Today we’d like to introduce you to Jazon Azael Gonzalez.
Hi Jazon, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Dallas, TX. Nothing too special about my upbringing aside from my rebellious years as teenager. You could say I was a normal young man looking for fun and engagement and at times took it to extremes.
I was born to some awesome parents that happened to migrate from Mexico. Both eventually met in the United States since they were from two different states. I was born lucky you can say. I could only imagine the hoops and hurdles they had to jump just to get here, let alone raise me and two pain-in-the-ass younger brothers.
Aside from the early years, once I graduated from high school, I immediately jumped into the workforce. I picked up a job remodeling homes for a close family friend that was like an uncle to me. His name is Rich, and although we were not related, he was family. Working for him exposed me to what I would describe the finer things in life. I would work on homes that looked and felt like they belonged in a movie. At times I would meet and conversate with the homeowners to just pick their brains on subjects like success, and how they got it. Sometimes I would even find it odd that they would talk to a kid like me. I was nothing special. Observing the way successful people live really left an everlasting impression on me. So much in fact it would later become my obsession.
I tried the college route when I was 19 years old. I signed up for Cedar Valley Community College pursuing an engineering degree. At the time I was working full time 50 to 60 hours a week in a commercial construction setting. Gone were the days of working in nice homes. This time it was a world of new construction which was actually a lot of fun. I worked as a carpenter’s helper as well as a pipe layer’s helper. Both of course were grueling jobs, but the pay was great at the time.
I could remember my dad being my greatest supporter. I was by no means a great son, but no matter what I did I always had his support. So much that he would disapprove of my decisions to working these types of jobs. He always told me to look for something better. It got to the point where he would annoy me to try out a skilled trade every other day. I can remember telling him, “Don’t worry Dad I’m still going to college too, I’ll figure it out.”
Even though I was studying and working, I felt no passion for what I did. I remembered noticing one thing in common that successful people tend to have. That of course was doing something they loved. I honestly hated school and my job. I would see guys work in the same position for years on end, the same position I was in. It did not take long for me to realize this was not it.
I took my dad’s advice when I reached the ripe age of twenty. May 27th of 2014, was when I became an apprentice electrician. I used my previous construction experience to my advantage and quickly made a name for myself. It did not take long for me to fully invest myself in the trade either. Within the first 6 months, I dropped out of college and focused all my ambitions into becoming the best apprentice electrician within the company. Hell, I even signed up for electrical trade school that my employer partially paid for. Two years later in the trade, my girlfriend and I bought a house in Mansfield, TX. A place where we would later lay the foundation for our family and business. I was 22 at the time and the year was 2016.
Fast forward to now 6 years and three kids later, I can honestly say I made the best decision for me. I absolutely love what I do. All those years I spent working on my craft, and getting all the electrical licenses possible led to where I am at now. I did in fact made some great friends over the years and associated with some great people. That of course did not come with side effects. I learned not everyone shares the same enthusiasm as you do, nor do they care for your success. If you want something, greater than where you are at now it is going to take some sacrifice. I did not party or indulge as much as my peers did in my early 20s. I worked my ass off to only scratch the surface of where I want to be. I used my youth to jumpstart my career and even then, I still wish I did things a little different. If I only knew what I know now when I was 18 straight out of high school, I might be a millionaire right now. My dream of owning a successful business will one day be reality. I made it this far with the support of my family and friends. I Haven’t made it yet, but I will keep the same energy until I fade way. I failed many times and got up every single time. I might have been rocked a couple times, but I never got knocked out.
I not only do this for myself but for the well-being of my family. I want to leave an everlasting legacy behind well beyond after I am gone. To date, our business Azael Electrical has a talented team including my now wife. I now have my own small team of apprentice electricians. They have goals as well, and I will always make it my priority to help them further their career because someone at one point helped me. This in terms will only benefit us a team. Growing can only be possible if everyone eats.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road is anything but!! I did not necessarily always fit in with the crowd. Especially since I can be a little over the top and obnoxious. This in term only fueled me to be always myself. I am not for everyone, who my wife will tell you is an understatement. In all seriousness, I did grow up having amazing parents. They were not rich or even well off, but they did what they could and then some. They taught me about resilience and fortitude. You need these traits in the real world to succeed otherwise you will just be another number.
I was not always favored when I was employed as an apprentice electrician. Not even as a journeyman electrician. I at times felt discriminated since I was always put to work with my Hispanic coworkers that were not necessarily put in the best position to succeed as my white counterparts did. I was still young at the time where most of my coworkers beat me by ten years or more. Bridging the age gap with guys who felt their seniority over me was an interesting hurdle to jump across. Earning respect in all honesty was just as important as the quality of your work.
Let us not forget about my personal life I became a father relatively young at 23. I was not only learning to be the best electrician I could be but a parent as well. It was not a mistake by any stretch of the imagination. I always wanted to be a dad, and not an old one at that. Of course, I was madly in love with my wife. We had just the bought our house and it did not take long for us to bless it with kids!! Well, three of them to be exact.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a licensed and insured electrical contractor out of Mansfield, TX. We like to set ourselves apart from our competition by providing a wonderful experience as well as service ranging from general electrical repairs to interior/exterior lighting design. We also provide services for new construction ranging from small residential buildings to million-dollar homes.
I am proud of being able to keep my family name alive through my business as well as being a responsible Hispanic business owner. I am excited about growing a team of talented and awesome people who share the same aspirations and goals as I do. This will be part of the legacy I will leave behind to pass down to my children one day.
I got to this point through 14 years of construction experience. The thought of owning my own business was always in the back of my head. While working for someone else, the thought of starting my own business tended to be taboo amongst some peers and even my own supervisors. It was not always encouraged but when I asked others “why don’t you start your own business?”, their response was always the same. “There’s too much competition, too much headache, you’re better off working for someone else.” I always responded back “well someone at one point did and now runs a multi-million-dollar company, if they did why not me?”
No, it was not easy. If you cannot deal with discrimination, favoritism, and overall animosity from your peers, this business is not for you. I embraced the suck and came to the realization that I came from a family with no generational wealth. With that being said, I put my focus on trade school and my craft. I always volunteered for tough jobs that require the most problem-solving. What does not kill you will only make you stronger right? Little did I know that this would make me move on up in my company quicker than most. I became a commercial foreman when I was 25, the youngest one at the time.
Along the way, I learned that not everyone shares your enthusiasm and energy, and it’s best to be around like-minded people you know. Having a great support team will always help you the most when you feel like quitting. Trust me I wanted to many times.
I am by no means a genius or a standout individual. I never finished college. I never made straight A’s in school and If I can do this, so can you. I modeled my business from part of my everyday life, your word and your integrity are everything.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I love to watch YouTube channels like Electrician U with Master Electrician Dustin Stelzer as well as Contractor fight with Tom Reber. In terms of podcasts, I occasionally enjoy the Joe Rogan experience as well as financial education gurus like Robert Kiyosaki and Graham Stephen. I am not really a book person to be honest. It is hard to sit still and read for longer than 5 minutes before I get bored.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.AzaelElectrical.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azael.electrical/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Azael.Electrical
- Other: https://nextdoor.com/pages/azael-electrical-and-lighting-design-mansfield-tx/recommend/
Image Credits
Jazon Gonzalez
Carol Gonzalez
Jazziel Orozco
Jesus Valentine
