92: Mike Profant | How to Become an Entrepreneur

On today's episode of The Edge of Excellence, Matt chats with Michael Profant, President and Chief Executive Officer at Empire Works. Mike graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and quickly set out to start a business without any funding. Today, he oversees the development and operation of one of the largest architectural coatings and building restoration companies in the western United States.He will talk about his journey as CEO of a $100 million company. He will share who he was before he came to College Works and what interested him in starting a College Works division in Washington. You'll learn why he turned down a job offer as an assistant project manager for a major construction company. He will explain the steps to starting a business. You will learn why he started another business. He will talk about his business partnership and how it has led to exponential growth of the company.You will learn how they prepared for the recession. You will learn how the CEO differs from small to large companies and why and how he implements a calculated relinquishment of control in his capacity as CEO. You will learn if he is surprised by his success. He will tell you about his experience at a car show where he viewed the new $600,000 Maserati C120.Join Matt and Michael for a fascinating conversation about the keys to success, the skills it takes to be an entrepreneurial CEO, and the role of the CEO. Enjoy! What You Will Learn In This Show:Mike's definition of excellenceMike's key takeaways from College Works and the impact it has had on his career and lifeHow to become the CEO of a company.How he started a business with no moneyThe importance of partnerships in businessThe impact of rising interest rates on the construction industryThe difference between a startup CEO and an entrepreneurial CEOHis car collection, including the latest addition, the Jeep RubiconAnd so much more...Resources:The Edge of Excellence