The Violent Action Podcast

Blue Collar Business Accelerator
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Entrepreneurship

Welcome to The Violent Action Podcast where real stories meet real results. Each episode features driven entrepreneurs, contractors, and business owners who are taking action and building something bigger than themselves. We dive into their journeys—the wins, the setbacks, and the lessons learned along the way. If you're serious about growth, business, and making things happen, this podcast is for you.

  1. 3h ago

    Why His $1M Landscaping Business Is Easier to Run Than It Was at $450K

    Apply to join the Accelerator ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.info/apply-336997 Check out our website ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.com At just 22 years old, TJ Palmer, owner of Summit Landscape and Design in central Indiana, is on track to generate over $1 million in revenue after starting his business less than three years ago. But not long ago, he was a college freshman who knew he wanted something different. After one semester, he dropped out, invested $20K into equipment, and went all in on building a landscaping company. In this episode of The Violent Action Podcast, Logan sits down with TJ to break down how he went from mowing lawns and taking on $500 landscaping jobs to running a seven-figure business. They discuss the mistakes he made early on, how he learned to install patios without previous experience, and what changed when he stopped spending every hour on job sites and started focusing on growing the company. TJ shares how his first year brought in roughly $180K, followed by $450K in year two, and now over $1 million in sold work in year three. But what makes his story interesting isn't just the revenue growth. He's actually working fewer hours and spending less time in the field than he was when the company was doing less than half its current revenue. One of his biggest breakthroughs came from spending roughly $2K–$3K on door hangers that initially produced just one customer. That customer hired him for a $30K patio, which eventually generated another $200K in referral work. Meanwhile, TJ spent $1,000 testing paid advertising and walked away with zero jobs. He also explains how hiring a local brand ambassador, building relationships throughout his community, and developing a strong reputation helped him generate consistent, high-quality leads without relying on paid ads. You'll discover: - How TJ went from dropping out of college at 19 to building a business on pace for $1 million at 22 - Why he invested $20K into a truck, trailer, and equipment to get started - How he sold his first 450-square-foot patio without ever installing one before - How Summit Landscape and Design grew from $180K to $450K to over $1 million in roughly three years - How one $30K patio generated roughly $200K in additional referral work - Why $1,000 in paid advertising produced zero jobs while referrals continued bringing in customers - How a local brand ambassador helped him build relationships and generate leads - Why growing from $450K to $1 million actually made his life easier instead of harder - How using subcontractors allowed him to step away from production and focus on the business - Why narrowing his services to repeatable hardscape projects improved efficiency and profitability - How he's attracting leads for $50K–$100K projects while already booking work into next spring - Why building a brand and strong referral network can be more valuable than spending money on ads too early Today, TJ has over $1 million in sold work, a reliable production team, consistent lead flow, and more freedom than he had when he was doing $450K. But the biggest takeaway from his story is that growing a business doesn't have to mean working more hours, buying more equipment, or taking on every job that comes your way. He started with a truck, a trailer, no hardscaping experience, and a willingness to figure things out. Less than three years later, he's built a seven-figure company without relying on paid advertising to get there. Essential listening for any young contractor, landscaper, or service business owner who's tired of working sunup to sundown and wants to build a business that can grow without requiring more of their time.

