Stand Up to Stand out with Special Guest: Andrew Jones

Podcast Episode Summary

In this episode of the Leading Forward Podcast, host Nick Edwards kicks off Season 3 ("Learning from Leaders") by sitting down with Andrew Jones, a faith-driven entrepreneur and the owner of Abel Solutions.

Throughout the conversation, Andrew shares his journey from working a secure corporate job at Halliburton to leaping into the volatile world of entrepreneurship. Anchored deeply by his faith and family values, Andrew discusses the realities of running a business, the importance of maintaining an orderly household for professional success, and the continuous challenges of business succession. The core theme of the episode revolves around leading with integrity, executing under pressure, and understanding that true leadership is refined in life's difficult "valleys" rather than on its "mountain tops." Andrew challenges modern leaders to avoid the trap of lazy over-delegation and to actively "stand up if they want to stand out."

Show Notes & Key TakeawaysThe Valleys vs. The Mountain Tops

• The Refining Process: Andrew explains a philosophy that has guided him recently—true growth doesn’t happen on life's mountain tops; it happens in the valleys.
• Perspective vs. Reward: Hard times and struggles serve as refining moments for leaders. While the mountain tops provide a beautiful perspective and a moment of appreciation, the rewards experienced there are directly born from the lessons learned while enduring the valleys.

Family First, Business Second

• Keeping Your House in Order: Andrew strongly believes that if your family life is crashing, your business will ultimately suffer. A successful business starts with a stable foundation at home.
• A Godly Legacy: Andrew highlights his gratitude for his wife—whom he calls his "sustainer" outside of the Lord—and discusses the intentionality required in raising his three teenage boys (ages 13, 14, and 17) to be godly young men rather than just complacent boys.

Managing Dual Businesses & Succession

• The Ventures: Andrew operates two distinct companies: Abel Solutions (a residential roofing and general contracting company running for 16–17 years) and a commercial industrial construction company alongside his father.
• The Burden of Succession: With his father approaching 70 and preparing to retire, Andrew shares the friction and nuance of business succession. They discuss how a founder's identity is often deeply tied to their business, making transitions emotionally complex. Andrew stresses the need for patience, grace, and understanding generational gaps when navigating these corporate shifts.

Leading Through the Lens of Faith

• Consulting the Creator: Andrew details how he actively tries to avoid relying solely on his own life experiences and understanding. Instead, he highlights the practice of pausing to consult God before making critical business decisions.
• The Example of King David: Nick ties this concept back to scripture, noting that King David repeatedly paused to ask the Lord for direction before rushing into battle. Stepping into challenges without consulting faith means relying entirely on human limitations.

Andrew's Leap of Faith: Leaving Halliburton

• The Comfort Trap: Andrew shares his backstory of working at Halliburton, a corporate giant offering excellent day-one benefits, strict safety regulations, and comfortable security. However, after accidentally discovering what a 30-year veteran at the company was earning, he realized his ceiling was capped.
• The Front Porch Panic Attack: Despite peers calling him crazy, Andrew quit his stable job to enter door-to-door roofing sales. On his very first sales call, he experienced a debilitating panic attack on the homeowner’s front porch and couldn't speak. Through sheer perseverance, prayer, and a "come to Jesus" meeting with himself in the car, he pushed past the fear to land his first contract. By his first year, he surpassed his corporate ceiling.

Elevating Industry Standards

• Combating the Stigma: Contractors and roofers are often viewed with distrust, akin to stereotypical used car salesmen. Andrew’s primary motivation is to break this stigma by prioritizing honesty, extreme integrity, and client education.
• Real Impact: By taking the time to thoroughly explain insurance policy coverages and finding hidden savings for clients, Andrew notes that a savings of $1,500–$2,000 directly translates to taking care of a family's monthly gas or groceries, creating a tangible, positive community impact.

Standing Up to Stand Out (The Wylie Hail Storm)

• The Anecdote: Andrew recalls a historical, severe hail storm in Wylie, Texas, featuring baseball-sized hail that pierced directly through roofs and ceilings. While other companies hesitated or attempted to delegate from afar, Andrew immediately drove to a Lowe's in Forney, bought out the necessary plywood, and was on-site personally boarding up shattered windows at 5:00 AM before the next rainfall hit.
• The Takeaway: Modern social media culture focuses heavily on appearing successful rather than putting in the work. Andrew warns against letting delegation turn into laziness. To truly separate yourself from the competition, leaders must be willing to be hands-on, locate the hard tasks everyone else is ignoring, and execute them manually.
• Connect with Andrew Jones
• Website: abel-solutions.com