Archive for Male Entrepreneurs – Page 2

RJ Duarte: The Founder of Green Worx Landscaping

Based out of Golden, Colorado, RJ Duarte was only eight years old when his entrepreneurial ventures started. Motivated by his desire to buy himself candy, Duarte started his lawn mowing business in 2008 with one lawn mower, a red wagon, and five weekly lawn mowing clients. He began to take his business seriously by his third season and invested his savings back into his company. Duarte’s dedication, commitment, and incredible work ethic as an entrepreneur are evident as his income tripled every year since he began his business.

As Duarte began middle school, his business had grown too large to handle himself. He chose a friend from middle school, Owen Johnson, to be a partner in his landscaping business. Two years later, Duarte and Johnson decided they needed a name for their company- they eventually landed on Green Worx. Green Worx had grown much larger than the mere neighborhood lawncare service it started as. After working with Green Worx for over five years, Johnson decided to part ways with the company in order to pursue a college education after graduating high school. Duarte and Johnson, however, still frequently meet as friends to discuss Green Worx and life in general. As Duarte was contemplating going to college and running his company from school, Green Worx was pulling in six figures from annual revenue. He decided to focus on growing his company and work on creating a full-scale landscaping business.

One way that Duarte demonstrated he was an excellent, young entrepreneur was through his willingness to take risks. After high school, in 2019, Duarte made the decision to drop Grenn Worx’s small clients and, instead, rebrand as a premium landscaping and maintenance company. This meant that he would be undertaking large-scale, intricate landscaping and construction projects. Green Worx added two construction crews and lots of new equipment to the company. Duarte knew how risky the shift in scale would be for the business but decided to continue with it anyway. “It’s higher margins for more risk,” he says. “That comes with headaches, but without headaches, there’s no reward.”

Green Worx was incredibly successful throughout the years. In 2015, Duarte and Johnson had won first place in the Celebration for Young Entrepreneurs and also won the Young Americans Bank Business Award. In 2016, the newsletter, The Golden Informer, wrote an article about the success of Green Worx and put Green Worx on the front cover. In that same year, Green Worx was nominated and won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award By Ernst & Young Foundation. By the end of 2016, Green Worx was 300% bigger than the year before. Green Worx continues to steadily grow. In 2019, the company brought in $750,000 in revenue. Duarte was never afraid of the workload and was always searching for new ways to expand and grow his business. Green Worx’s success is built off of his hard work and devotion to his craft.

Click here to read more about Green Worx.

Connor Blakley, Founder of YouthLogic

Connor Blakley is the perfect example of a Gen Z entrepreneur – he saw a problem and solved it. His company is YouthLogic, a marketing consultancy that he founded when he was just 15.

While Gen Z might not be the largest generation right now, they still have significant influence and economic impact. They influence $44 billion in just discretionary spending. Blakley realized at a very young age that he can leverage his knowledge about the younger generation to help companies with their marketing efforts. He got the idea for the business while watching his friends scroll through Twitter, noticing how quickly they skipped through content. This made him wonder how companies could change their approach to capture attention.

After doing more research, Connor made several observations that he used to help the way companies target a young audience. First, he claims that there is misconception that we only have 6-8 second attention spans. Rather, he says that our generation is better at detecting marketing on social media, and we skip it faster if it doesn’t bring us value. Second, he says that companies often put generations in a box instead of trying to actually understand them. They should work to create more relatable content. Finally, Connor observed that Gen Z clings to brands that take a radical stance. The younger generation appreciates authenticity and wants to support brands that agree strongly with what they believe in.

Connor started the business when he was 15 and ended up selling it when he was 19. Just recently, however, he reacquired the business and is running it full time. YouthLogic has become very successful, and has worked with brands such as PepsiCo, T-Mobile, Raising Cane’s, and Levi’s.

 

Dude Perfect; A Multimillion Dollar Business

Dude perfect is a YouTube channel that many of us have grown up with. From the trick shot videos to the stereotype episodes, Dude Perfect never fails to entertain people of all ages.
This athletic and creative group of friends started out as a few college students doing trick shots in their backyard. One video quickly collected millions of views, and using their platform of fast-growing fame, they didn’t stop at making videos. Now they have launched different product lines and continue to develop their brand and video style.

How Dude Perfect turned a trick-shot YouTube channel into a sports ...
One thing about Dude Perfect that is unique is they have never lost track of their original brand look and identity which is why viewers love them.

