Passion meets precision in today's Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Spotlight featuring Justin Powell, founder of an innovative audio-visual integration company. Justin's entrepreneurial journey traces a fascinating path from rock band management to freelance music production, before finally finding his calling in audio-visual technology. His story demonstrates how past experiences – even those that seem unrelated – can shape a successful business venture. Now leading a company that connects people through technology across multiple sectors, Justin's approach to excellence over affordability and his embrace of cutting-edge tools like AI showcase the modern entrepreneur's ability to adapt and thrive.
Hi, Justin! Thanks for joining us today. Tell us about your business. Who do you serve, how do you serve them, and what's the impact that your business and work makes?
We are an audio-visual integrator and low-voltage contractor. We offer audio-visual and IT services for commercial and residential. Commercial integration, residential integration, live events production, low-voltage cabling, and technical support. Our goal is to connect people through technology. We serve residential and commercial markets including education, corporate, medical, houses of worship and basically anywhere people meet!
Tell us about the moment you finally felt like you went from wantrepreneur to entrepreneur.
I had a shift in my thinking when I decided to go from side hustle to full force ahead with the business. I was still working a 9-5 job doing IT but my focus shifted. I knew I wanted to build something and do it well! I continued working that IT job for another 4 months, grinding at night to get everything set up properly for the business.
Describe the moment or period in your life/career that motivated you to make the entrepreneurial leap.
I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit. It goes all the way back to playing in rock bands in high school. The band was my project (business), and I would work hard on marketing and making decisions to help it grow. After that, I went into freelance music production where I was a sole prop music producer. Later in life, I would get a few 'normal' jobs, but always had the itch to build something, so they didn't last that long.
Describe a tool, service, or software that has been a game-changer for your business. How does it contribute to your success?
It's almost become cliché to say it, but it's definitely AI. AI is like having an assistant ready to research anything for you. Of course, you need to be careful and fact-check them. But for things like troubleshooting tech, AI can give me ideas I didn't think about.
We know that success is very often a non-linear path. Tell us about a failure, pivot point, or lesson that changed your course or direction and helped to get you where you are today.
The mid-point of my life, in between music production and going back to school for IT, was kind of a low point. I bounced around doing different service jobs, like pool cleaning and pest control. I just wasn't fulfilled or happy in these roles and had that feeling of getting up, doing 8+ hours of work doing something I didn't like, just for a paycheck. This taught me to work hard and go after my dreams. It also taught me a lot about working with customers in a service environment, which is what my business is now.
What unconventional strategy did you employ that significantly impacted your business?
I'm not sure if it's unconventional, but I never want to be the cheapest guy. Being the cheapest in service work is a trap. You will spread yourself thin trying to make a profit at the expense of sloppy work because you don't have time for excellence. I've heard it said you can only pick 2 out of fast, good and cheap.
What’s something you wish you knew sooner that you’d give as advice for aspiring or newer entrepreneurs?
Learn about accounting and finances!
Want to dive deeper into Justin's work? Check out the links below!
- Visit Inland AV Solutions' website inlandavsolutions.com
