How Faith and Grit Took Brock McClelland From Homeless to Eight Figures
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
This powerful episode features Brock McClelland, who transformed his life from rock bottom addiction to building an 8-figure roofing empire. (01:11) Brock shares his journey from being fresh out of rehab in March 2018 to creating McClelland's Contracting and Roofing, which generated $16 million in revenue in 2024. (01:25) The conversation explores his battle with addiction from age 12 to 29, meeting his wife who became his beacon of hope, and the mindset shifts that enabled extraordinary success. (12:21)
- Main Theme: Overcoming addiction through faith, strategic business building, and the power of outworking competitors in the roofing industry while maintaining strong family values and spiritual alignment.
Speakers
Brock McClelland
Brock McClelland is the founder and CEO of McClelland's Contracting and Roofing, a company that generated $16 million in revenue in 2024. After overcoming a 17-year battle with addiction that began at age 12, Brock transformed his life and built a successful contracting empire in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He's also developing a coaching platform called "His Plan, My Grind" focused on helping others overcome challenges through faith, discipline, and hard work.
Paul Alex
Paul Alex is the host of The Level Up Podcast, which currently ranks in the top 4 across all podcast categories with over 4 million downloads. He's a serial entrepreneur and former government employee who shares stories of business success and personal transformation to inspire his audience to achieve their potential.
Key Takeaways
Outwork Your Competition Through Market Research
Brock discovered that his competitors were installing roofs using outdated methods from the 1990s and 2000s, particularly around ventilation systems. (19:45) While other contractors had become complacent with being "top 10" players, Brock educated himself on current manufacturer specifications and proper ventilation techniques. He was often the only contractor who would physically inspect the roof and attic space, giving him a massive competitive advantage. Practical Example: In any industry, study what your competitors are doing wrong and become the expert in areas they're neglecting - this differentiation can catapult your business ahead of established players.
Transform Your Environment and Circle
When Brock got clean in 2018, he made the conscious choice to change "people, places, and things" while staying in the same city where he had struggled. (35:03) He emphasized that while changing your physical environment can help, the real transformation comes from choosing better people to surround yourself with and making daily decisions aligned with your new identity. Practical Example: Audit your current relationships and activities - actively seek out people who are where you want to be while distancing yourself from those who reinforce old, limiting behaviors.
Work 100+ Hour Weeks During Growth Phase
Brock committed to working over 100 hours per week during his business's early growth phase, often going 2-4 days without seeing his family because he left before they woke up and returned after they went to sleep. (23:22) He had a crucial conversation with his wife about trusting his vision and plan for their future. This extreme dedication during the building phase allowed him to compress years of progress into a much shorter timeframe. Practical Example: During critical growth periods, be willing to sacrifice short-term comfort and social activities to accelerate your business trajectory, but communicate clearly with your family about the temporary nature and long-term vision.
Find Your Unique Market Differentiator
Rather than trying to compete on price or traditional metrics, Brock identified ventilation as his key differentiator - something competitors were ignoring despite manufacturer specifications requiring it. (21:06) He came prepared with manufacturer paperwork and specifications, educating customers about proper roofing practices while competitors remained stuck in old methods. This educational approach built trust and justified higher prices. Practical Example: Instead of competing solely on price, identify one area where you can become the clear expert and educator in your field - customers will pay premium rates for superior knowledge and service.
Make Daily Decisions Based on Your Future Self
Brock emphasizes that "the life you want to live starts with the life you live today" and "every decision you make matters tomorrow." (42:08) He credits his transformation to realizing that at age 25-28, he could no longer blame his childhood circumstances for his current choices. The fork in the road moment comes when you take complete ownership of your decisions moving forward. Practical Example: Before making any decision, ask yourself "Is this choice aligned with the person I'm becoming?" and choose actions that compound toward your desired future rather than maintaining old patterns.
Statistics & Facts
- Brock's company McClelland's Contracting and Roofing generated $8.3 million in revenue in 2023 and nearly doubled to $16 million in 2024. (27:23) This dramatic growth in one year demonstrates the scalability possible in the contracting industry when proper systems and differentiation strategies are implemented.
- Brock struggled with addiction for 17 years, from age 12 to 29, which was over half his life at the time he got clean. (12:21) This statistic highlights the severity of his addiction and makes his transformation even more remarkable.
- The company now employs nearly 40 people with specialized management roles including a COO, exterior operations manager, interior ops manager, repair ops manager, sales manager, and accounting manager. (25:35) This structured growth shows how quickly a business can scale when proper leadership and systems are put in place.
