"He told us to go and buy a second machine, so we purchased a loader and from there bought a Ford Costcutter truck.
"While still milking the cows our business began to grow."
Rick's earlier days, which saw him battling New Zealand's wavering economy, had him running Goodman Earthmovers with his brother Tony Goodman up until 1994, before the business fell into receivership due to what he describes as "financial hardship and mismanagement".
Many years since the receiver suggested Rick buy the plant back because "it was worth nothing", and ask 20 of his friends to each give him $5,000, the now-termed Goodman Contractors is one of Kapiti's most successful family-owned businesses.
"That's exactly what we did, went to 20 of our mates and came up with the $100,000," says Rick, who watched his father sell the family farm not long after he stepped into business.
"Work slowly picked up, and I eventually bought Tony out of the business."
Accompanied by wife Helen, who is retiring from the business at the end of this month after 47 years, Rick went on to rename the company Goodman & Sons, in an effort to incorporate the pair's three eager sons Stan, Lance and Vaughn Goodman.
"They asked to join the business, but I told them they couldn't unless they had a trade, so Stan became a civil engineer, Lance a fitter welder, and Vaughn a plumber."
Rick ultimately renamed the company Goodman Contractors after the joining of his daughter Marianne Goodman, now Archer.
Thriving, and with a total of 23 direct relations currently working for the team, Goodman Contractors is widely known for its family-driven philosophy.
"Our mum has been backing the business right from the get go, and originally drove trucks for Dad with the boys in beside her," explains quantity surveyor and co-director Marianne, who works as quality health and safety and environmental manager.
"On top of that, she was doing all of Dad's admin, including typing and wages."
"It's really important she gets a mention," says Rick, who describes Helen, 68, as a form of backbone for the business that is now predominantly run by the second generation of Goodmans.
What started as the Goodman siblings joining the business as fresh young adults at the onset of their careers, now sees them co-direct an industry-leading business that owns over 150 items of earth-moving machinery, on top of 50-plus company vehicles.
"It's like a big sandpit really," describes oldest brother and managing director Stan, as the family sit around the boardroom table of their Waikanae-based business headquarters.
"It's marvelous."
"We are very grateful," follows Lance.
"My wife remembers who I am now," jokes "trouble-shooter out in the field," Vaughn, describing the siblings' prior need to travel New Zealand in chase of work.
Marianne interjects, saying as well as enabling them to be part of a "legacy", the Kapiti-based roading project has allowed them to provide work for their wider family.
"We're a family business, and that's what drives us.
"We currently employ 12 local families, who make up 29 of our 140 permanent staff, and that's what it's all about for us.
"We don't judge success on financial means, but on how many families we're feeding."
Lance, who specialises in HR and is described by his family as "Mr Fun", says Goodman Contractors is also noted for its dedication to employing the younger generation, because of his father's "faith in young people".
"We learnt to drive machinery from around 11, and believe if you give the right young people responsibility at the right age, you get the rewards back."
Also a training company, Goodman Contractors currently runs up to 20 on-site courses in the field, with an additional five apprentice mechanics.
"We give employees a hand to get all their licences," says Stan, "and have a full-time trainer and an assessor who can approve getting their wheel, tracks, and rollers."
Lance, who has a strong belief the school curriculum is not always encompassing for students with a "different type of clever", says a number of employees in management or senior positions "had their principals tell them they'd never amount to anything".
"Two of them were kicked out in fourth form, and are supervisors now, and very bloody good ones."
As the family interacts, answering the string of questions in a collaborative conversational approach, it is easy to see they have a tight family bond.
"Vaughn and Stan were my best friends growing up," Lance says.
"Sometimes we'd go away with Dad and they were the only playmates I had, and now that we're working together, we're still best friends."
The brothers mention having their own minor earth-moving operations take place in the backyard sandpit growing up, with Stan as the project manager, and Lance and Vaughn as the workers.
"Then I came along, and was buried in the sandpit, and made to be the dam," Marianne chips in, followed by a roomful of laughter.
When asked how it really is working so closely together as a family, the group look around the table at one another, before Lance replies: "It's awesome, an argument can last for weeks".
"No," Rick smiles.
"It's a laugh a minute."
