"Unlock the Secrets to Success with Brandon James of Brandon James Roofing on The Kitchen Table Podcast!":
Kenny Baden invites Brandon James of Brandon James Roofing to join him on The Kitchen Table this week. They share Brandon's story of personal transformation and learning from his struggles. Brandon gives advice from his experience, discussing topics from developing an excellent team culture to making tough moves to balancing spiritual life and work, and even the details of his transition from a convicted felon to professional swimmer. With many inspiring stories and invaluable insights, Kenny and Brandon provide a great discussion on entrepreneurship and success.
Topics Discussed and Key Points:
-The Value of Teamwork and Accountability
-The Effects of Peer Pressure and Gang Involvement on Young People
-The Power of Belief: Overcoming Adversity Through Self-Talk
-The Power of Facing Adversity
-The Power of Positive Thinking in Achieving Success
-The Benefits of Being a Hard Worker in a Union Job
-Overcoming Adversity - The Journey of a Former Convicted Felon to Professional Swimmer
-Understanding Your Personal Drive for Success
-Rediscovering Faith and Finding Hope in Tough Times.
-The Success of Apex Despite Difficult Rebuild
-Making Difficult Decisions in Business
-Scaling a Business and Cultivating a Culture of Excellence with Brandon James of smash.com
-The Power of Reflection at the End of the Day
-Success Tips from Brandon J of Brandon J Roofing
-Reaching Out for Advice on Business Matters
Timestamps:
[00:03:34] The Value of Teamwork and Accountability
[00:06:36] The Effects of Peer Pressure and Gang Involvement on Young People
[00:10:10] The Power of Belief: Overcoming Adversity Through Self-Talk
[00:13:43] The Power of Facing Adversity
[00:17:03] The Power of Positive Thinking in Achieving Success
[00:20:13] The Benefits of Being a Hard Worker in a Union Job
[00:23:28] Overcoming Adversity - The Journey of a Former Convicted Felon to Professional Swimmer
[00:26:40] Understanding Your Personal Drive for Success
[00:30:01] Rediscovering Faith and Finding Hope in Tough Times.
[00:33:35] The Success of Apex Despite Difficult Rebuild
[00:36:48] Making Difficult Decisions in Business
[00:39:53] Scaling a Business and Cultivating a Culture of Excellence with Brandon James of smash.com
[00:43:12] The Power of Reflection at the End of the Day
[00:46:24] Success Tips from Brandon J of Brandon J Roofing
[00:49:39] Reaching Out for Advice on Business Matters
Notable Quotes:
"It was like, man, I was just existing. And I Like, if I was a slave to that drug, you know, and I cut myself off from everybody, you know, and I would just work and feed my disease, feed bad at work every day, and that was it."
"My mom, she was an extremely hard-working woman. Like she just works up at sundown. She would teach her, and then she worked 2 jobs. She would get home between 9 and 11 every night. And moved to the house at 7AM. And just trying to keep food on the table."
"I got out and went back in for, like, a little bit more of a serious crime. And it was like, it just kept getting worse and worse, you know. And, you know, addiction, alcoholism, you know, deism started to take effect at a very early age, and I just never knew why."
"And I remember I'm sitting in my mom's house. And 1 of the first thoughts I had was, like, they had no idea of the monster they're just letting into their house. Because that's why I turned myself into a monster there. You know, I've been stabbed several times. It's like that."
"I just made, like, a pact with myself, and I made a post about this the other day. And it was, like, I only surrounded myself with people who had the things I wanted. That's it."
"And it was just drilled into me, like, man, just do the next right thing. Whatever it is, just do the next right thing. And after that, do the next right thing after that. And it's all going to come and keep an open mind, and it's all going to come together."
"I told my mom at that time. Like, I was like, well, because you know my mom. Yeah. Jesus. It's such a blessing that we got you. You're in a union. You're set for life. You got a retirement. You got you know, you're it's thank you, God. And I do thank God every day. But, you know, it's like working for a big corporation, insurance, pension, all the bullshit."
"I had to cut everybody out of my life. And I just made, like, a pact with myself, and I made a post about this the other day. And it was, like, I only surrounded myself with people who had the things I wanted. That's it.""
"It's like, as soon as I acted on that, it was crazy, like, how the floodgates opened. And with good quality people."
"I just had this whisper, man. I'm a pretty spiritual guy and try to stay in good connection with God and IIII get a little whisper, visions, whatever. It might sound crazy but fuck off."
"I want to wake up in awe every day."
"I only want the people that are all in. All in mentally, physically, spiritually, all in on creating the best version themselves."
"The only way that we offer and our better version of this industry, and we each individually best version of ourselves."
"Staying in gratitude, brother. That is the best message I think I've heard, man, I really, I couldn't agree more.""
Resources:
Connect with Ken Baden:
Connect with Brandon James:
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0:03
Welcome to the kitchen table, a podcast about where business is done.
0:09
So pull up a chair and join your host can be
0:16
alright, what's up, everybody can be here with another episode of the kitchen table podcast. And I am. First of all, as always, we've got an awesome stable of guests. But I have to admit that today I am particularly particularly excited because we've got our man Brandon J up in the house, dude, Randy.
0:37
I'm so pumped for this episode, man. I mean, basically, you have to essentially lifelong best friends, because that's how it feels. At least I can only speak for myself. I guess it'd be weird if you said no.