  2. 6d ago

    Why Ambitious Men Struggle to Find The Right Woman

    Apply to join the Accelerator ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.info/apply-336997 Check out our website ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.com Before building Blue Collar Business Accelerator, Logan spent seven years running a landscaping company while his significant other, Summer, built her own career in health and fitness. They were both ambitious, both entrepreneurs, and both chasing different goals. Today, they're building a successful business together, but the journey wasn't nearly as straightforward as it might seem. In this episode of The Violent Action Podcast, Logan and Summer sit down for an unfiltered conversation about their seven-year relationship, entrepreneurship, sacrifice, and the journey that led to building BCBA. They share what their relationship looked like when they first met at 19, the challenges that nearly pulled them apart, and how communication, compromise, and personal growth changed their future. From disagreements about money, drinking, friendships, and work-life balance to eventually combining their careers, they explain what it takes to build a relationship while chasing ambitious goals. But their story goes beyond relationships. Logan breaks down the countless businesses they experimented with before BCBA existed. From flipping shoes and selling clothing to landscaping, financial coaching, and developing pre-workout gummies, their journey was filled with ideas, failures, and unexpected opportunities. He also reveals how selling a laser level on Facebook Marketplace eventually led to helping two young contractors start their businesses, laying the foundation for what would become Blue Collar Business Accelerator. You'll discover: Why Logan and Summer weren't necessarily compatible when they first met at 19How to find a partner who supports your ambition without expecting them to sacrifice everythingThe biggest relationship green flags and red flags Logan looked forWhy communication and self-awareness are essential in business and relationshipsHow they navigated disagreements about money, alcohol, friendships, and working long hoursWhy successful relationships require compromise and personal growthHow Summer pushed Logan to sell his landscaping company and pursue something biggerThe businesses they started and walked away from before finding success with BCBAHow they invested $46,000 into developing pre-workout gummiesThe unexpected Facebook Marketplace interaction that helped spark BCBAWhy Logan believes entrepreneurs should capitalize on momentumHow they've learned to balance different lifestyles while building a business togetherTheir long-term vision for BCBA and the future they're buildingToday, BCBA works with hundreds of contractors across the United States and Canada, helping business owners grow stronger companies. But what makes this conversation different is the story behind the business. Logan didn't start with a perfect plan. He spent years chasing opportunities, starting businesses, making mistakes, and learning along the way. Throughout that journey, his relationship with Summer evolved alongside his career. From two 19-year-olds pursuing separate goals to building a company together, their story shows what can happen when two people are willing to grow, communicate, sacrifice, and work toward a shared vision.

  3. Oct 20

    He Did More Jobs in 1 Week Than His Entire First Summer. Here's What Changed...

    Apply to join the Accelerator ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.info/apply-336997 Check out our website ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.com At just 23 years old, Charlie Kent is building a moving company alongside his family's third-generation self-storage business, JK Self Storage and Moving, based out of St. Cloud, Minnesota. But before stepping into the family business, Charlie moved across the country to guide snowmobile trips in Wyoming, spent nearly $15,000 on a one-year business program in Montana, and started a spray foam insulation company that he eventually sold. After returning to Minnesota, Charlie saw an opportunity to expand his family's 30-year-old self-storage operation into the moving industry. With 10 storage facilities, existing trucks, and employees with moving experience, he launched the moving side in July 2025. But getting customers wasn't as easy as he expected. During his first summer, business was slow. After joining Blue Collar Business Accelerator, Charlie began focusing on building a recognizable local brand, improving his Google reviews, creating testimonial videos, and changing how he handled estimates. The results? This summer, his company was completing more moving jobs in a single week than it had during the entire previous summer. In this episode, Charlie breaks down what makes his moving company different, why personal customer service is becoming a competitive advantage, and how he's growing a business without relying on the same automated systems and impersonal sales processes as his competitors. You'll discover: * How Charlie went from guiding snowmobiles in Wyoming to building a moving company at 23 years old * Why he spent nearly $15K on business school and what he learned about traditional education versus real-world entrepreneurship * How he started a spray foam insulation company, ran it for two years, and eventually sold it * Why his family decided to expand their 30-year-old self-storage business into the moving industry * How JK Self Storage and Moving went from a handful of jobs to completing more moves in one week than an entire previous summer * Why switching from phone estimates to in-person estimates helped Charlie stand out from other moving companies * How Facebook content, Google reviews, customer testimonials, and branded equipment helped build trust in his local market * Why answering the phone with a real person instead of an AI receptionist or call center can be a competitive advantage * How offering moving and storage together creates a better customer experience and separates his company from competitors * Why Charlie believes building relationships and providing exceptional customer service matter more than complicated business systems * How to improve your sales process, qualify leads, and decide when your business actually needs a CRM * Why consistency in marketing matters even when your schedule is completely booked Today, Charlie is helping grow his family's self-storage operation while building the moving company into a business of its own. He's still working long days, running crews, meeting customers, and figuring out how to create better systems as the company grows. But what separates Charlie from his competition isn't some complicated marketing strategy or expensive software. It's his willingness to show up, answer the phone, build relationships, and make the entire experience easier for his customers. His story proves that sometimes the biggest opportunities in business come from doing the simple things that everyone else has stopped doing.

  4. Oct 15

    He Was Making $2,000 a Week Detailing Cars. So Why Didn't He Quit?

