Speaker 1: 0:00

How important routine has been for you Getting to the gym, doing the little things that others are unwilling to do, actually showing up to work at the time you say you're going to show up.

Speaker 2: 0:09

I just failed everywhere. I let everybody down and I was just so done. I was so done, I was done hurting people. I was done hurting myself and like that was the day. That was the day I was done and I was 100% convinced this world would be way better off without me. And you know, I ended up trying to go take my own life shortly after that.

Speaker 1: 0:44

Welcome back to another episode of the Burn. I am Ben Newman and you know how we do this every single week we're going to bring you a story of an athlete, an entertainer, a celebrity, somebody from the business world who helps us understand that why and purpose is not enough. There's this underlying burn that ignites your why and purpose and causes you to show up on the days you don't feel like it and especially after you win. That ignites your why and purpose and causes you to show up on the days you don't feel like it and especially after you win. Today we have a remarkable story, guest, friend, client of mine, brandon J, and we are going to get real. We're going to get raw, we're going to be vulnerable.

Speaker 1: 1:19

Talking about challenge and adversity, everybody wants to see and talk about Brandon J Roofing, the extraordinary things that they've done, the titan that Brandon J has become in the roofing industry and his entire team has become, which has made him a sought-after speaker in the industry, a sought-after coach in the industry, a sought-after leader in the industry, a sought after coach in the industry, a sought after leader in the industry. Everybody wants that big, glorious story, but most people are unwilling to go back and find out. But how did you do it? What was the adversity, what was the challenge? How did you build the framework? How did you build the mindset? So I'm just telling you, right now, you better get yourself a seatbelt, because we are going to get real, we are going to get raw, we're going to get down to it, you're going to understand his burn and you're going to understand and this is what makes Brandon Jay so special why what you've seen is only scratching the surface of the impact that this man is going to have on the world through his companies.

Speaker 1: 2:23

Coaching and speaking. Brandon Jay welcome. And speaking. Brandon J welcome to the bird.

Speaker 2: 2:27

Thank you, thank you, thank you. That was a great introduction, man. Thanks for having me. I'm super excited to be here.

Speaker 1: 2:33

Hey man, I'll come on the road with you for some of these speeches you're doing. I'll introduce you whatever you need.

Speaker 2: 2:39

I love that.

Speaker 1: 2:40

It's great to be in person A lot, of, a lot of times. You know we're both St Louis guys and you know, a lot of times these days everything's over a Zoom screen and we're in your studio. Today, people probably like does Ben have a studio? No, no, no, we're in Brandon J's studio. We're taking over his studio. But it feels good to be in person. It feels good to feel that energy because so many of these are done over Zoom. But let's get right down to it. You heard me say it in the intro challenge and adversity Help us understand, because I know we share the belief that your challenge and adversity is where you build your greatest strength. Tell us a little bit about how challenge and adversity has shaped who you are.

Speaker 2: 3:20

Oh, man, that was. It's everything, you know. And for the longest time, man, I grew up kind of messed up, you know, things broken home, all of that type of stuff, and I don't know like I. I went through this whole entire, uh, first half of my life just like it looked like. I was like sabotaging my own life, you know, and just making every wrong decision I possibly could and and really working towards the wrong direction. I was just, I was lost and broken and you know, it was uh, as far as challenge and adversity, that was my entire life, you know, and I had worked my way like to I, I, I caused so much pain on myself. That's one of the things I say to myself there there's nothing this world could bring down on you that you haven't done yourself. I caused so much pain to myself that I just remind myself that there's nothing that's worth a throw at me, that I can't step into.

Speaker 1: 4:32

What is the most significant pain or challenge when you think back to it?

Speaker 2: 4:36

that's really defined who you are when I came home from prison, um I I, the first four weeks were an absolute shit show.

Speaker 2: 4:55

I went right back to the bullshit, fell flat on my face and and just ended up so hopeless, and I remember sitting on this bench and in more pain than I've ever been in my life and more broken than I've ever been in my life, I sat on this bench. It was like the whole world came crumbling down on me, and this was about six weeks after release from prison. And as I sat on this bench, I was more imprisoned that day from the bondage itself than the state could ever put me in. And so when somebody says, well, brandon, you know I haven't been in prison or anything, it was bad, but I haven't been in prison it's like that was just a place. It doesn't. It's, that was just a place you know. So that that same place that could be different for you. You didn't have to be an actual physical prison is my point. But when I sat on that bench that day, um, man, that was it. That was. I was a hundred. I had failed at everything. I can't even do the wrong thing the right way anymore, and and I was, I just failed everywhere. I let everybody down and I was just so done. I was so done. I was done hurting people. I was done hurting myself and like that was the day. That was the day I was done and I was 100% convinced this world would be way better off without me.

