Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to John Watson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi John, thanks for joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

My advantage in life is the freedom to do as I chose. This is also the greatest lesson I would want my children or anyone around me to learn to value. Life isn’t always as easy as “I want this, or I would like to go here.” But with persistence, goals and objects one can have what they want or go where they desire. It takes hard-work and belief in one’s own ability to achieve those far-fetched possibilities, but it can be done. It is my hope that others, especially my children, look to me or at me as someone who goes where they want when they want. Gets what they want, when they want and how they want. Those desires though come from belief in oneself and belief in the ability to achieve the desired outcomes of life.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a man that wears may hats. The most important of all is being a father and a husband. I gain the most out of life right now by sharing my life with my family. Coaching has always been and probably will always be an important avenue in relationships. The course currently is my children. I coach all five of my children in one sport or another. When we first communicated the interview was about my coaching with the St Louis Bombers Rugby Club. I will always coach rugby in one form or another. But I also coach my children in the more traditional youth sports of soccer, volleyball, basketball or any other sport they chose. To me, with my children it is not about the exact sport but about the chance to build a deeper relationship. Coaching is about relationships. Business is about relationships. The same traits I rely upon in coaching I rely upon in business. I view business as an avenue to live-life. This may sound controversial to most other business owners or the corporate type, but I don’t live to work. I work to live. The relationships I had built through all my businesses is what allows me to do what I want when I want. What I am most proud of when it comes to business is the freedom I have created by the hard work of the past. Believing in the possibilities can be hard at times but little accomplishments can lead to bigger accomplishments and bigger goals. Setting goals at times that seem outlandish or not even in the park and then eventually achieving those goals. That is what leads to belief in more possibilities. Just to add, business, family or that team must all believe and trust that I can get it done.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I see myself as an entrepreneur. I have had multiple businesses over my adult life. Each one has led to another opportunity. The current business that is my focal point of interest, Zar Property Solutions LLC, was a pivot in business. Back in 2006 my wife and I had decided to have children. My current business at that time was an event marketing business. The company focused on event marketing at colleges and universities through the fall and Spring. During the summer the focus was on fairs, sporting, and convention events. The fall and spring I would travel for 16 weeks. When we decided to have children, I didn’t want to be gone so I looked to change industries. I then moved into the home mortgage industry for a year. I committed to myself that I would give a year to learn and work as a loan office. I realized in that one year that the real estate industry was not on a positive trajectory for the long haul. Watching the market over that one year I realized that banks would need someone to take care of their assets soon. So, I started a Property Preservation company in Dec of 2007. That was another major business pivot within a three-year period. As we all know the housing market bottomed out in 2008 and we just established ourselves for the industry.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My wife, Jill, is not only the mother of our five children. She has been my rock-solid business partner for over 20 years. She has taken the risks the entire time. Anyone who is a business owner knows the risk-rewards-ratio. Starting a business is much like starting a family. One never feels they are fully ready. Or there are the what-ifs or the concern for the unknowns that way on one’s mind. Jill has been there for them all. I could not have asked for better partner in all of life. Her support and belief in our journey have been incredible. That I believe is why we have had the ability to achieve whatever we have put our minds to for both family and business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.zarpropertysolutions.com
• Instagram: johnwatson1276
• Facebook: John Watson
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-watson-5083b46
• Twitter: @JohnWat26421127

Image Credits
Neal ford