143. Guest: Richard Powell - From Welding Hobby to Thriving Business

Richard Powell, a visionary entrepreneur born into a family of car fabricators and racing enthusiasts, joins us to share the inspiration behind his successful welding business. Richard's journey from high school hobbyist to business owner is a testament to the power of mentorship and self-belief. His story serves as a beacon of resilience for aspiring entrepreneurs, revealing how financial struggles can be overcome with passion and support from those who believe in your potential. Discover how Richard's experience on dirt tracks fueled his ambitions and shaped his career path.

Listeners will gain insights into the essential qualities of resilience and growth that underpin Richard's success. Faced with multiple business attempts, Richard persevered, learning invaluable lessons about cash flow, niche markets, and the importance of mentorship. His story highlights how unexpected opportunities can change the course of a business and the vital role that mindset plays in achieving lasting success. Richard's journey is not just about welding; it's about the courage to take risks and the transformative power of a positive outlook.

We also explore the human side of business success, focusing on the importance of relationships and leadership. Richard emphasizes the value of collaboration, delegation, and acknowledgment—key elements that foster a positive work environment and drive business growth. Through personal anecdotes, he shares how investing in team members' development and embracing diverse perspectives can lead to better outcomes for everyone. This episode is a masterclass on the intersection of personal passion, entrepreneurial grit, and the unwavering support of loved ones. Don't miss Richard's insights on connecting with audiences across multiple platforms and the guiding values that shape his business decisions.

Chapters

• 0:00 Entrepreneurial Journey Through Welding Passion
• 3:40 Lessons of Resilience and Growth
• 11:45 Building Relationships in Business Growth
• 19:03 Empowering Leadership Through Acknowledgment
• 23:25 Leading Through Accountability and Growth
• 32:34 Guiding Values in Business Decisions
• 41:43 Connecting Through Multiple Platforms

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Yeah, it's Mindset Cafe. We all about that mindset. Gotta stay focused, never settle for less. It's all in your head how you think you manifest. So get ready to rise, cause we about to be the best. Gotta switch it up. Gotta break the old habits. Get your mind right, turn your dreams into habits. No negative vibes, only positive vibes. What is up, guys? Welcome to another episode of the Mindset Cafe podcast. It's your boy, de Devin, and today we got a special guest. We got Richard Powell with us. I've met him through one of the masterminds that we're both in and I wanted to bring him on because he is also a business owner. He's gone through his own journey, so if you are looking to become an entrepreneur, that's the best way, in my opinion, that you learn is through other people's stories. So, richard, thank you so much for taking the time. Man, yeah, glad to be here. So let's dive in a little bit. I know we met in RBO and I know you're a business owner and stuff, but how did that journey start for you?

Speaker 2: 0:56

As far as business goes. Really just a high school kid that seen some other people do good in the welding industry and uh, just a few teachers really kind of believed in me and uh, my dad and grandpa and them always kind of fabricated, but um, I wanted to kind of go perfect the welding side of it and then, uh, I done that and yeah, between traveling on the road and um, that dried up, came home and had to make some funds so we started a welding shop.

Speaker 1: 1:24

Okay, nice. So was your dad and your grandpa. Were they business owners as well, or they were just in the trade?

Speaker 2: 1:30

Just in the trade. My grandpa rebuilds old cars and stuff or did before he passed away, and then dad the same. We raced growing up so it kind of went hand in hand. Whenever you wreck race cars you got to fix them up.

Speaker 1: 1:44

Oh, that's awesome. What kind of race cars were you guys doing?

Speaker 2: 1:46

uh, we raced dirt track late models for a long time, dad did, and uh, yeah, just uh snowballed into uh years and years and years.

Speaker 1: 1:55

So yeah, it's pretty cool and that was never a career option for you oh, I raced for, uh, five or six years.

Speaker 2: 2:03

um, I loved it. I just it got to the point everything's so expensive anymore with it and motors were costing you know 20 grand to stay competitive and it just trying to raise a family and start a business didn't make sense at the time.

Speaker 1: 2:16

Okay, so then, diving into you know, with the welding side and other fabrications of that, like what made you want to do, start getting into the welding.

Speaker 2: 2:30

Was it something that you just liked in that industry, or really it? It was kind of stupid. I, I was in ag class and uh, for whatever reason, I just kind of got deemed the welder and uh, so I was welding up stuff in ag class and then, uh, their little town, I grew up in one of the guys there. He kind of took me under his wing and needed some farm help and showed me some of the stuff and how to do it, how not to do it, how to get by with a minimal on everything. And then, yeah, like I said, I had a teacher that Aaron Oberman is his name. He just believed in me and I was a little punk ass kid and he, he thought that I could do something. I guess, yeah, he made some calls to a welding school. I didn't have any money. My parents didn't have any money. They were like, yeah, we really want you to go, but we can't make it happen.

