Meet Adam Weldon Fox | Founder & Realtor®

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adam Weldon Fox and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adam, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

It’s no secret that the Real Estate + Home Design industry is saturated with many talented and passionate professionals. But for me, I’ve always been a firm believer that the best way to build a life you truly love is to find something you’re passionate about and something that you can use to make a difference in the lives of others, and then find a way to earn a living doing it.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been passionate about homes and design. But it wasn’t until just a few years ago that I realized that I had a unique gift in that I’m able to visualize what a room, house, person, or business has the potential to become before it comes to be. I didn’t realize that not everyone had this visionary ability that allowed them to see potential like that. So, I always found myself wondering why people weren’t jumping at those opportunities I so quickly saw all around me. But over time, and through many conversations with others, I realized that this was truly a talent, and more importantly, a gift that I could use to make an impact on others.

At the same time, I’m also a firm believer that if you don’t find a good or service in the marketplace that you’re looking for, you might as well be the one to create it yourself. This was an idea that was taught to me during my time as an undergraduate student in the Entrepreneurship Program at Berry College’s Campbell School of Business, and an idea that I owe much of my success. It was during this time that I began to notice the lack of financial education that exists among my peers. Here I was at 19, 20, and 21 years old already strategizing how to purchase my first house after college, and yet many of my peers didn’t even have savings accounts or understand the importance of establishing their credit yet. Similarly, I became aware of many people older than me who, due to a lack of financial literacy, were also struggling in a financial sense, despite having great jobs and enough home equity to be able to grow their wealth by investing in rental properties. That’s when my basic idea for a real estate and home design business began to evolve. I realized that if I combined my passion for homes and design and my gift for seeing potential, with this need for financial literacy both amongst members of my own generation and those who are older, it could be the perfect opportunity for me to both make an impact on others and pursue my passions.

From a young age, I had always dreamt of one day having my own real estate and home design business. Over time, that vision grew into also being able to use that business as a platform to help others see what’s possible, both for the places they’re living and for what their lives could become. But that’s exactly what it always seemed to be, a distant dream, that might one day come true. At least until I shared this dream with someone who became an incredible mentor of mine from Berry College’s Entrepreneurship Program, to which she responded with a question that I firmly believe has changed the rest of my life: “Why not start now? Why not make one day, today?”. It was at that moment that I realized that I was never going to wake up one day and just be a successful real estate profesional, home designer, or someone making an impact on others in the way that I had dreamed of. Rather, I had to make a conscious decision to make this dream a reality through the decisions I make each day, and that had to start today.

That’s the thing that no one ever talks about with starting a business. It’s a process, and oftentimes a long and hard one at that, and it’s not something that’s meant for everyone. But nonetheless, it’s a very rewarding experience, and can certainly turn out better than you ever imagined. And much like a lot of things in life, the best way to go about it is to just rip the band-aid off and get started. I realized through that conversation back in college that if I spent just half the time I was spending dreaming about what my life could one day become actually working toward making those dreams a reality, those dreams could actually come true.

It was less than 3 hours after that life-changing conversation that I began creating my business plan and registered for an online Real Estate Pre-Licensing course. At the time, it was the complete opposite of an ideal time to be trying to earn my real estate license and start my business. Here I was, only a few weeks into my final semester of undergrad, trying to graduate a year early, starting to interview for full-time roles for after my graduation, remaining involved in a few thousand things on campus, and desiring to enjoy every last moment of college, yet looking back, there’s nothing I would change about the timing. Today, I’m able to live the life I love, pursuing my passions and making a difference in others’ lives as I always dreamed I would be able to, all because of the sacrifices I made. I also know I’m a stronger and more capable person and profesional because of the experiences I had and the challenges I’ve overcome along the way.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Today, Fox Real Estate + Design Services is focused on helping our clients find their way home. Like other companies, we offer traditional buyer and seller representation services, but we also focus on providing financial literacy resources and home-buying education for first-time buyers, guidance and inspiration for investors interested in short and long-term rentals, and after many requests from friends and family members, home design services, including both full-service and virtual consultation options. Our goal is to empower our clients to achieve home ownership at a younger age, and then over the long term, enable them to leverage the power of real estate to build a legacy of generational wealth for those they love. We also hope to help our clients dream big in terms of what home can mean for them and guide them into making that dream a reality.

