Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jonathan Halloran, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Jobomax Global LTD., located in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We build homes in West Africa (Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Ghana) for local buyers and people who were born there but went abroad to live and work and want a place back home (diasporans). Our customers include PhDs, Uber drivers, and more, from Australia to California to Conakry, Guinea. They share a desire to own quality, affordable homes in their birth countries. We are in the business of making people’s dreams come true.
Tell us about yourself
I am a civil engineer by training and have worked in and around the construction industry since I was 19. In 1993 I went to West Africa in the Peace Corps, where I worked with a small municipal government on sanitation and infrastructure in Côte d’Ivoire. While I was there, I noticed that there was some really good affordable housing available, but all of it was built one brick at a time as family funds allowed. I thought then that there must be a better way to do that.
In 2014, I co-founded Jobomax with a member of the Guinean diaspora and another returned Peace Corps volunteer to solve the African housing crisis. Our biggest impact is probably to catalyze other entrepreneurs and investors in the region who will mimic our model. Every day, we get a little closer to our goal, and that makes getting out of bed at 5:30 AM easy.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I am most proud of the opportunities we have given to people to grow and develop. We have a small international team and a larger one in Africa. Our goal is to recruit bright, energetic people and then get out of their way so that they can do their jobs. One young man who started as an intern in Guinea eight years ago fresh out of university has now grown into a role where he is having a gigantic impact on customer success and service. His road has not been easy – nor has it been for anyone else on our team – and we are always resource-constrained, but seeing individuals take opportunities and build something is the best feeling for me.
A close second would be each time one of our customers gets the keys to their home. It is remarkable how many people told us that they never thought it was possible, and in fact, it would not have been possible without Jobomax in most cases. There are really very few other good options for Africans living abroad to own a home back home.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Balance. We have to be a people-first organization, yet I am constantly pulled in one thousand directions. We know that if we empower and support our team, we will be successful, yet that is not as easy as it sounds. I would love to offer better compensation to everyone on our team - they all so work hard and accomplish so much. At the same time, I must balance our mission of delivering affordable housing. It is not easy, but it is worth it.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have a plan but be flexible. There are a lot of different places where magic can happen. Be open to them.
- Focus. You will be presented with shiny objects every day. The hardest part is not prioritizing your to-do list; it is making your “Stop Doing” list so you can focus on what is most important.
- You will not be successful without the right team. OK, maybe you are trying to do something a little easier than solving one of society’s most intractable problems like we are, but regardless, your people will make a difference. I once heard that hiring is a crapshoot regardless of how thorough your interview process is. Who you choose not to keep on your team after 6-12 months is a decision you make with near-perfect information. You know how they perform. Who leaves your team will determine your culture and performance more than anything else.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://africa-housing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jobomax
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jobomaxhome/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jobomax
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jobomax/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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