By Business & Finance 
Michael Harty, Founder, Home Care Direct
Michael Harty, Founder, Home Car Direct, takes on the Business & Finance 60-second interview challenge.
Q. What was your first job? My first paying job was selling Christmas trees and stands at 18 to offices, with the service of taking them down after Christmas. We got the local tech in Stillorgan to make us stands for free for a class project. I remember we managed to sell one to Dermot Desmond for his office in his NCB days! I haven’t done any deals with him since! Q. What would you regard as your greatest achievement in business to date? Business-wise, I suppose I am proud of the fact that I have set up and run three successful businesses in three completely different sectors: print and design, Irish bars in Europe and now home care. I am a big believer in being able to apply some basic business tenants to nearly any business. On a personal level, having just celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary, I’d better say having great partners in life in Elmagh and our children Patrick and Sofia. Q. In three words or less, how do you define success? Happiness, stress-free, having future plans. Q. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Doing the right thing is driven by your values not what happens around you or what other people do. Q. How do you motivate yourself and your staff? I motivate myself by always having plans for the business and not standing still. For my staff I think it’s about giving them real responsibility and the ability to make decisions which in turn gives them ownership of what they are doing. It’s amazing how people react to being trusted. Q. If you could step into the shoes of one business person for the day, who would it be and why? Michael O’Leary. I’d love to get an understanding of how he controls his costs to an incredibly detailed level. Q. How do you relax? I like to travel and cook. After a busy day I find it relaxing and therapeutic to prepare the family meal. Doesn’t have to be fancy, it’s just the whole process that relaxes me. I like spending time with the family in Connemara where we have a house. Q. What’s your motto? “Attitude is everything!” Q. What are your aspirations for the future of your business? We have recently launched HomeCareDirect.ie and we see it being a real game-changer in the home-care sector, which needs to play a much fuller role in the healthcare sector. We want Home Care Direct to be the go-to platform for Ireland’s best carers and the families who need them.
I motivate myself by always having plans for the business and not standing still.