Speaker 2: 3:16

So anyway, a few calls and got into MWI and started chasing it. And started chasing it, like I said, chased road money for a while and then came home and worked some oddball jobs and just knew I could weld, knew that I could do better and actually so. Palfab is like the fourth quote unquote generation of my companies. I failed three times before and finally just started this up and um wasn't going to fail. I told myself, hell or high water, I'll die on this hill, but I'm, I'm not going to fail.

Speaker 1: 3:52

Hey, man, honestly I want to dive into that because that's so awesome. I mean, a lot of times people think that entrepreneurship it's, you know, a one hit home, run right. And you know I have a similar story in that aspect. I mean, strive 11, it wasn't my first business and you know I had the same kind of concept when I fully dove in. So for you, what were, what was your the first and through third attempts? What were those businesses?

Speaker 2: 4:16

So I was working for a well company in a little town that I lived in and had moved off away to chase some, some more dollars and came back home. They didn't have an opening at the time. So I thought, well, I'll start it up, I'll just do farm fences and things of that nature, and didn't know how to price myself, didn't know how to market myself. So six, eight months on my own and scratching up the pennies and having to sell stuff to pay the rent on the little house I was living in, finally just had to can it and go back to work for somebody else. It was basically that same story, you know, two or three times.

Speaker 2: 4:54

And then actually I moved back home within about a mile of where I grew up at, and this guy shows up out of the blue we're doing dirt work on the house and I got a welding shirt on. He said man, I'm with a local church camp, you know we need some welding done. I'm like I'm not interested. You know, kick rocks, dude. And he comes back, and comes back and finally, like the third time, I was like, okay, I'll look at what you got. And it wasn't again. It wasn't anything that I wanted to do. I was done welding and uh, the big man just put everybody in the right places. And uh, there's a smack in the face like hey, you're, this is what I want you to do. Um, so we, we dove into it from there.

Speaker 1: 5:36

That's awesome, man. So I mean, since you've launched your business, what were, what were some of the hurdles that you didn't know were hurdles? Because I think people get scared to jump into business, right, they get scared to follow their dream or what their passion is, because they try to find all the what ifs, what if this doesn't work and if I'm going to do this, and they try to over plan when in reality, I mean, I know, for myself at least, you don't know everything, you don't know what you don't know, and I guarantee, even if you try to study and write the perfect, bulletproof business plan, there's going to be a hole, right? So what was that? What was that first real lesson that? Oh shit, I'm going to actually have to really focus on this and it's going to be some hard work. You know what was that first lesson?

Speaker 2: 6:23

Yeah, I don't know, like, the biggest lesson obviously was just, you know, keeping the work flowing and being conscious enough to make sure that everything you do, you know. If you wanted to buy a piece of equipment, obviously you had to have a way to pay for it, but the biggest thing was just taking risks and, as silly as it may sound to a lot of people like me, every decision that I make, especially in business, I pray about it and, uh, that's, that's more or less my deciding factor. And, uh, I don't know the as far as a big hurdle that I wish I would have jumped on sooner is, um, it's not a sales pitch for RBO or anything, but really just those finding those people who have screwed up and asking them questions. In fact, dustin Hooten, he was a big person that I bounced a lot of crap off of because he was that generation before me, so to say, I don't know, Keeping the cash flow probably the biggest thing I took out of the RBO deal was that comment, because you always go to a job and it's like man, yeah, I'm high, somebody else could probably do it just as good for cheaper, and it's not that hell.

Speaker 2: 7:37

No, I'm the baddest motherfucker there is. You know, I've got it, I'm doing it. So yeah, the confidence for sure, and finding that niche, finding that little market that you can insert yourself and just keep running.

Speaker 1: 7:52

Yeah, I'm glad they, you know, said it because I was like man, like I wish I was up there when you said that, because I was like please, someone cover that first sentence sentence, you know, because I mean that's something I'm huge on, right, and going from, you know, I used to be a personal trainer, you know, did well, and now with the gym and everything.

Speaker 1: 8:11

But it all starts with your mindset, right? So the number one thing I talk to my members and my clients about it's it all starts with how you talk to yourself. It's it all starts with how you talk to yourself, right, so right, when you said that you know, I'm just a, I'm just a dumb welder, it's like okay, if you keep calling yourself that, you can tell yourself that you start to try to align with it. Right, and at the end of the day, you're a business owner, right, you've already taken steps that most haven't. So giving yourself that praise and giving not just like that I'm the baddest, like you know, baddest motherfucker that's doing welding, but you know I'm, I'm a business owner as well. Right, like you have that knowledge that it may seem common knowledge to you, but it's only common to the person that knows it right. So there's someone else that's up and coming and that would look to you, just like you did to dustin, and you know you don't even realize it well, I posted the.

Speaker 2: 8:59

I posted that picture on Facebook over the weekend of the shop and it goes back like Corey McNeil. He always says you know, if I can do it, anybody can. And it really goes back to that. I mean, I'm just a punk kid from from Arkansas that uh, I, I never wanted to listen, I never wanted to work for anybody. Um, I didn't know anything about business, um, and in fact 10 years ago I didn't hardly know how to strike an art. So yeah, it's literally that first step and peeling that bandaid off.