0:49
You gotta. You gotta kind of no doubt, man. No doubt for sure. Man, we have a lot of common ground we have a lot of, we kind of hit it off right off the bat. And so this is an episode that I've been personally looking forward to for some time, and hopefully it flows as well as I hoped it would because I mean, essentially, man, you've got two two good buddies chopping it up. But Brandon j are Brandon James from Brandon James roofing. Is there anywhere you'd like to list off that? You know, right off the bat where guys can find you guys and gals can find you. Yeah, so Brandon j here at St. Louis, Missouri. He can hit me on Facebook at
1:30
Brandon James Brennan J roofing also on Instagram, at Brandon J 1122. And same with the company. Message DM me get me I'd love to help any way I can. And Brandon has very, very special because he has blue checkmarks all over the place, dude. So I've got essentially a movie star here. Social media superstar in the house. Dude, I know, personally, that you just got back. So you should be well rested for this episode. First of all, because I know you just got back from that much needed. vacay do tell us about that man. How was that? Oh, man, it was it was amazing.
2:09
We were actually supposed to.
2:12
So like, January, February is usually a time where the work is not as intense. Maybe it is just a different way. But after Christmas, I was supposed to take three my wife took three weeks off, and we were supposed to go somewhere in that time. And that didn't happen. I was in the office every day grinding it out, just dialed in. And I looked up and that three weeks was over. I was like, Oh, I am so sorry. And my, my sweet wife bless her heart. You know, she was like, No, it's all good. I get it. So obviously need to make up for that. Hit Cancun for a week. First time I'd ever been. That was amazing, man. He just really needed that time and wanted that time. Just to focus on the connection and just some one on one time without all the noise. One on one time with you in the missus? Yeah, how long have you guys gone?
3:03
Six days, dude, six days, which for someone like you, I'm sure it felt like an eternity.
3:09
Man, it used to be like, early on back and not leave for like more than two to three days. And
3:19
it was kind of a guilt thing it was there was a lot of stuff. Like I mentioned, I didn't take a Saturday off, I still pretty much work every every day. But like, I was out in the field or in the office every Saturday for the first three, three and a half years. And now getting to the point like man, I have a great squad around me, I've got some great leaders around me. Like I didn't get one phone call that time. And I think that's a big deal in leadership and specially with business owner is it's out if you're anything like me, and I know I'm super intensive, and I just get dialed in, I don't have room for a lot in my life, my life is extremely cool. But you know, is to focus on the connection in those relationships, you know, for sure. And to be able to be present in the moment, you know, and trust that everything's gonna be okay. Without, you know that the world will go on and everything they're gonna figure it out. And if if I don't have a SWAT team around me that I can't go for a week or two, whatever that is. And it's going to be okay, I need to fix that. I love that. I love the accountability in that. And I'm big on that too. as big a big team gun. I think that's probably why we get along so well is. And I'm a big advocate for you know, you were only as strong as your team. And so the fact that you keep bringing that up, you know that ultimately, if you can't do that, how good I mean, it's really, in my opinion is reflection on us, right? Because if we can't take that time, a if you have that team and you're not delegating appropriately or you're not doing your job and B if you don't you're still not doing your job because that's that's that's really as the entrepreneur as the visionary or the leader. That's your job. And so
4:56
for sure, we got to talk about you
5:00
You have a crazy fucking story. And I know you and I both relate a ton there, man, right? Like you and I both come from a very similar background, and there are not a lot of people. I think that's why we vibe so well, so quick. I also think that's why we're such I know as entrepreneurs, we tend to be kind of a certain archetype anyhow. very driven very, very, but we can also be a fucking mess. Let's be real, right? We can be a little all over the place. But we've got the drive, but sometimes we're spinning in circles. For you and I, we have that bad past connection as well. That I think having gone through that, we can certainly utilize that as a strength, a great source of strength. But tell us a little bit about your story, man, if you wouldn't mind, tell the people I know it. But I'd love I'd love for everybody else to hear it, man. And you know what? Got You Here. You know, ultimately, what named Brandon J. Brandon fucking J dude, let's hear all about. Yeah, man. I thought you'd never ask.
6:01
And believe it or not, I wasn't this fine specimen with human meats in front of me today. Dude, Woods. Man, I come from the bottom. And I come from the bottom for real. That's
6:12
I grew up.
6:15
My dad left when I was a kid in and out of my life. You know, and I felt like I had older brother older sister. I don't know, I just felt like I got cheated. And my mom, she was a extremely hard working woman like, and she just, she'd worked on up to sundown. She's a teacher. And then she worked two jobs, she wouldn't get home until between nine and 11 every night and leave the house at 7am. And just try to keep a roof over her head food on the table. And then I was an angry little dude, I was definitely an angry guy. And I just turned to all the wrong things I had cited, I don't know where it came from. But I had such a one such a desire, like just to do the wrong thing. Like I wanted to be a gangster. And it was like that was who I was looking up to in the neighborhood, everything like that. And it will I don't I guess I don't know why first time I was incarcerated. I was 13 years old. And got caught with drugs at school and you know, funny stuff. And, you know, that kind of started the cycle. And I was got out and went back in for a little bit more of a serious crime. It was like, it just kept getting worse and worse. You know.
7:30
And, you know, addiction, alcoholism, you know, the ISM started picking pick us back at a very early age. And I just never knew why. Right.
