Jesse McGrath: The Business Was Never the End Goal

Ten years ago, Jesse McGrath had a backpack, a pair of cowboy boots, and nowhere to live. Today, he owns Compass Cleanup & Excavation—but building a bigger company was never the finish line. Jesse built the business to get something back that money can’t replace: **time with his kids, his wife, and his dad.** Along the way, that meant learning some expensive lessons, including a cleanup job that cost him roughly **$30,000**, figuring out which customers actually fit his company, and realizing that more employees don’t automatically solve a bad job. Jesse also gets into the part of his story most people would hide. Addiction, homelessness, felony convictions, recovery, and the police officer who told him, **“I can tell just by looking at you that you’re better than this.”** Years later, that same officer sends him work. **Takeaways:** **✅ One relationship can change your workload.** Jesse says roughly 90% of his work comes through the network he’s built with contractors, real estate developers, salespeople, and other local businesses. **✅ Understand the customer's vision before giving them a number.** Jesse refuses to price a job without seeing the site and figuring out what the customer is actually trying to accomplish. **✅ More labor can make a bad job worse.** After underestimating a massive cleanup, Jesse tried throwing more people at it. Payroll and equipment rental kept climbing until he finally finished the project himself—about a $30,000 lesson. **✅ Don't build past the life you actually want.** Jesse isn't chasing 50 employees. He wants a profitable excavation business that gives him the freedom to hunt with his dad, work alongside his daughter, and be present with his family. **✅ Your past doesn't have to set your ceiling.** Jesse openly carries his history into his work today, including helping other guys in recovery get back on their feet. **Why It Matters:** A skid steer, mini excavator, bigger jobs, and more revenue can build a company—but Jesse’s story is a reminder to decide what you want that company to give you **before growth starts taking it away.** **Links:** ➡️ Connect with Jesse on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jesse.mcgrath.399 ➡️ Get Ryan’s book “Outta The Weeds” on Amazon: ⁠https://a.co/d/0gWFpM0F ➡️ Shop Attachments — Skid Steer Nation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://skidsteernation.com/ ➡️ Create estimates, track jobs, and stay organized with Tulboxx: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tulboxx.com/ ➡️ Grow your business — Throttled Up Marketing: ⁠⁠⁠ https://throttledupmarketing.com/