Speaker 2: 6:17

And you know, I ended up trying to go take my own life shortly after that. And when I got brought back in the back of the paramedics van, the very first word the EMT said, the very first words that EMT said to me was Brandon, I'm supposed to tell you God's not done with you, he's got a plan for you. And I hear those words every day. But that was like that was the moment. That was, I feel, like that day the old me died. I feel like the old me died.

Speaker 2: 6:50

And not to say that, oh it just. You know, I got brought back and all of my demons were gone and my character defects were good, like not to say that. But it just wasn't an option anymore. And and that's at that point is really when I started looking at life as a true gift. But you know, putting my like that was it. And that's at that point is really when I started looking at life as a true gift. But you know, putting my like, that was it, and maybe it was like all the pain coming to a head right then, of all the life experience, you know.

Speaker 2: 7:18

But I really had to at that point in time, you know, for the longest time I I would share my story, and from a victim, a victimhood stance, and so by the time I get done sharing my story, you say, damn, brandon, I'm sorry you went through that.

Speaker 2: 7:33

I'm sure if I went through that I'd be in the same boat as you are and I would just live in this victimhood. And somebody said to me and it just stuck you cannot be a victim and a victor at the same time. And so I had to reframe how I was looking and really take accountability on everything and what's my side of the street, what's in my control, you know, and really focus on those things. But that was the moment, like that was the moment I was really, and not just moment, but that was the season that I really learned to start looking at myself. I really start like learn, to start taking accountability and like realizing this is all on me, no one's coming to save me, you know, and this is what, this is what you're working with, so this is what you got. So you're either gonna face this and do something about it or you're gonna die.

Speaker 1: 8:28

that was uh yeah you know, when I hear you say those words that the paramedic said to you, that you hear now every single day, I think that that has a burn inside of you that like it. That's that reminder of that gift. I also in a little bit of a free, free plug for your podcast, whatever it takes. When we did your show, when you had me on your show, which was awesome, you talked about how in the mornings, you intentionally think back to when you were in prison and sometimes people struggle like what is this burn? I don't have the burn, I didn't have that, and a lot of times it is a mindset where most people run from, a mindset where you choose like I need to see that today, yes to have a burn to remind me I will never go back there again.

Speaker 1: 9:20

So I I think that's kind of the work that you do on you which is so powerful, which has created all this success, which has created you being an example for these individuals that you lead and you know our listeners have heard me say so many times you can only lead somebody to the level of discipline in which you live. You are one disciplined son of a gun Is that you hear those words every day, but you also are willing to go back to the pain of the mindset to remind yourself there's a burn in me. I ain't going back there. Yes, how important is that? Why is that important?

Speaker 2: 9:49

Man, you know it's when I was early on, as I was getting started, I was just so amazed at just everything. I was amazed with God, I was amazed at the results and it did not slow me down from the action I was taking every day. And, you know, I started setting these targets and and really be writing these targets out, and it was okay. Who do I need to become to make this happen? And and really really fine, falling in line with that, reading it every single day, doing all these things and and that would keep me in alignment. That does keep me in alignment 90% of the time. But in my darkest hour, when this just isn't inspiring me or whatever the thing is, I'm riddled with fear. Whatever the thing is, in my darkest hour, when I need to be moved, all I have to do is look behind me, at where I come from, and and I want to widen that gap every damn day. And it's so, it's everything.

Speaker 2: 10:50

And you with my past, and this is all kind of, uh, king Cox, he created a concoction for me, uh, to be successful with my past. Man, it's like really looking at like I'm not supposed to be here. You know, only by God's mercy and grace am I here. And so, like I said earlier, like I've always looked, I look at the business as a, as a, as a gift, and I'm not like I'm a steward of it and I've just held onto that mindset as much as I possibly can. But it's man where I come from. It's like I don't have a choice, like if I met God and God just said, said, man, I gave you this awesome blessing, but like you didn't, you just took it all for yourself. Like you didn't do, like it could have been this if you would have just did this, like man, that that's you know ed mylett talks about. Like him meeting, you know, when he comes across those pearly gates and god showing him who he could have been if he did these things. Like that's hell are you gonna recognize?

Speaker 1: 11:57

that person right? Or will it be your twin right? Exactly recognize him or not have any idea who the hell it is?

Speaker 2: 12:01

right, exactly, and so I in ever since I heard like, I think about that regularly and it's I don't know. Like I say I got a life I don't deserve, like and I get up and do my part every day and I'm worthy of it. But it's like man I, I just have to give it away Like I ha. I have to. I have to be a good steward of it. And when I mean I have to like, I have to do that to be okay inside of me, you know it's um, I want to know I got everything I can out of this. I want to know at the end of the time, I left no stone unturned. So it gives me a different perspective, coming where I come from, than a lot of people have, filled with gratitude and knowing, at the same time, I got a debt I can never repay. I have to do this, you know.

