Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Scaling Up | Interview with Jon and Hanna Shiplett
0 Plays2 seconds ago
Phillip Ramsey hosts Jon and Hanna Shiplett of Eden and Gray, as they return to discuss their business journey since 2018. They delve into the evolution of their design and build company, highlighting changes in client types, project scales, and business challenges. With a growing team and higher project demands, they explore the nuances of leadership, maintaining their brand, and managing personal life alongside business growth. This episode provides insights into their dynamic partnership in business and marriage, reflecting on past experiences and future aspirations
Timestamp
- 0:01 Eden and Gray's Journey from Humble Beginnings to Success
- 5:30 Evolving Client Niches and Business Growth in Design Build
- 10:42 Challenges of Leadership and Business Growth
- 13:37 Growing a Business While Maintaining Brand and Culture
- 18:14 Rising Costs of Design and Construction Projects Over Time
- 19:34 Balancing Family Growth and Business Amidst Life's Challenges
- 22:42 Evolving Business Processes and Client Management in Design Projects
- 27:56 Challenges and Rewards of Working on Different Home Projects
- 29:12 Transforming Homes by Adding Character and Structural Changes
- 30:45 Lessons in Leadership and Growth from Business Challenges
- 38:31 Balancing Marriage and Business Partnership
- 40:57 Teamwork and Vision in Building Eden and Gray Interiors
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to the Uncommon Wealth Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Everyone dreams of living an uncommon life and the best asset you have to achieve your dreams is you. Welcome to the Uncommon Wealth Podcast.
00:00:12
Speaker
We're going to introduce you to people who are living uncommonly. We're also going to give you some tools and strategies for building wealth and for pursuing an uncommon path that is uniquely right for you.
00:00:26
Speaker
Hello and welcome everybody to another episode of the Uncommon Wealth Podcast where I'm your host Philip Ramsey.
Meet the Guests: John and Hannah Shiplett
00:00:31
Speaker
Today we have a repeat offender as I like to call him. This would be the first time that we had somebody come back from the past that has been on the podcast um and that has come back to be able to give us an update on things, the business, how things are going um and that guest is Eden and Gray, John and Hannah Shiplett.
00:00:51
Speaker
This would be John's third time on the podcast, though, by the way. So like repeat, repeat. Right. um So I can't wait to get into it. They are amazing people. You know, and if you ever listen to this and you've listened to the past, you just know that they are they've got a heart of gold. They serve people well.
00:01:07
Speaker
They're really good at what they do.
Eden and Gray's Evolution from 2018
00:01:09
Speaker
um Design and build is basically Eden and Gray is their company. The last time we had them on our show, you ready for this? August 2018. Wow. two thousand and eighteen Oh, wow.
00:01:21
Speaker
Yeah. We had, Audrey who was a baby. Yeah. Wow. I didn't realize it was that long. I know. were at the Brown House townhouse. Yes. Okay. so we're going to talk a little bit about that, but where you were at.
00:01:32
Speaker
And really what we're going to do is more like comparison then versus now. So you got to like start kind of thinking about your business in 2018. So we're going to first just take the first couple minutes to just like, where were you in 2018 with Eden and Gray, if you can remember.
00:01:47
Speaker
And then we're going to kind of flash forward of like, what happened the last seven years? Yeah. and what's going on. Oh man. I've got flashbacks already. You're going to be best one to probably recall. I don't know. This is like a little triggering.
00:01:59
Speaker
It was dark time. No, it was, it was a great time because it was at the beginning, but we were resetting everything and actually Uncommon Wealth Partners was a huge part of that. They were helping us rebuild our foundation financially and,
00:02:13
Speaker
and with our business. And so we were um renting at the time. we were All of our babies were young and they were shoved in one bedroom so that we could use the spare bedroom as our office.
00:02:23
Speaker
um We were doing one of our first new builds and I remember showing the clients all the samples pulled out of the back of my CRV into a Starbucks, ah finishes for a 3,000 square foot house.
00:02:34
Speaker
And got the deal, by the way. That's amazing. ye Built that house. And we had no showroom, and we were just going for it. And a random person showed up and was like, can I be your first employee? And we said, sure. And they were not even from our field. That was soon after we had actually merged everything together, right? Yes. No, that was the year we did that. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:02:57
Speaker
So yeah, we were really starting from kind of from scratch in some ways. At least even in gray design build, was that was the beginning. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. But momentum was like strong. I felt like in the podcast, your enthusiasm was very high and like things were going in the right direction.
00:03:14
Speaker
Like I felt like that was the first time you guys pulled your boats together and started rowing in the same direction with Eden and Gray. For sure. It was a moment of like, I remember that year the word was focus. And so we were just given instruction by a lot of good advisors to focus on kitchen, bath, and doing the design build all in one one roof.
00:03:32
Speaker
So it was an exciting time. It was just like hard. yeah Did you guys have a vision then of what you wanted it to be? Do you remember that? I think we had some clarity on what we wanted, but really no idea how to get there. And as you recall, just like over the last... And no map. Yeah, that's what I mean. It's just like, as we look back now, it's like, geez, there's so many hard moments along the way. And you're like, oh, shoot, won't do that again. Or like, I don't know.
