Today we’d like to introduce you to James Murray.
Hi James, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I’ve always been a handy guy but didn’t always know how to act on it. At 22 years old, I started at an apartment complex as a porter-basically just picking up trash. After about 2 years, a maintenance technician took me under their wing and showed me the ropes. After several properties, I quickly excelled in the field, obtained multiple certifications, and became a property supervisor in Tampa, FL.
I worked at an apartment complex after moving to the Fernandina/Yulee area with my wife and children (my wife, Lauren’s hometown). I ultimately found my groove with a property management company on Amelia Island. My father-in-law, an entrepreneur, encouraged me to branch out because there was a need for honest, hardworking handymen in the area. In 2020 when COVID hit and hit the vacation rental industry pretty hard, I took that leap of faith, got my business license and insurance, and went full throttle in the middle of the pandemic. No paid advertisements, just word of mouth, have helped our Janitorial & Maintenance business flourish tremendously.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing in life comes easy. At the drop of a dime, any contract I have can give me a 30-day notice and terminate me. I’ve had to learn not to let the uncertainty worry me too much and always look for the next hustle, perfecting my current craft. I have quite a bit of tattoos and a noticeable scar over my eye, which every person I meet automatically equates that scar to violence. That scar came from a glass shattering over my head at work during a window install. It does make for quite the conversation starter, though! I often will say I feel a bit judged, you know, the typical “judging a book by its cover.”
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Family-based, black-owned business is dedicated to providing exceptional residential and commercial cleaning services and top-notch handyman service. We pride ourselves on our honesty and the ability to say “no” if a job is out of reach, but best believe, we always have good referrals on hand if we can’t take care of a job for you.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I was moving to Hawaii with my mom, 2 brothers, and stepdad. My stepdad was in the Army, which was the most memorable moment of my childhood. Winning a basketball championship in Hawaii is something I will never forget.
Contact information:
- Email: jmurrayllc4@gmail.com
- Instagram: Jmurrayllc
Image Credits
Boston Photography
