety of jobs… retail, food service, manual labor in warehouses, cold calling, inside sales… you name it. My last job was for an IoT (Internet of Things) tech startup in Colorado. The company provided internet-connected lights, and I focused on QSR (Quick Service Restaurants) aka fast food as the market I was going to penetrate. I learned the grind of a traveling salesperson and how difficult it is to get an unknown product from a tiny startup into a giant like McDonald’s. I really cut my teeth as an outside rep when I started to gain success and sold to multiple McDonalds’ Franchise Owners. I wore many hats as most do in small companies, and I gained valuable experience in working with contractors and managing projects.

What has kept you interested in library services?

In the world of business, it seems like nearly all decisions are economic-based. The primary goal of virtually any company is to make more money every year, the world is very cutthroat. The thought of progressing through a career as a profit-seeking robot made me feel jaded. Libraries contrast this profit-first mentality with a much more human approach. Librarians are altruistic at their core, as I get more experienced, I appreciate that characteristic more. This altruism and just trying to make the world a better place has been a primary reason that I’ve stayed in library services, I see the good in it and I want to do my part.

What does a typical workday involve for you?

There is no typical workday for me, which I like. In my last career, the norm was 50-60 hour weeks grinding away in a cubicle, staring at the computer screen, cold calling 100 people every day… all these things felt like a slow, unfulfilling and torturous existence. Nowadays, I don’t commute to an office, I get to travel around North America and make my own schedule and then work from the comfort of my home office when I’m not on the road.

What do you love most about your job?

I’ll give two answers: Longevity & Meritocracy. I can see a clear path to a long and successful career with Lyngsoe Systems. I believe in our product our team – I think we’ll continue to do well for decades to come. It also feels very much like I’m running my own business with support. The freedom as a territory manager allows for a meritocracy, that is to say, that one’s results are based on the merits of their work. The more effort I put in, the more I will get out – I appreciate that and know that not all jobs are like that. I’ve also worked at small companies of less than 10 and large publicly traded companies. I prefer the medium size business where it’s got a culture and a history of success, but no so big that you feel totally compartmentalized and you’re just a cog in a giant machine. I want to create change, I want to have control and I want to lead.

How do you help libraries?

The particular product I sell, automated material handling machines (AMH), help libraries become far more operationally efficient – I could write a novel on the product. As for myself, I act not just as a salesperson, but also as an account manager. I strive to be close to all of my customers and provide excellent support. I think by being as close to perfect as possible on the AMH side of things, it just makes running a successful library that much easier.

What do you like to do in your free time?

 I live in a fun area, downtown Long Beach – so I love to get outside with my group of friends. I love to play pickup basketball on the weekends – there are courts right on the beach that I frequent.