00:04:09
Speaker
I mean, everyone experiences those things in life. But um I do feel like, I remember
Challenges of Business Growth and Team Management
00:04:14
Speaker
when we like merged everything together that there was... um there was clarity in what we wanted to build. ah Like I could see, i could kind of get a vision for what it was gonna be someday, but,
00:04:27
Speaker
I don't know. I mean, it was just sort of like you wake up every day and just. Yep. Groundhog's Day a little bit, but also it's brand new. yeah Yeah. And you kind of realize at that point, like we had enough projects or enough momentum to know that we were in the right lane. Like that this was what we should do with our lives, but not quite sure exactly how far we could take it.
00:04:47
Speaker
Yeah. So. Okay. So how long has Eden and Gray been in business like the brand? Well, kind of since 2012, because that's when the design portion of things started, and then John will simultaneously. I kind of like to say that I took John's name, and then he took mine.
00:05:04
Speaker
Yes, that's right. So I already had design business, and his building business was happening simultaneously. And so then when we merged them together, we went ahead and and stuck with my name. But I i would say that we were both like adjacent to what we do now, but yeah not actively partnered. So to clarify, i you got married, took Shiplet. We married twice.
00:05:21
Speaker
and then And then got married again, and then you took Eden and Gray. That's Your company before was True North Builders, yeah and then Eden and Gray was only the design part. Correct. And then you merged them together, right? Yes. And I will say, it was a very hobby business in the beginning. i mean, my my work that I was doing from home was, like, I started with a Groupon, and it was, like, color consultations. And, yeah, it was very humble in the beginning.
00:05:43
Speaker
But you both are amazing at what you did. So, like, when you unified it, you could see how it could start really getting traction. Yeah. Yeah, we're better together. Oh, for sure. Clearly. Yeah. I mean, it was, yeah, it's been good. Yeah, it's good. Then you only have to market for one company. Yeah. yeah You know? Yeah. One bank account. All right. So here's my question. So what was your ideal client type back in 2018?
00:06:03
Speaker
And then we can talk about your ideal client type now.
00:06:09
Speaker
I guess back then it was sort of whoever would trust us to do their project, but we always really enjoyed kitchens from the beginning. um I don't know more clients specific, to be honest, that's been a hard one to like nail down. Um, we've tried a bunch of different sort of avenues within all within obviously design build, but,
00:06:30
Speaker
um it's been hard to niche down to where, okay, this is actually really our sweet spot. and So I think in the beginning it was, yeah, like Hannah was saying, it's you're just sort of trying on a bunch of different things.
00:06:44
Speaker
You're capable of doing a lot of stuff, and that is the death of the danger yeah right now of it. so um And as a business owner, I think it's it's scary to niche down because you just feel like you're limiting that funnel. Right.
00:07:00
Speaker
and So that's been kind of a series of conversations and a series of like, okay, I guess we're going to like only stick to this, you know, but and almost every time I think, or every time it's like so much better because you can focus yeah because ah you focus on what you is really the sweet spot and then it's just way more efficient.
00:07:23
Speaker
Right. And I do think that like as we've defined that the niche client or who we want to serve now, it's sort of like
Vision, Client Expectations, and Service Model
00:07:30
Speaker
you look for patterns in what you've provided for service. And we discovered that communication, whether that be a visual communication with our renderings or communication on keeping clients updated on their projects, like that was really what we have invested and poured into. So we want to serve the clients that appreciate that. And so that kind of ends up in in that white glove service um and then the types of projects that we found that we really do well with and and like. And so that's kind of how we've envisioned our clients now.
00:07:59
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. But it's changed immensely. That being said, I do think that when you're so talented and you start niching down, i think the fear of niching down is that you just get repetitive in the same like kitchen. Like it's just then, but the efficiency is so much easier, but you can see how you can get pigeonholed of like, this is just if the kitchens we do. and You know, like where you guys now are like, okay, we're doing a bathroom. Like then Hannah and her creativity can then, okay, all right, let's do this. And so you can stay a little bit more nimble with just your creativity when sometimes when you niche down, like all we do is bathrooms or or kitchens.
00:08:35
Speaker
You can fear that you're going to just do the same thing repetitive, repetitive. I think that that's the cool thing about getting older. Like even, oh, actually today is my birthday. It's your birthday, Hannah? Didn't I know this? Okay. Yes, I did. Totally did. Are you kidding me? did. I know. Happy birthday. The first thing you want to do on your birthday is do a podcast eight o'clock on Friday. Dilly dilly. But that being said, like getting older and then seeing what you're good at and this whole idea of niching down and what you're going to focus on as you've put other systems in place, then it's exactly what you're saying. You get to have more fun. It's like now in a kitchen, it's not just let's, you know, place these cabinets in certain spots. You're always learning. It's like, Hey,
00:09:13
Speaker
What if we did this cool detail or you can do an integrated sync with the same material? And then how does that interact with the windows? And you just get to take it 10 steps further every time. That's cool. So I do love when we like we're a repeat podcast attendance here. Like I love when we have repeat clients because then it's like, OK, we took the best care of you. We could have the first time around, but we have.
