Ep 26: Brian Emde - From Army paratrooper to deck entrepreneur

In this episode of Titan Talks, Jonathan Stern chats with Brian Emde, owner of Ozark Deck Company. Brian speaks about how he transitioned from a career in the army to setting up his own deck construction business. Initially working for an unlicensed builder, he decided to start his own company. Brian shares the challenges he faced during his first few projects, particularly under-pricing jobs and having thin margins. As his business grew, he learned the importance of not micromanaging employees, focusing more on growing the company by marketing, sales, and handling administrative work. His greatest pride comes from witnessing his team deliver high-quality work in his absence. (00:00) - Introduction (01:06) - Guest introduction: Brian Emde of Ozark Deck Company (02:45) - Brian's journey from the army to deck construction (08:20) - The non-compete situation with Brian's former boss (11:44) - Transition into business ownership (14:05) - Challenges in the first year of business (19:18) - The importance of pricing and value in business growth (23:02) - The role of employees in growing a business (25:25) - On marketing and generating leads for Ozark Deck Company (28:50) - The decision-making process on which leads to take on (31:01) - Discussing future plans for Ozark Deck Company (33:05) - Rapid-fire round with Brian Emde