Jeremy Lawson is the founder and CEO of Homestead Builders, an Iowa-based home builder. Lawson has been in the business for over two decades and, through his company, has built barns, turnkey homes, and cabins in more than 300 counties across the Mid-West. Lawson’s success in running homestead builders has a lot to do with his belief in personalized customer service. Lawson makes sure that his team goes over and above a customer’s expectations whenever he takes up a project. Lawson has also always been driven by a desire to create jobs in the Mid-West.
Lawson saw most of the people he grew up with leave for the big coastal cities, starving the local towns of much-needed human resources to spur growth. He opted to stay back, build, and employ local youth, thereby incentivizing them to stay. So far, Lawson’s strategy has worked. Not only does his company build homes, but it is also a top employer in IOWA. As part of taking the company to the next level, Lawson has announced that his company is looking to open four more offices across the Mid-West. He hopes to serve customers even better while at the same time creating even more jobs in the Mid-West, his home, and a region he holds dear.
What is Homestead Builders all about?
Homestead Builders is an Iowa-based home building company. We build barns, turnkey homes, and cabins. The team is made up of professional and friendly individuals who help with everything from planning, costing, and the actual realization of the project.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
I have always had a passion for building and construction. I also love Iowa, and deep down, I wanted to start a project in the community I grew up in. That’s what motivated me to start Homestead Builders, and so far, so good.
We pride ourselves in building quality turnkey homes, barns, and cabins and have spread our wings in more than 300 counties across states.
My mid-western roots have helped me foster great relationships with the locals, thus contributing to the company’s success. Since we value our clients, we only hire qualified staff to handle our projects.
What is an average working day like for you?
My average working day varies. But on most days, I wake up around 5:30 in the morning. I first take a glass of water to get my body active. I then jot down that day’s activities before picking a book for about 30 minutes.
Later on, I refresh and take my breakfast. Before dashing out, I check my emails and read news insights on the industry (it’s essential to stay updated). Depending on the day, I rush to the office and do some paperwork. Other days, I head to the site we are working on to oversee things.
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
The market has steep competition. Thus, I put my clients first to stand out from the rest. Customer satisfaction is always my ultimate goal. With three decades of experience, I work with clients to plan, design, and build customizable projects.
I have also invested heavily in innovation. I have adopted robotic technology in the building process, which has helped the company cut its cost by 10 percent.
Lastly, I work with a professional and qualified team to ensure projects are finished on time per client requirements.
What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and why?
There is no magic in being successful in the industry. You have to put in the work and be consistent in your niche. Nevertheless, the three skills that have always stood out for me are courage, persistence, and adaptability.
- Nobody sees your vision the way you do. Hence, it’s essential to make bold moves, even afraid. I remember when my peers left Iowa to look for better opportunities. Regardless of the doubts I had in my mind, I remained. And if I didn’t dare start Homestead Builders, this would remain a dream. Courage has helped me take projects beyond my locality and several other states. If I remained fearful, I wouldn’t have known my potential.
- The industry is constantly changing. Hence the need to be adaptable. You will realize some of the things that used to work no longer work. Don’t be rigid in your decisions. Check the trends to save yourself from entrepreneurship heartbreaks.
- The last skill is persistence. You will often feel like giving up when a project starts going south. You will encounter difficult clients, run out of cash, and good employees will quit. At some point, your vision will stop making sense. Persistence will move you out of the most challenging holes.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
Referrals from my clients. My work speaks up for me, and I encourage the people whose projects I have worked on to recommend me to friends and family. Most clients from referrals believe I would deliver impeccable results.
Also, I heavily market on social media on platforms like Facebook. Social media has helped me reach a wider audience and win a lot of clients from there.
If you only had $1000 dollars to start a new business, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
Do you mean construction business or any other business? But seriously speaking, our world today is heavily digitalized. The first step is taking half the investment on a website for an e-commerce business. I would then invest the rest in social media marketing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
What is your definition of success?
Success to me is someone believing in me and my ideologies. It’s someone trusting me with their projects and vision and expecting us to deliver precisely that.
I always feel happy when we deliver what they exactly want within the stipulated time. Success is a client referring me to another client, meaning they believe in my work, hence the recommendations.
What valuable advice would you give new entrepreneurs starting out?
The entrepreneurship journey is not linear. You will encounter a lot of hurdles on the way. Either way, always push on. Understand your vision, and continue working towards fulfilling it. You can always start again when things stop working out.
Also, never stop learning and networking. You never know when what you learned will become valuable or how the people you meet will impact your journey.
How do you personally overcome fear?
Fear is part and parcel of this journey. Either way, I don’t let fear control my decision. Whenever I have the urge to do something, I do it. I don’t overthink.
Sometimes if it involves huge decisions, I talk to someone who believes in me and my vision. Affirmations from someone you trust go a long way in conquering fear.
What are your plans for the future, how do you plan to grow this company?
I plan to expand, and I am soon opening a new office in Kansas. I have also invested in innovation which has helped me cut company costs.
To grow the company, I intend to take the company public within the next decade. By taking the company public, I hope to acquire capital for extension and increase the company’s value.
What helps you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?
I believe it’s my passion for the construction industry. I’ve never seen myself do any other thing. I think this is my purpose, and I find joy in doing this. Even on the days I feel the pressure, I remember the smile on my clients’ faces after completing a project. This gives me the courage to take on another project.
Can you recommend one book, one podcast, and one online course for entrepreneurs and authors?
It’s been a while since I took an online course for entrepreneurship, so I don’t have any course recommendations.
- But for the book, I recommend ‘eat the frog’ by Brian Tracy. As an entrepreneur, it’s essential to have your priorities right. Before handling the lighter ones, it makes sense to start with the complex tasks first. The book has skyrocketed my productivity, and I’ve read it more than once.
- I enjoy listening to how I built this by Guy Raz for the podcast. Any entrepreneur would get motivated listening to it. Raz interviews entrepreneurs, innovators, and idealists on their entrepreneurship journey. He uncovers their vulnerabilities are making you realize nobody’s journey is smooth.
What is your favorite quote?
Richard Branson’s quote, “The brave may not live forever – But the cautious do not live at all,” has always kept me going. It reminds me always to take risks even when the path is unclear.
‘My biggest motivation? Just to keep challenging myself. I see life almost like one long University education that I never had — every day, I’m learning something new.’
How can readers get in touch with you?
You can contact me through Facebook, and I will reply to your queries. You can also contact me at +1 833-722-3242.
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