Episode 127: From Tradesman to Entrepreneur: Andrew Houston’s Business Journey Part 2

In Part 2 of this three-part series, our guest, Andrew Houston, joins our host, Bob Gauvreau, to discuss key leadership challenges in the trades, including owner isolation, the pressure to appear strong, and the importance of having a supportive community.

They explore Andrew’s principle of “putting the pride aside,” the power of hiring people who outperform the owner, and why chaos inside a business drives top talent away. The discussion also touches on the growing skilled-trades shortage and how environment and structure influence who you attract.

This episode provides insights into creating a high-performance culture, ethically attracting Top talent, and developing systems that support sustainable growth.

👉 Catch Part 3 to complete the series and unlock the final strategies for scaling your business.

Episode Highlights:

• 00:00 Hiring Better People and Overcoming Pride
• 10:50 The Role of Coaching and Community
• 11:19 The Importance of Environment and Control
• 16:40 Ethical Recruitment and Business Growth
• 16:53 The Impact of Personal Experiences on Business Decisions
• 22:21 The Best Time to Hire and Retain Top Talent
• 24:53 The Role of Profit and Sustainability in Business
• 25:51 The Importance of Ethical Practices in Recruitment
• 26:08 The Impact of Remote Work and Flexibility on Recruitment
• 26:27 The Role of Coaching and Community in Business Success

About the Guest:
Andrew Houston is the founder of Profit for Contractors, a business coaching service dedicated to helping contractors maximize profit, dominate their market, and regain time to spend with their families. With a background as an Industrial Controls Licensed Electrician and Electronics Engineering Technologist, and having owned and sold his own automation company, Andrew brings deep industry knowledge to his coaching. Since starting coaching in 2000, he has assisted hundreds of contractors in improving their businesses through mindset coaching, marketing, sales training, and profit strategies. He is well-published and frequently speaks at industry events, aiming to help trades-related business owners achieve financial success and personal balance.

Connect with Andrew:

• Website: https://www.profitforcontractors.com/
• LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/profitforcontractors
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewHoustonpfc/
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-no-bullsh-t-podcast-for-contractors/id1504320346
• Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/profitforcontractors

Resources:

• Visit The Wealthy Entrepreneur Website: https://www.wealthyentrepreneur.co/ 
• Download The Wealthy Entrepreneur (digital book) for FREE: https://profitsimple.ca/wealthy-entrepreneur

• Like our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/wealthyentrepreneurofficial

• Join The Wealthy Entrepreneur Community for FREE at https://www.facebook.com/groups/gauvreaucpa 

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