An engineer must have an incredible amount of insight and tenacity in order to achieve their goals. Engineers must create solutions to problems that have never been thought of before. This is an area where Pedram Zohrevand, Ph.D., PE excels the most.
He is the president of CES4 and provides engineering services for various private and governmental clients. He has over fifteen years of experience in the industry and works off of intuition in order to get the job done.
Fortunately, Pedram is here today to provide us with some insight on how he stays successful.
How did you get started in this business? What inspired you to start this business?
I knew from a very young age that I wanted to build things. I was always curious about how things worked. I would oftentimes take apart household appliances just to learn how they work. This curiosity led me to fulfill my destiny as an engineer. I would go to school to learn how to become a professional engineer and the rest is history.
How do you make money?
I provide engineering services and counseling for different private and governmental clients.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
It did not take very long for us to become profitable. We already had a list of potential clients who wanted to work with us whenever we first started CES4. It was only a matter of time before we ended up finding more clients through our high quality of services, referrals, and word of mouth. It has been a very profitable four years.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
There were moments whenever I had some doubts. I wasn’t aware of how the market was and there is a lot of uncertainty in the engineering field. However, I knew that hard work would pay off. I pushed myself every day to be the best engineer and leader that I could in order to get this off the ground. Thankfully, CES4 is thriving and showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
How did you get your first customer?
My first customer was one of my friends. I was asked for structural engineering consulting right after I started CES4. I was very fortunate for this opportunity as it allowed me to get some confidence to go after my other potential clients and present them my skillset and expertise and values that I could bring to their projects. I believe that this was crucial for my personal development.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
I highly attending networking events. We are able to go to high-scale networking events to showcase our products and services. However, there may be areas that you can find that bring together various professionals in your industry. You never know if the next person you meet will provide you with new opportunities. Always seek out new people and introduce yourself. You could find a million-dollar deal after your next handshake.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
I had to take some time to reflect on my work and decide that I am doing too much. I was feeling burnt out and needed some time to replenish my energy. Unfortunately, this would end up cutting into my work time when the company needed me the most.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
I believe that my persistence, consistency, optimistic attitude help me to stay successful. Never giving up and keep my consistent dedication and effort are the main reasons of my achievements. Seeing things from an optimistic perspective has helped me overcome some of the toughest experiences I have ever faced in the engineering industry.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Getting thanked by multiple customers. It is very validating to receive a personal thank you after a job well done. I believe that this kind of feedback is crucial for an entrepreneur to hear. You sometimes will never be validated for your efforts. Hearing those words motivates me to work harder.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
We are beginning to expand our base of operations and provide more services than before. I’m excited about the growth that we are going to experience and the endless possibilities that present themselves to us.
What business books have inspired you?
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries helped me develop myself professionally. I recommend that all people who are serious about starting a business read it.
What is a recent purchase you have made that’s helped with your business?
I recently purchased data management software from a well-trusted company. It has helped us scale our data in an organized way that improves our productivity tenfold.
What last words do you have for our readers?
Never give up on your dreams and surround yourself with the right people who will support you.