Blog + Diamonds
VIDEO SUMMARY
Discover the Secret Steps to Success: A Blueprint for Billion-Dollar Dreams!
Hey there, champ! Ever wonder how a guy turned building houses into a $600 million empire? 🏠💰
Imagine making 100k+ a year while doing the dirty work – no, we’re not talking about a 9 to 5 desk job! 🛠️
Forget the elevator to success; this is more like the world’s slowest elevator, with plenty of crazy stops along the way! 🐌
What if we told you it’s not just about the money? Larry Janeski drops some serious gems on building a business, balancing life, and leaving a footprint! 🌟
Intrigued? We’ve got the secret sauce – stay tuned, and we’ll spill the beans! 🌭
Get ready for a rollercoaster ride from blue-collar beginnings to a billion-dollar mindset! 💎
Curious yet? Stay tuned for the full scoop – Larry’s got a lot more up his sleeve! 🚀💼 #BusinessInsights #SuccessStory
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Start Early and Gain Experience
Description:
Begin your entrepreneurial journey at a young age and gain experience in the industry you are interested in.
Implementation:
- Identify your passion or interest within a specific industry.
- Seek opportunities to gain experience, even if it means starting at a young age.
- Be open to learning and taking on various roles to understand the business from the ground up.
Specific Details:
- Larry Janeski started in the basement repair industry at the age of 17, gaining valuable experience from a young age.
Step 2: Demonstrate Skills and Capability
Description:
Showcase your skills and capabilities to potential clients or customers to build trust and credibility.
Implementation:
- When given an opportunity, perform your tasks exceptionally well to demonstrate your skills.
- Be transparent about your capabilities and what you can deliver.
- Word-of-mouth recommendations can play a significant role in building your reputation.
Specific Details:
- Larry and his team, at a young age, successfully built houses and gained the trust of neighbors, which led to more opportunities.
Step 3: Embrace Blue-Collar Work Ethic
Description:
Recognize the value of blue-collar work and embrace the work ethic required for success in this field.
Implementation:
- Understand that manual labor can be a source of stable income.
- Emphasize the importance of craftsmanship and dedication.
- Highlight that blue-collar work is less susceptible to automation and offshoring.
Specific Details:
- Larry stresses the irreplaceability of skilled blue-collar workers and their ability to provide essential services.
Step 4: Build a Skilled Workforce
Description:
Invest in building a skilled workforce that shares your passion and commitment.
Implementation:
- Recruit employees who are willing to learn and work hard.
- Provide training and mentorship to develop their skills.
- Foster a team culture that values quality work and dedication.
Specific Details:
- Larry emphasizes the importance of having dedicated and skilled workers who are committed to their tasks.
Step 5: Appreciate the Value of Your Workforce
Description:
Recognize the dedication and hard work of your employees, and ensure they are compensated accordingly.
Implementation:
- Acknowledge the challenging working conditions your employees face.
- Pay your employees well for their efforts and skills.
- Create a positive work environment that fosters a sense of pride in their work.
Specific Details:
- Larry emphasizes that his employees make over $100,000 a year because they earn it through their dedication and hard work.
Step 6: Focus on Steady Growth, Not Quick Hits
Description:
Avoid the mindset of seeking quick profits and instead focus on steady, sustainable growth.
Implementation:
- Understand that building a successful business takes time.
- Be prepared for challenges and setbacks along the way.
- Make a series of small, consistent steps towards your goals.
Specific Details:
- Larry mentions that he didn’t make a big jump but rather a lot of little ones over the years.
Step 7: Persist Through Challenges
Description:
Be resilient and persistent in the face of adversity and setbacks.
Implementation:
- Accept that challenges are part of the entrepreneurial journey.
- Don’t give up when faced with losses or obstacles.
- Keep pushing forward, even when it seems difficult.
Specific Details:
- Larry shares his experience of going $5.5 million in debt with one business but persisting for 11 years until it became profitable.
Step 8: Create Positive Impact
Description:
Strive to create a positive impact on the world through your business.
Implementation:
- Consider the environmental and social implications of your business.
- Aim to make your products or services more sustainable and efficient.
- Measure your success not only in financial terms but also in terms of the positive impact you make.
Specific Details:
- Larry points out that his business makes houses more energy-efficient, reducing fossil fuel consumption and having a positive environmental impact.
Step 9: Maintain Work-Life Balance
Description:
Ensure a healthy work-life balance to avoid burnout and maintain a fulfilling personal life.
