Q: What are you trying to achieve with your company?
A: I just think there are a lot of places in America that everyone should see at some point in their life. I want to help others experience nature.
Q: How did your company come to be?
A: I was working remote from my home office in North Dakota in a blizzard in January. I thought to myself, this would be more enjoyable in pretty much anywhere else in the world. That was the beginning of the mobile office idea.
Q: Why did you join the Dakota Business Lending cohort?
A: I haven’t ran a business before. I knew there was so much more to owning a business than just being good at your craft, or selling your product. I wanted to be in an environment to learn with others more about what it takes to actually run a business.
Erick Roder is a lifelong adventurer who wants to help others explore our amazing world.
“We built a camper van with two beds, two workstations, and Starlink Wi-Fi. It was designed specifically for people who to can work remotely to comfortably adventure while they work.”
Q: What has your experience been like with the cohort so far?
A: It has been life changing for the better. I didn’t understand how lonely running a business would be. To be able to have others understand the challenges of running a small business, and being able to help navigate those challenges has been so valuable.
Q: What is the five-year plan for your business?
A: I want to make my current van into a working profitable proof of concept. Then hopefully expand to have more and eventually have a fleet.
Q: Can you describe a challenge your company has faced, and how you overcame it?
A: I found out when starting a business, there is a major challenge that presents itself basically every quarter. I would not have made it this far without my network and their guidance.
Q: What trends in your industry are you most excited about or concerned by?
A: The amount of businesses that allowed remote work skyrocketed after 2020, now some of those businesses are shifting back to more in office. Hybrid work to promote work life balance is more tolerated though, so hopefully that stays true.
Q: How do you measure success in your role and for your company?
A: When two people come back from a trip with a lifelong memory, were able to relax, get back to nature, and take the break they need; that is a win for me.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?
A: The pictures people take during their few days in my van become a forever memory. Seeing/helping people enjoy nature has been my favorite part.
Q: Is there any technology or innovation that you believe will significantly impact your industry in the next few years?
A: Self-driving vehicles would be an amazing next step. I think it would be awesome to start watching a season of Yellowstone on a Friday, and then be in actual Yellowstone on Saturday.
Q: What advice would you give to other business owners out there?
A: Leverage your network, talk to other people that have started a business for advice.
rodemerica.com
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