Ladi Goldwire is a State licensed General Contractor and Building Code Administrator certified through the International Code Council. She has over 15 years of experience in the construction industry. Her primary focus has been on the creation and expansion of small to medium size construction firms. She has found a passion for hemp construction which is sustainable and economical. Ladi is extremely dedicated to mentoring and empowering women in business.

1. Can you tell our readers about your background? 

I am happy too. I am a small business owner who lives in beautiful South Florida. I am a native of the state. I am a practicing General Contractor and State Licensed Building Code Administrator. Licensed for well over 15 years, I’ve gone on to secure licensure as a Home Inspector, Real Estate Agent, and Licensed Property Adjuster. My children are all adults and I have a 2-year-old grandson named Liam. I am a mental health and industrial hemp (cannabis) advocate. I enjoy writing and eagerly awaiting the release of Woman You Are, my memoir this March. 

2. What inspired you to start your business? 

I was inspired to start my business by way of default. If I am honest, I could not find employment years ago that could adequately support me trying to raise my three children. I was always around the industry. My father was a block mason. His father was a tile setter. Initially, I doubted whether or not I could make it work but going into business for myself is by far one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself and for my family. 

3. Where is your business based? 

My business is located in West Palm Beach, Florida. It is a beautiful city about 60 miles north of Miami. Because of its central location I am able to perform work throughout the tri-county area which encompasses Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami. 

4. How did you start your business? 

I was able to start my construction company in 2006. It was relatively difficult only because it wasn’t as simple as just securing a business name and registering it with the state. In order to advertise and call me a contractor, I had to study for and sit for a state exam. Also, I had to complete a four-year apprenticeship and prove to the state board that I met the minimum qualifications. I wanted to make sure there were no limitations to the license with regard to what types of construction I could engage in. In Florida, contractors are classified as residential contractors( 2 stories) building contractors( 3 stories), and general contractors ( unlimited story height). It was important to me to secure the unlimited license. The state laws prohibit you from advertising as a contractor if in fact, you don’t have the appropriate licensing. For these reasons, starting my business included a few additional steps 

5. What were the first steps you took?

I kind of mentioned that earlier but essentially licensure was the biggest step. After, I secured an EIN number with the IRS for tax purposes, registered with the state, and then I opened a bank account. I made fliers and called every contact I had in my phone to let them know I was open and available to do small jobs. I also made it a point to certify my business with the federal government, securing the classification as a Minority Owned Women Business. All of these steps were critical to my being able to pull off starting a general contracting firm. Actually finding work and putting systems in place that have more or less evolved over the years. 

6. What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Word of mouth, not doubt. I have had my greatest success and got the greater portion of my business through referrals. As you are aware social media has changed the idea of marketing and customer outreach. I can truly say my business has only been enhanced by social media now that I have a handle on how to use it to promote my business. Many of my business also comes by way of real estate agents. Over the years, I have found a means to carve out a niche for my business. So much of what I do is centered around cleaning up and legitimizing unpermitted work. Because most agents can’t transfer property without making sure all open, expired, and violation permits are cleared this has turned out to be a very lucrative pathway for my firm. 

7. What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

Overcoming my biggest challenges has not been easy but it has been doable. I have always held to the mantra that what is happening to you is also happening for you. Because of that I try my best to push through. I am always open to exploring new and innovative options and I like to rely heavily on data, past experience, market trends, and leaning into what “feels right”. More times than none my intuition has served me right and I have been able to avoid major mistakes by simply listening to my gut. Staring the challenge in the face and peeling back the layers until you can find a resolution is really the only way to defeat hard times, in my opinion. Another method that has proven successful in avoiding many challenging situations is getting the hard conversations out of the way first. It is a relatively simple concept but something many of us would rather avoid. By having difficult conversations- asking all of the hard questions up front, I have found that you can avoid many of the hiccups that come along with guessing outcomes and expectations. 

8. How do you stay focused? 

I struggle to focus if I am perfectly honest. I was diagnosed with ADHD in my teens and it has been a thorn in my side in every sense. I don’t know that I am successful at maintaining focus however I am able to home in on deadlines and I always envision the satisfying feeling of completing a task. I also make lots of lists. I keep them everywhere. Once I have things out of my head and on paper I like to challenge myself to begin an item on that list and see it through to completion. Notorious for starting tasks before I complete others, I am constantly trying to rid myself of the habit by forcing myself to finish the things I start. It doesn’t always work but it is always the goal. 