Speaker 1: 12:52

A couple of things I want to highlight. I think it's powerful. It speaks to the leader that you are and that you really live these principles of serving and wanting to make the world a better place. Number one every year you guys have on social media, which you do an extraordinary job on social media, personally and as an organization. But you have a giveaway You're giving away free roofs and in addition to that, there's other things philanthropically that you guys do in the community. Then there's the piece in the conversations that we have which I think is such an amazing example for every single leader listening or watching today's show.

Speaker 1: 13:29

When you talk about the organization, you know there's organizations that talk about culture to drive revenue. You talk about culture to make the individuals on the team better human beings. You know I hear you talk about how you feel there's a responsibility to the children that are in the homes of the members of the team that work here at Brandon J. Most people would never even get themselves to think that way and so, once again, in this world where a lot of people tell you how great they want to be, or we have culture to drive revenue. I think what you're saying and I really I want to make you speak to it, because this is not normal. This is not how people normally lead. This is an uncommon act of leadership. Why are you thinking about the children in the homes of your team members and your responsibility to them to deliver the best environment for their mom or dad to grow in? Why is that so important to you?

Speaker 2: 14:35

for a long time I was like a tornado ripping through people's lives. I was just hurting and taking. And so it's extremely important to me that I'm not that man today and that my actions reflect that. And you know, I was the villain of so many people's stories and, looking back, like I just took, took and took and took and took. And so it's it's extremely important to me that in my mind, that somehow I balance out the scales and I and I, I believe I'm forgiven and all these things and and I know without a shadow of a doubt, I'm not that man today, but it's, it's just extremely important to me. When that time comes, whether it's the end of the week, the end of the year, end of the month, I can look back and it's like, man, you, you did your part, you did everything you could.

Speaker 2: 15:29

And it's like whenever I sat at my desk almost three years ago and I laid out I was going over to finances and I laid out you know, if I do this right, I will have the option to retire in the next five to seven years. And the very next thing that popped into my mind is but you're the only one that's going to be able to retire. And I just wasn't okay with that and and I immediately went how do I create something that anybody could retire that's willing off of, and? And just started thinking in that way. And then, at that day and at and this is simultaneously all going on I cut, you know, I fired all the sales consultants I had and started off with one. But I really started being selective, like who we want to work here and working with the people that are willing to go all in and stay all in and and, with that being said, I just I want to work with those people. I want to know that we're doing our part, because people like you know, oh, I can't find any good help, or, you know, I'm not going to hire these people are probably just going to quit in six months, or I'm going to, I'm going to give them the game, then they're going to go, start their own, or whatever the case may be. And it's and I had that mindset too early on for the first couple of years, until I realized it was a broken mindset and that I just needed to do my part.

Speaker 2: 16:56

Whether somebody came here and was here for a week or a month, at the end of the day we did our part. I want to know we did our part. We gave them the best training that we possibly could, we did everything the best we possibly could for them and gave them the best opportunity they possibly could, and and no matter what no matter if somebody's here for a year or a month we as a company and a collective group are getting better with each time and but, and so that is like I look at like these people are betting their life on me, and that was something I probably heard it from somewhere else. But you know, somebody said that you know most companies or owners or bosses, when they're hiring, they're like oh man, we're gonna, we're bringing on this new hire and we're gonna invest all this money in you and we're gonna do this for you and this for you and we're counting on you. You better do it, and that.

Speaker 2: 17:44

All those things, some of those things may be true, but I've always found it more effective for me and my mental state to just look at like these people are betting their life on me, like they're truly they're betting their life on me, and so I'm when I need to do everything to make sure in my power that they win, you know, and so I just look at it like that. They're just betting their life on us, and so we need to do our part. You know, and so I just look at it like that. They're just betting their life on us, and so we need to do our part. You know so powerful.

Speaker 1: 18:14

You know you care so much about team and I can't let you get out of here without us actually highlighting you and how you take care of you to be the best you that you can be for your team. I always say that discipline wins, and one of the things that I know that you found from sharing from whether it be on the inside to the appreciation of the gifts nowadays how important routine has been for you getting to the gym, doing the little things that others are unwilling to do, actually showing up to work at the time you say you're going to show up. Why is that personal discipline? Why is that commitment to yourself? Why is that push and challenge of yourself been so important to you?

Speaker 2: 18:56

Man. It has been, uh, it's been like everything you know and to where, no matter what, I'm doing these things every single day, like I know for me, because I got a lot of, we got a lot of badass leaders on the team and several up and comers, and so for me it's like if I want Adam to keep holding the standard or anybody for that matter like I have to keep holding the standard. If I want Adam to keep getting better, that means I got to keep getting better, that means I got to keep getting better. It's not like all right, man, I made it here, so you know, yeah, you keep going, that's right. It means I got to keep getting better as well. And and so that's I.

