Good Neighbor Podcast: Union
Bringing Together Local Businesses and Residents of Northern Kentucky! Based in Union, KY....The Good Neighbor Podcast helps the residents of Northern Kentucky get to know local business owners as people. We allow the business owners and influencers in NKY to tell the stories of how they started their business and why. We hear about their families, their personal interests and why they love living in and serving resident of Northern Kentucky!
Good Neighbor Podcast: Union
Xavier Owens on Crafting Outdoor Spaces and Customer Excellence
At just 19 years old, Xavier Owens is not your average entrepreneur. From mowing lawns at age 12 to founding his own flourishing business, American Spirit Lawn and Landscape, Xavier's journey is both inspiring and insightful. We sit down with this impressive young business owner from Walton, Kentucky, as he shares how the unexpected twists of the COVID pandemic turned into a catalyst for his growth, and how guidance from his mentor, Scott Good, helped shape his entrepreneurial path. Xavier opens up about the vital role his family’s entrepreneurial values have played in his success and the profound mental health benefits he finds in the satisfaction of physical work.
Listeners will be captivated by how Xavier manages the balancing act of business and personal life, drawing inspiration from his mother’s creative career in interior design. Discover his passion for expanding into hardscape projects and learn about the strategies he employs to maintain excellence in customer service. From the art of crafting detailed outdoor living spaces to blending both residential and commercial work, Xavier offers a fresh perspective on innovation and the importance of surrounding himself with a capable team. Join us for an engaging conversation that promises to leave you motivated and informed, with a glimpse into the promising future of American Spirit Lawn and Landscape.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, mike Murphy. Thank you, charlie. Yes, I am Mike Murphy, host of the Good Neighbor Podcast. Here in Northern Kentucky, specifically Union Kentucky, we talk to local business owners and influencers so that you can get to know them as real people, human beings. And the human being I have in the studio today is a local guy that I met. It's been probably a couple years ago. He's done some work for me landscape work. His name is Xavier Owens and he owns a company called American Spirit Lawn and Landscape. So, without further ado, Xavier, welcome to the show man.
Speaker 2:Hey, Mike, I appreciate it. It's really a pleasure to be on here and I'm really blessed to be able to be around great people like you and be a part of something like this. It's pretty sweet.
Speaker 1:I love the vision, yeah the pleasure is's all mine, man. Um, I've been impressed with you, by you, um, the good work you do, um young man that you are, and the professional that you have become and are becoming. We're all a work in progress, as you know, and your business, as young as it is, um, has a lot of growth ahead of it, and so we're going to talk a little bit about that today, talk a little bit about you, how you got into the business and where you're headed. So let's talk about that. How did you get involved in lawn and landscape?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I'm 19 years old and so I started getting into the lawn care side of it when I was about 12, 13 years old with a friend, kind of just cutting grass in the neighborhood, utilizing HOA pages on Facebook and working, kind of learning my marketing through that. You know, doing door to door sales as many people would start their entrepreneurial journey. Doing door-to-door sales, as many people would start their entrepreneurial journey and we were pretty successful with it. We had a pretty good clientele. But the following year my friend didn't really want to cut grass anymore and I loved it. I love being outside, I love working, I love the different relationships I was forming with different people and customer relations really, and so I just went from there.
Speaker 2:During COVID I really was strived big time in terms of getting clientele and forming good customer relations with people. My business really took off during COVID. I was, you know I say business but I was kind of doing it on my own. I was like 15 years old I think at the time, doing a lot of grass stuff and then starting to get into mulch and different maintenance items and stuff like that. But I really was interested. I had a mentor who's helped me along the way, his name's Scott Good and he was a landscaper and he was also my baseball coach, so I remember when we were playing baseball he was always talking about that and how much work there is out there, and so he was kind of somebody who really helped guide me in a few things that I did to be able to get more clientele and have a good image out there and make myself professional.