    Apply to join the Accelerator ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.info/apply-336997 Check out our website ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.com At just 20 years old, Shannon from Mobile Detail Magicians in Brainerd, Minnesota, is on track to do roughly $150K–$200K in revenue this year after starting his business out of a 2007 Ford Fusion. What began with a $1,000 investment in detailing supplies and knocking on doors has turned into a growing business with four employees, a recognizable local brand, and a schedule booked out over a month in advance. Shannon's journey started at 16 years old, making just $13 an hour detailing cars at a local dealership. After spending a year learning the trade, he realized he could take those same skills and build something of his own. He invested an entire paycheck into equipment, loaded up his Ford Fusion, and started going door to door offering $100 details to homeowners around the Brainerd Lakes area. But building the business wasn't an overnight success. Shannon spent years balancing his dealership job with detailing on the weekends, eventually making around $2,000 a week from his own customers while still earning just $17 an hour at his regular job. Despite knowing he could make more money working for himself, he admits that one of the biggest reasons he didn't quit sooner was because of a girl he liked at work. After committing to the business full time, Shannon focused on building a recognizable brand, collecting Google reviews, generating organic leads, and hiring the right people. By prioritizing quality and customer experience over competing on price, Mobile Detail Magicians collected over 120 Google reviews and became consistently booked out for four to six weeks during its busiest season. You'll discover: - How Shannon went from making $13 an hour to building a detailing business on track for nearly $200K at 20 years old - Why he invested $1,000 of his savings into detailing supplies and started knocking on doors at 17 - How he landed his first customers by offering $100 details without knowing much about sales - The hilarious reason he stayed at his nine-to-five longer than he should have - How he was making roughly $2,000 a week detailing on weekends while still working for $17 an hour - How Facebook, organic marketing, and over 120 Google reviews helped him stay booked out for over a month - Why lower-ticket service businesses can still be highly profitable - How hiring and training employees helped him grow beyond being a one-man operation - Why Shannon spent nearly two months training a new employee instead of immediately sending him into the field - How the right mindset, consistency, and willingness to take risks can create opportunities at any age Today, Shannon runs a growing detailing business offering everything from interior and exterior detailing to ceramic coatings, paint correction, paint protection film, and tint. With a team behind him and a strong local reputation, he's building something much bigger than the side hustle he started as a teenager. But the biggest takeaway from Shannon's story isn't the revenue or the number of employees. It's his willingness to take action before everything was figured out. He didn't have a fancy truck, years of business experience, or a massive marketing budget. He had a Ford Fusion, $1,000 in supplies, a skill he'd learned on the job, and the confidence to knock on doors until somebody said yes. Essential listening for anyone who's young, working a nine-to-five, running a lower-ticket service business, or waiting for the perfect opportunity to bet on themselves.

  5. Oct 9

    $3.8M Contractor: "I Was the Bottleneck." How He Doubled His Business in 12 Months

    Apply to join the Accelerator ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.info/apply-336997 Check out our website ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.com Blake Dungey, owner of Volt Coatings in Chanhassen, Minnesota, is on pace to do roughly $3.8 million in revenue with nearly 22 employees. But his journey wasn't an overnight success. It took him six years to reach his first $1 million before making a few critical changes that helped him grow from $1.2 million to $2.4 million in just one year. After leaving a career in graphic design, Blake started his concrete coatings business in 2018 with rented equipment, no employees, and almost no advertising budget. Through strong branding, quality work, and word-of-mouth referrals, he steadily grew the company to $750K in annual revenue. But Blake eventually became the biggest bottleneck in his own business. He was handling sales, managing jobs, ordering materials, and making nearly every decision. Everything changed when he hired his first salesperson and appointment setter, learned to delegate, and started focusing on building a business instead of doing everything himself. In this episode, you'll discover: How Blake built a concrete coatings company approaching $4 million in annual revenueWhy it took six years to reach $1 million but just one year to double from $1.2M to $2.4MThe two key hires that helped unlock over $1 million in additional revenueHow branding, referrals, and Google reviews helped him grow without relying on paid advertisingWhy hiring the right people and building a strong company culture makes scaling easierHow tracking the right numbers helped Blake identify and eliminate bottlenecksWhy investing in your local community can outperform traditional advertisingThe difference between building a high-revenue business and a highly profitable oneWhy getting out of your own way is often the biggest step toward growthToday, Blake leads a team of nearly 22 employees and continues growing Volt Coatings with a focus on profitability, company culture, and long-term sustainability. His biggest lesson? More revenue doesn't necessarily mean a better business. Real success comes from building the right systems, trusting the right people, and creating a company that can grow without everything depending on you. Essential listening for contractors looking to break past their current revenue ceiling, build a stronger team, and scale profitably without sacrificing their entire life to the business.

