What if the key to scaling your business wasn’t a new tool or tactic—but a radical commitment to integrity? In this episode of the Catalytic Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Alex Castillo, a faith-driven entrepreneur who built his premium contracting company, AC Solutions and More, from the ground up—without ads, without shortcuts, and without compromising his values. His story is a masterclass in leading with purpose, building loyal teams, and growing a business others are willing to wait for.
If you’re an entrepreneur navigating the chaos of scaling, managing small teams, or struggling with client churn, Alex’s journey offers real-world parallels. We unpack what it takes to move from constant firefighting to faith-fueled clarity, and how embracing a servant leadership mindset transforms both company culture and customer retention. You’ll learn why investing in your team’s growth, practicing consistent follow-through, and standing firm in your principles might just be your most powerful growth strategies yet.
Connect with Alex Castillo
Discover more about Alex’s work or connect with his team by visiting AC Solutions and More on Google or Facebook. Check out their project photos, client reviews, and see why loyal customers are willing to wait months for his premium service.
Books Mentioned
- The Bible – mentioned by Alex Castillo as his foundational and daily-read book.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Dr. William Attaway (00:00):
I'm excited today to have Alex Castillo on
the podcast.
Originally from El Salvador,alex has been in the
construction industry for almost20 years.
He migrated to the US, had noplace to stay and failure was
not an option.
He stood on corners looking forwork, spoke no English, had no
(00:20):
car and no family.
He struggled, but he neverstopped learning and trying to
be the best in everything he did.
God opened and closed doors forhim, and today Alex is the
founder and owner of ACSolutions and More, a premier
full-service contracting companywith a team that is dedicated
(00:42):
to providing excellent serviceand pleasing their clients.
Alex, I'm so glad you're here.
Thanks for being on the show.
Thank you for having me.
It's a pleasure.
Intro/Outro (00:53):
Welcome to Catalytic Leadership, the
podcast designed to help leadersintentionally grow and thrive.
Here is your host author andleadership and executive coach,
dr William Attaway.
Dr. William Attaway (01:09):
Alex, I would love to start with you
sharing a little bit of yourstory with our listeners,
particularly around your journeyand your development as a
leader.
How did you get started?
Alex Castillo (01:21):
Well, you know, I came to the US and well, still
being a kid, I'll say at thattime, you don't know what I mean
, you're confused, you don'tknow what you're going to do
with your life.
You just know that you want togrow, you want to be better, you
want to be someone in life, youknow.
But, like I said, and what yousaid in the description, you
(01:44):
know said, and what you said inthe in the description, it, um,
you know, failure was not anoption for me.
I knew that I wanted it to beor do something with my life,
but heading back home was not anoption for me.
Yeah, I think that, um, goinggoing back, now that I look back
when I, when I came andactually walking what my path
and what god did for me alwayscontinue doing for me, has
(02:06):
helped me to realize that allthose times to be where I am
right now is being part of theprocess.
One problem I had it was like Inever trusted and believed that
I could achieve certain things,but I knew in my heart that I
needed to succeed.
So, you know, there's a fewthings that until I remember,
(02:30):
like watching this video of thisgreat pastor and I think I
mentioned it before Mr TD Jakes.
You know he said that one ofhis videos that we have a
self-defeating belief system andthat it's a fight that we have
a self-defeating belief systemand that then that it's a fight
that we have in our brainconstantly, where god says you
(02:52):
are capable and the enemy saysyou are incapable, you can't,
god says you can and then, andthe enemy says you can't.
That's right, and and it's aconstant fight between the two
forces.
But then I said, okay, so howcan I make myself to think
constantly how I can be better?
(03:13):
And then I said you know what?
This is not our nature, it'snot my nature.
My nature is to just sit downand think that I can just relax
and do what I wanted to do andnot to look for something better
.
Right, but at the end Irealized, you know, when I
became a father at such a youngage and being a father I
(03:34):
remember that I stopped thinkingokay, you know, I got to stop
living my life and continue andprovide what I didn't have for
this new person in my life.
So the choice was dead, thatfailure was not an option.
Now that I have a kid, thatshouldn't be a question at all.
Yeah absolutely.
(03:54):
And I remember going to thecorners and thinking, okay, here
I am, I am with differentpeople, different people,
different cultures, differentcountries, and standing in a
corner and trying to figure itout.
How can I make myself different?
Because, you know, there'sMexicans, there's people from
Guatemala, there's people fromNicaragua, nicaragua, Costa Rica
(04:15):
.
They all gather in one place.
But I was like, how do I standout from all these people that
is in this corner?
So when Americans come and tryto find the right people, I look
appealing to them, you know.
And then I say, okay, so Idon't want to look like that.
I don't want to look like that.
I need to show that I amdifferent, okay.
(04:36):
So I was like, okay, I'm goingto change the way I look.
I'm going to change.
I'm going to look clean, I'mgoing to look, I want to be by
myself, I'm going to move out ofthis crowd and move to this
corner and then, if I get theopportunity to be hired by
someone, then I'm going to givethem my 110% and I think that
will have a huge opportunity forme if they come back to hire me
(04:58):
again.
And I remember that formula Iwas not a formula, but that's
what I thought that formula Iwas not a formula, but that's
what I thought that's what keepbringing the same person over
and over again every weekend,every Friday, every Saturday,
and as time passed, well, hetold his neighbor, the neighbor
told his other neighbor, andthat's how they got in contact
(05:20):
with me and that's how I startedhaving more jobs.
And I didn't know anything aboutthe United States how
construction was, what was this?
What was a I don't know aputting knife?
Or how was a sprayer gun or howto use a brush.
I didn't know any of that.
Yeah, you know, and people tookthe time to teach me.
And people took the time.
(05:41):
Some of them were mean, some ofthem were nice, some of them
were rude, some of them were notvery friendly.
But, you know, I took it all asit came, you know, and I think
God has allowed to close andopen doors for me.
And now that I look back, Ithink, hey, wow, god closed this
door to open these other threedoors in my favor.
(06:03):
Wow, I think in this industryit's very challenging, because I
know there are a lot ofdifferent companies that they
try very, very hard to succeedand we all want to succeed but
at the same time is what are thecore values that we are
bringing into our clients, intoour companies, to make sure that
(06:24):
we are reaching out thatpotential or filling out that
purpose?
And one of the things I think isintegrity.
And do everything, regardlessif someone is watching me or not
watching me, but I know for afact that God is looking at me,
what I'm doing.
(06:44):
At the end of the day, I oweeverything to him, me or not
watching me, but I know for afact that God is looking at me,
what I'm doing.
At the end of the day, I oweeverything to him, and I think
that every blessing that comesmy way, I have to treat my
employees or the people that areworking with me in a way that
is honorable.
That is good, that is.
(07:06):
That is good, that is I don'tknow what will be the next word
but that sharing my blessingswith them, not just keep
everything to me, because Ithink when God puts you in a
position as a leader, you havethat responsibility to guide
these people in the path, and Ithink it's a big responsibility
(07:27):
that you hold in your hands.
The same way is yeah, theyprovide a service for you, but
you also provide something tothem.
But at the end of the day, godhold me accountable for that
people that comes to work for me.
So that's how I see it.
I see a little bit of what I doand I hope this helps someone
out there that is trying tochange or improve.
(07:51):
I will say I don't know whatelse to tell you.
Dr. William Attaway (07:56):
Well, I think it's so interesting.
I often say there's no suchthing as a wasted experience.
Everything that happens in ourlives is either for our benefit,
eventually, or something thatwill help us benefit people
around us through the experience, through the story, ways that
we can walk with somebodythrough even the most difficult
things.
There's no such thing as awasted experience.
(08:18):
And I'll look at your story,what you've shared, and I think
there were so many times when itwould have been easy just to
just to give up and say this istoo hard, just give up and say
I'm just going to, I'm justgoing to take the easy road here
.
That's not what you did, youknow.
You continued to press forward.
