Andy On Call - Jeremy Gutierrez

I thought that you might enjoy the cover of this month's Entrepreneur Magazine.  It captures a new spirit that I hope can be contagious and will lift us out of this recession's doom and gloom.

 

  

Our E-Story of this month is about a young man that decided to take on his fears, go after his dreams and kick some you know what!

 

Congratulations Jeremy, and welcome to the world of Entrepreneurship! 

 
 

 

 

Jeremy Gutierrez

Jeremy came to me as a referral from a client I helped get into business a year earlier. He was 28 years old and worked for a telecom company analyzing bills. He had realized about 6 months earlier that this isn't what he wanted to do for the rest of his career, and wasn't sure what the next step would be. He was constantly exposed to layoffs and felt underappreciated. "If I gave 110% working on a particular project, it would not be appreciated. And visa-versa, if I had a slow day and not much was accomplished, no one noticed that either."

 

When Jeremy found out that his co-worker Mike had quit his job and bought a franchise, he knew he had to learn more. Jeremy called me and we started to talk about his dreams.  He wanted the potential to be in charge of his career and earn a larger income. He was looking for something more hands-on, where he would have the satisfaction of a job well done, be rewarded for his efforts, be proud of his business and not be stuck in a cubicle all day.

 

We initially decided on three different business models for Jeremy to learn about and validate. One of the opportunities was the same as his buddy Mike. That initially was his first choice. Jeremy was extremely focused during every step of our process. On each call we discussed the steps he would take from week to week and Jeremy completed them. His desire and motivation were high. He learned a lot about business ownership and about himself. He admitted that he had a lot of fear about leaving corporate America and going out on his own. But he was ready to take on that challenge. His wife Sarah was supportive. They hadn't started their family yet and they both felt that this was Jeremy's best time to pursue his dream of business ownership.

 

After months of investigation, Jeremy decided on Andy On Call, a handyman franchise. "I picked Andy On Call because I was sold after meeting the president of the company down in Chatanooga, Tennessee. I felt that this was a fast growing company with over 50 franchises already open throughout the U.S.  I felt that there was always going to be a need for handyman services."  Jeremy understood that he was going to be the manager and marketer of the business. He would hire contractors to do the work so he could concentrate on growing the business.

 

Sounds like this story is over...not quite!  We hit the brick wall. Where would he get the money to finance this venture, this dream?  Being young in this career, there wasn't a lot of savings. He and Sarah had some equity in his house, but would it be enough? He approached this challenge like an good businessman would do -- with determination. We spent several months working together while Jeremy reseached various financing options. When one door was closed, we looked for another. Determination!  Persistance!  Qualities of a successful entrepreneur. Through a friend of a friend, Jeremy found a bank that was willing to do the deal. Mission accomplished!

 

"I am glad I made that phone call to Marty. He was a great coach. He always pushed but never pressured me into making a move I didn't want to do. One challenge was if I was making the right decision. I never owned a business before. Another challenge was if I was picking the right franchise. Finally, the biggest challege was findng the capital to fund it. I like what I'm doing because there's always something new everyday. Whether it's a new client, new craftsman, new idea, or new process on everyday work.  Marty was a knowledgeable and great coach. Never give up your DREAMS!"

 

If you or a friend live in Union County, New Jersey, and are in need of something fixed, updated or cleaned around your home or business, please give Jeremy of ANDY ON CALL a call at 908-686-0010. Have it done right the first time!

Jeremy's fear of failure had been holding him back. But, he was ready to take it on and was up for the challenge, just like the cover of the recent issue of Entrepreneur magazine, "Be fearless."    Fear is just an emotion caused by faulty perception and lack of education. Jeremy took the steps to conquer his fears and go after his dream of business ownership. I'm noticing that more and more young people are disturbed with the reality of corporate insecurity, and they're doing something about it.   What's holding you back? Are you ready to slay your fear dragon?  All it takes is to pick up your sword, i.e. phone, and give me a call.  Together we can put FEAR in it's place