David Michaux — He Quit Project Management to Build a Welding Business

David Michauxleft a stable project-management career to become a certified welder and buildMichaux Metalworks. The transition forced him to learn what trade school couldnot teach: estimating, equipment decisions, customer selection, pricing, cashflow, and hiring. David explainswhy his first underpriced job cost him more than $1,000, how he launchedwithout taking on unnecessary debt, why he posts daily Reels, and what changedwhen another person's paycheck depended on the business. Listen for acandid look at moving from employee to tradesman to owner, and the decisionsthat make a small trades business sustainable.   Join the FromThe Ground Up Show newsletter: https://fromthegroundupshow.com/newsletter/ WATCH &LISTEN Watch this fullepisode: https://youtu.be/FYSmS8YEIQY Subscribe toFrom The Ground Up Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p Listen in yourpodcast app: https://pod.link/1846907140 SHORTEREDITIONS From The GroundUp Show CONDENSED — a roughly 20-minute focused version of the fullconversation. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa9BVKGD64tA Podcast apps: https://pod.link/6806079674 From The GroundUp Show: Topics — complete 3–10-minute episodes built around one usefulquestion or lesson. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVzToS_5Hj6o Podcast apps: https://pod.link/6808750058 GUEST &RESOURCES MichauxMetalworks: https://michauxmetalworks.com/ PARTNERS &SPONSORS https://www.macarthurco.com https://athletefresh.shop/fromthegroundupshow ABOUT FROM THEGROUND UP SHOW Real stories.Hard lessons. Stronger foundations. From The GroundUp Show delivers honest business and leadership conversations and practicallessons for owners, operators, tradespeople, entrepreneurs, and leadersbuilding something that lasts—with hearts, hands, and hustle. Hosted by ErickLoden, a former commercial roofing company owner and business advisor. From2014 to 2025, he owned and ran his roofing company, growing annual revenue morethan eightfold and operating profit approximately fifteenfold before completinga successful internal sale. Website: https://www.fromthegroundupshow.com Have a questionfor Erick or an upcoming guest? https://fromthegroundupshow.com/ask-a-question/ Have a storybuilt through hearts, hands, and hustle? Apply to be a guest and tell yourstory: https://fromthegroundupshow.com/be-a-guest/