Meet Brian Zawacki

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brian Zawacki a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Brian, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?

I used to be extremely shy. Maybe it was anxiety. Authority scared me. What I remember from my childhood was being faced with any choice and always taking the “safe” route. It was so bad that I broke up with my high school girlfriend over the phone so I didn’t have to ask my parents to take me suit shopping for Junior Prom. I was risk averse.

My entrepreneurial light sparked in my early 20’s readying a Reddit post from Rohan Gilkes about how he build a million dollar maid service without stepping foot into any strangers’ homes. Even better, he had a step by step guide on how to do it; complete with proprietary software for which he was selling subscriptions, of course. But this post opened my eyes to a harsh reality. I had finally swallowed that hard pill to swallow: “no one is going to do it for you.”

I immediately started a copycat maid service, developed a website, priced out different services, and even hired people. I was a nervous wreck the entire time, but I wanted this to work more than I was scared of doing it (mostly). We started getting bookings from websites like Thumbtack, or Home Advisor, getting paid $99 for hours and hours of cleaning. Because of how painfully inexperienced I was the low price tag on our services didn’t alarm me. I just couldn’t believe people would hire us, with our Walmart-bought cleaning supplies, to clean their homes. The validation was enough fuel to keep going.

The maid service didn’t end up working out and it’s 100% my own fault. I was getting confident about running the business when things were going well, but I was completely green when it came to dealing with any speed bumps like customer complaints, employee issues, scheduling and more. Though, these would get easier with every consecutive business I started. Continually branching further and further outside my comfort zone to get a taste of my goal–freedom. No boss, no time constraints, no limits.

Through each new business I started I’d have the idea, commit to it, then figure out the “how.” I was becoming used to jumping out of the plane and building the parachute on the way down.

The greatest sharpening of my risk taking ability happened when I met my mentor, Rick. Rick was my landlord who had hired my pressure washing business to do some work on his properties. He’d stop by the job sites and ask me questions about my business, which was a year old and self sufficient by the time he had taken notice. Rick asked me to work from him as a maintenance man, learn basic construction skills, and take care of his properties, and in exchange he’d tell me everything he knows about investing in real estate. After accepting I’d follow Rick through some of the most uncomfortable situations I’ve ever witnessed: accessing people’s apartments (after giving notice of course, though it never feels okay), being put on the spot to repair broken fixtures and appliances, watching Rick fire contractors. This was giving my thin skin a thick callous. The more uncomfortable situations I was put in, the easier they became to maneuver.

I noticed this new attribute spilling over into other areas of my life. I was no longer complacent, but rather bold. I became someone who speaks up, doesn’t back down when challenged, someone who operates with clear intention, honesty and integrity, even if it means hurting someone’s feelings. Serving as a witness to my mentor effortlessly, and emotionlessly dealing with the strange and cold reality of being a landlord coming right for him was a huge building block in my risk tolerance’s structure. It was just logic—“Here’s what’s happening. The worst thing that could happen is this. The best thing that could happen is that. The most likely thing to happen is x. Let’s proceed and make adjustments as necessary.”

This is how I calculate any risk. “Can I handle it if the worst happens?”

Opening my newest restaurant, The Bird was no exception. We signed the lease before we even knew what we’d serve. We just knew the spot was perfect and that we would figure it out. The restaurant is growing month over month and we’re on track to hit $700k in top line revenue this year. Though, I’d never have the confidence to take the risk if if it weren’t for the lessons learned from taking the leap and cleaning a few houses.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I grew up working in a lot of restaurants and playing in bands all over the country. I think the center of the venn diagram for these two things are people. I learned a lot about people through serving them food and playing music for them. The behind the scenes stuff for both are eerily similar, though I find it’s way easier to market and get people to a restaurant than it is to get them to listen to your band.

Right now I’m just working on the three restaurants I own, fixing up a rental property I bought, and I am starting a podcast called “Personal Biz” where I talk with entrepreneurs about their stories and how they made it.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Bravery, which to me is following through with something even though it frightens you.
Curiosity–you’ll never grow if you think you already know.
Compassion. Everyone is on the same plane, though the world will try and tell you different.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My parents always told me that I could do anything. It took me a long time to believe it, but it’s true. The reality is anyone can do anything. It’s sad to see people I love who were not told the same thing and how they get in their own way. “Anyone can do it, but not everyone will. Will you?”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thebirdva.com
• Instagram: @babyzawacki

Image Credits

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