Eric Barstow
- Co-Owner
- Contractor Choice LLC
School Information
School: Colorado State University
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2005 to 2010
Career Information
Working For: Contractor Choice LLC
Title: Co-Owner
Industry: Marketing
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
I run the business with my partner, Chandler, who is also a former College Works Branch Manager and District Manager. We provide home service leads to home service companies.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?The impact I’ve made on people around me through Landmark Education and in our personal lives.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting is the most meaningful experience of my life where I met my best friends to this day, business partners to this day, and had some of the most fun of my life while working with College Works Painting.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
College Works Painting gave me the skills and the confidence to pursue entrepreneurship. I immediately started multiple businesses out of college.
What do you want to tell your clients about what it meant to work with them and how it has helped you get to where you are today?
Anne Edwards. She was the first estimate I ever did and the first job I ever booked. After I stumbled my way through the estimate, they just booked with me. It was the best feeling in the world. It gave me so much confidence that someone who never knew me would believe in me.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
That is so hard to answer. If I had to say it would be training and developing people.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
Literally my entire circle of friends is former College Works Painting interns. All of my best friends are former College Works Painting. My business partners, both of them, are former College Works Painting. It’s unbelievable to be surrounded by fellow entrepreneurs who can travel and live it up. I take a trip almost every month with friends I made at College Works Painting.
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
Launchpad for Life I suck at slogans :-)
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
If you are considering College Works Painting, I strongly recommend you participate fully in the program. I don’t mean do it. I mean do it and give it absolutely everything you’ve got. It absolutely will pay off. If you are currently participating, I encourage you to take your leadership to the next level. I learned the most in my later years with College Works Painting, which was invaluable.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Do College Works Painting. The skills you learn will apply to every industry you go into. More importantly, you will learn how to be successful entirely on your own – to create your own business, your own success. That is a challenge that, once overcome, will last with you forever – and impact everything you do.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
The best memories were the late night conversations with my business partners, mentors, or interns. Nothing quite like forming life long friendships.
Last words of wisdom?
You can accomplish anything and it starts right now, so you better get started!