Even when it was hard, evenwhen people were rude, even when
(08:41):
it seemed like there was, therewas nobody on your side, you
kept going.
And that mindset that failure isnot going to be an option for
me, I'm going to succeed, I'mgoing to press through.
This difficulty is somethingthat I find in the most
successful entrepreneurs.
It's not with the ones who giveup, it's not with the ones who
(09:03):
fail.
Failure is part of the process.
You know, if we look at yourstory, it's not just up and to
the right right it's not justevery year is better than all
the years before it.
Alex Castillo (09:15):
And there was no failure and only success right,
yes, no yeah.
Dr. William Attaway (09:18):
That's not your story.
What kept you going when youkept getting hit, when you kept
taking the the hits?
Alex Castillo (09:26):
you know, what kept me going is, you know the
list of saying, I guess thepeople and it says, uh, you said
it until you believe it.
Right, yeah, you know.
And then I think you know, uh,you believe it, because I heard
this said um, that your mind,your mindset control your assets
.
You know, and I think it's thatyou will believe it, and you
(09:49):
have to believe it until youchange your mindset.
And until today, I stillpractice that.
I love that.
I practice that when I swim, Ipractice that when I run, I
practice that when I'm cycling,I practice that when I'm doing
roof, like today, and I saidthat to myself.
You know there's a better timeahead of me and I know I will
(10:12):
become greater than what I am,but at the same time, I don't
want to be great if I'm notimpacting other people, if I'm
not impacting the kingdom of Godand that is my main thing
Faithfulness to the Lord.
Right when it comes to and thisis a problem nobody talks about
this.
(10:33):
It is giving and honoring Godwith the first fruits of what
you produce or what is given toyou, and I am a huge example of
that.
I try to honor God for what hegives me every single time.
What I pay myself, my 10% goesto the Lord and I think, and
(10:58):
still that's not enough.
Sometimes I feel it's notenough because I'm so thankful
what God has brought me intothis land.
This land is the land of milkand honey and to me, I never
forget that, wow, I see peopleat the 7-E.
Wow, I see people at the7-Elevens.
I see people at Home DepotLowe's.
(11:18):
I remember that that was me, mrWilliam.
That was me, mr William, withone meal a day, sometimes no
meals.
That was me under the cold,with my hands and my fingers all
numb, my toes, hoping thatsomeone will stop and see my
face and take me to work.
I mean, there was not muchdifference from because I was
either running from my life orrunning for other things, you
(11:40):
know, and I was just, you know,I'd rather be called than being
running away from someone that'sgoing to kill me.
Yeah, and that's why, untiltoday, you know, I feel that I
keep going and I think that mygoal right now.
It's bigger and it has apurpose, and it has a purpose
because I serve a Lord.
I serve God and I think mymessage is, or my mission is, to
(12:06):
go everywhere I go to.
If I had the opportunity totalk to my client or to my guys
about the Lord that has made myday, I feel that I've done my
job.
That's so good.
Dr. William Attaway (12:16):
That's so good, and I think the example
that you set, you know, is whatyour team sees and learns from.
You know they're going tofollow where you lead and they
watch how you do what you do, inaddition to just what you do,
and I think that mindset thatyou're describing is one that
pervades your team, ac Solutionsand more.
(12:39):
You started this from nothing.
It didn't exist before you, andnot only now is there a company
that services so many clients,so many customers, but you have
a team.
You've created jobs right andyou continue to do that.
You continue to giveopportunity and create jobs to
people who were where you wereright.
(13:01):
I've got to think that'sincredibly rewarding for you,
given where you started.
Alex Castillo (13:07):
Yes, you know, when I had employees now that I
was calling colleagues, thatthey didn't know anything I had
a few of them that went into thefood industry right, it was a
burger or it was a bartender andwe became friends because maybe
I visited those places.
I told them what I did.
(13:27):
They came to work with me,leaving that job behind, and now
they have their own businessesand they said wow, mr Alex,
we're always going to bethankful for you because you
taught us the right way.
You know, and look at me.
I have all six members now.
Three are family members, threeare others like friends and I,
(13:48):
my company is, well, eight, myother company is ten, and I just
see them and I was like, wow,I'm so happy that that you are,
you are and you're growing.
You know, and now you see whatI saw one day because one thing
is being an employee but anotherthing is to be a leader into
having charge a company where alot of things happen you know,
(14:12):
one of the things that yourcompany is known for is that you
find a way to say yes when ahomeowner asks you.
Dr. William Attaway (14:19):
If something is possible, you look
for the way to say yes.
You look at what they'll showyou on a Pinterest board and you
figure out a way to say yes,and then you figure out how to
make that happen.
That can-do, will-do,make-it-happen mindset is not
common.
A whole lot of people goimmediately to no.
(14:42):
You go to yes.
Alex Castillo (14:44):
You know, for me, the community where I live, I
always have repetitive customersor clients and they all want to
do similar things.
But I'm not a cookie cutter,it's a word of speech, right?
I want to say, right, yeah, andI like to do something unique
for you that nobody else has.
(15:04):
So if you bring me a bathroomand you say you know, I found
this bathroom in Pinterest, ormy neighbor has this bathroom,
can you do that for me?
And I said I look at it and Isay, okay, we can make it better
, let's tweak a few things.
And I present and I said let'sdo it this way and if they like
(15:25):
the idea, we execute that idea.
Sometimes they don't expect itand they go, wow, this is better
than what's on the picture.
And they say, how much more isgoing to cost me this?
And I said, hey, no, nothingmore.
I just love changing a fewthings.
So your house is not like 10people in your area.
(15:46):
It could be with your patio, itcould be your fireplace, it
could be your master bedroom, itcould be your accent wall,
anything.
We can make it different.
I want your house and yourproject to be uniquely designed
that nobody else has.
So, yeah, that's what I try mybest on.
Dr. William Attaway (16:06):
And this is why people wait for you to do
their work.
This is why there's a waitinglist.
Alex Castillo (16:11):
you to do their work.
This is why there's a waitinglist.
It's incredible, yes, and wehave people that have waited a
year or more for us.
That's a place in Washington DCthat is called the Dominican
House of Studies.
I did a lot of work there.
It's a Catholic church.
They waited a good amount forme to come and do work for them
(16:33):
and I feel honored.
You know, I wish I could be tenof me to help everybody at the
same time Right, but that'sthat's not possible.
But I feel at the same time isvery concerning, because I was
like, oh my goodness, you know,I just can't understand.
How can someone wait for me?
You know, how might I cut?
(16:54):
And my mindset will go back towhat we said.
I hear a negative voice and Ihear a positive voice and I have
to choose.
Okay, where do I need to listen?
Why do I need to hear more?
Either this or that.
Dr. William Attaway (17:13):
Well, I think people will wait for
quality, people will wait forpremium work and the results
that you provide for yourcustomers are premium and people
will wait for that and Iappreciate it.
Alex Castillo (17:28):
Yeah, and you know what?
Also, my response immediatelyis premium.
Let's say that I put a, let'ssay, a picture frame and the
picture frame in in a month ortwo days or five days or
whatever, um, it's crooked.
You call and say alex, you knowthat picture frame is crooked,
(17:50):
you don't have to wait for me aweek for me to show up
Immediately.
I figure it out, but I get toyou either the same day or the
next day we don't know how bigor small the project is Because
I like to fix those things,because if you leave them
lingering, hanging around, theycan become really, really
annoying.
You can lose a client.
(18:10):
Yeah absolutely, because peopleI mean clients and humans we're
a little complicated.
Let's be honest, right, we canbe happy right now, but tomorrow
I can be annoying if you don'tshow up.
Dr. William Attaway (18:21):
That's right.
Alex Castillo (18:24):
That's true, and then a bad comment, and it just
goes down the hill.
And that's why, when I called,I said to someone you know, is
this very important?
