House Lockout During Pandemic Sparks Entrepreneur’s App Idea

An entrepreneur revealed that being locked out of his residence during the Covid-19 pandemic prompted him to establish a company focused on assisting individuals with various tasks. Adam Graham discovered he was unable to enter his Theydon Bois, Essex, home in 2020 after returning from walking his dog. The 46-year-old stated that his predicament, coupled with his inability to locate a locksmith, motivated him to seek a constructive outcome amidst the “bleakness” of lockdown, leading him to develop an application connecting clients with skilled tradespeople instantly. “I was wondering what to do next with my own life and this gave me a bit of purpose, something to really get my teeth into,” he said. Mr. Graham expressed his desire to leverage his personal experience to encourage others to venture into establishing their own businesses. “It was a good stimulus at what was a bleak time for me personally, as I’d been out of work for a while,” he added.”So many business ideas are borne out of personal experience, challenge or opportunities that people face.” Currently serving as the chief executive of his firm, JustFix, Mr. Graham described the refinement of the app as his dedicated project during the lockdown period. Nevertheless, the father of three encountered various difficulties during this process. He found himself in “financial dire straits” following the collapse of several of his previous companies and the withdrawal of a job offer because of the pandemic. Mr. Graham stated that he grew “obsessed” with the undertaking he had initiated, expressing hope that it would motivate others to pursue their individual aspirations. “I came to the conclusion that starting the business was less risky than hoping someone else would give me a job,” he added.”I took the view I’d rather go down swinging and on my own terms, at least then I’d be in control of the risk.” Updates on Essex news are available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.