They now have Streaming Platform which is advertised as family friendly content perfect for all ages. They’ve been intentional about sports industry involvement and have a share of the premier league football club. This connects them to digital content creation and traditional sports. Dude Perfect goes on tours that sell out extremely fast. These live tours are fun for their fans and are an opportunity for growing their fan base. They recently announced their plans for Dude Perfect World, this ambitious project will have trick shots and games in person.

Dude Perfect's Plan To Build $100 Million HQ Leaves People Baffled
Dude Perfect is so successful because of their reliable authenticity. This is a lesson for entrepreneurs to stay committed to their passion and principles in their vision for their business or idea.
The Dude Perfect group has also exemplified great innovative principles, they constantly look for new opportunities in the developing society and technology. They successfully balance this with staying true to their authenticity. They show us not to be afraid to imagine the seemingly crazy or impossible but to pursue opportunities with courage and strategy.

From Prison to Penthouse, The Explosive Rise of Wes Watson

La comitiva de coches que Wes Watson lleva a la entrega de su Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport de 4 millones

Motor16.com. (2023). Wes Watson with his Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://motor16.com

 

The end seemed imminent for Wes Watson. Busted, arrested, and incarcerated, this California man’s life could have been defined by one word: doomed. The story of Wes Watson is one of incredible transformation, the epitome of reinventing oneself. He took his life of crime and ten years of incarceration, reshaped his direction, and nearly instantaneously forged a multi-million-dollar business empire. A few years ago, he was an inmate; now, he lives atop the world in a Miami penthouse. This is the story of Wes Watson, a man who overcame all odds, turned imminent defeat into victory, and is now thriving at a level comparable to Fortune 500 CEOs.

A millionaire within 18 months, but his story doesn’t start there. Wes Watson was born and raised in San Diego, California, where he embodied the coastal California lifestyle of surfing and skateboarding. At 12 years old, Watson began his journey down what would eventually become disaster, experimenting with marijuana. By the time he turned 14, Wes transitioned from merely using marijuana to dealing drugs, which eventually inclined him towards other illegal activities. Throughout the years, Watson’s involvement in crime escalated, with him frequently partaking in violence. In the end, his lifestyle caught up with him. After a dispute with a customer, Watson was arrested and imprisoned for assault with a deadly weapon, battery with serious injury, among other charges, resulting in a 10-year sentence in California prison.

It could have all ended there. Instead, immediately upon entering jail, Watson resolved to reinvent himself. Confinement was the crucible for his self-transformation. Instead of sleeping in, Watson began waking up at 3 AM, a practice he continues to this day. He focused on generating a meticulous daily routine involving physical fitness, discipline, and mindset development. Programming was also huge for Wes Watson. A topic he talks about frequently in his content, programming the mind is one of his keys to producing meaningful results in life. Watson’s strict adherence to programming while in prison earned him the admiration of fellow inmates.

Ten years later, in 2018, Watson was released and was miles away from financial freedom; he had hardly $200 to his name. However, he had something much more valuable: a deeply ingrained sense of discipline and an entrepreneurial plan for domination. In an age when people are pursuing fitness more than ever before, the former Californian prisoner launched Watson Fit, an online coaching business geared beyond just fitness but also to the entirety of life. The market differentiation of Watson Fit was this: it revolved around mindset, rather than a by-the-book workout plan. His philosophy is simple yet powerful: “Do the things you hate like you love them.” This saying of his is basically a proverb when applied to entrepreneurship. Much of his advice resembles the teachings of David Goggins, the American ultramarathoner whose bestseller Can’t Hurt Me is a commonly recommended book for modern entrepreneurs. Watson Fit takes individuals to the next level when implemented. His mission is to make clients the best version of themselves by making self-development a lifestyle. When one reaches the highest levels of self-development, Watson believes that money will automatically flow to them. The company quickly became a hit, attracting clients who not only sought gains in the gym but a complete overhaul of their lives.

One successful entrepreneurial endeavor was insufficient for the high ambitions of Wes Watson. His next income stream was personal branding, in the launch of his YouTube channel, GP Penitentiary Life, where he diffuses raw, unfiltered stories from his time in the prison system, in addition to motivational and gym content. His channel, which caters to the fitness and self-development communities, is a massive hit, with over a half-million subscribers. This led to a surge on Instagram as well, with him boasting nearly one million followers at the time of this article. Having such a large presence on social media allows Watson to monetize not only his posts but also serves as free marketing for his coaching program. What sets Watson apart from influencers in the way he markets his personal brand is his street-level intensity and raw advice on how to better oneself. Sugarcoating life is not something Watson specializes in, and this rawness appeals to his target demographic.