And if they tell me yes, then Ican try to, okay, sense the
tone and sense the environment,what they're calling, and if
it's deep from their heart, ifit's just worrying or concerning
(18:45):
, and I give them the importance.
But if I feel, okay, you knowwhat?
No one's dying, this is notgoing to happen.
Would it be possible for me tostop on Wednesday or Thursday
and they say, yes, okay, I'll bethere at this time and I made
that a priority to me to be atthat time.
So they know that I'm coming,that's good.
Dr. William Attaway (19:05):
Yeah, that's good and I think when you
prioritize people and they feelthat value you know they feel
that you value them I think thatmakes a difference because
really business is aboutrelationships.
You know you, you do businesswith, with people that you know
and you like and you trust.
Intro/Outro (19:25):
Yeah.
Dr. William Attaway (19:26):
And that's what you build.
You build relationships likethat.
Alex Castillo (19:29):
One of my, one of my uh, I have, I have an
amazing business coach and hesaid to me one day he said you
know what?
What is lost right now, in thistime, is the customer service
where you actually listen toyour clients and you and you,
you deliver that attention wherethey feel, oh, someone is
actually listening.
You know, and that has stayedwith me, you, you know, and that
(19:55):
has stayed with me.
You know, and I try to be thatperson.
I don't want that old customerservice, one-on-one relationship
, die.
I want to maintain that for aslong as possible.
You know, in this life, in thislife that we're living right
now, everything is so fast, fast, fast, fast, and not everyone
wants to make money as long aswe're talking and having, but
after that they're done, theydon't want to go back, they
(20:15):
don't want to get nothing to dowith you unless you have an X
amount or a dollar amount of aproject or something that you
will give them again, and thatshouldn't be that way.
Dr. William Attaway (20:25):
I hear you you know you think about AC
Solutions and your business hasgrown to the point that it has
and it continues to grow.
And your business has grown tothe point that it has and it
continues to grow, and I knowyou have ideas and goals and
dreams still ahead of you.
If you could wake up tomorrowand one thing was different in
(20:46):
your business, what would thatone thing?
Alex Castillo (20:48):
be.
I think I will not hesitate torisk, because you know I will
not hesitate to take a risk.
You know, I think that, um, inthis path, after you walk for a
for for several years I don'tknow if it makes sense to say
this, but some things has has acycle and they repeat itself and
(21:11):
when you have lived that, youkind of know where you are in
that time.
And I have been able to predict, and I said, you know what we
are in October, I know what'sgoing to happen and in the past
three years I have seen the samebehavior in my business for the
past three years.
So I said, okay, if I see thatevery year, so I'm not too far
(21:34):
off of what's going to happen inOctober this coming year.
Some things might happen, butI've seen it three years.
Yeah, but I think I will nothesitate to take risks.
I love that.
Dr. William Attaway (21:49):
Let's say that you can go back and talk to
Alex Castillo when he was 20years old, knowing what you know
now, and you could go back andyou could tell 20-year-old Alex
one thing what would you like togo back and tell that Alex?
Alex Castillo (22:06):
That it's not his fault to feel the way he felt.
Feel the way he felt and themindset that he grew up in,
because we learned as we wereyoung and our parents or the
family or the environment thatwe live in.
We absorb that because we'relearning when we're young, when
(22:27):
we're three, five, ten years old.
We're capturing all thisinformation and behaviors and
mannerisms from everyone aroundyou, right, and I guess I have
the wrong, wrong mentality aboutpeople, about life, you know.
So if I will go back, I willsit down and I'll say it's okay,
it's not your fault.
(22:48):
Give yourself a chance to seesomeone else, other people,
different, and approach life ina different way.
That's powerful.
Dr. William Attaway (22:57):
Thank you.
You've been on theentrepreneurial journey for
quite a few years now and you'velearned a lot of things and
have grown a business fromscratch into what it is today.
None of us do it all on our own.
We listen to and learn fromother people.
What is some of the best advicethat you have ever received
(23:20):
about owning and running abusiness?
Alex Castillo (23:22):
You know, mr William, there are many, many
people that said to you and itmay be true, but people say, you
know, in order for you to seeyour company succeed or for you
to reach a high level, you'renot going to see it in 10 years.
But I don't think that's truebecause you know, I'm a firm
(23:54):
believer that once you arehonest and you are faithful to
who's faithful to you in thiscase you're faithful to god god
strengthened your path and thatis true, and a lot of people
might not believe it.
But people probably say, no,that's just because he's a
fanatic or because he's alegalism.
That has nothing to do withthat.
It's the reality, because Ithink that is the mind of the
(24:14):
Lord in a book speaking to me.
And let's go back to themindset.
If I want to believe and changemy mindset, I want to believe
what God says and if he tells me, hey, you're faithful to me,
I'll be faithful to you.
I think that's the key.
That's the key.
Dr. William Attaway (24:34):
I love that .
One of the things that reallyimpresses me about you, alex, is
that you are so consistentabout weaving your faith into
the rest of your life.
You know, sometimes people feellike they have to
compartmentalize their faith andnot let it come into the
workplace, not let it come intotheir interactions with other
(24:55):
people.
That's not you.
You are the same, alex, nomatter where you are, and your
faith is such a core part of whoyou are.
When did that start?
Or has it always been like thatfor you?
Alex Castillo (25:06):
No, no, you know, I was when I grew up in a very
abusive and a very violentenvironment and I was introduced
to being Catholic when I wassuch a young age and I never
liked that.
So I accepted Jesus Christ whenI was probably 16 or 17, if I'm
(25:26):
not mistaken.
But after that, you know, Ijust thought, you know well, god
is not helping me, god is notwith me, god is not here.
But there was always something.
You know that in the momentswhen I was alone in that
airplane landing in the UnitedStates, I was like, okay, who's
(25:47):
with me?
And I said, okay, if there's a,okay, who's with me?
And I said, okay, if there'sGod, god is with me.
And that's where everythingstarted.
But you know what, for me, thejoy of the Lord, like they said,
right To me, that's everything,no matter where I go.
I mean to me it doesn't makesense if God is not.
God is the center of everythingand he should be the center of
(26:09):
everything the center of yourmarriage, the center of your
business, the center in the lifeof your kids.
Because at the end of the day,what do I gain if I lose my soul
?
That's what the Bible says Igain the world, but I lose my
soul.
Nothing it's meaningless.
I lose my soul, nothing it'smeaningless.
You know so.
But that's, I guess, for me.
(26:29):
I feel happy, joyful, when Ishare the good news with
everyone, when I tell them aboutJesus, when I tell them about
what he has done for my life.
He can do the same exact thingfor them, for you.
You know I love that.
Dr. William Attaway (26:45):
Alex, ac Solutions needs you to lead at a
higher level today than it didthree years ago, and that same
thing is going to be true three,four, five years from now.
How do you stay on top of yourgame?
How do you level up with thenew leadership skills that your
team and your business and yourcustomers are going to need you
(27:08):
to have in the years to come?
Alex Castillo (27:10):
yes, you know, one of my, one of my, um, this
is what you need, um, and I havea partner with a great coach um
, that one thing is allowyourself to someone to teach you
, okay, because if you have thatteachable spirit, then you
allow information on.
So now I'm going to call theword outsiders right, because
they can see from outside what Ican't see myself.
(27:34):
Yeah.
And you take that informationand you take that as a feedback
and you say, ok, I'm going toimplement what they're telling
me.
And that person says to me Alex, you know what?
You will never have anotherAlex that worked 100 percent and
he has the same values or thequality, but you can train him
to be as close as you are.
And right now that's what I do.
(27:56):
I'm taking the time to trainone or two people with me to
make sure that they capture myidea and they like to feel
accountable and they feel thatresponsibility in their hand,
that they feel, oh wow, you know, something is given to me
bigger than just like putting anail.
So now I can be in check andmake sure that that nail is
(28:19):
completely straight on the wallor that screw is the right size
to go into the drywall and theyknow why.
It's the purpose, why it'screated to that side, that
length that thickness, all that.