  6. Oct 3

    This $750K Plumber Had to Cash Out His Retirement to Stay Alive

    Apply to join the Accelerator ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.info/apply-336997 Check out our website ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.com At 28 years old, Isaac from Dammens Plumbing has taken his plumbing business from roughly $90K in year one, to $400K in year two, and is now on track to do around $750K in his third year in business. But getting there hasn’t been smooth. Before starting his own company, Isaac spent nearly a decade working in commercial plumbing, including massive multi-family projects. He became highly skilled at the trade, but after years of being promised opportunities that never seemed to come—and facing more travel with a growing family—he decided to walk away and bet on himself. Today, Isaac operates Dammens Plumbing with just one full-time employee while handling new construction, remodels, commercial work, and larger plumbing projects throughout Minnesota. In this episode, Isaac breaks down what those first three years of business actually looked like—including one decision in year one that nearly crushed him financially. Just months after starting the company, Isaac took on a roughly $127K commercial project. After fronting tens of thousands of dollars in materials and dealing with unpaid change orders, the contractor ended up owing him more than $60,000 for seven months. To keep the business alive, Isaac eventually had to cash out his retirement account just to pay the bills. You’ll discover: How Isaac went from roughly $90K to $400K and is now on track for around $750K in only three yearsWhy he finally walked away from a stable plumbing career after nearly a decadeHow networking and simple yard signs became two of his biggest sources of new businessThe unbelievable story of someone secretly moving his yard signs into another plumber’s job sites—and how trail cameras finally caught himWhy taking on a massive commercial project nearly destroyed his cash flow in year oneHow a contractor owed him more than $60K for seven months and forced him to cash out his retirementWhy big revenue numbers don’t always mean a project is actually good for your businessHow Isaac runs a business approaching $750K with only one full-time employeeWhy building systems and training people will be critical as he moves from working in the business to running itHow he thinks about paying, incentivizing, and retaining good employeesWhy listening to people who are further ahead has been one of the biggest reasons for his rapid growthIsaac openly admits he didn’t start with business experience or some perfectly mapped-out plan. His biggest advantage has been his willingness to listen, take advice from people who have already made the mistakes, and implement what he learns instead of trying to figure everything out himself. Now, after blowing up trucks, getting burned on commercial work, dealing with hiring challenges, and learning countless lessons the expensive way, Isaac is preparing for the next stage: adding another truck, hiring another plumber, and transitioning from owning himself a job to building a company that can operate without him on every project. Essential listening for any tradesman trying to make the jump from being great at the work to actually building a business.

  7. Sep 26

    He Spent $450 of His Last $600 on a Pressure Washer — Now He’s Building a Real Business at 20