For me, people have always been at the heart of everything I do. It was my time working at Chick-fil-A that shaped that belief in my heart. If I wanted to, I could make my goal to sell and design as many homes as possible, and I’d find a way to do it. But that’s not what me or my business is about. My business is about helping people create the homes and lives they want while building lifelong relationships with them along the way. It just happens to be that helping them dream big and then creating a path to achieving those dreams in terms of their home and financial situations is how I’m able to have the impact on their lives that I hope to have. For some clients, maybe this looks like providing them with the knowledge and guidance needed to purchase their first home. For others, maybe it looks like helping them design a remodel for the home they’ve raised their family in, but they want to also remain in for the next chapter of their lives. Or maybe it’s helping them design a new home that will be built from the ground up or educating them on how to earn passive income, or even finance their child’s education by investing in rental properties. Regardless of the situation, the core is always the same. It’s about the relationships I build with my clients and my ability to help them create a vision of how to build the life they dream of living.

Alongside that, I think a huge factor in my success over recent years and a big lesson that I’ve learned is the importance of having a mindset of constant growth and a positive attitude. I never allow myself to get too comfortable or feel that I know everything that I need to know, and I always stay ready for whatever new challenge lies ahead, while intentionally surrounding myself with others whom I admire and can learn from. Similarly, I never stop dreaming big dreams and always challenge myself to think about what’s possible instead of what’s not. It’s truly incredible the difference that a positive attitude and willingness to constantly seek out others whom you can learn from can make when it comes to creating the life you want.

So, for anyone with a desire to launch their own business, or any other dream that seems too challenging to achieve, my best encouragement to you is to dream big, think positively, surround yourself with others whom you admire and will challenge you, and just dive in and get started. Don’t wait to start tomorrow. Don’t start next week or next year. But start today. There’s never going to be a perfect time and it’s unlikely that it will ever get any easier. So you might as well make today day one. Because one day you’ll wake up and be amazed at how far you’ve come.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

For those who know me well, it’s no secret that Atlanta is one of my favorite places, and I love calling it home. In a city filled with so many fun things to do and diverse experiences to enjoy, it’s hard to narrow it down to just a week. I mean, after all, I’ve been here my whole life and I’m still always finding new things to do.

But if I had to plan a week, I’d probably start with two or three days in the city, enjoying some incredible food at Yeppa & Co or Gypsy Kitchen in Buckhead Village, Minero at Ponce City Market, or The Garden Room at The St. Regis Hotel. In between, we’d experience a show at the Fox Theatre, a performance at the Woodruff Arts Center, or a concert at the Buckhead Theatre, check out a few of Atlanta’s more classic, touristy attractions, such as the World of Coke, and explore some of Atlanta’s historical homes, like the Swann House at The Atlanta History Center. We’d also have to visit some of the more trendy places in West Midtown one evening, which I’ve more recently started exploring. The Painted Duck, a speakeasy-style bowling alley, and Humble Pie, a boutique pizza restaurant and bar are among a few favorites there.

Then, if it’s during the warmer months, we’d have to visit Lake Lanier for at least a day, taking one of the boats out and enjoying the water with some music, maybe stopping at Pig Tales or Pelican Pete’s, two of my favorite waterfront restaurants for a bite. We’d end our time north of the city with a visit to Dahlonega for some classic pub food at Shanigans, a tour of the goldmine, and some shopping on the square, or a visit to the spa and winery out at Chateau Elan.

Of course, no trip to Atlanta would be complete without visiting some of the best shopping venues in the country, with Phipps Plaza, Lenox Square, Atlantic Station, Westside Provisions, and again, Ponce City Market being among a few of my favorites. Finally, on the last night, we’d enjoy a first-class dinner with a view of the city at The Sundial or Polaris downtown.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I’d first like to thank the Entreprenuership Program at the Berry College Campbell School of Business, and more specifically Drs. Ivanna Lajara and Paula Englis for their support and encouragement in helping me find the courage to pursue my dream. It’s safe to say I would not be where I am today without their guidance and empowering words.

I’d also like to thank my grandfather, John Lappington, who is such a big inspiration to me entrepreneurially. Growing up, I heard countless stories about his life as a successful entrepreneur in the tech industry in the 80’s and 90’s here in Atlanta. I was fascinated while listening to all of the experiences he had been able to have over the years as a result of his various business ventures. I was also fortunate enough to see firsthand the life he was able to provide for his family as a result of his success. Even from a young age, I realized the difference that his choosing to pursue something he was passionate about made for him in terms of what he was able to achieve. In so many ways, this was such a powerful part of my desire to one day start my own business, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds for me as I strive to continue our family’s legacy of entrepreneurship through my own passions.

Finally, I’d also like to thank my real estate mentors, Angi Sklar and Jeb Arp for their continued guidance and encouragement, as well as all of my friends and family for their support as I continue to grow my business. I have no doubt I would not be where I am today without all of you.

Website: adamfox.atlcommunities.com

Instagram: adamweldonfox

Linkedin: adamweldonfox