Misfit Entrepreneur May 2024 - 406: From Teacher to Construction CEO: Chelsea Husom on Success, Balance, and Breaking Industry Norms

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Dave Lukas Chats with Chelsea Husom

406: From Teacher to Construction CEO: Chelsea Husom on Success, Balance, and Breaking Industry Norms

This week’s Misfit Entrepreneur is Chelsea Husom. Chelsea is a true Misfit Entrepreneur. She is a standout in the male dominated construction industry building a massive business, American GPR & Coring in Denver, CO which provides core drilling and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) services.

Chelsea has been features everything from FOX to ABC and CBS and is the author of Real Vibes Only: Unapologetic Confessions of a Hot Mess Mompreneuer. After hearing that title, I bet you can understand why I had to have her on the show.

I’m excited to discuss breaking through barriers, her experience building her business, and the lessons she’s learned on how to consistently succeed as a mom and entrepreneur.

ChelseaHusom.com

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Show Notes

Chelsea grew up in a small town in South Dakota, where she earned degrees in Spanish and broadcast journalism. She moved to Colorado for a broadcasting internship, hoping to become a news anchor, but soon realized that career wasn't for her. Instead, she spent several years in experiential marketing and trade shows, only to find herself feeling unfulfilled. Seeking a greater sense of purpose, Chelsea earned a master’s in education and became a high school Spanish teacher for 10 years. But she was still not fulfilled and decided to seek new opportunities. Struggling to find work, she eventually took a position as an office manager at a construction company, where she learned the ins and outs of the industry. In March 2020, she founded American GPR and Coring, balancing it with her office job until April 2022, when she went full time in the business and has grown it exponentially ever since.

How did you end up picking your business in that industry?

Chelsea realized there was a demand for GPR services in Denver with few companies offering timely services.
She started with GPR scanning after discussions with industry reps and finding there wasn’t a great provider in the marketplace.
She then added core drilling services based on client needs and now does more coring than scanning.

How did you learn how to do these things?

She researched and received training from Hilti, a company providing GPR and coring equipment. Basically, they agreed to train her if she was buying the equipment.
She then went out and found experienced technicians to bring in-depth knowledge to the team and took better care of them than their current employers through compensation and even paying full time when times were slow. She did whatever it took to get the best of the best.
By hiring the best, Chelsea could rely on technicians’ expertise and continuous learn through field experience.

How did you get your first clients?

Because she hired experience people, she had her first employee hand out business cards at construction sites where they knew people and knew they needed the services.
From there, the company’s growth has been driven by referrals and building strong client relationships.
Chelsea also attends events to meet potential clients and build personal connections.

What have you learned about how to compete in business and stand out?

Chelsea learned the importance of prioritizing honesty and safety on job sites, which clients appreciated as it was lacking from other providers.
She has also built a culture and trains her team to educate clients about services and maintains clear communication with them.
The company also has a focus on a higher level of professionalism and a positive attitude among employees.

How do you find and ensure you have the right people?

Chelsea focuses on employee referrals rather than traditional job postings. She hires the best and knows they know the best.
Her Initial hires included family and personal networks, leading to a culture of trust.
As noted above, she pays employees for 40 hours a week regardless of work volume to ensure job security. This has created a great reputation for GPR as a place to work.

What has been the biggest challenge and biggest surprise in building your business?

Finding the right people and managing them effectively.
Her biggest surprise was the positive reception in the market and the reputation for reliability leading to unexpected client outreach.

How do you plan to maintain your standards as you grow?

Chelsea talks about setting clear expectations for employees regarding professionalism and compliance.
She also prefers controlled growth to maintain company culture and quality. She could grow fast, but she is playing the long game.
GPR also has put great focus on values and supporting employees through recognition and benefits.

What advice do you have for other mompreneurs on finding harmony between business and family?

Cheslea involves her children in the business to show them the results of hard work. They get to see her operating and running the business and learning how all aspects of it work
She also prioritizes activities that boost energy and well-being, such as exercise and limiting alcohol.
Lastly, she protects her time and sets boundaries to balance work and personal life.

What lessons from your book 'Real Vibes Only' are important for entrepreneurs?

Entrepreneurs need to be real and own their imperfections.
Network and build you tribe. Connect with like-minded individuals for support and growth.
Build the life you want and setting boundaries to ensure fulfillment.

Best Quote

I want my kids involved to see what I'm doing. I want them to see that I'm building something and to understand that I'm working really hard, but you can work hard and create anything.

Protect your time and ensure your activities align with your goals.

Build a supportive network of like-minded individuals.

Have the courage to create the life you desire, rejecting societal pressures to conform.

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