He Built 6 Businesses Without Burning Out | Chris Ulmer

Chris Ulmer owns Crystal Coast Graphics, a bowling center, a food truck, commercial properties, Airbnbs, and more — and he's done it without sacrificing his marriage or his sanity. In this episode, Jared sits down with Chris to talk through the real mechanics of scaling: when to diversify (and when NOT to), how to escape being the bottleneck in your own business, why he fires customers, and how to work with your spouse without blowing up your home life.⏱ TIMESTAMPS0:00 — Intro2:30 — Filling market gaps in Eastern NC6:30 — Internal growth vs. chasing new customers8:30 — Don't be a Super Walmart14:30 — Chris's other businesses (bowling, food truck, properties)16:40 — What new entrepreneurs miss most19:15 — "Time is what you can't get back"22:00 — Working with your spouse25:30 — The "hats" concept from Rocket Fuel33:00 — Resentment, presence, and the phone problem41:00 — "80% done by somebody else is 100% awesome"42:15 — Hiring: 70% consistent beats 110% erratic50:50 — Growing slow, growing the right way55:50 — "Words of decapitation"1:01:50 — The Rebecca Falcone AI story1:08:00 — Why "cheaper" never wins1:18:30 — Firing a customer (the boat wrap story)1:21:00 — "If you don't want to burn it down once a week..."1:32:40 — Rapid Fire: the $250K tax fine1:38:30 — Advice for new entrepreneurs🔗 GUESTChris Ulmer | Crystal Coast Graphicscrystalcoastgraphics.comFacebook: Crystal Coast Graphics🎙 BELOW THE SURFACEDepth Over Image. Hosted by Jared Shepherd.Subscribe and follow for more conversations with the people doing the work.