9. How do you differentiate your business from the competition? 

My business is quite different from many general contracting firms in that much of what I do is on the front side of construction. While I do engage in new and renovation construction at least 45% of my business centers around project management, planning, and resolving permitting and project licensing roadblocks my clients may run into. Because so much happens prior to shoveling in-ground, the services that I offer are invaluable. Many of us in this industry are super focused on what happens vertically. So much of the magic happens long before any dirt is turned over. My business offers insight and plans for the obstacles before they present. The reassurance that we offer in my firm is what many of our clients pay top dollar for. 

10. What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Social media has proven to be a gem. I completely underestimated its value in the beginning but over the last decade, it has made a world of difference. The reach that I have been able to obtain via social media has proven to be a critical component of my market strategy where growing my business is concerned. Although the strategy fluctuates, the goal is to reach as many people in my market as possible who are willing to pay for comfort and convenience. 

11. What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

The best piece of advice I would give to aspiring and new entrepreneurs is to trust the inner you. The inner you is working in sync with the Universe to ensure that you will be successful. Keep the details of what you are trying to birth by way of your dream and vision close to the vest. Share what needs to be shared in order to move your plan forward. However, don’t overshare. So many people are unintentionally positioning themselves to talk you out of your dream and if you are too vocal about it in its infancy stages you may thwart the possibilities with all the noise. Listen beneath the noise and push your dream forward. Study the competition and learn as much you can about your competition and your industry. 

12. What's your favorite app, blog, and book? 

My favorite blog currently belongs to my daughter-in-law. It’s www.saskyann.com 13. Why?

She is a young school teacher specializing in English literature who happens to also be a foodie. She is super fun and super passionate about inspiring young kids in inner cities to learn. She makes it so fun. It is really cool to see all of the innovative ways she is able to present new methods of learning to children. Teachers are so underrated. This pandemic has been so hard on educators and to see up close and personal the sacrifice they make to invest and mold children is amazing to me. 

14. What's your favorite business tool or resource? My favorite business resource is Inc. com’s business courses they offer in varying subjects about entrepreneurship. I am always stalking their site to see what they will showcase next. I enjoy being able to purchase and participate in their curriculums. 

Why? I enjoy there's so much because they are typically in tandem with what is going on in the market and its information is always fresh and representative of the latest trend. 

15. Who is your business role model? Mark Cuban and Jay-Z. Why? Both men took a very nontraditional approach to both starting and heading up their businesses. They are both gut thinkers and they both seem to live by the practice of that you don’t have to be a jerk to be in charge. They lean into their truest assets - their employees. I hear they are great people to work for. 

16. How do you balance work and life? 

I balance work and life in all honesty by not buying into the concept that I have to balance it. So much of being an entrepreneur means that your work and your play is intertwined. If you are approaching it in the right way it is. I don’t want to compartmentalize business and work. I know that is not a popular opinion but I don’t, however my work is a huge part of my life. I am keenly aware that I work to live as opposed to living to work- but I also know that so much of who I am is my work. I don’t take issue with nor am I of the mindset that work is bad or taxing and I don’t view it as keeping my nose to the grind. I am happy to be doing something I love and because it does not feel like work- I am not looking to extract it and create a separate space for it in my life. 

17. What’s your favorite way to decompress? 

I love to listen to podcasts. I totally enjoy listening to music and I love the art of sitting still. Sitting still would be my favorite out of those three. I like to get quiet. Evaluate all of the things I am super grateful for and just give thought to how fortunate I am to have my life. It is not a perfect one but I feel as if I have created a pretty amazing space of living for myself. 18. What do you have planned for the next six months? 

I am eagerly looking forward to a year of travel provided this pandemic will slow down a bit. I want to visit Greece and Africa. I have them planned for March and December respectively and I am counting down. I have my memoir tentatively scheduled for

March of 2022. It is called “Woman You Are” and I have several additional professional certifications that I am actively pursuing. That will keep me busy for the next six months, I am sure. 

19. How can our readers connect with you? 

Viewers can find me on Instagram @gcgalladi and @brinmarconstruction.

Website: https://www.brinmarelite.com/home