I explain everything to them.
You know, and I know that bydoing that because I cannot be
everywhere I can rise and theycan rise with me.
(28:41):
We all can grow.
I make them feel part ofsomething big yeah.
Dr. William Attaway (28:46):
Yeah, and I think that's the spirit you
bring into your team environment.
It's not just hey, y'all helpme build my dream, it's hey,
we're going to build somethingtogether and I want you to grow
and succeed just like I am.
That's what I see in you and,again, that's not terribly
common, but I think it's part ofyour faith being lived out.
Alex Castillo (29:09):
I hope, mr Wooden , you know, like I said, you
know I like to share my faith,but I also said you know one of
the things that we always a lotof people struggle with the way
they speak at work.
And one of my main rules atwork is okay, respect, no bad
jokes or foul language, and Ihold that to the standard up
(29:33):
here.
And I said well, I'm not yourdad or anything, but in this
environment and in my company,this is how we operate and I
like how I see they get along.
They work as a team and I thinkyou know what it's amazing to
see that.
It's incredible why youtransmit to other people, yes,
(29:57):
and they behave that way.
Yes.
You know because I've seen somefriends that actually they have
their own companies but they arenot well-spoken and they treat
their employees in a way likethey feel more superior to their
people, and I don't thinkthat's a good thing.
Dr. William Attaway (30:18):
So well said, people are going to lead,
people are going to follow,based on how you lead them, and
I think what you do is you leadby example.
You operate in a servantleadership model and, as we've
had this conversation and you'veshared this, it's just become
more and more evident thatthat's part of who you are.
That's what you want to build.
(30:39):
You're creating the companythat you would want to work for
and that's the environment youcreate for your team.
You know you're a constantlearner.
You're always listening, you'realways learning.
Is there a book or a podcastthat has made a big difference
in your journey that you wouldrecommend to the leaders who are
listening?
Alex Castillo (30:57):
You know, one of my favorite.
You're going to laugh at this,but you know, right before I met
you and I hear your podcast andeverything, I like to watch you
and I watch what other peoplethat have been on your podcast
says.
I try to take notes on whatthey say.
I try to analyze why they saywhat they said.
(31:19):
But you know, I wish I could bea book reader like you are.
Look at all those beautifulbooks behind you.
Right?
The only book that I read it'sthe Bible.
And I do listen to TD Jakes.
You know I read the Pastor and Ialso listen to a lot of
Christian music and I don'tallow any other type of music to
(31:42):
interfere in my spiritual life.
It's not because I think I'mbetter, it's just that I feel
that doesn't bring anything goodinto my soul, because I have
experienced that when I allowother sources, in this case
music, that doesn't bring honoror nothing good to my life, my
(32:05):
spirit and my energy changes.
And people ask me why don't youlisten to this music?
I say I used to.
I used to.
That's a good song.
But I say I don't listen tothat type of music.
It's not because it's a sin.
I say no.
It's because you know what I amso thankful with my Lord.
I do that to honor Him, becausethat makes me feel connected
(32:25):
with Him.
That makes me feel connectedwith that.
This music, yes, nice, and ittalks about love, but it doesn't
make me feel connected with God.
The lyrics might be nice, but atthe end of the day, those are
empty, you know.
Yeah, those are empty.
Dr. William Attaway (32:39):
Well, and I think you're illustrating a
principle here that greatleaders determine the inputs in
their life and they are verycareful about those inputs.
And they are very careful aboutthose inputs and they're very
careful to make sure that theyare allowing inputs and creating
input streams that are going tohelp them move toward the
person they want to be.
Alex Castillo (33:01):
You know that's absolutely correct.
Let me tell you why.
Because there's so muchdistraction, especially on the
media.
You go to TikTok, instagram,facebook, and I go this with my
son you know, my teenager sonand I said, joaquin, there are a
lot of things in thoseplatforms that there shouldn't
(33:22):
be a lot, but the minute youstop and you entertain your eyes
where they shouldn't beentertained, that's a problem.
I said, king, the enemy istrying to distract you from what
your goal is.
You have to be clear whereyou're going and in that
direction you're going to haveobstacles and distraction.
(33:43):
Remember, he's trying to getyou out of what God wants for
you.
God wants you to be that personin this human being.
He doesn't want you to be there.
The devil doesn't want you tobe there to reach that goal.
That's good and it's verychallenging.
But I say, joaquin, the more youtalk to God during the day, it
becomes a little bit easier, youare more aware of what you're
(34:05):
surrounding, you are inconnection with, spiritually,
with Holy Spirit and with God toknow, oh, this is allowed, this
is not allowed.
Hey, I'm walking, yeah, I feelfree.
I mean, there's freedom.
There's freedom in the Lord,there's freedom.
People think that when you'reChristian, you are limited to
all these things that you cannotdo, and that's not true.
That's right, you know.
There's freedom.
(34:25):
And that's not true.
That's right.
You know there's freedom, so Ifeel free and I feel I don't
know.
That's how I operate.
I try to make sure that I bringstuff that are not good to
contaminate my waters.
Dr. William Attaway (34:38):
What a great analogy, alex.
This has been such a fantasticconversation and I'm so grateful
to you for sharing your timeand your story and the insights
that you've gleaned so far withus.
It's just been a joy to hearwhat has happened so far, where
(35:00):
you have learned and led so far,and I know that the best is yet
to come for you.
Alex Castillo (35:06):
I appreciate it and thank you for allowing me
this short period of time totalk to you about my life and
the company, and I feel honoredto be part of something big like
this.
I've never been on camerabefore, Even with headphones,
you know, and if it's yours youknow.
Computers and all this stuff isnot my thing, but finally I was
(35:29):
able to put it all togetherright After 30 minutes of
dealing with all these cablesand trying to figure it out.
Okay and yeah, and then youcall your wife and your wife
just does this bing, bing, bing,bing, bing and you got it.
Dr. William Attaway (35:43):
Well, I think part of wisdom is knowing
who to call.
Alex Castillo (35:49):
Yeah, and that's why God blessed me with a
wonderful wife, you know.
Dr. William Attaway (35:52):
That's exactly right.
That's exactly right, Alex.
I know people are going to wantto stay connected to you and
continue to learn more aboutwhat you're doing in the company
that you lead.
What's the best way for them todo that?
Alex Castillo (36:09):
them to do that.
You know, I think the only thebest way to do this is, you know
, I guess, look for AC Solutionsand more on Facebook or Google,
you know, and you will findpictures, you will find reviews,
you will find information aboutus.
You know, and we're happy to.
I mean, we service Northern andthis part of Winchester
Virginia, helping people andhelping neighbors.
We're creating environment andwe're creating relationships.
(36:35):
You know, because everywhere Igo, it just feels nice.
I've done work for so-and-soand they say Alex, alex, I go
everywhere, it's just nice.
I love to connect with peoplefrom the 5-year-old to the
7-year-old that sit in my Panerabecause I've done something for
them, you know, and they knowme, and it's just amazing to
have friends everywhere.
Dr. William Attaway (36:56):
I love that , Alex.
Thank you.
Alex Castillo (36:59):
I appreciate it.
Thank you to you and God blessand thank you for what you do.
We appreciate it so much.
Intro/Outro (37:05):
Thanks for joining me for this episode today.
As we wrap up, I'd love for youto do two things.
First, subscribe to thispodcast so you don't miss an
episode, and if you find valuehere, I'd love it if you would
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That really does make adifference in helping other
people to discover this podcast.
Second, if you don't have acopy of my newest book,
(37:27):
catalytic Leadership, I'd loveto put a copy in your hands.
If you go tocatalyticleadershipbookcom, you
can get a copy for free.
Just pay the shipping so I canget it to you and we'll get one
right out.
My goal is to put this into thehands of as many leaders as
possible.
This book captures principlesthat I've learned in 20 plus
(37:49):
years of coaching leaders in theentrepreneurial space, in
business, government,non-profits, education and the
local church.
