The Wealthy Contractor $1M Months at 28: A Breakout Success Story | Ryan Keene
What if the fastest way to grow your business was to stop doing everything yourself?
When Ryan Keene started MODE Renovation, a one-day bathroom remodeling business, he was just 24 years old. Four years later, he’s about to hit his first million-dollar sales month and working less than ever before. So how on earth did he get there so quickly??
According to him, he just implemented what he was told.
In this episode, Ryan shares the wins, struggles, and turning points that helped him go from installer, to owner, to leader—and how building a strong community of peers and mentors helped him get there.
You’ll hear how he built an in-house call center from scratch at an early stage (with zero experience), hired a sales manager before he could afford it, raised prices the smart way, and built a culture where people actually want to show up and win.
This one is loaded with lessons—especially if you’re stuck in the weeds, hesitant to spend money, or feeling like it’s all on your shoulders. Ryan proves that with the right mindset, community, and systems, you can scale faster and more profitably than you ever imagined.
Whether you’re just getting started or trying to push past a plateau, this episode will leave you with the one thing you need most: permission to go bigger.
Key Highlights:
(00:00) Intro
(01:15) Half Brian’s Age, Twice the Man: Meet Ryan Keene
(03:00) “Smile and Dial”: How Ryan Built a Call Center from Scratch
(07:05) Leads Aren’t Dead (You’re Just Doing it Wrong)
(09:25) Tracking KPIs… Even When You Don’t Know What “KPI” Means
(10:38) Why Entrepreneurship Feels So Damn Lonely (And How to Fix It)
(15:54) Can’t Afford to Hire? That’s Exactly Why You Should
(17:30) Press the Business Like a Race Car: Test, Break, Rebuild
(18:30) The Counter-Intuitive Way Ryan Increased His Close Rate
(22:47) Increase Prices Without Losing Sales (Yes, Really)
(27:47) Recruiting New Reps (And Why You Should Treat Them Like Leads)
(31:55) The Bounty Board: Competition That Drives Sales
(35:00) Building Culture That Actually Means Something
(42:02) The Mindset Shift Leading to a Million-Dollar Month
(47:45) Stop Deciding and Start DOING
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Additional Resources:
⚡ Learn more about Discovery Day at The Wealthy Contractor Success Society: https://TheEntryDoor.info/
⚡ Get your tickets for Accelerate LIVE! 2026, and use code PODCAST26 for $100 off: https://thewealthycontractor.com/events/accelerate-live
⚡ Brian’s book, The 7 Secrets To Becoming A Wealthy Contractor, is now available. Visit https://www.TheWealthyContractor.com/ for a free copy (just pay shipping).
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