Jason McLaughlan

I constantly tell myself that I am successful. The power of thought is incredible. We become what we believe.

Western Fence Inc. is a company that has been around for some time in Utah. Jason McLaughlan has been president of the company for 25 years. His leadership has led the company towards success. He is an innovate business leader who is a master at construction management. However, his expertise lies in his ability to manage people and provide customers with high-quality services. Jason continues to lead the company towards a bright future with no signs of slowing down.

Where did the interest in Western Fence Inc. come from?

My family members started Western Fence Inc. in 1948. They had some tools lying around and decided that they should capitalize on their ability to create high-quality fencing. The rest is history from there.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I usually start my day at 4 a.m. I cannot function if I do not get my morning cup of coffee. I take some time to exercise and mentally prepare myself for the day. I start by reading e-mails that may have come in late last night. I will always ensure that I greet my employees each morning and give them their motivation. This step is incredibly important for a leader. You have to ensure that they always receive encouragement each morning to be successful.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I always write down my ideas. I take some time to think them through. Not all of my ideas are good ones [laughs]. I give myself some time to think these ideas through after I have written them down. I will take the good ones and do my best to implement them.

What’s one trend that excites you?

People are choosing to work with family-owned businesses rather than choosing corporations. Most of our return business has been families that have worked with our company for decades. They like knowing that a family-owned business cares about them. Many corporations do not give that aspect of customer service.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I constantly tell myself that I am successful. The power of thought is incredible. We become what we believe. I always remind myself that I am a successful individual. My subconscious takes care of the rest. I recommend that all business leaders try this.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to take his time on things. I always had a tendency to rush towards the finish line. However, it never got me anywhere. The quality of my work declined due to this bad habit. Quality is more important than quantity. That is a lesson I learned later in life and it has served me well.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

I believe that people are beginning to agree on political things when they are affiliated with opposite parties.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Always take time for yourself to rest and recover. You can only do so much each day. You need to be at full energy each morning otherwise you will not succeed at what you want to do.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Word of mouth marketing is incredibly important. All businesses should rely on this. Take time to speak with your customers and it will pay off in the long run.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

The company was in some financial trouble in 2004. However, we pushed through it and got back on our feet.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

I recommend that someone make an app that helps bring together construction professionals. Nothing like this exists at the moment. I really wish we had something like this ten years ago when we needed it the most [laughs].

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I took my kids out to see the newest Avengers movie. They love that stuff. It was an incredible bonding experience for us.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Google Docs helps us keep our information streamlined. The best part about it is that it is a free service for you to use.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Built to Last by Jim Collins. This book has helped me solidify this company even more. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to run a construction business.

What is your favorite quote?

“If You Are Working On Something That You Really Care About, You Don’t Have To Be Pushed. The Vision Pulls You.” by Steve Jobs. I love what I do and I live by this quote every day.

Key Learnings:

• Take your time, believe in your own success
• Write down ideas and then think them through
• Family Businesses are successful because of the united front they take on

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