Speaker 2: 19:39

I look at it in that way, truly being elite, trying to be a leader who creates leaders, who creates leaders, but like to continue creating breathing room and to see this thing through to where we really know, we max it out to its potential. You know that's but the routine man. Routine is everything. And because if I can't, I truly don't believe, I truly do not believe that somebody can be sustainably successful in just one area. I believe we have to hit all facets, all core facets mentally, physically, spiritually, relationships, financially and so it's really important for me that I stay intentional in all those areas. Intentional in all those areas.

Speaker 2: 20:33

And if I can't even go to the gym every day, or five or six days a week, if I can't stay disciplined on what my food intake is, if I can't do these simple things that I know are going to create a better me, if I can't do those repeatedly, even when I don't want to like, how on earth would I run a multimillion dollar business? How on earth can I help somebody else and get somebody else in the gyms that's not wanting to go? How can I, how can I get them to keep pushing when they don't want to, if I'm sitting here tapping out around every corner? You know, and it's, I guess. I'm a huge believer in morning, in the morning routine, and, and I always say if somebody can dial in the first couple hours of their day, it'll change your life.

Speaker 1: 21:17

I love it. I love the intentionality of team. I love the intentionality of the personal discipline. I love the intentionality of giving and serving the connection to burn. I want to leave with a final question what's Brandon J's legacy going to be?

Speaker 2: 21:35

What is Brandon J's legacy going to be? You know, I want the legacy to be that for me it's showing like, really somebody who got, who like conquered life. And I don't mean like and by me. What I mean by that is like doing our best and like truly leaving all in the field and giving and growing and just becoming our best, you know, but in that I personally believe that you know, there's nothing more powerful than an environment of a community we will either rise to or fall to. But I want to see how many lives we can impact Like. How many people can we help start, stop, how many people can we help stop and get out of surviving mode and really start thriving in life? You know, and there's no dollar amount equated to that but at the end of the day, I want, like when somebody looks at my life and it's like, okay, this is somebody who made a complete mess of their life, made every wrong decision, burn their life completely, come way behind and hit this point and look where they are, not like they defeated all the odds, and look where they're at now Definitely the person that's not supposed to be in the room, you know. And in doing that, the biggest part of that is God, you know, is God's favor on my life and his mercy and grace. But I also have to be willing to suit up and show up and do my part, and I also have to be willing to have faith and trust.

Speaker 2: 23:15

You know, and, and, and man, I wanted to add this to you, to this um, having a spiritual foundation, me, it is so paramount to my success. There's no way that I could do this shit on my own and there's no way I'd be riddled with fear, anxiety, all of the things I'd break without a shadow of a doubt. And so, like that, having that foundation, but me having that trusted partner, god, that I know, like he's got this, what's in my control, I'm going to do what's in my control here, god, I know, like you're my father, you know you got this, but I have to be willing to trust and have faith in that myself. Like, okay, does he really got it? You know, I, I, and for me, anytime, whatever those issues are, okay, what's in my control and I'm trusting god I got I, because if I didn't trust god, then then it's.

Speaker 2: 24:22

I got all this insane, crazy stuff going on that I have to, like, worry about myself, and so it's just, it's just key, it's just vital for me, um and I and I honestly think it is with with a lot of high level leaders, if not all. You know, I'm sure there's the exception out there, but it's like we're just human beings, we can only take so much before we break. And I know I know at the end of the day, before we break, and I know I know at the end of the day, man, I know the measure of my strength is truly in my surrender, and so I have to be very intentional about staying surrendered.

Speaker 1: 24:56

Yes, what a powerful, powerful, faithful way to finish. Brandon, thank you so much for coming on the burn. How can people stay connected with you?

Speaker 2: 25:08

Yeah, brandon J on Facebook. On Inst Insta, it's Brandon J 1122. Uh, get us on Brandon J roofing on on uh, instagram and Facebook. Check us out on our podcast, uh, the wit podcast. It's on all of the the major platforms. So, yeah, hit us up. Shoot me a DM.

Speaker 1: 25:26

I look forward to connecting yeah, make sure to stay connected. And if it's events looking for sales and culture and leadership, brandon doesn't talk about it enough, but he does an incredible job coming to organizations to help make a difference, to share so many of these values and principles that are rooted in God but clear as can be in the daily action and discipline that it takes to be great. That's why I always love the time that we have together to continue to strengthen and to push and to challenge each other. So, brandon, thank you again for coming on the Burn. To each and every single one of you like, subscribe, share this episode.

Speaker 1: 26:04

This is one of those episodes that needs to be shared, but it cannot be shared unless you take the action to share it. Do not forget we are all about sharing powerful stories of the burn. Stay connected to your burn so it can ignite your why and purpose, so that you continue to show up on the days you don't feel like it and especially after you win. This has been the Burn and I look forward to seeing you next week.