{"id":58270,"date":"2023-11-30T12:25:37","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T20:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/?p=58270"},"modified":"2023-11-30T12:25:39","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T20:25:39","slug":"vos-difference-maker-jason-habbals-thirst-for-the-sale-propels-company","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/the-week-in-imaging-twii\/editors-blog\/2023\/11\/vos-difference-maker-jason-habbals-thirst-for-the-sale-propels-company\/","title":{"rendered":"VOS Difference Maker Jason Habbal\u2019s Thirst for the Sale Propels Company"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Jason Habbal<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been said that the most competitive of salespeople hate losing more than they like winning. While it may sound like backward logic, there is a difference. Quite a meaningful one, actually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those who live by the sale, closing a deal is always the default expectation. You\u2019ve been there before, you know the talk track, and you\u2019ve mastered asking for the business. When you\u2019ve racked up a million road miles or more, coming home with anything less than a signed contract (or a verbal commitment) is a bitter pill to swallow. It\u2019s also been said that the best sales rep is his\/her own worst critic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason Habbal is one of those individuals. The vice president of Vision Office Systems (VOS) in Charlotte, North Carolina, likely picked up his thirst for success from his father, company founder Fred Habbal. Losing haunted him for the first couple weeks of his career, as his cold-calling efforts fell on deaf ears. But after selling a second-hand printer to a used boat dealership\u2014which netted Habbal a robust $150\u2014it more than stoked his sales passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the younger Habbal is loath to cross a certain line in pursuit of the sale. Winning at all costs, in the end, can extract a terrible price and lead to an early exit from the industry. Character matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am a competitive person and I hate to lose. I want to win more than anything,\u201d said Habbal, a 2023 ENX Magazine<\/em> Difference Maker. \u201cI approach business each day as \u2018I have to win.\u2019 With that, though, I also understand that we have to be authentic, honest and sincere, so we don\u2019t fall into corrupt ways when dealing with our customers. I have seen the crooks in this industry and most of them don\u2019t last.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That doesn\u2019t mean he isn\u2019t a gamer. \u201cI always looked at it that if my competitor sells something in my territory, they are stealing money from my pocket,\u201d Habbal added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fait Accompli?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

His journey to the office technology dealer space was as close to pre-ordained as one can get. The Western Carolina University graduate has known no other occupation; in fact, Habbal\u2019s sights were set on joining the family business even before he earned a degree in business management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems the business has been a natural fit. \u201cI love seeing our growth and all the diversified offerings we\u2019re providing now,\u201d observed Habbal, who has logged 18 years with VOS. \u201cThe ability to see the company grow is what continues to drive me each day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suffice to say, Habbal has reaped many benefits from the tutelage of his father, a 40-year industry veteran in his own right. People management skills\u2014handling both clients and team members\u2014is an acquired art passed by father to son. But Jason has also reaped knowledge from his membership in the Copier Dealers Association peer group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been fortunate to be involved with the CDA for most of my career, and there are countless members who have helped me along the way,\u201d he said. \u201cThe CDA has played a large role in my acquired wisdom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changes for Better<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2022 campaign proved to be an interesting one for Habbal and VOS. A couple of departures from the admin team led to a reorganization of personnel and duties. The reconfigured staff has proven to be stronger with newly assigned responsibilities, and VOS is \u201cin a much better place\u201d according to Habbal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Product diversification set the tone for 2023, and Habbal sees great possibilities on several fronts. \u201cGoing forward, I want to see us continue to expand our VoIP customer base and as we have started to do more conference room design and installations. I am very excited to expand our Pro A\/V offerings as I see large growth in that market for us,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have started a project that will take several years to complete, but will be about $11 million dollars\u2019 worth of Pro A\/V once done. We are now putting ourselves in a place to really be considered a viable Pro A\/V vendor for our customers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Habbal is also playing the long game. As his father inches closer to retirement, the goal will be to establish and solidify the leadership team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am realizing, more and more, that I cannot do everything around the office,\u201d Habbal added, \u201cI will need a strong team around me as we continue to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 On the home front, Habbal and his wife, Malea, have been married 13 years and have three children\u2014Addison, 11, and twins Delaney and Landon, 8. The family can often be found at club soccer and gymnastics events. The Habbals also enjoy the mountains and beaches North Carolina has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An avid golfer, hunter and fisherman, Habbal also volunteers on various boards at his country club. He\u2019s also a staunch supporter of activities at his alma mater, WCU.