About Me
My Story
I hope that reading about my journey, filled with both challenges and triumphs, encourages you to find your own passion.
In the early 2000’s, despite being in my fifth year of college, I was unsure what I wanted to do with my future. I had tried many different paths, and wasn’t happy with any of them. I dropped out of school. I applied for work and was rejected by many companies: McDonalds, Target, Wal-Mart and even the U.S. Navy.
I was frustrated and broke, living on friends’ couches because I couldn’t afford a safe apartment. I spent most of my free time reading e-books and watching TV. I worked as a green home consultant, knocking on doors and selling products and services to make homes healthier and more energy efficient. I also worked several side-jobs, including running a web-based book resale shop on E-Bay and Amazon. It was during this time I began exploring avenues for a career that I could genuinely love. My interest in real estate eventually led me to the home inspection industry.
When I finally started taking steps along my chosen career path, I was timid and lacked self-esteem. I had very little experience in the real estate field. I began to work for myself at Dallas GreenWorks in 2009, but was unsuccessful for almost a year and a half. I had no clientele and no employees. It took me 2 years of cold-calls and networking before I was getting repeat business and had enough work to hire another person full-time. I kept working hard for my clients, striving to give 150% to each one of them.
It was upon connecting with my second ever client – an investor who gave me some advice and invited me to join her group – that things began to look up. I learned better ways to network and began investing more time and all my money into my company.
Finding my passion did not put me in the fast lane to success, but hard work and perseverance eventually paid off. My little startup has grown into the largest inspection company in Texas, and one of the largest in North America.
Personal Growth
Throughout my journey, life has had its fair share of surprises. Against all odds, as a homeless fifth year college dropout, I managed to turn my startup into the biggest, non-franchise, owner-funded inspection company in the nation. However, my success wasn’t just about achieving financial gains but also discovering my true passion.
During these tumultuous years, I learned a couple important lessons:
- I am stronger than I ever knew.
- The significance of finding work that truly fulfills me, even if I had to sacrifice much to achieve it.
Despite being initially timid and lacking self-esteem, and with limited exposure to inspections, I was determined to follow my passion. As time went on, I came to realize that my internal mindset was the primary obstacle I needed to overcome. Once I embraced this realization, I was able to transform myself from who I was into the person I aspired to be, making it my greatest and most rewarding sacrifice.
From the very beginning of my journey, I embraced the opportunities to pursue my goals, which did require some sacrifices. I let go of other interests, hobbies, and spent time away from my family, all while pushing myself beyond my comfort zone. Now, reflecting on this remarkable journey, I can proudly say that I have transformed into an improved and empowered version of myself. Now besides work, I also make time for things I enjoy, such as leisurely walks, playing football and tennis, hiking and spending time with my wife (my absolute favorite).
Skills & Expertise
Throughout my journey, I explored various paths and had initially questioned my talents, thinking that no career path suited me. However, it was these challenging circumstances that gave me a profound understanding of my strengths and areas of expertise. Taking notice of these skills has helped me appreciate and utilize them to achieve even bigger milestones. Here are the skills I’ve honed that have contributed to my success:
Building Relationships
I strongly believe that developing crucial communication skills and mastering the art of building relationships was key to creating a thriving business. This has helped me form a strong, supportive team, and has allowed us to better understand and serve our clients’ needs.
Business Strategy
Starting from a small woman-owned business to achieving huge milestones, I’ve learned to use a more logical, accessible, and customer-oriented business strategy to provide inspections. This strategy keeps me ahead of the curve and allows for continued success.
Problem Solving
Identifying real-time problems was the catalyst that motivated me to find solutions, like more sustainable practices and better working conditions for inspectors.
Meet the Powerhouse Pair
In the business world, a rare partnership blossomed that has reshaped success paradigms. Harmony and Jessica: two extraordinary women, two visionary minds, and an unbreakable bond that not only propelled GreenWorks to new heights but also defied norms and ignited a revolution.
As the Chief Growth Officer at GreenWorks and the wife of Harmony Brown, Jessica’s role goes far beyond her title. She is the lead-generation maestro who directs a symphony of success. Her expertise has helped to transform GreenWorks into a growth force, laying the foundation for its remarkable expansion.
Jessica’s bold proclamation, “What happens when 2 female CEO’s fall in love?… We double down and take over the world,” captures the uncompromising spirit of these innovative businesswomen. Their love story isn’t just personal; it’s a driving force that propels GreenWorks toward global dominance.
