Founders' Forum

Why Most Businesses Fail—And How Chris Patino Found Success

• Marc Bernstein / Chris Patino • Episode 91

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What if setbacks weren’t roadblocks—but the key to innovation?

In this episode, we dive into the transformative journey of Chris Patino, the forward-thinking CEO of Powered by PMC. From overcoming challenges to pioneering a new approach in property care, Chris shares how resilience, adaptability, and technology are reshaping the industry. We also explore the mindset shift that allows entrepreneurs to turn obstacles into opportunities and build sustainable, community-driven businesses.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • How to embrace a ‘reset mindset’ and transform challenges into stepping stones
  • The evolution of property care—and how Chris is revolutionizing the industry
  • Lessons from Chris’s entrepreneurial journey, from family values to industry disruption
  • Why adaptability and perseverance are key to long-term business success
  • How to build a business with integrity, transparency, and purpose

Chris also reflects on his family’s legacy of resilience, sharing how his grandfather’s bold move from Mexico to the U.S. shaped his entrepreneurial drive. Plus, we discuss the importance of long-term vision, the strengths needed to sustain success, and why cherishing time with loved ones is essential.

🎧 Tune in now for a powerful conversation on overcoming setbacks, embracing innovation, and building a values-driven business.

About Chris Patino:
Chris Patino is an innovative disruptor, CEO and visionary behind PoweredbyPMC, a platform that redefines the connection between homeowners and service providers. With a commitment to enhancing marketplace efficiency, Chris is dedicated to creating streamlined solutions that empower clients and providers alike through technology and exceptional service. His work reflects a deep passion for transforming the property care industry with a focus on efficiency, sustainability, and community impact.

Connect:
Website poweredbypmc.com
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/christopher-patino-435075277
Instagram instagram.com/poweredbypmc
Facebook facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091424411055
TikTok tiktok.com/@primemgmtcontracting

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Announcer:

Entrepreneur, founder, author and financial advisor, Marc Bernstein helps high-performing business owners turn their visions into reality. Through his innovative work and the Forward Focus Forums, Marc connects entrepreneurs to resources that fuel their success. Founders Forum is a radio show and podcast where entrepreneurs share their journeys, revealing the lessons they've learned and the stories behind their success. Join Marc and his guests for a mix of inspiration, valuable insights and a little fun. Now let's dive in.

Marc Bernstein:

Good morning America. How are you? You know I ask that question every week rhetorically, but today I want to ask really how are you Like? How are you doing? We're post-election. There's a lot of concern in the world I don't get into politics on this show or religion but half the country thinks we're going to experience setbacks coming up. It's in the news every day. There are all kinds of things. So I'm just, you know, respond. You can go on our website. You can go M-A-R-C-marcJbernstein. com. Write to me, tell me how you are doing, because you know I'm concerned, but always concerned, about how you're doing. Our guest today is Chris. I'll introduce him in a minute, but we've been talking about setbacks minute. But we've been talking about setbacks and Chris, share your experience with setbacks and what they mean to you.

Chris Patino:

I mean, setbacks for me and I think we touched on this a little bit are well, I really like to dive into the language of that, right, whether a setback is truly a setback or a reset, and I think I like to look at it in that manner right, it's a fresh start. So, if you think about it that way, every setback has the opportunity for you to begin again, and I think that's such a fascinating thing.

Marc Bernstein:

So for those who listen often, you probably know who Arlo is, my dog and I was walking him this morning and it was time to return home because I had to drive into the station and he said he's looking at me like I'm not going back. So if I say go back, he doesn't move. But I've trained him to reset. Of course it takes a treat. Give him a treat, say reset, and he turns around and we start going. So it's kind of funny that we use that same word. I use it for a different purpose, but we were also talking about this earlier and I had said. An interesting thing is that you know companies and organizations when they have conferences off offsite. They call them retreats. I think that's the worst word in the world you could use.

Chris Patino:

Yeah, and I believe you said what Advancement right.

Marc Bernstein:

Don't call it a retreat, call it an advance. A thousand percent You're doing it to move forward. You're not doing it to go backward. Why would you call it a retreat? Right, Right, Lex? See, we have a very expressive engineer today. I like it. She's part of the conversation.

Announcer:

Turn your mic on, okay.

