Muddy Waters, Clear Vision

Ep.66 Turning Struggles into Success Noah Brandon’s Mission to Empower Communities

1/ What does it really take to go from living in your car as a child to running a multi-campus education business? Meet Noah Brandon, a second-gen CEO whose origin story sounds like a movie—but it's all real.2/ At 7, Noah Brandon and his mom escaped an abusive home. They bounced between motels, couches, and even lived in their car. He remembers Goodwill blankets and using the oven for heat. Humble beginnings? That’s an understatement. 3/ His mom? The ultimate hustler. Abused, broke, and stalked, she became a deputy sheriff to protect her family and hustled her way thru the world—eventually launching a medical scrub shop and, later, a vocational school. 4/ Noah Brandon didn’t get a childhood free pass either. At 9, he was already on the “family business” street team, plastering flyers on hospital cars. “We’re gonna eat, we’re gonna work.” Life lessons came fast. 5/ Progress wasn’t instant. It was a slow climb: from a freezing mobile home, then to apartments, and finally operating schools in six Louisiana cities. Adaptability became his survival tactic—nine different schools before high school! 6/ “Nobody’s saving me from this situation. I have to take it upon myself and I have to do it,” his mom preached. That became the family doctrine. 7/ Fast-forward: Noah Brandon worked every job in the organization before stepping up as CEO. Admissions at 18, hands-on in every department, always learning what people actually do before leading anyone. 8/ His leadership mantra? “Never make the same mistake twice.” Curiosity + relentless reflection = growth. Don’t just fix problems—make sure you’re solving the right problems, so they don’t ricochet back. 9/ He’s obsessed with culture. “Culture supersedes process.” When hiring, he promotes from within so the organization's soul stays intact—even as they scale, launch AI-driven programs, and add new trades like electrical. 10/ The hardest years? 2016-2018. Noah Brandon orchestrated post-divorce chaos (both his parents' and his own), became a new dad, and had to keep the business afloat. Every day was trench warfare. 11/ His lesson: “You can’t release all the anchors at once. You just keep chipping away, and eventually, the ship gets lighter.” Success compounds. Keep showing up. 12/ His advice to his younger self? “People aren’t thinking about you as much as you think they are. Focus on self-confidence and get comfortable being uncomfortable.” 13/ Community isn’t an afterthought. He’s poured tens of thousands into local charities, mentored with Big Brothers Big Sisters, sponsors youth teams—because “valuable businesses stick around.” 14/ Legacy goals? Simple. “Did I add value, or did I take value? I want people to be better off after interacting with me.” 15/ Noah Brandon’s story is proof: grit, service, and curiosity can beat almost any odds. If you’re grinding through chaos now, his advice—keep chipping away. The ship will get lighter. If you found this inspiring share with others and let us know your own “bad problem to good problem” moment! #leadership #entrepreneurship #resilience

