Anna Perks: Building a Business by Taking Houses Apart, Not Burning Out, and Rethinking Waste Artwork

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Anna Perks: Building a Business by Taking Houses Apart, Not Burning Out, and Rethinking Waste

January 13, 2026 • Aggie & Cristy • Season 5 • Episode 2

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Anna Perks is the founder of Perks Deconstruction, a Denver based company proving that sustainability and profitability can coexist. What started with walking her dog past a bulldozed historic home turned into a seven year journey building a 20 plus person company that diverts massive amounts of construction material from landfills. In this episode, Anna shares how she built a business in an industry she did not come from, why entrepreneurship is often romanticized, and what it really takes to lead, delegate, and grow without burning out. This is a grounded, honest conversation about circular economy, leadership stress, learning by doing, and why keeping things out of the trash is everyone’s responsibility.

Episode Notes / Key Takeaways
• How a single moment sparked the idea for Perks Deconstruction
• What deconstruction is and why demolition is one of the biggest waste problems we ignore
• Why Anna chose to start a business instead of going to business school
• How research, informational interviews, and mentorship shaped her first year
• The reality of slow starts, early mistakes, and painful learning curves
• Why culture, policy, and infrastructure keep us from becoming a zero waste society
• What consumers and homeowners can do today to support reuse and recycling
• When Anna knew the business was actually going to work
• Leadership challenges, stress, and the loneliness of being at the top
• Learning what to delegate and trusting others to run parts of the business
• Growing from a solo founder to a 20 plus person team
• Long term vision for expansion, technology, and policy driven change
• The importance of resilience, relationships, and just keeping going

Contact Anna Perks
Website: www.perksdeconstruction.com
Reclaimed Materials Store: www.perksreclaimed.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perksdeconstruction/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/perks-deconstruction-ltd/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/perksdeconstruction/

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