Page 50 - Lighting Magazine December 2019

UNDER
THE
RADAR
Angie Prost of Lighting One bestows an award for “Best Sales Performance” to Robert Marash at the organization’s June 2019 convention.
“It’s not about looking at what you’re giving up in life, but what you’re gaining.”
showroom in the Dallas Market Center. Another recovering employee, Frank Schneider, stepped up to take over a warehouse role and holds a fore- man position to this day.
There are times when some of the Graymoor graduates haven’t worked out, or perhaps left to take better jobs — and that’s quite alright with
Marash. “They’ve all thanked me for giving them that fresh start. When you let go of what you think you have to do and just let a higher power take control, [good things] come back to you. You do an accountability of yourself at the end of the day. I sleep good at night,” he quips.
Marash believes much of Innovations success is a testament to the turnaround he’s made on a personal level as well as the transformation of the people he’s hired.
“The success of Innovations is not the product, but the attitude of the people we have. It’s about honesty and being genuine, humble, transparent, and living a clean life. You have to believe in a higher power to guide you. This [way of life] makes you a better person. For so long I felt like it was me against the world. I thank and pray to God every day and don’t take my family, friends, and employ- ees for granted. I try to make our employees feel like they are a part of something. I’m grateful for the clarity to surround myself with good people and the ability to help the next [person] up.”
As Marash sees it, he’s just returning the favor to the lighting industry. “No one owed me anything and yet people gave me a second chance. They gave me the opportunity to start my life over. This is a forgiving industry; you can fall and get up again. I’ve had so many friends in lighting, it’s been overwhelming to be welcomed back.”
The company culture is very much like a close family. “It’s not a ‘me’ program, it’s a ‘we’ program,” he says of the corporate structure. “Employees are encouraged to communicate their issues on a daily basis and realize that together we can ac- complish anything we set our path on,” Marash comments.
“It’s not about looking at what you’re giving up in life, but what you’re gaining,” he shares. “If anyone in the industry wants to learn more about what we’re doing or the struggles we’ve faced, they are welcome to contact me. I would open my arms to anyone struggling and tell them you can do anything you want in this world without a drink or a drug. This industry is very forgiving. Don’t hide in a bottle; there is a solution! You too, can live life beyond your wildest dreams!” 
46 enLIGHTenment Magazine | DeceMber 2019
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