From Football Coach to Roofing Consultant: Ken Blankenship's Journey

What happens when a football coach with 32 seasons of experience decides to tackle the roofing industry? Ken Blankenship's remarkable journey from coaching NFL players to building Superior Roofing offers powerful lessons for anyone struggling with sales teams, business growth, or finding meaning in their work.Ken entered roofing in 2018 without knowing what drip edge or underlayment was—yet made nearly $400,000 in commissions his first year. His secret wasn't technical knowledge but a deeply human approach to sales. "Everything is about relationship building," Ken explains. "If you don't know how to handle that human interaction, it wears on you mentally and emotionally."The conversation reveals why door-to-door sales feels so challenging despite being physically simple. Ken's coaching background shines through as he shares techniques for handling rejection, reading subtle client cues, and transforming confrontational moments into meaningful connections. His story about knocking on doors after they've been slammed in his face—offering compassion rather than sales pitches—illustrates the power of genuine human concern in business.Having launched Superior Roofing's residential division just months before this conversation, Ken's fresh perspective on growth challenges resonates with both new and established business owners. His "five-minute rule" for handling disappointment and failure offers practical wisdom for anyone facing setbacks. The episode culminates with a fascinating story about eating off strangers' plates at a high-end restaurant that perfectly encapsulates Ken's philosophy: "What's the worst that can happen when you try?"Whether you're in roofing, sales, leadership, or simply interested in building better relationships, this conversation offers rare insights into growing businesses through genuine human connection. As Ken puts it, "I'd rather try and fail than not try at all."