Implementation:
- Prioritize family and personal time.
- Set boundaries for work hours and stick to them.
- Find ways to delegate tasks and responsibilities to manage your workload effectively.
Specific Details:
- Larry highlights that he hasn’t worked on weekends for 30 years and emphasizes that he hasn’t ignored his family.
Step 10: Prioritize Positive Mindset
Description:
Recognize the importance of maintaining a positive mindset in business and personal life.
Implementation:
- Seek motivation and inspiration from sources like motivational tapes, books, or mentors.
- Embrace a positive attitude even when facing challenges.
- Believe in your abilities and the potential for success.
Specific Details:
- Larry mentions that he discovered motivational audio programs early in his life, which had a profound impact on his success.
Step 11: Create Motivational Resources
Description:
Share your knowledge and motivation with others through resources like tapes, books, or content.
Implementation:
- Compile your insights and experiences into motivational materials.
- Use your platform to inspire and educate others on their entrepreneurial journey.
- Offer resources to your audience to help them overcome obstacles.
Specific Details:
- Larry has created his own motivational tapes to inspire others.
Step 12: Build a Loyal and Dedicated Team
Description:
Foster a loyal and dedicated team of employees who share your vision and commitment.
Implementation:
- Recruit individuals who align with the company’s values and culture.
- Provide a positive work environment that encourages loyalty.
- Recognize and reward employees for their dedication and long-term service.
Specific Details:
- Larry’s employees have been with him for many years, showcasing the importance of a committed team.
Step 13: Delegate Effectively
Description:
Delegate responsibilities to your team members and trust them to handle their roles.
Implementation:
- Assign tasks and responsibilities based on individual strengths and skills.
- Trust your team members to take ownership of their roles.
- Avoid micromanaging and allow room for creativity and initiative.
Specific Details:
- Larry’s leadership style is characterized by not receiving constant phone calls about problems, thanks to having a capable team.
Step 14: Reduce Employee Turnover
Description:
Minimize employee turnover by creating a stable and rewarding work environment.
Implementation:
- Hire and retain employees who are a good fit for your company culture and values.
- Provide ongoing training and opportunities for career growth.
- Foster a sense of loyalty and commitment among your team members.
Specific Details:
- Larry emphasizes that constant turnover prevents a company from gaining traction and growth.
Step 15: Invest in Education and Skill Development
Description:
Prioritize education and skill development to build a knowledgeable and capable workforce.
Implementation:
- Encourage employees to gain skills and knowledge relevant to their roles.
- Invest in training programs and resources for continuous learning.
- Create a culture of personal and professional growth within your organization.
Specific Details:
- Larry mentions his own educational background in carpentry and the importance of learning relevant skills.
Step 16: Effective Marketing and Customer Engagement
Description:
Implement effective marketing strategies and maintain excellent customer engagement.
Implementation:
- Use technology to generate leads and respond promptly to inquiries.
- Encourage customer reviews and testimonials to build trust.
- Monitor online reputation and address customer feedback.
Specific Details:
- Larry’s company generates thousands of leads through the internet and maintains a strong online presence.
Step 17: Innovation and Product Development
Description:
Promote innovation and product development to stay ahead in your industry.
Implementation:
- Invest in research and development to create new and improved products.
- Seek patents for innovative solutions or products.
- Regularly update and refine your product offerings.
Specific Details:
- Larry highlights his inventions and 32 patents, emphasizing the importance of innovation.
Step 18: Maintain a Physical Presence
Description:
Balance technology with hands-on work and physical presence.
Implementation:
- Stay connected with the physical aspects of your business.
- Get involved in hands-on activities and projects.
- Balance tech-related tasks with manual work to stay grounded.
Specific Details:
- Larry expresses his preference for hands-on work and creating physical installations.
Step 19: Value All Types of Work
Description:
Appreciate both blue-collar and white-collar work equally.
Implementation:
- Recognize the value in all types of work, whether blue-collar or white-collar.
- Avoid placing one above the other and respect different career paths.
- Understand that success is not solely defined by financial achievements.
Specific Details:
- Larry shares his view that blue-collar work is equally valuable and should not be looked down upon.
COMPREHENSIVE CONTENT
Introduction
Yeah, basements meet Larry Janeski, the blue-collar billionaire. He has built one of the largest and most successful basement repair companies in America. He’s invented revolutionary products that millions use across their homes. He has a portfolio of blue-collar businesses making $650 million a year, and he’s achieved this all while working less than the average CEO. If you have to work 70 hours a week, you’re doing it wrong. So today, we’re finding out what it takes to build a billion-dollar blue-collar Empire.
