Meet Steven Goushian

We were lucky to catch up with Steven Goushian recently and have shared our conversation below.

Steven, thank you so much for joining us today and appreciate you talking about a sensitive topic. It’s unfortunately relevant to so many in the community as layoffs have been on the rise recently, and so we’d appreciate hearing your story and how you overcame being let go?

In construction, layoffs are almost guaranteed to happen. It’s just the nature of the business. I started about 10 years ago working for carpenters which I ended up leaving after breaking my toe on the job. From there I worked for a concrete company where we were laid off due to cold weather. Next, I worked for a waterproofing company which I ended up leaving due to the multitude of bad personalities and unsafe work conditions. Finally, I landed my spot in a union cement mason apprenticeship and was working on high rises in the great city of Philadelphia. Eventually the work at that company slowed down and I was laid off so that’s when I leaned into starting my own company called Top G Concrete

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

At Top G Concrete we turn your backyard into a place you want to be. Whether you like hosting summer parties or just relaxing nights in the hot tub with your spouse, we can make your dreams a reality. What makes us different is we offer many options so we can find a way to make your budget work. Some examples include concrete patios, paver patios, fire pits and seating walls. Our new product for this year, which we are super excited about, is pool installs. Beautiful precast pools that can be installed above, below or somewhere in between very quickly.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I would say number 1 is knowing my craft thoroughly. When it comes to concrete and masonry, it has to be done right the first time or else it will be a very costly repair. So, if you don’t know what you’re doing, go out and learn first.
Second is being able to communicate and understand what our clients want. Often my clients talk about a contractor they meet who does not listen to what they want and just has their own ideas in mind. Then when they come to me, I ask them the questions and draft a project plan to reach their vision. This business is all about the client. It’s their yard, it’s their vision, it’s what they’re going to wake up and live with for possibly the rest of their lives.
Third, and this going to be hard for a lot of people, is knowing that you are NOT the best at everything. As a business owner you have to understand this so you can open your mind to putting the best people in the right positions.

My advice for everyone is to be honest and stay humble. Know there is always something you can learn from everybody.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

“How to Win Friends & Influence People” changed my perspective on sales. It taught me to ask the questions and understand what the person wants. People want you to genuinely have interest in them. The projects we create are too expensive and intricate to be dealing with some high-pressure salesman. Our clients want someone they can trust and that’s what we offer at Top G Concrete.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.topgconcrete.com
• Instagram: @topgconcrete
• Facebook: @topgconcrete
• Other: Find our customer reviews on Google at Top G Concrete