Speaker 2: 9:27

As far as for anyone listening, quote unquote you know it's. You have to just dive into it if it's something you want to do. You know all the bigs as far as I'm concerned in business were small at some point but they believed in their self and telling yourself I am going to do this, I will do this, I will not fail. It sounds stupid, but every morning I go to the gym and I look at myself in the mirror. I'm the baddest MF-er here. There's nobody to tell me different and today I will not fail. I may be the only one in the gym, but I'm still the baddest. Today I will not fail.

Speaker 1: 10:00

I may be the only one in the gym, but I'm still. That's awesome though, right, I mean it's true. I mean that's how. That's how you have to live life. Right, if someone else has done it, you could do it. Right, there's nothing that they have, there's no special token or key that they have that you can't access. But you have to be willing to put in that time and that effort to you know, essentially, get that skill or that tool or that knowledge you know, so that now it becomes common knowledge to you. So that's awesome.

Speaker 1: 10:25

So I mean I think you you touched on something huge too, right, you know the shameless, you know not official plug, but I think it's so cool because it's something that I also faced right, as a business owner or even in life. Sometimes we feel that we need to be the person that knows or solves all the questions or finds all the answers, but in reality, someone else has already figured out the solution to this problem. So it doesn't mean that you necessarily need to hire a mentor or a coach although it is beneficial but at least joining a community of like-minded individuals that have gone through a path or a similar path to yours that can give you feedback, that can give you advice, because then you're going to condense your timeline to success. So how have you felt?

Speaker 2: 11:16

like that has impacted you on a personal development level.

Speaker 2: 11:18

I don't know, just the little stuff like a, like a marketing technique or something, or, or you know, with AI and the new stuff, I'm not a good speaker. I can't put a sales pitch together and make it go good. So, finding like that tool, even Corey's, like yeah, you just type it into AI and then kind of rewrite just a little bit of it, it's like that's stupid, that's not me. And then you do it and it's like wow, that's freaking professional.

Speaker 2: 11:45

But just the and not just RBO, but everything. It seems like every business owner out there 90% of them, I should say they want to see people strive, they want to see people do good. There's enough work for all of us out there. So, yeah, finding those little niches, cause, like you said, somebody else has screwed up already. Just follow them. The as far as RBO, you know, I don't know how to say it, but as far as RBO goes, I mean the money in, money out, the cashflow problems, bouncing that idea off of somebody else, just four or five opinions on a topic and then weeding out what works best for you.

Speaker 1: 12:27

Right. No see, that's awesome. You get so many different perspectives and so many different answers, but then again it's not one answer fits all. You have to take the answer that best aligns, and sometimes you might try one and that doesn't work and you're like damn it, let me try the next one. And then you try the next one, and then you have to modify it and tweak it to again your industry or your business.

Speaker 1: 12:47

So I think that's that's so cool and that's so awesome that you're doing that and you realized it, because, again, that's something I wish I would have realized a long time ago, you know, and there is such a beneficial aspect to it, because it might be that one piece of knowledge, that might be that one piece of thing, but also it might be the fact where you're feeling like you're beating your head against the wall and you feel like your world is drowning, you're drowning in your problems, when in reality you have those people that look, this is, this is normal, this is what we all go through, right, this is this, is that that you know part you have to basically take too yeah, that whole delegate to elevate deal too, that really stuck with me because I always wanted to wear all the hats.

Speaker 2: 13:26

I wanted to do all the welding, I wanted to do all the bidding, I wanted to do all the bookkeeping because I had to know every dollar that was coming in and coming out. And then when you get so busy and it's like, oh, I forgot to enter seven $800 worth of stuff in for the month, and it's like, oh, the books are a little upside down this month now. So that is especially for anybody starting out. Yes, you're going to have to do it in the beginning, but once it gets to be a hindrance, don't second guess yourself, just do it. In fact, for us, we ended up hiring my sister. She wanted to start a bookkeeping company.

Speaker 2: 14:01

For us, we ended up hiring my sister, she wanted to start a bookkeeping company and I was like, man, I drastically need help. Um, so we're, we're rolling down that path. You know to where I can. Just, I can get back in the shop because I do enjoy fabricating, I do enjoy welding, but I can't do everything all the time and that's, I think that's what stunted my growth the most. Um, you know, aside of a few personal issues that I just had to get over mentally. Um, just oh, the guy that works for me now, oh, I can't. He can't do the welding. I've got to do the welding. Well, hell, he's a. He's a better welder than I am now, and he's only been doing it for two or three years. Um, so, finding those right people to put in your corner is is huge, huge, huge so how is how is working with your, with your, your sister?

Speaker 1: 14:41

Is she a part of your team or she did she actually start her book? Uh, bookkeeping like service and business.

