There are three key ways Southeast Petro Distributors’ founder, Mike Shah, has made his business a success.

As an article in the Asian-American Store Owners Association Magazine reveals, his focus on hard work, customer service and giving back has helped him grow the family business from one gas station to owning or supplying more than 400 across the Southeast.

The first years were difficult as he worked long hours with no days off, Shah told Space Coast Business in an article about the Founders Forum honoring him as Entrepreneur of the Year.

“The harder you work, the harder your luck works for you,” he said.

Mike and his wife, Rashmi, went from just owning and leasing gas stations to becoming a leading wholesale petroleum distributor.

Mike Shah has long had a strong focus on serving both customers and the community, as well as sharing his knowledge with others.

“The biggest thing with Mike is that he’s a man of extremely high character and has a lot of pride in what he does and in his own reputation,” BB&T’s Barry Forbes said in a Florida Today article about Shah being honored by the Junior Achievement of the Space Coast Business Hall of Fame. “And in addition to that, he’s just an extremely good businessman. He makes very good decisions in regards to what properties he purchases, how he runs them and his relationships with vendors and tenants in his facilities.”

Shah’s son, Summit, said in the same article: “My father has always taught me not to be afraid to share lessons we’ve learned or secrets of the business, because in helping others succeed, you yourself are succeeding.”

Among the many causes the Shahs support are Crosswinds Youth Services, the Sharing Center of Central Brevard, the Scott Center for Autism Treatment, Project Hunger, Cocoa Village Playhouse, Florida Tech, Brevard Schools Foundation and Doctors’ Goodwill Foundation. Mike Shah has served on various boards, including the Florida Petroleum Marketers Association, Junior Achievement of Brevard, United Way of Brevard, Health First Foundation, Community Bank of the South, and Manav Mandir Temple in Brevard.

He’s been honored as Brevard County Humanitarian of the Year, Indian American Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year, BIMDA Philanthropist of the Year, and the Founders Forum’s Entrepreneur of the Year.

“There is no greater satisfaction than knowing you are making a difference,” Mike Shah told Space Coast Daily.