Ep.65 Building CodeGig: Kellen Francis on Startup Grind, Team, and Vision

1/ Ever wondered what it’s like to build a company from the ground up, fueled by relentless hustle, setbacks, and pure vision? Let’s dive into Kellen Francis’s entrepreneurial journey with CodeGig—a story every founder (and dreamer) should hear. 2/ Kellen’s North Star? Freedom. “I wake up excited, ready to roll. I do not get up and ever feel like I'm not in my purpose.” 3/ Born & raised in Luling, LA, with a family that lived and breathed hard work—his dad worked the plant by day and curb landscaping by night, mom took double shifts. That “go get it” DNA is the foundation. 4/ Athletes & nerds don’t mix? Kellen says otherwise. Shout out to Coach Lumar—the first mentor outside the family showing consistency, drive, and proof that determination can rewrite your story. 5/ After earning a degree in computer information management, sports & tech became his universe. Why start CodeGig? Kellen wanted to “beat the bar” set by his dad—retire better, build bigger, be free. 6/ CodeGig isn’t just a tech company. It’s a mission: “We specialize in sustainability AI…predict, prescribe, and give back money to chemical plants and refineries.” 7/ From side hustle to signed contracts—he didn’t look back after his first direct deposit. “The second the first deposit hit and I didn’t have to split it…okay, that’s what this feels like.” 8/ Entrepreneurship isn’t all highs. Kellen’s faced the “scary pitfalls”—tax stress, missed deadlines, rejections. But these grew his mettle: “You get to rely on you…Every chance I got, I surprised myself.” 9/ His proudest accomplishment? His team. “These people trust you with their lives. They’re truly coming on for the vision, the chaos, and the creativity.” 10/ On leadership: “I need the environment to be comfortable. I need to be creative…I don’t need you afraid, but I do need your respect.” 11/ “My employees would call me random…” Picture a workday with surprise basketballs thrown in the office to shake up the code grind and keep morale high. 12/ The hardest part? Navigating the “muddy waters” of fundraising. His first funding round took 7 months—it felt like walking a dark room searching for a door. Resilience (and a few “no’s”) made the “yes” even sweeter. 13/ What advice does Kellen give every founder? “Stay calm. Yesterday doesn’t represent today. Every day is going to be different.” And, “Leave your feelings at the door.” 14/ Build bulletproof mindset: “You can take as many nos as necessary, you're gonna get a yes… selective memory like a goldfish.” 15/ On legacy: “I want to be what Lucid was. I want to hand my team checks that change their lives. That’s the legacy for me.” 16/ Final wisdom: “Don’t be in a rush. If you skip a step on what we're doing as entrepreneurs, it’ll catch you later. Enjoy the grind, celebrate the wins, and build for the next generation.” 17/ If you’re a founder, creator, or anyone with a dream—you NEED more calm, more random fun, and a touch more patience in your journey. Follow Kellen’s playbook, and chase your own legendary legacy.What’s YOUR biggest lesson in entrepreneurship? #Startups #Leadership #Tech #Louisiana #SaaS #Entrepreneurship #Lessons Learned

Ep.64 Lessons from Family, Sports, and Business: Rubin Patel’s Story of Patient Plus

1️⃣ Did you know Patient Plus Urgent Care CEO, Rubin Patel, started by staining baseboards in a family motel as a kid? Rubin Patel recalls weekends spent cleaning rooms & running desk shifts alongside his parents. Entrepreneurial spirit, anyone? 2️⃣ First generation Indian American, no trust fund, just relentless hustle . “We stripped every room, cleaned every room, and my dad and mom ran the desk shifts until we turned a profit.” 3️⃣ That work ethic forged Patient Plus’s DNA. “No one is too small to do the little things.” Even today, Rubin picks up trash himself outside clinics so staff see leadership by example 4️⃣ Rubin wasn’t just a motel hustler – he was also a high jumper at Episcopal, learned tough lessons from Coach Andrew Wiley & Coach Claney Duplechin: “Act in a bad way, there’s repercussions. You don’t see that in today’s sports.” 5️⃣ Failures fuel growth: Rubin choked at a big track meet as a sophomore, missed out on state, and lived with that for a year. “The fear of failure feeds me every day... if my business fails, it’s not Patient Plus—it’s Rubin Patel.” 6️⃣ Patient Plus didn’t just serve “safe” areas. Rubin built clinics in health care deserts: “We brought medicine to places no one wanted to go.” First urgent care in Mid City, Delmont, Gentilly, Plank & Hollywood—where the need was greatest 7️⃣ Innovation? For just $20/month, Patient Plus is offering memberships covering visits, tests, X-rays—disrupting healthcare affordability. “What’s more important: your carwash or your health?” 8️⃣ Generosity is at the heart. Rubin’s family started Hindu churches, scholarships, and community festivals (Holi!). Most precious? Time with kids: “75% of the time you spend with your kids is up to 8th grade. So coach ’em. Be there.” 9️⃣ Leadership wisdom: Hire people smarter than you and listen. “If the ideas aren’t coming from leadership, they’ll strike them down. I make sure to credit my team for their wins.” 🔟 Legacy? “Treat everyone well. Bring healthcare where it’s needed. Give back so the next generation pays it forward.” If you’re inspired by Rubin Patel’s story—share, follow Patient Plus, and remember: hustle, humility, and service make the difference. #Entrepreneurship #Healthcare #Leadership #Community

Ep.63 Aussie Roots, Southern Growth: Stephen Keighery on Community-Driven Real Estate Investing