00:09:31
Speaker
50,000 new things that we've come up with that serve our clients better now, and I'm glad you're back and let's do this Right, and a new process so they can feel it like be more efficient. Yeah, that's fun. That's good. Okay. All right, so we have the ideal client type. I would say now is more white glove. like That's what I would say when I kind of see the trajectory of your business. It's like, no, we want to get around the people that are used to this high service model, and they're okay to to spend a little bit more money. right Yeah, we're here to bring convenience and like take it off someone's plate. That gives us the most satisfaction to know that they can do what they do best and then can come over here and say, we do this every day, let us handle this thing. That's right.
00:10:11
Speaker
And I think that's so hard to do. It's like, hey, i need to we need to level up our clientele. ah It's so hard to do. But once you do it and you have the money and then you can give them the experience that you know that you want to give them, it's like, okay, now we're really targeting starting to take the momentum forward. Yeah. Instead of like, okay, well, I'll take this client.
00:10:29
Speaker
It's really not our ideal client type. And we're going to do this project. And we're not really getting the efficiencies that we need and the money that we need, the the margins. And then it's like no one's getting the best experience here. You know? Totally. I feel like that's yeah my life. yeah Okay.
00:10:44
Speaker
Working on that. Okay. yeah All right. So... um What do you think the biggest challenge that you've you've hit to this day since 2018? Because I think 2018, we had our own challenges of just trying to get this airplane off the runway and into the sky.
00:11:00
Speaker
Now you're up on the air. Like, have you hit any turbulence? Like, what is it that you guys would say is probably the biggest challenge? And I want to say this because... I think that's one of of my favorite things about owning a business is how hard it is and like the refining nature of it. and so when I say challenge, yeah, it is a challenge, but it also, that's where I learned the most is when it's a hard thing that I'm like, I don't want to deal with that, but it's because I'm probably selfish and I just want to move on.
00:11:27
Speaker
But it does help me to just take back and like, look at this issue. What is the real heart issue behind this? And then what can I do to to lead? And I'd say a godly manner in this way to be able to kind of move the ball forward So what would that be for you guys in this season?
00:11:43
Speaker
I mean, to use your analogy, I mean, i actually use um the same one a lot where a business you're like building the plane while it's in the air, you know, and like that's the biggest challenge is like.
00:11:56
Speaker
In an ideal world, we could just pause, fix all the problems, and then go back to work. But like you're dealing with just the hot items of the day yet while trying to build a business. I think that overall, that's probably the biggest challenge. right And there's a lot of things within that, of course.
00:12:12
Speaker
I think, too, as a business owner, like in the beginning, it was just Hannah and i and you're just trying to get the work done. you know You're trying to sell jobs and and complete the complete the project.
00:12:25
Speaker
I think as you add team members and and structure and like, okay, how do we make this thing actually fly on its own is like ah just a new set of skills as a business owner, as a leader that like you haven't had to deal with deal with before. So I think it's like...
00:12:47
Speaker
yeah I think being in a position of of leadership in a business is is difficult because you're obviously expected to be the leader, but you've never done it before. So there's just this like ongoing trial and error. Right. and you're you know you can read as many books as you want, but like some of those gray areas are so difficult to deal with. You know, it's like the math problem that the professor does on the board. And then he gives you another problem you're like, Oh my gosh, what? Like that's nothing like what you just yeah did. Or can you use those numbers? Yeah. Yeah.
00:13:22
Speaker
No, I agree with that completely. i think that when I think about the stress or like the turning in the stomach moments that we've had, it's they've been around. um I think I'm a people pleaser, and so that's been my refinement. At first, it was with the clients, just being really hands-on, whether I was doing the project management or doing the design work and just making sure that they're happy.
00:13:43
Speaker
And it's true now that we have a team, kind of shifts because your day that was spent doing the project and focusing on that shifts to how do I motivate those around us and how do we keep the culture that we want to have of just true teamwork and having each other's backs because, like John said, just haven't done it before. I want to frame this So in 2018, didn't have employees. Right.
00:14:07
Speaker
you didn't have any employees We had like one. Maybe an intern? No, we had like a, no, I guess I was like imagining the interviews that happened. We had someone approach us and so we had one other person okay that we onboarded, but that really wasn't from the field.
00:14:21
Speaker
I mean, they were like, came from a totally different industry and was like, I'm interested in your business. and we're like, sounds good. We need help. Yeah. Yeah. Right. So yeah. And then mostly us. Flash forward to today. How many employees do you have? Um, there's 12 with us, including us, 12. Okay. yeah Wow.
00:14:38
Speaker
So let's talk about that because when it was two, you guys know your brand because it is, you guys are the brand. Yeah. Yeah. Pretty easy. As you guys add staff, how do you create that culture and the brand that you want? Has your brand changed with the people that you've hired?
00:14:54
Speaker
Or like, obviously we don't want that, but the truth is like, it probably hasn't happened. So let's talk about just the culture and the brand evolving over time as you step in new, new people to help you kind of run the company or, or, you know, do the day-to-day operations.
