What motivates you? That’s a tough question for anyone to answer. The reasons could be many: money, family or just for the love of it.
Many contractors we profile tell me they love doing what they do because they enjoy helping others: They like coming in to “save the day.”
Matt Aston, owner and founder of GPRS in Toledo, Ohio, was had a power motivation when he founded his utility locating company 22 years ago. He was motivated by making the industry safer. You could say he and his company were coming in to save the day.
NOT SETTLING FOR SMALL
When Aston founded his company, as you’ll read in this issue’s profile, it was just a small operation with a simple goal of creating awareness of the technology and a second goal of doubling the size of the company within three to four years.
Looking at his company now, you can say he accomplished his goals. GPRS now spans all 50 states and offers a multitude of utility locating services and video pipeline inspection services. All he wanted to do was make digging safer for the thousands of contractors that are in this industry constantly digging in the ground filled with utilities.
It wasn’t easy to get to the point his company is at now and achieving goals you make for yourself is never going to be easy. Instead of tackling every single goal you might have, narrow it down to one or two and focus on those. Once you have those two accomplished, work on the others.
I bet Aston didn’t work on all of his goals at once. He first worked at creating awareness of the dangers in the ground and then once that took off, he put his attention on growth of the company. One led to the other and that is how most goals should be made and accomplished.
WHAT’S YOUR MOTIVATION?
So, to echo the first line of this column, what motivates you? Tell me how you started your company or how you found your way into utility construction. Email me at editor@digdifferent.com or call 800-257-7222.
Enjoy this issue!
