133: No Clients, No Calls, No Problem with Billy Austin

“So, this is a story I like to tell. We're in the office. The phone's not ringing. It's just a regular workday. We're just sitting there, & I said, ‘Well, I'm going to go out and find some work.’” – Billy Austin

What happens when an engineer from Charlotte, NC buys an engineering firm in 2007, only to face the Great Recession a year later?

For Billy Austin, it wasn’t spreadsheets or strategy that saved him — it was his willingness to try anything, including a blind car ride into the unknown.

With no clients calling, Billy got in his car, drove to an industrial park, & started knocking on doors. That bold move sparked a partnership with Duke Energy, giving his fledgling engineering firm the lifeline it needed to thrive.

His self-made journey serves as encouragement to all entrepreneurs who need to remember that trust doesn’t come automatically, growth starts with humility, & when in doubt, just take the first step – even if you don’t know where it’s going.

To learn more, visit ShultzEngineering.com.

You can’t help of think of Helen Keller when you hear Billy’s story. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”