Q 1. 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: At JJD Roofing we are all about providing the best in service for all your roofing, siding, and gutter needs. This includes repairs or replacement. We can in most cases conduct inspections within 48 hours and assist with insurance claims as well. We are locally operated in Rockford, Illinois but service areas up to 50 miles away.
Q 2. 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: As a multi generation Landscaper I grew up with the understanding of hard work and service to the community. When I started my roofing company, I wanted to make sure it was fully licensed and operational within all the local and state guidelines. So we are exactly that. Plus, we are A+ rated with the Better Business Bureau.
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 knew long ago that I had a passion for selfless acts of service to my community so when I decided to open a local roofing company several years ago, it was my intention to provide the Rockford area with an affordable and unmatched service as a roofing contractor.
Q 4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: Remain focused on your goals and do not let negative influences or bad habits pull you away from your dreams.
Q 5. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: A strong work ethic; Determination and Focus, a strong business plan that creates value to customers.
Q 6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: 10-15
Q 7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: Creating structure and systems of organizational duties. Evaluating risk and mitigating loss.
Q 8. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: I have only been growing by organic growth and word of mouth. Door knocking and storm chasing.
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: I did not use capital. I saved money from my previous employment and decided to go “all-in” on starting my own venture.
Q 10. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Long term success begins with creating value, having a service that is always in demand, and constantly calculating return on investment. Whether it’s in people, materials, or marketing.
Q 11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: Having several crews and expanding throughout the entire northern part of Illinois and into Wisconsin. Working less but managing more.
Q 12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: Martin Exteriors; Warner Roofing, and Top Notch Roofing & Exteriors Inc.
Q 13. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: This is one of the foundations of any good successful service based business. Quality over quantity. A good customer experience is just as if not more important that cost.
Q 14. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: Once I evaluate its results in about a month, I decide if the investment (time or money) is worth the effort.
Q 15. What motivates you?
Ans: My primary motivation is family. Creating stability and providing for them as a business owner is my focus.
Q 16. What are your ideals?
Ans: Family, God, Country, structure, focus, service to others, and professionalism.
Q 17. How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: New ideas come from any form of inspiration. Sometimes in mimicking others. Nearly anything new out there has already been done. SO the best way to become successful in any particular thing is to copy what other successful people are doing in that particular thing.
Q 18. How do you define success?
Ans: Success is not measured in the attainment of wealth but in the contentment of my own accomplishments.
Q 19. How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: How I have built the customers I have, has been as I mentioned through organic growth and word of mouth. I do not have products so the likelihood of repeat customers is based on our quality of work over the lifespan of the service we provide.
Q 20. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: Time freedom to be there for my family and children when they need me to be. Financial security is second to that.
Q 21. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: My most satisfying moment has been every time we complete a project and our clients joy of how their new home looks.
Q 22. What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Ans: The majority of people who work for other people are not happy with what they do. I find joy in helping others and creating value for them, whilst getting paid and creating employment opportunities for others.
Q 23. 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: Our culture is that of communication and closeness. Without an open dialogue we would miss appointments, and ultimately go under as a business. I establish this up front with anyone who works with/for me, so they know right away what my expectations are.
Q 24. In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Ans: Blissful
Q 25. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Ans: I would engage with digital marketing from the beginning.
Q 26. How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Ans: It creates more opportunities for them as things are more affordable, and gives me the time to be able to take off of work when I need to, for any life event.
Q 27. What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Ans: I don’t really believe in fear, but if I had to list one, would be losing my business at is the primary (but not only) source of income for my family.
Q 28. How did you decide on the location for your business?
Ans: The building was for sale, was affordable, and I met the criteria to buy it.
Q 29. Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Yes, as an entrepreneur one must focus not just on their Professional growth, but also their physical and personal growth as well. This is known as the three P’s.
Q 30. If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
Ans: Thomas Edison; I would want to know after so many failures, why he didn’t give up and move on to something new. What kept him going.
Q 31. Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Ans: My children
Q 32. What book has inspired you the most? (OR what is your favorite book?)
Ans: I love Dale Carnegie “How to Win Friends and Influence People”.
Q 33. What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?
Ans: I have invested in the wrong thing, at the wrong time. This sometimes has been financial but sometimes is just a personal investment of time.
Q 34. How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
Ans: Evaluate risk and mitigate loss.
Q 35. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
Ans: Spend time with my family, and I enjoy going to my kids’ sporting events.
Q 36. What makes you happy?
Ans: Spending time with my family.
Q 37. What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Every entrepreneur goes through a period of being at home or spending time with their families less. This is no different for me.
Company Detail:
Company : JJD Roofing & Construction Co
Contact : John Alonso
Address : 3303 Auburn St –
City : Rockford
State : Illinois
Zip : 61101
Country : United States
Phone : +1 815-509-9295+1 815-509-9295
Email : support@jjdroofing.com