On today's episode of Gathering The Kings. Anything you want in life, it's already yours. All you gotta do is reach out and that's been a big part of my life. It thing that I want or proceed that I want so I speak it into existence. I go out there and get it up. You are listening to Gathering the Kings with Chaz Wolfe, featuring fellow 7, 8, and even 9 figure business owners who have real battle scars from business and life. But have prevailed as the king that they are designed to be.
We welcome high performing entrepreneurs to the stage in order to reveal the reel of the reel, on what it takes to build a successful business The of and surrounding yourself with power players and Kings like today's guest. Grab your pen and notebook because we're about to dive in. What's up, everybody? I'm Chaz Wolfe Gathering the Kings podcast. Today, I've got Matthew Stone, a fellow Kansas City in. Here on the pod. My brother, how you doing? Good, man. Good. Thank you. Thanks for having me.
Appreciate it. I'm glad that you're here. You know, this it's funny. I always men mention when I have a fellow Kansas City in here on the pod that I've gotta really start doing some of these in person because, gosh, now we've had probably 10, 15, maybe even 20 guests now from Kansas City. So I really need to start doing some of these in person and and maybe even bringing the Kansas City guests Gathering. Maybe we can do a little event or something. But I'm glad that you're here, man. Thank you.
Thank you. I appreciate it. You were just you were just telling me in the, you know, in the beautiful fall weather here in Kansas that we're having that you got 6 crews out there banging it out today. You've got a great business. I love where you had a, I mean, anxious to hear a story. Tell us what Kings of business that you have. We'll Kings servers you provide? We have a construction business.
We'd like to focus on roofs, but, more so lately, we've been doing a lot of rebuilds, The new construction, flooring, cabinets, all types of remodels Chaz we work for larger companies in order to get insurance restoration done for them and moving into 2 larger projects. And and eventually, I like to do customs all custom homes. So That's incredible. You got a little bit of a vision The, so maybe we'll jump into that.
Before we jump into, like, how you got started and maybe the the journey a little bit here. I wanna know. I mean, gosh, you said you got 23 guys out out working today. That means you got a you got a good Kings business. Yes, sir. Why are you pushing so hard? Why why at this level? I mean, you you've achieved some success. You're sitting in a nice truck. Oh, you know, what what's the motivation now? What do what are you really after? My family, you know, more than anything and and, god as well.
You know, I know I know God wants us to work every day, and and I pride myself for that that we're a faith based business. And so we always do the right thing and, you know, my children me. I I want them to always be able to say a dad made it happen, and that's my biggest motivation for sure. Yeah. That's awesome, man. I just so appreciate, You know, I don't know, just there's something different when you have little ones to to to take care of. It doesn't mean that someone doesn't have that.
They don't know what motivation is. That's not what I mean necessarily. I just mean that, man, it's another level. Isn't it to know that, like, someone else's life is literally being built by you? Yes. Exactly. And you know what? I I really like to point out things we've done around the city, and and I have I have daughters. And so getting them interested in construction has been has been difficult, but they're really taking in interest The so lately.
Some of the projects that we've done, are are impressive and and, I want them to take the business over one day. And so really, really pushing for them to get interested in what we do. That's awesome. How old are they? How old how old are the daughters? I have a fourteen year old. She'll be fifteen in November. Okay. And, an eight year old, she just turned eight September 15th. So That's awesome.
I've got I've got my older 2 daughters, 8 6, and so I'm gonna just couple years behind you on Chaz, but Yeah. You're right. You know, preparing them for for leadership, for business, construction, even, but you'll have to have them go back and listen to a couple of the other shows here on Gathering The Kings because we've had some lady bosses, man. We've had some some ladies come in and and know exactly what they're doing.
