‘Run it like you own it’

Treat everything you manage as if it is your own, says business owner Sarah Horak in 18:83 address

When tasked with managing others’ property, assets or businesses, doing so with the best interests of the owner in mind often yields improved results.

That’s according to Sarah Horak, who along with her husband owns three popular establishments in downtown Grand Forks – Brick and Barley, Level 10 and O’Really’s Irish Pub.

A UND alumna, Horak returned to campus on Feb. 21 as part of the University’s 18:83 Speaker’s Series, where campus and community leaders outline their leadership philosophies. Speakers time their addresses to last about 18 minutes and 83 seconds – a figure that corresponds with UND’s founding year.

“Consider if this was your money, your savings or your livelihood – what would you do if it was all yours?” Horak asked attendees.

A veteran of the North Dakota Air National Guard, Horak holds three degrees from UND – a bachelor’s in financial management, and master’s degrees in business administration and accounting. Recently, she took on an additional role as strategic business solutions outsourced accounting manager at Brady Martz & Associates, a Grand Forks-based accounting firm.

Horak told a story from a job interview she had during her final year as an undergraduate at UND. Though she ultimately did not get the job, Horak said a comment from the interviewer shapes her leadership philosophy to this day.

“I was 21 years old, finishing my senior year at UND, when my soon-to-be husband and I were planning a move to Denver, where he’s from,” she said. “I was sitting in my car in a parking ramp downtown, on a phone interview with a private trust bank in Denver. The woman I was interviewing with said something that has stuck with me since: ‘We’re looking for people who’ll run it like they own it.’”

Embracing such a mentality is a big motivator, Horak said.

“There’s this ripple effect that happens when employees start to think like owners – the whole business thrives,” she said. “It can shift your focus from, ‘That’s not my problem,’ to ‘What can I do to help?’”

Leaders must also take care not to become complacent, Horak added – a lesson she said was amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. She and her husband were forced to close their businesses, laying off dozens of staff members.

“We had three kids at home – one new baby – and a hundred employees to consider, so there really wasn’t the option to panic,” she said. “In those days, weeks and years that followed, we have been more creative than we were in the years before it.”

Part of this creativity required risk taking — in the form of starting a cookie business to make up for lost income during the pandemic. The business grew quickly due to its convenience and compliance with social distancing requirements.

“Leading means evolving — finding ways to pivot and continue on,” she said. “Continuously moving forward to what is next, even though you may have no idea what that is, or it surprises you along the way.”

Horak concluded her address by stating that talent only takes one so far on their leadership journey, as work ethic and personality are great equalizers.

“Think of leaders up to this point in your life who have had a positive impact,” she said. “What made them stand out to you? It probably wasn’t because they had some flashy car or fancy clothes, or even because they were the absolute best at what they did. It was probably because they showed up, were consistent and added value to your life.”

Other leadership advice from Horak:

• Leadership is not at title: Rather, it is achieved through mindset, hard work and ultimately, results.
• Be accountable for your actions: Leaders must make difficult decisions and live with the consequences – whether positive or negative. Communicating effectively with one’s team and working hard to rectify mistakes are what builds trust.