How did the idea for your business come about?
I did not start my business. My partner did. I came on board about a year and a half after it opened.
What was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur?
For me it was the opportunity to build something from almost scratch. I realized that I would never maximize my talent and vision working for someone else. Especially in a large corporate setting. It did not lend itself to creating the kind of culture that I envisioned.
How did you come up with the name for your company?
My partner did.
How do you build a successful customer base?
My customer base was built really from being a field Superintendent for over a decade. I took care of many buildings and clients over those years and developed great trust and personal bonds with those folks. When I made the move to my own company those clients followed me because of our history.
How do you market your business, and which tactics have been most successful?
We don’t really market in construction. We are specialty contractors and there are only so many companies like ours, so everyone kind of knows who to go to. That said, my business model was more direct to Owners and Developers and GC’s than is typical for my industry, so for those relationships I did a lot of business development. That includes really just spending time and effort getting to know those folks to gain their trust and creating a relationship where they wanted to see me and us succeed.
How many hours a day do you work on average? Describe/outline your typical day.
Hahaha. I really don’t ever stop working. As an entrepreneur you learn that quickly. You will work harder than you ever have. When we were really building the company my partner and I worked 12-16 hours a day 6 days a week. We never turned it off. For me doing biz dev, often at night, I was never really off the clock. You literally live it. Now, with a lot more people I can depend on, I work probably 10 hours a day 5-6 days a week.
How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Looking back it probably negatively affected my marriage. I worked so much, we probably lost some connection.
Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Yes. 3 things. Hard. Ass. Work.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
To see the people who I gave opportunities to and invested in thrive and grow and evolve in their careers. Easy call.
Last question, how do you define success?
My vision of success is my mantra. To work as hard as I can. To be as successful as I can. In order to affect as many lives as I can.
Link To His New Interview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4wfSBgAS0U
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