Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Mackey.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started off in the contracting industry while apprenticing underneath my father. He did some work as an Insurance Adjuster, and from there eventually got into doing general contracting for damage claims, storm damage, water damage etc. He used to bring me to job sites as a teen and show me how the work would get done, everything from scheduling crews to meeting with insurance adjusters on the behalf of homeowners. Most importantly he made sure I was taking mental notes on the Business end of things. I started out as a young teen working with some of the crews once in a while doing smaller things like painting and patching, and worked my way onto taking larger repairs like drywall, framing, insulation, subfloors, flooring, trim work etc.
Doing the labor and working on the crew side of things was a great way to earn a decent living but I’ve been molded to have the entrepreneurial mindset since I was a child, having always been surrounded by a lot of “DIYers”. I always wanted to start something of my own and be free of the ‘Rat Race’ so to speak… Although, money isn’t as much of a motivation for me as my sense of pride is. So many people in my age group, even some of my friends, have the same aspirations to start up something on their own…but a lot of their great ideas stay just that, ideas. I became annoyed with myself for not committing to anything tangible. I had a lot of other interest growing up, and other jobs, but Contracting seemed like the perfect cross between something I knew how to do, something people need, and something I enjoy doing. So, I went to the village, applied for my business license, built my own website, made my own business cards, and started promoting and advertising online. Business primarily started with friends and family, but slowly in between those calls and emails I started hearing from people I didn’t know… some jobs small, some big. I’ve been boss-free for over a year now, which has its pro’s and con’s, but I feel good with the progress I’ve made, and have plans for much larger things in the near future.
I read a quote that was on one of my old bosses desks that said “you can have everything that you want in life if you help enough other people get the things they want”. It took me a long time to fully realize what that meant and I carry that idea with me today.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. There is no rule book or guides to being your own boss or owning your own business… everyone who knows how to do it is busy helping themselves. The only one who’s looking out for my best interest is me, so it can feel lonesome at times. People fantasize all the time about owning their own business but the fantasy never details the sleepless nights, the anxiety, and the burden of responsibility that accompanies it sometimes. It’s kind of a double edged sword so to speak, there is a lot of freedom and empowerment in owning your own business but that freedom can easily steer you off course. Everything about it is always uphill. I don’t get to just put in my 40 hours a week and expect a paycheck… some weeks there are no paychecks, regardless of how many hours I put in. But I’m willing to take on the stress and the risk of that because I’m betting on myself and I’m playing the long-term.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are a family owned (Father & Son) General Contracting Business. We specialize taking on projects that involve multiple trades at once. We take on Insurance Claims for exterior and interior damage on residential properties, and we do full renovations for people who are just looking for updates, as well working with investors and property managers.
As simple as it sounds I like to think we are known for doing the job the right way and being honest with people, and always doing right by them. I think that’s the formula for success no matter what business you’re in. As ironic as it sounds we’ve actually lost business to people who didn’t want to do things the right way, or were looking for a cheap fix, sometimes looking to run around other people in the business. Although we could make a lot of extra money short-cutting things and going around people, I have no interest in doing that. It’s not about getting a cheap buck or an easy paycheck for me, it’s a sense of pride. My company literally has my name on it, and I want people to associate that name with good things. Contractors are a dime-a-dozen, and most people associate them as being greedy crooks who bail on jobs and screw people around – our Modus Operandi is the exact opposite of that, and I think in that sense we stand out by default.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, I think this business is great to be in regardless of your location. I would and do recommend people get into the trades, especially in regards to property and homes… but I recommend starting from the bottom and learning it thoroughly. If you don’t know what you’re doing, and you try to start from the top down, you will not survive this business.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1785 W. Cortland Ct.
Suite H
Addison Il, 60101 - Website: www.mackeygeneralcontractors.com
- Phone: 630-519-4000
- Email: mackeygeneralcontractors@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mackeygeneralcontractors/
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