Back to the few moments in time that we realized we're on the right path.

Yeah. Those

moments when a client, you know, text or or calls and, like, is just, like, extremely grateful. We we've had clients, you know, cry in the past Mhmm. Because of, know, what we've done. And

Yeah.

That those moments in time are where I'm like Yeah. Yeah. This is what I'm meant to do.

Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Welcome

to the Fuel Hunt Show.

What is going on, Eagles? Welcome to the Fuel Hunt Show. I am here as always with my cousin and cofounder Joey. And today we are joined by a very special guest, a friend of mine, a father, husband, and owner of the Build Well Group, Connor McStravich. Connor, welcome to the show.

Thank you, fellas. It's a it's an honor to be here. Honestly, the past five years of running my own business, and really learning what it takes to do this, both keeping your body right, your mind right. Your brand has been a big part in that. I wear it.

I told Drew probably five days out of the week, and I wear it with pride.

And

a lot of the same values that you guys push is is also an instrumental part of my business as well. So, you know, I appreciate you having me here and I look forward to it.

I appreciate that, brother.

I do also wear Connor's shirt a lot. He has very nice shirts for his company. It would

be nice if, like, my cousin maybe had shared some of that with me, but

you know The timeline, though. You'll like it.

I know. We were talking. We were talking. We we had, like, a thirty minute catch up before

Connor texted me at 07:45AM. Was like, bro, I just

woke up. You let him you let him you didn't you should have texted me. You let him I moved car parts outside. I went and picked up water. I picked up trash.

He's watching me doing his shit outside.

Good. The worst part about it is I was actually probably here at, like, 9AM and starting at eleven. So I started my day at the gym like I always do and stopped at a couple job sites and

Alright.

You know, I've been thinking about this all weekend and last week and Yeah. I've super excited to get here and see what you guys got and

Oh, yeah. Locked in for the ESV, like what my podcast routine was. And I was like, I just, I just stay locked in.

Yeah. I just stay locked in.

So Connor, can you take us through, just start at the beginning of like your journey and maybe touch on your competitive hockey days and like what led you to being the owner of a thriving business at this point. And like, we'll just go through the story and Joe and I have some questions along the way, but if you wanna start from the beginning. Yeah.

Yeah. It's a, it's definitely a long story. So if I get off topic, you know, kind of.

We got time, man. We got some time. We do tangents here. So we, I'm sure something will come up and then we will ask you a million questions on And then we'll be talking about something like outer space at some point. Yeah.

Love it.

Yeah. So, you know, I've been thinking about it leading up to this, like, you know, what I really wanted to touch on.

Yeah.

And it it really comes down to my values. Right? Hard work, determination, perseverance, and passion. Right? And that's something that's just been drilled into me from a very young age.

I have really good parents. They were never together, but my mom and dad are both extremely hardworking individuals that have overcome, you know, very crazy things throughout their life and carved out really good lives for themselves and and their family.

Did they did they explain hard work to you, or was or was it something you observed?

That's a great question. Yeah. They did not.

Yeah.

It was something I observed.

Yeah.

And both of their teaching styles were very unique. And I think that, you know, obviously, it's not ideal to grow up in a a household without a mom and a dad, but it also gave me advantage to kinda get learning different styles of learning in different environments.

Sure.

And different examples. So my mom is loving, caring, supportive, always there no matter what. Where my dad's more of, you know, he's, he's from Belfast, Ireland, grew up in the middle of of the troubles over there as a Catholic in a, you know, pretty dangerous neighborhood. And he was more rough nosed. He led more by example and also, like, let me learn my lessons on my own while throwing little, like, jabs here and there.

Sure. He's also the type, you know, to this day, you know, I played, college hockey at UMass, and he's like, well, why didn't you commit to Boston College? You know? He's that type. Yeah.

Even in my business, you know, I signed a million dollar job, and he's like, why didn't you sign a $10,000,000 job? So nothing's ever good enough, but, like, I know deep down that he is definitely proud of me, but, like, it continues to push me.

Well, that's what he's saying. He's coming from a good place. Like, he's he's he's trying to get you to think bigger. Yep. Even though you're probably thinking bigger than 99% of the population, he's like, there's still room for you to, like, you know?

Yeah.

That do try so and this is something a question for all of us. Always because we want our kids to grow to be better than us. Right? Like, so do you guys and you specifically Conor, but try and instill these values in your kids through what you say to them or just what you show them. So, like, that's a balance I'm always trying to

It's tough.

Right? Figure out because I know there's points when Parker gets, like, tired of me talking because Yeah. I'm almost like a broken record at this point. So I'm curious what you being from someone that learned it from their dad like that. Yep.

What are you trying to do for your kids?

I'm I'm actually I'm actually a lot like my dad, but I'm also very different. Mhmm. Where I've kind of taken the approach of my kids, but, like, try to love them and tell them I love them as much as I can and kiss them and hug them and be there when I can. But I also show them through example, you know,

like Yep.

Saturdays and Sundays, it's pretty much accepted at my house that I'm not gonna be there because I'm working.

Yeah. You

know? And it sucks because I miss a lot of, you know, good quality time with my kids, but I think they also, well, my son, he's a little bit older, so he's starting to kind of realize, you know, what I'm doing and, you know, he is proud to wear his build well shirt

and you

know, it's awesome.

So That is.

But it is very tough. You know? What do you

Yeah. Yeah.

He's you said he's four, right?

He's four.

So does he ever come to sites with you?

And He does.

He does. That's awesome.

It's about two weeks ago, he, I was getting ready. It was a day I actually missed the gym in the morning. And I was upstairs getting ready, and they hadn't left for daycare yet. And, he comes up in overalls with his little tool belt on, and he's like, wanna come to come to work with you today. And like, hell, yeah.

I didn't say no. I was like, damn right you are. Yeah.

You're going to school today? That's right. That's good.

That's awesome. That's awesome, man. That's the way to do it.

Yeah. That those are the best days.

That is awesome.

And he, enjoys it. You know? I would cry.

I feel like yeah. I mean, I'm I'm doing my best to,

like Yeah.

You know, hold it back. I feel like like anything in your life. Like, if you if you know somebody, right, that's like your peer, and you know that they gotta get their health under control. Right? And they have to lose some weight, something like that.

Your words, you constantly telling them, do this, do that, do this, do that. They're not that's not gonna make a difference. They they wanna see that you're living that way. You know what I mean? They wanna see the decisions you're making.

Like, I feel like with my kids, I try to find a healthy balance of, like, showing them by example and then also explaining what the example means and why I'm doing it. Because just preaching, it you know, preaching isn't teaching. Like, that's what it comes down to.

You know

what I mean?

And that's why I think a lot of Parker's friends, friends, parents, like Parker works out every day. How like, I could never get my kid to work out. And I'm well, I'm he sees a me and Amanda getting

asked for me Like,

we're working out every day. We're working hard every day, all hours of day and night. So he doesn't know anything different. He hasn't even seen what and not patting myself on the back door, but he doesn't know what laziness looks like. They even think, like, I should be lazy today.

Yep. Yeah. My I mean, my parents never sat me down and said, like, okay. This is what hard work is, and this is the value of it, and also they just were grinding. Yep.

You know what I mean? Two, three jobs, side jobs, everything. And I witnessed it. And then that's how I learned. Mhmm.

You know what I mean? They never sat me down and gave me I mean, of course, sometimes, man, gave me some wise words, you know, if I was in a pitch or something as I was growing up. But the majority of the time was all by example.

Yeah. The I think not my issue, but I I speak in Instagram quotes anymore.

Like, our

in our Instagram quotes. So They're like our OG.

They're like a you're like a walking I'm a wolf. You're a walking to Parker.

How you do anything? And he's like, I know how you do everything. But Yeah. No one's ever reminding me that every day.

What do we say on the show all the time? Like, sounds cliche until it's not. Parker's gonna reach a point in time, and it's gonna be sooner than later where one of those OGs is gonna ring in his head, and he's gonna have the same thought. He's gonna be like, oh, you know what? Dad was right.

You know? Dad was right.

But I

I I have to tell him that a lot of the times too. Like, one day you'll thank me for being so hard on you. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, I know it's, I seem like an asshole now, but realistically, like this is gonna make

you I hated my dad till I was like 30.

That, that's my

point. Exactly. Yeah. Till 30.

Right? I

got him. I know. I mean, thanks.

Twenty two years ago.

Yeah. Think so. Take time, man.

He was always that way. Do you think my this is leading me to my question, but do you think that how he was, how hard he was on you led you to being the level of a hockey player that you were? Like, was he always like that?

He was always like that. Yeah. Yeah. Like that. And and yes.