You can also connect with me onLinkedIn to keep up with what
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(38:11):
help you.
Just go tocatalyticleadershipnet to book a
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Stay tuned for our next episodenext week.
Until then, as always, leaderschoose to be catalytic.
Thanks for listening toCatalytic Leadership with Dr
William Attaway.
Be sure to subscribe whereveryou listen to podcasts so you
(38:34):
don't miss the next episode.
Want more?
Go to catalyticleadershipnet.
I'm excited today to have Alex Castillo on
the podcast.
Originally from El Salvador,alex has been in the
construction industry for almost20 years.
He migrated to the US, had noplace to stay and failure was
not an option.
He stood on corners looking forwork, spoke no English, had no
(00:20):
car and no family.
He struggled, but he neverstopped learning and trying to
be the best in everything he did.
God opened and closed doors forhim, and today Alex is the
founder and owner of ACSolutions and More, a premier
full-service contracting companywith a team that is dedicated
(00:42):
to providing excellent serviceand pleasing their clients.
Alex, I'm so glad you're here.
Thanks for being on the show.
Thank you for having me.
It's a pleasure.
Intro/Outro (00:53):
Welcome to Catalytic Leadership, the
podcast designed to help leadersintentionally grow and thrive.
Here is your host author andleadership and executive coach,
dr William Attaway.
Dr. William Attaway (01:09):
Alex, I would love to start with you
sharing a little bit of yourstory with our listeners,
particularly around your journeyand your development as a
leader.
How did you get started?
Alex Castillo (01:21):
Well, you know, I came to the US and well, still
being a kid, I'll say at thattime, you don't know what I mean
, you're confused, you don'tknow what you're going to do
with your life.
You just know that you want togrow, you want to be better, you
want to be someone in life, youknow.
But, like I said, and what yousaid in the description, you
(01:44):
know said, and what you said inthe in the description, it, um,
you know, failure was not anoption for me.
I knew that I wanted it to beor do something with my life,
but heading back home was not anoption for me.
Yeah, I think that, um, goinggoing back, now that I look back
when I, when I came andactually walking what my path
and what god did for me alwayscontinue doing for me, has
(02:06):
helped me to realize that allthose times to be where I am
right now is being part of theprocess.
One problem I had it was like Inever trusted and believed that
I could achieve certain things,but I knew in my heart that I
needed to succeed.
So, you know, there's a fewthings that until I remember,
(02:30):
like watching this video of thisgreat pastor and I think I
mentioned it before Mr TD Jakes.
You know he said that one ofhis videos that we have a
self-defeating belief system andthat it's a fight that we have
a self-defeating belief systemand that then that it's a fight
that we have in our brainconstantly, where god says you
(02:52):
are capable and the enemy saysyou are incapable, you can't,
god says you can and then, andthe enemy says you can't.
That's right, and and it's aconstant fight between the two
forces.
But then I said, okay, so howcan I make myself to think
constantly how I can be better?
(03:13):
And then I said you know what?
This is not our nature, it'snot my nature.
My nature is to just sit downand think that I can just relax
and do what I wanted to do andnot to look for something better
.
Right, but at the end Irealized, you know, when I
became a father at such a youngage and being a father I
(03:34):
remember that I stopped thinkingokay, you know, I got to stop
living my life and continue andprovide what I didn't have for
this new person in my life.
So the choice was dead, thatfailure was not an option.
Now that I have a kid, thatshouldn't be a question at all.
Yeah absolutely.
(03:54):
And I remember going to thecorners and thinking, okay, here
I am, I am with differentpeople, different people,
different cultures, differentcountries, and standing in a
corner and trying to figure itout.
How can I make myself different?
Because, you know, there'sMexicans, there's people from
Guatemala, there's people fromNicaragua, nicaragua, Costa Rica
(04:15):
.
They all gather in one place.
But I was like, how do I standout from all these people that
is in this corner?
So when Americans come and tryto find the right people, I look
appealing to them, you know.
And then I say, okay, so Idon't want to look like that.
I don't want to look like that.
I need to show that I amdifferent, okay.
(04:36):
So I was like, okay, I'm goingto change the way I look.
I'm going to change.
I'm going to look clean, I'mgoing to look, I want to be by
myself, I'm going to move out ofthis crowd and move to this
corner and then, if I get theopportunity to be hired by
someone, then I'm going to givethem my 110% and I think that
will have a huge opportunity forme if they come back to hire me
(04:58):
again.
And I remember that formula Iwas not a formula, but that's
what I thought that formula Iwas not a formula, but that's
what I thought that's what keepbringing the same person over
and over again every weekend,every Friday, every Saturday,
and as time passed, well, hetold his neighbor, the neighbor
told his other neighbor, andthat's how they got in contact
(05:20):
with me and that's how I startedhaving more jobs.
And I didn't know anything aboutthe United States how
construction was, what was this?
What was a I don't know aputting knife?
Or how was a sprayer gun or howto use a brush.
I didn't know any of that.
Yeah, you know, and people tookthe time to teach me.
And people took the time.
(05:41):
Some of them were mean, some ofthem were nice, some of them
were rude, some of them were notvery friendly.
But, you know, I took it all asit came, you know, and I think
God has allowed to close andopen doors for me.
And now that I look back, Ithink, hey, wow, god closed this
door to open these other threedoors in my favor.
(06:03):
Wow, I think in this industryit's very challenging, because I
know there are a lot ofdifferent companies that they
try very, very hard to succeedand we all want to succeed but
at the same time is what are thecore values that we are
bringing into our clients, intoour companies, to make sure that
(06:24):
we are reaching out thatpotential or filling out that
purpose?
And one of the things I think isintegrity.
And do everything, regardlessif someone is watching me or not
watching me, but I know for afact that God is looking at me,
what I'm doing.
(06:44):
At the end of the day, I oweeverything to him, me or not
watching me, but I know for afact that God is looking at me,
what I'm doing.
At the end of the day, I oweeverything to him, and I think
that every blessing that comesmy way, I have to treat my
employees or the people that areworking with me in a way that
is honorable.
That is good, that is.
(07:06):
That is good, that is I don'tknow what will be the next word
but that sharing my blessingswith them, not just keep
everything to me, because Ithink when God puts you in a
position as a leader, you havethat responsibility to guide
these people in the path, and Ithink it's a big responsibility
(07:27):
that you hold in your hands.
The same way is yeah, theyprovide a service for you, but
you also provide something tothem.
But at the end of the day, godhold me accountable for that
people that comes to work for me.
So that's how I see it.
I see a little bit of what I doand I hope this helps someone
out there that is trying tochange or improve.
(07:51):
I will say I don't know whatelse to tell you.
Dr. William Attaway (07:56):
Well, I think it's so interesting.
I often say there's no suchthing as a wasted experience.
Everything that happens in ourlives is either for our benefit,
eventually, or something thatwill help us benefit people
around us through the experience, through the story, ways that
we can walk with somebodythrough even the most difficult
things.
There's no such thing as awasted experience.
(08:18):
And I'll look at your story,what you've shared, and I think
there were so many times when itwould have been easy just to
just to give up and say this istoo hard, just give up and say
I'm just going to, I'm justgoing to take the easy road here
.
That's not what you did, youknow.
You continued to press forward.
Even when it was hard, evenwhen people were rude, even when
(08:41):
it seemed like there was, therewas nobody on your side, you
kept going.
And that mindset that failure isnot going to be an option for
me, I'm going to succeed, I'mgoing to press through.
This difficulty is somethingthat I find in the most
successful entrepreneurs.
It's not with the ones who giveup, it's not with the ones who
(09:03):
fail.
Failure is part of the process.
You know, if we look at yourstory, it's not just up and to
the right right it's not justevery year is better than all
the years before it.
Alex Castillo (09:15):
And there was no failure and only success right,
yes, no yeah.
Dr. William Attaway (09:18):
That's not your story.
