How He Swapped Alcohol for Ambition and Built an $8M Empire!
How He Swapped Alcohol for Ambition and Built an $8M Empire!
Why is it important to acknowledge personal vulnerabilities?
Part of my story is understanding that I’m not different from anyone else. Both of my parents are alcoholics, but they’ve been sober my entire life. Because of that, I stayed away from drinking and drugs for a long time. When I turned 21, I’d only tried drinking a couple of times in high school, nothing serious. But at 21, I thought, "Well, it’s legal now, so there’s nothing wrong with it, right?"
My parents warned me, saying, "Be careful—you could get yourself in trouble. We don’t know if it’s genetic, but addiction does seem to run in families." I brushed it off, thinking, "I’ll be fine." From ages 21 to 25, though, things got pretty wild, and I eventually realized I couldn’t keep drinking. I got sober and recognized that part of the problem was thinking I was somehow different, immune.
It’s a balancing act—on one hand, knowing I’m unique, but on the other, understanding that I’m not fundamentally different from anyone else. The struggles, the successes—they’re universal. We’re all connected. I want to embrace what makes me feel alive without pushing it to the point where it becomes a problem.
How can business owners set and achieve ambitious growth targets?
From the start, having a clear, ambitious goal has been essential. We’ve always aimed to think big. We came from scaling a company from $3 million to $18 million, so we knew growth was possible—we were just doing it for someone else. Knowing that kind of expansion was achievable gave us confidence.
We initially set a goal of $10 million, even in the first year. Although we knew we couldn’t reach it without a fully staffed sales team, that target kept us focused on the bigger picture. The vision wasn’t just $10 million; it was $10, $20, even $30 million. We understand our market and know what we’re capable of achieving.
What strategies can business owners use to avoid repeating past mistakes?
The biggest mistake, and it’s happened more than once, is repeating what you already know won’t work. When you’ve tested an approach, and it failed, don’t do it again.
Last October or November, our leads started slowing down. We thought about ramping up roofing leads because we knew we could get them, but from years in the industry, we knew those leads rarely worked out. Even knowing this, we didn’t monitor the process closely; we just let it run. In the end, we spent about four times what we should have on marketing, which put us in a tough spot. We knew better but convinced ourselves, “This time will be different.”
Afterward, there were no surprises—we knew exactly where we went wrong. We had ignored past lessons. When you’ve already been through something and know the outcome, learn from it. Don’t repeat the same mistakes. If something doesn’t work, there’s always another way.
When should business owners implement higher-level sales strategies?
When looking at these larger aspects of a business, there’s a reason why roles like a VP of Sales exist. Breaking down why that position is needed can provide valuable insight. For example, if another company is hiring a VP of Sales, ask why they need one. How many salespeople do they have? What is their sales process? What specific responsibilities will the VP of Sales handle?
As the owner of a $500,000 business, ask yourself if you're already handling these responsibilities. Maybe there are tasks you didn’t realize you should be focusing on. Start doing them, and you might discover gaps, like missing procedures or unmonitored reports that a VP of Sales would normally track.
Learn what those reports and KPIs are. Deconstruct the role and processes, and ask, "If this approach works for a $10 million business, can I apply parts of it now?" Even if you’re not at that scale, these processes will be necessary as you grow. Start by acknowledging these needs and finding ways to incorporate them into your business now.
Why should business owners invest in deepening family and business connections?
It all unfolds in a similar way—you find something you enjoy and then look for more ways to enjoy it. My wife and I got married a few months ago, but we’ve been together for almost four years and have known each other even longer. Our relationship grows because we continually find new ways to appreciate and enjoy each other.
This approach is the opposite of my experience with addiction. With drinking and drugs, the more I engaged, the worse things got. It was a downward spiral. In contrast, positive areas of my life—my family, my business, my kids—keep growing as I invest more into them. When I focus on new ways to love my wife or improve the business, things get better.
We’re heading to Disneyland soon on a road trip with our kids, who are 7, 10, and 13. Will it be challenging? Absolutely. We’ll probably want to throw them out of the car at times, but in the end, it’ll be a memory we can’t replace.
The key is finding more ways to pour into what you love. If I enjoy something, I ask, “How can I find even more joy in this?” It’s all about consistently seeking ways to deepen your enjoyment and connection.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.*