But a lot of credit due to my mom as well. You I started playing hockey when I was four.

Yeah.

And hockey schedules are ridiculous. Okay. Every know, you're practicing at a young age at least two times a week, and then you're away every weekend. Yeah. And then as I progressed in the game and, you know, moved more towards elite levels, it was, you know, three, four, five times a night practice and then game Saturday, Sunday.

And my dad, you know, he did do his fair share, but my mom was there, you know, through that whole Yeah. Through that whole process and played a huge role in it.

Was he a hockey player too?

My dad now.

Soccer. How did hockey-

And to this day, he's also pissed that I

chose hockey over That was your choice.

That was my choice. Eighth grade year, I was was good at both sports.

So you're playing both all the way up to then?

It was like time to get serious about one and, I chose hockey because I was a little bit better at it.

Yeah. Hockey. I mean, I feel like I mean, I I grew up playing hockey, but, like, not I was playing, like, roller hockey and shit. Like Yeah. I feel like committing to ice hockey, that's, like, a that's a big commitment.

Yeah. Yeah. It's a huge commitment that not a lot of kids make, like, because it's not as accessible. I could walk to baseball practice. You know what I mean?

I could walk a basketball practice. Ice hockey is a whole different story.

There's only, three ice hockey rinks in like a 20 mile. Exactly.

Was I was living away from home at 16 years old.

Yeah. In Canada?

No. In North Jersey.

Oh, okay.

But I was going to a school in North Jersey living with a billet family. Yeah.

Oh, wow.

When I was 16.

Oh, wow.

Alright. Wow.

And also, when I explained to you, like, Connor's very good at hockey, like, met playing mentally roller hockey. Mhmm. And I was the worst player on the team, and Connor was the best

player the team.

So, we were the top line because we rallied each other out, and, like, got I might've been the top scorer that season because Connor literally just like got all the defensemen and also just passed me the pub work. It was basically in the down.

Your leadership.

I was literally sitting there like this and Connor would just literally basically shoot the You were

your stick. Yeah. You were like

the post. He would just Dude, would just make me look so stupid, like just skater. I'd just be standing there, like wide open. They had to take care of him. Yeah.

It is crazy that, you know, that's how we met. And then years later, you know, you went into your entrepreneur journey and, you know, through Frank, we've been able to like connect and like kind of, you know, stay in touch mildly, but, like, you know how it goes.

And I wrote the the post for tomorrow today, but teaser is it's clear vision, smaller circle, and it's kind of crazy to think as you Mhmm. Continue to grow. And, like, some people who you are friends with in those times, like, people will stay the same or get worse, and some people will continue to grow and develop. And like we were talking about before the show, entrepreneurship almost forces you to grow to change.

Yeah.

And the people you're friends with when you start just aren't aren't the same people. They can't be

the same people when when It's it's always evolving. Right? Exactly. Everything's evolving.

Because as entrepreneurs, we're forced to grow. Yep. You know what I mean?

It's grow it's a grow or die situation. Exactly.

You know

what I mean? That's that's that's actually, like, a really good segue into, you know, back to my hockey journey. Yeah. Right? Like, once you get into, like, a very competitive level of hockey, you're constantly battling.

Like, every day, if you're not getting better, like, you're not playing in the game that weekend. Mhmm. So, like, from 16 years old on playing, you know, junior hockey, then collegiate hockey, like, it was a battle Monday through Friday

Yeah.

Against your teammates in practice. If you didn't

perform Competing for the spot.

If you didn't perform well that week, you you were scratched that weekend and didn't dress for the game. So

Is that because you were all around the same skill level? So it was like, you're you're interchangeable at that point.

Yep. Yeah.

What's the like, outside of when you're off the ice at that point, what is what's life like? Like, do you have, like, nutrition goals? Do you have

So nowadays it's a lot more of

a lot more

intense back then. Like, you know, we didn't know much and, like, my parents weren't, like, super They were just, knowledgeable in the health You know? Was like

Yep.

Eat your eat your protein and drink your water.

I mean, you were getting

that. This is a bit of a segue, but my wife played D1 softball and I was thinking about this stuff we ate growing up. Was like

Oh, yeah.

It's like big Texas every morning in high in high school. Pop Tarts too. Yeah. Yeah. I and and my theory is imagine the level of athlete I say to her, like, she could have been if if you ate actually, like, a normal

We knew what.

Just a normal person.

We knew what we knew now then.

Not not Starburst and freaking Toaster Struttles.

Yeah. Yeah. Mean, even just even just people in general. Yeah.

Like, if

we knew that then, we wouldn't be so far deviated from a line of health that we are now.

Yep, exactly. So you were staying in North Jersey with a different, like a billet family. And what, like, what was life like? Were you, like, would you just go to practice and come back?

Or Yeah. I mean, it was like, I didn't have much parental guidance. Right? I kinda, like, was You could do whatever meals and I didn't do whatever I want. I still had, a billet family that, like, you know, I had to kinda report to, but Yeah.

Know, I was on my own. I had a license. I was driving myself to and from practice.

Yeah. That's kind of crazy.

It's wild. Yeah.

Like I'm, I'm a me now, me at 16 or two completely different human beings. I can't imagine that level

It nuts. And then senior year, when, when I was 17 and 18, I moved back home and commuted every day to North Jersey. So six, seven days a week, I was driving myself two hours to and two hours from, you know, at 17 years old up the Turnpike to newer. Jesus. Yeah.

You know, that's the level of commitment though, and,

like Yeah.

That's what I'm so grateful to the game for. Yep. It taught me that. And it was just it was second nature. You know?

Yeah. And I was always the type, like, you do conditioning at practice. Right?

And Mhmm.

You know, you gotta do suicide sprints. Like Yeah. I was always the guy on the team that wanted to finish first no matter what. Like, I took pride in it. And, like, I'm gonna finish first.

Yeah. You know, one way or the other. Even if it was sometimes stopping a little shorter the line. Yeah. I'm getting back first.

If you ain't seen, you ain't trying. Yeah.

I'm getting back first.

Did you were were were you enjoying all that time? Like, all that

Yes and no. Yeah. I made, like, I was also a very, angry young kid. Yeah. So right before I made the decision to go play juniors, I was playing for a really elite team locally with, a lot of elite guys like Johnny Goudreaux and, a lot of other guys that went on to do some big things.

Yep. But I was very angry and, I was actually taller than everybody, believe it or not, and stronger. So I would get a lot of penalties for, you know, hitting too hard. Yeah. And I would freak out and curse the ref out and get a ten minute misconduct.

Yeah. So at the end of that season

Forgot about that. I forgot that about you, actually. Yeah. Tell me.

I'm a lot better now. Yeah. Still have a few moments in the entire world. Lose the lose the cool, but

It is.

At the end of that season, my coach was like, hey. I think it's a good idea you go play junior hockey because in junior hockey, you can fight. He's like, I think it'd be good for you to get some of your anger out. And, probably the worst decision I've made in in my career because at that point

Did it foster it? Did it foster the anger instead

of you lying?

But once you make that next step to go play junior hockey, it's not so much about development anymore. It's more about, like, you're just a commodity and a number to the to win games. So I had a coach that wasn't a really good human being and kinda knew I was a inner city kid with, you know, that gritty personality and

Sure.

He there was games, where he would come over, tap me on the shoulder and say, go fight number 10.

Yeah.

And, like, I had a next shift go out and

fight him. Mhmm.

So my my development kind of stopped at that point. Yeah. Hey. Not my grittiness and my self determination, but my skill and

Sure. And stuff like grinder.

Exactly. I went from being, like, you know, somewhat of a goal scorer to, like, third, fourth line, you know Oh, wow. Grinder energy guy. Yeah. You know, it got me to, you know, a good collegiate level.

Mhmm.

But things could have been a lot different. You know?

Sure.

And I was also more concerned about, going out and partying with my local, you know, Philly friends than I was about developing

Yeah. You're on the brink of doing, like, life change like, great things, and you're back to the Queer Vision Smaller Circle. Were more concerned and, again, which we all are at that age.

I know

it's hard to Yep. Decompartmentalize or separate the two, but you're more worried about the the boys back home that are Yep. Probably gonna end up just being normal. Oh, yeah. Like, average potentially.

And you're you were on the brink of being in the NHL or or playing Greyhawk or becoming you know what mean? Mhmm. And again

Things definitely would have been different. You know? I couldn't say that I would, you know, go on to do Yeah.

Hypothetic. Yeah. Yep. That was something I mean, I'm talking about at dinner last night. It's crazy that every little decision little decision leads you to where you go.

Like Mhmm. Things could be so much different right now if you change one decision. And it all happens for a reason.

It does.

Because you're probably so grateful for the life

you have.

