Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremy and Javier Becerra.
Jeremy and Javier, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
With a “West Texas Grit” mentality, my brothers and I, Jeremy, took a challenge and relocated to DFW to earn our degrees from the University of Texas at Arlington. Growing up in Big Spring, Texas, we found DFW to be a bit of a culture shock, but a welcomed change to our way of life. Each of us reached our goal and committed to our professional careers. I began working with Chase Bank as I was earning my degree in Finance. I stayed with the company after graduation and worked my way up to a private client banker. I was with the company for almost 11 years.
My brother Javier received his Master’s in Accounting and worked for a variety of stone suppliers throughout DFW. Jonathan received his Master’s in Elementary Education and taught in New Jersey for two years and then went West to teach in Oregon for another two years. Though we enjoyed our jobs, we did find ourselves reminiscing about our teenage years when we worked alongside each other. Outdoor environments were something we missed when it came to work as well. Javier and I decided to pursue hardscaping contractual work since he was an expert in stones so I put forth a business plan which included Jonathan and our cousin Jesse. Jonathan was on board and planned to relocate back to Texas once he wrapped up the school year.
Jesse who was also a private banker with Chase, decided to put his financial expertise and great work ethic into the company as well. Aesthetic Outdoor Living Inc was set to begin. We knew we eventually wanted to tackle a whole range of outdoor projects eventually but for the first two years, our primary focus was on hardscape which included concrete paver or travertine decks. We were able to earn the trust and respect of several custom pool designers and custom home builders with our personal accountability, professionalism, dependability, respectfulness, and humility. We cannot overstate the importance of our crews. It is motivating and inspiring witnessing the work ethic our crews bring everyday. We depend on them as much as they depend on us, so there is mutual respect and this is one of the goals we were aspiring to in the beginning. Last year Aesthetic Outdoor Living was ready to tackle its own clients and other outdoor projects such as pergolas, outdoor grills, fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, and entire Landscape design projects. It goes without saying that 2020 will be tough for the entire world, but we are determined to continue providing services for North Texas and doing our best to improve the community.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There were and will be many challenges along the way. Financially supporting the business, in the beginning, was stressful. We each had promising careers and were able to get Aesthetic Outdoor Living Inc started without applying for a business loan. We avoided the stress and hassle of a business loan but we were taking a personal financial risk. There were no issues with our families supporting us, but we put a lot of pressure on ourselves not to fail.
This brings us to another bump in the road. We were able to overcome the financial stress in the beginning, but now it is hard not to let the foot off the pedal. We are realizing that we want to enjoy the moment as much as we want to succeed, so trying to find that balance is still a work in progress. Another work in progress is having four strong-minded individuals running a company. Family members at that so conversations can become passionate. Thankfully our past careers and education have allowed us to structure our conversations professionally so that we may continue to succeed alongside each other.
Aesthetic Outdoor Living – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Aesthetic Outdoor Living Inc is a small business that specializes in outdoor projects. Currently, our forte is patios and decks around pools. We offer concrete paver and travertine deck installations. However, our expertise has branched out beyond decks. Our installation services include outdoor kitchens, pergolas, landscaping, fire pits, retaining walls, and much more. We are striving to be known for the single source for all of your outdoor home improvement needs. If it is something we don’t offer, we will gladly point you in the right direction.
We are proud to be an all-around “fair small business”. This means offering our clients the best price that doesn’t short cut professionalism while at the same time providing our crews with respectable wages. My brothers and I worked at Whataburger and H-E-B grocery in Big Spring, TX when we were teens, and knowing the history and values of these Texas companies gives us and our cousin Jesse a lot of pride in running a respectable business.
I believe what sets us apart from others is our commitment to humanity. This commitment gives us a conscious about what we do in our everyday lives. Treating everyone fairly and respectfully was something our father, Javier Becerra, instilled in us as we were growing up. He was a police officer in Big Spring and had a big heart for everyone he came into contact with daily. “Treat people right, and they will do the same” is what he would say. Our staff and customers can always count on us to do what is right!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Having a company that provides services for our community as well as providing for our families, and the families of our crews give us peace. Taking a big leap of faith and to still have the pleasure of running our own business today is a very proud moment for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.aestheticoutdoorliving.com
- Phone: 817-676-5119
- Email: jbecerra@aestheticoutdoorliving.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paverdoctordfw/
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