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: My name is Nick and I run a family-operated power-washing business called Eco Wash Solutions, which serves Morris and Sussex County in New Jersey. This is our fourth year and we have proudly served over 500 clients.
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: I Graduated from Stockton University (although it was Stockton College at the time) in New Jersey, where I earned my BA in Business Administration, Management, and Operations. I became certified in power-washing techniques by completing courses through Doug Rucker’s Power Washing School to give me the technical skills needed for my business.
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: Wanting to put my education to use, I discovered the dearth in the power washing field within my local community and sought to create a niche business. More specifically, the encounter came from my Grandfather who attempted to use a power washer that he obtained at a local home improvement store, but lacked the results he desired. Seeing this, I decided to invest in a better machine and help him out by power washing his house and was impressed with the results, knowing others would be interested in the service too.
Q. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: I would say to find something that you are passionate about and let it lead you from there. Finding a passion makes things easier during difficult times and is more enjoyable. Besides that, I would say to make sure you have the time needed to truly invest in yourself and your budding business, while also making sure you are setting realistic expectations.
Q. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: I would say the top three skills are motivation, curiosity, and resilience. You need to be able to self-motivate in order to really create a business. Curiosity is required to see the potential of a business and requires being observant of problems others may be experiencing. Resiliency is needed because lots of people will doubt your ability, but you need to continue to get back up and show them wrong.
Q. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: Thomas Edison stated he worked about 20 hours a day, leaving little time for sleep, which is the schedule necessary for success. If Edison managed to discover the lightbulb on such little sleep and putting more work in during the day, then it must be the recipe for success!
Q. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: My success has been earned by my own hardwork and determination to make my business a success. It takes a lot of time,energy, and sacrifices but it is required for success.
Q. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: My best marketing has been word-of-mouth from my previous clients and the ones that have generously posted reviews of my services. Hearing the real perspective and satisfied results from clients is more appealing for prospective clients than anything else.
Q. Where did your organization’s funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: My initial funding all came from previous jobs, granting me little to use to invest in my business at first. Over the years, my capital has expanded, thanks to the success of my business, allowing me to make upgrades to better my equipment and service provided.
Q. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: If there was a sure-fire best way, I wish I knew! My suggestion would be to just continue to believe in yourself and work for your success by setting small goals that gradually grow and become more attainable over time.
Q. Where do you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: I see my business continuing to grow and being able to hire more employees to accomodate the needs of our clients.
Q. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: I admire Amazon due to how they were able to become such a household name and create a game-changing company.
Q. What motivates you?
Ans: I am motivated by wanting to give back to my family, who had made so many sacrifices for me growing up. Working hard and creating a successful business is the best reward.
Q. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: When you are your own boss, everything falls onto you and it is your responsibility, meaning the success or failure is directly on your shoulders.
Q. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: Busy.
Q. How did you decide on the location for your business?
Ans: I decided to start with my local community as it would allow for interactions with familiar locations and familiar faces, while allowing for me to make a noticeable impact. The most rewarding feeling is driving by a house that I had previously serviced and seeing the effect months later.
Q. Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Ans: I have always admired my Grandfather who helped create a strong work ethic in me. I saw how committed he was to his job in the New York City transit system, which are values that he helped to instill in me and shapes how I view and conduct my business today.
Q. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
Ans: When I’m not working on some aspect of my business, I enjoy spending time with my dog, Sandy. She enjoys taking walks and driving in the business truck.
Q. What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: In order to be successful, it requires a lot of sacrifices, especially when it comes to time. It is a lot of work, but short-term sacrifices lead to long-term payoff.
Visit us: https://njecowash.com/