You know what mean? Like, I I hope that if you were a hall of fame hockey player, like, you probably wouldn't even trade your life right now.

Yeah. Because when I don't have my kids, I don't have my wife maybe. Yeah. And it's like Exactly. I wouldn't trade that for anything.

Exactly. Those dots all

those dots connect in hindsight. Yep. You know?

And it it's like, you know, it wasn't my purpose

to Exactly. To do that.

Yeah. Like Exactly. What I'm doing today is my purpose. Yeah. But, like, taught me that.

Mhmm.

You know? Those trials and tribulations taught me

what I'm supposed

to be

doing today. And like Exactly.

Wouldn't trade it for the world.

For sure. So you play at UMass, then what is the journey like to build well? Right? Like

That's where it gets a little messy. Yeah. I was I'd say in college, you know, everybody kind of starts to experiment, smoke a little pot and stuff like that. Get carried away. Right?

Yeah. I got carried away.

I was I was experimenting with that before college personally.

I wasn't, dude. Was a total opposite. Like before college, like I was so straight edge, like I was drinking on the weekends. Yeah. But like if anybody even like lit up a joint around me, I'd tell them to get away from me.

Really?

Yeah. I was in

And then you get to college and it's like

High school.

Adderall to study.

And even beginning of the and beginning of college, like, was like straight edge, man. Like, I wasn't like, I would go out. I would go to Keggers. Would do all stuff, but I wasn't really drinking or anything. And then, like, later on in college, that's where I was like, okay.

Well, I guess now's the time for me to, like, experiment with all this stuff. Yep. You know?

I do think college is a wild concept overall still. I mean, we can talk about there can be other pockets. Yeah.

There can be other pockets.

But, like, a bunch of adolescent kids away

with no rules. Wild. Yep.

Yep. Just I mean, my wife was in the middle of center city.

Well, talking about like

how 18. Like

Yeah. Talking about how, like, little decisions really change the future, your trajectory for the future. I mean, you're putting a pot where, like, no pun intended, where, you they're saying no supervision. Your your brain isn't even fully formed yet. No.

And you're making decisions that are impacting your future. And you don't you have no idea. You're like, oh, I'm just here to, like, experiment,

figure this You're invincible. Yeah.

Exactly. I've thought of that too. Like, my mortality practice, I'm thinking, it really didn't hit me until I became a dad. And then I started to realize, like, okay. Like, I'm actually only here once, and I I have a short time to do it.

Mhmm. Mhmm. But in college, you just feel like nothing can happen to you. You just act like a fuck. You just do whatever the hell you want.

World's your oyster.

Yeah. And it there I've heard stories of, like, kids, and we talked about this recently with my family, but, like, kids, like, getting hazed at frats and being at parties dying, like, over like Mhmm. Just doing bad. Dead. Like, literally dead.

I had kids I had kids drink, choke on their own vomit, die.

Crazy.

Kids that drank too much, did a little something or something else, had a bad day because something happened at home, jumped in front of a train. Kids got beat to death. Like, you name it, dude. Yeah. You know what I mean?

OD'd, obviously, like, sorts of stuff. Yeah.

Yeah. Just crazy.

It's wild.

But Alright. So sorry to experiment and make it. Yeah.

So I

had a

I had a really good, collegiate career. You know, I I carved out a really good role on my team, you know, third, fourth line guy, energy guy. Like, was, you know, the hardest worker on the squad most of the time.

Were you hopeful to get drafted? No.

At this point, it was, you know Okay. Pretty much, you know, playing The guys on your team. Playing for a college championship at this Okay.

The guys on your team end up getting drafted?

A few did.

Oh, that's cool. Yeah. A few

went on to play a few, with a few different teams.

Wow. So,

you know, every year, freshman, sophomore, junior year, we came up short semifinals or the finals of the conference championship. And then, you know, by senior year, my partying kinda got carried away, which really started to affect my emotions and, my behaviors. Hockey slowly started to not become my number one priority.

Because you felt like you were at the end on the

It was a it was a combination of things. Right? It was the partying. It was the I'd like, that impending doom of, like, my identity is about to cease to exist as a hockey player. Mhmm.

You know? And like you said, you're young, you're vulnerable, and, like, your brain's not developed, and, like, there's a lot of things going on.

Yeah. What's crazy too is when I met you and people probably that met you at that time I mean, I've met you a little bit later, but think, like, yo, this Connor Studd hockey player got, like, so much he's got so much confidence. Just, like, killing it. Like, he must, like, feel awesome all the time when realistically, like, internally, you're, like, you're losing your identity. Like Oh, yeah.

You know what I mean? Like, it's just invisible battles, man. Invisible battles. Like, people's perception of you at that time probably thought you had it all figured out when realistically inside you were Yep.

Hurt. You know, on Facebook. Yeah. You look good. And

Yeah. Oh my god. He's playing collegiate hockey for one of the best schools in the country. Yep. Mhmm.

And then midway through my senior year, had an altercation with my coach on the ice and, he kicked me off the team.

Really?

Senior year. I moved back to Philly and watched my team win the conference championship What? And go to the semifinals of the national championship on TV. And that was heartbreaking. You know, I played from the time I was four to 24 and like, you know, at this point, like, the goal was to win a, you know, a championship with my with the guys I had just become

brothers for

four years, and, it was devastating. And, know, I went down kind of a dark path for, like, three years after that, like, just trying to figure life

out. Yeah.

And, one day driving to work, just had, a revelation, like, you know, I've had so many opportunities in life. I had great parents, great friends. My wife who I've been with since 14 is still by my side. Wow. Like, what am I doing?

I need to I need to figure it out. And, it was from that moment forward, like I literally made that decision consciously. Like, I will never accept failure again. Like So

the lowest point was at, like, maybe '22?

'20 '6.

And at what that revelation

Well, I well, I'd say lowest point would be getting kicked off my team senior year.

Twenty twenty

twenty three or '4, I believe.

And then you had so the you had, like, two or three years of, like, a rough rough patch. And then '26, you're like you're like, I'm done.

Yep. Was there anything well, first, like, you know, you had you mentioned the impending doom of, like, your your identity changing. Right? You were no longer gonna be a hockey player, and you're gonna be out in the world. You had to figure it out.

Yep.

That was probably enough impending doom. Like, what actually happened was it all, like, abruptly ended. Like, you know what I mean? It wasn't like a Yeah. Peaceful, you know what I mean, departure where your identity, like, all abruptly ended.

So so that's one thing. Second thing that I wanted to ask is that that day when you had that moment, when you were like, I'm not gonna accept failure anymore. Something needs to change. Was there anything different about that day compared to previous days? Or was it just

It was probably a moment of clarity, man. Like Yeah. Just like, you know, whether it be God or Mhmm. You know, whatever you want to call it, the universe, like, just, like, came to me in that moment. I was driving to Home Depot, to buy supplies for a project.

For someone else?

For someone else. Yeah. I was working for cash at the time, you know, doing odd carpentry jobs. And Yeah. Remember pulling into the parking lot and, breaking down into tears and calling my mom and saying like, I've had enough, you know, let's let's do this, and and I wanna change my life.

And Did

you feel like, you know, during that during that rough that rough time of your life, that three years two, three years, did you feel like there was something, knocking on other days that you just weren't listening to? Yeah.

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

And it was like, you know, when you're in that that dark state, like, of depression and Mhmm. Like, you know it's knocking and you you know you wanna drown it out.

Yeah.

You know? Because you just it makes you feel like Okay. A burning desire is burning inside of you, but, like, you're just putting water on the fire.

Yeah. Because you you know that you have to accept and own everything and, you know what I mean, to turn it all around. Yeah. I get it, man. I get it.

I mean, lot of people, you know, think that that's your higher power, you know, when you have those type of feelings or, you know, you have that that level of anxiety or, you know, you're in that dark place, like, there's someone always knocking. It's like whether you're gonna answer the door is the is the question. And answering the door takes a lot of hard work, man. A lot of hard work because you gotta accept all the shit. You know?

It's crazy. I was just like, I got like, it wasn't thought just about, like and so you you never looked back, like, after that. Never.

Yeah.

It was like

boom. Switch was flipped.

It was flipped. It's actually firing me up right now. I'm getting chills, man. Thinking back to it and right now business is going well, but it's stressful. It's the beginning of the year.

