After the pandemic, the issue of labor shortage in the United States continues to burn, especially in the era where artificial intelligence (AI) is replacing many professions, home remodeling has become one of the hottest industries in Southern California.
Whether it’s painting, flooring, electrical work, plumbing, or bathroom renovations, as long as the skills are in place and there is a good reputation, contractors in Southern California are almost unable to keep up with all the orders. However, few people know that today, leading a construction team and holding a General Engineering Contractor license in California, Ji Guoxiong, who immigrated to Los Angeles in 2008, was completely clueless about renovations when he first arrived.
“When I first arrived, I didn’t even know where to have my meals,” Ji Guoxiong recalled with a smile. On the eve of the 2008 financial crisis, for the sake of his children’s education, he immigrated to the United States with his family from Taiwan, without any background, connections, or professional skills, he could only try to find a job while figuring out how to survive in a foreign land.
Ji Guoxiong admitted that his biggest asset at the time was his willingness to learn.
From painting, patching walls, laying floors, to installing cabinets, and repairing houses, he started from scratch with every job, learning from experienced craftsmen while also conducting his own research. Home Depot became his second classroom, commuting to the materials store every day, studying various tools and building materials, slowly accumulating his own experience.
“Some people view Home Depot as a hardware store, but I see it as a warehouse,” Ji Guoxiong said with a smile.
In addition to materials, the construction team was another key to Ji Guoxiong’s success.
Many home remodeling projects in Southern California rely on Mexican workers, and Ji Guoxiong gradually built his own team of collaborators. “They are my soldiers, I am responsible for acquiring projects, planning, and managing the construction, while they are responsible for getting the job done well.” After years of collaboration, they have developed a high level of understanding, with a roller brush and a paintbrush, step by step, they have established their own business territory.
Ji Guoxiong pointed out that the home renovation market in the United States is not just about the “labor,” but rather the crucial aspect is project management skills. From estimation, procurement, scheduling, quality control, to communication with homeowners, every step must be executed flawlessly. He later obtained a General Engineering Contractor license in California, officially becoming an independent general contractor capable of undertaking residential renovation projects, thus taking his career to the next level.
Once his business stabilized, he did not forget the struggles he faced when he first arrived.
Over the years, he has gradually trained many Chinese immigrants to join the construction team, starting from the basics. Some had no technical background, but later obtained an Electrician license; others specialized in plumbing, eventually leading their own teams; some ventured into painting, carpentry, or flooring construction, and now not only have stable incomes but also gradually buy houses, change cars, and invest in properties.
“I have always believed that teaching others is more valuable than making money alone,” in Ji Guoxiong’s eyes, the biggest opportunity in the United States is not high salary but rather the potential for those willing to learn. Home remodeling projects do not require fluent English like office jobs, as long as one is willing to work hard and learn the skills, there is a chance to develop specialized expertise.
Speaking of the biggest lesson learned along the way, Ji Guoxiong still has only one sentence: “Don’t be greedy.”
He said, many new immigrants who just arrived in the United States always hope to get rich quickly, but end up falling into investment traps or scams, “instead of thinking about how much you can earn in a year, it’s better to first learn the skills and build your credibility.”
From not knowing where his next meal would come from back then, to now leading a multi-ethnic construction team, Ji Guoxiong’s success was not attributable to luck, but rather a roller brush, willing hands, and a persistent step-by-step approach.
“The United States may not guarantee success for everyone, but as long as you are willing to work hard and learn, she will definitely provide you with a path,” in his eighteen-year immigrant life, he has created his own “American Dream,” this is Ji Guoxiong’s most profound realization. ◇