Ex-Detective Reveals: How He Went From $13/Hour to $4.2M in Gutters & Windows

Dec 7, 2025

Jimmy Fazekas, a former detective turned entrepreneur, shares his thrilling journey from earning $13.25 an hour to founding Bluewater Exteriors, a multimillion-dollar home services company. He emphasizes the untapped potential in blue-collar industries and reveals his strategies for building a successful business, including innovative hiring practices and creating a recurring revenue model. Jimmy discusses the importance of understanding customer demographics and overcoming the fear of growth while laying out ambitious plans to scale further. This conversation is packed with actionable insights and inspiration!

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ANECDOTE

From $13/Hour To A $4M Business

Jimmy Fazekas left the police department making $13.25/hour and started Bluewater Exteriors with $10,000 from his garage.
The company grew to about $4.2–4.5 million in revenue over eight years through grit and reinvention.

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ANECDOTE

Hiring Before You Can Easily Afford It

Jimmy hired an operations manager he wanted despite initial inability to pay the requested $18/hour.
He focused on marketing and networking to guarantee payroll and kept that manager long-term.

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ADVICE

Prioritize Hiring And Treat Employees Well

Hire the right people early and fire the wrong ones promptly; team quality determines scalability.
Pay well, provide benefits, and convert subcontractors to W‑2 employees to reduce turnover.

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Leaving the Police to Avoid Being Broke

00:30 • 1min

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Why Jimmy Joined Law Enforcement Later

01:40 • 2min

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Detective Work: Challenges and Motivation

04:03 • 2min

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Starting Bluewater Exteriors with $10,000

06:11 • 1min

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Company Focus: Gutters, Windows, Enclosures

07:40 • 27sec

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Economics: Revenue and Margins

08:07 • 36sec

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Hiring Right and Building the Team

08:43 • 3min

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Blue-collar Discipline and Career Opportunity

12:10 • 1min

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Jimmy's Role: Leadership Over Labor

13:14 • 4min

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Why Many Homes Lack Gutters

16:45 • 2min

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Growth Plans: From $4.2M Toward $50M

19:10 • 3min

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Market Expansion: Sales First Strategy

22:01 • 2min

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Fear of Growth Rooted in Past Loss

23:53 • 3min

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Practical Growth Tactics: Multiply Leads

27:10 • 3min

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Promotions and Community Giveaways

30:02 • 2min

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Qualification: Who Raises Their Hand

32:06 • 8min

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Customer Avatar and Targeting

39:51 • 4min

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Overcoming Scarcity Mindset to Invest

43:50 • 10min

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Real Growth Framework (R.E.A.L.)

53:21 • 6min

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Scale Marketing by Tracking ROAS

59:10 • 8min

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Recommended Reading and Mindset Work

01:06:53 • 6min

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How the Audience Can Help

• Mentioned in 27 episodes

The Magic Of Thinking Big

David J. Schwartz

This book, first published in 1959, offers a comprehensive guide on how to think positively and achieve success in various aspects of life. It emphasizes the importance of believing in oneself, overcoming fear and excuses, and developing creative thinking and confident attitudes. The book is filled with real-life case histories and practical techniques to help readers apply these principles to their own lives, aiming to improve their job performance, relationships, and overall satisfaction.

#654

• Mentioned in 41 episodes

Mindset

The New Psychology of Success

Carol S. Dweck

Carol S. Dweck's "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" explores the profound impact of mindsets on achievement and well-being. Dweck distinguishes between a fixed mindset, which believes abilities are innate and unchangeable, and a growth mindset, which embraces challenges and sees abilities as malleable. The book presents compelling research demonstrating how a growth mindset fosters resilience, creativity, and greater success. Dweck's work has revolutionized our understanding of learning and motivation, inspiring educators, parents, and individuals to cultivate a growth mindset. The book offers practical strategies for fostering a growth mindset in oneself and others.

