Today we’d like to introduce you to Omid Saleh.
Hi Omid, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I came to the USA when I was 13 years old. After one year in high school, I decided to start working because my English wasn’t good, and I wasn’t going anywhere like that, and I had to get a job to support myself.
My first job was as a dishwasher at a restaurant, and my second job was as a cook at the same restaurant. After a few months, I saved enough money to purchase my first car (1989 Nissan Maxima around the year of 2002). Then, I started looking for better jobs, so I started my third job at the post office. After one year, I started to drive a car service at the airport to hotels; after a couple of years, I purchased my first limousine town car, and after that, business was good. I started buying more town cars and vans, and I hired a few drivers.
I did that for six years until someone made me a good offer for my business, and I sold it. After that, I started buying and flipping houses, I did that for a while, and I was good at it. One day, I was looking for a metal roof for the houses and started looking around and calling around; back then it was only a few businesses in the area sold metal roofing, and they wanted an arm and a leg for it. Because of the prices, I got online and started looking for better options; after a couple of weeks of searching, I found a company on the website Ali Baba. After a few weeks back and forth, I placed my first order with them for full container metal roof panels. Yes, that was scary and super risky to pay lots of money to someone I hadn’t seen and only talked with them online….
After that, I wasn’t sure if I was going to get anything in my hands; after a couple of months of waiting before I knew it was importing metal panels to the USA, I guess you can say I got lucky with the first company, I was selling metal roof like candy due to low prices I had. Then I did some research into buying the roll formers and machines so I can start making them in-house, so you already know what happens next!!! After a few years, I learned a few tricks and purchased machines and more machines, and now we have a full warehouse and full operation; yes, I had hard days and bad days, and good days. At the end of the day, this is my message to anyone don’t give up and work hard for your goals, it’s not going to be easy, but you will get it done, trust me. Keep trying new things if something doesn’t work out for you. Now, I own my metal shop, a used car lot, and a few other businesses. I just want to make sure my kids don’t have to work hard at a young age like I had to and go to school and be what they like to do. I have two beautiful kids, one on the way, and my beautiful wife; God bless. Remember, at the end of the day, you can’t take a dime or anything with you, so enjoy your life, have fun with everything you do, and help others.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, my English made it especially difficult. I had nobody to rely on. Also, haters and negative people made me discouraged.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Always have a plan b and faith in God.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://g.page/r/CQuBLCjDkZwuEAo
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/metalroofing101/
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