7:42
As I got older, I live moved to an apartment, my brother when I was 16. And, you know, our motto was like, you work hard you party hard. Like one thing, I started swinging a hammer and I was 15 years old. And I got to go to work every day. Like regardless, like sometimes I was going to work straight from the party, I just, you know, I'm gonna get through the day. And just kind of kept that up. And I eventually, after, you know, and I had my run with everything, ecstasy, coke, all every drug out there. And
8:15
I ended up getting put in the hospital from appendicitis. And they had a bunch of stuff going on in my stomach. And they had me on pain pills for like six weeks. And that led to a opioid addiction. And it was like, man, I was just existing, and
8:34
like, everyone was a slave to that drug, you know, and I cut myself off from everybody, you know, and I would just work and feed my disease feed the habit at work every day. And that was it. And, you know, long story short down the road. You know, my mind, I wasn't even breaking the law because before like, I was like, I was a criminal. I was stealing cars. I was doing all this stuff now just selling drugs and getting high and going to work. I'm a productive member of society and not hurting anybody.
9:06
Right, like, that's how fucked my mindset was. And, you know, eventually
9:13
somebody tried to rob me. They got hurt, I went to prison.
9:19
And
9:21
it was you know, it was never like if I was going to prison, it was always like when
9:27
and it was
9:29
you know, I was I remember going into the first day I sat in county jail for a long time fighting the case. And
9:39
the first day I went in, I just remember like hitting the yard and I knew a bunch of people like because some people go to prison for making like a bad choice. You know, maybe they decided they drunk and drive one time just happened to get that DWI and hurt somebody there's make a bad decision. And I get I was a bad decision. I was a criminal i That's exactly where I belong.
10:00
I'm
10:01
in my mindset then I had like men.
10:06
Well, damn, man, you're pretty messed up. Well, yeah, I am. Let me tell you why. And by the time I end up telling you my story of why of all this victimhood shit, you're gonna be saying, well, yeah, if I went through all that obvious, bumped up to, you know, and I keep myself in this box, and it was no accountability at all.
10:27
So, but when I get into prison that was like, my mindset was, I couldn't do that right out there. And out here in the real world. I mean, it makes sure I at least do this right in here. And I don't mean by being a model inmate, like, I'm going to figure out how to do the deal in here. Control, how am I gonna have a good time.
10:48
And that's, man, I was all in. And, you know, I ended up doing
10:55
10 years, and six and a half of those years were in the hole.
11:01
And in that time, I was one of the tops of the biggest organization in the state, one of the three tops, and I'm not saying that in any type of like, oh, like a cool thing. I'm saying that like, that's how, that's why I ate slept the breed. I was, like, in my mind how fucked and twisted this sounds, man, like I was 100% Convinced that, like, I was put on this earth to be an outlaw. Like, that's what I that's what I was just feed the bullshit out, feed myself. And so fast forward, I'm getting ready to come home. And
11:35
my mom's picking me up. I'm 1212 in my time, it's over with. And that means that I'm no parole, no paper I did every possible. They kept me every day they possibly could.
11:47
And
11:49
I'm going to my mom's house, right? My mother, she married this guy, super good guy.
11:55
I hated him at the beginning. Like, P love Pete man, like, but I hated him. He was
12:02
he was everything that I was not. And I didn't, it raises kids not letting them watch on TV. I'm trying to smoke weed in the house. I do.
12:12
And so
12:15
my mom, she No, she, she retired with two masters and a PhD. Like my mother in volunteers at church, this is the home, I'm going home to her gangbanging sons coming to. And it's like, in my mom knew the life I live, I give her the PG version. But I wouldn't either.
12:34
Right? And she just wanted me to be okay, she wanted me to have an opportunity. And so I get home, right? I get home, and I got all these people because that organizations in the prisons and on the street, they're all waiting for me can't wait to see me, we got big plans to take over the world. And I remember I'm sitting in my mom's house. And one of the first thoughts I had was like, I had no idea of the monster they just let in their house. Because that's how I turned I turned myself into a monster in there. You know, I've been stabbed several times. It's like it was I was a very violent, bad person.
13:09
And
13:12
so
13:14
48 hours after I get home, I'm with one of my, with my brother, and I just get hit with this overwhelming anxiety, and like 100 forms of fear, and I just like break down, and I'm crying. And he's like, Dude, are you okay? And like, I'm like, Fuck you, man. Like, no, I'm not okay, obviously. And just take me home. And I just like, I had, I needed to get around people that I was comfortable around with this law. I was telling myself at the time. And it was such a culture shock for me.
13:47
And so I ran. That's why I ran to the people I was comfortable around. And it wasn't, I wasn't home 48 hours before I was, you know, had everything that was right back at it right back in Game, everything. And it was man.
14:03
Like I said, like, I thought I was put on Earth. This is what I thought I was put on earth to do. So I'm bought in. And God showed me very quickly that it wasn't because it went like horrible. Like, I'm losing 1000s of dollars all over the place. I'm out of my mind. And the short of it is what and I just I wouldn't get my stuff in my mom's house and just laugh. And I was like, I'm just going to stay away. And I don't want to bring this tornado around you.
14:32
Well, the short of that is I ended up three weeks later, more broken than I've ever been in my life. I'm sitting on the street, I got dropped off. I don't have $1 to my name. I'm sitting on this park bench. And I just start man just crying. And I call this girl I've been talking to and I'm just I'm just more broken than I've ever been in my life. Like six and a half years and the whole 10 years and like I couldn't touch this the way I felt how broken I was
15:00
Was this day, and I was just crying and I was done, man, I was done hurting everybody else I was done hurting myself and I was 1,000% convinced that this world would be way better off without me.