Speaker 1:Very good. I guess you know you're saying that you really got into the business. You know started at 12 in terms of experience and yeah, that's kind of like all of us. I guess Our first experience getting into that type of business is when we're forced to do it because our parents tell us get out there and cut the grass.
Speaker 2:Right, yeah, it's. Uh, it's funny now because my dad cuts the grass at our house, so I'm not doing that, but uh, no, he loves doing that stuff. It is good. Um, I've been really blessed. My parents have always uh, my mom owns a business and interior designing business and, um, you know, they're the real go-getters and, um, and they've kind of just carried that to me as well, that you know, I'm not going to sit around all day and play video games like go out and do something. I love doing that and I've loved going out and earning stuff and that feels great. So it feels good for accountability and just to look back at the end of the day and see what you can grow, see what you can do.
Speaker 1:It's pretty sweet. Yeah, I think there's something that's good for your mental health too. When you're out there working with your hands in the dirt, you're kind of just in that zone. It's almost Zen-like, I guess. You're alone with your thoughts while you're doing the work. So that's one thing that I always enjoyed about mowing my own lawn doing the work. So that's one thing that I always enjoyed about, you know, mowing my own lawn. Then again, our bodies only have so many miles in us, and so eventually we all learn to hand the reins over to a trusted professional. So that's when we call Xavier and he comes to our rescue. That's right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's, it is is awesome. I uh, you know I got two guys who help me now currently and uh, I'll tell you some of the best times I've been out on jobs just talking about stuff, joking around, you know, in a way. But uh, we're still out there to we mean business and we're there to uh to knock something out for somebody and make it look good. Um, but it's, it's always you got to have some type of enjoyment while you're working. I truly love what I do and that shows with the work, if you love what you do, you're going to care about people's property and how you treat it and what it looks like at the end.
Speaker 1:So since you officially started the business. Just like all businesses, there's, there's always a lot to learn. You don't know what you don't know. So what's been the biggest thing you've learned, the the biggest lesson you've learned, since you started the business?
Speaker 2:I started this business officially as an LLC here October of 23. So this year will be our two year anniversary. But I would say, surrounding yourself with good people. You know, in business, unfortunately, there's in any field there's different people who may act a certain way towards you and maybe try to get an upper hand on you or whatever. I haven't experienced too much of that, but I've also seen it firsthand, and so I think the biggest thing I've just been blessed with is surrounding myself with good people. I don't do this on my own. I am great friends with many other landscapers in the area and my goal is not to, you know, look at another landscaper in the area and be like, oh, he doesn't do this, he doesn't do that. You know, I want to be friends with them and surround myself with them, because we all can build on each other, and I think that's what matters in terms of any type of business you're running is building on each other. Talking to people, becoming friends with people that's what I love. Love that.
Speaker 1:Well, sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders. I haven't met your parents, but I can probably tell what kind of people they are just by talking to you. Yeah, business can be cutthroat, but if you keep a humble heart not just in business but in life and keep your eyes open, your ears open, there's always opportunity in front of you and people willing to help. You have to just sort of put blinders on in terms of all those obstacles. I know that's tough sometimes, but yeah, it's good that you have learned that at such a young age. It'll serve you well moving forward.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:So you've got an athletic background too, right yeah?
Speaker 2:You were on the baseball team.
Speaker 1:I know that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I graduated from Ryle last year and we were the second team in school history to win the regional championship of the ninth region. So that was pretty sweet. Some of the best memories with some of my best friends. That will be there just forever. Man, what a great time. Went down to Lexington, played down there in the state championship or the state tournament, made it to the Elite eight, which is a huge accomplishment. Um, again, I I don't think that had been done. We hadn't got that far in school history. So, ultimately, the best team in school history last year and, um, just so thankful I was a part of it. It was uh, wouldn't trade it for anything, it was awesome.
Speaker 1:Nice Good for you. Yeah, I followed a lot of that on social media. Yeah, Wasn't able to get out and see any games because you know I'm busy doing what I'm doing.