And like, you know, thinking about this podcast, like beforehand, like I'm just thinking back on like how far I've come in this journey and just like that overwhelming feeling of gratitude and like, holy shit, man. Like,

It's like, you know, like, the the breakdowns become the breakthroughs, and it's like, you had to go through that to to grow through that and become the person you because you wouldn't have the resilience or the No. The strength or the the vision that you have today without

Do you, you said when you were getting ready for the show, you know, you were thinking about the journey and how far you've come and, you know, the gratitude that came from that. Do you do that regularly? Or

was I try to. Yeah. I try to. I actually, like

The reason I ask is because, like, you what what what just happened is, like, very important for the few to realize. Like, you were, I'm fired up. Like, I have all this energy. When and you also simultaneously said it's beginning of the year. Business is stressful, blah blah blah.

But, like, reflecting on the journey and looking back, whether you write it down or not, you just take a moment and think about it, like, energizes you. It gives you confidence. Like, okay. Look. Shit's hard, brother.

It's too hard. Again, sounds cliche, but until it's not. You know what I mean? So you say you do try to do that.

I try to do it, and I find a lot of success with music. Yeah. Certain songs that, like, bring back a certain feeling Mhmm. Or, like, you know, it it gets me back into that.

Yeah.

You know? I'm in I'm at, like, a point in my life right now where, like, I'll be scrolling Instagram. I shouldn't be, but, like

We all we all do.

We all I'll I'll see, like, dad videos, and I'm, like I'll pull up in my driveway, and I'll be out there for, five, ten minutes just, like, crying to,

like, dad videos. And it's

You and I are you and I are

still man. Now if you combine the dad videos with the the military coming home video, that's where I get it.

Oh, yeah. I'll be Yeah. I'm, like, crying in my car. What is

the name? Look. Look. I mean, we we rag on we rag on social media and stuff, but there's a lot of, you know, micro moments that like, positive energy there if you if that's what you choose to pay attention to.

Yep. Yeah. But I no.

I do think that, you know, getting that gratitude is is super important. And and you and I were speaking before this. Being an entrepreneur, like, it's a very hard life. Mhmm. And we get very few moments in time where it's like we actually, like, like, oh yeah, this is it.

Yeah. You know, everything else is just grind, grind, grind, stress, you know, pressure. Mhmm. So like trying to carve out that time for gratitude, in my opinion, is super important. Yeah.

Because, like, you can get lost and, like, not realize that how far you've come in such a short amount of time.

And Yeah.

I do have a few so I think Elon Musk said it, but entrepreneurship is like chewing glass and staring into the abyss. That is so true.

Yeah.

But I think gratitude is such a an important part of the entrepreneurial journey because, like you said, you need that reminder. You gotta, like, you'll never get through the things you're gonna have to go through as an entrepreneur without it, without remaining grateful. So, like, my new a quote I picked up from somewhere was, can't have a bad day when you're breathing. Yeah. And I've been saying that nonstop.

Like, once a I forget where we heard it, but a man once a man I heard it, she was like, you're never gonna stop saying that. And I was like, that's so true. Because that That's funny. Literally is my is my

I actually just saw a funny one, like, making fun entrepreneurs. Like, the guy wakes up, I just took an ice bath. Yeah. Posted on social media five times. Yeah.

It's a great day to be

alive. Yeah. There was a video. It was.

Yeah. It's there's a real interesting dichotomy. Right? Like, you said I think, Drew, you had asked here, like, did you ever look back? Like, when you had that moment, did you ever look back?

And you're like, no. From that moment forward, like, I was So there's this, like, dichotomy of, like, you can't look back, but then you have to look back. Mhmm. Like, further you get down the road because otherwise, if you don't look backwards Yep. You can't be grateful.

Like, you can't see where you came from. You know what I mean? So there's, like, that delicate balance every day of, like, you know, having to look backwards, but then also having to stay focused on the, you know, the future goal forward ahead of you.

And, again, we were talking about how entrepreneurship levels you up just in general. But

If you choose to level.

You're rarely gonna find an entrepreneur that's that gets upset about the temperature of their coffee. You know what mean? Like, dumbass shit type of people get upset about nowadays. Like because, like like,

we're I'll drink a cold coffee, my guy.

Exactly. But, like, dumb shit, like, like, little little inconveniences that that that get normal people in a tizzy really just isn't gonna happen for entrepreneur because, one, we have way too much others to deal with to even care about the temperature of the coffee. And secondly, you through that, those trials and tribulations, you develop that gratitude that makes you, oh, my coffee's cold. Well, at least I have coffee to drink.

Yeah. Yeah.

You know what mean? Like that perspective.

Well, I was out eating the other day, and they brought me the complete wrong meal, and I just ate it. Like, I didn't say anything. Like, it

wasn't like, know?

I didn't look at the price and say, is this is this was this more than that? Or, like, I was really in the mood for my, you know, avocado toast. Like, the meal came out, and I was just like, I'm just gonna eat this. Like, it doesn't even matter. What's got bigger fish to fry?

Went to a a restaurant with my Italian bistro. It's hype. On the bullfart? Yeah. It's not there anymore.

Yeah. The bullfart. I ordered a veal parm, but they and my grandpa ordered a eggplant parm, but they swapped us, like and I didn't know. And they were like, oh, how

do like eggplant? Eggplant's good.

And I was like, I don't like eggplant. Ew. I would never eat that. I just I just house the whole

thing. It's funny. It's funny.

Alright. So you have that revelation. Yeah. So no looking back. What hap like, what's the where what do you do?

Like, what's your first step? What every You're like, I'm you're like, I'm going to the

doctor first step. At that point, did when every guy from Northeast Philly thinks is the right move. I became a union carpenter. Okay. There you go.

Yeah. I got in the union. I thought that was, you know, what was gonna.

It's a good it's a good living.

It is. Yeah. Nothing against it. Yeah. Course.

Respect it. I love the union. I love, you know, what it stands for, and it's a great living.

Yeah.

When I got into the union, they knew I was a residential carpenter. So I grew up on the job site. So, you know, I'm playing hockey all winter. And then in the summertimes, when I'm off of school, I'm on the job sites with my dad. Sure.

And this is kind of where the the build well or not all motto started.

Asking for my own knowledge, is your dad paying you at that point? Or you just Yes. Yes. I'm wondering at what point I can, like, get Parker, like, actually working, but, like, I'm like, do I have to pay him

paying me. Oh, yeah. And we were you know, I was probably 12 and on, like, we butt heads, man. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. I remember I do remember I don't remember the story, but I remember you talking about, like, getting arguments with your dad on, like, job sites and

shit. Yeah.

Like, almost full on fist fights and throwing me out of the truck in the middle of West Philly saying find your own way home, dude. You know, stuff like that. And most of the time

angry and stubborn enough to just walk home yourself, dude.

Yeah. You go.

Yeah. Just

walk my ass home.

Was see Those arguments started, though, because he was trying to teach me to do it the right way.

I

knew it better. Mhmm. Right? Mhmm. So, like, I'm arguing arguing and then, like, he's also very stubborn, hard headed, like, and we would just, you know,

clash. Mhmm. Yeah. Mhmm.

Now did you have, you had other guys on the job site with you? Yep. So we're like, you and your dad, like, it was like sideshow time when you guys started arguing. The other guys were like, oh, here we go.

Is your dad's name Connor too?

No. It's well, my name's actually Sean Connor. His name's Sean. Oh, good. I go by Connor.

He's been lying to me this whole time.

Wait, let's re we got to start over. We got to start over.

That's fine. So he's Sean, but his name's actually John. I don't know. It's a weird Irish thing. Everybody has different names.

My son's name is Casey, but his real name's Sean Casey. We call him Casey. Okay. All right.

Well, we're trust

you on hear the mix feel like here goes McStravitz again. Like, it's it's like that. Like, when you guys

are playing on the job. Yeah. And to this you know, we're a lot better now. He's he works for my company, you know, instrumental part of my company. But even to this day, you know, we we're buttheads.

And now I'm like, I'm not the way I used to be. Like, when I see him starting to get hot, I

Now you're you're fine. You're on way home. You walk home.

No. I'm like, whatever you you're right, dad. You're right, dad. You know? But, yeah, I went went to the union, and, they knew I was a residential carpenter.

So about six months in, the owner of the company I was working for had me work on some remodeling projects at his own personal home, remodeling some bathrooms, building a custom wine room. And, it was at this, like, six month span where, like, I saw how he was living and not like, I didn't think, like, his way of living was this, like, magnificent way of living, but, like, he had a very nice home and

It's different.

Yeah. It was different. And it was at that that realization came to me, I wanna create my own life. Mhmm. And I'm not gonna do that working for for him.

And and I also had another guy that I worked with. He was my partner in the union. And, he was like my spirit guide, man. Like, he was like that that type of guy that comes along in your life.

Like, older guy?

Older guy. Unbelievable craftsman. Very soft spoken. Like, he's the type that goes rock climbing and hiking and like Mhmm. You know, that type of free spirit individual.

