“Don’t worry so much and if you do, use worry to your advantage.”

Launched in 2005 by nationally touring comedian, Carmen Ciricillo, www.constructioncomedy.com is the first of it’s kind in the world. Carmen, a true entrepreneur, found a niche and hasn’t slowed down since. In addition to launching constructioncomedy.com, Carmen is also a professional speaker to the construction industry. Since 1987, he has been speaking to some of the largest construction associations and companies in the U.S. and Canada. He has entertained on the NASCAR circuit and appeared for three years on The Discovery Channel for a home improvement show. Since 1997, Carmen has taught continuing education for Florida Licensed Contractors and has done so with humor, motivation and sincerity.

MO: What inspired you to launch your business?

Carmen: I had been doing stand up comedy on the road for years and was looking for a way to continue to speak and stay closer to home. I started booking one night comedy events in Sarasota, FL and was discovered by an civil engineer that was looking for exactly what I was doing- construction comedy. I worked for months with the engineering firm creating a 14 hour seminar on relevant topics for the construction industry that was not only informative but also entertaining.

MO: What issue does your core product help solve and how so?

Carmen: My seminar teaches topics that fulfill the requirements to renew contractor licenses. Since these topics are set, every school teaches the same information. The problem is that these topics can be very dry and students lose interest quickly. I take these topics and create customized power point presentations that incorporate stand up comedy, humorous pictures and videos that educate and capture the students attention. I can make 14 hours feel like a mere 12!

MO: What’s the most exciting thing on the horizon for you/your Company?

Carmen: We are building a new online school that will also use humor to educate and give students the benefit of being able to take classes anywhere and anytime. Our current online school was built in 2005 and we are revamping to meet todays needs. We will have a dynamic presentation where you can read text or listen to audio that is voiced over my me. It will be closer to a online power point presentation where pictures will fade in and out and will also be interactive. The student can ask a question at any time, pause or even stop the presentation and the computer will retain the progress.

MO: Do you consider yourself successful and by what means do you measure success?

Carmen: I am tough on myself but would say that I have been successful in many arenas. After very little achievements, I started goal setting and realized that to be successful you had to plan and then actually work that plan. Driving for hours in a vehicle around the country gave me the opportunity to listen to the best minds in the business and I gained a measure self improvement through the beauty of audio cassettes. I have achieved a very large chunk of what I set out to do and know that I am successful by looking at the end results – a solid family with an awesome wife that has helped me build our business. I think that is number one. We are successful because we don’t put business first but know that it is important to create and continue to earn money.

MO: What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs and business owners? What do you wish someone told you?

Carmen: Don’t worry so much and if you do, use worry to your advantage. Worry is useful because it puts you on alert that something must be done, but don’t let it get too deep in your head. You can create a monster by giving it too much attention. Living an entrepreneurial life isn’t easy and you have to make constant decisions which lead to worry. The more decisions you make the less worry over time because you see that those decisions were correct.