00:15:09
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, I think it's like the niching that we've, like, once you determine your menu of services and who your target market is and who you want to work with, then you start to, as you're interviewing, you kind of pick people that have that level of seriousness that you do. So, um you know, the team that that is working with us and sticks around, like, i'm very proud of the people that we have by our side, and they tend to be people who are willing i mean they They care about the end product, yeah and they are willing to be professional and be quick to solve problems. and that's kind of The people that stick around with us are the ones that come with solutions, not the ones that dwell on a problem. and so that um i think that that's super fundamental to the back end of the brand. and
00:15:53
Speaker
Really, it's a natural thing. You get people who are are supporting that, and then people that come that don't jive with that don't usually hang around. Stick around. I don't know if that's a good way to say it, but yeah ah the brand is something we're committed to, and so we really don't allow for it to change. Right.
Brand Consistency and Cultural Values
00:16:12
Speaker
Yeah. I would say um you know clarity in what the vision is and who we are and who we aren't. Right. It goes a long way. Right. i think like If we are constantly kind of grabbing at multiple things at once, I think it sends the wrong message it definitely sends the wrong message to the team.
00:16:34
Speaker
and i mean everyone knows I think individually we could present two different types of projects to the team right now and they would know which one we would take and which one we wouldn't. Okay, that's a huge yeah compliment. like That's a big deal.
00:16:49
Speaker
lot of people wouldn't that. I should make sure, but yeah. no and it's It's clear. we And we've had conversations about it where they're like, yeah, this is probably not a good fit for us. Yeah. So interesting because when you can start having staff that understands that, then they can also start pegging things when they're out and about and they can almost be like little salesmen of like, Oh, they're at a party and the kitchen is like, I just hate this kitchen. Like, well, that's, we can, we do that. You know? Yeah. Right. Well, and I would say too, like I was just talking to one of our clients last night and they were complimenting how clean the carpenters, I meant to share this with you. So just share with you now. We don't have to talk about it later, but yeah, um, two, two for, It's your birthday. You can do whatever you want. That's true. I'm off to Barnes & Noble after this. But they were saying how the job sites were so clean and how comfortable they felt with our staff in their home. And those are the kind of moments where they're like proud parent moments. Yes. Our kids are growing up. You're like, oh my gosh, this is so cool and wonderful to hear. And we always want to go back and share that. But I'm sure that we have failed and will continue to fail in some ways around this as we've
00:17:55
Speaker
you know When you go back five years, like every two years, is so it looks so different. and We're moving in a direction where um it is a very dynamic business and process to grow a business. and so Even when when people interview, it's like, listen, this is like not startup, but like close to startup. so Expect changes that are only going to be motivated by better service to our clients.
00:18:19
Speaker
um or better plans for you guys you know if like if we can provide backups that's one of the reasons why we want to grow the team so that everyone has someone that can back them up if they want to go on vacation and create a better work-life balance and so now i'm getting off topic but it's my birthday so no that's really good that's really good okay average project cost back then oh boy 2018 average so just kind of like throw it out there and then i want to know average like cost now What was it back then? well I think there's like design fees to look at and then there's project. yeah
00:18:53
Speaker
define Design fees would be like $500 maybe. Groupon free. and free just like Just tell me I do a good job and
00:19:05
Speaker
And now the average design proposal is going to be between $2,000 to $10,000 and then bigger if it's a new construction project. but And then I'll let you answer the construction one. I mean, construction average was probably...
00:19:21
Speaker
like Just take a kitchen. In the 20 to 30 range, maybe? Okay, back then? Or now? For a kitchen, you think I would say 20 to 40. Okay. kitchen back then. 20 to 40, maybe. Yeah, we'd be super excited about the 40. Back then. Yeah. Okay, good.
00:19:37
Speaker
And then where are we at now? Average now is probably in the... Anywhere from like 75 to 150. Okay. For a kitchen. Yeah. yeah and There are bigger projects we've had. But yeah, that's probably like. Okay. If you're doing a whole home or a new construction, those are kind of their own thing. And we usually have one or two of those going on at a time. Yeah. They're pretty big. Yeah. but Isn't that crazy how you just like yeah level. And I will say COVID was played a role in that. Like, yeah, I mean, you think about your grocery prices, you know, and then just put that in a house. Isn't it crazy how you. Yeah, that's true.
00:20:14
Speaker
you can see God's hand, like kind of work through your business throughout the years of like all him things, how, how he's orchestrated it. Like you're like, I'm not that smart. Yeah. There's even moments where programs have come across our desk that we weren't looking for that it's like, this would be so much better or different yeah like staff that have shown up at just the right time where you're like, yeah you look back and you go, wow, that was that was a game changer. Right.
00:20:37
Speaker
so Okay. i I didn't have this on the thing, but last time I listened to our podcast, I listened to yesterday. So you guys were really juggling a lot personally. Kids, all that stuff. Not like now. Yeah. What are you doing now? I have a feeling like you always think this is me at least.
00:20:53
Speaker
If I could just be as busy i as I was last year, i would be doing fine. But last year at this time, I'm like, I'm too overwhelmed. I can't believe I have so much on my plate. Right. You always feel like... you were better last time and then you get to this point and you're like, I'm so easier. and you always do the thing like in two weeks, this will be, it's going to be better. and yeah It's going to be fine. I got the in the tunnel. Yeah. Never.
