#40 - Navy Vet Builds $35M Mansions—GC Success Playbook

2025-07-02

Can a broke apprentice really become the go-to GC for NBA superstars?

Richie Breaux did—turning a beat-up pickup and a faith-driven work ethic into 8-figure luxury builds (including Zach LaVine’s $35 M Newport estate) while leading crews year-round under Hawaii’s blazing sun. 🌴🏗️

In this episode, Richie breaks down the exact frameworks that transform general contractors into generational leaders:

Storms, Snakes & Smoke—his 3-part system for beating market shocks, sabotage & self-inflicted fires.

The “buy-one-tool-a-week” rule that scales cashflow without crushing debt.

How gratitude flips job-site chaos into sniper-level clarity.

Pricing & selling like a premium builder—with zero guilt.

Grab a notepad, bring your hustle, and become the boss every crew brags about.

🎯 QUICK LINKS
FREE Roofing Growth Audit (contractor-friendly) → https://mybetterboss.ai/free-roofing-growth-audit/

Order Richie’s new book Builder of All Things (OUT NOW!) → https://www.richiebreaux.com/

Subscribe & hit 🔔

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction & Island Hype
00:19 Living the Hawaii Dream
00:57 Midwest Roots → Island Life
01:29 Navy to Construction Pivot
02:27 Birth of a Building Empire
03:48 Early Struggles, Big Wins
05:27 Core Values That Print Cash
07:51 From Side Jobs to CEO
15:16 Faith + Integrity = Scale
19:11 Knowing & Charging Your Worth
22:38 Communicating Premium Value
23:10 Tesla Talk & Solar Smarts
23:39 $35 M Newport Renovation Story
26:44 Chaos-to-Clarity Sniper Method
29:50 Vision Casting Crews Follow
35:11 Storms, Snakes & Smoke Framework
38:28 Purpose-Driven Construction
41:29 Final Wisdom & Book Drop

💡 WHAT YOU’LL TAKE AWAY

A plug-and-play leadership model to keep teams loyal & deadlines met.

Tactics for year-round revenue—even when permits crawl & markets freeze.

The mindset that lets you command premium pricing and still win bids.

Faith-first habits that protect profits and peace of mind.