#22080

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

The Wizard of Ads

Roy H. Williams

#626

• Mentioned in 42 episodes

Psycho-Cybernetics

Maxwell Maltz

Published in 1960, 'Psycho-Cybernetics' is a classic in the self-help genre. Maxwell Maltz, a plastic surgeon, developed this book based on his observations of patients whose inner attitudes and feelings remained unchanged despite successful surgery. He introduced the concept of 'self-image' and its profound impact on achieving personal goals. The book combines cognitive behavioral techniques with cybernetic principles to help individuals regulate their self-concept and achieve positive outcomes. Maltz's methods, including visualization, mental rehearsal, and relaxation, have been widely adopted by motivational gurus, sports psychologists, and self-help practitioners. The book emphasizes the importance of a positive self-image and the use of mental imagery to achieve success and happiness.

Empire Builder, The Road to a Billion

• Mentioned in 9 episodes

The Private Equity Playbook

Adam Coffey

#66

• Mentioned in 191 episodes

Buy Back Your Time

Dan Martell

Buy Back Your Time is a definitive guide for entrepreneurs at every level, teaching them how to scale their business quickly while avoiding burnout. The book introduces the 'Buy Back Principle,' which emphasizes hiring people to do repetitive and low-value tasks, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on high-value activities that bring energy and fulfillment. Dan Martell provides practical steps, frameworks like the 'replacement ladder' and 'DRIP matrix,' and strategies for outsourcing, automation, and prioritization to enhance both professional and personal life. The book is structured around key frameworks and tools, making it a valuable resource for entrepreneurs looking to achieve a better work-life balance and build a thriving business empire.

This episode sponsored by Bluewater Exteriors

LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/

In this raw Dropping Bombs episode, former detective Jimmy Fazekas reveals how he launched Bluewater Exteriors from his garage with $10,000 and scaled it into a multimillion-dollar home services powerhouse. Operating at 50%+ gross margins in gutters, windows, and screen enclosures, Jimmy exposes why overlooked blue-collar industries are goldmines and how private equity is starting to notice.

Jimmy breaks it down: building recurring revenue models, structuring performance pay systems, and the ugly promotion strategy that generates qualified leads without wasting ad spend. If you're ready to escape the wage ceiling and build real wealth through grit and systems, this conversation is your golden-ticket.

🔗 Connect with Jimmy Fazekas

Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmy.fazekas/

Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluewaterexteriors

Website: https://www.bluewaterexteriors.com

📚 Books Mentioned:

The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz

Mindset by Carol Dweck

Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz

Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell

The Wizard of Ads by Roy H. Williams

The Private Equity Playbook by Adam Coffey

Empire Builder: The Road to a Billion by Adam Coffey

Nine Figure Mindset by Brandon Dawson

Books by John C. Maxwell

Books by Tommy Mello

Watch the full-length video version of any Dropping Bombs episode here on YouTube.

Brad Lea is a self-made entrepreneur who turned small-town grit into a multi-million-dollar empire. With over 25 years dominating sales and leadership, he's mentored thousands to outsmart, outwork, and out win their competition. His top-rated podcast, Dropping Bombs, brings raw, game-changing insights from the biggest names in business.

LightSpeed VT is Brad's brainchild—the world's leading interactive training platform. It's built to make your team sharper, faster, and more effective, without wasting time or money. Whether you're a startup or a Fortune 500, LightSpeed VT is how you scale success and dominate your industry. Curious? Check it out:

https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Brad's also behind Closer School, the go-to program for mastering sales and closing deals like a pro. Want to 10x your income? This is where you start. His book, The Hard Way, lays out the brutal, honest lessons he learned building his empire—your blueprint to winning the game. Get it here: https://bradlea.com/product/the-hard-way/

This isn't just a video. It's a wake-up call. Watch it. Share it. Act on it.

Closer School: https://www.closerschool.com/cs

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