Questions: Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Answer: We specialize in comprehensive painting solutions, encompassing three primary divisions: Refinishing Services, Painting Services (for both Interior and Exterior spaces, catering to Residential & Commercial clients), and Cleaning Services (including Power Washing and Soft Washing).
Questions: Top of Form
Questions: Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Answer: I reside with my family in Wayne, NJ. My educational journey led me to William Paterson University, where I earned a degree in Business. My professional path began at 18 when I entered the painting industry, gaining experience at my uncle’s paint company in Bergen County, NJ. For 23 years, I thrived in Corporate America, excelling in sales management roles. Six years ago, my wife and I embarked on the journey of entrepreneurship, founding Hudson as a side venture.
Questions: What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Answer: At the age of 18, in 1996, I delved into the painting trade, igniting a passion that persisted throughout my 23-year tenure in Corporate America. Despite my corporate journey, my love for painting remained steadfast. Six years ago, my wife and I embarked on a new venture, driven by our desire to establish a side business. Founding Hudson Paint Contracting was a natural choice for us, as we recognized an opportunity to revolutionize small business construction. Embracing technology and assembling a dedicated team, we’ve transformed into a paperless construction company. Over the past three years, we’ve expanded into the refinishing sector, focusing mainly on cabinetry and furniture. This niche demands higher entry costs and specialized expertise, but also presents fewer competitors. As we navigate the year 2024, we believe in the importance of diversifying into multiple ventures or pursuing various passions.
Questions: What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Answer: It wasn’t until I reached 46 that I truly understood the wisdom behind pursuing one’s passion. Embracing what you love each day brings a profound sense of fulfillment. Follow your passion, embrace calculated risks, nurture your confidence, and have faith in yourself.
Questions: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Answer: Develop a fervent enthusiasm for your work, inspire others through leadership, and adeptly promote both yourself and your business.
Questions: How many hours do you work a day on average?
Answer: 8-12
Questions: To what do you most attribute your success?
Answer: Success is a journey that unfolds daily. I never wake up thinking, “I’ve made it.” True success eludes those with such a mindset. My primary goal is to grasp the tasks at hand each day, prioritizing them and giving each my full attention before moving on. Moreover, I’ve learned the value of living in the present moment. As a fledgling entrepreneur, I’ve found my productivity soars when I focus on the here and now. Worrying about future bills only saps energy and detracts from the task at hand. Stay present, complete your tasks, and success will follow.
Questions: How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Answer: Personal branding is paramount in marketing. Hence, we place significant emphasis on a multitude of marketing strategies, encompassing SEO, social media engagement, and direct mail campaigns, among others.
Questions: Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Answer: Perhaps the most challenging period of my life spanned five years, yet I count myself fortunate to have launched our company as a side venture. This enabled me to finance the bulk of the business using my own capital and credit. Additionally, we have access to various lines of credit as needed.
Questions: What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Answer: Embrace the present moment. Concentrate on the immediate priorities essential to your business.
Questions: How important have good employees been to your success?
Answer: For small businesses, nothing surpasses the significance of talent acquisition and retention.
Questions: How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Answer: In our pursuit of additional services complementing painting, we’ve experimented with various options in recent years. Take, for instance, our venture into window cleaning. We integrated it into the Hudson brand, invested in equipment, allocated marketing funds, and trained team members, only to discover it wasn’t the right fit for our business. This entire process spanned approximately six months. Other ideas have proven even briefer, sometimes lasting only a few days.
Questions: What motivates you?
Answer: Family, passion and building our own brand.
Questions: What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Answer: Having the autonomy to make your own decisions and manage your time is a luxury not typically afforded when working for another company, particularly larger ones. I’ve experienced it firsthand.
Questions: What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Answer: When I finally left my corporate job at 23 years. That was only a short time ago, and everyday still feels surreal.
Questions: What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Answer: Jokingly…… Entrepreneurs don’t dwell on complaints; they’re focused on action because they’re driven by necessity and desire. This mindset differs greatly from the corporate environment, where many feel disconnected from their work. Passion fuels entrepreneurs, transforming their daily grind into a fulfilling pursuit. They embrace risk, recognizing and investing in their inherent value. Conversely, working for a company often means serving others’ agendas. While some find fulfillment in this, many feel trapped and lack the confidence to seek alternatives.
Questions: What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
Answer: In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
