Nick Zielinski on Taking Over the Family Business, Leadership & Building High Voltage Hills | Ep 36

Nick shares what it was like growing up around the family paving business, learning the value of hard work at a young age, and eventually stepping into the leadership role his father built from the ground up. From working summer jobs as a kid to managing a rapidly growing company with 40+ employees, Nick discusses the lessons he learned about leadership, responsibility, and building a strong reputation in business. Nick also dives into how the company has evolved under his leadership — expanding into trucking, milling, and concrete while scaling operations and delegating responsibilities to grow the business sustainably. Beyond asphalt and construction, Nick shares the incredible story behind High Voltage Hills — a motocross track he built that has grown into an award-winning racing destination attracting riders from across the United States and beyond. From family values and entrepreneurship to leadership and building something meaningful in your community, this episode is packed with real-world lessons from someone who built success by staying in his lane, working hard, and focusing on doing great work. Nick shares: ● Growing up in Waterville and learning the value of hard work in a family business ● Why he originally wanted to join the military — and how life redirected him ● Taking over Zielinski’s Asphalt and earning respect by working through the ranks ● The biggest lesson his father taught him about handling challenges in business ● Scaling the company from a small operation to a 40+ employee team ● Expanding into trucking, milling, and concrete services ● Why answering the phone and responding to customers matters in contracting ● Learning how to delegate and build a leadership team ● Leading multiple generations of employees on the same crew ● Building High Voltage Hills motocross track from a private track to a major racing venue ● Bringing national riders and live streaming motocross events to a small town ● Balancing entrepreneurship, family, and the next phase of business growth 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DQnBF0 ... 💬 Question for you: If you grew up around a family business, what’s the biggest lesson it taught you about work or leadership? Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro: Nick Zielinski & the family asphalt business 2:05 – Growing up in Waterville around the paving industry 5:30 – Wanting to join the military and the path into the family business 9:45 – Lessons learned from his father about work ethic 14:20 – Taking over the business and stepping into leadership 20:10 – Scaling the company: employees, trucks, and new services 26:40 – Expanding into trucking, milling, and concrete 33:10 – Why reputation and quality work drive business growth 38:50 – Leading younger workers and experienced crews 44:20 – Why contractors struggle with answering calls and managing growth 50:30 – Learning to delegate and build a leadership team 56:10 – Building High Voltage Hills motocross track 1:01:20 – Hosting national motocross events and live broadcasts 1:06:30 – The future of the business and what’s next for Nick ABOUT MAKE AN IMPACT: Based in Central New York Follow us on Instagram: @MakeAnImpactPod Real stories. Real people. Real impact.