Meet Jim Kapteyn | Landscape construction

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jim Kapteyn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jim, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
As I was growing up, I witnessed my dad working very hard at his job, and I watched my uncles running their own businesses. No doubt that I learned my work ethic from my dad, but I saw a difference in lifestyle between those having jobs, and those owning their own business. That was truly the first indicator and motivation behind having my own business.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Our business started out of frustration. Several times early in our marriage, we were promised opportunities that did not materialize. We were taken advantage of by bosses that promised great things. As we look back, all of these difficulties actually taught us valuable lessons, and served as motivation for being our own boss.

I learned that in order to be the best, I need to treat those who work for me either as subcontractors or employees in the best way possible. I pay the most that I can afford, and I treat them kindly, never as the cliche boss-employee thing.

I am most proud of our uncompromising quality of work, our integrity, our efficiency, and our track record.

It has been a very long, hard journey to get where we are today. I have never experienced a steady, upwards trajectory that I had expected. Construction is a very challenging business, there’s allot less loyalty than you might think. Every single project we have tackled, I have the mindset that this one could lead to another. There’s nothing more valuable to me than a repeat customer or a referral that leads to more work. I am constantly looking for more work, so when one comes to me without being another cold call, it’s a huge blessing.

As a business owner, there’s no time off. I work through pain, being sick, being tired, none of it matters, all that matters is to get the job done, get it done accurately, and on time, ready for the next one. I don’t pay attention to hours, time of day, or what day it is, just get it done. Sundays are the only day I don’t work. That to me is difference between having a job or owning a business.

I have always swung for the fences. My income building retaining walls is based on volume. The more wall I build, the more money I make. So I want the biggest walls possible, and then I want another one. The larger scale the project is, the happier and calmer I am. I love it. I love to coordinate all the pieces. There are allot of people in our industry that prefer the creative, doing something different every day…I love production. Learning to be efficient, constantly moving forward, that’s my happy place.

One of our biggest challenges has been our economy. In Alberta, it’s boom or bust, and we’ve had plenty of bust. So, learning to live with an income that is up or down constantly is tough. I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, but I learned now to stay humble, to accept things we cannot control, operate lean, and keep on fighting. I cannot sit back and hope things will just come my way.

What do I want people to know about our company? That there are really good contractors out there, honest, hard-working, skilled professionals, and we are one of them. It is worth it as a consumer to do your research and find the good ones, because you are spending your hard-earned money to get the job done right . The lowest priced contractor is almost never the best one.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If someone was to come and visit our area, well, I love my city, I love my province, and it’s mostly because I love the mentality of the hard working, common sense down to earth people. There is definite beauty in the prairies, the sky is vast and beautiful, our river Vally is quite nice, but I would take my guests a few hours from here and enjoy the mountains in Jasper or Banff. World class, gorgeous places.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to give the credit for our success first to God. He has blessed us, walked with us through all the struggles, and although we stumbled, we did not fall. Then I have to give credit to my beautiful wife who never wavered in her belief in me. When no one else saw our potential, she did. No matter how long it took, how hard it was, how intimidating the challenges seemed, she always believed we could overcome. She’s amazing. I also have to give recognition to my uncle Jim and aunt Audrey who also believed in us throughout, cheered us on, and lent a hand when we needed it.

Website: https://www.rockwaterlandscapes.com