Speaker 2: 14:48

Yeah, so she just she's. This is literally like, uh, two or three weeks into it, so she's starting her own, her own business, her own thing, um, so more or less she'll be hired um on to do both the welding company and the garage door company. But I think it'd be really good. We, uh we grew up a little different than a lot of people and didn't have a whole lot of time growing up together. That was um like good or personal time, I should say. So, yeah, getting older and uh, we both understand um, that's the past and uh, we want a relationship with each other. That's what's going to grow this, I think.

Speaker 1: 15:22

That's awesome. You guys get to have a relationship that a lot of siblings don't, in terms of both of you guys being business owners and both of you guys almost having your own little family mastermind style of solution. I think that's really important that she actually started her own thing and you didn't try to step in and be like, look, I know you want to start this, but just come work for me.

Speaker 2: 15:42

Yeah, and she's, she's a super smart chick and she she's got a lot of stuff, she's in a good job and she's wanting out and kind of want to do her own thing, and she was talking about going and doing a few other little things and I'm like man, I mean you can, but I can tell you exactly how that's going to go in two years You're you're going to want something different.

Speaker 2: 16:02

I'm eager to see how how she kicks ass and and prevails, because it's going to be really cool to see from the ground up.

Speaker 1: 16:08

No, that's awesome. And I will say this you gotta, you gotta kind of let her make her own mistakes too, you know, because at the end of the day, I mean you probably learned your best lessons through whether you know you probably learned your best lessons through whether you know you had a mentor or not telling you to do something right. You still, at the end of the day, are like no, I really I think this is the solution.

Speaker 2: 16:26

And you still tried me, like damn, it didn't work right, dustin was a big one on that too, especially a few years ago, whenever I was trying to hire on the person that's here now and, uh, he's like, dude, they're gonna fail, you've got to let. I mean, my dad was real big on that too, growing up. Like I can give you all the keys to life, but you're never going to learn anything and you're always going to doubt did he really have my best interest at hand? He said unless you fall flat on your face and pull yourself back out of it, then you're never going to learn.

Speaker 2: 16:56

So, like Greg, he went to a hand drill job a couple of weeks ago and messed it up by like six inches all four little pieces and he's like, oh man, I'm so sorry I screwed up and I was like that's exactly what I wanted you to do, because you will never make that mistake again. He's like, yeah, but you didn't screw up. Really, I've got a bunch of these in my portfolio that I can definitely talk to you about and show you all the money that I lost in lessons. But taking that to every failure is you can take it as a failure and go curl up and die if you want, but take those, take them on the chin and roll with it.

Speaker 2: 17:36

Make sure it never happens again. Whether it was a financial deal or whatever. Just learn from every mistake and just use them as lessons.

Speaker 1: 17:45

You're going to have to pay for it some way, pay for it in time or money, right.

Speaker 1: 17:48

And I think that's really really important and really wise that you said that, because a lot of times, especially as a business owner, it's already hard to delegate, like you were saying, and from my talk up there, that's still something that, even though I told you it's the solution, that's still one of my and I know it's the solution.

Speaker 1: 18:06

But as the business grows and now with the franchise and all the other things and there's new levels to it, again you hit those walls of having to realign yourself with knowing delegation is the key. And then, even with myself, like when we first hired our trainer, you know first trainer, second trainer, and you know first trainer, second trainer, and they weren't doing things the way we knew we could do them and you're closing every deal and these kinds of things it was like you can get upset and you could try to fire someone and go that whole route, but then realize that you're going to hire someone else, they're going to make that same mistake. You're going to get upset, you're going to it's an endless loop instead of just realizing like, okay, they made a mistake, it sucks, but that dollar lost is their lesson learned, right. So that's their hard knocks academy right there.

Speaker 2: 18:50

Yeah, and I feel very different now too, especially with having somebody that's kind of worked quote unquote under my wing, investing in the people that are coming into your organization, if you want to call it that. Not everybody's going to do everything the same way. You can or you do, but I've had to swallow the hard pill because it was always my way, my way, my way. There's different ways to skin the cat and some ways are better than your ways, no matter if you're putting the bill or not. So yeah, investing into them, people, and when they do huge scores, you know let them know it, you know, don't, don't.

Speaker 2: 19:27

Oh man, look next, you know you gotta hell. Yeah, that was freaking awesome. That rail turned out killer. You know, whatever it is, just the satisfactory, you know, show them.

Speaker 1: 19:38

Yeah, what is that? I mean? Yes, I agree with you, and so what is is that? Explain what that acknowledgement to someone else really does for them, right, as a leader, sometimes we forget to acknowledge our team, especially on the small wins or especially when they do something better than we originally designed. What does that acknowledgement do for someone?

Speaker 2: 19:54

like the biggest thing for me, like actually getting to see it. I guess, explaining it. So we were. We've got a guy out of springfield, missouri, um, has us do crazy projects. We built him a copper desk and all sorts of stuff and, uh, he's always got off the wall ideas. Um, well, greg, that works for me.