Ultimately, his core philosophy is extreme discipline in the face of competition. He is a strong defender of the belief that in order to achieve a high level of success, one must do what they hate, stepping outside their comfort zone. Suffering is not an option; it is mandatory for people to arrive at the destinations they desire since it yields mental resilience and opens the mind to higher levels of wisdom. In an age when the majority of people take the path of least resistance, his message stands out as bold. His daily routine is a testament to his beliefs; waking up at 3 AM consistently is something most Americans do not want to do. He understands getting up early as gaining a foothold on the competition. But waking earlier than others alone will not get high-aspiration individuals across the finish line. Suffering ought to be encountered in every area of life, according to his philosophy. Rigorous physical fitness, such as performing hundreds of burpees before other prisoners woke up, earned him respect in the penitentiary then and as an entrepreneur now. Lastly, Watson believes that self-love is essential, and that self-investment—in all forms, physical, mental, and spiritual—will forge a foundation of self-respect necessary to accomplishing a flourishing life.

Today, the entrepreneur Wes Watson expands his empire further. He owns mansions in Rancho Santa Fe, California, and Miami, Florida, living an extravagant bi-coastal lifestyle fueled by his profits. The other day he moved into a penthouse in Miami, his third luxury residence. He wears a half-million-dollar watch to the gym, and his supercar collection is highlighted by a bright-orange Bugatti Chiron. His net worth is estimated to be around $30 million. Fortune 500 CEOs get paid as much as the value he has personally created through his mindset. Despite his outward success, he remains committed to his core principles. He still wakes up at 3 AM, constantly seeks self-improvement, and posts loads of daily social media content. To maximize self-development, Watson now brings together groups of like-minded individuals and entrepreneurs who are dedicated to making money and achieving freedom. His success story is not merely one of entrepreneurial triumph but one characterized by breaking free from limitations and creating a lifestyle that incorporates growth in all spheres.

Wes Watson got out of jail just six years ago. Instead of letting his ten-year incarceration define him, Watson is the epitome of an entrepreneur. He creates value and impact through an innovative mindset. His net worth was $200 upon release from California prison, but now he lives a wealthy lifestyle in the beautiful towns of Rancho Santa Fe and Miami, pulling up to the gym in a Bugatti Chiron. He went from prison to helping millions break out of their own prisons by teaching people to do the things they hate. The story of Wes Watson shows that no matter where you start, you can achieve greatness in entrepreneurship if you’re willing to embrace discipline and work relentlessly.

 

Written by Carson Batzel, 9/23/2024

Chris Bumstead: Bodybuilding Redefined

(LEFT SIDE – Arnold Schwarzenegger, RIGHT SIDE – Chris Bumstead)

Born in 1995, Chris Bumstead, better known as “CBum,” is a Canadian bodybuilder and social media influencer who has quickly become one of the most recognized figures in the fitness world. Best known for winning the Mr. Olympia Classic Physique title four consecutive times (2019–2023), Bumstead has solidified his position at the top of the bodybuilding elite. Starting his competitive journey at just 19, his natural talent and relentless dedication quickly set him apart, earning him comparisons to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Like Arnold, however, CBum’s influence extends far beyond the bodybuilding stage.

Fitness is a notoriously difficult industry to breakthrough. The competition is high with established and professional athletes with pre-existing followings. Specialized diets, supplements, training programs, and competition fees can create financial barriers for aspiring bodybuilders. Slow physical progress, hormonal fluctuations, and mental barriers can all hinder one’s success. Bumstead has overcome all this and more. Not only has he attained a physique to be desired by sedentary and active people alike, but he’s also successfully translated his fame into multiple entrepreneurial ventures. He launched Bum Energy, a sports and energy drink company, and co-founded Raw Nutrition, a supplement brand focused on high-quality performance and recovery products. His partnerships with popular brands like Gymshark, Vaughn’s Treats, and Revive MD reflect his hands-on approach, ensuring that the products he endorses align with his values of transparency and quality in fitness.

