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Hamid Rod Tehrani: A Technical Advancement

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

CONCORD — After eight years of working construction, Hamid Rod Tehrani felt it was time to advance to something a little more technical. “I decided to look into plumbing,” he relates. “At first, it was a lot more grunt work than technical, but that changed with time. The more I learned about the intricate aspects of the profession, the more I enjoyed it. Eventually, I got hired by the county as a crew leader for underground pipe replacement projects. In 2002, I started my own plumbing business, and it has been growing ever since.”

Today, as owner of Absolute Plumbing and Drain, Hamid says his favorite part of his job is the daily challenges. “Every day brings new situations and new problems to solve. Even if the job is basically the same, the unique situation can differ significantly. I enjoy troubleshooting and finding solutions to challenging problems.”

Originally from Iran, Hamid came to the United States in 1995 and currently resides in the East Bay Area. “Transitioning from life in Iran to life in the U.S. wasn’t exactly smooth,” he says. “I had a business degree, but back then it wasn’t recognized in the U.S., so I basically had to start over from scratch. What I appreciated most was the fact that I was accepted here, despite being from a totally different culture. I will always be appreciative of the people who accepted me for who I am and helped me get on my feet.”

In regard to his professional career, Hamid espouses the importance of going the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction. “I’m not worried about being the biggest or most profitable plumbing company; I’m more concerned about making our customers happy,” he affirms. “Sometimes that means going the extra mile. For example, I recently did a job where I was at the customers’ home until 9:30pm, just so I could make sure they had running water before I left. They couldn’t believe I was willing to stay that long, but they were very appreciative. Driving home, I was tired but happy. That’s the kind of feeling that’s more rewarding than money.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Hamid says he’d take a cruise. “I work six days a week, so if I retired, I’d definitely take some time to relax. Maybe I’d go on a cruise to Costa Rica. Of course, I’d want to keep the business running with my guys, so I probably wouldn’t retire completely. Maybe I’d just transition into a less hands-on role.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite restaurant?
A: The Cheesecake Factory in Walnut Creek.

Q: Music or talk radio?
A: Talk radio.

Q: Do you collect anything?
A: Watches.

Q: If could time-travel, would you go to the past or the future?
A: I would go to the past, when life was more slow-paced. These days, it feels like we’re chasing our lives to get to the end. I miss the simpler, slower times.