00:21:13
Speaker
next So tell me about how your personal life has been, or has it been the same from like 2018 to now? It just like, seems like they're bigger problems. It is way different. Yeah, it is. can think of a lot of different, you go ahead I've talked lot.
00:21:28
Speaker
Well, there's like two sides of this coin. There's like, we've increased our family size yeah since the last one. So yeah we've got four kids. um And last time you only had three?
Personal and Family Growth
00:21:39
Speaker
Yeah. Okay.
00:21:41
Speaker
um but i would say we've also become numb to some of the smaller issues yeah so that's fire on the ground just blow it off and yeah so there's more going on but like it doesn't feel as stressful maybe because we're just not as rocked by certain things and they're a little older so they can kind of like self-manage yeah yes yeah that is a game changer for sure once they can put on their shoes yeah When they could first put on their seatbelt, I was like, oh my gosh, we figured this out we have we We're okay. you know We're going to be okay. We made it.
00:22:14
Speaker
Oh man, i just all these flashbacks. I have to share one thing. In the townhouse 2018, Brown House townhouse, We had all three kids in car seats at that time. and All of them. and so when we got it and then we couldn't park in the garage because we refused to pay for storage. Yes, all of it was there. is I remember the boxes. It was there. yeah I actually showed, i think, your mom some samples out of that garage. Oh, mom. She's the best. She's the best. She's stuck with me. Yeah, she's right.
00:22:42
Speaker
But when I would load up the kids, there were no trees because it was like new West Des Moines. And the wind was like brutal. And it was the middle of winter. And I was just running around the car to every single door that car had to offer to buckle all those kids in and just being like, this is The price I pay. yeah And then now I get to park in the garage. So I guess that's the biggest difference between 2000 and 2025. Okay.
00:23:06
Speaker
but okay Sorry about that. That a random. Okay. that good Let's talk about the processes then versus now. Like what are the client's process or what kind of processes you have now? how I mean, that's not easy to build, by the way.
00:23:19
Speaker
And it's not my favorite thing to build processes, but when you have them, it does feel like things run smoother and you can hold people accountable to them. So what did you have when it was just you two versus now? Has it changed? Or if you tried to kind of emulate that with just other people?
00:23:33
Speaker
I mean, it's changed a lot. lot, yeah. You know, in the beginning, you know, when it's just Hannah and I, like... we're sort of just in constant communication every day about what's happening on each of the jobs. And at that time, too, you're only dealing with the jobs that you can handle and that you need to pay everything. So yeah there's just not as much going on, even though we're there. There is a lot going on, but only for two of us. Right.
00:24:05
Speaker
so We've increased the team to offload some of these things and make it a better experience for the customer. right But ah but that means also more revenue. and so There's more projects. It's impossible. At this point, like if everyone left, like there's no way we can just us take on everything that we're doing.
00:24:30
Speaker
Our systems and processes have had have to be so clear for all of this to work because you're taking, especially, i mean, I know other businesses, we're not necessarily unique, but we're taking custom,
00:24:44
Speaker
very custom
00:24:48
Speaker
like project and trying to run it through a system that catches everybody's project. Yes. Which is just hard to do. You know, like you have, yeah, you have like certain things that are repetitive on each project, but like there's always stuff on that are unique to each person. Absolutely. So it's just been difficult to try to capture everything along the way, but that's not very specific, but I don't know. Guess who has the specifics. Yeah. they um i like I'll speak to design.
00:25:18
Speaker
like I remember with our our design plans, I like have tried so many things over the years, and my brain really does work like type A and then total creative, so I can just bipolar switch between the two of them. In the beginning, it was like, here's this design process, and I would just be like, when I felt like it was time to send concepts, i would send concepts, and when it was the design was done, I
Advice to Past Selves
00:25:38
Speaker
would send the design within a reasonable amount of time.
00:25:41
Speaker
Internal clock. Yeah. It like dawned on me that we needed to put designs in a schedule. And so now we like send the client like, here's when you're going to expect this. Here's when we need your feedback. Here's what's going to be the next step. They get a whole document that shows everything that's going to happen. They have a calendar just the same as they will when they're in construction that says this is when everything's happening.
00:25:59
Speaker
um So that is great because then we know if we have 10, 20 design projects going at a time, when can we start those projects so that that way it can be consistent and it's not random and um So that's a huge thing. And then I will say that fourth child that we talked about adding for me personally as like a ah business owner and and as a mom and just two things that are both growing, there was this need because I wanted to take ah my first ever maternity leave, which I had never taken because we were just going with all the babies. How to feed those babies. Yes. So it forced me in particular, who's not one to easily give up control, to
00:26:35
Speaker
hire people to do the jobs that I do and to then make systems and this is kind of funny too there's all these training videos that I'm redoing because we switched a program over and all the other training videos were me at like nine months pregnant my face is just pretty big and like it's not looking that great was like I'm andm glad I'm remaking but it was a sign to like it forced me out. And so it was almost like having a little mini death because I was gone for three months. Which is really good. It's so good because then you just go, this is how we do it.
