In this episode of The Best Business Podcast, host Daryl Urbanski sits down with Richie Breaux to build a Business Legacy. He is a luxury builder, bestselling author, and host of the Builder of All Things podcast. Richie is the founder of All Things New (ATN), a nationally recognized construction firm featured on the Inc. 5000 list and known for high-profile projects like NBA star Zach LaVine’s $334 million home renovation. From growing up with limited resources to becoming a leader in high-end design and spiritual entrepreneurship, Richie’s story is a blueprint for building a business—and life—that truly lasts.
What does it really take to build something that lasts? Not merely a house or a company, but a legacy — something that impacts others and endures beyond the highs and lows of business cycles. In today’s world of flashy growth hacks and overnight success stories, it's easy to get swept up in the rush. But true builders know that lasting success isn’t about speed—it’s about substance. It’s about laying solid foundations, staying grounded in your values, and growing with purpose, not pressure.
Be equipped with timeless wisdom on how to build with vision, lead with conviction, and scale with integrity. Whether you're crafting a brand, leading a team, or laying the groundwork for your legacy, this conversation offers practical insights to help you build boldly in today’s uncertain world.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
- Learn how Richie Breaux built one of America’s fastest-growing construction firms by solving real problems in high-demand markets.
- Discover how to scale sustainably by breaking your business into manageable parts—even when doing it all yourself.
- Reflect on what it means to build with purpose and how that clarity fuels your business legacy through resilience, focus, and long-term success.
Resources:
- Builder of All Things Podcast: Apple Podcasts | YouTube
- All Things New (ATN): Website
- Richie Breaux: Website | Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn
- “Builder of All Things” by Richie Bro: Book
- Best Business Podcast with Daryl Urbanski - Where you can find more insightful interviews like this one.
Episode Highlights
The Power of a Business Legacy Built to Last
- Today’s guest is Richie Breaux, founder of All Things New and host of the Builder of All Things podcast.
- Richie’s background includes military service, surviving two childhood house fires, and rising through the construction world with a heart-first approach to business.
- ATN has not only been featured on the Inc. 5000 list but recently led the $334 million renovation of NBA star Zach LaVine’s home — a feat few luxury builders ever achieve.
- This episode centers around how to build not just a brand or company, but a business legacy rooted in values, resilience, and service.
Start With Demand, Not Ego
- Richie emphasizes starting with the customer and solving a real problem — the key to entrepreneurial success is finding a burden and filling it.
- Many business owners make the mistake of chasing ideas without validating if there's true demand. Without that validation, you’re building on sand.
- Early on, Richie saw Hawaii’s construction market was broken — contractors were unreliable, quality was poor, and trust was low. He positioned his company to solve those problems.
- “You can’t sell basketball shoes on a football field,” Richie says. Success begins with identifying where people already have a need — and filling it better than anyone else.
Organizing Chaos: Wearing Five Hats and Scaling Smarter
- One of Richie’s most practical insights lies in his approach to organizing company operations: divide the business into five divisions — finance, marketing, sales, admin, and operations.
- Entrepreneurs often wear all five hats at once. The goal is to gradually train and delegate each role until you’re focused on leadership.
- Richie drew inspiration from the military: break issues into tasks, solve the task ahead, and keep discipline in the face of overwhelm.
- This mindset shift — from “I’m drowning in to-dos” to “What’s the next task?” — helps owners work on their business, not just in it.
Small Numbers Matter, Especially at the Start
- Early decisions often become the DNA of your company. Richie stresses that how you operate when you’re small will shape how far you can scale.
- He recalls structuring his divisions when he only had three people — and his team thought he was crazy. But by putting the scaffolding in place early, he prepared for future growth.
- Delegating feels risky when you’re small — giving up tasks, investing in people, and potentially cutting your short-term income. But it’s the only way to grow sustainably.
- “What can I delegate today?” and “What must I personally still do?” are two questions every entrepreneur should ask daily.
Breaking Into the Luxury Market Takes Time and Grit
- Richie is transparent: it took him eight years to break into the luxury home market. And it didn’t happen by accident — it took trust-building, branding, and consistency over time.
- Along the way, many distractions pull at business owners — excitement, ego, money, and materialism — but staying centered is key.
- Getting clear about what success means to you personally, not just financially, is vital. “It’s 3D chess,” Richie says — you must play strategically while staying true to your values.
- Knowing the kind of life you're building toward — not just the kind of revenue — protects you from burnout and keeps the mission clean.
The Reality of Red Tape: Hawaii’s Permit Challenge
- One of Richie’s largest challenges is unique to construction: waiting for permits in Hawaii — sometimes up to two years of delays — which places enormous strain on planning and cash flow.
- But instead of complaining, Richie turned the problem into a mission — giving the government constructive feedback, initiating collaborations, and pushing for reform.
- This is a model for any entrepreneur navigating systemic challenges: focus on what you can influence, stay proactive, and keep enthusiasm alive even when results are slow.
- Problems are part of business — but what separates good from great entrepreneurs is how they respond to them.
Daily Habits Rooted in Discipline and Simplicity
- Richie shares that one of the simplest but most transformative habits is treating each day as a war of stewardship.
- He wakes at 5:00 a.m., creates stillness around his morning coffee, and does not dive into work until he's centered, focused, and clear on his top-priority tasks.
- By categorizing tasks into “rocks” (must-do priorities) and “sand” (low-leverage or distracting items), he protects his most valuable asset: time.
- Success isn’t about chaos or 18-hour days — it’s about knowing your roles, driving your mission forward, and protecting your energy in every season.
Heart Posture: The Power of Purpose in Business
- At the center of Richie’s message is the idea that businesses, like buildings, need the right foundation — and that foundation is a purpose rooted in service, not just profit.
- His book, Builder of All Things, was born from this conviction — that running a business should begin with the right heart posture.
- Purpose enables longevity. When things get hard (and they will), purpose becomes your fuel. “It keeps your passion from burning out,” Richie reflects.
- The book is a guide for business owners who want to stay aligned with their calling while navigating the messiness of money, vision, and scale.
Reflections on Building a Business Legacy
- Richie emphasizes that in a world where AI, technology, and pressure to scale are everywhere, anchoring in purpose is more important than ever.
- Innovation may change the tools — prefab homes, digital planning, robots — but true leadership remains timeless: integrity, discipline, vision.
- Richie’s advice for the future? Be the bridge. As tools and needs evolve, businesses will thrive by connecting human values with modern solutions.
- “At the end of the day, there’s always going to be another problem. The question is who’s willing to solve it with heart?” And that, Richie believes, is how you build a business legacy that truly lasts.