    Apply to join the Accelerator ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.info/apply-336997 Check out our website ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.com At just 20 years old, Jake from Boss Wash is building a soft washing and exterior cleaning company in Alexandria, Minnesota while still attending college full time and wrestling. But entrepreneurship started long before pressure washing. At around 10 years old, Jake asked for chickens for his birthday and started selling eggs to people at church. From there, he sold firewood, flipped items on Facebook Marketplace, worked in tree service, concrete, and seal coating, and eventually realized he wanted to build something of his own. At 16 or 17, Jake bought a $450 pressure washer with roughly $600 to his name and started learning everything he could from YouTube. His first job was free for a woman at his church, and he quickly learned he had a lot to figure out. A year later, the patio had turned green because he didn’t use the right chemicals, so he went back and fixed it. Instead of waiting until he knew everything, he kept taking jobs and learning through experience. For his first couple years, Boss Wash was barely more than a side hustle. Jake made roughly $1,000 his first year and only a few thousand dollars the next while working long weeks seal coating. He even remembers being thrilled to land a $600 cleaning job that took nearly 12 hours—work he now estimates would be worth roughly $1,500–$2,000. This year, Jake finally went all in during the summer. Boss Wash has already generated roughly $40K+ in revenue and is on pace for around $50K while he continues balancing college, wrestling, and the business. You’ll discover: How selling eggs at church as a kid sparked Jake’s entrepreneurial mindsetWhy he spent nearly everything he had on a $450 pressure washerWhat went wrong on his first pressure washing jobHow he went from roughly $1K in revenue to approaching $50KWhy a $600, 12-hour job completely changed how he thinks about pricingHow he balances college, collegiate wrestling, and running a businessWhy social media and door hangers became two of his biggest lead sourcesHow reviews, testimonials, and community involvement are helping him build a local brandWhy he still does strategic free work to build trust and generate testimonialsWhy taking action before you feel ready can teach you more than waiting for the perfect planOne of the biggest lessons from Jake’s story is that building a brand isn’t about having the perfect logo or colors. It’s about what people in your community associate with your company. Jake has focused on consistently posting his work, sharing testimonials, collecting reviews, helping people locally, and putting his face behind the business. His goal isn’t to become an influencer—it’s to become the company people already know and trust before they ever need exterior cleaning. At only 20 years old, Jake is still early in the journey. But instead of waiting until everything is perfect, he’s building skills, making mistakes, learning quickly, and laying the groundwork for a business that can compound for years. Essential listening for anyone sitting on a business idea, worried about what people will think, or waiting until they know everything before getting started.

  8. Sep 23

    From $200 Cleanings on Pontoons to Detailing Million-Dollar Boats at 19

    Apply to join the Accelerator ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.info/apply-336997 Check out our website ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.com At just 19 years old, Josh Close is trusted to detail boats worth $1 million or more — including classic wooden boats valued in the millions. But Josh didn’t start with an established business, a website, or a marketing budget. He started by knocking on doors. Josh and a friend recognized an opportunity in the Land of 10,000 Lakes: there were plenty of boats, but very few people specializing in high-quality boat detailing. With roughly $1,000 in equipment, basic business cards, and no real online presence, they landed around 20 boats their first summer. His first paid job? A $200 pontoon at his neighbor’s house. From there, Josh went from detailing boats on the side while working at a pizza restaurant and pursuing real estate to deciding that boat detailing was worth going all-in on. Today, East Gull Lake Boat Detailing has serviced more than 200 boats and around 150 clients, with a large percentage of customers coming back on a recurring basis. Josh has also completely changed the way he thinks about marketing. After wasting money on Facebook ads that produced low-quality leads, he started putting his face on social media and showing the actual work behind the business. What started as something he simply enjoyed doing eventually became his biggest source of leads. He also recently put community-based marketing to the test by helping organize a shaved ice event that generated roughly $1,800 in sales in just two hours — far exceeding the original expectations. In this episode, Josh breaks down how he built a premium boat detailing business at 19, how he gained access to extremely high-net-worth boat owners, and why showing your face can completely change the way customers perceive your company. You’ll discover: • How Josh landed his first 20 boat detailing clients with almost no marketing • Why he chose boat detailing instead of waiting for a “better” business opportunity • How he went from a $200 pontoon to working on million-dollar boats • How networking and relationships opened doors to wealthy boat owners • Why Facebook ads produced poor leads — and what replaced them • How showing his face on social media became one of his biggest lead sources • Why before-and-after content alone isn't enough to build a brand • How a two-hour shaved ice event generated roughly $1,800 in sales • Why community marketing can create opportunities beyond the initial sale • How Josh approaches selling larger detailing projects • The biggest mistake he made when estimating labor and job times • Why he decided to spend his winter building the business instead of taking another job • How joining BCBA changed his approach to investing in growth Josh's story is a great example of what can happen when you stop waiting for the perfect opportunity and start taking action with what you have. From a $1,000 equipment investment and a $200 pontoon to more than 200 boats serviced and million-dollar clients, Josh has built a business most people wouldn't expect from a 19-year-old. This is what violent action towards the goal looks like.

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5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Violent Action Podcast where real stories meet real results. Each episode features driven entrepreneurs, contractors, and business owners who are taking action and building something bigger than themselves. We dive into their journeys—the wins, the setbacks, and the lessons learned along the way. If you're serious about growth, business, and making things happen, this podcast is for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Blue Collar Business Accelerator
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Blue Collar Business Accelerator
  • Show Website
    The Violent Action Podcast

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