Marc Bernstein:

Anyway. So, yeah, so think about that. If you have a company, think about having an advance rather than a retreat. So my Chris today, my friend today, my guest today, is Chris Patino. He's an innovative disruptor, ceo and visionary behind Powered by PMC. Really interesting when he's doing a platform that redefines the connection between homeowners and service providers, and building owners to commercial building owners, not just homeowners. With a commitment to enhancing marketplace efficiency, chris is dedicated to creating streamlined solutions that empower clients and providers alike through technology and exceptional service. His work reflects a deep passion for transforming the property care industry, with a focus on efficiency, sustainability and community impact. And, by the way, I'm going to mention I asked if it was okay Chris is 26 years old and he's doing some amazing things. He's up to a lot and there's a story behind that. So welcome Chris officially.

Chris Patino:

Awesome. Thank you, Marc. Thank you again. Thank you for having me.

Marc Bernstein:

And let's hear a little of your story, your background, because it's very interesting how you got to where you are today.

Chris Patino:

No, yeah, I really. I appreciate that. I lived a very, very, very cookie cutter life. Right, I went to high school, I went to college, I graduated from there and shortly afterward I got into the government and I got into the private sector Lasted about a year year and a half in each sector and I felt really, really constrained. You know, I felt like I couldn't creatively express myself.

Marc Bernstein:

That being said, Whenever I hear that word constrained, I hear an entrepreneur. Yeah, no.

Chris Patino:

I think I've really heard a lot of people with the same views end up being in the same space. But what's fascinating is that I kind of broke out of that, right, I had my three days on 14 hours and from there I started working on this vision and because of that I really, really, really drove myself into the tech space, because I knew that's what I wanted to do. I knew that I wanted to create something that could ultimately give back, and it's funny because it's kind of one of those challenges I face right now. I'm constantly trying to better myself, I'm constantly trying to strive to do better, but I'm hit with a lot of resets, right. So, and it's because we're young, but that journey really led me to finding my place.

Marc Bernstein:

By the way, I'm not sure that is just because you're young, because I'm much older and it's still happening. Yeah, I mean, you know, part of being an entrepreneur is being, you know, flexible, nimble, you know. So you often have to reset, you know, you never know when a pandemic is going to come, I think more and more times than not, you're finding ways to reset.

Announcer:

Right.

Chris Patino:

And I think that's kind of what really drove me, and the baseline beneath all of that is I. I also never really saw myself in the contracting space, but I did see myself in the community space and I believe that this platform could address community needs that are foundationally necessary, um such as like, uh, water, electric, things like that, even the roads that we drive on.

Marc Bernstein:

And we know in Pennsylvania they're peppered with potholes, so addressing those needs and I think that's Although I have to tell you I've never seen as much improvement to the roads. You know, say what you want about our current president, right, but the infrastructure plan, all the roads around here are the best. I've seen them in my lifetime, I have to tell you.

Chris Patino:

This is true. There was an ASCE report, actually, and the rating went up from 2017. They do it every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineering. And while we did progress, I don't think we're progressing as quickly as we could Agreed, and I think that's why, when you enter a company right, you can do things a lot faster in a more innovative manner.

Marc Bernstein:

Free enterprise.

Chris Patino:

For sure, right A thousand percent.

Marc Bernstein:

So how did you get into the contracting business and then briefly explain what it is you do? Because it's a pretty interesting model, yeah.

Chris Patino:

So the way I got in is through a contracting group I don't know, mckee Homes. So, yeah, we ended up getting a contract with them and I started power washing on my days off of while I was in the private sector with my other job, three days, 14 hours. Then I was power washing on my days off and just really racking my brain that entire time about how am I going to put this thing together.

Announcer:

I don't know anything about coding.

Marc Bernstein:

I don't know anything, but I have an idea. I want this um, and your vision was what?

Chris Patino:

what that was at that point, the vision was what, at that point, the vision was to create a platform that can impact society. And I really think we nailed it, because the funding from that contract eventually led to me leaving that job. I left that other job. Now I was just power washing. I was cleaning these homes.

Marc Bernstein:

This is the power washing contract yeah, left that other job Now, I was just power washing, I was cleaning. This is the power washing contract. Yeah, yeah.

Chris Patino:

Right Power, washing, cleaning them, getting ready for settlement for the clients, and all right, this is what we're doing. This is what we're doing. And then, um, at some point, I I was, I started coding with chat GPT, if you're, if you're familiar Um, and I got about two buttons in six months and I was pulling my hair out. I was, I was frustrated and I went on a forum and I I posted please, please, somebody, please, help me. I just need help. And, um, I think what that taught me is that it really does take a village for something like this to even happen or conceptualize. So I met these two brothers there on the West Coast and they were like OK, I'm going to hear you out. We got together, we listened, we planned. We've been meeting every single week for the past eight, nine months, maybe 10. For the past eight, nine months, maybe 10. And because of that, they were able to pump out this amazing, amazing product.

