The Violent Action Podcast

Blue Collar Business Accelerator
  • 5.0 (12)
  • 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. 19h ago

    $3.8M Contractor: "I Was the Bottleneck." How He Doubled My 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.

  2. 6d ago

    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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Sep 16

    $200K in Year One: How College Baseball Roommates Built a Profitable Business Together

    Apply to join the Accelerator ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.info/apply-336997 Check out our website ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.com At just 23 and 27 years old, Lincoln and Derek from Precision Property Services went from college baseball teammates to building a landscaping, hardscaping, drainage, and concrete company doing roughly $200K in revenue during their first year. They started with virtually no money, bought their first truck with cash, rented equipment instead of financing it, and built the business with only around $2,500 in monthly overhead. Before starting Precision Property Services, both guys spent years working in the trades. Lincoln worked on golf courses, gas lines, and landscaping projects, while Derek started working in landscaping at just 14 years old. Lincoln eventually wrote a handwritten letter to a local business owner offering to trade his time for knowledge. That opportunity gave him the experience he needed to eventually start his own company. Derek had also tried starting multiple businesses, but most never went anywhere. Neither had a strong online presence, established brand, or consistent lead-generation system. After joining the Blue Collar Business Accelerator, they shifted their focus from general land clearing and dirt work toward more specialized services, including drainage. That decision helped them land their biggest project of the year: a roughly $15,700 drainage job, even though they were one of the most expensive bids. Their first 15 jobs came from website forms—not family, friends, or Facebook. By focusing on reviews, branding, Google, and fast communication, they were able to generate consistent leads despite being a brand-new company. They also faced a major setback when an approximately 1,100-square-foot concrete driveway was damaged by rain. The mistake cost them roughly $10K to fix. Instead of avoiding the homeowner or hiding the problem, they chose to own it, redo the driveway, and stand behind their work. In this episode, you’ll discover: • How two college baseball players built a roughly $200K business in their first year • Why they chose to rent equipment instead of financing everything • How a handwritten letter helped Lincoln find a mentor • Why they shifted from land clearing into drainage • How their first 15 jobs came from website leads • How they landed a $15,700 project without being the cheapest bid • Why speed and communication helped them win jobs • How free work and reviews helped establish credibility • How they handled a $10K concrete mistake • Why they’re focused on $100K in profit next year • How they operate with only around $2,500 in monthly overhead • Why clearly defined roles have helped them work together • What they learned from their first 26 projects Precision Property Services is proof that you don’t need a massive equipment fleet or a huge amount of startup money to build a successful service business. With the right skills, marketing, communication, and willingness to learn, two young entrepreneurs were able to turn their experience in the trades into a growing company. Find Precision Property Services, M.N. on Instagram and Facebook. If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with another contractor.

  6. Sep 15

    The Pricing Mistake Costing This 20-Year-Old Landscaper Thousands

    Apply to join the Accelerator ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.info/apply-336997 Check out our website ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.com At just 20 years old, Ty Frank from Frank’s Outdoor Services in Northfield, Minnesota is on pace to do roughly $250K–$275K this season. Ty started mowing lawns at 15 with a push mower his parents dropped him off with. By 16, he had saved enough money to buy his first $3,000 riding mower. He went from 7 lawns to 17, then eventually more than 60 accounts while still in high school. After graduating, Ty chose to keep building his business instead of going to college. He grew from lawn maintenance into landscaping and eventually landed his biggest project yet—a $13,000 install. But the growth came with some painful lessons. Ty learned that revenue doesn't equal profit when you're not accounting for labor, fuel, travel time, and overhead. He hired employees without properly adjusting his pricing and spent years keeping customers at rates that were too low. He also struggled with lead flow. Last year, his landscaping work dried up and he found himself scrambling to keep his crew busy. He spent $700 on direct mail and generated zero leads, while relying heavily on Facebook posts to find work. After joining the Blue Collar Business Accelerator, things started to change. Last year, August was his lowest month. This year, it became his highest. He went from struggling to keep the schedule full to being booked solid, while generating more revenue from landscaping than lawn care. You’ll discover: How Ty went from mowing lawns at 15 to building a $275K business at 20How saving every dollar from his first lawns helped him buy his first $3,000 mowerWhy hiring employees without adjusting his pricing hurt his profitHow he grew from roughly 35 lawn accounts to more than 60Why revenue can look great while your actual profit tells a different storyHow lawn care became a lead source for larger landscaping projectsWhy his $700 direct-mail campaign produced zero leadsHow he went from struggling with lead flow to being booked solidHow a neighbor turned into his biggest project yet—a $13,000 landscaping installWhy Ty blew the engine on his mini skid during his biggest projectHow YouTube and gradually taking on bigger jobs helped him learn the tradeWhy knowing your overhead and numbers can completely change your bidsWhy one of the biggest problems in your market may simply be that nobody knows you exist Today, Ty is running a growing outdoor services company with employees, equipment, and roughly $3,000 a month in overhead. His goal for next year is $400K–$500K. Ty's story proves you don't need decades of experience to build a serious contracting business. You need to take action, know your numbers, put yourself out there, and keep learning as you grow. If you're a young contractor—or you're stuck around $50K, $100K, or $200K and don't know how to keep growing—this episode is for you.