In addition to his business endeavors, CBum is also a massive force on social media. With nearly 5 million followers on TikTok and over 24 million on Instagram, he’s one of the most influential fitness personalities online. He connects with his audience by sharing workout routines, nutrition advice, and personal insights into his life. Bumstead has been open about his struggles with mental health and his battle with IgA nephropathy, an autoimmune disease, further endearing him to fans for his vulnerability and authenticity. Bumstead’s combination of physical achievements, business ventures, and online transparency has made him a fitness icon. By redefining what it means to be a bodybuilder in today’s world, Chris Bumstead has inspired millions to pursue fitness.

Tim Ellis, Founder of Relativity Space, 3D Printing The Future

As a young intern at Blue Origin rocket company, Tim Ellis was surprised at the disinterest of his coworkers about the potential 3D printing technology had. With his unique position and interest Tim started the company’s 3D printing division and could see more clearly than the other engineers how 3D printing could bring revolutionary developments to the space flight industry. He brought up his ideas to Jeff Bezos, and even though Bezos agreed with Tim’s vision, Blue Origin itself wouldn’t be interested in taking further advantage of it. Tim realized he would have to strike off on his own to realize his vision. At age 22 he teamed up with a friend from college and together they founded Relativity Space, the first 3D printed rocket company.

Relativity Space’s mission is simple, building the future faster. Their website says, “We design and manufacture cost-effective, high-performance, and reusable rockets at an unprecedented pace and scale – setting a new industry standard.” Tim Ellis utilizes 3D printing technology to quickly make new parts as well as iterate on old designs to make better parts which allows for rapid innovation. The rocket parts they print are sturdier because they are made all in one piece without joints and other weak points rockets made with traditional processes have. Relativity’s rockets are not only reusable but, because of the 3D printing technology, can be made much quicker than traditional rockets. Tim Ellis has successfully leveraged the potential of 3D printing technology to make a rocket company capable of advancing the space industry to new heights.

I find Tim’s story particularly interesting because he gained inspiration from his work experience. He saw something that he was deeply interested in, 3D printing, not getting the attention it deserved and decided to give it that attention himself. He was motivated by his position that allowed him to see 3D printing’s true value and with his expertise he was able to transform his interests of 3D printing and space flight into one successful company. I want to approach every future internship I have as if it’s an opportunity to find a field for entrepreneurial innovation.

College Dropout to Millionaire-Ryan Trahan

A Youtuber and Entrepreneur, Ryan Trahan started at 14 to become an entrepreneur. He started a simple water bottle business that would later help make him into a millionaire. Starting his YouTube channel in 2015, Ryan posted about his daily life at college as a student athlete. However, he quickly gained followers due to his creativity and humor within his videos. Having adopted just 30,000 YouTube followers and juggling his business, Ryan was pressured with his college or his business. His school had set a tight rule with him, as a student athlete, making it so he couldn’t brand himself properly while in college. Because of this, Ryan had to choose between a high-risk endeavor or the college route, and he chose the entrepreneurial side. Ryan had the same mindset Peter Thiel speaks of, saying, “I view creating as entrepreneurial. Creating something from nothing has always been ingrained in me.” Thus, his career rocketed. His small water business became a great part of his revenue. The business, known as Neptune, was built to create sustainable water bottles which would reduce plastic waste. With his social enterprise, Ryan also used his business to support several organizations centered around cancer.

While Ryan had Neptune blooming, he also opened up a clothing line called Hydra Collection, which became his personal merch on his social media accounts, as well as another clothing line, Howdy Howdy, and a candy company, Joyride. Creating innovative videos on YouTube and establishing his businesses across the world has made Ryan Trahan into a wealthy, young entrepreneur. From going on live television to creating television series of his own, Ryan meets every corner around the world to grow and engage with his audience.

Ryan is known for his penny-to-a-house series and simply racing people in airports. Through his creative and entertaining work, he has amassed 17 million followers on YouTube with over 3 billion views worldwide!

Mr. Cory’s Cookies

In the world of millennial entrepreneurship, there’s a story that’s as sweet as the cookies it revolves around—Cory Nieves and his business, Mr. Cory’s Cookies. Now, what makes this young cookie maestro stand out isn’t just the tasty treats he whips up, but the fact that he kicked off this whole business adventure when he was just six years old.

So what is Cory’s secret ingredient? It’s all about his genuine passion for baking. His journey isn’t just a cool success story; it’s proof that doing what you love can turn a regular job into a full-on adventure of self-discovery and growth. And the best part is, Cory outright proves that success does not have an age requirement.

