#62: Building 9-Figs in a Garage: In Depth Dive into Solgen’s Rocket Ship
Dec 29, 2023
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Levi Ringo discusses the early days of building Solgen from the ground up, including challenges faced while bootstrapping a solar installation business. Listeners learn about the founders' vision and grit that kept Solgen powered through adversity. Valuable lessons in problem-solving, pivoting, and building a startup culture are explored. With humor and honesty, Chris and Levi take listeners on the wild ride of the early days that established Solgen as an industry leader in solar energy.
The power of belief and networking can be a limiting factor in reaching the top.
Overcoming challenges and staying committed to a vision can lead to success in entrepreneurship.
Building trust and providing opportunities for employees fosters loyalty and growth in the workplace.
Deep dives
Early days full of challenges and mistakes
In the early days of the podcast, the hosts reflect on the challenges and mistakes they made. They talk about how they were inexperienced and didn't know what they were doing. They mention a million-dollar fine they received and how they had to navigate through it. Despite all the difficulties, they remained determined and committed to their vision.
Lessons learned from starting the solar company
The hosts share the lessons they learned while starting the solar company. They talk about the importance of having belief and confidence in their product, how they had to network and recruit quickly, and how they discovered the power of living in the moment and not stressing about the future or past. They also mention the importance of mentors and the value they brought during challenging times.
Dealing with customer challenges and resolving issues
The hosts recount specific customer challenges they faced and how they handled them. They share stories of difficult customers, such as one who had to remove three massive oak trees and another who was upset about damage caused during installations. They highlight the importance of taking care of customers, even in challenging situations, and the lessons they learned from these experiences.
Overcoming the million-dollar fine and persevering
The hosts discuss how they overcame a million-dollar fine from the state and the challenges they faced during that time. They share the stress and anxiety they experienced, as well as the mentorship they received that helped them navigate negotiations and court hearings. Despite the difficulties, they highlight the determination and belief that kept them going, as well as the importance of staying focused on solving problems one step at a time.
Building Trust and Transparency in the Workplace
One of the main insights from this podcast episode revolves around the importance of trust and transparency in the workplace. The speaker emphasizes the need for employers to earn the trust of their employees, not by expecting undying loyalty, but by providing opportunities, value, and a culture of trust. This includes understanding and supporting employees' aspirations and career goals, even if it means they may eventually leave the company. By fostering an environment focused on mutual growth and development, employers can build a real relationship with their employees, leading to increased loyalty and trust.
Navigating Growth and Change with Flexibility
Another key point in the episode is the concept of growing and adapting with the business. The speaker shares their experience of moving through various roles and responsibilities within the company, highlighting the importance of trust and flexibility during periods of change. They discuss pivots and shifts that were made along the way, including the transition to a virtual sales floor and the strategic stockpiling of inventory before the impact of COVID-19. These examples demonstrate the benefits of being open to new ideas, embracing change, and making decisions based on growth potential and divine intervention.
In this episode of The Founder Podcast, host Chris Lee and his guest, Levi Ringo, sit down to discuss the early days of building Solgen from the ground up. They share colorful stories from the company's origins in Chris's home garage in rural Washington. Listeners get a first-hand look at the challenges of bootstrapping a solar installation business with no outside funding.
Chris and Levi reminisce about crazy experiences like taking on an ill-advised tree removal job and facing down a potential $1 million fine in their first year. They also celebrate the divine interventions that helped the fledgling company grow, from recruiting key early employees to securing a pivotal lease. Listeners learn how the founders' relentless vision and grit kept Solgen powered through adversity.
Fans of the show will enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at entrepreneurial grit in action. Business owners will gain valuable lessons in problem-solving, pivoting and building a successful startup culture from the ground floor.
With humor and honesty, Chris and Levi take listeners on the wild ride of the early days that established Solgen as an industry leader in solar energy.
Highlights:
"Your level of belief is the biggest limiting factor that's keeping you from networking to the top."
"I was just miserable. I just gotten out of like a failed sales venture. I was down I was living in my car for like six months at this time trying to figure out what the heck I'm going to do with my life."
"I think it's really the power of living in the moment, right? Like, let me just take this thing, one bite at a time, because I'm gonna keep biting, right?"
Timestamps:
00:00: Introduction
08:45: Importance Of Culture
16:40: Energy Crisis
26:04: Early Mistakes
36:14: Solar Business Day To Day
41:39: Tree Removal
50:24: Managing Stress
1:10:16: Personal Growth
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