00:27:05
Speaker
And here are our training videos and then you don't have to touch it again. Right. And then you had like this this looming deadline. Yes. Yeah. That you had to get it done, which I hate deadlines, but like I love them because I know somehow it's going to get done. Yeah. And this was probably the same. This is like the cutest deadline we've ever had.
00:27:23
Speaker
So that's great. Yeah. All right. um So I'm going to just because of time, i'm going to skip that one. i was going to talk about priorities. Like what are the priorities now versus then? That's good because we don't know. but I'm just kidding. okay let's yeah um Okay. Back then you talked about your best and your favorite project. What would it be now?
00:27:42
Speaker
What would you say it would be your best and favorite?
00:27:46
Speaker
I don't know. You go first. Okay. There the ones where the client, and this is happening more and more, and this is what we're like working towards, but where they go, I'm busy. You do your thing. So it's like any project that fits that mold. And, um, because I know we can deliver on that. I know that we can like the bigger projects are also just exciting. Cause they're kind of a challenge. I think you're doing stuff, you know, coming down the road and those are always fun to get or something that's kind of weird. It's like, okay, this will be a fun design challenge. Actually,
00:28:13
Speaker
I want to talk about it because it's not signed yet, but like I have one in the the pipeline that I'm pretty excited about. It just gets my wheels turning. So that's that's exciting to me at this point. Yeah. I think and my answer is way more practical. like I like you've working on slightly newer homes. is just It's nice for the guys. It makes yeah like the project go a little bit easier. we've we ah We definitely have a lot of projects that we work on, older homes, but it's just there's a lot more unknown. So um it makes those difficult.
00:28:47
Speaker
ah So I don't know. Like I said, my my answer is way more practical. yeah It's funny because I feel like when we first started, business owners start, like I feel like this analogy kind of holds true. It's like you're playing in a t-ball field, right? And you get a base hit on a t-ball field and you're like, yeah, that was great, right? And then then your your arenas or your stadiums, they start getting bigger. Your fields get a little bit bigger.
00:29:09
Speaker
Then you play the high school field or you know junior high field and it's a little bit bigger and you get a base hit, you get a double, you know, like, oh, that's a big deal. And then as you feel like pretty soon, your feels pretty big. yeah And your doubles are like what it used to be like a grand slam, you know, a game winning grand slam.
00:29:27
Speaker
maybe I'll change my answer a little bit. oh I do. i yeah I like I I had i do enjoy. come on. When there has been a big transformation Okay. The before and after. Yeah. like we just took We just did one where we took out a very large section of this wall, and we had to like restructure the house and yeah do a bunch of stuff. Load bearing. Yeah. Yeah.
00:29:49
Speaker
um And the the result was pretty impactful. It was like, whoa, this is such a big difference. And it's it was so much better for them. it was just Did the clients see it as it was happening? Or was it like the before and after kind of thing where they didn't see it until they saw it?
00:30:06
Speaker
Or did they were living in the house? No, they were living in the house. So, I mean, they could see it. But, I mean, they... Yeah, had lots of moments of whoa. The moment we actually took down the wall, it was like, wow, this really is so different. It just changed the dynamic of that level. you know That's cool. so like That stuff is really fun.
00:30:24
Speaker
I will say this kind of about like our projects now and then because as you were referencing the older homes and those being kind of difficult to work on, we worked on a lot of older homes in the beginning. um We do, for some reason, get kind of this one pocket of a suburb that we end up in these houses a lot.
00:30:39
Speaker
And they're ones that have a little bit of character, but what I like about the newer homes and even the home that we're in now is that it's like you're taking something and adding character to it. And I was just thinking about the way things get built now versus like in Europe even 100 ago America.
00:30:55
Speaker
like They just don't make houses like they used to exactly. And so to be able to take homes and kind of insert the character where it wasn't there before is pretty fulfilling. That's cool. To be like, okay, we've taken kind of something cookie cutter and made it not cookie cutter anymore, and now it's about the person that lives there. that That's pretty cool. yeah Yeah. That's a good answer.
00:31:13
Speaker
Nailed it on that one. Second time around the block. It's your birthday. It's my birthday. Everything you should say is my birthday. It is my birthday. Of course I've done something awesome. Totally not. so biggest project to date then, which was around $70,000, I think I heard you say. but you can but And then biggest project to date now. like Where are we at?
00:31:32
Speaker
Yeah.
00:31:36
Speaker
We've got one right now that we're, it's, I think we landed at like 525. Wow. around there. That's a pretty big field you're playing in. Yeah. it's It's a big one. When you got that, would you be like, what what was your response? Was like, oh yeah, I can't wait. Or like, oh boy, here we go.
00:31:54
Speaker
I think we can do it. It depends on what it is. We've got another one that is, has not signed, that's larger than that. But, but complicated It's complicated. you know so that once you're kind of like itching your head like, okay, we can do this, but it's going to stretch us. Yeah, I have full confidence in our ability to do it. It's just it's not an it's not like a straightforward deal. yeah know There's a lot of coordinating where right with the process. What can you say to... Because we've been growing the business, that has become a project of its own.
