I’m Andy Jansons, I founded Jansons Property back in 2003. However, my first business Jansons & Partners expanded in 1990. This was a commercial property agency founded in Uxbridge, currently West London area. I gradually built this practise to almost 30 people when I left in 2003 to focus on being a principle in property development investments.

There’s always a lightbulb moment before the beginning of a new venture. What was that moment for you?

I graduated from Nottingham Trent University which was Trent Polytechnic following a degree in Urban Estate Surveying. Then my first job was an industrial agent for Stimpsons commercial in Bedford and I rapidly realised over the period of a year that it was an easy profession to grasp and there was no mystique behind successful professionals. Having become a director of a national commercial property agency at a relatively young age, my first lightbulb moment was when I realised that I could do this for myself and so founded Jansons & Partners in 1990. Thereafter, the second lightbulb moment for me revolved around becoming a principle in the property development and investment industry- where I spent a number of years piecing together opportunities for other developers and investors.

Do you prioritise self-care as an entrepreneur?

Yes, I am a believer in fit body, fit mind. I have always exercised and enjoy team sports. I keep fit in the gym, I enjoy skiing and playing tennis but also like to read which I would include in the self-care category.

How do you set yourself apart from other businesses in your industry?

I like to keep a focus on trust, integrity & performance as our KPIs.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as an entrepreneur?

Fix your cost and profit margin along with the exit.

With all the success stories around entrepreneurship and how innovative people have to take the leap. How do you think you’ve innovated your sector and why?

It had been troubling me for a few years, how to supply AI to our industry and in particular our own business. There is so much data out there now to be mined and harnessed to help us in our day to day searching for land investment opportunities and narrowing down comparable evidence. We are striving to incorporate this into what is quite a dinosaur industry. Over the next 2 years we plan to expand our business to bring in younger employees with a different outlook on life and business which we would hope to cultivate new ideas and new ways of working.

How important is company culture and what is your top tip to get it right?

It is very important to enjoy what we do and be inclusive and participate in challenges together. Real estate is a very sociable business and a considerate amount of our time is spent engaging with our network, our connections and professional consultants and contractors.

What are your thoughts on failure?

You need to fail to learn. One never likes failure and it is devastating at the time but the key really is to learn from your mistakes and make sure you do not do them again. It tends to lead to more understanding of the challenges we face going forward.