S1E13: Why Do I Need to Hire Someone When I Already Do Their Job? | Angelica Valdivia and José Villeda

When he immigrated to the U.S. in 2005, José Villeda never imagined that he would one day start a construction company. 

He had no construction experience, no business experience, and no money, and he didn’t speak English. But in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, he saw a need for quality craftsmanship and materials in New Orleans. His exceptional leadership skills and drive to learn launched him into the entrepreneurial world.

Today, José is the CEO and Visionary of JLV Construction, and his partner, Angelica Valdivia, is the vice president, CFO, and Integrator™. The pair have built a professional relationship founded on trust, communication, and clear division of roles. In this episode, they share how EOS® has improved their work-life balance.

Key Takeaways: 

• Implementing EOS reduces operational stress.
• In order to grow rapidly, you need an operational system in place.
• Have Same Page Meetings™ as often as you need them – don’t limit yourself to once a month.

Some Questions Asked: 

• How did José start his business when five years prior he didn’t have any money, connections, or construction experience?
• Why did José decide to run his business on EOS?
• What challenges have José and Angelica faced when defining Visionary and Integrator roles?

Operate on EOS and Dream Big

Angelica and José share that embracing their Visionary and Integrator roles has inspired them to dream big and stress less. José points out that this holds special significance for him. While he is immensely grateful for the opportunities he has been given ever since he immigrated to the U.S., his journey has required nonstop hard work. 

In 2010, José moved to New Orleans to work construction. He was doing small jobs for people in low-income neighborhoods and noticed how badly the people were being treated by contractors in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. People deserved better, and José saw the impact a quality house can have on someone’s life.  

“We don’t believe that we are building homes. We are fulfilling people’s dreams.” – José [9:32]

When his company took off in 2014, José was the sole payroll employee. He knew he needed help, but it was tough to take the plunge and hire a full-time office manager.

“Sometimes I was scared about doing the next step and hiring people. With a few guys, [the business] wasn’t a commitment… With Angelica, it was a little different. It was a compromise.” – José [12:21]

The company grew rapidly. Within a few years, José and Angelica realized they wouldn’t be able to keep pace without an organizational system. They were introduced to EOS in 2016, but it wasn’t until a few years later that they started officially implementing it. One challenge they faced was defining and refining role responsibilities so that there was no overlap between the Visionary and Integrator.

However, with increased role clarity, José and Angelica have seen the ways in which their skills are complementary. Most of all, they attest that EOS has been like a torch lighting their way toward a more relaxed future. They’ve even been able to go dancing again.

“Now, because we feel that we have the tools and the confidence that the system that we are creating is going to help us achieve [our goals], we feel much better. And actually, there’s less stress.” – José [30:58]

If you’re interested in implementing EOS and making measurable progress toward your professional growth goals, don’t miss this episode of Rocket Fuel™.

Learn More:

• • JLV Construction
  • José’s LinkedIn profile
  • Angelica’s LinkedIn profile
  • Traction by Gino Wickman
  • What the Heck Is EOS? by Gino Wickman