00:32:29
Speaker
And so there's also less of a need to scratch the itch of doing something different just because John and I are kind of like you know need to keep it exciting in life. like yeah yeah that That kind of helps to then right you know take on projects that make sense for the business because you have another project to do.
00:32:44
Speaker
Yeah, I will speak to that a little bit because I just listened to our podcast yesterday. There was a lot of like, okay, we want some kind of residual nature to try to invest in. and I feel like that that noise has kind of softened a little bit as you guys have put in all your attention and energy and eaten the gray. And I feel like that's paid off.
00:33:01
Speaker
That has paid off to just stay. How do we continue to grow? You know that that's probably your highest rate of return. at this point. But there's ways that you can maybe scratch your itch of other things that you want to do within the business that help it kind of grow even bigger.
00:33:16
Speaker
yeah So I feel like that's that's kind of been cool to watch from the sideline. It is it is risky, it's even when you talk about the ideal client, but like putting all your eggs in one basket versus diversifying in how you do your investments. you know That's right. so yeah Okay, um what would you say to yourself if you could talk to your seven-year-ago self now?
00:33:42
Speaker
These are good questions. when When you have to stop and think, I feel like, okay, that's a decent question. careful because I don't want to scare her. um
00:33:54
Speaker
I think, well, for me, yeah you know, I think when we started hiring, Okay, wait, i want people you say I want you to say you're talking to yourself seven years ago, not yeah not Hannah. right And then after that, i want you to then talk to Hannah seven years ago. Oh, yeah, this is fun. And then you have to do the vice versa. So, gosh, I just made this question like seven times harder. yeah Happy a birthday. I can handle it on my birthday. I would have said to myself that
00:34:29
Speaker
when hiring your partner, I think I had the perspective that I've hired the person to do the job. I don't need to check back in. This is like, you like you have your task, do it. yeah and and And I'm done. yep you know right I've, since that that time, have understood that like,
00:34:55
Speaker
The importance for leadership is so unbelievably necessary. Or good leadership, I should say. and Because it you know as we were talking, like i the you're always in a position of leadership. You're just either doing it really well or not doing it at all. so um That's good. so yeah I would have said take take more time to consider um and be prepared for you know having to to guide people along in this process. And yeah yeah and they create create some systems for it and yeah and checks check-ins and that sort of thing.
00:35:33
Speaker
and And just, yeah I mean, you you don't know what you don't know. So when you get get into it and you discover those things, you go, oh, shoot, like this actually is a real thing. Yeah, right, right. So...
00:35:44
Speaker
That's a good that's a good a piece of advice. Okay, now you're going to talk to Hannah, and then you're going to have to talk. Reverse it. Yeah, reverse it. So what would you little Hannah? Beautiful seven-year-old Hannah.
00:35:58
Speaker
Not yet. Don't answer that yet. You just got to think about it. You're just talking to Hannah. I'm talking Hannah. Okay. I'd probably say out of the way much as you can because your husband and your team is capable. And if they need to have their own journey, and I tend to want to protect people and keep them happy, that's not best for people. Right.
00:36:21
Speaker
Like ah as some of our coaches have said, i like clear is kind. So just, I think I have not been clear in my desires for things before just because I don't want to hurt people's feelings. yeah And so it would, if I could have learned that sooner, I think it would save me some heartache. Yeah.
00:36:37
Speaker
So basically have a baby for quicker. Yeah. Have more babies. to got To step yourself out of the business. It's really, it's really what happens. It's when it happens. Even just as late. So yeah, that's good.
00:36:48
Speaker
Okay. yeah i mean ah My advice to young Hannah would have been not too dissimilar to that. i mean We talk about this all the time. yeah and but just you know Not taking things too personally.
00:37:01
Speaker
this you know it is just business at the end of the day, some of the stuff. you know yeah um yeah i Creating clear expectations. ah But there was something else specific. What was it?
00:37:16
Speaker
I think you just would like, good job. yeah You're beautiful. You're beautiful. How do you do it all? Oh, oh yeah. No, it was around the trust and got in people. And I think we've both, we've had lots of conversations about this, but like um understanding the reality that if you want to grow something, like you need people. You can't do it yourself. You cannot do this by yourself. And so...
00:37:40
Speaker
um sort of recognizing that and accepting it and and working on ways to in which you can scale it scale it is is important so yeah because there's something so different about run like starting a business and then scaling a business yeah way different deals yes for sure yeah i mean in the beginning we've created you know a job for ourselves and now we're like on that path of trying to create a business, you know? Yes.
00:38:09
Speaker
Right. we're We're in it. and're We're not there yet, though. Yeah. Right. But you're seeing it's closer than it used to be. Oh, for sure. Yeah. Okay. Now back to young John.
00:38:21
Speaker
Young John, you are so fun. You are so fun. You are fun. I think you kind of hit it when you were talking to Young John. but um Yeah. that they're like I think there's been times that Young John could communicate kate oh like to either his business partner or the staff that we have around what your vision is so that we can implement. Right.
