Small Business Today Magazine FEB 2015 TAYLOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGMENT | Page 12

COVERSTORY

$2,500.00. They also have a standing commitment to donate and
volunteer at the shelter. Kelley is active in service sorority Delta
Sigma Theta (North Harris County Alumni Chapter).
The Taylor’s also donate time and money to sponsor and enrich
this inner city youth basketball team in order for them to attend
national tournaments with the goal of obtaining college scholarships.
Last but not least, Troi is the Golf Scholarship Committee Chair for
the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council. In May 2014,
the committee raised $90,000 for minority businesses to attend
trainings and seminars to better their companies. Another one of
the Taylors’ passions is their desire to start a non-profit that would
allow them to go back into the inner city schools and help mentor
the children.
The Taylors’ most precious commodities are their children, 10-yearold son Joshua and 8-year-old daughter Laila. Their business is their
legacy to their children and they are grooming them to one day take
it over if they so choose. Joshua has built every hospital with Troi and
Laila has raised money online in “Go Fund Me” for the Star of Hope.
Both of the children are little miniature replicas of their parents. They
want to be just like them and even dress like them. When Laila was
making a thank you video for the recipients of her donation, she said
to her parents, “I have to do my hair and hands just like mommy.
Don’t I need a business jacket?” The children observe everything
their parents do so it is important to the Taylors that they are stellar
role models.They teach the children that there is a lot in their name
and it’s not just about Taylor Construction Management; it’s about
them. Joshua loves to go with Troi to Texas A&M University acting as
the lead. He picks up bid documents and exchanges business cards.
He will put on a suit, a blazer, and tie and he shakes hands. He looks
at them in their eyes and sits up straight. When Laila is older, she will
start going with her parents as well.
When the Taylor family lets their hair down, they spend a lot of
time watching movies together. The children participate in a lot of
extracurricular activities.Troi and Kelley try to have a date night once
a week or twice a month. The family also does a lot of traveling.They
are getting ready to go to Colorado and next year they have China
and Italy on the agenda.
Troi and Kelley know that it would be wonderful for their children
to choose to follow in their footsteps. Even so, they are quick to
remind them that whatever they do, just work at it with all of their
heart. On a daily basis, the Taylors tell their children that it is all about
faith and hard work and whatever they do, just do their best. They
tell them that their story isn’t over yet; it’s just beginning. They tell
them that all they need to do is follow the blueprints they have designed and it will lead them on the right pathway to success.
10 SMALL BUSINESS TODAY MAGAZINE [ FEBRUARY 2015 ]

Photo by Gwen Juarez Photography

Troi and Kelley’s Best Words of Advice
1. There is room for your passion and gifts. If you are diligent in nurturing and pursuing your gifts, they will reward you with a quality
lifestyle.
2. Ask yourself if there is going to be a market for it. Will your business serve a need? How will it impact your customer? Who is
your customer?
3. Don’t try to be a “Jack of all trades”. Be so good at something that
people will remember the experience.
4. Add value. If you make your customer’s business your business,
they will in exchange make your business their business.
5. Don’t look at someone else and go into that industry just because
it looks like they are doing well. Their gift may not look good on
you. A person’s gift allows them to do things effortlessly and creatively because that is how they are gifted. Do what is good for
you.
6. Every relationship that touches your business is an important
relationship. That doesn’t just include your clients but also your
contractors and your community.
7. Write your business plan at least six to twelve months in advance
and then start talking to your banker and show them the plan.
Keep them updated on the trends in the market and they in turn
will give you financial options. It’s not just the numbers that are
important but the relationship is equally important. Things will go
a lot smoother if you have a rapport with your banker.
8. Write your business plan at least six to twelve months in advance
and then start talking to your banker and show them the plan.
Keep them updated on the trends in the market and they in turn
will give you financial options. It’s not just the numbers that are
important but the relationship is equally impor [