Meet Jereme D

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jereme D a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jereme, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
Most of my work ethic came from a combination of my upbringing and my military experience. I grew up in a large family of 10. Growing up with such a large family we didn’t have a lot so we had to make do with whatever my Mom and Dad could provide. Sometimes it was a lot of Beans and Hotdogs, coupled with powdered milk and bologna sandwiches My Dad and Mom also taught me a lot about frugality and working hard for what you want. I started mowing lawns at the age of 12 during the spring and summer to make extra money with my friend. We started a lawn company called “Green Feet.” We had 2 push mowers and after a few years, we saved up and bought a whole trailer full of equipment. My Dad was always working hard to provide, even taking on extra jobs to make some additional money. He would get very little sleep. My mother worked as a nurse, and she too worked long hours. I would see them coming home exhausted but always trying to take time out to help us or keep us entertained.

I also spent a lot of time with my grandparents as a young man. My grandfather “Dyda” was a quiet man but caring and hard-working. He grew up during the Depression much like the movie “Cinderella Man.” He worked odd jobs throughout trying to support his family. His father died when he was 6 years old, so he had to step up and be the man of the home for his mother and brother. He learned hard work at an age when most kids would be on the playground. He and my grandmother “Bama” taught me a lot about hard work and never quitting. I would watch my grandfather tinker in the garage always working on something. When he passed, he had over 100 projects in the garage that were never completed. I think that he enjoyed trying to figure things out.

As a soldier, I used the work ethic, I learned as a child and focused on completing the rigorous training and schools. The military was demanding both physically and mentally. Some of the schools such as Ranger School caused me to push my work ethic to the extreme. What I learned from the military was invaluable and allowed me to overcome extreme obstacles that have carried over into my business and personal life.

One such event was in 2015. I had lost my job and couldn’t find work. The economy at the time was not in a good place and I had to work 3 part-time jobs to help keep things afloat. I would stand in line at the Salvation Army in the winter cold for financial support. I did everything and anything to maintain. Moreover, my home was under foreclosure and it was a painful existence for me. I had to work harder than I ever did in my life to try and survive and keep my family and home. If it wasn’t for the grace of God, my wife’s support, and my work ethic I would not have made it through.

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?
I love being an entrepreneur. Creating something that once started out as an idea on paper and then putting it into action is what I love to do. I try and mentor Military veterans on the benefits of Entrepreneurialism and demystify any foregone conclusions they may have about a start-up. I started a foundation called Axios Inspires Foundation to help provide training and bring other successful veteran entrepreneurs to tell their stories and inspire a new generation of business owners.

I have ownership in several companies including a Private Investigations company (Axios Investigations Firm), a BBQ Sauce company (Flip Flop Sauce), a sports promotion company focused on fighting and guns (Guns and Boxing), and a new company in production that will be launched this year that focuses on physical and cyber Security (Axios Security Group.)

I work a lot of long hours but I try and manage my time with my businesses and family. I tell people I try and mentor that God, Family, and Business should be the order in which you run your company. I believe that putting God first in all things is imperative because you will face a ton of challenges and having that peace and love of God in your heart will help you overcome a lot of difficulties and challenges. I live by this scripture, Jeremiah 1:19 “They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you.”

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe that the 3 qualities that were most impactful to me were:

1. Continuous Learning: The commitment to lifelong learning is crucial for personal growth and adaptation to a changing world. Acquiring new knowledge and skills allows individuals to remain relevant and adaptable. Never be afraid to learn and ask questions. Always remain curious and be willing to learn. A great quote from Albert Einstein was, “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”

2. Time Management and Organization: Effective time management and organization skills help individuals juggle multiple responsibilities and tasks while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. I always break down my day into time segments. I start my day and chose to have a quiet time of self-reflection with the Bible and a cup of black coffee. I try and do this before my kids are up so I can have a little me-time to get my day going. I then break down my day like I would a military operation. I would segment my day for tasks and be flexible for change. I would also make it important for me to do exercise. I find that some of my best business ideas come from being on a treadmill listening to music. Keeping things organized is also very important. I live by the adage don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today. So I keep my day as organized as possible and I do not wait until the last minute to do things.

3. Ethical and Moral Values: A strong moral compass and ethical principles guide decision-making and behavior in a way that aligns with one’s values and principles. This is a big one for me. I have been taught a Client perception is reality. This can also extend to your team and other parts of the business. If you do not have a strong moral compass and foundation you will find that to be a detriment in your life and business operations. My company was named “Axios” for this reason because I wanted to ensure that we are founded on strong ethical and moral values. Axios is Greek meaning “we are worthy.”

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
I believe that my biggest growth in the last 12 months has been my relationship with God and humility. I struggled for many years with my life, business, and family, and understanding my role as a husband. I always felt that being a provider and doing things for my family was all I needed to do to be a successful Father/Husband. But I did these things more out of obligation. When I decided to give my life to God my whole outlook changed and I began to really understand my role as a business owner and husband. A great book that I read was “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek. It really opened my eyes to what the Military trained me to be putting the team first before myself. In my desire for success, I forgot to remember those important to me which began to slowly degrade everything around me.
It is important to remember that humility doesn’t mean surrendering. I believe that it is just the opposite. Humility can only strengthen who you are because you can allow positive things to enter your life. You are open to new ideas and willing to accept feedback. Those are the keys to success in life and business.

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