So that should be some encouragement to really all the ladies out there, but the but the daughters that we're trying to raise up, man, I think there's something special about that as well. Absolutely. I agree. And women in this business, they they really do Wolfe. And I encourage all women to, you know, go go away from the standard, you know, or or what's tradition and and maybe get into construction and and that they they kick butt for sure. Yeah. That's right.
Well, I wanna know, was this your first business? If it was, how did you get started? Was there something before here? Like, how did entrepreneurship find you? Basically, I I fell into it. My buddy, you know, owned a roofing company and and he so happened to need a loan. I was just getting out of college, and and I had a little bit of money saved up, and he needed a loan for a roof. And I loaned him the money. The next day, I doubled my money.
And so 2 weeks later, I quit my quit my full time job and and went into a roof sale. And so it's it's it's been amazing ever since. I've had some stumbles and and some troubles along the way, but I found my past now. I'm I'm 39 years So, you know, playtime is over, and I'm really putting everything I have into this business. So Yeah. It sounds like it, you know, it's like all chips in kind of a mindset in I wanna know how you got The.
Be I guess what what was in that moment there when when you you made the investment? You obviously get your money back. That was exciting. I'm sure. Sure. But what was it? Was it the sales? Was it roofing? Was it construction? Like, what draw what drew you in, really? More than anything, it was the peep you know, I was doing a lot of door knocking and and meeting people. And and and I enjoy talking to people and and more than anything else, I enjoy getting to know good people.
And a lot of people that I would run into The they were that type of people. And and that's basically what we do. You know, we we meet people. We help them in in some way or another. Make our cities more beautiful, which is really amazing part of the job. And and so Chaz best. I I love everything about it. That's cool, man. Chaz I my my two partners in my fix and flip business, we say the same thing. It's like this. There's this power in renovating or rescoring. Right?
When you store re when you bring something back to how it once was or make something livable again or make it beautiful, there's value in that when people can live in a home that couldn't be lived in before when it just was like, oh, this was built in 1914 or 1962, even, or whatever. And we make it beautiful. People they're they're a lot like, everything around in their lives now have a shining, you know, like, energy to it, you know, when that when that space is beautiful. Yeah. Exactly.
And, yeah, it's it's just amazing feeling when you're working hard and and end results. Is always is always positive and not not too many difficult moments when you're making somebody happy. So Sure. Understood. Alright. Let's get into some tacticals here. I wanna know, you know, maybe early on. I know you've been in business for over a decade and and approaching too, but Early on, you know, before you had it all figured out, let's say, what was a good decision that you made back then?
One one of the best decisions I made, you know, the money that I was making put putting it towards the business, you know, instead of buying nice Kings. And one of my guys is asking me a favor here, but instead of buying nice things, you know, I I bought saying 10 shirts and and would wear them continuously and and had my business shirts made so I could wear The. And I think to put reinvesting money back into the business. That's one of the better decisions I've made, for sure.
Yeah. Give us some ideas there because, obviously, that's that's, that's a principle. I love that. I love reinvesting. Obviously, there's a there's a there's a a consumption principle The. Just don't burn at all. Like, hold some, save some, put some to good action in the business. What were some of those things that you spent money on or invested in in the business early on? Just equipments, dump trailers. Truck. I have a general manager, so I got him a vehicle as well.
You know, it made more more sense to to invest money and the people around me that are helping me. Spend myself, which is also investing Kings my business by by helping the help me. So yeah. Yeah. I I I mean, obviously, each one of those things even the equipment piece of it really just allows your guys or team to be able to do their their job at a higher level. So it's still investing you know, in those pieces.
How do you know, or for the guy listening right now, who's who's not at your level, he's maybe where you were years ago, and he's thinking about investing, you know, in a general manager or he's thinking about investing in in a a couple extra extra pieces of equipment, but he's nervous. He's scared. Like, what would you say to that guy? I would tell him go go for it, man.
You you live once and probability of of success is low, but I would rather try and and fail, then then have never tried it all. You know, I'm no regrets. Anything you want in life, it's already yours. All you gotta do is reach out and grab it. And that's been a big part of my life is is saying that that that I that I want or perceive that I want. I speak it into existence.
