Success Story with Scott D. Clary David Royce - 4x Exited Entrepreneur ($500M) | Following Your Dreams Can Keep You Broke
Jul 30, 2025
David Royce is a serial entrepreneur who transformed a door-to-door pest control operation into a billion-dollar empire, selling multiple companies for over $170M. In this discussion, he dives into the fine line between passion and profit and the lessons learned from his near bankruptcy. Royce also explores the three critical phases of business growth and shares insights on hiring top talent. He emphasizes the importance of continuous personal growth and adapting to change, redefining success beyond financial metrics.
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From College Broke To Top Sales Rookie
- David Royce accidentally became an entrepreneur after hearing a friend made big money selling pest control door-to-door.
- He studied sales 90 minutes a day and became the top rookie by summer's end.
Gain Experience Before Following Passion
- Get hands-on experience before chasing passion-based ventures so you know if you're good and if the market can pay you well.
- Take baby steps: learn, manage, then own—build expertise before scaling.
Growth Can Break Cash Flow
- Over-scaling can wreck cash flow when commissions are paid up front against recurring revenue.
- Forecast conservatively and monitor payables while growing to avoid near-bankruptcy.
