Meet Malachai Garrett, General Manager at You Move Me Northwest Arkansas!
YMM: How did you start in the moving industry?
Malachai Garrett: I had just moved to the Tulsa area and one of my buddies I play basketball with, [Crew Lead] Brodie Jones, invited me to come work with him at You Move Me Tulsa. I started as a helper/crew member. At some point in 2019, I took a short break for a couple months – tried out working for Amazon, but I still came and helped out on a few moving jobs on the weekends.
The reality is, initially, I didn’t know that I had the opportunity to grow more and advance in the company. So when they told me that the opportunity is there, everything came into focus and I chose to work hard and work towards the goal of growing with You Move Me.
You Move Me is my first job in moving and now I’m a General Manager! I was really motivated to move up to this and I’m excited to do great things in Northwest Arkansas.
What has surprised you the most about working at You Move Me?
Malachai Garrett: The different things we move! We move some interesting items – from really unique, large furniture to seeing some incredible home spaces. I’ve even seen a house with an indoor basketball court with hardwood floors and everything!
Also, in the beginning it was just a job – I had just moved to the area and needed a job to begin with. I didn’t know it could become a career, but the opportunity is there. I recently had the opportunity to visit the You Move Me Kansas City Headquarters, and over there they have done a great job to show the opportunity is there and what is possible. It motivates you to work hard and the whole experience has been a great surprise.
YMM: What has been the most rewarding part of working at You Move Me?
Malachai Garrett: Honestly, we always say in Tulsa that moving is one of the most stressful things you do in life. So we go in and really help our customers out. Some of them even cry during their moves, because they feel relieved we were there to get things done smoothly. They’re so appreciative of the work we get to do and it’s great to know we can help them out in that way and take a big stress off their plate so they can focus on what’s important.
Also, back in Tulsa, I did 5 months of call center work so I could understand the business better – that way when I was about to run my own location I would have well rounded experience in all aspects of the business. This has been so helpful not only professionally but also in my personal life – it’s helped me a lot in having better communication with new people and has allowed me to grow personally as a speaker and communicator. It helped a ton.
YMM: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Malachai Garrett: Personally I want to be bigger than the Kansas City franchise. I want to be the best, so I definitely see myself growing our Northwest Arkansas location – helping other teammates of mine to move up just like I have and making some great moves here in Arkansas!
YMM: What advice would you give your younger self?
Malachai Garrett: Back then if I knew I could go in and become a franchise owner or grow from a crew lead, I would’ve put 100% from the start and made that my goal. So I would tell my younger self to really be focused on trying to learn and grow from the start.