Speaker 2: 20:12

He, we went up there one time and he had built a set of gates like 70 foot wide gate entryway, um, and knocked it out of the park. It was slick. And the owner's up there and he's praising me and about how great it looks. And man, those welds are awesome, you've done an awesome job. And I was like that wasn't me, you know, that was this guy. And just seeing the look on his face, like, oh, wow. And then the owner goes over there and like holy crap, you know, this is phenomenal and this is awesome.

Speaker 2: 20:36

Just seeing that, um, that happiness I guess that I didn't take his, his limelight away, essentially, um, where, uh, yeah, then he comes back to the shop and he's got a little more pep in his step. You know, yeah, I did that. You know, um, so that that's really cool for me. Um, and as far as just people in general anymore like I feel like I've made a little dab of money and I'm happy where I'm at. But I really love seeing those kind of wins, um with the guys around me, um, because if they're growing, I'm growing. So investing again back into them, making sure they know that was, that was slick, you know.

Speaker 1: 21:15

I'm glad you did it that way yeah, no, that's awesome and I think that's huge as a leader and as a business owner because as business owners, we are leaders right. And if you don't see yourself as a leader and as a business owner because, as business owners, we are leaders right and if you don't see yourself as a leader, if you're not trying to lead your team and build them up to be the best version of themselves and give them the opportunity to be the best version of themselves, you're only hindering again your success, your growth. So, like you said, I mean I've told my team I was like I want to pay you high commission checks, like I want, want, like don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to hold back your commissions whatsoever like, as much as it hurts to write a huge check like that, like, believe me, I'd be happy because that means that you know you're growing, you're you're succeeding, but also that that's good for the business too. So I think that is really huge. What have you done for yourself to better your leadership skills?

Speaker 2: 22:03

uh, man, I don't know, that's a tough one, because I never really felt like a leader, I guess, probably paying attention to the small things, you know, if the people that I'm around they're having a hard time at home, you know, invest a little bit into that, and hey, you know, here's my little bit of tidbit advice. Thanks, you know. And then, if it's something work wise, just an open ear, or, like I said, even with the ideas, you know, I'm very dick, hard on my way is the way, and it's only my way because my name's on the building, but at the same time it's not that. So, whenever you do those little things like that, when somebody actually has a better idea, acknowledging it, eating crow, that you were wrong and they were right, um, yeah, it takes a little chip off of me, but it also builds the confidence of the people around you. In my opinion, um, to where you can grow. You can get better and just be, be a little bit more vocalized.

Speaker 2: 23:01

Possibly, you know, hey, yes, I know it's your name, but I, this is, I know this is going to work better and just give them that shot, um, and then, after you give them that shot, um, sometimes it works out great, so, um, and sometimes it doesn't. So, as far as reflecting back on me hey, I gave them that option, um, it didn't work. Or it did work, um, and me myself just remembering that. Onto the next phase, yeah, I really want to weld this section first. Okay, fine, that's. That's good. You know, he was right last time. He's probably going to be right again. Making sure that I'm not putting myself on some sort of pedestal just because my name is on the building, you know?

Speaker 1: 23:44

No, I think that's awesome and I mean, that is a really really smart way to think about it. So, diving into that, what happens if they aren't right?

Speaker 2: 23:52

It's a learning curve. It just like that rail. I said he missed it on six inches. It cost me time, it cost me money, but we both learned together.

Speaker 2: 24:02

So, okay, why did he make this mistake? I'm going to put it right back on my shoulders because, as the business owner, shit runs uphill. Whether you want it to or not, it's going to be your fault. So, hey, how can I help you? How can we fix this? How can I make sure this never happens again? Oh, I know where I screwed up when I was designing it on CAD. I didn't take off for a post. Okay, great, let's make sure all of that's taken care of again. So, instead of just 110% throwing it all on his shoulders, hey, the next time we do, let's both go through it, let's both Go through all the measurements, let's both do do all of the mapping out of the rails. In fact, we're we just done it on a rail last week. You know just, both of us learned. Yes, it costs money, but you're just get over it. You're going to have to spend money to learn lessons.

Speaker 1: 24:53

No, definitely, and I think the important part that is like you're having them give you the answer right, Because I think that's the biggest thing I learned was not fixing the problems for them. Right, and obviously you might know or might not know what went wrong at at just you know first glance. But having them really learn it's not just being like, oh man, I messed up and then that's a learning lesson. They have to understand where they, where they messed up. Right, yes, it's our responsibility as the leader and as a business owner everything is our fault but at the same time, like you, want your team to also want to take accountability for the mistakes, right, yeah, that's a huge deal too, Cause that's exactly the way the last rail went.