15:12
And so in that, you know, I wouldn't try to take my own life. And I had never, I've never had a suicide attempt that wasn't like a thing.
15:21
And
15:24
thank God that it didn't work. You know, they I got, somebody found me and called the paramedics and they brought me back. And the very first words that the paramedics said, after they brought me back with you said, I'm supposed to tell you, God's not done with you, he's got a plan for you.
15:42
And I hear those words every day, man, every day still today. So at that point in time, like, like, that was the best day of my life. People like, Man, I'm so sorry, you had to go through that. That's like, that was the apps I'm not I'm thankful for it. That was the absolute best day of my life. Because that's the day I became willing. Like, I believe for something to be fixed, it has to be broken. And I was more broken than I could ever be in my life.
16:12
So
16:14
man, I
16:17
was living at my mom's house. And I, this girl I've been talking to, she was talking, she would always tell me about this life, she had this wonderful life she had. And she was like, well, you can have this too. You know, and she was part of a recovery program. And so I started going to these meetings, you know, and it was,
16:39
it was amazing. And I hated it at first, but I knew like, these people have what I wanted,
16:45
you know, and they look like they were okay. And they had what they wanted. And that was the big deal. And it was just drilled into me, like, man, just do the next right thing. Whatever it is, just do the next right thing. And that's the next right thing after that. And it's all gonna come and keep an open mind. And it's all gonna come together.
17:03
You know, it was I had to cut everybody out of my life. And I just made like, a pact with myself. And I made a post about this the other day. And it was like, I only surround myself with people who had the things I want. That's it. And then a couple years after that, I had people, I only surround myself with people who have the things I want to want the things I have, if you're not helping me be a better, man, there's only one other thing you're doing. I can't afford it.
17:28
So
17:30
I get a job back in the union, I'm working in the union. I was a journeyman carpenter when I was 22. I left that out. So I got that to fall back on.
17:39
And so
17:41
I get back from the union and I'm there for like a month, man. And it's just like, I'm working maybe two months, but I'm working 60 hours a week as much as I can just grinding and I ended up getting hurt.
17:55
They told me Hey, go sit at home.
17:58
It I'm not like my hands, my hands were shot, because I didn't use them. So on right, hey, go sit at home for a month while we figure out if we're gonna take care of this.
18:06
And it was okay, I'm gonna go sit at home. But I can't just sit here. So I start by answering all these little kind of handyman type jobs that I could go do like $100 here, $200 here, $300. Here. I was like, Okay, how many can I knock out a day, I'm getting on the next door app, I'm getting on Facebook, I'm talking to the neighbors, whatever I can do. And after a couple of weeks, I tell my friend at the time, who's now my wife, that
18:34
man, I don't think I'm going back to the Union. And I think I'm supposed to start a business.
18:41
And I prayed about it and did all these things. But it was so on a side note. And this is something really important. Early on, I was living in my mom's house
18:52
I'm looking at, I don't have a path of tests, and she just had to find your cell phone. And like I wrote out this, like, the seven year plan. And it's like, I want it all I'm seeing other people. You know, I'm 33 years old, I'm seeing all these other people that have all these things, right? That you know, they got the houses, they got the cars, they got the bank accounts, they got all this shit. And it's like, Man, I want all this now.
19:14
And I want it all now and it was making me feel some type of way and it was just drilled into me that I had to gain all the truly priceless assets. First, the mental the spiritual and emotional assets first. And if I tried to do it the other way around, I was gonna lose everything and die 100% lose all.
19:35
Exactly. And I still keep that in mind today, man. Like it's like, I don't know I still keep that in mind today. So I tell my mom at that time. I was like well because you know my mom yeah, she's it's such a blessing that we got to you're in the Union you're set for life. You got to retirement you got all your your stuff. Thank you God. And I did thank God every day. But you know, it's like
20:00
can work for big corporations insurance, pension, all that bullshit. And it is I tell her, I'm starting. I'm quitting the union, I'm gonna stop and start this company. She's like, are you nuts? Are you crazy, you will never be able to start a company in this community, you terrorizes happier lives, no one's gonna trust you. As, okay, that may be, but I'm at least gonna respect that union job will always be there should always be there. I'm a hard worker, I know I'm an asset.
20:29
And, man, that's how I like it. And I just went. And I remember, like, early on. So like, the first year, it was me. I was wearing my tool pouches for 12 hours a day doing all the backend work at night. And I would have like three to five guys. And it just kept growing. And I ended up getting some big deals right off the jump was the first like few months. Yeah. And it was like, in my mind, man that like, I don't know where the question came from, like, where asked myself, but like, one day, I was just sitting in traffic. I was like, Man, why can't I have the next biggest best company in this area? But I can't, why can't that be me? And the only question like it's okay, because this person has more resources, more money, whatever it is more employees. And it just like, I just kept telling myself, yeah, but they don't have my grind. They don't have my drive. They don't have my hospital. Like you will not outwork me. And some people say that shit like, oh, yeah, you want to work like, bro, you will not fucking work.
21:31
And, man, that's
21:35
the willingness to just push in that hunger that grind. Just, I think a lot of people hit these levels.
21:43
You know, the first year out, I made over 300,000 My first year out of prison. And I remember when I was putting that seven year plan together,
21:55
when I was putting that seven year plan together, that if I could just make 200 grand a year, I will have made it I'll be okay.
22:04
And we set like these limiting
22:07
beliefs. You know, I didn't know at all.