00:38:45
Speaker
As an integrator, as somebody who is like ready to serve and excited to make the vision come to life, I think that um like whenever it comes to fruition in your mind, you to say the word and I'm on it. Yeah. That's good.
00:38:58
Speaker
good That's good. Okay, last question. How has your marriage changed since 2018? Wait, two Yeah, because it's 16 years total that we've doing this. That you guys are married. Close to the same marriage. Yeah, same as us. We're 17. And it's 2008. Yeah. So good.
00:39:19
Speaker
I think that it's just gotten stronger. And I think that like it's kind of interesting being in business with your spouse because you already have life that you're doing together with all your kids and all the things. But then you just have another...
00:39:30
Speaker
eight to 16 hours of time in the business that you're working, that you still are very integrated. i think one thing that i'm we're working on, but it's really my problem, is not bringing business home and trying to set up those boundaries, which is very difficult for me personally. Especially when you've worked out of your house before. Yes. you know yeah And just so to speak to that in our marriage, it's like,
00:39:54
Speaker
we're getting, there's more trust, we know each other better, there's kind of like a secret twin language, like we don't even, it's very easy to work with each other. um But, so i I think it's just gotten stronger in that way, but we've had to be careful to stay like intentional about our relationship over the time. So I don't know, I got us just to comment on where we are now. back ah Back then, I think it was, I liked you then, I like you now. Yeah. Yeah.
00:40:22
Speaker
I mean, I don't really have much to add to that. I would say all the kind of the same things. um It is tricky, the dynamic of having you know your business partners um where like we there is no shutting off, really. like The conversations can just kind of continue right all hours of the day. Yeah.
00:40:45
Speaker
and That's been difficult to sort of figure out that balance, you know? um But I don't get tired of you. I don't know. And we have a desk that is shared. I call it the Lady and Tramp desk because it's like, so we sit across from each other. And I, no matter what has happened, even when I was on maternity leave and I had time to reflect on like life and how much I was going to go back to work and all these things, like,
00:41:12
Speaker
I just, what i was like whatever we do, if we sell t-shirts or pens, like I just want to do it with John. like Whatever we've got going on, if I even do something with dance at some point, like I'm just like, well, John has to be part of it. like I know that. so That's good. yeah I also think that, Hannah, you've done a good job of letting John lead.
00:41:28
Speaker
And like, I think if you were leading it, it'd probably a different company than what probably John would. And I think that you've done a really good job of like kind of handing over the reins when I know it like controls a pretty big thing for you, but it's nice when you're you're married to the guy. So you trust him. Like, you know, he's not going to bring that thing to the ground. yeah And I think the vision that you guys are on is is powerful and it's perfect for Eden and Gray.
00:41:51
Speaker
I think we both recognize the way that we're each wired and like, yeah, and and understand well And understand the importance of both both of those absolute gifts. The yin and the yang.
00:42:03
Speaker
Hannah's definitely more in the weeds on on everything and concerned with the details of of how stuff is ah ran run. But like for me, I'm way more big picture. One is, okay, like where are we going to be in five years? I don't care where I am today. right But you appreciate those differences. Yes. like well am it In the beginning, i think it was was like, we don't need to talk about, like, who cares what's happening tomorrow? I know, I mean, let's just call him this. Wait, what? Yeah, John was like, and this is the other fun fact. I had t-shirts that looked very much like this, and when it was just mine, he, like, didn't want a t-shirt. But as soon as he took the name, he was in his gear every day. I was like, what is this?
00:42:46
Speaker
There are those fun facts about things. sure I have to say this. I know we're getting close to to wrapping up, but um when you were talking about, like, advice to young John and Hannah, like, and even just what you mentioned as far as like allowing John to lead, I can tell you right now that if Eden and Gray Interiors was a thing, it would look absolutely nothing like what we have going on. and that i have When John talks about kind of just building this team and like this aspect of things, that very much plays to who he is. and I would be happy working in a corner alone. like
00:43:17
Speaker
just i mean That's not to say that I don't love what we have and and what we're doing, but it's uncomfortable for me. so His like yeah ability to push and climb mountains with his friends and just keep going i am just like hitched on to him like here we go where are we going to today here we go so i am on board keep going it is john ship yeah yeah yeah that's good well thank you for just kind of unpacking where you're at thank you for being yeah just awesome and impacting other people and also like just staying on this path whatever god has to lead you i think it's been fun
00:43:52
Speaker
Just to be kind of like an um amazing person with a good front row seat to what you guys are doing because it's awesome. And I feel like you're going to impact more and more people as you go on. So thank you so much for Eden and Gray. Thank you for all the time and effort you've put into it. And I'm so excited to see what happens in the future.
00:44:10
Speaker
Awesome. so Well, thank you. And we love Uncommon Wealth Partners. So, plug free. Awesome. Well, you've been listening to Uncommon Wealth Podcast. Until next time, if you see Hannah, tell her happy birthday. Yes, please. Thanks for listening.
00:44:26
Speaker
That's all for this episode brought to you by Uncommon Wealth Partners. Be sure to visit UncommonWealth.com to learn more about our services. Don't miss an episode as we introduce you to inspiring people who are actively pursuing an uncommon life.