  7. Sep 14

    Scaling From $0 To A $3M Landscaping Company in Just 4 Years

    Apply to join the Accelerator ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.info/apply-336997 Check out our website ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.com At 32 years old, Dalton started Landscaping Solutions with a $1,500 Chevy pickup, a 10-foot trailer, and virtually no money. Just four years later, his landscaping, hardscaping, snow removal, hydroseeding, and commercial maintenance company is on track to do roughly $2.7–$3M in revenue. Dalton didn’t build the company by taking on massive debt or buying brand-new equipment. His early setup included a $14,000 used skid steer, a $10,000 truck he bought with cash, and another skid steer he acquired through a barter deal. With less than $30K invested in equipment, he eventually did roughly $800K in revenue. His growth started with small jobs and word of mouth. One early patio led to a $40,000 project, while a $35-a-day local radio advertisement consistently generated landscaping leads. From there, Dalton used Facebook, reviews, community involvement, contractor relationships, and a growing brand to move into larger projects. He went from roughly $800K in year two to $2.1M, eventually landing seven projects over $100K in a single year. But chasing growth also taught him some painful lessons. After taking on major commercial snow accounts and investing heavily in equipment, he experienced firsthand how 60–120+ day payment terms can destroy cash flow—even when the business is profitable. Today, Dalton is running a leaner company, doing more revenue with fewer employees, while focusing on profitability, systems, design, delegation, and building a brand customers are willing to wait for. You’ll discover: How Dalton went from a $1,500 truck and 10-foot trailer to a company approaching $3MHow he generated roughly $800K with less than $30K invested in equipmentWhy staying profitable and stacking cash gave him opportunities other contractors couldn't takeHow a $35/day local radio ad became a consistent source of landscaping leadsHow one small patio turned into a $40,000 project through word of mouthWhy $5K–$10K jobs can sometimes be more valuable than chasing $100K projectsHow contractor relationships helped him land his first $100K+ projectHow he went from $800K to $2.1M in revenueThe hard lesson he learned chasing major commercial snow accountsWhy long payment terms can create massive cash-flow problemsHow he grew revenue while reducing his crew from nine employees to sevenWhy detailed designs, job packets, material lists, and 3D visuals helped him become more efficientHow delegating payroll and accounting allowed him to focus on growing the businessWhy Dalton stopped trying to build the company everyone else was building Today, Landscaping Solutions is on pace for roughly $2.7–$3M in revenue—just four years after Dalton started with almost nothing. His biggest lesson? Focus on the company you want to build, not everything you see other people doing. Essential listening for any contractor who wants to grow while staying profitable, controlling overhead, and building a business that can actually last.

  8. Sep 13

    Why This $800K Landscaping Company Stopped Chasing Revenue

    Apply to join the Accelerator ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.info/apply-336997 Check out our website ➡️ https://bluecollarbusinessaccelerator.com At 31 years old, Gary from A&E Outdoors in Minnesota is on pace to hit roughly $1M in revenue this year with his lawn, landscape, hardscape, and snow business. But getting there wasn't easy. Gary started landscaping at 16, mowing lawns while still in high school. After years of working for other companies, he began building A&E Outdoors on the side while working a full-time job. He started with snow work using an old pickup and shovels, eventually building a landscape business through Facebook leads and word of mouth. He worked all day, ran estimates at night, and admits he was drastically underpricing his jobs. In 2021, Gary went full-time with A&E Outdoors and did roughly $140K in revenue. The company then grew to approximately $230K, $360K, $480K, and $650K. Today, he's around $770K and expects to reach roughly $850K soon, with a goal of hitting $1M. But revenue wasn't the real problem. For years, Gary thought growing meant taking on more work, buying more equipment, hiring more people, and pushing the top-line number higher. The result was a growing business that wasn't nearly as profitable as it should have been. After learning to focus on profitability, everything changed. Gary began realizing that doing LESS work could actually make him MORE money. Instead of chasing every job, he's focused on profitable projects, controlling overhead, and building a company that can make more money without constantly adding people and equipment. You'll discover: • How Gary went from mowing lawns at 16 to building a business approaching $1M • How he built A&E Outdoors while working a full-time job • Why he underpriced his early hardscape jobs • How he grew from $140K to $650K+ • Why chasing revenue led to more equipment, employees, and overhead • Why $1M in revenue means very little without profit • How focusing on profitable jobs changed his business • Why his typical landscape/hardscape ticket is $10K–$20K • Why some of his favorite jobs are only $6K–$9K • How he manages roughly $21K in fixed monthly overhead • How his snow operation generated roughly $450K last year • Why he's focused on efficiency instead of simply adding more accounts • Why mentorship became a turning point in his business Gary's story is a lesson in the difference between growing a business and building a profitable business. More revenue isn't always the answer. Sometimes the fastest way to grow is to stop chasing growth—and start keeping more of the money you already make.

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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
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Blue Collar Business Accelerator
  • Show Website
    The Violent Action Podcast

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