Marc Bernstein:

And I really just got to-. So are they contractors to you that you've worked with, or are they part of your company, or are they-.

Chris Patino:

No, so they're just two individuals. They have their own company. It's a development company and they have their own developers. They have their own company. It's a development company and they have their own developers. They have everything and they really, really, really rallied behind this. Wow, even their developers rallied behind this. Their name is Superior Digital Partners.

Marc Bernstein:

Developers. They're software developers.

Chris Patino:

Software developers, not real estate developers. Yeah, no. Well, because prior to getting any other contract right in the trade industry, we needed to have a product as well. Otherwise, I was just going to be dumping money into the vision, but it wasn't going to be able to produce as much as I needed it to.

Chris Patino:

And so, yeah, so they pumped out this amazing product and on the back end I built out a team with what was coming in from the rest of the McKee contract. So now we're a team of four. We have someone on sales, we have an account manager, we have a scheduling coordinator, and then me and then what I mean there is like it really does take a village, because To handle accounts, to handle growth, to handle scheduling, six different contractors for one property, that's a lot.

Marc Bernstein:

So explain that, because we haven't really explained that yet what it is you're doing for property owners, Right?

Chris Patino:

right. So what we're doing is we're seamlessly connecting property owners to contractors. So whether you're a property owner, manager, even a renter, could use the platform. Technically, what we do is you get on the application, you select the properties that you want serviced, you select all the services that you need, you set a time, a date, a budget and what we do on the back end is we vet, make sure that they're insured, that they're licensed, and we build a relationship with them and connect you with three to five different contractors for each one of your services and get you three to five different price points, and then we're able to execute delivery of those services through the platform as well, on your date and time. So things get handled when you need them to get handled.

Marc Bernstein:

So I first fully understood that this morning. That that's what you do. I knew you did it for property owners. I was thinking more commercial, right? So I have a home that I've lived in for 25 years, my wife and I, and we are thinking about downsizing. We may or may not, but we have work to do before we do that and we have certain parameters that we've set up like we have to do it within a certain cost to make it worthwhile, so that we're not so we get our money back if we decide to sell. And this is like a dream to me. So we're going to talk afterwards because, managing all that and particularly, we have two homes One is out of state down south, where we'll be this winter, and so how do you manage that? We could do this remotely. It's pretty cool.

Chris Patino:

So this is a little plug for your company I appreciate that and it's even even in a use case scenario where like contract fraud is like on the rise, it's, it's it's been a prevalent um problem, especially within uh elderly communities, not just fraud.

Marc Bernstein:

how about contractors that show up, get half their money and then never show up again, never show up again? You hear that all the time.

Chris Patino:

Right it just it constantly happens and unfortunately, a lot of the people that I think are affected are elderly. Bless you Tried to hide that. But yeah, so I mean, I think, I think that's just kind of what happens and this is an avenue so like a use case example would be you could have your parents in florida, you could have an account and be based in pennsylvania and order those services knowing that they're going to have someone who's verified, who's vetted, who's insured and who's licensed you know, pretty amazing.

Marc Bernstein:

So. So listen, we've talked about this and we talk about it with everybody. Being an entrepreneur isn't all a bed of roses. It's not a smooth ride all the time, right. So tell me about before our break what kind of challenges you've had.

Chris Patino:

Oh man, where do you start? You're right. I think the biggest challenge and I'll be really, really honest is the challenge I've had with myself. I was 400 pounds. That alone messes with your mindset, right, you're just. I don't feel like doing anything, I don't feel like getting up. But having lost all of that weight, having had injuries back to back right, I think reframing again language, I think, is so important. Instead of it being like a setback, it's a reset. Now I wake up and I have to find new challenges every single time. So I think the biggest barrier has been myself, my mentality.

Marc Bernstein:

Well, you're one of the most honest people I've had on this show, because people talk about, oh, the markets, the recession, the pandemic, the you know getting good employees and all those things. But really, if you're leadership, if you talk about leadership, there's always ways around those kind of things and it really depends how you're leading yourself and how you're leading your company to a certain extent. And I think that's a really good opportunity for us to take a break, because I've got a lot of follow-up questions to that Awesome.