Speaker 2: 25:33

It was like, ah, hey, that's my fault, I should have reviewed those measurements. And he was like, no, I dude, I blew it, plain and simple. I blew it, um, and I'll make sure it doesn't happen again. You know, he felt bad about it and it's not making him feel bad about it, he just he doesn't like screwing up, just like none of us do. So just I say hope, senior, or holding his hand through that time, I guess a little bit of hey you're, you're going to screw up, you're going to screw up again. Just minimize it and we'll go. The next screw up we take, we go on from it. We'll learn another lesson. If they're happening every week, yeah, we probably need to talk about it. But if they're happening three times a year, big freaking deal, we screw up.

Speaker 1: 26:15

Yeah, and I mean, the one important thing I would say too is that, as long as they're different lessons, if it's the same one inside, dude, I get you only done this three times this year, this mistake. But if it's the same one inside, dude, like you know, I get, I get you. Have you only done this three times this year, this, this mistake. But if it's the same mistake, bro, like come on, like, yeah, you know, but I think that's awesome that you are making them give you the answer and then you know.

Speaker 1: 26:34

One of the the things I would say is also have them explain that you know where they messed up and then let them figure out and ask them how are we going to fix it? Like you tell, tell me, what would you, what would you do? Right, so that not only are they building the skill to realize where the mistake was they don't do it again but that realize that, let's say, you bring on another person under him and then that person messes up. Are you going to be the one that has to teach that new person, or can he do it on on site without you there, right? So having him, I think, outside the box as well, you know, starts to build that confidence, especially when that you know fix makes it works and it looks great and you know you're like perfect, look at that, you know. So it builds that confidence and it also builds your team so that you're not, at the end of the day, stuck to a job and letting your business be a business.

Speaker 2: 27:26

Yeah and uh, I don't know, the whole building leaders, um is what I want. Yes, you got to have, as uh dietrich said on the one meeting, you gotta have booger eaters in the business, but, um, it, uh, I I don't want too many of them. I want, uh, I want, everybody to be competent and be able to do their job and and excel at it. So, yeah, when the next person walks in the door, hopefully they're a right fit for the way that Greg and I do things and the way Greg and I feel. If not, you know, next get to the next one.

Speaker 1: 27:54

So how has, how has it been? Have you been like creating a process and stuff with training Greg, that you know when you do bring it on the next person, like you're teaching us out, or you know your onboarding process?

Speaker 2: 28:07

and not necessarily, um, I mean what we do right now especially. It's not a huge, huge two-person deal. Um, yes, he needs help in the shop from time to time. So we've we've been talking about it because I want him to have an opinion as well, um on it, because I I want to be able to be kind of phased out of the day-to-day work before too long. But when he gets in a pickle it's like, hey, would another person work right here? And he's already taking it on himself.

Speaker 2: 28:37

Now today I don't need a skilled person, I need a booger eater. So I've been trying to mentally put it in my know. How many times does he say, nope, I just need somebody to help lift stuff or turn stuff, or how many times has it been I need an actual competent person here to to work, um, to measure, to weld, to do whatever it is? Um, so I don't know it's, it's all the growing pains, um, I started this deal out and didn't want any quote unquote employees. Um, I wanted to just keep it me and then, uh, get into it and the idea has changed a little bit.

Speaker 1: 29:09

So oh yeah, I mean, I think that's how we all start off, especially if it's a passion or you grow to like it, and then all of a sudden you realize, okay, I have a. It is a business on paper, but it's a job, because it's only me Right on paper, but it's a job because it's only me Right.

Speaker 2: 29:27

Um, so I know you said you have a family and stuff like what is your family life? Look like, uh, family life right now is great. I got a wife that supports me and I tell her she's the worst wife ever Cause I come to her and I'm like, hey, I got this idea. It's going to cost like a hundred thousand dollars. And she was like, okay, uh, how fast is it going to gonna get paid back? Uh, well, I don't know, maybe five years. Okay, yeah, let's go for it, you know? Um, but uh, yeah, she supports me on all my, my stupid habits.

Speaker 2: 29:51

And uh, I got a three-year-old little daughter. That uh, definitely, definitely was needed. I wanted a boy first, but uh, the big man put the little little girl in my life and, uh, she's, uh, she slowed me down, she's made me a lot more patient and uh helped me with uh, uh, deliverance on a lot of things, because you can't just go yell and scream at the three-year-old that, uh, you're doing this wrong, you've got to, you got to have a little more gentle approach at it. So, uh, I definitely needed that.

Speaker 1: 30:20

No, that's awesome. And actually I have a daughter. She's about to be three in January, so I I aligned right with what you're saying on that you know I wanted to avoid Sue and you know sometimes we need we. We got placed that you know a daughter first for a reason.

Speaker 2: 30:33

Yeah, I uh, you know and that's another thing too is starting a business. You know I was working until midnight a lot of nights and and uh and getting up at 7 to just redo the hustle every day. And just in the last six or eight months I really came down hard on myself, like if I have to lose a dollar because I'm spending time with my daughter, I'll lose as many of them as it takes. You know she's only three once and so getting that, you know 5.30, 6 o'clock on, you know I'm going to be with my family or the weekends, not answering that big phone call because we're sitting down at dinner. You know, whatever that may be, that's probably helped me on the personal side the most, just making sure that I put that time into them, Right or wrong, I don't know, but it's helped me out personally, you know.

