We recently connected with Jacob Abel and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jacob with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
The basis of my work ethic comes from my father. He worked hard through the 2008 recession to support our family by working in the construction industry. Watching him work long days and nights was definitely inspiring to see growing up. It instilled a strong work ethic that I rely upon today. Some of my other inspirations have been public figures like Kobe Bryant, who really push the message of working hard and overcoming adversity.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Abel Industries is a general contracting firm, based out of Concord, NC that I started back in 2021 with my father, Scott Abel. We specialize in both Residential and Commercial construction. On the residential side we do everything from standard production houses all the way up to full custom homes. Custom Homes are always fun to do because they really are a work of art. We like to work with our clients to build their dream homes and make their vision a reality. We also learn a lot from everyone custom home because each one really requires special attention. On the commercial side, we work with brands like, Massage Envy, Coldstone, Smoothie King, The Joint Chiropractic, and The UPS Store. As a company, we try to provide solutions to a board range of projects that we may encounter. It’s always been important for us to have a large skillset as a company so that we can take on a variety of project types.
It’s an exciting but difficult time in the construction industry. As a someone in their 20’s starting out in the industry I noticed immediately that their appeared to be a major shortage of skilled labor and those talented guys that were still around were quickly approaching retirement age. So, there is a lot of opportunity to grow and learn if you are young, but that dwindling amount of talent definitely presents challenges. However, I do believe this industry is more insulated from the current technological changes that we are seeing and that are affecting other industries more heavily.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being an entrepreneur definitely requires having a certain level of curiosity which I think I’ve had since I was young. You have to be able to learn new things constantly and adapt on the fly. Something else I’ve learned on this journey so far is that you definitely have to be resilient. Things are going to go wrong, and you have to be able to recover quickly and move on. Being able to learn from your mistakes or what didn’t work well is key. It’s important not to give up the second something doesn’t work or go as well as you thought it would. Resilience is definitely the trait I would say all aspiring entrepreneurs need to develop as it’s what will get you through the tough times. Something that I think also needs to be stressed is ethics. I’ve found that being honest and trustworthy can really get you a long way in business. If you come from an ethical framework I’ve found even when mistakes are made people are far more willing to work with you. This framework has also brought Abel Industries a lot of clients from word of mouth.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
I am going to amend this question a bit when answering and talk about two Entrepreneurs who have had an impact on my journey using their online presence. Patrick Bet David and Alex Hormozi both have big online followings from their work on their own businesses. Listening to their teachings online has definitely helped me learn about some of both financial and personal challenges entrepreneurs face. In terms of hiring PBD has influenced our companies’ hiring methods and how we can evaluate potential employees. PBD has also recommended several books that I have read to try and improve my own company and personal abilities, including PBD’s own two books. His personal story is also quite inspiring. I would encourage anyone to check out his personal channels. Alex Hormozi has been a big influence on me from the personal side of entrepreneurship. This journey can be very lonely and almost get to the point of mundane because of all the work you have to do. With Alex being a successful entrepreneur, it’s nice to hear that these times are a natural part of the journey. Alex, has really emphasized the importance of just doing the work and pushing through challenges.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://abelbuilt.com/
- Instagram: @abelbuildingpros
- Facebook: @abelindustries
Image Credits
All images taken by Jacob Abel