Speaker 1:Right or it's cold or it's 30 degrees. You know I get it. I was very proud of you guys as I watched what you were achieving there, so we talked about. I talked about your parents earlier, about they must have done a great job raising you. They must be good people. Let's talk about them. Let's talk about family for a bit. Um, how big is your family? Who do you call family?
Speaker 2:so, um, I'm the only child in my family. I got my mom, my dad and we have a dog named huck corporate huckleberry uh, he's a basset, a beagle basset, uh, so he likes to sit around all day. He's big, he needs to start dieting, but, uh, no, it's. It's awesome me, uh, yeah, we're just a pretty low-key family, um, you know, uh, I've I uh know a lot of families around the area who are a lot bigger but, um, pretty low-key, and my parents, uh, again, just, yeah, I appreciate you mentioned there's great people and, uh, yeah, my uh, a little bit of background.
Speaker 2:My dad is a professor at uc and he teaches, uh, digital media, um, so he does a lot of podcasting, um, radio, um and different television kind of. He also works a little bit within the business marketing kind of part of podcasting, whatever. So it's a lot of stuff that's relevant to me, so he's been a very good help on that end. My mom is an interior designer. She owns a business, decora Moore, and she's very talented. You know, there's some people that you know just have an eye for things, uh, like I would think I do in landscaping. She has an eye in interior designing, um, it's just incredible what some of the stuff she does. Um, and yeah, she's owned her own business for quite a while, I want to say closer to 20 years now.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So yeah, but I have some extended family, spent a lot of time with my grandpa, one of my biggest supporters, and he comes to every single one of my events anything you know he's there, and my step-grandma as well. My events anything I'm you know he's there, and my step-grandma as well. My mom's mom just recently passed away. Rest in peace, but I know she's in a great place and we're thankful for everybody who supported us in the time this year. So but yeah, that's a little bit, not a huge family, but I like to say we're chill. We're chill and low key.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're surrounded by blessings. Obviously, I always say being aware of your blessings is the biggest blessing in and of itself. So, in terms of you know, as we're recording this, it's the dead of winter, there's a ton of snow on the ground. You're not out there cutting grass because all the grass is covered up and it's, you know, 15 degrees right now, or something like that. So, when you're not busy all summer long, do you get to go out and enjoy life? Go on vacation? Do you and your family go out? What do you like to do for fun? What's vacation like for you?
Speaker 2:Absolutely. I think that's a great point. Um, I think there's many entrepreneurs and uh people in businesses that uh, I don't think they give themselves enough time off Um, and I think that could be really negative to uh your mental health and uh the success of your business. Um, and so I've been. You know good to realize that you need rest and you need to take time off and you're not going to be able to go 100% seven days a week, even though you know you see a paycheck and you want to chase it. You know that's great and a lot of people can do that for a while, but there's only so long that you can do that for until you seriously crash out.
Speaker 2:But in, in terms of fun, I love to fish. I'm just I stay outdoors. You know if I'm, you know when I'm outdoors, uh, I stay out there. So I love to fish, uh, enjoy going to different parks, um, just walking around chilling. Um. We have a little boat. Sometimes I'll go out and fish on that, go boating with a few of my friends. Um, I do kickboxing and like some, uh, some of that stuff. I recently got into that uh triple crown athletic here in uh and walton on 25. Um, so I've been really uh thankful for a lot of people who've taught me some of that stuff. It's, uh, it's a fun way to stay in shape and, uh, a lot of people who've taught me some of that stuff. It's uh, it's a fun way to stay in shape and, uh, you know, learn self-defense I guess so.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, um, but we uh, yeah, definitely. I, I definitely try to take at least one vacation a year, um, because throughout the whole year it's, you know, through spring and when it gets really busy, it's uh takes a toll on you. So it is very good to be able to go away and let loose um. Last year me and my friend went down to uh Destin, florida, um just chilling down there uh, with some of his family, um. But I think this year me and my dad might go take a fishing trip. He loves to fish as well, so we might go down somewhere south to try to catch some big bass, something like that.
