Phoenix Solutions

I started an electronics recycling company not knowing the difference between a hard drive and a processor.

14 years ago. Zero tech knowledge. Couldn’t open a spreadsheet. Had never heard of ‘profit and loss.’

But I knew I could: learn quickly, destroy data, actually answer the phone, recycle e-waste, show up and be responsive … you know, the daily basics.

Years 1-4: Tiny team, cycled through 6 employees
Years 5-9: Systems that couldn’t scale and more team turnover
Years 10-13: Trapped in daily operations, couldn’t grow

This year, it’s finally starting to click.

Dialed, locked-in team. New ERP software rollout, resolving so many processing bottlenecks. Hundreds of 5-star reviews, boosting our SEO.

What changed?

A ruthless commitment to systems. Simply put, we’ve doubled down on doing it right and documenting the process.

I like to call it, “Clarity insanity / Zero ambiguity,” and I’m often found saying, “Make the obvious obvious.”

Because its hard, near impossible, to have sense of urgency if you don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing, what’s most important.

I’m “notion-ing” my face off (more software) and laying the ground work for something I can 10x on. This is how we delegate to our team, have visibility on project progress and communicate in a way that centralized and doesn’t require a meeting and good memory.

All of this in in year 14 but there were so many times that I questioned if we would make it.

From not knowing what a processor was to processing 10,000 pounds of electronics monthly, it’s the struggle that creates the breakthrough.

To anyone a few years in and grinding: I spent a decade plus feeling like I was failing forward. Year 14 is proving that we’re building something special, something that can stand the test of time.

Your breakthrough is closer than you think, just needs a little more time.

So give time time and don’t quit before it happens.

Our crew recently took a break from hitting home runs to see the Cards hit one of their own — and, yes, they actually won.

It was a great chance to just kick it, since most of the time we’re “locked in” (as the kids say) and crushing it, with no end to the leveling up.

This year we’ve spent a good chunk of time dialing in our systems and workflows, rolling out a new ERP (about 60% there), and adding a few new faces to the team.

It takes a full crew to:
* schedule your recycling pickups
* prep all the needed equipment
* do said recycling pickups
* offload the truck
* receive inventory in the erp system
* sort inventory into scrap and resale
* destroy data
* refurbish resellable assets
* list assets on eBay or wholesale
* negotiate pricing
* pick & ship assets
* manage downstream scrap
* track revenue
* manage ops team
* …and more

And that’s just the basics—table stakes. It doesn’t even include admin, sales & marketing, leadership development, and all the other moving parts of running a business.

Electronics recycling looks easy from the outside, but doing it at scale is anything but. It’s complex, essential, and absolutely worth it.

We do all of this because we freakin’ LOVE doing good work and knocking it out of the park for you!

It’s our joy to keep your e-waste out of the landfill, shred your data, contribute to nonprofits, and build a culture where everyone’s stoked to show up and throw down.

Oh, random but kinda cool—we also got to meet the girl at Ted Drews who won the Ford Bronco at the Cards game. Way to go, Kelsey!