22:10
It seemed like, impossible, I'm sure. Yeah. It seemed like it. Yeah, exactly. And it was crazy. Like, how I just was the willingness to suit up and show up every day, and like, do my best. And it was like, man, guy just started doing all this amazing stuff around me. I looked up one day, I was like, Damn, how this should happen?
22:31
How long have you been in business now? So five years now? Five years, dude? Yeah, I say the average business like we actually just saw a Facebook post about that the other day. But we'll.
22:42
But the point is, is in five years you have done. Let's see now five years in business. But I would assume that's about the same timeline as far as what you're talking about, right? Yeah, yeah, that's amazing. I know what you're doing. And I don't want to, I can tell you, Brandon is doing big, big boy numbers. And that's from somebody in the exact same industry. And I've just been so impressed by that. And that brings me sort of to my next point, I gotta admit, you know, he and I both own, you know, roofing companies, I've got my hands and a couple other things. And so like, there's all these gadgets and crazy alarms and shit going off in the background. And we're doing our best to like silence all of them at once. But we're doing this podcast, because it's so important to us in the middle of our work days to make sure that we get this thing done, man. So I really appreciate first of all, you're taking the time out to because I know how busy you are. Second of all, you got a little sign behind you. And I saw a picture the other day on your Facebook, that was your core values. And I know you're a big advocate for that. But there's another story. That is probably my favorite story about you. I don't know how to ask without asking on air, if it's okay to talk about it, but it's the one where you told me about last year and I've talked to you about it a couple times as far as like where I'm at with my folks, that pruning process and hiring and firing around for values. And that extreme move you made? Is that something that you're comfortable talking about or bro I don't I mean, you just told anybody about you know, all that other shit, so I don't see why we can't talk about that. But look, man, I gotta I gotta throw that out though. Yeah, sure. Tell us dude. I mean, I won't steal too much your light but I can tell you from me, talking to Brandon and the way we got hooked up. I don't think that was necessarily relevant. But it was something that came up very early because recruiting is such a big part of what we do. And I'm, again Brandon and I vibe very much on that leadership and hunger and I have the same background right. I'm a convicted felon I you know, got car accident pills, drug abuse, lowest of below to where we are now. Right? And we take that in that anguish and that painful existence, where you just don't even want to be here anymore. And I've been there and to now we get this second or 50th Chance doesn't matter.
25:00
And you finally hit, you hit it and you're in, you're like, dude, I'm not gonna, I'm just I'm going, I'm going for fucking broke, I'm going for everything, because that was the same energy I put in to being
25:13
miserable, right? So we kind of tend to do that. And I know you're doing that. But this story with Brandon was is built around, he's couple years in, he's doing well, but he could be doing great, and takes a look around. But you know, I'm not gonna steal your thunder man, I want you to tell it. And this is something that genuinely helped me, and I was so impressed by it. But please tell us what we're talking about. Man, I really appreciate you saying that, too. So I mean, 100% Yeah, thank you very much. That means a lot. So we were going, like, at the beginning, when I started this deal, it was kind of, like, in my mind, I never ever, like, thought about like, maybe maybe one day, I'll sell this, I never thought in my mind anything about that, all I thought was are the really the impact that it can have on people's lives and their family's lives. It was like, I'm gonna run as hard as I can for maybe like, five to eight years, and get set financially and see what happens next, you know, I just didn't ever think. And in the process of that, like, in the
26:18
from year three to four, you know, I've sold over 10 million in residential myself, how banging doors, and forming relationships, all these things. And it kind of had the mentality of like, I would have like four or five reps. And you know, I would train them. It's just kind of a sink or swim mentality. I definitely didn't try to pour into him like I do today. And it's
26:42
so and this was the year we're hitting like 5 million, right? Right at like 5 million good year. But I can feel the heat sealing on hidden. And it's like, I would I remember early on, I would question myself, I didn't have like core values written out. And but you know, I'd be fooled, but I try to not try and stay in integrity. And I would just do the right thing, we do the right thing go above and beyond we do all these things in my life, I really live by that. And I and I would try to get people, I want to bring people with me, I knew. And like they would, I would paint this picture. And I would summon the dream. And of course, they're gonna say they're willing to do whatever it takes.
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And they would be maybe for a week or two, maybe three, maybe a month, maybe a couple months. But
27:33
after that, their old self would start catching up. And
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I would be expecting more out of them than they were capable or willing to give. You know, when I would have like,
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a little, you know, somebody was a million dollar producer, you know, it's like, I'd have a little fear, I would deal with it. You know, he said, he's gonna be better. Whatever, you know, I've just, he said, he's gonna be better, I'm sure he's gonna go into I know, he wants to be better. And deal with the toxicity and not meeting your your core value standards. Right? Question? Like, am I expecting too much out of these people? Is it okay? Is it too much? And the answer is Fuck, no, it's not too much. And so my tolerance level was super high. And I believe, I know to be a fact, high tolerance, mediocre culture at best, low tolerance, a culture of exception. And so, you know, I started poking around, I'm like, I'm hitting this 5 million. I'm at 5 million. I'm hitting the ceiling. And I knew right at that moment.
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It's like, a lot of people would be right here. Like, man, this is great. I could ride this out the rest of my life, like I'm doing right here. I don't need to, you know, poke the bear, so to speak. But it's I just can't I like I always felt, I always feel called to scale to do my best. I want to leave it all on the field every day. And so I started poking around
29:00
of for advice. Right? And in different Facebook groups and
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Kevin burrow, a browers down and Georgia. He DM is like, Hey, man, we've had a conversation. He's like, he's super, super nice guys. Number named Mike, Mike co de
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microdose consultant in the business.