I go out there and get it a hustle at there's not a day that I don't do some sort of work and and even on Sundays, you know, and and I try to stay away from work on Sundays. You know, I go to church but, you know, I I am always having somebody call me, but like I said, whatever you want, it's already yours. All you gotta do is hustle to get it. You know? Hard work. Yep. 100%. Okay. Very good. Well, what let's flip the coin. Hey, Chaz Wolf here.
As many of you know, I have been on an absolute mission to help entrepreneurs from all across the country in many different industries level up their game and grow their business and intentionally connect with other entrepreneurs. We do Chaz, obviously, through the podcast, but we also have a peer to peer mastermind group specifically for 7 to 9 figure business owners.
We are bringing some of the best and most successful entrepreneurs and minds together in a regular and a super intentional way to not only grow our network, but to be able to leverage. And at a certain point in business, success becomes about leverage, leveraging time, leveraging resources, leveraging key relationships. This is exactly what we're doing inside of the peer to peer mastermind group called Gathering the Kings specifically for 7 to 9 figure business owners.
So if that's you, if you're ready to level up your 7 to 9 figure even to the next level and get around other big hitters just like you. I want you to go to gathering the Kings dot com, flood a short application, And, it'll come to an application, call with me, and I wanna chat with you to see if it might be a good fit. Talk soon. And what about a bad decision? Something you did early on that was just catastrophic, I'm Wolfe, I kept, you know, I kept I kept my heart in it.
You know, I'm I'm a good natured person, and and so I like to give people opportunities. And so some of the people that were working for me. The were slacking off and and and not taking count accountability for their actions and and he being the type of person I am, I always gave an extra chance and now that I've had some experience under my belts, I've I've stopped that.
So either you're gonna show up for work on time and every day, or you're not gonna be a part of this team and And one of the mistakes that it that I that I stay clear from now, but it could have cost me a lot more than it did. And so definitely level headed in in that fashion. This is how I make my living and and, you know, if if you're working for me, it's how you make your so so I expect you to take it as serious as I Yeah.
And and I guess that you partially answered my find my follow-up question by by saying that, like, the mindset of taking it seriously, How how do you either find people who who agree with you in Chaz, or how do you train someone to think like you doing Chaz. They would take it so seriously Chaz it wouldn't be flip it, that it wouldn't be just, maybe I'll come today. Maybe I won't. Maybe I don't feel so great.
So so my project leads, my my foreman, they're Chaz much invested as in these jobs as I am because they're now hiring The people. I don't I don't have to hire anyone. They bring the guys on, and and I make sure that they do that consistently.
And I I talked to just a few guys that that lead the crews and and And that's that's an advantage for The, and it's an advantage for them Chaz, you know, I I I talked to them and they talked to their people and and everything works out, you know, to to our benefits. So Yeah. 100%. And so you personally having a high standard, I'm kinda gonna app here for the listener. You personally have a high standard. You work with, you know, the folks that are near you.
In this case, it's a couple of foremen. You keep the high standard with them. They keep the high standard with their folks. Yes, sir. Trickle effect. Yes, sir. When you have somebody that's sticking out like a sore thumb, they they don't agree or they don't wanna show up or mean, what happens? You just say those don't come back tomorrow, or or was there a process? What do you what do you do? Well, that's the thing. You know, I I talked to I talked to my foreman and I say, hey.
This guy you know, because oftentimes my 4 meter on other jobs and and the jobs I happen to show up on to a monitor or or or get a good look, make sure everything Kings going well. I have had guys that are slacking off or or guys that are not doing the job correctly, and and I address that with him. And it's very often. I don't see that guy ever in. And so I I know that that my foreman take their job just as serious because of that fact.
