He Left an 18-Year Career to Build Something of His Own

On this episode of The Ill Noise Business Playbook, Joe sits down with Justin Hamilton, owner of Modern Builders & Design, to talk about his journey from an 18-year career in the union trades to building a company of his own.

Justin shares how years of working on bridges, industrial projects, Wrigley Field, the Old Chicago Post Office, O’Hare, and other major projects shaped his approach to leadership, integrity, and hard work—and how a business he originally started to create stability during the winter months unexpectedly became his new career.

The conversation explores entrepreneurship, leadership, family, networking, customer relationships, perseverance, community involvement, and the realities of learning how to run a business when your background taught you how to do the work—but not necessarily how to market and grow a company.

Justin also shares some of the moments that tested him as a business owner, from equipment breaking down in the middle of a major fire department project to receiving the wrong materials for a 7,200-square-foot Boeing project—and how staying calm, adapting, and finding a solution became part of leading his team.

But for Justin, building Modern Builders & Design has never been only about how big the company can become. His wife was there helping during the earliest days of the business, and his family remains at the center of how he defines success today.

Whether you're working in the trades, thinking about starting your own company, leading a team, or trying to create greater stability for your family, Justin's story is a reminder that success doesn't always have to mean building the biggest business—it can mean building a life that gives you more of what matters most.

In this episode:

Starting a business after 18 years in the union trades

Turning a winter side business into a growing company

Lessons in leadership from major Chicagoland projects

Building a company around integrity and honesty

The role family played in Justin's entrepreneurial journey

Navigating the early years of business during COVID

Learning marketing and business growth on the fly

Why networking and community involvement matter

Building relationships that lead to referrals and repeat customers

Leading and developing a team

Persevering when projects don't go according to plan

Why Justin wouldn't change the decisions that brought him here

Redefining success around stability, freedom, and family

👍 If you enjoyed this conversation, please Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who is building a business, working in the trades, or working toward creating greater stability and opportunity for their family. Follow The Ill Noise Business Playbook for more conversations with entrepreneurs, business owners, community leaders, and changemakers making a positive impact.