And, him and I over, you know, six months period having lunch together and I'm talking to him about my ambitions and he was just like the type that like fueled it for me.

Yeah.

And COVID hit, all commercial sites shut down. Yeah. So at that point, you know, the government's paying you, you know, a nice check during COVID. Yeah. And I also, you know, went back and started doing work on my own.

Mhmm. So I was, you know, making some good money during that time. And I guess I went back to the union for, like, a month. And, before that, I had, met a good friend, now a good friend, who, you know, kinda gave me an opportunity and and helped me with some funding and and start up funds. And

Mhmm.

You know, the idea of BuildWell started to grow. And I was on a union site. It was a Friday, 10AM.

Mhmm.

And I was like, I'm done. I texted my foreman, hey, I'm out of here. I said it in a nicer way, but

Sure. Yeah.

And the project was, Penn First in University City and, walked off the job site. I took a selfie walking off. I had my, you know, mask on with my hard hat. Amazing.

Good day. Is bullshit. And that was the day.

Yeah. Did something happen that day that made that the day? It was just like No.

But you were over it. I was over it. And leading up to this point, right? Like, the whole family is like, what are you doing? I had my son was already born.

I was getting ready to buy a home and the union had very good benefits. So my whole family is like in my ear, don't do this. You're taking a major risk. Like what if it doesn't work out? And, like

What if it does?

And what if it does? Yeah. You know? And that was it.

Yeah. I do. And Joey's had to reel me back in on this, but the people trying to reel you in on the entrepreneurial journey or just any kind of journey. Like like, say you'd want go up and say you wanna be a professional hockey player when you were a kid. Like, most parents would be like, that's only certain people can do that.

And it's like, okay. Well, no one ever accomplished anything isn't a normal person that's just like you.

Yeah. Everyone. Everybody I mean, look. People people got love for you. They wanna

protect you. You you always say that.

But they also they also project their own limitations on you. And, like, the thing is, like, everybody does that. Like, everybody. I'm no stranger to that. I've done that to people in the past too.

Now I do something very different. I project everything they can do. You know what I mean? Like, to onto them. But in the past, it's natural for somebody to do.

It's human nature. So you know, especially, you're at a pivotal time. Like, you know, you have a child. You know what I mean? The world's a little wonky at the time.

You know? Like, you're ready getting ready to buy a house. Like, there's a lot of shit in flux, and you're like, ah, you know what?

Fuck it.

I'm out

of here.

You know I mean? So you can understand where people come from.

The the two the two people that were in my corner from day one, my mom and my wife.

I'll tell you

that. My dad.

He was always in my corner, but, like, he was always, you know, like, oh, you sure you wanna do that? Like, it's a good job. You know, you could you could make a hundred and 50 year Yeah. Yeah. As a union carpenter.

And I'm like, well

Your dad More. Did your dad I believe I recall your dad work for himself. Right?

He did. Okay. He did. So my dad always had his own small business.

Yeah. Sure.

He he spent some time in the union as well, but had his own small business, him and a helper and, you know Mhmm. One job at a time. He never wanted to grow it or, like, the headache of of what I deal with today.

He basically created a job for himself. Yep. From an entrepreneurial perspective.

Couple couple things. I feel like if more people we we talk about, like, how people wanna talk to want to talk you out of the risk. Right? Just, like, kinda stay in your lane, be kinda average, do your thing. You had mentioned your spirit guide, right?

Yeah.

It's funny you bring him up because I feel like kind of that's what the few are to each other. Know, we're speaking possibility into them, we're speaking capability into them. We're letting them know it's gonna be hard. It's gonna fucking suck at times. But we're speaking growth and positivity into them instead of the reverse of like, are you sure you wanna do that?

Don't take that risk. Know? So like, dovetailing off of that, another, like, theme that I heard through that story you just told was you can't do it alone. You had your spirit guide. Right?

Then when you decided you wanted to do it sorry. I don't know their names, so I'm giving them the names you mentioned. Then when you decided you wanna do it, you had somebody else that said, okay. Hey. Look.

Like, this site can set it up from a funding perspective. And, like, for as much hard work as you did, you couldn't have done it alone. I think that's a really important part. And that's I mean, that's why we have fuel hunt, a community. You know what I mean?

So before you walk off the job site, you're already kind of side hustling, and you built something. So you have a you have a a living, breathing business at the moment.

Not yet. No. Even when I was in the union, I was working Saturdays and Sundays on the side for myself. Mhmm.

But it's not necessarily Buildwell. It's just Connor, the side Correct. The side work guy.

Correct. Okay. Buildwell probably started to come to life about a month before I left the union, but it wasn't fully established. Like, wasn't

No jobs yet.

There wasn't jobs lined up. We were doing, a small deck. I gotcha. Yeah.

Nothing Sideword.

Nothing crazy. Mhmm. But it's under the build well group. Correct.

They got a small deck. There's a small deck. So you have, like, a job. Yep. Okay.

Mhmm.

Yep. But, yeah, took took that leap. And That is that's that's kinda crazy.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. It's wild.

Yeah. It's

wild. What so what what after you take that leap, right, how's it go from a deck here and there to Rittenhouse? Like, what's that?

Yeah. You have anything lined up?

Or What's that? Like, when

you walk

off a job, are you like you're like, okay, I have like 10 I didn't know what I was doing Saturday.

Let's put it

that way. Yeah. Yeah. I love this story myself personally. I love, and Joey and Emmanuel, I say, fuck it.

Let's do it all the time. But like, that you got, you had like, just a you're you're going off a feeling. Yeah. Like yeah. When you know, you know.

Yeah.

Like, the

energy energy is everything in my opinion. Like

When you when you walked off the site that Friday at 10AM, right, the job site, Was that moment anything like the moment you had when you were driving to Home Depot where you decided like, hey. Look. I'm done living away. I'm living. I'm gonna turn around.

Like, was there aspects of, like, clarity in both of those that just, like,

hit you? Would say better. Yeah. It was better.

Yeah. Even clearer.

It it was it fired me up, man. Like, you know, I'm walking in the middle of the city with my toolbox and my hard hat on and snapping a selfie, calling my mom, calling my wife like I left. Yeah. Like, it's on. It's on.

Yeah. Love that, dude.

It was alright. So

Yeah. So how we go from the deck? How we go from the deck to the house?

You got me hooked on the story. So

This is where we go back to

the value. So you call mom, and she's like, that's amazing. Son, you have no income now. What are

you doing Saturday?

It's this is where the values come back. Right? Like, I knew nothing about running a business. I studied sociology in college. You know, I took a few business courses and Sure.

You know? But I studied sociology. So at the time, I did have a financial investor to help line up the the funding and stuff like that, which was gone in a

few years. Guy got you that hookup?

No. No. No. Actually, through hockey.

Okay.

I met. Wow. You know?

Because, I mean, it's gotta it can't be easy to secure funds for a kid that is just going off a win and starting a Yeah. A construction company. Yep.

So it was it was through hockey, actually ball hockey. Okay. His name's Marty.

He's he's forgot about that. You're ball hockey. You were you were hard hard

I still play ball hockey.

Really? Pretty competitive. Right? Exway?

There's roller hockey and there's ball hockey. Was foot hockey.

Oh, foot hockey.

Connor Connor. No skates. Play the ball. It's I played once. We're we're only

I used play that direct. He's play foot hockey at the rack all the time.

Yeah. Yeah.

There's some serious leagues now.

At the level are you really? The level Connor player is not it's not wreck. It's not you playing at the rack. It's a it's a bit.

Oh, I can imagine.

It's a it's a round.

I have picked that up from the story so far.

That's why I still play it.

Oh, yeah. It's like Oh, yeah.

Know, there's you play physical.

It's I was

gonna say, is it physical? Can you check and everything?

But I mean,

I You

should you you aren't supposed check. Right?

They let you play the body, like, the corners. Not open ice, like Yeah. Lay somebody out, but you battle for the ball.

You're Oh, yeah.

You're playing the body.

Alright. It's

crazy. It's a cool. Wild type competitive ball hockey. It's pretty crazy.

It is. I gotta check that out.

Alright. So you secure, so you secure funding. And he said it's going in a week, basically, you said?

Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

Why, why though? Like, does that, so I'm sorry. I cut you off the top of the ball hockey thing, but so you make the call your mom and your wife and you're like, I just quit. Let's go. Yeah.

Like what what happens next?

What happens next? Like I said, I knew nothing about running business. I had a partner and a financial investor. There was a few other guys involved that aren't anymore, but, you know, did play, you know, a little bit of a Important role in the initial journey. And I just I just went out and grind it like, picked up whatever jobs I could.

