Q: 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.
Ans: Carlton Construction is committed to building residential and commercial projects with quality, craftsmanship, and total customer satisfaction. Founded by Matt Carlton in 2005, Carlton Construction is a growing general contractor with an exceptional team of construction managers and professional craftsmen experienced in commercial and luxury residential construction. Our team takes an immense amount of pride and ownership in each project and we believe in building a foundation for each project based on clear expectations, transparency and trust. Our relationships with design professionals are strong and our integrity runs deep. Our team’s construction experience has equipped us with the necessary procedures and techniques to manage all facets of the construction process. We immerse ourselves in the details so we can deliver a project that has exceptional quality and is built for generations.
Located at our only location in Fleming Island, Florida.
Q: Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: Matt Carlton, founder, is committed to quality and client satisfaction. Matt started cutting grass at the age of 14 and started a lawn care landscape and irrigation business at the age of 18. He sold that business when he was 23 so he could pursue a college degree. Matt started his construction career with the Dana B. Kenyon Company. He is a graduate of the M.E. Rinker School of Building Construction at the University of Florida. Currently serves as treasurer for the Clay County Development Authority, Board Member at NEFBA & chairs the development council at Baptist South Medical Center. Matt lives with his wife and sons in Green Cove Springs, Florida.
Q: 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 love knowing it’s up to me to succeed, that drives me. I had owned and sold a landscape business previously so I knew starting my company would allow that.
Q: What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: Be tenacious, persistent & ready to work harder than you ever have in your life.
Q: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: People skills, ability to relate to others, will to push through when everyone else would quit.
Q: How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: 11-12 hours a day
Q: To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: Hard work, great team members, quality oriented, great relationships with architects.
Q: How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: Building relationships with architects along with delivering the highest quality buildings we can.
Q: 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: I started with a home equity line of credit (HELOC) in 2005.
Q: What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Pace your growth & minimize debt.
Q: Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: Working on the business not in it; negotiating all our work, possibly buying sub-contracting companies that complement our business.
Q: Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: Ritz – Carlton & Disney
Q: How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: Without employees, your growth is limited . . . Without great employees, your growth is also limited.
Q: How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: Well beyond the awkward feelings, until I’m 100% sure it isn’t going to work.
Q: What motivates you?
Ans: My family, my team & a desire to deliver exceptional buildings while providing a great client experience.
Q: What are your ideals?
Ans: I’m going cliché here: treat others like you want to be treated.
Q: How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: By generating bad ones.
Q: How do you define success?
Ans: Happy clients, happy team members, money in the bank, pride in your product.
Q: How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: By picking successful customers?!?
Q: What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: Helping my team grow & achieve success.
Q: What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: This is tough . . . maybe buying our first office that we currently occupy?
Q: What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: Ambition
Q: What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
Ans: Culture is critical, I think we have a no drama, hardworking but relaxed family feeling culture. Very supportive.
Q: In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: Rewarding
Q: If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Ans: I might be inclined to go into the RV industry.
Q: How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Ans: Lots of sacrifices due to long hours, my stress & anxiety spilling over into family time.
Q: What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Ans: Disappointing clients – over manage the details.
Q: How did you decide on the location for your business?
Ans: Short drive from my house but still close to town & it had room to grow.
Q: Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Yes, believing you can do something better than others & having the determination to prove it & ability.
Q: If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
Ans: My Grandfather, he taught me what an entrepreneur is, – OH… History. Walt Disney – he had the ability to cast vision & build a team capable of carrying it on after he was gone.
Q: Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Ans: My Grandfather.
Q: What book has inspired you the most? (OR what is your favorite book?)
Ans: Entre-Leadership by Dave Ramsey
Q: What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?
Ans: I’ve tried to forget them.
Q: How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
Ans: Own your mistakes don’t run from them.
Q: What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
Ans: Hang with my wife and sons, fish, travel in our RV.
Q: What makes you happy?
Ans: Traveling in our RV with my family.
Q: What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Too many to list
Q: If you were conducting this interview, what question would you ask?
Ans: Are you ready to answer a truck load of questions???
For more information visit us at https://carltonconstruction.net/
Carlton Construction Inc.
4615 US Highway 17 Ste 1,
Fleming Island, Florida, 32003
Tel No.: (904) 284-8321
Business Email ID:contact@carltonconstruction.net
Business Hours: 8:00 – 5:00 Monday – Friday