Jamie Outten took his own advice. After graduating from Fort Myers High School in 1997, he spent just a few years as a middle and high school science teacher before making the jump into entrepreneurship—like many entrepreneurs, he wanted more freedom and flexibility. In 2003, he started buying and selling raw land. From there, he expanded into the fix-and-flip real estate market. Business boomed until the 2008 crash, when Outten “took a little break for a couple of years.” But by 2010, he was back at it and going strong.

Outten continued on an upward trajectory in his career, and in 2018 he decided to take his business to the next level. He founded Hard Hats Construction in Fort Myers with partners Ocasio Cofield and Torrence Andrews. The firm specialized in building duplexes and affordable housing. Today, it’s one of the most recognizable names in Fort Myers construction, with 55 projects in its current inventory between houses in permitting, in the ground and about to begin construction. Hard Hats is also working with the city of Fort Myers to build on lots the city owns, in an effort to bring more affordable housing to the Fort Myers community.

Even with this steady track record of success, Outten still wishes he’d started earlier. “It takes a long time to build a business,” he says. “Relationships, assets—that all takes time.”

Family Ties

When giving advice to other entrepreneurs—especially those just starting out—Outten suggests that they lean into their own networks before seeking clients in the wider world.

“When we started out, nobody would take a chance on us,” he says. “We had to show people what we could do.” His first two building projects were for clients close to him: a family member and a family friend. Those projects laid the foundation for what was to follow and provided a strong track record for future jobs. “That gave us the momentum we needed,” Outten says.

Grab a Mentor

Outten credits his early success to the help of his mentor, Dan O’Berski at Trinity Commercial Group in Fort Myers. “He’s helped me break into places I couldn’t get into,” Outten says. “That was a big boost.”

He advises other entrepreneurs to do the same. “Go grab a mentor,” he says, “somebody who’s been there and done that.”

Be a Mouthpiece

Outten’s last—and perhaps most important—piece of advice: Don’t shy away from a little self-promotion. “It’s about telling people what you do,” Outten says. “Everywhere I go, I’m telling somebody what I do. Publix. Home Depot. Facebook. I guess I’m a walking mouthpiece.” His reasoning? Some of his best connections have come from spreading the word about his business far and wide. “You never know where something’s going to lead,” he says.