Small bathroom remodels, small basement remodels. But, like, I've always, made it very clear to everyone that was involved from an early startup phase that, like, we're gonna do big things because we're gonna do it right, and we're gonna, you know, do it the best. Sure. So in three short years, we went from $5,000 bathroom remodel to million dollar renos on Pine Street.

Wow.

And through that course, literally learning everything by trial and error about business. I remember early on, you know, the financial investor was was pushing KPIs and profit and loss statements. And I'm like, what the hell are you talking about? This is a construction company. I'm gonna go out and build shit.

Yeah. Like, I don't need no KPIs or profit and loss. Yeah. Now

I've looked

at them.

Yeah. Exactly. That's so funny. After years in, you're

like, oh, you're I just said to Amanda yesterday, I was like, you know what's crazy? A few years ago, I hated numbers. I love a good PNL now. Like, nothing gets

you good. Oh, a good PNL?

Like a nice clean PNL.

I'm glad you do, man. I'm so glad you do because I

you know? Neither one of us like the the finances to begin with, but, like, it it has to be done obviously. It does. Now I'm like, damn. A real P and L will get me gassed up.

Yep. I'm a pry.

But early days, it was, like, seven days a week, twelve hour days. The last

thing I can think about is a P and Working.

Working. Working. You know? Working. Tools on.

Building everything.

You have a belief, like, you take care of the present day and, like, all that other stuff will work out. Yeah. The reality of it is it kinda does, but you do reach a breaking point where you learn a lesson and you're like, I gotta pay attention to the numbers.

I think this sorry. Go ahead.

One one thing I wanted to call out about the story is, I I know a lot of entrepreneurs that do it for the gram nowadays. Once they're like, I got my own thing. I'm an entrepreneur. I determine what I say yes to in the work I wanna do, and they got this like attitude, right, of like, okay, well now that I'm an entrepreneur, I'm entitled to have all this freedom. Mhmm.

It sounds like it was the opposite for you in the beginning. You were saying yes to whatever job you could pick up.

Opposite. Exactly.

And that's that's that's the reality of this. Like, lot of people, they get involved and and they become an entrepreneur. I want all this freedom. I don't I don't wanna do this. I don't wanna do that.

I'm gonna say no to this type of job. In the beginning, you're saying yes to everything. You have to earn the no. Yeah. You have to earn the right to say no

to things. Yep. See what

I mean?

Be the great segue to my question is, I think it would be helpful for entrepreneur the potential entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs listening, and the few to know, like, where do these jobs come from? So you went from zero no job lined up when you start when you quit, when you walked off. Right? You got nothing on the books, nothing lined up. Where does where does the $5,000 bathrooms come from?

Are you starting to reach out to everyone you know? Are you bidding? Like, you know what mean? Like, where are you getting the first two jobs?

Yeah.

Early on, we tried all the, you know, traditional platforms like Angie's List and HomeAdvisor, Facebook ads. You know, we had built out a website, and we're trying to, you know, produce organic leads. Mhmm. But honestly, even to this day, the best lead source is just Word-of-mouth. Word-of-mouth.

Word-of-mouth. Word-of-mouth. Like, it started out reaching out to my immediate network. Like, hey. You know, anybody that needs some work done?

Like friends and family?

Friends and family. Mhmm. And

Who took the first chance on you? Like, who who who you look back and you're like, I'm so grateful that this person let me do their first, like

My mom's cousin. I I had never really met them. They had us do their bathroom. Uh-huh. Yeah.

And it was a shit show of a project. Like, it came out beautiful, but,

like Yeah.

It probably was inefficient.

They got the best project. They probably got the best bathroom that you ever did.

Well, that's that yeah. Yeah. For the cheapest price ever probably.

Yeah. That's my question. So if you don't mind sharing with the community, like how much did it charge? I mean, how much did actually call it? Like, did you, did you make any money on that?

No. Think we charged $12 today. Same project I'm charging north of 50.

Oh, I was gonna say 30, 30 5.

Yeah. It a huge you took a bath?

Yeah. I've I've taken a lot of baths. Yeah. Yeah. I've built a whole home and took a bath.

You can you can call it you can call

it Ground up.

Took a bath.

How does that happen? Take a bath, dummy tax, tuition payment. I knew what you were called.

I wanted it for the portfolio because

I find that with construction a lot that that, like, that you guys, like, misquote. You know what I mean? Or, like, we don't know

what you get into. You got to take part. You don't know what's in there.

So we we took a house down to the ground foundation, build it back up two stories, 3,000 square foot home, beautiful, for a great family. And I'm I'm super grateful to this day for that opportunity they gave me because I hadn't done new construction under Buildwell to that point. My dad has built, you know, hundreds of homes. Yeah. But I hadn't, and I wanted to very badly.

And I went into it knowing that I wasn't gonna make money. Mhmm. I thought I was at least gonna break even. I didn't.

For the port it was for the portfolio.

It was for the portfolio, the experience, for our team, for me, and we learned a lot. And now this year this was two years ago. This year, we're building two homes from the ground up. So Brad? We should make money.

Yeah. You're gonna make money.

That's Yeah. Sorry.

Gotcha. So when you quoted it, you thought you're, like, you

you were expecting

you were expecting to make money on the quote on the quote.

I was I was expecting to at least break even.

Yeah. Yeah. So and you were okay with that move going

I was okay with that.

Because usually, I I need to It

it's like one of those steps in the journey where you know you gotta take the risk. You gotta eat a little shit Mhmm. To benefit in the future.

Yeah. Yeah.

To grow. To grow.

How did you did. Yeah. Yeah.

I think that's the whole delicate balance. Like, I think some businesses don't grow because they don't wanna do work that they're not gonna be paid for. Like, they don't have that future vision where they're like, okay. I gotta eat I gotta eat, like, this row of shit sandwiches to get to the next level. Yep.

They're kinda just like, no. You know what? I'm just gonna make sure that I'm I'm clearing a thousand a week on these jobs I'm doing, and that's gonna be that. And you know what I mean? Yep.

So taking that risk is important to grow.

I heard Brad Lee say once, dude, Brad Lee is the the Instagram influencer. Trump bombs. Yeah. He said most entrepreneurs never do big things because they're afraid to go back to zero. Mhmm.

Like, they get to a point and they are afraid to reinvest it all back into the business or or It is scary. Take a bath on

a piece Oh, scary shit. Yeah. Yeah. It's scary shit. That's why people don't do it.

Because you you you spend those early years fighting for your life.

Mhmm.

You know, paying the bills. My partner, at one point, we had a $50,000 Amex bill due and he's refinancing his home like the night before. Right like because we had to pay that we had to make payroll and then you know year four we're in year five now year three and four, we finally fight our way out of that. Yeah. Last year, have a good year, pay a lot to the tax man, and it's like starting from ground zero again.

And it, like, it scared the shit out of me until, like, it took me, like, two, three days of, like, a little bit of panic to just accept, you know what? I'm back in the trenches and I'll be here until I have to.

Yep. Yeah, exactly.

It's funny.

And it might be like that for the next thirty years.

Yeah. Those lessons come. We're still learning the lessons. Know I mean? Like, it's funny that Instagram lets people perceive one thing.

Like you come in here and you're Oh my God, this is a huge HQ. Everything's great. But in entrepreneur business, like everything is hard. Like it's like, gotta be willing to understand that you never make it Like Yeah. Uncle Bates or Betters or investor partner, he says, like, never peak.

Like Yeah. Yep. And I believe when I'm giving entrepreneurial advice or business advice, it's like once you get comfortable with something, that is when the it starts to creep in. Mhmm. Like, you know I mean?

Things start to fester. Things start to unravel. Yep. You have to literally commit to never being comfortable.

Yep. I actually experienced it. You know? Because last year, we did, you know, good numbers, and I got used to seeing, you know, a good number in my bank account. Yeah.

And I was feeling good about it, and I got comfortable.

Yeah.

Right? Like, that I slacked off, you know, by any means, but, like, you know, maybe some days I was

We did it, bro. And we're the kings of we're the kings of discomfort.

Yeah. We are. We're kings of discomfort.

Things things like, it's just human human nature.

Human nature is the way the the mind's wired. Like, we're wired for survival. Right? So when we're surviving, the mind's like, alright. Yeah.

You're doing well. Like, everything's cool. You know what I mean? Like, let off the gas a little bit or let there's a reason why, you know, we're putting out designs and badges that say comfort is a slow death, prefer pain. Yeah.

It's a strong statement, but it's a reminder that you need no matter how good things are or how bad things are, you need that fucking reminder.

Because it's

the only it's the only way forward.

That's full circle, boys. Because like I said, coming into this, like, I got my average is the enemy shirt here. I I wear that thing with pride, man. And it's a daily reminder that, like, I chose this path because I don't wanna be average. And I wanna provide as many opportunities for myself and my family as I can.

