"Not much, you still need capital, you still need to get work, and you still need to make a profit."
Henry Goudreau is America’s #1 Business-Building Resource and coach & mentor for Contractors, as called by Commercial Magazine. Henry’s exclusive business model has taken contractors from zero to tens of millions of dollars in net worth.
He mentors a limited but exclusive list of owners of construction businesses who are ready to roll up their sleeves, work on their business, face their courage, learn how to navigate the risks easily, and reap the rewards of their efforts.
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Table of Contents
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Henry Goudreau: I grew up with a Dad who was a contractor and loved being on the jobs.
Can you tell us a story about the hard times that you faced when you first started your journey? Did you ever consider giving up?
Henry Goudreau: For the first six months I didn’t land any work. I was told I needed to go do a job for someone else and prove myself. That resulted in me eating into the capital I had for the business to support my family.
It was tough but I got a couple of jobs in a row, was able to complete them for years on end and made over $200k in profit. That was a lot for the 70’s.
What are the most common mistakes you see entrepreneurs make and what would you suggest they do?
Henry Goudreau: Not understanding their financials, no systems and processes, and no organizational structure to grow into.
Resilience is critical in critical times like the ones we are going through now. How would you define resilience?
Henry Goudreau: Sticking with what you know you do best and not chasing after work you have no experience in.
In your opinion, what makes your company stand out from the competition?
Henry Goudreau: I developed a complete business model for contractors. No one else has it. It covers every aspect of the business and is implemented and mastered, owners start to have a business that works for them.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success?
Henry Goudreau: A good work effort, never quit, and always question what makes it work.
What have you learned about personal branding that you wish you had known earlier in your career?
Henry Goudreau: So particularly important. I branded a contractor here in Florida and he practically controls his marketplace.
How would you define leadership?
Henry Goudreau: I love the saying, a boss uses people, a leader is always making sure he is improving his people.
What would you say is the main difference between starting a business at the time you started yours and starting the business in today’s age?
Henry Goudreau: Not much, you still need capital, you still need to get work, and you still need to make a profit.
What’s your favorite “business” quote and how has it affected your business decisions?
Henry Goudreau: My Dad’s, “You don’t make your money with your construction skills, you make your money with your business skills.”
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Henry Goudreau for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Henry Goudreau or his company, you can do it through his – Facebook
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