Launching and Growing a Consulting Business with Paul Beers.
From solopreneur to launching and growing a successful expert consulting business, Paul Beers shares his entrepreneur story. Paul Beers is the founder of GCI Consultants. GCI Consultants is the industry leading expert in building envelope consulting. They are solvers and preventers of almost any building envelope problem. They help their clients identify and resolve existing performance problems such as water leaks, glazing or wall system problems, or roofing issues with cost-effective solutions.
Paul E. Beers established GCI Consultants in 1988. He has over 25 years experience in the window and glazing trade and with building envelopes. He is a leading expert with glazing systems and hurricane damage and protection. He was instrumental in the development and implementation of missile impact tests after Hurricane Andrew hit Dade County, Florida. His expertise includes windows, doors, glass and wall claddings with an emphasis on water leakage and damage. He has served as an expert witness in federal and circuit courts for windows, doors, glass and wall systems and water leakage. Mr. Beers has been cited as an expert on nationally televised programs such as CNN, along with interviews by local television and radio stations throughout the nation. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Popular Science, Engineering News Record and many daily newspapers and trade publications regarding his work with glazing and hurricane damage and prevention. He has been a featured speaker at Florida Department of Insurance, Institute for Business and Home Safety, Construction Specifications Institute, ASTM, Glass Association of North America, and the Glass Association of Florida. He has published articles with Progressive Architecture, Glass Magazine, U.S. Glass and Metal and CSI Magazine.
Launching and Growing a Consulting Business with Paul Beers:
- Paul Beers started out as a construction laborer and carpenter during college, then moved into window installations. In the late 80’s he began to develop his expertise in building envelopes, including serving as an expert witness for water damaged properties.
- David Begin and Paul mentioned Strategic Coach. This program has helped him with goal setting, value creation and most importantly with understanding his unique abilities – focusing on what he is good at and building a team around him that compliment his skills.
- One of his biggest challenges early on in building his company was the transition from single-expert to a group of consultants working together.
- An ongoing challenge with a consulting organization like his is maintaining effective communication. They are a virtual company with employees in the field or working remotely. They can go up to a year at a time without seeing each other, and are always looking for ways to improve communications. Paul mentioned Basecamp as a tool they have used to help stay in touch on projects
- His business is somewhat dependent on the economy, which requires careful planning and diversification to plan for the downturns. GCI has been able to do this and perform well in the boom times and during economic down cycles.
- What makes GCI unique? They fill a specific niche in their industry. They help clients reduce the risk and liability related to water penetration and damage to buildings. They are experts in a very specific area of the process – the building envelope. It’s about focusing on what they do well and complimenting the building process for a building owner, contractor, architect, engineer, etc. GCI understands how to save their clients money over the long-term by helping them reduce risk, helping prevent a catastrophic situation and avoid costly litigation.
- Paul has grown his business through client referrals. They deliver excellent customer service throughout the client engagement, which has resulted in a great reputation in the industry.
- Find out more about Paul Beers and his company at the GCI Consultants Website.
Resources:
Books mentioned in this episode:
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- MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom by Tony Robbins
- Who by Geoff Smart
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