Announcer:

Powered by PMC is here to change the way you care for your property, tired of endless searching for reliable service providers. Change the way you care for your property, tired of endless searching for reliable service providers. Powered by PMC connects you with trusted pros, supporting small businesses and building stronger communities. From home repairs to major renovations, every project gets the precision and care it deserves, plus with real-time updates and secure payments. Managing your property has never been easier. This isn't just service, it's a movement. Join us in making a difference. Visit PoweredByPMCcom to get started, or download on the Apple or Play Store today.

Marc Bernstein:

We are back on Founders Forum with our guest today, chris Pitino, of Powered by PMC, a platform that defines the connection between homeowners and service providers, which I think is a very valuable service these days. So, chris, you were talking about challenges and the challenge being yourself in most cases, but clearly, with what you've accomplished, you have strengths as well. What are the strengths you've used to overcome those challenges?

Chris Patino:

I think the biggest strength that I could have used, and that's been instilled in me by my family, grandparents specifically has been perseverance, right Resiliency, the ability to bounce back and not get set back but get reset right. So to be able to start again from where you're currently at, and and I think that's so important you need to be able to meet yourself where you're at and and, and give yourself a little bit of grace. I'm still learning that Cause, cause, I mean I'll get, I'll get stressed. You know driving in, I want to make sure I'm on time, but I I took a moment five and I did like a breathing technique. I was like, okay, I really need to calm down because I'm going to get there anyway, right, and the world changes in that instance and it really is a perspective shift. That's really all it takes, and I think having the ability and the awareness to be able to shift my own perspective is the greatest strength any one person could have you know, by the way, I love that.

Marc Bernstein:

So we were delayed. I should tell the audience we were delayed in doing the show. We had my schedule changed a little bit. We had to push it back, but what a great time to do it. This is the day before Thanksgiving.

Marc Bernstein:

Right after Thanksgiving is when I start to really get deep into my planning for next year.

Marc Bernstein:

That's my reset, and I do it several times throughout the year and whenever needed as an entrepreneur.

Marc Bernstein:

But I have a formal time for resetting each year, and one of the things I've thought about is and I've always been a goal setter and a planner but this is going to sound strange because I ask people about their future goals and vision all the time, but I'm less a believer in goal setting than I've ever been.

Marc Bernstein:

What I am a believer in is something we were talking about this morning is, you know, having a vision and taking action steps, one at a time, and you can blow through your goals by doing that, instead of like having this goal and maybe just getting to 80% or 90% or even 100% of it, but maybe you're limiting yourself by doing that. So I'm resetting on what I think about goal setting as well, and that's part of my process, my year-end process, and I have in my calendar many hours set aside over the next month for that and into January, so that I kind of come out running in terms of my personal goals, my business goals, etc. So I love the idea that we're talking about reset right now and hopefully our listeners can pick up something on that, because you know people talk about new year's resolutions. I've I'm like kind of refocus on your vision and decide what actions you're going to take towards that vision, and that's it.

Chris Patino:

A thousand percent. And and again, it's all about today, right. It's all about starting today, meeting where you're meeting yourself at where you're at today, right, it's all about starting today, meeting yourself at where you're at today and then taking it from there and, much like you said, it's more time game than anything, right? So it's not a matter of if, because if you're doing it every day, it's more of a matter of when, when you'll get there right, exactly exactly.

Marc Bernstein:

Chris, I want to. We're going to go forward. We always go forward on the show and look forward, but before we do that, I want to go back one more second. You mentioned your family, and your family has been. We talked earlier in the before the show about you know they've been a huge influence on you, on your journey, and why don't you talk about where that journey began and how that's influencing you today?

Chris Patino:

Yeah, so I was actually, I was thinking about this, and I was thinking about it like is it directly for my?

Chris Patino:

parents Is it my uncles, is it my aunts? And I think the nail that I hit with the hammer was my grandfather really uprooting himself from Mexico, from, you know, selling bulls, selling corn, selling whatever he had at his disposal and working together as a family unit, and then uprooting that entire life and coming over to the States to strive for a better one right. They went to Arizona, they were in Texas, they were in Chicago, they ended up in Bristol.

Marc Bernstein:

And you mentioned to me he had to make not to interrupt you, but I want to make sure we cover. He had a bold personal move to make in order to do that. A thousand percent.