Speaker 1: 31:23

No, that's awesome and I think that's one of those things where that's starting business is a struggle and it's scary. But then that next step you're talking about, believe me, like it, it's also scary and it's like you know cause you're. You're changing the way you've lived your life for so long and the way you ran your business and you're like, yes, this is important, I'm going to do it, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be an easy change or a fearless change. So how long have you been in business? Because I know you said your daughter's three, right. So how long have you been in business? How long have you been married?

Speaker 2: 31:54

So I've been in this phase, we'll call it at the Weldon Company for five years, right at give or take a little bit um, and then, uh, oh man, my wife's gonna be mad at me. I don't know how long I've been married exactly, um, I've been with her for 10 or 11 years. We're high school sweethearts and, uh, she, uh, I think it's been five years um, five years married, um, but yeah, I, man, I couldn't have done sounds sappy to say, but I, I couldn't have done any of this without her that's awesome, and the reason I asked is because entrepreneurship is hard for the entrepreneur.

Speaker 1: 32:28

But something we don't think about is that it's actually really hard for the family as well.

Speaker 2: 32:33

Yeah. So, there came a time, you know, three years ago, I was working for somebody else kind of hit and miss and running the welding company on the side, and I was coming home just pissed off and mad and uh at where I was working.

Speaker 2: 32:48

Um, I was only working a few days a week. But things weren't going the way that I wanted to and, as my, my parents seem to tell me that it's my way or no way, and if I don't like it, I don't like it, you know, um. So I came home and I was mad and we sat down at dinner one night and my wife was finally like hey, you got, you got to shut the hell up, like I'm tired of hearing you. Um, you've got to do something to make yourself happy again. And uh, I was like man, I don't, I don't know.

Speaker 2: 33:13

So it comes back to the faith thing. Again, I I went out and I was trying to hustle some jobs and I told my wife I was like I'm just quitting, I'm quitting, I'm coming back home, I'm going to focus on the welding business. If it fails, it fails. If it doesn't, it doesn't. But if I don't give it 100%, you know it's not going to work out. And I actually got a phone call like two days later from a good friend of mine, a big fence job, and just that job was going to float financials for like three months. And it was like, oh my gosh, you know, this is what I was supposed to do.

Speaker 2: 33:46

Again.

Speaker 1: 33:46

Shut up and listen sit down, shut up and listen.

Speaker 2: 33:48

That's what I say a lot, so it's been a hell of a ride.

Speaker 1: 33:54

No, that's so cool. I mean that's so cool that you have you found someone. I know you guys are high school sweethearts, but that doesn't always necessarily mean that it's going to work out, especially when you choose a career path. Like you know, we have both chosen, but I mean we both had that similar story. You know, when I was working for a company and it was a private gym, I was running the personal training side and building out the whole department.

Speaker 1: 34:15

Me and the owner, you know, kind of had a disagreement on some stuff and you know I basically was like screw this, I'm out, like I quit. I didn't tell him, I didn't talk about it, I just quit. And then I walked out the doors and I was like shit, what am I going to do? So then I called her and you know I was like hey, she was my girlfriend at the time and I was like I'm just going to, I'm going to do this myself, I can't go work for another gym, I can't do this, I'm nervous. I was nervous telling you. She was like no, you can do it. And so same thing. She's always one of those people that will tell me like agree with what I say, because she believes in me.

Speaker 1: 34:55

But then, what has been cool, I did see a switch at one point with bringing the franchises on. I got approached by a franchise broker and he wanted to basically come on board and partner up, which means he would help sell franchises for us. And she basically said, do you? It's not, it's not a cash investment for me. But so she was like, do you really want to do that right now?

Speaker 1: 35:16

And I was like I don't know if I'm just cause I mean, as you know, it's taken me 13 months to sell a franchise. And I was like like I'm just getting over this, like I'm, I'm trying everything, I don't know. And she's like I guarantee you do it. Yes, it'll be easy. Yes, he'll start selling franchises for you. But would you be happy with this in a year, five years? And I was like probably not. And she was. I wasn't asking for advice, I was just telling you what I was doing. But sometimes, as easy as they are to say yes and give us that approval, they are the people that know us so well and when they see us make a decision that they know will affect us mentally later, they're the first persons that kind of put us in place also.

Speaker 2: 36:01

So I will say, grace, every idea I come to her with as far as like me personally, she's like, oh my gosh, you're the greatest and you're well, you're everything. And then I go to the RBO deal and, uh, and Steven said what he said. And I come home and I'm like man, I really took, I took that to heart in a good way. Um, I hope Steven watches this and knows that I really utmost respect man, I'm glad you did that. But I come home and I tell my wife and my wife is like dumbass, I've been telling you that for five years, but it's just a little different.

