Episode Details

Joseph Cruz left a lucrative job in finance to pursue business ownership. Year 1 has gone well (despite losing his GM).

Register for the webinars: 

• What Type of Franchise Is Right for You? - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/48gn6eH
• The Operator’s Perspective: Running a Business for an Owner - Thu, Apr 9 - https://bit.ly/4m7lSZ7

Topics in Joseph’s interview:

• Growing up in a Filipino immigrant family
• Why aging infrastructure creates long-term opportunity
• The laundromat that started it all
• Running an “oh sh*t” business 
• Construction seasonality in Chicago
• Last-minute GM retirement before closing
• Running the business while still working his W-2 job
• The scramble to digitize knowledge stuck in employees’ heads
• Building systems, vendor lists, and shared documentation
• Setting the company’s “emotional temperature” as the owner

References and how to contact Joseph:

• LinkedIn
• A&A LinkedIn

• A&A Equipment and Supply Co.

Articles by Joseph:

• From Spreadsheets to Steel-Toed Boots: Lessons from the First Few Months as an Entrepreneur
• Small Businesses are Small for a Reason: What It Really Takes to Modernize a 40-Year-Old Distribution Business
• The Real Work Begins: Midway Through My First Year as a Business Owner
• Top 10 lessons from my first year of owning a business

Download the New CEO’s Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:

• From this page or contact jenny@aspenhr.com

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

• Pioneer Capital Advisory

If you’re serious about buying a business, learn why Acquisition Lab members have a 40% success rate:

• The Acquisition Lab

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

• See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
• Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
• Follow Will on Twitter

Edited by Anton Rohozov
Produced by Pam Cameron