Chris Patino:

Yeah that. So his father initially did not even want him to get married to my grandmother. He, against all odds, said no, this is my wife, this is what I'm doing. And because of that decision, everything else was just bald after that. You have to leave, you have to go to the States, you got to start out on your own Right, pioneer. And what he did is he persevered through every single step and potential setback. Right. He reset, recalibrated and just continued to try to do the best for what his family needed. Right, and at the end I benefited from that right. I benefited from that because then he instilled those practices into his daughters, his sons, who instilled that into me. And now I really do take it as a duty to continue that journey, have you?

Marc Bernstein:

let him know this.

Chris Patino:

No, no, and I definitely should have him listen to this podcast. Yeah, definitely, I'll share it with him.

Marc Bernstein:

You really should, because I know he's still living and you should let him know that It'll reinforce the story within you as well, I think.

Chris Patino:

I think so too. I think some really interesting conversations could come from that as well, and I appreciate you for saying that, because I think it's something I should do.

Marc Bernstein:

And do you know if your I mean you have many cousins, I know, Do they appreciate that the way you do?

Chris Patino:

I think they do. I think you know what. I think that's a very common theme that we all rally around, and I think that's why we're close.

Chris Patino:

That's your family story, yeah right that we know where we come from and the fact that like it doesn't happen as much now, but like every Sunday, when we get together, when we visit, I think it really resonates with us how, how strong that impact is. Like it's not's not. You know, he, he didn't just wake up and and try to get something done. He literally like uprooted his entire life, what he knew, like the language he spoke, and he tried something new listen, I told you what you should do.

Marc Bernstein:

I don't like to do that, but but consider this yeah you instead of doing it at his funeral eventually and everybody discussing while he's alive, have a get-together and let everybody talk how they feel about that and what an inspiration he was.

Chris Patino:

I really like that idea. I really do, thank you.

Marc Bernstein:

Like have a lifetime sort of testimonial kind of thing. So let's look forward. So your 10-year vision so we're sitting here and it's 2034, prior to Thanksgiving, and you know what would have to happen as you look at your life, your business and in any context you want to look at that, for you to feel that was a successful 10-year period in your journey successful 10 year period in your journey.

Chris Patino:

So this is what drives me right. It's the 10 year vision that drives me, because success doesn't happen overnight. But at that point I want to have community impact right. So if you're a school that has a gym that's deteriorating, I want to be able to donate a gym right. If there is a pothole, a major pothole that's popping everyone's wheels. Or, for example, there is a bus stop right outside of my neighborhood that's just sitting on a piece of grass, like you're in a wheelchair, or it's wet, you're not accessing it or you're definitely not going to get on it, but like being able to impact the community at a level of foundational need so that way the community as a whole benefits and thrives together. I would love to see that in 10 years.

Marc Bernstein:

You know, since I've talked to you, we've had some nice conversations. That's been a constant theme. So I have no question you're going to do that. It's just a question of when Right? Constant theme. So I have no question you're going to do that. It's just a question of when Right right and what steps you take towards that between now and then. But because you think about it every day, I know you'll be doing that. We just have a couple of minutes left, chris, and one of your questions you pick, which I love. Not enough people pick this one what's your favorite song?

Chris Patino:

And we haven't talked about this. I'm interested to hear what you say. So literally any song by the 1975, short plug for them, oh, wow.

Marc Bernstein:

Yeah, yeah.

Chris Patino:

Recently, I just had a change of heart by them and I think it really encapsulates the entire conversation right. Having a change of heart is like having a change of perspective. You really need to be able to see the topic in a new light.

Marc Bernstein:

I like that band and I don't know that song, so that will be on my playlist for today. I'll be checking it out. I love hearing about new music. I haven't heard and I love the name of that one, so I'm sure I'm going to like it. One last question what has your life's journey been like? And you've described it a little bit, but what's it been like for you in the minute and 10 seconds we have left?

Chris Patino:

You know it's been a bumpy road, but it's a road that I absolutely love and adore. I wouldn't trade it for anything else and in fact I picked it, but the reason why I love it is because you get to pave it on your own Right. I love that.

Marc Bernstein:

So, in this 10-year vision you have, this is part of the question and it's part of the journey. What strengths are you bringing with you in regard to the challenges and I know reset is one Anything else you can think of that's going to help you get there?

Chris Patino:

Perseverance, resiliency, transparency and respect for every individual I meet along this journey.

Marc Bernstein:

And I would say, just knowing your commitment, because you're committed to your vision, right? So, chris, thanks so much for being here today. This is the end of our show today. Everybody who's listening live. Please have a happy Thanksgiving, be safe, enjoy your family, friends, have lots of love and see you next week on Founders Forum.

Announcer:

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