1/ On Muddy Waters, Clear Vision, Stephen Keighery shares his journey from Bondi Beach, Australia to thriving in Louisiana real estate. Never had a "real" job, always chased entrepreneurship. 2/ The Robert Kiyosaki effect: Attending a seminar in 2000 changed everything for Stephen Keighery! The "cash flow quadrant" opened his eyes to business ownership & investing. Cassette tapes & books galore.3/ Started in marketing consulting for small businesses. Saw a disconnect—university taught big corp marketing, but small businesses need tactical solutions. So he wrote the books colleges still use! 4/ Serendipity alert: A cold call about selling his books led to a garage meeting, business partnership, and ultimately an IPO on the Australian Stock Exchange. Who says garage startups are just for Silicon Valley? 5/ Leadership lessons: “Stephen Keighery says the best leaders are LAZY & INCOMPETENT (really!).” Not about slacking off—it’s about DELEGATING and empowering your team’s expertise. 6/ Muddy moments: Losing his mother at 19, delivering her eulogy. Learned resilience & emotional intelligence—always focus on outcomes, even when life gets rough.7/ Real estate in New Orleans: Stephen Keighery buys distressed properties, revitalizes neighborhoods, and brings them back to life. Vacant since Katrina? He’ll jump in and fix it. Hit 50 deals last week 8/ While others pulled back in a tough market, Stephen Keighery went CONTRARIAN—grew his business, hired, and doubled down. “When everyone else is scared, it’s the time to accelerate!”9/ “Help First.” Community matters. Stephen Keighery went from knowing NO ONE to running meetups, joining investor networks, and connecting thousands—even became a director of the Real Estate Investors Association. 10/ Fun fact: His standard for crawfish étouffée is Chimes in Baton Rouge—though everyone says “my grandma’s is best!” A gumbo of Aussie grit & Louisiana soul.11/Takeaway: Be a go-giver, not a go-getter. Lean into tough times. Use your DIFFERENT perspective. Build community and always help first.12/ Ready to scale up and impact more of the South—“just expand it, 10x it,” says Stephen Keighery.

Ep.62 Military Discipline Meets Entrepreneurship: Kiel Harton’s Approach to Leadership and Growth

1/ Ever heard of a "customer service business disguised as home inspections and pest control"? That’s how Kiel Harton describes his company—and that's just the start of his unconventional journey. 2/ Kiel Harton didn't even consult his family before joining the military. Literally walked into a recruiter’s strip mall, asked for a medical job, got redirected from the Marines to the Navy to the Air Force office—and finally landed in the Army.3/ His assignment: Fairbanks, Alaska. Picture negative 70 degrees. Your car won’t even start unless plugged in—to a pole. Extension cords snap. “Life is what you make of it,” Kiel Harton says; mindset is everything. 4/ Returning from service, Kiel Harton saw his friends making bank in real estate, so he pivoted from chemical engineering at LSU to selling homes. His secret? If someone else could, so could he. That first year: nearly $100k earned. 5/ But the entrepreneurial path wasn't about the money. "[If you're just in it for cash, it's not worth it. Get a job and crush it there.]" Kiel Harton's true driver: creating good careers for others and building community from the inside. 6/ Flash-forward: Kiel Harton franchised his company (HDMK), grew to 10 locations, and once did 820 inspections in a year. Yes, that’s about 3-4 every single day. Sleep? Optional. 7/ How did military leadership shape him? “[Early on I was] very direct, very hardcore, not a lot of empathy.” Years—and many books—later, his philosophy is, “Meet people where they’re at. Ask. Listen. Understand.”8/ Hardest lesson? Friendships don’t always translate to business partnerships. Closing a company felt like failure—and losing identity. His advice: When it’s time to pivot or even shut down, it’s not quitting. Sometimes, that’s the bravest move. 9/ What’s next? Disrupting Jamaica(!) where nobody does inspections. After a two-year battle with red tape, Kiel Harton's opening the first franchise there—and building tailored inspection software for the industry. 10/ Wisdom from Kiel Harton: “Everybody abuses the time they have. If you have an idea—just DO it. Don’t put it off.” Grit, growth, serving others—and not being afraid to break new ground (or freeze a little in Alaska). Follow for more real-life journeys from the front lines of entrepreneurship!