From One Woman's Hustle to a Real Business: How We Built KRC 2.0
- Michele M. Barnes
- Aug 30
- 5 min read
December 2022.
I'd built something solid. A respected one-woman operation with select clients who trusted me completely. After 14 years, I was ready for more. Not different—just more.
My expertise, my love, my addiction even – it's all in retail construction. The impossible deadlines. The chaos that makes others panic but makes me feel alive.
Time to take KRC to the next level. Time to be seen differently.
I start posting on LinkedIn. Building authority. Sharing what 30 years taught me.
Then February 2023 hits. My father passes away.
My constant. My biggest believer. The man who taught me to show up without being asked.
Something shifts. Life's too short to play small.
The Numbers Tell Half the Story
January 2023: 2 clients. 100-hour weeks. Just me.
Today: Multiple major brands. 50-hour weeks. A growing team of specialists. Built to scale.
More changes in 2 years than our first 14 combined.
But here's what the numbers don't show: the discovery that made it all possible.
The Discovery That Changed Everything
Two years ago, I almost hired someone perfect on paper.
Flawless resume. Twenty years construction experience. Knew all the right software.
Something felt off during our conversation. They kept asking "whose responsibility is that?" when discussing scenarios. Instead of offering to help.
I passed.
Friends thought I was crazy. "You need help, and they're qualified!"
But qualified for what? To do tasks? Or to build something extraordinary?
That's when it hit me.
"I used to hire resumes. Now I hire humans who fit and love what they do." - Michele
I started looking for something different. Not skills – those can be taught. But attitude? Culture? That "we're in it to win it" mentality?
That's gold you can't train.
So I started hiring differently. Here's what happened:
The People Who Proved the Theory
Mike: The Unexpected Project Manager
Construction experience? Some. Project management credentials? Not traditional ones.
Education background? Absolutely.
"He doesn't have direct PM experience," the logical voice said.
"But he has everything else we need," my gut responded.
Structured thinking. Creative solutions. A teacher's patience with chaotic situations.
Now he runs complex store closures and built our proprietary project tracking system and onboarding platform.
"Skills can be taught. Culture can't."
Rich: From Shadow to Spotlight
My oldest son. Worked behind the scenes for years. Unpaid. Uncredited.
May 2023, he goes official. Part-time first. Then full-time.
Now clients request him specifically. "We need Rich's technical expertise on this design."
His leadership philosophy? "Give them opportunities to make mistakes and learn."
That's not just my son talking. That's a leader who gets it.
Ken: The Financial Anchor
My younger son brings financial discipline part-time while building his career.
Meticulous. Strategic. Keeps us honest about what's possible—in dollars and direction.
Rounds out the team beautifully. Discerning. Intentional. Disciplined.
Exactly what we need.
Denise: The Trust Master
April 2025. Best hire I never saw coming.
"I stopped checking her work after week 6. She doesn't just complete tasks. She anticipates needs. That's when I knew we'd found gold." - Michele
Major beauty retailers. Multiple store projects. Contractor communications.
She handles it all from home, visiting the office twice weekly.
No drama. No questions. Just done.
The KRC Culture Code
Here's what makes someone "KRC-able":
The "Yes Person" Test
Not yes to everything. Yes to solutions.
"We're here to support, fix, help" not point fingers.
Communication Style
Supportive, not harsh. We build up, not tear down.
Problems are puzzles to solve together.
The Multiple Hats Principle
"That's not my job" doesn't exist here.
We do what needs doing. Period.
Growth Mindset
Committed to making the business better.
Making our clients better.
Making each other better.
"I ask every candidate one question: Tell me about a time you had to figure something out with zero guidance. If their eyes light up telling the story, if they lean in with excitement about solving that puzzle – they're probably KRC material. If they complain about lack of direction? Next." - Michele
What This Really Means
This isn't about team building. It's about transformation.
From solopreneur to culture-builder.
From "I'll do it myself" to "we'll figure it out together."
From family business to business with family values.
From managing projects to building capacity for whatever comes next.
"A business that can't breathe without you isn't a business. It's a well-paid prison."
Someone told Rich that until you can vacation and make money, you're not an entrepreneur. You're a solopreneur.
They were right.
For 14 years, if I didn't work, KRC didn't earn.
Now? I can disappear to Maine's woods for a week. Projects continue. Clients stay happy.
That's not growth. That's freedom.
The Ripple Effect
Our team's families now depend on KRC thriving.
That's a whole different level of responsibility. And privilege.
It also means we've built the infrastructure to grow strategically when the right opportunities arise.
"Some nights I can't sleep thinking about their families depending on us. Most nights I sleep better knowing we're building something together that's bigger than any of us alone." - Michele
Clients now request specific team members by name.
"We need Rich's engineering perspective on this design."
"We need Mike's structured approach for this complex timeline."
"Is Denise available to coordinate this vendor situation?"
That's not a business anymore. That's a trusted partner with depth.
The Legacy Question
What kind of company are we building?
One where education backgrounds enhance construction expertise.
Where supportive communication matters more than harsh efficiency.
Where "yes, we'll figure it out" beats "no, that's not possible."
Where people grow beyond their resumes.
We're not actively recruiting today.
But our door's always open for the right talent and the right clients.
And tomorrow needs leaders who understand: the right culture creates extraordinary results.
"We do what has to be done to get it done. Together."
Not just our motto. Our DNA.
From solo hustle to shared purpose.
From solopreneur to entrepreneur.
From KRC to KRC 2.0.
Every new client isn't just a project. It's a chance to expand our bench.
14 years to build the foundation.
2 years to build the team.
The best is still being built.
Onward,
Michele
KRCrossing Consulting
