Connect
To Top

Meet Joshua Farley of Redline Electric & Solar in Tempe

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Farley.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Joshua. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I got started in the industry by mistake… A HUGE mistake… When I was younger, I got into trouble at school and was sent home, suspended for a long time. Sitting in the living room after my mother said, “Just wait until your father gets home,” I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. Little did I know that would be the first of many, haha. When my father got home, he sat me down and said: “If I can’t stay home from work, you can’t stay home from school”. The next day I went to work with him.

Free labor is what he and his fellow electricians would call me as they dropped me off to dig ditches. I dug where they told me and didn’t even think about mouthing off as I had done in the classroom… I began to realize that if I did what was asked of me and continued to try to do my job to the best of my ability, that I would gain the respect I had been looking for. Not so long after, the guys were asking for my help on their projects. My father who was a master electrician, began to teach me everything he knew and the rest is history.

I have so much respect for him and am eternally grateful for the gift that he gave to me, my trade. Being an electrician has given me the opportunity to make a living and provide for not only my family but for those of my employees. When I started, I was almost alone. Just me, a service truck, and an apprentice. Now we still have an apprentice program, but there are 15 of us and we are looking for more people that share in our core values and culture. I have made plenty more mistakes and a few HUGE ones too, but every one of them seems to help move us in the right direction. I am blessed to be a part of something Awesome!

Has it been a smooth road?
Plenty of struggles along the way and I am looking forward to the ones yet to happen. We learn so much! Almost too much, haha!

I will say that some of our challenges were a lot of other business owners’ challenges. None of us are exempt from struggle. Some that come to mind are pursuing the correct vision, setting the right goals, tackling key issues, and hiring the right people. Having a vision that everyone can get behind is crucial. We are not in a sexy industry and there’s no awesome vision of saving the world, but we can help people and other businesses “Never Be Without Power”. This is a great vision that everyone in the company can get behind and does. It is clear and tells everyone exactly what we do.

We got help setting the right goals. We turned to a book I read called Traction. It has given us a framework that has been extremely helpful in setting realistic goals and providing some valuable steps to attaining them. Talking key issues used to be hard but now we meet every week to discuss any issues going on in the business and we keep them from getting out of hand by getting to the root cause and dealing with them head-on. People have always been an issue. Defining your core values and living by them gives you a head start but even if an employee shares those values, they still need to understand the role they play in your company. They need to get it, they need to want it, and the need to have the capacity to do it.

Just recently, we had to let someone go. This time was different than all of those that came before. This was due to the fact that they did not have the capacity to do the job we needed them to. Everything else was right. It was the hardest thing to do, but in the end, we both knew we it was the right decision. We are all going to be faced with hard decisions but if you have a process in place, trust the process. Put the business first.

Redline Electric & Solar – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are a full-service electrical contractor. We specialize in commercial service work and New home solar installations. I am most proud of the team we have and the way they all go above and beyond. Our Mission, Vision, and values set us apart from our competition, along with our brand promise.

Our Mission: Awesome Service, Awesome Team, Awesome Products.
Our Vision: For our customers to “Never Be Without Power” & “Solar For Every Roof.”
Our Core Values: I Will… Sacrifice for others, Move without fear, & Own my outcomes. Because I AM REDLINE!!!

Our Promise: Redline Electric & Solar commits to creating the best experiences for our customers, whether it’s for a simple repair or an entire retrofit of an existing electrical system. Our commitment to communication and convenience means we’re always available to serve our clients when they need us most. To be available for our customers or Team 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Satisfaction 100% Guaranspeed!!!

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Phoenix is the 6th biggest city in the nation. Of course, there is an opportunity for businesses like mine! Assuming you already have the experience to open the doors of a new business. My advice to you would be to surround yourself with a board of advisors, a mentor, and friends in your industry. There is plenty of work to be done and you will need help somewhere along the way. For me, the Entrepreneurs Organization was a huge help. I still talk with my father and other electrical contractors that are willing to take my call. Whether it be about finances, sales, or something else, people are willing to help. Let them! But that also means you need to answer the phone when they call. Give back to others and share your experience and knowledge as well!

Contact Info:

Suggest a story: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in