Yep. Yeah. Well said. And that I'll try to articulate this the best way possible, but that is the amazing part about the few is that the modules and messages we put out on Instagram and on our our our apparel are literally the things that we're going through and growing through that we're relaying on to the community and sharing. And they're like, hey.

We're all in this together. This is what we're we're battling right now. This is the adversity we're we're fighting. And if you're one of the people that are out there chasing greatness and and doing great things or trying to build a better life for you and your family, you're gonna see that and be like, I'm in.

I get that.

It's perfect.

I need that shirt now. Yeah.

You guys hit you hit the nail on

the head.

And it's, know, like, average is the enemy. That's from that that mantra's from 02/2018. '2 thousand '17, '2 thousand '18. Same thing with Preferred Pain. Just as applicable for us in year two of Fuel On, building the Fuel On community, as it is now in year eight.

Yep. Just as applicable. Yeah. If not, more applicable.

And it's not because we have it all figured out. It's because we're every day waking up trying to better. Yep. Yeah. Of course.

Like, that's it. Of course. Like, no one has all figured out. Even even millionaires and people that regular regular society members idolize, like, they're just people like us trying to trying to make it happen. You know what I mean?

Yeah. For sure.

For sure.

Alright. So where were we at in the journey? So you had

Build Well's going.

Yep. Build Well's going. You're

Yeah. We touched on the Build Well mantra. I know we we we A little bit. Bit, but

Let's, like, hit that. Let's hit

that because I love it.

It it's very deep. Like I was saying, my dad and I used to battle because he was always doing things the right way.

Yeah.

And he always used to say, if you're gonna do something, do it right or don't do it at all. And he would say it with his accent and add a few, you know, other words in there. Sure. Sure. And it took me until later in life to really understand and appreciate what that meant.

And, it kind of developed this BuildWell brand, where we see a lot of, bullshit going on in in our industry. A lot of you know, you hear stories all the time where somebody paid a contractor a deposit and they disappeared or they did a bunch of shoddy work and, I realize that and I also look at that as an opportunity. I'm 32, you know, I plan on being around for a long time. So if we're going to build something, we're going to build it well or not at all. And everybody in our company and and our team, is on board with that, which is which is also amazing.

I love it. I love it.

That is so true, though, too. It's I mean, probably so easy for you guys to get work because freaking most contractors

are ass. It goes back to the hockey. Right? And my parents and the opportunities and the different people I've met along my path that, like, in today's world and my industry, I look at myself as having an extreme advantage Yeah. Because I'm determined.

I work my ass off, and I'm very passionate about doing what's right and building beautiful things.

So Yeah. Mhmm.

It's, you know

And then so everyone a quote that I love that I posted a few weeks ago was the standard is the standard, and that's probably so powerful for you and your team is that, like, everyone knows that, like, we're not gonna half ass anything.

Exactly.

And those every job you leave is a is a business card. You know I mean? That's like the great part about construction. I mean, my belief is that the work you do is obvious. Like, they walk into the that bathroom like, my god.

This is an amazing bathroom.

It's than it's more than the the beautiful work too. Right? It's the relationship that, like, I build sometimes to a fault. Mhmm. Most of my clients, I, you know, still have very good relationships with.

I text them. Our kids hang out, stuff like that. Yeah. Yeah. But, like, when I take on a project, like, I commit pretty much all of myself to it.

Yeah. Yeah. If it's a Sunday night and, you know, your roof's ripped off and my wife is about to have a baby the next day, like, I'm there covering it with plastic, and that's a real story. I was

gonna say that story is out

a little Yeah.

It sounds a too intricate. Sounds too Hypothetical.

Yeah. The, thing that we we were talking a little bit before the show, I shared, with Connor that, my dad is, was a custom cabinet maker. You know what I mean? One of the things that I think is really special about what you do is you said you're building beautiful things, whether it's a house or, you know, you're doing something in the living room or something whatever. Mhmm.

You're building something beautiful, but, like, that's so people can have beautiful moments inside of it. So your work has ripple effects. And you said, you know, which I would expect you to say, like, you have very good relationships with your customers. Maybe they become your friends. But, like, I think you're giving even outside of that relationship, you're giving them, like, you know, a a forum, a home to create a life, which is that they can comfortably do so because they enjoy their environment and their surroundings.

So it's really it's really beautiful. And, like, that's the way I used to think about what my dad did. You know I mean?

And that back to the few moments in time that we realized we're on the right path.

Yeah.

Moments when a client, you know, text or or calls and like, is just like extremely grateful. We've we've had clients, you know, cry in the past because of, you know, what we've done and that those moments in time are where I'm like, this is what I'm meant to do. Yeah.

Absolutely, man.

Alright. So you get the we get to try and bring the story wrap the story up. But, like, so you get your first the bathroom job that you took a bath on. Like, where does it go from there?

You're taking you're you're taking jobs.

Just taking everything I could.

Yeah. No subcontract work?

At that point, no.

Okay.

At that point, no. Mhmm. You know, I I went through hiring a lot of

people that I shouldn't Well, do you're never being a subcontractor or something under the Bilbo group. Yep. Okay. Yeah.

Yep. And just, you know, kept growing that brand and that image and that reputation.

Taking risks on You

know, the the decent bathroom grew to, you know, the beautiful kitchen to the beautiful addition to, you know, the ground up or, you know, the Rittenhouse Square renovation. And it's just been honestly attributed one to my team. My wife since 14 is our lead project manager.

Oh wow.

And she's an instrumental part. I recently hired my aunt as our community and sales leader.

Love that.

My dad and then a good friend of mine is one of our carpenter apprentice and another really good superintendent. Everybody kind of on the same page. And from day one, made it clear that, like, I'm not doing this so that I can be rich and take vacations. I'm doing this because I want to see all of us grow and have a good life. And I try to do everything I can.

We're still early on. I just got health insurance put in place for our employees and I'm trying to set up retirement packages. And even when we didn't make money, I was still given bonuses and just trying to build that

community. That'd be a whole another podcast. We're on the same

We're same page, man.

We get literally the same. And I think that's what makes our companies both so powerful. It's just that we're doing it for the right reasons and not just to be profitable, make money.

Yep.

I mean, being rich, taking vacations is also nice. I'm not arguing that.

There ain't nothing wrong with it. Yeah. But

But, I mean, have you guys taken vacations lately?

We've not had a vaca think actual vacation because

even when you do, it's so hard. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. We do, Joe and I do both at the shore for

You gotta do one for a week.

The

shore. And and we do a half day.

But you're an hour away.

And we do a half day.

We're an hour away.

A half day work done.

Yeah. Exactly.

You get some of your best work done in

those Oh, yeah. In those circumstances. About being in the shore.

Because you're away from the, you know Exactly. Day to day.

And also and also being on the beach for if I could do

a shower Get shower by my son.

An hour or two on the beach every day, I would probably be at another level.

Yeah. Human. Of human. Well, that's the goal. Told you, man.

I'm Yeah. Oh, yeah. Goal,

man. That's the goal.

So you would say, like, that was the the maybe the last peak or valley potentially? Like, like, has has it been peaks or valleys throughout the like, throughout the journey? Like you

said Constant ebbs and flows. Yeah.

Yeah, man.

Up and down, day to day. You know, one week you're flying high, you just, you know, signed a big project, and the next week you're stressing on how the hell you're gonna get it done.

Yeah. Yeah. Of course. Yeah. Of course.

Man, that roller coaster is something, isn't it? Like, you you it takes you back. Like, sometimes those invincible moments, you're like, wow. I'm I'm really doing this. Like, I can do anything.

I'm like, I'm invincible. And then literally, like, within the same day, something can happen where you're like, what am I doing? What am I doing with my life? You know what I'm saying?

The other crazy to to even pick that apart even more, what's even crazy about entrepreneurship is the inverse of that happens. The Yes. The best parts of the journey come at the worst at the worst time.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Lowest points. Yep.

Yep. Yeah.

Well, that so so what's next for for do have any more questions?

I I do have one question. Right? A couple times throughout this show, you mentioned the gym. Right? So, obviously, you know, you played damn near played juniors.

You played, like, damn near pro hockey. It seems like the gym is still a very important part of your day. You went there before you came here. Right? Yep.

So what is it? And I I'm sure I can come up with, three reasons that are gonna hit the nail on the head, but what is it about sounds like you start your day at the gym. What is it about starting your day at the gym that's so important to you?

And I would like to add on to that. Was that always the case, or was it before shout out to FTB Fitness started working at Fistop and Liberty? Like it was

No, it was before.

Yeah.

