Welcome to our Newsletter! Let me set the scene: I was playing outside with my kids yesterday afternoon on a chilly fall day—mid-40s, blue skies overhead. I'm in the yard, watching my two toddlers—one's three, the other almost two—running around having a grand ole time. Suddenly, they both stop, look up, and point to the sky, saying, "Whoa, I see the moon; it looks like a balloon."
It made me take a moment... The moon. Something so small, something we take for granted. I’ve seen that same damn moon for 36 years—what’s the big deal? But to them, it’s magical, floating up there in the sky like a wonder they’ve just discovered. Moments like that make you pause and realize how easy it is to overlook the beauty of the little things in life.
I really try to appreciate those small things whenever I can. We don’t put our kids in daycare, so I’m with them from sunup to sundown. It’s not always easy, but I don’t miss a single moment, or a single milestone. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. My kids have taught me more than I ever imagined, and when my first child was born, it felt like a part of me unlocked—a love so deep I never knew existed. It’s truly special.
Starting my junk removal business in 2014 was my ticket to being present for these moments. I’d tried other ventures before—sneaker reselling, smartphone buyback, online consignment, retail arbitrage—but none of them came close to this. From the beginning, I focused on building a business that could eventually run on its own. Hire the right people, create the right processes, invest in income producing assets, and scale a company that didn’t need me to be there every single day. I knew I wanted a family one day, and I wanted my business to not just provide for them—it had to give me control over my time.
Time freedom was always my goal.
I find it fascinating that everyone in the world has the same amount of time in a day, yet we all value it so differently. Some people trade their time for money (stage 1), some trade money for time (stage 2), and others trade money for money (stage 3).
My day, your day, even a billionaire’s day—it’s all the same 24 hours. If my day is free, and Jeff Bezos' day is free, we each have the same amount of time to do with as we please. Yet, most people never realize that kind of freedom even exists. The truth is, you don’t need to be a billionaire to do what you want with your time. And if you set up your business right, it can give you that freedom.
That’s where I’m at now. My days are spent with my family, and I absolutely love it. I still work—I’m writing this article right now, and I enjoy doing it. It doesn’t feel like work. I still oversee my hauling business (Grizzly Junk Pros) to some degree, and I’ve got a couple of other ventures I’m involved in. But I get to choose how I spend my time because I built a business that gives me that choice.
Looking back, the journey wasn’t easy. It took YEARS! There were tons sacrifices—living below my means, driving a Kia (still do), putting every extra profit dollar back into the business, and avoiding any frivolous spending. Those sacrifices weren’t about being cheap; they were about building something that would give me back my time. I wasn’t interested in keeping up with anyone or buying things to impress people. I don't give a rats ass about that. I was investing in my future, building a business that could run on its own, so I could show up for my family—and for moments exactly like these, admiring the moon.
Entrepreneurship gave me control over my time, but it wasn’t handed to me. It was earned through consistent hard work, discipline, and staying laser-focused on the bigger picture. Knowing what you're working toward gives you the direction you need to take all the small steps that ultimately lead to your big goal.
If you’re feeling stuck or like the grind is never-ending, just remember: you're in control of your actions every single day. You control where you spend your time now, and where those actions point you. Do a daily audit and take a hard look at what you're doing. First, do you even have a goal in mind for why you started your business? Everyone wants and needs money, but that's not why we do things. We do things because of what that money actually enables us to do—pay bills, buy food, clothes, a house, take vacations, play golf, have free time, etc.
The moon is up there as a reminder to stop and smell the roses and that there’s more out there for you, if you’re willing to set your big goal and do the work to get it. It's hard to get to where you're going if you have no clue where the destination is. It won’t be easy, but that’s what makes it worthwhile.
Keep pushing, take it one day at a time, and soon you’ll look back and see how it all came together. And when it does, take a moment to look up at that damn moon and take it all in.
A few actionable tips to get you started 👇
1. Get Clear on Your Big Goal
Write down exactly why you started your business. Don’t just say “money”—get specific. What does success look like for you? What’s your real goal?
2. Audit Your Time
Look at how you spend your time every day. Is it moving you toward that big goal? If not, cut the distractions. Focus on what matters.
3. Prioritize What Counts
Every day, list your top 3 priorities. Focus only on these—no more. Everything else is noise. Look up the Pareto Principle.
4. Invest in Your Business
Where can you put your money to make your business run without you? Automate, delegate, or streamline. The more your business works without you, the more time you’ll have for what matters.
5. Control Your Spending
Live below your means. Eliminate unnecessary costs. Every dollar saved is another dollar you can invest in your future and your business.
6. Set Daily Goals and Review
Every day, have a small goal that moves you forward. At the end of the day, review your progress. If it’s not working, adjust. Keep going.
7. Stay Focused on the Big Picture
When things get tough (and they will), remember why you started. Break down your bigger goals into smaller steps you can take every day.
8. Reflect Weekly
Once a week, assess your progress. Are you on track? What needs to change? Don’t wait too long to course-correct.
9. Be Consistent
Keep showing up every day, even when it’s hard. Small actions add up over time. Trust the process.
10. Appreciate the Small Moments
Take a moment each day to appreciate where you’re at—whether it’s with your family or a quiet moment to yourself. Those moments are the real wins.
And a couple of books I would recommend are: "Who Not How" by Dan Sullivan and "Buy Back Your Time" by Dan Martell. These books focus on optimizing your time, building systems, and learning how to delegate effectively to scale your business.
Need help? Hit reply 🤜 🤛
Justin Hubbard
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