Episode 27
A CONVERSATION WITH NICK GREER
INSIGHTS ON RESILIENCE, INNOVATION, AND LEADERSHIP WITH NICK GREER
“To achieve your potential, you must constantly reinvent yourself.”
If you’ve never heard the story of Nick Greer, serial entrepreneur and founder of Built Brands, then let me tell you that he is a prime example of finding success through constant reinvention of oneself.
Nick grew up in Arizona in a very affluent family. He had everything he ever wanted, until in 1987 they lost everything due to the Black Monday market crash. This event, plus his father’s incredible drive and enthusiasm inspired him to start a small lawn mowing company—the first of many businesses Nick would create in his career.
A few years later, Nick had just graduated from BYU, was married with 2 kids, and only had $2,000 in the bank. His previous business venture had failed, and he was on the phone with his dad. He had an idea for another company, and was trying to decide if he should rent office space or work from home to save money. In a surprise answer, his dad told him to rent the office. “Start acting like a business. Go work and be an employee for that business.”
So Nick put down $1,500 on the space, leaving only $500 in his personal account. He went all–in, and 8 years later sold the business for a great number.
Nick then taught at BYU for a few years, but felt like he had more to give. He then helped to co-found the Built Bar and Built Brands, which now makes over $100 million in revenue.
Nick’s story is so inspiring to me, and we didn’t even scratch the surface! His willingness to constantly learn, improve, and reinvent himself has brough him amazing success financially, spiritually, and in his family, and is an example to me about the importance of never getting too comfortable in your current state.
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MY FAVORITE INSIGHT FROM THIS EPISODE:
“Work yourself out of your current position/job.”
This advice might seem contrarian, but according to Nick, it is the surest way to achieving your potential.
Nick and I recently had a discussion about how in life it is easy to get comfortable in your current position, and lose the drive that got you there in the first place. We get complacent, and trapped in our own comfort.
To quote Nick directly, “If at any time if you’re not reinventing who you are and growing, then you’re missing out on the opportunity of becoming who you’re meant to be.”
So how do we make sure we’re not getting complacent? Nick told me it’s by always working yourself out of your current position. If you’re constantly moving up the ladder and growing and experiencing new things, then that will propel you forward into incredible opportunities you never could have dreamed of.