During a recent interview, successful business entrepreneur Eric, founder of Z Construction, opened up about the challenging yet rewarding path of business ownership. Eric, introduced as a dedicated family man who finds “having family” profound, also shared candid insights on his professional journey, from the company’s inception to the essential elements of maintaining a strong work culture and handling daily pressures. He also shared one unique personal detail: he doesn’t like needles.
The Evolution of Z Construction
Eric founded Z Construction, which has been in operation since 2011 or 2012. He established the company because he realized his previous businesses in related fields—such as storage and office cubicle installation—were moving toward a “deadend” industry. He felt the need to “transfer over to something that would be would become more open ended”.
This transition fulfilled a lifelong joy for Eric, who grew up watching home shows like This Old House and Home Again on PBS and has always been “enamored with construction, especially building”. Eric mentioned that, when he was a child, he did not have cable, so he watched PBS, including shows like Bob Vila’s Old House.
Z Construction began as a finished carpentry business, specializing in custom furniture, crown molding, wainscoting, and trim. Through consistent networking with people like Realtors and other contractors, the company broadened its services. Within approximately two to three years, the company grew from being a finish carpenter operation to a general contractor. This opened up many different opportunities for the company. For Eric, this evolution provided the opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream of building Custom Homes and remodels. He had thought when he was 9 or 10 years old that it would be “so cool to be doing what they’re doing”. It remains a core joy to create a client’s dream into a reality, and Eric mentioned that they now publish this work on a lot of their social media networks.
Setting the Company Apart: The Power of Education
In the competitive construction industry, where many companies offer similar services like tile work, flooring, and remodels, Eric explained that Z Construction differentiates itself through client education.
Eric stated that he would rather educate a potential client, even if it means potentially “sell[ing] myself out of work”. He gave an example of meeting with a client thinking about replacing her tub and explaining to her that replacing the tub would necessitate pulling the tile. This commitment to education ensures that clients are knowledgeable enough to ask the right questions of any contractor they choose. This approach provides comfort to the client and helps prevent them from being taken advantage of, charged more money than the job is truly worth, or being scammed.
Building a Strong and Invested Team
Maintaining employee retention in the current environment can be difficult, but Eric emphasizes that his philosophy revolves around attitude, kindness, and empathy toward everyone he works with. He views the relationship with internal crews and external subcontractors (like plumbers or electricians) as a partnership, noting that he would not be able to be doing great without great teams working with him. As the general contractor, Eric is the “head Hondo the boss the guidance of the entire the entire group,” but this team approach makes the teams feel more invested in the project, rather than viewing it as a simple “9-to-5 clock in clock out” job.
The company has moved away from hourly employees and uses a “per piece pricing” model for its crews. This structure provides a financial incentive for quality and efficiency:
• It creates a good energy level because crews are motivated to do the job right the first time.
• If they must return to fix an issue, it is “on their own dime”.
• It helps keep the budget on point for the client.
• It allows crews to get paid the same amount whether the job takes four hours, six hours, or ten hours, encouraging them to work fast without cutting corners.
The Mindset of Persistence
Having been self-employed since 2007, Eric recognizes that the path is not always smooth. He believes that any business owner who claims they have “never wavered” on their path is either lying to themselves or to others. He admits there are easily “handfuls of times” a year when he sits down and wonders if the path is worth the stress and the “unknown future”. Sometimes, he wishes he could go to a large company like Amazon and get a 9-to-5 job without having to worry about health care, paychecks, or what the next job will be.
Ultimately, however, his passion, excitement, and enthusiasm for his work overwhelmingly overcome these doubts every time, often “by leaps and strides”. He feels there is so much more positive stuff in what he does that he does not see himself ever turning away from it. Being self-employed requires having a strong and right mindset, regardless of the industry or service.
A Look at the Daily Routine
Eric described his daily process, noting that it is a constant battle between his need for planning (a hint of OCD) and his aversion to routine (due to ADHD).
His successful process starts by reviewing the schedule he planned the night before. This pre-planning allows him to warm up, kind of like “stretching before you run.” The day is filled with appointments involving various tasks: dealing with jobs, inspections, talking with clients, sales teams, and crews.
Recognizing the inevitable obstacles and hiccups that arise on jobs and the necessity to check in with crews, Eric typically sets only two to three client appointments per day.
Crucially, responsiveness is a cornerstone of his success. He notes that he receives 40 to 50, or sometimes more, emails daily. He ensures prompt responses, believing that as a consumer, he would not feel important if he did not receive a response within a handful of days. He applies this responsiveness to clients, crews, and anyone he deals with in general.
Networking is also a vital part of his schedule. Being a business owner can be a very “isolating gig,” as people who have 9-to-5 jobs often “doesn’t really understand what you may be going through.” Connecting with similar, like-minded people through groups like BNI provides companionship and helps him avoid feeling isolated. Eric currently uses Job Dread and Pipeline Pro as his Customer Relationship Management (CRM) applications to run the company.
Eric’s workday sometimes goes until 7, 8, or 9 at night, but if there are no issues, he could be off as early as two or three in the afternoon, allowing him to spend time with family.
The Greatest Rewards
When asked about the hardest and most rewarding parts of owning a business, Eric returned to his core motivation: family and loved ones. The ability to create his own schedule—unlike a regular 9-to-5 job—is paramount, allowing him to spend quality time with his loved ones whenever and wherever he wants. He views this freedom as a significant part of what life is truly about, stressing that everyone only lives once.
Professionally, Eric dislikes the idea of working for a boss and having to answer to someone else daily. The most rewarding aspects include making money for himself and his company, rather than constantly making money for someone else.
Eric’s insights demonstrate that success in the contracting industry requires more than just skill; it demands passion, persistence, a commitment to client education, and a strong dedication to building empowering partnerships with employees.
Click here to learn more: 5 Questions for Business Owners