Q 1. Please 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.
Ans: Our business is called Green Leaf Disposal & Recycling and we offer dumpster rentals for residential and commercial projects from simple home cleanouts to large constructions projects.
Q 2. Please give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: I received an associates in civil engineering and an airforce degree in aircraft structural engineering. I served in the US Airforce for 10 years and am a 5 star veteran.
Q 3. 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?
Ans: I saw a lack of good waste management companies in the area and decided to fill the gap. Over my extensive years of doing construction I realized that there was a need and as a result, an opportunity, to provide reliable dumpsters rental services. No one was coming on time or picking up existing rentals on time. This would stall or extend construction projects causing money loss.
Q 4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans:
- Do not go after your passions but go after what makes money in the beginning.
- Take advice but don’t take it too literally. Everybody has something to say when they don’t have to do the actual work.
- When you have money eventually, before you branch off into other ventures, make sure it’s protected and autonomously multiplying before going after passions or a comfortable lifestyle.
Q 5. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans:
- Thinking outside the box.
- Having the best work ethic in and outside your area of influence… a.k.a. work harder than anyone around you.
- Ability to intrigue people around you because you are a sum of who you know.
Q 6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: 3
Q 7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: Not settling for comfort and taking risks.
Q 8. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans:
- Google PPC Advertising
- Networking
Q 9. Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: Over the last 15 years in the construction industry I have made contacts and formed relationships with people whose interests peaked in working with me in other ventures. So when the idea for green leaf came around, I had more than enough willing investors to provide the capital needed.
Q 10. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Consistency, flexibility and resilience.
Q 11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans:
- Expanded beyond the tristate area.
- Establishing Green Leaf Disposal as a top 3 waste management company in New England.
Q 12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans:
- Supreme Roofing Systems
- Waste Management