And and I and, you know, I hate that you know, if if somebody's lost their job for simple mistakes, but I'm not gonna call my foreman first for simple mistakes. You know? Yeah. Something that that needs to be addressed right away. So, definitely. Got it. I love the standard. I love the, the process there. I wanna know around decision making. That's what we've kind of been, you know, kicking back and forth here. Sure. You're 15 years into business.
What what secret sauce do you have around making decisions now? I, you know, I I got a good group of people. And so before before I take a job, you know, the crew that it that I have in mind to high to hire. We always take a look at The job together. You know, you know, if it's in our best interest to take the job for for for, you know, for our business for the for the company, we'll make that decision together.
So everybody around me performs in those decisions and I'm not just taking jobs to work. You know, we're taking jobs to make make profit and also jobs that are gonna excel our business, you know, make make make us look great. That's, I mean, the the the task. You know? So yeah. So a little bit of, like, the determining ahead. Does this make sense for us Chaz it put us in the best light. Can we provide the service that we're saying that we say we're gonna provide? Exactly.
Yes. You said you said it way better than I did. Definitely. That's alright. It's all good. Any anything that you would think around, you know, again, going back, like, let's say, going back 10, 12 years in your business, And and I'm sure you can remember just, you know, wearing too many hats. You're overwhelmed. You're stressed. Being up late at night. And it feels like all these decisions that we gotta make. You know?
What would you say to that guy who's listening right now and just looking for a drip or something? Just hang on. Just hang on. It's gonna get better. You know, man, I used to dream about about being where I am right now, you know, and I didn't think it would take this long. It it Chaz. And, I pride myself in the fact that every step that I've taken has been a a memorable moments in my life in in my business.
You know, I've I've needed to take this long to get get here, obviously, and I've learned a lot of lessons along the way. And and I've I've lasted a while because I've been persistent, you know, and I never I never gave up and and I never will give up. This is this is my life. It's good, man. I love the persistence. Thinking grow rich highlights highlights persistence as one of the key factors. I talk about it a lot as Wolfe, so thanks for bringing that up. It's incredible.
Gonna switch over to the speed round. I got a couple of questions here, different angle. Go a little bit more tactical here on this first one. We're obviously there's a lot to track in your business. Lot going on. There's sales. There's marketing. There's guys. There's customer satisfaction. There's reviews. If you can only pick Gathering to track forever and ever and ever. If you just pick the 1, what would have customer satisfaction? K. Are are are my customers happy at the end of the job?
And I think that's that's a a factor. Right? Yeah. How do you track it, or what do you what would you suggest for the person right now who's, you know, that 6 figure mark, how do how would they track it? How would they press into that? Just just, you know, make sure that that you follow-up with your customers, you know, a week, 2 weeks, whether it be a month, cards at Thanksgiving cards at at Christmas.
Just let them know that you remember The, and that's a good way to keep those clients coming back for for for more jobs and and also to suggest you to other a few other friends, family that they may might have that that need work. So I think the customer satisfaction is the the key to success. If somebody's unhappy or or angry about a job you've done, they're not gonna suggest you to a friend. So that's the that's the key part of of of my business is is keeping the customers happy.
Yeah. Love that. K. Next question is what book would you recommend for a 6 figure business owner to read. Reach dead. K. Give us your give us your takeaway from that book that you that you love so much. Just just having several avenues to success, not not just putting all your eggs in one basket, making sure that your your financials are in line with your goals. And so if you need a loan, take a loan.
If if you don't need a loan, we've never gotten a loan in in this business, and that's that's been that's been amazing for us. But, you know, just just set your sights for success and and don't give up. Yeah. Love that. K. What would you do, or how would you use only 1 hour each week to operate your business. If you only had 1 hour each week, what would you do in that hour to successfully still run your business?
Call call on my foreman and and make sure everything is going well throughout the job processes and and also making sure my books are straight and my material guys are paid as those are those are really important aspects in in my business. For sure. That's awesome, man. You're so you're so direct straightforward. Just boom boom boom. Give me great answers. I appreciate it.