Speaker 1:So yeah, fishing is another activity that's good for your mental health.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah, definitely Very calming.
Speaker 1:So back to the business part of the podcast. What is the least favorite part of your landscaping business? Of the job, the actual job itself. What's your least favorite part of it?
Speaker 2:I think, um, I think it comes back to part of running the business. You know there's a lot of um stuff behind the scenes. You know it's it's. It's pretty easy on to go out and do the work and um, but to plan the work I think is some of the toughest part, is, uh, to try to fit some of these people into your schedule and I think some people understanding that you know I can't do it tomorrow or whatever, although I do understand in some points where you know you need it done, I get it. It's just we're going to be honest with you and try to do as best we can with helping you out. But I think a lot of the scheduling is one of the tougher parts. I've been really good on organization throughout my business. You know I have a software that keeps all of my books and everything, so pretty much at the stay up to date with it throughout the week and go over it, look over it so that when tax season comes it's pretty easy Send my CPA some stuff and it's pretty much done.
Speaker 1:That's pretty common. When you're out there doing your business, the stuff you're passionate about, that's the easy part. But it's very common for entrepreneurs to kind of struggle a little bit when it comes to the scheduling, the admin stuff, the marketing, the sales stuff, the marketing, the sales part of it. So if you can get good people around you to help out with that, then that's going to help you scale your business and get where you want to be someday, I'm sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would say the balance, too, between enjoying yourself too. There's a lot of times where I'm like, man, I really do need to just uh, you know, sit down and relax today, but, man, I want to go work, or man, I want to go do this and I want to go help this person out, um, but you know, at the end of the day, you gotta realize what's your uh, look back and say, you know, I do need to take a break and if, uh, if you can realize that you're going to be a strong entrepreneur, strong person.
Speaker 1:So I've seen some samples of your work, not just on your website, but I've seen photos, seen some things in person. One thing that I know that really interests you a lot in terms of your future what you're really passionate about would be hardscapes. Is that right? Yes, sir. So when people hear hardscapes, I think first thing that they might think of would be just a retaining wall. Well, there's more to it than that, I'm sure, but where do you want to take hardscapes in terms of grand master plan, with your vision moving forward? What's that look like?
Speaker 2:So I mean we're doing a lot of that already. This year we're going to be bigger, more expanding into that. You know we don't do as much lawn care, which I'm fine with it's my baby, I started with it, but I'm okay to move on. And I just love this hardscape stuff, a lot of stone work, because I'm able to take my details that I use in lawn care and landscaping and put those into a different sector of a business and it all relates. Man, you do really good. If you can rip some really nice edges on a landscape, then you're going to be able to rip some really nice inlays on a paver patio.
Speaker 2:So I just really love that part of it being on one job for possibly, you know, a week or a few days. It's a lot less stress. Honestly. You're on one site, you can focus on that and you know. You know what needs to be done instead of lawn care. You're running all over town all day. You know what needs to be done instead of lawn care. You're running all over town all day, multiple days a week, which that can be stressful. So I like that part of being on that site.
Speaker 2:But I love again, I love the detail stuff. That's what I'm all about is details, and that's where I get an advantage over a lot of people is the detail stuff and helping people out. You know, I'm not a type of person that if somebody's like, hey, could you come back and just tweak this up a little bit, I'm not going to charge you for that. I'm somebody who's there to help. I'm not somebody who's just seeking a dollar, and I think that's very important. There's a lot of business owners out there who are just simply seeking a dollar, but I think about the common person and, um, really trying to help them out, and you know what that does in my overall image.