29:23
And I reached out to him and we have a conversation. He's like, No, Brandon, where do you want to get where are you at where you want to go?
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That's all um, you know, where we're at in town. We're trying to go into the moon obviously. And he said, I believe you can absolutely do that is you know, just comes down to how willing are you? Right? And, you know, he told me I have to stop selling and this that never been one of the biggest, most impactful things. He said to me, because I had this guy here. Obviously, I'm not going to name any names, but he was very toxic. And I would say he said greenhouse or culture as
30:00
As you know, it's okay could be better, but so and so's got a pretty messed up. It said, Okay, that's good. So I'm going to give you a definition of culture brand, I need you to really pay attention to what I'm saying
30:13
any, and he said, You ready as of yet, he said, culture is only what we tolerate. That's
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a man, that was a gutshot to me at that time. And I am so thankful for it. Because that was exactly what I needed to hear. Right. And so and this was right at the time, we were next door from where we are now in our now we got about 3800 square feet. Next Door, we were like, like 1200 just and we're just signed a new lease for this place. And just dumped about 60 grand cash into it. During the build out everything. I got five man team, I let everybody go. Kind of everybody but one at that time. And I just had this whisper man, I'm pretty spiritual guy, and try to stay in good connection with God. And I get a little whispers visions, whatever, it might sound crazy, but fuck off.
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Doesn't sound crazy to me. But I got this West, I just had constantly had this whisper like, Man, I'm waiting for you to get rid of the toxic cancer so I can bring you all the people that you need and that need you.
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And it was like, as soon as I acted on that, it was crazy. Like how the floodgates open. And with good quality people because you know, it's like, I came and created this foundation in this opportunity. And that's like, my mission is to create the absolute best life changing opportunity for our all of our team. That's my biggest deal. And I got those core values. And it was scary, obviously, and I wanted to get out in that field and sell so bad. I just like the for the quick result. And he said, man, he just kept stopping me from it. Like your new customers are your team. You are you that's who you service is your team.
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And I got those core values, I got everything dialed in. But when I for real
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the biggest game changer was an A not to say before I was a taker. But the biggest game changer was when I started waking up every day. And I just made a post about this last night, waking up every day with the intention with the my number one intention to add value to my team around me. That's my number one intention every day, I want to add as much value as I can. And at the beginning man was scary because like, I want to work all these leads, I know I can go close them. That's that the other. It's it, I just started giving everything away. You know, and it was just, it was crazy man how it blew up. And we were at 10 million, we did send money in this last year. That's what the brand new team, every single one of those and most of those guys that didn't have a year end, you know, had $4 million plus producers this year will have
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$15 million plus producers. And I just had to walk a guy out to date earlier this week. That you know, he's a $1.3 million producer that had been with me the longest. And it was like
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it's nothing personal. And I can't fall in love. I can't love anybody more than the mission. Sure. You know, and that's the biggest deal, or do we align to our core values aligned. And that was, once I got that really dialed in, man, that's when the game changed. And it can be super fearful and scary. It's like if I let go this person, you know, and I want to believe them. I want to help people. I want to give people the benefit of the doubt. But it's like, you know, what do they say? Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me once, shame on you fool me twice. Shame on me. So that is such an impactful story. I mean, you went from 5 million to 10 million in less than a year essentially right? And you doubled your volume with an entire new team firing everybody but one person while in the midst of a rebuild that you probably weren't rebuilding. I mean, strike me as a pretty smart cat. You weren't doing all of those rebuilds with like the idea of firing everybody at the time.
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And all of us.
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Absolutely. On a side note on that, because it's easy to think like we're roofing in one storm restoration. Oh 10 nines easy you know, you have to get hit with a storm. That's it. We didn't have any storm. We're literally the only company in our market that scaled last year. That wasn't in the negative only company out of 1200 companies and we've worked our way to the top three. Well, Brother you're preaching to the choir here. I know but I understand our audience might think and we you know, because I will say our our market is a hell of a lot more hustle driven, but to that point, what we do without core values. Plenty of companies like that. I don't know how or or foresee them having long
35:00
In terms of sustainable success, or for that matter, having anything worth private equity acquisition, but you know, you and I are on the same path there. And there really that's what's gonna be my next point is, you know, we know where you came from, which is amazing story of just like, I don't want to say career criminal man, but like, you've got all the pain of the background, taking that same energy, putting it into what you got going on now and then completely rebranding on faith, which is amazing.
35:34
Getting rid of everybody, but one on core values, which I call putting your money where your mouth is due because we belong to the same mentorship and or mastermind group. And there are a bunch of them out there. Hey, dude, shout out apex. Because my personal preference is apex is genuinely one of the best, if not the best in the business. That's how we met.
35:56
But having said that, Brandon and I are both in line with what case, like he said, leaving it all on the field, and I don't want to speak for him. But I personally have a very strict plan that has already been dialed in to where everything that we do we know what the long term goal is. So it's all centered around that. But I've got to give you the props, dude, like to take your money where your mouth and put your money where your mouth mouth is. And that's what I was getting at with apex is just, this center is like core values, core values, core values, core values, core values. And it's not just apex, I mean, most of the you know, just stuff that the content I consume on like building a great team and being a great entrepreneur, you hear it over and over and over. And you did that and literally bet everything on it. So dude, kudos to you, brother. I mean, that's fucking badass. I love the story. I think about it a lot. Whether you know that or not, it actually weighs on a lot of my decisions, because I have noticed myself and we've had these conversations man, where
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you might have somebody that's like, damn, this guy's doing unbelievable numbers. And I had a situation very much like that when I started this, you know, I had had my hands in a couple of different ventures and even a past partnership that ended terribly.