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s been said that the most competitive of salespeople hate losing more than they like winning. While it may sound like backward logic, there is a difference. Quite a meaningful one, actually. For those who live by the sale, closing a deal is always the default expectation. You\u2019ve been there before, you know the talk track, and you\u2019ve mastered asking for the business. When you\u2019ve racked up a million road miles or more, coming home with anything less than a signed contract (or a verbal commitment) is a bitter pill to swallow. It\u2019s also been said that the best sales rep is his\/her own worst critic. Jason Habbal is one of those individuals. The vice president of Vision Office Systems (VOS) in Charlotte, North Carolina, likely picked up his thirst for success from his father, company founder Fred Habbal. Losing haunted him for the first couple weeks of his career, as his cold-calling efforts fell on deaf ears. But after selling a second-hand printer to a used boat dealership\u2014which netted Habbal a robust $150\u2014it more than stoked his sales passion. However, the younger Habbal is loath to cross a certain line in pursuit of the sale. Winning at all costs, in the end, can extract a terrible price and lead to an early exit from the industry. Character matters. \u201cI am a competitive person and I hate to lose. I want to win more than anything,\u201d said Habbal, a 2023 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. \u201cI approach business each day as \u2018I have to win.\u2019 With that, though, I also understand that we have to be authentic, honest and sincere, so we don\u2019t fall into corrupt ways when dealing with our customers. I have seen the crooks in this industry and most of them don\u2019t last.\u201d That doesn\u2019t mean he isn\u2019t a gamer. \u201cI always looked at it that if my competitor sells something in my territory, they are stealing money from my pocket,\u201d Habbal added. Fait Accompli? His journey to the office technology dealer space was as close to pre-ordained as one can get. The Western Carolina University graduate has known no other occupation; in fact, Habbal\u2019s sights were set on joining the family business even before he earned a degree in business management. It seems the business has been a natural fit. \u201cI love seeing our growth and all the diversified offerings we\u2019re providing now,\u201d observed Habbal, who has logged 18 years with VOS. \u201cThe ability to see the company grow is what continues to drive me each day.\u201d Suffice to say, Habbal has reaped many benefits from the tutelage of his father, a 40-year industry veteran in his own right. People management skills\u2014handling both clients and team members\u2014is an acquired art passed by father to son. But Jason has also reaped knowledge from his membership in the Copier Dealers Association peer group. \u201cI\u2019ve been fortunate to be involved with the CDA for most of my career, and there are countless members who have helped me along the way,\u201d he said. \u201cThe CDA has played a large role in my acquired wisdom.\u201d Changes for Better The 2022 campaign proved to be an interesting one for Habbal and VOS. A couple of departures from the admin team led to a reorganization of personnel and duties. The reconfigured staff has proven to be stronger with newly assigned responsibilities, and VOS is \u201cin a much better place\u201d according to Habbal. Product diversification set the tone for 2023, and Habbal sees great possibilities on several fronts. \u201cGoing forward, I want to see us continue to expand our VoIP customer base and as we have started to do more conference room design and installations. I am very excited to expand our Pro A\/V offerings as I see large growth in that market for us,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have started a project that will take several years to complete, but will be about $11 million dollars\u2019 worth of Pro A\/V once done. We are now putting ourselves in a place to really be considered a viable Pro A\/V vendor for our customers.\u201d Habbal is also playing the long game. As his father inches closer to retirement, the goal will be to establish and solidify the leadership team. \u201cI am realizing, more and more, that I cannot do everything around the office,\u201d Habbal added, \u201cI will need a strong team around me as we continue to grow.\u201d  On the home front, Habbal and his wife, Malea, have been married 13 years and have three children\u2014Addison, 11, and twins Delaney and Landon, 8. The family can often be found at club soccer and gymnastics events. The Habbals also enjoy the mountains and beaches North Carolina has to offer. An avid golfer, hunter and fisherman, Habbal also volunteers on various boards at his country club. He\u2019s also a staunch supporter of activities at his alma mater, WCU.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":166,"featured_media":54847,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3626,80,1650,82,84,1638],"tags":[677],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58270"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/166"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58270"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58270\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58272,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58270\/revisions\/58272"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}