What kept you going when youkept getting hit, when you kept
taking the the hits?
Alex Castillo (09:26):
you know, what kept me going is, you know the
list of saying, I guess thepeople and it says, uh, you said
it until you believe it.
Right, yeah, you know.
And then I think you know, uh,you believe it, because I heard
this said um, that your mind,your mindset control your assets
.
You know, and I think it's thatyou will believe it, and you
(09:49):
have to believe it until youchange your mindset.
And until today, I stillpractice that.
I love that.
I practice that when I swim, Ipractice that when I run, I
practice that when I'm cycling,I practice that when I'm doing
roof, like today, and I saidthat to myself.
You know there's a better timeahead of me and I know I will
(10:12):
become greater than what I am,but at the same time, I don't
want to be great if I'm notimpacting other people, if I'm
not impacting the kingdom of Godand that is my main thing
Faithfulness to the Lord.
Right when it comes to and thisis a problem nobody talks about
this.
(10:33):
It is giving and honoring Godwith the first fruits of what
you produce or what is given toyou, and I am a huge example of
that.
I try to honor God for what hegives me every single time.
What I pay myself, my 10% goesto the Lord and I think, and
(10:58):
still that's not enough.
Sometimes I feel it's notenough because I'm so thankful
what God has brought me intothis land.
This land is the land of milkand honey and to me, I never
forget that, wow, I see peopleat the 7-E.
Wow, I see people at the7-Elevens.
I see people at Home DepotLowe's.
(11:18):
I remember that that was me, mrWilliam.
That was me, mr William, withone meal a day, sometimes no
meals.
That was me under the cold,with my hands and my fingers all
numb, my toes, hoping thatsomeone will stop and see my
face and take me to work.
I mean, there was not muchdifference from because I was
either running from my life orrunning for other things, you
(11:40):
know, and I was just, you know,I'd rather be called than being
running away from someone that'sgoing to kill me.
Yeah, and that's why, untiltoday, you know, I feel that I
keep going and I think that mygoal right now.
It's bigger and it has apurpose, and it has a purpose
because I serve a Lord.
I serve God and I think mymessage is, or my mission is, to
(12:06):
go everywhere I go to.
If I had the opportunity totalk to my client or to my guys
about the Lord that has made myday, I feel that I've done my
job.
That's so good.
Dr. William Attaway (12:16):
That's so good, and I think the example
that you set, you know, is whatyour team sees and learns from.
You know they're going tofollow where you lead and they
watch how you do what you do, inaddition to just what you do,
and I think that mindset thatyou're describing is one that
pervades your team, ac Solutionsand more.
(12:39):
You started this from nothing.
It didn't exist before you, andnot only now is there a company
that services so many clients,so many customers, but you have
a team.
You've created jobs right andyou continue to do that.
You continue to giveopportunity and create jobs to
people who were where you wereright.
(13:01):
I've got to think that'sincredibly rewarding for you,
given where you started.
Alex Castillo (13:07):
Yes, you know, when I had employees now that I
was calling colleagues, thatthey didn't know anything I had
a few of them that went into thefood industry right, it was a
burger or it was a bartender andwe became friends because maybe
I visited those places.
I told them what I did.
(13:27):
They came to work with me,leaving that job behind, and now
they have their own businessesand they said wow, mr Alex,
we're always going to bethankful for you because you
taught us the right way.
You know, and look at me.
I have all six members now.
Three are family members, threeare others like friends and I,
(13:48):
my company is, well, eight, myother company is ten, and I just
see them and I was like, wow,I'm so happy that that you are,
you are and you're growing.
You know, and now you see whatI saw one day because one thing
is being an employee but anotherthing is to be a leader into
having charge a company where alot of things happen you know,
(14:12):
one of the things that yourcompany is known for is that you
find a way to say yes when ahomeowner asks you.
Dr. William Attaway (14:19):
If something is possible, you look
for the way to say yes.
You look at what they'll showyou on a Pinterest board and you
figure out a way to say yes,and then you figure out how to
make that happen.
That can-do, will-do,make-it-happen mindset is not
common.
A whole lot of people goimmediately to no.
(14:42):
You go to yes.
Alex Castillo (14:44):
You know, for me, the community where I live, I
always have repetitive customersor clients and they all want to
do similar things.
But I'm not a cookie cutter,it's a word of speech, right?
I want to say, right, yeah, andI like to do something unique
for you that nobody else has.
(15:04):
So if you bring me a bathroomand you say you know, I found
this bathroom in Pinterest, ormy neighbor has this bathroom,
can you do that for me?
And I said I look at it and Isay, okay, we can make it better
, let's tweak a few things.
And I present and I said let'sdo it this way and if they like
(15:25):
the idea, we execute that idea.
Sometimes they don't expect itand they go, wow, this is better
than what's on the picture.
And they say, how much more isgoing to cost me this?
And I said, hey, no, nothingmore.
I just love changing a fewthings.
So your house is not like 10people in your area.
(15:46):
It could be with your patio, itcould be your fireplace, it
could be your master bedroom, itcould be your accent wall,
anything.
We can make it different.
I want your house and yourproject to be uniquely designed
that nobody else has.
So, yeah, that's what I try mybest on.
Dr. William Attaway (16:06):
And this is why people wait for you to do
their work.
This is why there's a waitinglist.
Alex Castillo (16:11):
you to do their work.
This is why there's a waitinglist.
It's incredible, yes, and wehave people that have waited a
year or more for us.
That's a place in Washington DCthat is called the Dominican
House of Studies.
I did a lot of work there.
It's a Catholic church.
They waited a good amount forme to come and do work for them
(16:33):
and I feel honored.
You know, I wish I could be tenof me to help everybody at the
same time Right, but that'sthat's not possible.
But I feel at the same time isvery concerning, because I was
like, oh my goodness, you know,I just can't understand.
How can someone wait for me?
You know, how might I cut?
(16:54):
And my mindset will go back towhat we said.
I hear a negative voice and Ihear a positive voice and I have
to choose.
Okay, where do I need to listen?
Why do I need to hear more?
Either this or that.
Dr. William Attaway (17:13):
Well, I think people will wait for
quality, people will wait forpremium work and the results
that you provide for yourcustomers are premium and people
will wait for that and Iappreciate it.
Alex Castillo (17:28):
Yeah, and you know what?
Also, my response immediatelyis premium.
Let's say that I put a, let'ssay, a picture frame and the
picture frame in in a month ortwo days or five days or
whatever, um, it's crooked.
You call and say alex, you knowthat picture frame is crooked,
(17:50):
you don't have to wait for me aweek for me to show up
Immediately.
I figure it out, but I get toyou either the same day or the
next day we don't know how bigor small the project is Because
I like to fix those things,because if you leave them
lingering, hanging around, theycan become really, really
annoying.
You can lose a client.
(18:10):
Yeah absolutely, because peopleI mean clients and humans we're
a little complicated.
Let's be honest, right, we canbe happy right now, but tomorrow
I can be annoying if you don'tshow up.
Dr. William Attaway (18:21):
That's right.
Alex Castillo (18:24):
That's true, and then a bad comment, and it just
goes down the hill.
And that's why, when I called,I said to someone you know, is
this very important?
And if they tell me yes, then Ican try to, okay, sense the
tone and sense the environment,what they're calling, and if
it's deep from their heart, ifit's just worrying or concerning
(18:45):
, and I give them the importance.
But if I feel, okay, you knowwhat?
No one's dying, this is notgoing to happen.
Would it be possible for me tostop on Wednesday or Thursday
and they say, yes, okay, I'll bethere at this time and I made
that a priority to me to be atthat time.
So they know that I'm coming,that's good.
Dr. William Attaway (19:05):
Yeah, that's good and I think when you
prioritize people and they feelthat value you know they feel
that you value them I think thatmakes a difference because
really business is aboutrelationships.
You know you, you do businesswith, with people that you know
and you like and you trust.