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But the young man that I had hired at the time to help get this started and kind of figure out the insurance restoration side, because all of my background was in retail. I had to do the same thing like Man, this, this young man can make me a ton of money, but the things that you know, they were doing and the ways they were doing it and just genuinely everything that they accepted as like, Hey, this is well acceptable, their core values, and my core values did not align. So I had to make that tough move, as well. But I think that you know, we wouldn't be here have we not done that man. So again, man, that is my favorite Brandon's story so far, I'm sure there's gonna be a bunch more. But do what you know, we're running up against the clock, but you've got so much shit going on. I mean, you got blue checkmarks you're on the news. Like, you've got this this thing going on with the news. You're seemingly everywhere in your network man, which I love. By the way, I'm coming out. i I'll talk to you after we get off this, but I am officially coming out next month. So we'll link up a fly out personally and we'll hang out I cannot wait by the way, do you? I'm excited.
38:17
But scaling, those are your plans. Right? So your plans for now and beyond? You're currently in the midst of scaling. So just give us you know, a little synopsis a quick you know how that's been because I know that to your point. And the very beginning of this how you've been busting your ass and you've been you kind of just blew right past. You know, and I could talk for a long time about that. But you know, again, we're up against it. But Brandon has been busting his ass to scale it is not simple, right? That what that 10 million. I personally have been a part of or seen so many now most of which were in retail. But the transition from 10 to 20 is usually what breaks companies. And that's typically because in the retail world especially is like those same lead the same acquisition the same cost per acquisition, the margin for error was raised within the same leads that you want paid X for now you pay y and y is times like five right? So now your overhead is tremendous. You really got to be smart, right? And we know a few guys that have done it the way we are doing it and done it very, very well. I know you've been working your ass off to scale. So talk a little bit about what that's been like where you want to go like what are your goals over the next couple of years? And then let's end with the last question is and I'll remind you this after you talk about the scaling but like one little thing I like to just sneak in on each episode is like if you could talk to anybody man like any of the pioneers in our industries or I don't know dude, Gary Vee could be somebody new it could be somebody from like, you know, way in the past some mastermind business huge business mind that like you could have talked to them while they were building their empire. Give us the you version of that for the guy that's listening to this. That can have one takeaway from Brandon James have
40:00
Brandon James roofing because I believe one, you're going to be one of those dudes. So when you're listening to this episode, and Brandon's everywhere, and he's a household name, this is remember at the point where he was still just a dude, you know, a good dude, and a very successful dude. But I believe he's going to be a household name.
40:19
And so what can we get while having access to you at that point? So two things scaling, and then that last delicious nugget of Brandon. Yeah, hit me hit him.
40:31
So scaling, man, I would say anybody can start a business, very few can keep it going and growing, right, and we've doubled every year. And going up from the mark.
40:45
You know, 10 to 20 Is it sounds like a huge leap because it is a huge leap. And last year, so we were number one in our market for the fourth quarter last year. And so with that being said, Man, we were like busting at the seams, it was crazy. Like we got here for I say, like brute strength alone, like not having really sick, we have systems but not down all the way. And we didn't have SOPs for everything we weren't, we were still signing paper contracts, we're still doing all this stuff. Like we didn't really have a plan, the plan was just everybody go as hard as you can. And if we catch you slipping, you're gone. Like that type of game. That's a culture like we do have
41:24
a culture of excellence like we look, we are the navy seals of the industry. I love that you get a lot of part time people in this industry, you know, where I can go work three or four days and it make you know, 8090 100 grand a year, or you can go all in and change your fucking life. So, man over the last big shout out to my co de, he really
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helped me develop as a leader. And in getting stuff dialed in. And, and also a huge shout out to John Paramore, and Elise at Smash. They're like, Man, I invest a lot into personal development. And we've been working with them for the past couple of months, is getting when we talk about scale and going from 10 to 20. For one, like that's happening without a shadow of a doubt. And that's one of the biggest things of Okay, how's this gonna affect me? How's this gonna affect my family? How's this gonna affect my team? You know, looking at that first? And do I really want to do this shit, you know, ego, pride or whatever, because my biggest thing is, man, I want to help as many people as I possibly can get sure we want to have the biggest numbers, we're gonna do all this stuff, like, all that is is just a result
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of the level of everybody working here, the level of the individual, you know, and that's I want to add as get as many people and partner up with as many people as I possibly can, and help them create the best version of themselves. Right? And that's the while I'm busy, pumping value with them. Somehow, in the midst of that I get value added to myself. And man, it's uncomfortable. It's It's stressful. It's all these things.
43:04
I just,
43:06
I feel like I've been given another chance at life. I feel like, Man, I come from the depths of hell. I've come from the deepest and darkest places this earth has to offer and the human mind has to offer. But that being said, Man, I have a chance and an opportunity to experience a level of gratitude that most can't comprehend.
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But I'll be damned.
