Jesse McGrath: The Business Was Never the End Goal

Ten years ago, Jesse McGrath had a backpack, a pair of cowboy boots, and nowhere to live. Today, he owns Compass Cleanup & Excavation—but building a bigger company was never the finish line.Jesse built the business to get something back that money can’t replace: time with his kids, his wife, and his dad. Along the way, that meant learning some expensive lessons, including a cleanup job that cost him roughly $30,000, figuring out which customers actually fit his company, and realizing that more employees don’t automatically solve a bad job.Jesse also gets into the part of his story most people would hide. Addiction, homelessness, felony convictions, recovery, and the police officer who told him, “I can tell just by looking at you that you’re better than this.” Years later, that same officer sends him work.Takeaways:✅ One relationship can change your workload. Jesse says roughly 90% of his work comes through the network he’s built with contractors, real estate developers, salespeople, and other local businesses.✅ Understand the customer's vision before giving them a number. Jesse refuses to price a job without seeing the site and figuring out what the customer is actually trying to accomplish.✅ More labor can make a bad job worse. After underestimating a massive cleanup, Jesse tried throwing more people at it. Payroll and equipment rental kept climbing until he finally finished the project himself—about a $30,000 lesson.✅ Don't build past the life you actually want. Jesse isn't chasing 50 employees. He wants a profitable excavation business that gives him the freedom to hunt with his dad, work alongside his daughter, and be present with his family.✅ Your past doesn't have to set your ceiling. Jesse openly carries his history into his work today, including helping other guys in recovery get back on their feet.Why It Matters:A skid steer, mini excavator, bigger jobs, and more revenue can build a company—but Jesse’s story is a reminder to decide what you want that company to give you before growth starts taking it away.Links:➡️ Connect with Jesse on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jesse.mcgrath.399➡️ Get Ryan’s book “Outta The Weeds” on Amazon: ⁠https://a.co/d/0gWFpM0F➡️ Shop Attachments — Skid Steer Nation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://skidsteernation.com/➡️ Create estimates, track jobs, and stay organized with Tulboxx: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tulboxx.com/➡️ Grow your business — Throttled Up Marketing: ⁠⁠⁠ https://throttledupmarketing.com/