Intro/Outro (19:25):
Yeah.
Dr. William Attaway (19:26):
And that's what you build.
You build relationships likethat.
Alex Castillo (19:29):
One of my, one of my uh, I have, I have an
amazing business coach and hesaid to me one day he said you
know what?
What is lost right now, in thistime, is the customer service
where you actually listen toyour clients and you and you,
you deliver that attention wherethey feel, oh, someone is
actually listening.
You know, and that has stayedwith me, you, you know, and that
(19:55):
has stayed with me.
You know, and I try to be thatperson.
I don't want that old customerservice, one-on-one relationship
, die.
I want to maintain that for aslong as possible.
You know, in this life, in thislife that we're living right
now, everything is so fast, fast, fast, fast, and not everyone
wants to make money as long aswe're talking and having, but
after that they're done, theydon't want to go back, they
(20:15):
don't want to get nothing to dowith you unless you have an X
amount or a dollar amount of aproject or something that you
will give them again, and thatshouldn't be that way.
Dr. William Attaway (20:25):
I hear you you know you think about AC
Solutions and your business hasgrown to the point that it has
and it continues to grow.
And your business has grown tothe point that it has and it
continues to grow, and I knowyou have ideas and goals and
dreams still ahead of you.
If you could wake up tomorrowand one thing was different in
(20:46):
your business, what would thatone thing?
Alex Castillo (20:48):
be.
I think I will not hesitate torisk, because you know I will
not hesitate to take a risk.
You know, I think that, um, inthis path, after you walk for a
for for several years I don'tknow if it makes sense to say
this, but some things has has acycle and they repeat itself and
(21:11):
when you have lived that, youkind of know where you are in
that time.
And I have been able to predict, and I said, you know what we
are in October, I know what'sgoing to happen and in the past
three years I have seen the samebehavior in my business for the
past three years.
So I said, okay, if I see thatevery year, so I'm not too far
(21:34):
off of what's going to happen inOctober this coming year.
Some things might happen, butI've seen it three years.
Yeah, but I think I will nothesitate to take risks.
I love that.
Dr. William Attaway (21:49):
Let's say that you can go back and talk to
Alex Castillo when he was 20years old, knowing what you know
now, and you could go back andyou could tell 20-year-old Alex
one thing what would you like togo back and tell that Alex?
Alex Castillo (22:06):
That it's not his fault to feel the way he felt.
Feel the way he felt and themindset that he grew up in,
because we learned as we wereyoung and our parents or the
family or the environment thatwe live in.
We absorb that because we'relearning when we're young, when
(22:27):
we're three, five, ten years old.
We're capturing all thisinformation and behaviors and
mannerisms from everyone aroundyou, right, and I guess I have
the wrong, wrong mentality aboutpeople, about life, you know.
So if I will go back, I willsit down and I'll say it's okay,
it's not your fault.
(22:48):
Give yourself a chance to seesomeone else, other people,
different, and approach life ina different way.
That's powerful.
Dr. William Attaway (22:57):
Thank you.
You've been on theentrepreneurial journey for
quite a few years now and you'velearned a lot of things and
have grown a business fromscratch into what it is today.
None of us do it all on our own.
We listen to and learn fromother people.
What is some of the best advicethat you have ever received
(23:20):
about owning and running abusiness?
Alex Castillo (23:22):
You know, mr William, there are many, many
people that said to you and itmay be true, but people say, you
know, in order for you to seeyour company succeed or for you
to reach a high level, you'renot going to see it in 10 years.
But I don't think that's truebecause you know, I'm a firm
(23:54):
believer that once you arehonest and you are faithful to
who's faithful to you in thiscase you're faithful to god god
strengthened your path and thatis true, and a lot of people
might not believe it.
But people probably say, no,that's just because he's a
fanatic or because he's alegalism.
That has nothing to do withthat.
It's the reality, because Ithink that is the mind of the
(24:14):
Lord in a book speaking to me.
And let's go back to themindset.
If I want to believe and changemy mindset, I want to believe
what God says and if he tells me, hey, you're faithful to me,
I'll be faithful to you.
I think that's the key.
That's the key.
Dr. William Attaway (24:34):
I love that .
One of the things that reallyimpresses me about you, alex, is
that you are so consistentabout weaving your faith into
the rest of your life.
You know, sometimes people feellike they have to
compartmentalize their faith andnot let it come into the
workplace, not let it come intotheir interactions with other
(24:55):
people.
That's not you.
You are the same, alex, nomatter where you are, and your
faith is such a core part of whoyou are.
When did that start?
Or has it always been like thatfor you?
Alex Castillo (25:06):
No, no, you know, I was when I grew up in a very
abusive and a very violentenvironment and I was introduced
to being Catholic when I wassuch a young age and I never
liked that.
So I accepted Jesus Christ whenI was probably 16 or 17, if I'm
(25:26):
not mistaken.
But after that, you know, Ijust thought, you know well, god
is not helping me, god is notwith me, god is not here.
But there was always something.
You know that in the momentswhen I was alone in that
airplane landing in the UnitedStates, I was like, okay, who's
(25:47):
with me?
And I said, okay, if there's a,okay, who's with me?
And I said, okay, if there'sGod, god is with me.
And that's where everythingstarted.
But you know what, for me, thejoy of the Lord, like they said,
right To me, that's everything,no matter where I go.
I mean to me it doesn't makesense if God is not.
God is the center of everythingand he should be the center of
(26:09):
everything the center of yourmarriage, the center of your
business, the center in the lifeof your kids.
Because at the end of the day,what do I gain if I lose my soul
?
That's what the Bible says Igain the world, but I lose my
soul.
Nothing it's meaningless.
I lose my soul, nothing it'smeaningless.
You know so.
But that's, I guess, for me.
(26:29):
I feel happy, joyful, when Ishare the good news with
everyone, when I tell them aboutJesus, when I tell them about
what he has done for my life.
He can do the same exact thingfor them, for you.
You know I love that.
Dr. William Attaway (26:45):
Alex, ac Solutions needs you to lead at a
higher level today than it didthree years ago, and that same
thing is going to be true three,four, five years from now.
How do you stay on top of yourgame?
How do you level up with thenew leadership skills that your
team and your business and yourcustomers are going to need you
(27:08):
to have in the years to come?
Alex Castillo (27:10):
yes, you know, one of my, one of my, um, this
is what you need, um, and I havea partner with a great coach um
, that one thing is allowyourself to someone to teach you
, okay, because if you have thatteachable spirit, then you
allow information on.
So now I'm going to call theword outsiders right, because
they can see from outside what Ican't see myself.
(27:34):
Yeah.
And you take that informationand you take that as a feedback
and you say, ok, I'm going toimplement what they're telling
me.
And that person says to me Alex, you know what?
You will never have anotherAlex that worked 100 percent and
he has the same values or thequality, but you can train him
to be as close as you are.
And right now that's what I do.
(27:56):
I'm taking the time to trainone or two people with me to
make sure that they capture myidea and they like to feel
accountable and they feel thatresponsibility in their hand,
that they feel, oh wow, you know, something is given to me
bigger than just like putting anail.
So now I can be in check andmake sure that that nail is
(28:19):
completely straight on the wallor that screw is the right size
to go into the drywall and theyknow why.
It's the purpose, why it'screated to that side, that
length that thickness, all that.
I explain everything to them.
You know, and I know that bydoing that because I cannot be
everywhere I can rise and theycan rise with me.
(28:41):
We all can grow.
I make them feel part ofsomething big yeah.
Dr. William Attaway (28:46):
Yeah, and I think that's the spirit you
bring into your team environment.
It's not just hey, y'all helpme build my dream, it's hey,
we're going to build somethingtogether and I want you to grow
and succeed just like I am.
That's what I see in you and,again, that's not terribly
common, but I think it's part ofyour faith being lived out.
Alex Castillo (29:09):
I hope, mr Wooden , you know, like I said, you
know I like to share my faith,but I also said you know one of
the things that we always a lotof people struggle with the way
they speak at work.
