Small-business owners, what are you doing to stand out from the crowd? Each week, we focus on an entrepreneur who has lessons to share that we think will resonate with other small-business owners.

Richard Granahan, co-owner of electrical contractor, Granahan Electrical Contractors, answers our questions:

What are you doing to stand out from the crowd?
We recently launched a solar refurbishing unit in the hopes that the government’s emphasis on alternative energy will lead to more opportunities for work. That strategy is already paying off for us. By installing light-emitting diodes, or LED lighting, and photovoltaic solar systems, we’re helping area businesses, schools and medical facilities save thousands of dollars in energy costs. 

What's the best part about running your own business?
I get up most mornings excited about the challenges we face and what we can accomplish. Of course, that’s after I’ve had my coffee.

What's the biggest challenge of running your own business?
Finding the right employees with the right attitudes.

Name: Richard Granahan
Business: Granahan Electrical Contractors, electrical contractor operating in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey.
Industry: Electrical Contractors
Location: Doylestown, Pa.
Year founded: 1985
Number of employees: 35
Web address: granahanelectric.com
solarbygranahan.com

What's the biggest hurdle you've overcome?
We are an open, merit-based company. However, some area unions don’t appreciate that fact. The pressure we’ve faced from them has been significant and has, to some degree, stifled our growth.

What's the biggest mistake you've made?
Trying to hold onto our residential customers at the same time that our commercial business was expanding. I would need to pull a guy off a large commercial job to stop at a house to hang a paddle fan.  Even if the truck had the right parts, with the travel involved, I could never recoup the cost of the residential job.

What's the best business advice you can offer?
Keep negativity out of the workplace. It doesn’t belong in the office and will adversely affect every aspect of your company.