A Finance Guy Finds The Work He Loves
Ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll agree that I adore life-changing stories about people going for what they love. Recently, my husband (thanks, Bill!) told me about his business partner who left the world of finance to build homes that reflect his artistic vision. It’s too inspiring not to share!
Jared Gossett was living in Dallas, TX. In his late 20’s and well-educated, he was working in the financial industry as an investment banker. He was quite successful at turning small piles of money into large ones. He should have been enjoying his career, but something was missing.
It turns out that, at heart, Jared is a home builder. The cold, florescent light on a spreadsheet was not what he craved. Jared wanted a career with more creativity. It was time for a change.
So, he quit his job and moved to Austin, TX. Since many of his clients had been commercial real estate investors, he gravitated in that direction. Full of excitement, he bought his first house, fixed it up and sold it for a nice profit. The money was good, and he finally felt a sense of satisfaction – something investment banking had never given him.
Constantly studying his new hometown, he drove the streets every day. It didn’t take long before he discovered the Crestview neighborhood in north central Austin.
Interest became fascination. Fascination became love. His passion for building led him to doing total rehabs, as well as new construction, in the neighborhood where most of the homes were built in the 1950’s and 60’s.
His latest project, a beautiful house on St. Johns, is a perfect reflection of his passion. It has a great design, open floor plan and thoughtful features. When you walk through the house, you see his eye for detail. Tasteful art niches, wi-fi hook ups hidden in a closet, a gas line on the patio for the grill, and matched finishes on all the fixtures.
Jared’s homes fit into the neighborhood well. He blends mid-century and craftsman styles. He is also always careful to protect trees, whether it’s a small fig tree or a giant Spanish oak.
These days you might find Jared with a paint brush or a shovel in his hand, and you will see a smile on his face. It is a world away from investment banking. His office is a pickup. He’s traded shirt and tie for jeans and work boots. And he couldn’t be happier.
Angela Loëb is an author, speaker and co-owner of Great Occupations. She and her partner, Jay Markunas, help people make successful career transitions through workshops, webclasses, personalized coaching sessions, as well as through The Job Search Boot Camp Show. Find out more at www.greatoccupations.com.