Speaker 2:Um, but yeah, I, just I, I really enjoy it in the future. In short terms, um, the hardscape is going to be somewhere where we're going to excel and, uh, I would love to take over the area with that. Uh, in terms of all the design work, I love, love that I'm getting into that. Yes, there's walls included with that, but a lot of the paver work and really interested in and over the offseason, all we do all me and my guys do is study, go to different courses for these hardscapes and we are solely committed to knowing how to do these and you know getting better every single year If you've been in it for 25 years. I think there's still room to get better, there's new innovation, and so we really take advantage of since we're not busy right now just going out and learning, hearing from people that do it best and really listening.
Speaker 1:Well, you're in a business too, where you you have a lot of before and after photos. You get to see the fruits of your labor. So when a project is done, you get to stand there and stare at it and think, dang, there's a lot of hard work, but look what I did, and you're you're, you know, working with people who are kind of counting on you to have that, that vision, and go the extra mile. You're working on their castles, you know. Yeah. So, speaking of residents, I mean, I don't know this, but do you do any commercial work too?
Speaker 2:Yep, yep, we have, we've done some commercial stuff. I have one permanent commercial site that I do for maintenance and lawn care, um, but yeah, we do commercial work and we're licensed for that and, uh, insured and everything. So, um, yeah, for sure I don't get as many calls. I do, like most of the residential side, because that's more of the outdoor living space I'm looking to accomplish with um, with my target there. But you know, there's definitely some commercial walls and maybe some patio type stuff that it could be done. So we do it for sure.
Speaker 1:So people want to go to your website and connect with you and maybe see examples of work. What's the website where they go?
Speaker 2:American spirit landscapingcom. So check that out and we have a bot on there that, in the bottom right corner, you can click on and you can ask any question. You put your information in there and it'll send me a text immediately. So I have all of your stuff. I have your address, I have everything beforehand. So if we end up doing work together, I don't have to ask you for that. I already your address, I have everything beforehand. So if we end up doing work together, I don't have to ask you for that. I already have it goes right into my system and we're good to go. You know you can see all of our services on there and we have a gallery of our work. We have our social media. We take advantage of that. That's where we're really trying to work is our Instagram, some of that, some of the videos and just some cool stuff we can do just to elevate our business to the next level.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, very good, I know that when I've reached out to you, you've been very responsive, and occasionally, when you know that let's say it's time for aeration, you know I'll get a text from you very politely just asking hey man, it's that time of year, Do you need me? So, and I always appreciate that too, because we're not able to always stay on top of that ourselves and we need somebody to just kind of help us keep our life in order and sometimes that involves our lawn life in order and sometimes that involves our lawn.
Speaker 2:Yeah Well, and I I love that. Um, that's one part I really try to excel into is the responsiveness to there's. You know, um, I think many people will understand that you know we're busy and everything but um, you know, their, their opinion or what they're uh wanting is is important to me too, too, even if it's a brand new person. So I take time to be able to try to respond to everybody, usually within the first 24 hours.
Speaker 1:Well, xavier, we've reached the end of our time together. It's been fun talking to you today, so, before we go, is there anything you want to say as a parting, as a parting thought to listeners out there?
Speaker 2:Well, again, I appreciate Mike for having me out, and if you're a business owner in the area and you want to get to know me, I'm all about it. I love networking. Shoot me a text, give me a call, we'll get lunch. That's what I've been doing this whole offseason is having networking with different business owners around the area, and I love it. I can't get enough of that stuff to reach out, and if you got any different service opportunities that we might be able to be a part of, hit me up. I would love to. We definitely are trying to excel in the service part of our business as well, so I would love to be a part of it. So thanks again, guys, and look forward to hearing from some of you guys.
Speaker 1:Perfect, I'll make sure that all of your contact information is noted when we put this podcast up, which will be very soon. So, and I hope to see you again this summer, for sure, out there working on my back patio, it needs some. It needs some attention. So, that being said, everybody, thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast today. Until next time, everybody, be good to your neighbor. See you next time. Bye-bye. Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast Union. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, Go to GNPUnioncom.
Speaker 2:That's GNPUnioncom, or call us at 859-651-8330.