43:28
If I don't leave it all on the field and don't do my part. People ask how big do you want to get? Yeah, sure. I got a number. But what really matters is at the end of the day, I had no better time at the end of the day when I laid my head on that pillow reflect on my day. And no, I left it all on the field like no, I did my part. I know I stayed until the job was done. I know I just treated people the same way I would like to be treated and I left it all out there. I want to have that same feeling. When my time is done on this earth. I'm a Christian man, I do believe out. When my time's done and I face God man. I want it to be well done good and faithful servant. I believe a form of hell
44:05
is
44:06
he did okay. But if you were to let me show you, let me show you the real real quick of what you could have been if you would have just pushed a little bit more. Or you remember that time you were dishonest? Or you remember that time you did whatever it was you cut this corner. Let me show you the real if you didn't do that, what your life would have been like, and having just kept continuously watch that for eternity.
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I want it to be like, Man, he did it. Like you caught me. You caught that you caught the best version of you. And that's like my biggest deal man is being in full pursuit. When my actions and my decisions are aligned in alignment with and being in full pursuit of the best version of myself.
44:50
That's
44:51
that's my biggest deal, man. So how big do we get ready to open another branch? Same market just on the other side of our market.
45:00
it. And, you know, my life coach asked me the other day said, Man, this is a month or so ago, and I want you to close your eyes and take some time. How far can you see it?
45:12
And I can see us between 100 and 120 million.
45:16
I can see it clearly. And, you know, we're, well, we'll be number one salad in the St. Louis market by the end of this year. And I believe we probably are right now. But salad at the end of this year, and then it's number one in the state and then number one in the Midwest. Damn, right. That's in the reason. You know, we say we're a better version of this industry.
45:41
Well, Brandon, how do you do that, because going saw such good product, and other people do that.
45:46
You can only install it so right. And other people do that, too. The only way that we offer our better version of this industry is and we everyone individually offering the best version of themselves, being willing to grow to the level they're trying to achieve. You know, I, I only want the people that are all in, all in, in, in mentally, physically, spiritually, I'm all in on creating that best version of themselves. So just that's the you know, how fast will we scale as fast as we can find the right people to team up with?
46:19
So in the other question, in other words, your contribution Dude, we got to get this on record. One tidbit one delicious piece of imparting wisdom from Brandon J. of Brandon J roofing V. Brandon J. Let's hear it dude. What do you got for us? Man? I need some wisdom, dude, I need that one. Like, alright, young buck, here's, you know, I'm in the middle of getting ready to forge this 100 plus million dollar empire and change millions of lives. I did that. And the one key that I could give you one thing that really helped me do that, or my one biggest piece of advice would be
46:59
I want to wake up in awe every day.
47:04
Man,
47:06
it's so easy. I have to be super intentional.
47:12
Man, I have to be very intentional about
47:16
this, just just not being normal. Not going to happen to my brand new Escalade that just got and wake up in my beautiful home like that. It can just be normal. I don't ever want it to be normal.
47:29
I want to wake up in awe every day.
47:33
And I feel like that's when it gets normal. I always say I have a life. I don't deserve
47:39
people back. Now you deserve it. You do this okay, yesterday. But when I did stay in that state of like, Man, I have all this shit I don't deserve for one. I'm always trying to work it, I always got to work extra hard to catch up.
47:54
But it helps me stay in a state of gratitude. And man, whenever if we if I can't handle smoke on this level, I definitely can't handle on the next level. And when I started thanking God for the things that throughout my day that didn't go my way. Thank you for whatever that was that person stealing from your distributor, whatever.
48:15
For the opportunity to learn and grow through it, man, that was I was a game changer. I was getting value out of average, I get to try to get value out of everything. But the biggest thing man is just standing in that state of gratitude. I want to wake up in awe every day I get to do all this stuff.
48:33
I get to work 14 1214 hours a day I get to be of service to these people. I get to do these things.
48:41
Because if not, man it just loses its luster. And what the fuck are we doing this for?
48:46
Staying in gratitude? Brother? That is the best message I think I've heard man, I really I could not agree more. And this has been every bit of what I thought it would be my brother. First of all, we got to do it again, man, because I think we need more and Brandon Dude, I don't know why anybody listen to this, but we definitely do. And that's a fact. So we'll get him back on. And I promise, brother, I love you, man. I'm so proud of you. I really am. I can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks. And I'll get you I'll shoot you a text a little later brother but thank you so much for coming on man. And how that drastic a call to action. Make sure you go check Brandon out. I don't want to shortchange again, you already gave you is there anything else you can think of as far as like where these people can check you out? If they need anything. Just hit us on our social status on Facebook or finance. We would love to be of service any way we can. Awesome. And if you're listening to this in his market, you already know who he is because he's number one. So I'm just saying, but I'm in while I love you brother. Listen, if you guys are listening to this, you think maybe you have anything that you'd like to pick his brain on or you just need to reach out on something based on what he was just talking about, or even what I was just talking about. I can I can certainly speak for myself and himself that we'd be more than happy to talk to you and help any way that we can. Because you are absolutely
50:00
they're not alone. A lot of people come from a lot of worse backgrounds, but you'd be surprised with some of the people that are in the highest places had been through. And again, I speak for him I speak for myself. I know he'd be willing to help if he said it. So we love you guys. Thank you so much, Brandon. And we will see you next time. All right, brother. Thank you.
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Thanks so much for tuning into this episode. We sure do appreciate it. If you haven't already, make sure you're subscribed to the show wherever you consume podcasts. This way you'll get updates as new episodes become available. And if you feel so inclined, please leave us a review. It is how new people find the show. Until next time, remember, there's always a seat at the table for business
Transcribed by https://otter.ai