Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

The Journey of A Thousand Miles Begins With One Step

By Charles Smitherman

When the idea of setting yearly exercise goals was first presented to me, I hesitated. For the past twenty years, my goals have been ambitious: marathons, Ironman triathlons, and most recently, unassisted ultra-distance trail runs in unique locations and conditions.

In 2024, I ran over 1,000 miles, climbing and descending 100,000 feet. I also completed the second half of the Tour du Mont Blanc, running through four seasons of weather. This trail, which I began in 2022, brought me face-to-face with an alpine thunderstorm, where I sheltered beneath a poncho on my final climb of the day. In 2021, I ran across the Grand Canyon and back – an idea that came to me shortly after my first visit to the park, when I thought, “Yeah, I can run that.”

A Shift in Perspective

This year will be different in that I am not expecting the need for helicopter evacuation insurance for any of my plans. Following my mountain trek last summer, I struggled to recover and to mentally and physically regain the flow state that is an inherent need in distance running. While touring potential venues for RTO World, I heard myself tell someone that I used to be a distance swimmer – a statement that, though true, underscored the fact that I had spent little to no time in the water over the past several months, despite swimming being my favorite activity.

Smitherman competes in the Rabid Trail Race near Chattanooga, TN, in February 2022.

At APRO, we recently completed a six-month strategic planning process, resulting in the launch of our E3 plan for the next three years. A significant portion of this time was devoted to envisioning where we want APRO to be in seven to ten years. This strategic plan lays out three high-level goals, each supported by sub-level initiatives that will bring our vision to life.

Taking inspiration from this strategic planning experience, I decided to apply a similar approach to my personal goals for 2025. In the past, I would choose a race or challenge, set a date, and then plan my training around it. This time, I’m adopting a broader perspective: envisioning where I want to be in terms of my health and fitness over the next five to ten years. I have many adventures and challenges in mind for the future, but achieving them requires long-term planning and action today.

The Kaizen Philosophy

Both personally and professionally, I am a follower of kaizen – the philosophy of continuous improvement. Derived from the Japanese phrase kaizen, which means “change for the better,” it emphasizes that small, consistent steps lead to significant results over time. This philosophy promotes a growth mindset and a culture of ongoing enhancement in all aspects of life. By focusing on manageable steps, the overwhelming nature of a larger goal is minimized, and the momentum of progress builds naturally.

My Personal Goals for 2025

My overarching goals for 2025 follow this same principle: to get better and continue improving in every area of my life – professionally, personally, and in terms of my health. Specifically, I aim to become fitter, stronger, and healthier. To achieve this, I’ve laid out five initiatives that I believe will help me reach that goal:

  1. Swim 225 miles
  2. Compete in 3 marathons and ultra-distance swims
  3. Row 600 kilometers
  4. Complete 100 hours of strength training and yoga
  5. Eat 30 different plant-based foods per week

Much like the APRO E3 Strategic Plan, these goals set the trajectory for the future. From a holistic viewpoint, several key elements are implied – such as recovery, time management, and managing my chlorine allergy – all of which are necessary to stay on track.

Breaking Down the Big Goals

In December, the APRO team spent two days breaking down the E3 Plan and initiatives into smaller, more manageable pieces. Though the staff were ready to tar and feather me for writing Q1 2025 beside many of the sub-parts, we successfully walked away with a more approachable, digestible set of steps and strategies for the coming months. By using a kaizen approach, the bold and intimidating aspirations of E3 were broken down into smaller, manageable steps.

As an illustration, my fitness goals listed above look much more manageable and less daunting than the first:

  1. Swim an average of 4 miles per week (2-3 workouts of 1.5 to 2 miles each)
  2. Being prepared to compete flows from the goal above
  3. Row one hour per week (12km per hour)
  4. Work out 2-3 times per week (45 minutes to 1 hour each session)
  5. Eat 4+ different plant-based foods per day

No matter your plans and goals for 2025, remember that even the most ambitious vision is achieved through consistent, incremental progress. By breaking your goals into smaller, actionable steps, you’ll set a clear course for success while maintaining balance and adaptability. Embrace the kaizen philosophy and commit to steady improvement each day – one step, one swim, one vegetable, or one effort at a time. With this approach, you won’t just meet your objectives – you’ll cultivate a mindset of growth and resilience that will serve you in every area of life.

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Mike Lewis

Mike Lewis is a Premier Rental Purchase franchisee with multiple stores and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. With 33 years of experience in the rent-to-own industry, he has spent the past 20 years working closely with franchisee owners and previously spent 12 years in Corporate RTO, gaining a strong foundation in the business.

For the past five years, Mike has been sharing his knowledge by teaching managers and franchisees at the company’s Training Center.

Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life – especially riding his Harley Davidson with the sun on his face. If you know, you know!

Lauren Talicska

Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials

Lauren Talicska is an experienced multi-channel marketing specialist and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arona Home Essentials. She has found her home in the RTO community, supporting stores in branding, growth, and increasing traffic.

You may recognize Lauren as a former RTO vendor, including her time as a partner for Nationwide RentDirect, or her previous participation in the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. Lauren calls Columbus, Ohio, home and spends her workday crafting and executing marketing promotions from inception to realization, all while supporting the branding and social media needs of all the Arona stores in 12 states (plus Puerto Rico!).

Charles Smitherman

APRO

Charles Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE, became CEO of APRO in 2023, bringing years of legal and executive experience in the rent-to-own industry. 

Prior to joining the association, Charles served as COO, General Counsel, and Vice President of PTS Financial Services, where he played an active role in the rent-to-own industry by representing his company through PTS’s club program offering with APRO member dealers. Charles is an attorney with two decades of experience across a wide variety of areas, including RTO, consumer financial services, antitrust, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, franchise law, and privacy law. Following law school at the University of Georgia, Charles earned a Master of Legal Studies and PhD in Law from the University of Oxford in England.

Charles is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) with the International Franchise Association, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. As APRO’s sixth CEO in its 45-year history, he brings a collaborative, member-focused approach to association leadership, emphasizing transparency, advocacy, and value creation. Outside of work, Charles is an active ultra runner and open water swimmer.

Mike Kays

Ashley Furniture Industries

As VP of Rental Sales for Ashley Furniture Industries, Mike thrives on building relationships with our RTO industry veterans, and helping businesses grow through new product, new marketing, and new supply chain options.

Mike works to leverage a wide breadth of relationships and influence, intimate knowledge of market trends, and unique knowledge of what RTO dealers need from a supplier to be successful.

The saying goes that a high tide raises all boats, and our goal is to leverage the world’s largest furniture manufacturer to drive the continued growth of the RTO industry and all the suppliers.

Mike Tissot

Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own

Mike grew up in the rent-to-own industry under the guidance of his father, former APRO President and RTO legend Darrell Tissot. For nearly 25 years, Mike’s innovative leadership has helped expand the family business to more than 40 stores across Ohio and Kentucky while also shaping the industry as a whole.

He has served as President of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, an APRO board member and Treasurer, and President and Treasurer of the TRIB Group. His contributions have earned him the APRO President’s Award of Excellence and the title of APRO Rental Dealer of the Year.

Outside of RTO, Mike enjoys time at the lake house or in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his girlfriend, Angela Strong McCool. A passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, he rarely misses a game, whether watching or listening alongside his parents. He also takes every opportunity to visit Arizona, where his daughter is currently attending Arizona State University.