And one of my main rules atwork is okay, respect, no bad
jokes or foul language, and Ihold that to the standard up
(29:33):
here.
And I said well, I'm not yourdad or anything, but in this
environment and in my company,this is how we operate and I
like how I see they get along.
They work as a team and I thinkyou know what it's amazing to
see that.
It's incredible why youtransmit to other people, yes,
(29:57):
and they behave that way.
Yes.
You know because I've seen somefriends that actually they have
their own companies but they arenot well-spoken and they treat
their employees in a way likethey feel more superior to their
people, and I don't thinkthat's a good thing.
Dr. William Attaway (30:18):
So well said, people are going to lead,
people are going to follow,based on how you lead them, and
I think what you do is you leadby example.
You operate in a servantleadership model and, as we've
had this conversation and you'veshared this, it's just become
more and more evident thatthat's part of who you are.
That's what you want to build.
(30:39):
You're creating the companythat you would want to work for
and that's the environment youcreate for your team.
You know you're a constantlearner.
You're always listening, you'realways learning.
Is there a book or a podcastthat has made a big difference
in your journey that you wouldrecommend to the leaders who are
listening?
Alex Castillo (30:57):
You know, one of my favorite.
You're going to laugh at this,but you know, right before I met
you and I hear your podcast andeverything, I like to watch you
and I watch what other peoplethat have been on your podcast
says.
I try to take notes on whatthey say.
I try to analyze why they saywhat they said.
(31:19):
But you know, I wish I could bea book reader like you are.
Look at all those beautifulbooks behind you.
Right?
The only book that I read it'sthe Bible.
And I do listen to TD Jakes.
You know I read the Pastor and Ialso listen to a lot of
Christian music and I don'tallow any other type of music to
(31:42):
interfere in my spiritual life.
It's not because I think I'mbetter, it's just that I feel
that doesn't bring anything goodinto my soul, because I have
experienced that when I allowother sources, in this case
music, that doesn't bring honoror nothing good to my life, my
(32:05):
spirit and my energy changes.
And people ask me why don't youlisten to this music?
I say I used to.
I used to.
That's a good song.
But I say I don't listen tothat type of music.
It's not because it's a sin.
I say no.
It's because you know what I amso thankful with my Lord.
I do that to honor Him, becausethat makes me feel connected
(32:25):
with Him.
That makes me feel connectedwith that.
This music, yes, nice, and ittalks about love, but it doesn't
make me feel connected with God.
The lyrics might be nice, but atthe end of the day, those are
empty, you know.
Yeah, those are empty.
Dr. William Attaway (32:39):
Well, and I think you're illustrating a
principle here that greatleaders determine the inputs in
their life and they are verycareful about those inputs.
And they are very careful aboutthose inputs and they're very
careful to make sure that theyare allowing inputs and creating
input streams that are going tohelp them move toward the
person they want to be.
Alex Castillo (33:01):
You know that's absolutely correct.
Let me tell you why.
Because there's so muchdistraction, especially on the
media.
You go to TikTok, instagram,facebook, and I go this with my
son you know, my teenager sonand I said, joaquin, there are a
lot of things in thoseplatforms that there shouldn't
(33:22):
be a lot, but the minute youstop and you entertain your eyes
where they shouldn't beentertained, that's a problem.
I said, king, the enemy istrying to distract you from what
your goal is.
You have to be clear whereyou're going and in that
direction you're going to haveobstacles and distraction.
(33:43):
Remember, he's trying to getyou out of what God wants for
you.
God wants you to be that personin this human being.
He doesn't want you to be there.
The devil doesn't want you tobe there to reach that goal.
That's good and it's verychallenging.
But I say, joaquin, the more youtalk to God during the day, it
becomes a little bit easier, youare more aware of what you're
(34:05):
surrounding, you are inconnection with, spiritually,
with Holy Spirit and with God toknow, oh, this is allowed, this
is not allowed.
Hey, I'm walking, yeah, I feelfree.
I mean, there's freedom.
There's freedom in the Lord,there's freedom.
People think that when you'reChristian, you are limited to
all these things that you cannotdo, and that's not true.
That's right, you know.
There's freedom.
(34:25):
And that's not true.
That's right.
You know there's freedom, so Ifeel free and I feel I don't
know.
That's how I operate.
I try to make sure that I bringstuff that are not good to
contaminate my waters.
Dr. William Attaway (34:38):
What a great analogy, alex.
This has been such a fantasticconversation and I'm so grateful
to you for sharing your timeand your story and the insights
that you've gleaned so far withus.
It's just been a joy to hearwhat has happened so far, where
(35:00):
you have learned and led so far,and I know that the best is yet
to come for you.
Alex Castillo (35:06):
I appreciate it and thank you for allowing me
this short period of time totalk to you about my life and
the company, and I feel honoredto be part of something big like
this.
I've never been on camerabefore, Even with headphones,
you know, and if it's yours youknow.
Computers and all this stuff isnot my thing, but finally I was
(35:29):
able to put it all togetherright After 30 minutes of
dealing with all these cablesand trying to figure it out.
Okay and yeah, and then youcall your wife and your wife
just does this bing, bing, bing,bing, bing and you got it.
Dr. William Attaway (35:43):
Well, I think part of wisdom is knowing
who to call.
Alex Castillo (35:49):
Yeah, and that's why God blessed me with a
wonderful wife, you know.
Dr. William Attaway (35:52):
That's exactly right.
That's exactly right, Alex.
I know people are going to wantto stay connected to you and
continue to learn more aboutwhat you're doing in the company
that you lead.
What's the best way for them todo that?
Alex Castillo (36:09):
them to do that.
You know, I think the only thebest way to do this is, you know
, I guess, look for AC Solutionsand more on Facebook or Google,
you know, and you will findpictures, you will find reviews,
you will find information aboutus.
You know, and we're happy to.
I mean, we service Northern andthis part of Winchester
Virginia, helping people andhelping neighbors.
We're creating environment andwe're creating relationships.
(36:35):
You know, because everywhere Igo, it just feels nice.
I've done work for so-and-soand they say Alex, alex, I go
everywhere, it's just nice.
I love to connect with peoplefrom the 5-year-old to the
7-year-old that sit in my Panerabecause I've done something for
them, you know, and they knowme, and it's just amazing to
have friends everywhere.
Dr. William Attaway (36:56):
I love that , Alex.
Thank you.
Alex Castillo (36:59):
I appreciate it.
Thank you to you and God blessand thank you for what you do.
We appreciate it so much.
Intro/Outro (37:05):
Thanks for joining me for this episode today.
As we wrap up, I'd love for youto do two things.
First, subscribe to thispodcast so you don't miss an
episode, and if you find valuehere, I'd love it if you would
rate it and review it.
That really does make adifference in helping other
people to discover this podcast.
Second, if you don't have acopy of my newest book,
(37:27):
catalytic Leadership, I'd loveto put a copy in your hands.
If you go tocatalyticleadershipbookcom, you
can get a copy for free.
Just pay the shipping so I canget it to you and we'll get one
right out.
My goal is to put this into thehands of as many leaders as
possible.
This book captures principlesthat I've learned in 20 plus
(37:49):
years of coaching leaders in theentrepreneurial space, in
business, government,non-profits, education and the
local church.
You can also connect with me onLinkedIn to keep up with what
I'm currently learning andthinking about.
If you're ready to take a nextstep with a coach to help you
intentionally grow and thrive asa leader, I'd be honored to
(38:11):
help you.
Just go tocatalyticleadershipnet to book a
call with me.
Stay tuned for our next episodenext week.
Until then, as always, leaderschoose to be catalytic.
Thanks for listening toCatalytic Leadership with Dr
William Attaway.
Be sure to subscribe whereveryou listen to podcasts so you
(38:34):
don't miss the next episode.
Want more?
Go to catalyticleadershipnet.
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