My next question is, do you intentionally, or what do you think about intentionally networking or master mining with other entrepreneurs? I've been I've been a part of a few groups that have been not successful for us. Wonderful idea. If you find some time and you're scheduled, definitely, if if you're in in the 6 figure range, find some time to find to find those groups that'll that'll align with your goals.
And it's been it's been successful for us and mine curds at at to anybody who wants have success. Yeah. What have you gotten from something like that? I mean, it sounds like you you've gotten some some tactics there. What what what's what's your go to about it? I'm in a I'm in a particular now that that suggest my company on social media.
So we meet some month or I haven't been in 2 months, but, however, you know, we our plan is to meet once a month and and go over our our and just talk to each other and network Chaz far as getting more businesses concerned. And then those people suggest your business on on Facebook will whether it be the Bridge Real Estate Group or Kansas City contractors or things like that.
So, it's been it's been huge success for for our business, and and I wanna encourage any business to do those things for sure. Yeah. That's awesome. I appreciate the the perspective there. I think Chaz, networking Yeah. Is a huge opportunity, especially in the in the earlier years, like you're saying, for referrals, The you am getting with people that need your service that you can you can be the go to for them and for their clients even.
That's that's a great way to, very organically grow the business, for sure. I've got I've got one last question here for you, and it's if you could go back, And let's say 15 years ago, you're just starting your business and you whisper in the younger Matthew's ear. What do you what do you whisper? Faith. Find your face, Matt. For sure.
Because I, you know, I was lost for a Wolfe, you know, and I would definitely tell tell younger Matthew to to believe in god and and believe in himself and, you know, put perspective on everything in life and and just face. Yeah. It's good, man. It's good. How can the listener find you, Matthew? You could contact us thekingdom Contracting.co. That's our website. My phone number is 816-299-7332. You could also email me at Kings Contracting KC atgmail.com.
I'm I'm open to take any phone calls for business or or for advice or or anything. So Yeah. Open minded. And and, obviously, it a great guy. Just really appreciate you even throwing out the number there for people to be able to reach out to you. Of course, if you're listening and you're in Kansas City and you need a need a great contractor. Of course, you can reach out. But in in all seriousness, Matthew, you've been incredible.
You know, I only every now and then, I get a guy like you that's just super just bullet point. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. We've made this one of the fastest recordings. That's great. I love it. But but here's the reality is that there's business to be had. You've obviously got a great journey. Thank you for sharing the vulnerability pieces of Chaz, the decision making. I I know that whoever was listening today, if they took notes, they paid attention, that they can go do it.
I love how you said. Just hold on. Be persistent. That was my takeaway from you here today. So we appreciate you being here. Blessings to you, your family, your team, your business. Thanks for being there. Thank you. God bless you, Chaz. Thank you for listening to Gathering the Kings today. I hope that you were able to pull out a few nuggets to go apply into your business right away.
More importantly, though, I hope that you're realizing that it takes more to be successful than just being by yourself Kings it all on your own. Gathering the weight all by yourself. What I have realized, not only in my own journey from multiple businesses and multiple different industries and now interviewing over 2 or 300. Other very successful 7, 8, and 9 figure business owners is that it's tough to do it alone. And so gathering the Kings exists to bring together successful entrepreneurs.
In fact, we are putting together 1000 Kings specifically who are grateful, but not done. We're intentionally assembling kings who fight tooth and nail for their business, family, and communities, and here's we believe Chaz in the pursuit of excellence in those areas, that it ignites within us the responsibility to govern power and forge a lasting legacy.
So if that relates and and resonates with you and you know that you need people around you, sharp qualified other very successful business owners. I want you to go to Gathering. I want you to take a look at what we're doing and see if it makes sense for you to be part of our pursuit to 1000 kings. Talk soon.