Today we’d like to introduce you to Lawson Condell.
Hi Lawson, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Grew up here in Lexington, SC. Graduated from Lexington High School and then on to the University of South Carolina. My plan was to go to law school and then join federal law enforcement, ideally the FBI. After my sophomore year at USC, I joined the USAF Reserves as a military police officer.
Upon graduation, I prepared for the LSAT, then 9/11 happened. Our unit was called up on 2-year orders. After being deployed overseas, my career objective changed.
The next 14 years I spent in corporate America. This exposed me to various business verticals, challenges, technology, and opportunities. In 2015, I was ready to start my own company.
In 2017, I launched Safe Harbor Insurance Advisors. Risk mitigation and insurance touch everything. My job is to align with the best products.
Over the past 5 years, Safe Harbor Insurance Advisors has grown to be a boutique commercial brokerage specializing in particular verticals minimizing risk and protecting midsize businesses.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
That’s the adventure of entrepreneurism: there are always curveballs and challenges. Every startup business has challenges, namely: having enough sales/revenue to stay open. If you are starting a scratch business like Safe Harbor Insurance Advisors, that means you don’t have a book roll of clients funding your first year. Each and every client are the bricks that build the business. Any each client means the world to you.
Growth. Scratch businesses don’t have a beaten path like franchises. So as the business owner, you have to be willing to test different options, knowing most will fail. But if you keep at it and keep problem-solving, you will find the option that works. It’s fun and frustrating at the same time. But the most important thing is the business is yours. You only answer to the client.
Freedom. This is (one of the) best part. However, it does have its dangers. Freedom gives you the ability to determine navigation, the rules, your products, and where and when you sell. Freedom can also be the siren song that takes the focus off the business. You’ll need discipline and consistency to drive success.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Safe Harbor Insurance Advisors?
Safe Harbor Insurance Advisors provides risk mitigation and insurance solutions for both business (commercial) and personal lines. Our advisors provide a very close touch to help identify and mitigate risks, thereby lowering exposure and costs. We provide more hand-holding and guidance to each client.
Our investment in technology allows our Advisors to provide not only guidance but practical applications of risk strategies into business practices.
For this reason, we have a thorough vetting process where we interview potential prospects to make sure we are both a good fit for each other.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love Lexington & Columbia. Both have so much to offer. Lexington is the quiet town I grew up in. Lexington has Lake Murray and is an incredible place to raise a family.
Columbia’s growth is amazing. The businesses, restaurants, nightlife, myself, my family, our friends, and clients all enjoy what Columbia offers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://SafeHarborInsuranceAdvisors.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safeharborinsuranceadvisors/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SafeHarborInsuranceAdvisors
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd9FnG7UZPef-_G3TD8iC4w