Early Career
You’ve been running this for 40 years. Well, I started when I was 17. And how much did you make your first year? I made, you know, $188,000 maybe. I don’t know. I got a call when I was 18 years old. Can you build a house for me? Yeah, but I’m 18 years old, so if that’s a problem, let me know. In six weeks, me, my friend who was 17 years old, and my younger brother who was 14 years old on summer vacation, the three of us, you can’t make this up, we built the house. And then when we were done, the guy next door comes over, says, “Can you build mine?” And then we built his. And the guy on the other side comes over, “Can you build mine?” And that’s it. I was off to the races.
Blue-Collar Billionaire
How does it feel when I say the phrase “blue-collar billionaire”? You know, it might be surprising to you, but, you know, hello. You know, in before, you know, whatever, 1990, we didn’t have computers, and there were people that did well before then. Okay, so tech isn’t the only way to make money. Okay, you know, you go to the store, you buy groceries, you go to a mall, and you have all this retail. But, you know, the cool thing is about working with your hands is that you can never be replaced by AI. Amazon’s not going to take over your job. It’s not going to be offshore to India or anywhere else, right? Nobody can go into a homeowner and fix their basement, you know, from Amazon or from India. No robot is ever going to fix a crawl space. It’s just not going to happen, right? We need guys who are willing to get dirty. They know how to do what to do and why they’re there. And that’s what we do. These guys are real men, okay? You would see what these guys do; you would not believe it. You would not believe what these guys do.
Hard Work
What do you mean, the work that they do? How hard work it is, crawl space work. We go into crawl spaces that are this high, and they’ve got dead mice and snake skins and bugs, and it’s all mud under there. And they crawl in there. When they leave at the end of the day, the customer could crawl in there in their pajamas and slide around. And these guys go into these very difficult environments every single day, and they make an incredibly almost impossible job look easy. And we pay them very, very well.
Salary Range
What’s the range of salary someone these guys make? Over $100,000 a year because they earn it. It’s hard to see this here, but he who works with his hands is a laborer; he who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman; he who works with his hands, his head, and his heart is an artist.
Building the Empire
From Larry’s Secret making $188,000 building homes to owning a $600 million a year business, I had to find out what Larry’s secret is. That’s a big jump from here to $600 million a year. Like, did you just start it? Hey, I’m just going to do basements, and just the demand was there. It’s been 40 years, okay? Come on, we didn’t make a big jump; we made a lot of little ones. There’s a lot of business people looking for the quick hit, right? I’m going to start this business; I’m going to sell it in 3 years, right? You’re going in it with the wrong mindset to begin with. My doctor energy saver business, I went $5.5 million in the hole with no end to the losses in sight. And then my partner quit and sued me. So what do I do? Do I quit? No, I kept going. 11 years later, I made $1 today. It’s very profitable. We’re making houses more comfortable, more energy-efficient. They burn less fossil fuels and electricity, and they’re less expensive to own. I’ve had a great positive environmental impact on the world because I didn’t quit.
Work-Life Balance
Do you have regrets about working too much, and was all this worth it? That I’m glad you ask because I don’t want people to think that I was the classic story of the busy business guy who was married to his business and worked so much and ignored his family. That is not the issue. And I haven’t worked the weekend in 30 years. If you have to work 70 hours a week, you’re doing it wrong. You cannot ignore your family; you cannot ignore having some fun in the beginning.
The Real Purpose
Think it’s about making money? You think it’s about making a lot of money, right? I think that a lot of business owners don’t stick with it long enough to realize what it’s really about, and it’s not about the money. I don’t get my self-esteem from how much money I make. I get it from those people, right? From them looking at me and saying, “I trust you.” At your funeral, nobody’s going to say, “Oh, we had so much money.” They don’t care. It’s the relationships and the good that you’ve done, the footprint. Did you leave the world better than when you found it? That’s what it’s about.
Upcoming Book
I’ve been working hard on my upcoming book, “Million-Dollar Weekend,” which is coming out early 2024. Stay tuned. Looking through my notes, I found a lost chapter that is not in the final book. Very serious. It reveals things like how to double your income without any new customer, how to create complementary products to generate more income. One entrepreneur did this and made an extra $340,000. How to optimize pricing strategy and maximize profits, and more. The lost chapter is not online or Amazon or anywhere else. It is only for people on my list, like you. You can download it for free at noah.com/lost. That’s noah.com/lost. It’s also below in the description. All right, back to the video.
