Why did this successful property management CEO deliberately choose a "dirty industry" for his next venture?
Host Bryan Sarff welcomes Colin Douthit, CEO of Premier Scrap Services and former owner of Atlas Property Management. Colin, a professional engineer turned entrepreneur, shares his path from corporate cubicles to building multi-million dollar companies. After being fired from two engineering jobs, he discovered his passion for freedom and time wealth. "I am wealthy because I have control over my time," Colin explains, emphasizing how entrepreneurship allowed him to coach his son's football team and serve his community while building successful businesses.
The conversation explores Colin's rapid growth from zero to 1,500 units at Atlas Property Management in under three years, the burnout that followed, and his strategic pivot to Premier Scrap Services (intellicents and Premier Scrap are unaffiliated companies). Key topics include the dangers of scaling too fast, the power of outsourcing back-office operations, and finding success in "dirty industries" where competition is lighter. Colin shares his "Into the Wind" philosophy—inspired by bison who face storms head-on—and reveals plans to triple his workforce to 300 employees while impacting over 1,000 lives.
About the Show:
Drawing from over two decades in financial advisory services, Bryan Sarff brings a unique perspective beyond traditional wealth management. Through intellicents, he's witnessed how successful entrepreneurs struggle with the disconnect between business growth and personal financial organization. This podcast bridges that gap with actionable frameworks transforming financial complexity into strategic clarity. Each episode features candid conversations with industry leaders, family business experts, and wealth psychology specialists sharing battle-tested insights. From exit strategies to multi-generational wealth transfer, listeners gain practical tools aligning financial decisions with core values.
In This Episode:
(00:00) Colin reveals the chaos behind his entrepreneurial success story
(03:01) The cubicle moment that sparked his entrepreneurial awakening
(06:17) Why Colin defines wealth as control over time, not money
(11:25) Building Atlas to 1,500 units in under three years through organic growth
(16:40) The decision to pivot from property management to industrial scrap services
(21:08) How outsourcing transformed chaos into organized success
(25:17) What attracted Colin to Premier Scrap Services acquisition
(27:39) Vision to triple workforce and impact over 1,000 lives
(29:54) Colin's advice to entrepreneurs: slow down and hire experts
(32:00) The "Into the Wind" philosophy inspired by bison facing storms
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