13 years ago, Chris Coffee applied to work at Little Guys Movers — and he’s been with us ever since. In fact, he’s climbed the Little Guys ladder to become our Murfreesboro Branch Manager. Read his story of how one night changed his entire career path, and why he believes LGM is the perfect place for anyone to grow, regardless of their future plans.
How did you first join Little Guys Movers?
I had just moved to Murfreesboro from Nashville, where I grew up. I saw a hiring ad on Craigslist, needed a job, and I had prior experience driving box trucks. I interviewed with then-manager John Manning and got hired two days later. I’ve been a meathead all my life, so the prospect of getting paid to carry heavy objects appealed to me.
When did you know you wanted to be at Little Guys Movers long-term?
This is one of my favorite stories to tell. My plan was to work at Little Guys Movers for a few months, then find something else more in my field. My dad was a football and wrestling coach and wrestling was my passion. I coached for about 8 years with him and wanted to continue down that path. I spent about a year in Memphis training at an MMA gym and had aspirations to get into that. Not the most stable career choice, but that’s where my head was.
At about my six-month mark with Little Guys Movers, the company co-founder Marcus Watson came into town for a visit. We had a cookout planned that night. He asked me if I wanted a drink, and I told him no because I was going to a jiu-jitsu gym in town that night for a tryout. They wanted to bring me on as their wrestling coach. I hung out for a bit, then went to the gym for my interview. I was there until 11:00 PM, and they liked me and offered me a spot on staff.
On my way home, I passed the Little Guys shop and noticed the lights were still on, so I decided to stop by. I was still in my sweaty gear and had a few bruises here and there, but poked my head in the front door to see Marcus and John Manning still hanging out with who knows how many empty beer cans sitting around. Marcus had a guitar in his hands and lit up when he saw me walk in. I took him up on that beer at that point. He asked me all kinds of questions about the job — what I liked, what could be improved on, all sorts of stuff. And he genuinely wanted my thoughts on things. It meant a lot to me to know that the guy that started this company, whose signature was on my paycheck, wanted and valued my opinion. It was 3:00 AM before I got home, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Why do you love being a Little Guy?
It’s a cliche in this company, but you cannot understate the camaraderie at every store. I was chosen to be one of the first Rangers at Little Guys Movers and had the opportunity to travel to other stores to help out in whatever way I could. I think I’ve done over 20 trips. I would meet crews in other states who didn’t know who I was, but we were all wearing the same green shirt. We would go out on jobs and bond immediately — we had just met that morning, and were best friends by the time we clocked out. It meant a lot that Little Guys had the faith in me to send me out to other locations to help, train the employees, and hold down the fort. This place has allowed me to grow as a person, and it is a very satisfying feeling to be someone that helps other guys and gals grow within the company. That’s one of my favorite things about this place. It allows people to grow. I like to think I’m proof of that.
What makes Little Guys Movers a good place to grow a career?
Little Guys Movers is an amazing place for someone to grow. A majority of our stores’ management teams started out as movers and climbed up the ladder. The most important thing I tell the folks who work here is that there is always room for growth, even if it’s not with LGM. Running crews and taking care of customers is job experience that translates into so many fields, not just moving. One of my favorite things to see is when we have people move onto something else past Little Guys, but they have skills they learned while working here that help them succeed in life, professionally and personally. And we always love when they still take the time to stay in touch and come by at times.
Do you have any advice for potential Little Guys?
Keep your eyes and ears open, and ask questions. Be a sponge. It’s not just about carrying dressers onto a truck. This company will teach you skills that translate to just about every avenue of life. One of my first lessons here was that the answer is never “I don’t know,” but should be, “Let me find out.” People call us to assist them when they need help, and we’re gonna have fun doing it. Whether it’s two stop signs down the road, or 500 miles away, our customers should know we’re gonna take care of them with a smile.