Positive Mindset
A huge part of Larry’s success that he downplayed in his early career was how serious he took having a positive mindset. You got a lot of your education through motivational tapes. You got a lot of your learnings early on. I discovered N.G. Conan audio programs when I was 19, and it changed my life. And I would listen to cassette tapes driving around in my truck, and my friends would make fun of me. You know, listen to all that motivational crap and stuff. So I kind of hid it from them for a long time, you know. But I wore those things out, yeah. Brian Tracy and Earl Nightingale, you know, he’s like a father to me, you know. And now it comes full circle as Larry has created his own motivational tapes to inspire others on their journey. Some people say, “I can’t be successful because I’m not talented.” Really? I don’t believe that.
Larry’s Office Tour
Now was the time for Larry to give me a tour of his $13 million office, and as he was taking me through, we met a few of his employees, and I was blown away by how loyal they are to Larry. Michael, how long you’ve been here? 9 years, November 14. All right, 9 years, November 14th. Sue, how long you’ve been here? Almost 20 years. Yeah. How long you’ve been here? 16 years. 16 years. How long you’ve been here? Going to be 21 years. What makes you want to stay? Oh, the people, just the whole atmosphere of the company. The thing I don’t understand, Larry, how are you so calm? There’s a saying, “Flows uphill.” All the problems that no one else could solve go up to the leader. I don’t get those problems. My phone doesn’t ring, uh, and it’s on right now. I didn’t turn it off because I have good people.
Building a Great Team
Need to create a team, a great team of people who stay. If you have continual turnover, nobody gets good at what they’re doing, right? And then you’re constantly rebuilding your company. You know if you turn everybody over every 24 months, you have a brand new company every 24 months. You can never get traction. You’re going to go for a ride on the world’s slowest elevator. No, come on.
Learning Skills
How did you learn your initial skills? I went to a Technical High School, a Regional Vocational Technical High School. I chose carpentry. Yeah, so I wasn’t afraid to cut wood and nail it together.
Marketing and Lead Generation
So this is marketing, so they generate, you know, 15,000 leads a year. If Kim gets a lead from the internet, she’s calling within 60 seconds. I just want to see the Google reviews. This is just so good, so well run. Let’s see what the customers say. “3 days ago, five stars. Added a full bathroom to my basement. Tech professionals came on time, high-quality work. They put in a basement dehumidifier system.”
Inventing Products
All this is displays of different products that we either manufacture or distribute to our dealers. I invented most of our key products for basement waterproofing and crawl spaces. I have 32 patents. Can you show us some of those products? Yeah, this is a dehumidifier that my son designed. This is the most efficient high-performance dehumidifier in the world. My son also developed the world’s best air purifier. He built this room that we would fill with smoke and watch it clear the air. And we have videos on it to prove that this is the world’s best air purifier. We set up lasers in here so you could see the smoke. And we put every competitive air purifier in here and did the same test. And you could see the smoke go right through it with your own eyes.
Boomtown Theme
So this is Boomtown; this is the 1880s mining town theme. So this is the Boomtown mine, and this is what the miners would have been going after there. That’s cool, that’s cool. Plus, this is your stuff too, right? No, this is foam. Yeah, so I sprayed the foam and pushed them in. We built all this, designed and built the whole thing. We’re contractors, right? That’s like, I’m so over Tech; these tech companies suck, dude. I’m getting dirty, my hands messy.
Vintage Industrial Space
This is a vintage industrial space, and all the desks are like 100-year-old oak desks. And you know all this stuff is most of all this stuff, including light fixtures, is from old factories and stuff. This is a sculpture of the Business Machine model. All my dealers walk in here; they know what that is, and it actually operates. This was from Grand Central Station, literally mailbox is from Grand Central Station.
Blue Collar Perspective
This year when someone says Blue Collar, what does that make you feel or what do you think when you hear that? For me, I’ve always been blue collar. I don’t think of it that way. I don’t think that white collar is any better. I mean, you could have a guy who’s a billionaire, but if his foundation’s messed up, who are you going to call now, buddy?
If you liked this video, you are going to love this video right up here where I talk to five millionaires over the age of 80 and ask them if the money was worth all the sacrifices they made. Make sure you’re subscribed to the channel if you are not already. We have some exciting billionaire interviews coming soon. Uncle Noah loves you, and I’ll see you out there. PE PE.