Speaker 2: 36:30

So, yeah, and to see my wife too, on the sides of of flowing with everything and making sure that you know, she knows that she's got my support, or vice versa, I mean, and then also grounding me to you know, hey, I've got, I want to buy this new machine. I think that's pretty stupid, you know. I think we ought to wait. Uh, damn it, okay, just going on. It's not that she's wanting to hinder she's. It's not that she's wanting to slow down or anything like that. It just she thinks you know it's not the right time and you sit back and think about it and nine times out of ten.

Speaker 1: 37:04

She's right, you know yeah, or at least at least gives you the chance to take a step back, because sometimes we do get excited, we get, you know, emotional or whatever, and then we just react on it out of excitement and so, whether you were right or she was right, at least gives you that pause. Damn, let me. Let me see where she's coming from, because she might be looking at this better than I am right now. So that's so awesome. So, before we wrap up, I want to ask a question that I don't like to give anyone this ahead of time, because I want it to be true and genuine. So it's not a tombstone. This is your legacy wall. So the Richard Powell legacy wall. On this legacy wall you can leave any lasting message or lesson that you've learned throughout your lifetime that you would leave for, you know, the next up and coming generation, the next up and coming, you know, welders, whatever you would like.

Speaker 2: 37:56

Ooh, that's a good one. Uh, I don't know it right now. In my mindset it's going to be reinvesting in, in the ones under you, um, or around you, I should say because that, uh, it seems like the more you invest in in the right people not everybody, um, but the more you invest in, the more you try to help out and be genuine. I guess the more people that ended up in your corner, um, the the truer you are, um in a hardship or a hard time, um, the the people seem to flock to that, you know, they not being that yes man, or or that person that, uh, just as a pushover, I guess, um, I don't know how to word that. I guess, uh, just being genuine, you know, being genuine, being honest, was what I would like to be valued as the most. Piss on the money and everything else. I could pick up the phone and call Richard and he was true every time. That's probably my biggest thing that I would like to take to the grave with me. That's awesome.

Speaker 1: 39:04

That's why I don't like to ask people the question ahead of time and give you time to think about it, because that message, as simple as it seems it, it's sometimes the most simplistic like answers that have the deepest value, right.

Speaker 2: 39:16

Our core values are and in fact, I'm looking at on the wall honesty and faith, you know. And Well, honesty and faith, you know, and genuine, are our biggest things, because in business you don't you don't find that you know. You find a salesperson and he's going to tell you every good reason you know, and that kind of goes back to that stupid welder comment. Yeah, I was being dogging on myself, but maybe I was being a little too real, you know, quote unquote I want it to be. I want to go into a job and tell them, hey, this is the job and this is what I'm going to do and I'm the baddest at what I do. But there are these issues and, yeah, sometimes it it doesn't sell the job.

Speaker 2: 39:54

But I want to truly think that, uh, any customer of mine that didn't go with a job because of a negative um was thankful that I was being honest with them. I do it all the time. Yes, I can build you this Taj Mahal, but it seems pretty stupid. You know the way you want to do this. So, yeah, that honesty speaks really high volumes to me.

Speaker 1: 40:17

No, it does, and I mean the honesty, the genuineness you know, the truthfulness and the faith of it. You know all is one of those things in business. You could be a salesperson, you could be a welder, you could be a business owner in any industry, and you will get more value and bring more value to people, who, in turn, will bring you value in terms of referrals and all that kind of stuff. When you are genuine, when you are honest, yes, you want to sell them a car or whatever a job, but when you let them know, like if you know, what their goal is for it, you're like look, these are the great things about this car For what you're looking for, though these are potential problems, I see. If you've already thought of that, then no worries. I just want to make sure that I'm, you know, transparent with you, because I don't want you to get off the lot and then all of a sudden realize this wasn't your dream car.

Speaker 2: 41:08

The clientele base, that I have for sure is I've got six pretty good people and I really value myself on that. We're true, we're legit. We may cuss and discuss, as I say, on a few objects, but every time I have their best interests at hand and I think that's one of our biggest things. As far as referrals go, I'm not going to come into a house and sell you a stainless handrail when powder coat would do just the same and it's a quarter of the cost.

Speaker 1: 41:36

You know, that's yeah, the honesty man, it's huge. That's awesome. That's awesome. Well, where can people connect with you?

Speaker 2: 41:46

Uh, everywhere, man, We've got, uh, we've got a little YouTube stuff going on. Uh, Facebook, obviously a pal fab and then uh, pfnwacom um website. So yeah, we're. We're in a bunch of different places, but pretty well, everything's based under the pal fab stuff.

Speaker 1: 42:01

Awesome. Well, richard, thank you so much for taking the time out, man, to hop on the Mindset Cafe today. And, guys, if you guys are listening, make sure you guys share this episode with a friend and leave us that five-star review, because it does help share the episode and share the show with others that are, like yourself, trying to develop themselves and be the best version of them, Richard, thank you, yeah, sure, versions of them, richard. Thank you, yeah, sure. Thanks, david, I appreciate it.