The magic of Mr. Cory’s Cookies isn’t just in the flavors; it’s in how Cory blends tradition with fresh tastes. He seamlessly combines the old-school with the now, challenging the idea that successful entrepreneurs all fit a certain mold. And that right there speaks volumes about Cory’s knack for business, his skill in working with people, and his bounce-back ability when faced with challenges.

Cory Nieves and his cookies? They’re not just a snack; they’re an inspiration. His story tells us loud and clear that if you want something bad enough and you have passion in the game, you can do anything. In reflecting on Cory’s story, I’ve learned valuable principles that resonate with me on my own life journey, whether I start a business like Cory or not. The importance of authenticity, the power of passion, and the idea that innovation knows no limits are lessons that will continues to form and shape the minds of aspiring entrepreneurs alike. Cory Nieves and Mr. Cory’s Cookies are not just a success story; they’re a blueprint for the startup story, proving that with the right mindset and a sprinkle of passion, anyone can turn their dreams into a reality.

Hart Main of Man Cans

Candles are great; everybody loves them, but that has not always been the case for everyone. For the longest time, candles have been something considered only to be enjoyed by girls. However, when a young man named Hart Main made fun of his sister for liking “girly candles”, something changed in his mind that would change his life forever…

When he was just 13 years old, Hart started his own business in an effort to save up for a $1,200 bike, but the business became so much more than he could have ever imagined. After poking fun at his sister, saying that candles were meant for girls only, he came up with the idea to create his own scents that would appeal to a more masculine audience. So, Hart created his own candles with scents such as campfire, bacon, fresh-cut grass, grandpa’s pipe, and more. With a little help from his parents, he created his candles using soup cans, and decided to name his business ManCans, a rather clever play on words that perfectly conveys the company message. Although things started small, with most of the customer base being friends and family, Main began to see some rapid growth in his business endeavor. He began distributing to local stores in Ohio, and now sells his candles in over 150 stores across the country.

The business now grosses over $200,000 annually, and Hart went off to college to study economics at Kent State. Mr. Main also gives back to the community by donating a portion of his profits to local soup kitchens. He even donates soup cans to the local kitchens as well, which interestingly ties into his business model quite nicely!

Hart Main says he is grateful for everything he has learned in this entrepreneurial endeavor, and is excited to see how he can apply it to his life in the future.

Persevering to Sucess: Life360

Some people might be familiar with the location app Life360. To many teenagers, it is the bane of their existence. Parents use the app to track their kid’s exact location. They can thank Chris Hulls for creating the app.

Chris Hulls: Creator of Life360

Originally, Hull started in the United States Air Force. During his service, the government established a website to help locate missing family members in disasters after Hurricane Katrina. The site was ineffective.

After Hulls pulled out of the military, he went to college and was accepted into Harvard Business School. He, however, decided not to go after a health issue. While undergoing treatment, Hulls remembered the ineffective government website and started thinking. He developed the idea for Life360 and bounced the idea off a few friends.

Hulls began by outsourcing the technological development in India. It ended up as a failure. He tried again after winning “Google’s Android Challenge”. From the competition, he won $300,000 which helped him make Life360.

Despite the app being created, Hulls almost failed again. He was dead broke: he lived in his mom’s house and was making $700 a month. The app had very few users. In the beginning, the smartphone had just been created. People did not know how to effectively use apps. He and his team managed to limp by for 2 years. After some improvements and a few years for the world to adapt to smartphones, business began to pick up. Now, Life360 has about 30 million active users according to a 2022 article.

Life360 still faces plenty of challenges. The app has caused lots of controversy. The Washington Post wrote an article on how parents use the app to track their children. Life360 also received backlash after Markup exposed the company for selling information to data brokers. This caused the company to adjust its policies, but Life360 continues to have 50 million users.

While Chris Hulls barely qualifies as a millennial since he was born in 1985, he is certainly an entrepreneur. He conceived an idea years ago and stored it in his memory. When he faced health issues, he used the time to think about his idea.

“What felt like a set back in my life was actually time to incubate an idea that inspired my career.”

He changed his life plan and developed the idea. Although he struggled in the beginning, Hulls persevered for years. Even after his success, Hulls continues to adapt and change Life360 to make it better.

What is Life360? | About Our Company & Our Mission

https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/business/trends-and-insights/articles/chris-hulls-of-life360-you-will-never-regret-trying/

Founder lessons (and silver linings) from Life360’s Chris Hulls – Bessemer Venture Partners (bvp.com)

Life360 is getting out of the business of selling precise user location data – The Verge