It's interesting because towards the end of my hockey career, remember having a conversation with the team captain at the time And, I was maybe a sophomore and he was a senior. And I asked him, are you gonna continue to work out after college? And he's like, hell yeah. And I'm like, yeah, not me. Once I'm done playing hockey, I'm I'm done working out.

Yeah.

And then, you know, about four years ago, you know, early startup days, like you eat like shit, you drink a lot of energy

Sleeping like shit.

Sleep like shit. And like my, you know, body kinda got away from me. And then you're also not operating at, you know, your highest potential when you're living like that. Yep. So I got back in the gym mostly to get back in shape, but it's become more of just a time in my day where the pressures kinda don't exist.

Mhmm.

I can kinda focus on myself. We got a nice little community over at, Fitts Stop Northern Liberties.

Mhmm.

As you mentioned, Frank's been a, you know, a big part of that journey as well. But yeah, it's one, it's challenging. So I'm growing and getting better physically. It gives me that that mental clarity early in the morning. And I like looking good.

So Yeah. There you go.

He peeled.

There you go.

He's peeled. There you go. I've I've we have the same with I would say for us, it's jujitsu. Like, I also we lift and work out, but, so you put your phone away when you walk in the door, like, just like phones in the cubby, like, and you're just like, this is my this is my hour. Yeah.

It's it's like it's pressure and pain on your terms. Yep. You know what I mean? For the right reasons To keep you, like you said, you know, performing at a high level, keep you here on this planet long. You said you wanna be here for a while.

Like, it's the the pressure and pain on your terms. And you know when you leave the gym or you leave the school or the academy, like, there's gonna be some pressure and pain that happen that aren't on your terms. Yep. So if you can put yourself through it on your terms, you have the confidence that you can, you know, go through it and grow through it when it's not on your terms. At least that's the way

I see it.

I took it a step further too. I've been trying to get Drew over, I built a shed in my backyard Nice. And built a custom sauna inside of it, put my cold plunge in there.

Nice. Here's the thing. Frank and Connor do it at, like, 5AM. I'm like, I I have a So you're with

Frank when he does his whole, like

We've done it in the past together. We come over on Sundays, and and we'd, you know, hit the song.

And I'm a big morning routine guy.

Listen. I I don't have a I don't have a Bill Well T shirt.

Get a song. Oh, Come on. Own the power company, but the Bill Well T shirt. Yeah. I like

supporting people. I might have you guys make our next company.

Oh, that's

what I'm talking about.

Bill Well Badge. I mean, that'd be sick.

I'd go nuts on that.

That'd be sick.

That would

be cool. All right. So, well, do you any other questions? Mean, all right. No.

We do have the light we have the lightning round. Three questions.

Yeah. Mean, there's there's three, you know, three things, right? Like that, define who the few are. Like, if you're one of the few, chances are you have these three things. You're in the gym, which you are.

Right? You've gone through some shit, which you have, and you have a growth mindset, which you also have. So I just wanted to we hit on the gone through some shit, we hit on the growth mindset, so I wanted to make sure I hit the gym, you know, aspect just to make sure that, you know, the few knows.

It's it's an honor to be part of the few, And

then where I'm gonna we had the lightning round last, so we're overlook that, but where can people find Connor and the Bilbo Group if they are interested in a a custom quote or renovation? Yeah.

Well, I didn't say much about what our company does.

Please do that. Please do that.

Do that.

So the Buildwell Group, right, we do high end custom construction. So whether that be remodel, addition, or, new construction. We have the ability to design build it, which means we handle the full process from design conception through construction, and we also work with a lot of high end designers executing their design.

Gotcha.

Our Instagram is at the Buildwell Group. My personal one is at Connor underscore custom builder, and our website is theBuildwellGroup.com.

Alright. Lightning round. Let's do it.

Yeah. Yeah. Any more questions?

No. I'm good. I I dude, I love this. I had I mean, I had

great That was a great talk.

I had a great time catching up with you beforehand, but this is amazing.

I don't I I I just don't even, carry expectations into each show we do. Mhmm. I just kinda go go with the flow. I do I do love the flow state, and this definitely exceeded any potential expectations I could

have had. I I would agree. So I

you know?

Full transparency. I was, super nervous because, you know, I can shoot videos on my own terms, but, like Yeah. With someone set Sure. Videos, like, there's pressure builds up.

I agree.

You know, I just kept reminding myself, like, just be genuine.

Exactly. You also wanna relate you wanna make sure that, like, you're relaying your story and your brand's message Exactly. Yeah. Perfectly.

Another key, it's worth pointing out, which you mentioned a couple of times was you thought about it like beforehand, like you prepared, like whichever, yes, whichever, whichever high performer should give me

call before I want to go over. So in case I got to prepare anything.

I tried to, like, I tried to play too much because we did very often, but we did, like, leading into every episode, I'd be part of have some questions. Like, we're like, so we're

It's brutal.

We overanalyze everything. So I kind of downplayed with with guests. I'm like, we're just gonna chill and talk and and talk about

We're just gonna kick it. Gonna jam. We're gonna jam.

The hero's journey. Yeah.

Yeah. I appreciate the opportunity, seriously.

Likewise, dude.

Thank you.

I appreciate you coming.

Alright. Lightning round. Covered all

the choices. We covered all the Lightning round. Of the gym, at FitStop, getting coached by Frank, what is your most Frank from FTD Fitness. Your most and least favorite workout and or movement? I'd have

to say the assault bike.

Yeah. I found it. Yeah. There is.

I'd have to say the assault bike.

Is that your least favorite?

Gives me shit. And I'm like, you know, this probably isn't the best mindset, but I'll be like, Frank, I'm not getting paid to ride that guy. Bike today. Okay?

That's funny. So true.

Well, I mean, look. There is something to it. Like, you you know, you you have to be your best self when you leave that place to to build well in many ways. Yep. You know, death by a salt bike before you have to go do that maybe isn't the best option.

Have you tried the Rogue bike the Rogue Echo bike? The

yes. I think I've tried both.

Dude, I we did those at FLAWLESS yesterday. I made this gym for couples therapy. Yeah. The Rogue bike is I I have More attention. It's solid in my house, but Rogue is so far it's like you're you're riding in.

Dude,

it's crazy. Yeah.

Yeah. I'm

crazy. My first day at Fit Stop, I threw up. Really? Nice. I think I threw up last month doing a conditioning Nice.

Nice. And like, you know, I don't drink or party. Like, that's just straight hard workout.

Yeah. Thing is about the about those style workouts and we're going off on tangent again, but it being when we got it and played competitive sports, like, it probably gives you that same the same endorphins. It does. Feeling. You know I mean?

Like, you're you're you're racing against the clock. Or is there a a movement you prefer, like a a most favorite movement?

Right now, I'm really loving hang cleans.

Really? Yeah. With a bar? With a bar?

Yeah. Okay. I I did them most of my hockey career. Okay. And it took me a long time to get good at them.

Yeah. You know, pretty decent at them, and it they're challenging, and I enjoy them.

Yeah. Sweet. Is there a quote you live by?

I wouldn't say a particular quote. I'd say a lot of the quotes on your guys' shirts, and the rules of the few is on our fridge

at home. Yeah.

Sounds like

to our kids. See, I'm saying, like, imagine our kids. Like, they're gonna be fucking

Oh, yeah. Who knows

what they're gonna accomplish? But they're walking by our fridge every morning, seeing the the rules of the field. You know what mean? Like, just if I had those 11 rules instilled in me at that age, just literally who knows what I'd be doing right now?

Yep. But thinking about it, the quote I do live by, build well or not

at Yeah.

Yeah. And I I apply that to every aspect of life. You know? Being a father, being a husband, being a son, being a business owner and a leader. I want to do it to my best, the best of my ability every day.

And, you know, I take whatever steps necessary to do it.

I agree with them. It's like my favorite quote is how you do anything is how you do everything. So like, it's the same thing.

Very similar.

Alright. Last question. What is one piece of entrepreneurial advice you would give to a new entrepreneur?

Aside from learning about KPIs and PNLs, My best piece of advice is if you're passionate about it, do whatever the hell it takes.

I like that. One of people on core values.

It's actually one of our core values. See? Whatever it takes.

Whatever it takes.

Yep. Same way, baby.

Yep. I love that, man. I love it. This was amazing.

Yeah. That was great. Got anything else?

No. I'm good. You can sign

as well.

I appreciate it, fellas.

Thank you

coming here. Thank you, brother.

Appreciate it very much. Thank you for doing it. And for the few, here's a reminder. Always choose effort over entitlement. Always choose hard work over handouts.

And remember, no one owes you. No one owns you. You're one of the few, baby. Let's hunt.