Paparelli Podcast Charlie Paparelli

In the closeness is the bonding for baby, mom, and dad. 

Simple philosophy. 

Simple products. 

Successful outcome. 

Brian Fosse founded Lalabu with his wife, Kerrie. At the time, she was his only encouragement in starting this specialty clothing business. And as they neared bankruptcy a few years later, even Kerrie began having doubts. 

But Brian pressed on. While sitting on a plane headed to an investor meeting, he knew he needed to continue to trust God and keep going. He read Isiah 40:28-31. It was his all-in moment.

Brian escaped $1mm in debt with a $20k per week debt-service payment. Three years later, the business turned wildly profitable and sold for eight figures. A real success story. A real relationship story. A real family story. A real God story. 

This is entrepreneurship at its best—a gifted young man with loads of ideas, a supportive wife, and the perseverance to succeed. 

There is something here for everyone.

Here is Brian’s Bible verse: 

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary; there is no limit to His understanding. He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. But those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:28-29, 31‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

I’ve met hundreds of entrepreneurs during my forty-year career in startups. Many of them were wildly successful. The successful knew their industry, solved a real problem, and timed the market just right. And they also knew how to make money. 
But after cashing out, they didn’t move on to the next stage in life…philanthropy. 
I was connected to Greg Thompson, the founder of ThomCo. ThomCo was a specialty commercial insurance brokerage. Greg grew this company over thirty years into a valuable company. But he discovered someone embezzled ten years into the company’s growth. This should have put him out of business and declared personal bankruptcy. 
But that’s when the miracles began. 
When he cashed out, he knew God’s hand was all over him and his company. At the exit, two things happened. He got more money than he would ever need in multiple lifetimes. And he realized he needed to give it away on a mission of changing lives. 
Greg told me, “Philanthropy is the most fulfilling occupation he has ever experienced.” 
Come and listen to his story and be inspired to become a philanthropist. And he tells you how to do it!

Twelve years after Greg Thompson started his company, it took off. Fifteen years after that, his insurance brokerage grew fivefold in premiums. His profits exploded. 

“Did you ever think of shutting down your business and doing something else during those twelve years?” I asked Greg. 

“Yes.” 

But Greg persevered.

It is so important to learn from Greg about being a successful entrepreneur. The perseverance, loyalty, support of his wife, and continuous learning that he exhibited led to a precious enterprise. And when the time came, he knew it was time to sell.

If you are thinking about or currently operating a service business.

If you are had a big dream for your life, and you are coming up short.

If you are staying loyal to your commitment to your cofounders and investors but are not sure where it is all leading.

This interview is filled with answers, insights, and encouragement. There is so much wisdom shared in this conversation. 

Listen and be rewarded for the time you invest

Greg Thompson is an entrepreneur who built a specialty commercial insurance brokerage. In this interview, Greg shares his experiences moving from an insurance agent to entrepreneur to general manager to CEO.
For topics:
How to set yourself up for board positions while building your company.How to develop your company even faster through acquisitions.How to become a better business owner by joining a CEO small group, like Vistage.How to be a leader who practices people are your greatest asset.Greg shares what worked and what didn’t as he built his company. How one day, he looked in the mirror and asked, “How am I screwing up this company I started?”
Join us.

When I asked Authur Washington, the Principal of KIPP collegiate, how many students in his school, he said, “Eight hundred and forty scholars. Eight hundred and forty beautiful souls!”

His answer set the tone for our conversation. This conversation describes the building of a great leader—a man who is sacrificing to accomplish the mission God gave him. 

His objectives:

- To change the lives of the next generation. 
- Educate, encourage and show them discipline and responsibility. 
- Instill a spirit of hope. 
- Mold them into next-generation leaders. 

I learned about leadership. More importantly, I am reminded to change lives, the leader must love the people he leads.