From Tradesman to Businessman

Through the Door: The Insider's Perspective on Running a Business

Carlos Gonzalez is the Founder and President of C-Los Industries, a successful construction company based in Las Vegas. With a career spanning several decades, Carlos has worked in the trades since he was 18, gaining extensive experience in manufacturing and construction. His entrepreneurial journey began after years of working for other companies, where he learned the importance of scalability, financial management, and strategic planning. Carlos is known for his commitment to financial education, both for himself and his employees, and for fostering a supportive, family-oriented work environment. He values humility, respect, and empowering his team, which has been integral to his company's growth and success. Carlos is also a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and a classic car enthusiast.

All price references and market forecasts correspond to the date of this recording. This podcast should not be copied, distributed, published or reproduced in whole or in part. The information contained in this podcast does not constitute research, recommendations, representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of the statements of any information contained in this podcast and any liability from Zions Bancorporation, N.A or its divisions (including direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage) is expressly disclaimed. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. or any of its divisions. Zions Bancorporation, N.A. is not providing any financial, economic, legal, accounting or tax advice or recommendations in this podcast. In addition, the receipt of this podcast by any listener is not to be taken as constituting the giving of advice, investment or otherwise, by Zions Bancorporation, N.A. to that listener, nor to constitute such person a client of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Copyright reserved by Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Nevada State Bank is a division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Member FDIC

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1. From Tradesman to Businessman (00:00:00)

2. Welcome Carlos Gonzalez, Founder & President of C-Los Industries (00:00:06)

3. Carlos' Early Career in the Trades (00:00:50)

4. Learning From Other Businesses When Starting Out (Scalability & Building a Client Base) (00:01:36)

5. Did You Start Your First Business as a Sole Proprietorship or a Partnership? (00:02:16)

6. Lesson's Learned From a Partnership (Ignorance ii Not the Answer) (00:02:49)

7. Aligning Goals & Responsibilities in a Partnership (00:04:56)

8. Pivoting From One Business to the Next (00:06:12)

9. The Importance of a Solid Business Plan (00:07:04)

10. Finding the Right Balance in Your Cash Flow (00:08:44)

11. Incremental Growth & Scalability (00:10:13)

12. Financing or Pay Cash? (00:11:23)

13. The Break Even Point (00:12:51)

14. Taking on Business Financing (00:13:44)

15. Continuing On After the Loss of a Business Partner (00:14:57)

16. Transitioning Into an Employee-Owned Company (00:17:41)

17. Involving Employees in Strategic Planning (00:19:24)

18. Focusing on the Bottom Line (00:21:04)

19. Finding Mentors in your Clients & Vendors (00:23:11)

20. Finding Your Place in the "Food Chain" (00:24:59)

21. Diversifying Your Vendor & Client Base (00:26:15)

22. Identifying and Preparing for a Slow Period (00:28:36)

23. Financial Backing and High Sales Volume Can Be a False Sense of Security (00:29:25)

24. Building a Family Business (00:31:04)

25. Nurturing a Great Team (00:33:47)

26. Employee Financial Literacy (00:36:00)

27. Standardization: Keeping Things Consistent (00:38:12)

28. Navigating Difficult Conversations (00:40:02)

29. Developing Employees Through Added Respobnsibility (00:42:03)

30. Closing (00:42:54)