Ep 33 - How Chris Scaled a Moving Business from One Truck to an Empire

Ep 33 - How Chris Scaled a Moving Business from One Truck to an Empire

From a single beat up truck to building a thriving moving and storage business. Chris's journey is the definition of starting small and scaling big. In this episode, Jason sits down with Chris, Founder & President of True Friends Moving Company, to break down how he built his company from the ground up since around 2012. With limited resources but a clear vision, Chris turned hard work, consistency, and smart decision making into a growing moving empire. Chris dives into: ✅ How he started with just one truck and a dream ✅ Early challenges and lessons that shaped the business ✅ The key moments that helped him scale ✅ Building a strong reputation in the moving & storage industry ✅ Advice for entrepreneurs starting from zero If you're a moving company owner, entrepreneur, or someone looking for real-world business inspiration, this episode is packed with insights you can apply right away. 🚛 From humble beginnings to long term success. This is the story of how Chris built a moving empire from scratch #TrueFriendsMoving [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/truefriendsmoving] #ChrisJourney [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/chrisjourney] #MovingEmpire [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/movingempire] #FromOneTruck [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/fromonetruck] #StartupToSuccess [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/startuptosuccess] #EntrepreneurStory [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/entrepreneurstory] #MovingIndustry [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/movingindustry] #BusinessGrowth [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/businessgrowth] #ScalingUp [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/scalingup] #SmallBusinessSuccess [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/smallbusinesssuccess] #PodcastEpisode [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/podcastepisode] #hustleandgrow [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/hustleandgrow] #movingbusiness [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/movingbusiness]

Ep 32 - Scaling to $66M: Larry O'Toole's Blueprint for Building a Moving Empire (Part 2)

The Unconventional Blueprint to a Moving Empire: Lessons from Gentle Giant's Larry O'Toole What does it really take to turn a moving company into a $66 million powerhouse? In Part 2 of this high-impact conversation, we go deeper with Larry O'Toole, Founder & CEO of Gentle Giant Moving Company, as he pulls back the curtain on the mindset, leadership, and systems that built one of the most respected brands in the moving industry. No fluff. No theory. Just real strategies from a leader who scaled it. 🚛💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode: In this episode, we sit down with Larry O'Toole, Founder & CEO of Gentle Giant Moving Company, to explore the leadership principles, culture-building strategies, and operational systems that propelled his company into becoming one of the most respected names in the moving industry. Larry shares: ✅ How he built a people-driven company culture ✅ The systems behind scaling past $66M in revenue ✅ Leadership lessons from decades in business ✅ Advice for moving company owners ready to grow 🎧 Tune in and learn how to build a company that moves more than boxes it moves people and businesses forward. If you missed the first conversation with Larry O'Toole, catch it here: https://youtu.be/rI6JaiyPaEo?si=D0W-qD-yqoWGrvN-https://youtu.be/rI6JaiyPaEo?si=D0W-qD-yqoWGrvN- [https://youtu.be/rI6JaiyPaEo?si=D0W-qD-yqoWGrvN-]

Ep 32 - Scaling to $66M: Larry O'Toole's Blueprint for Building a Moving Empire (Part 1)

The Unconventional Blueprint to a Moving Empire: Lessons from Gentle Giant's Larry O'Toole Ever wondered what it really takes to build a multi-million dollar company from the ground up? In a world often obsessed with ruthless efficiency and cutting costs, Larry O'Toole, founder of Gentle Giant Moving Company, offers a refreshingly human-centric approach. His journey, which began unexpectedly with a borrowed van and a roommate's initiative, reveals that the secret to scaling to over $66 million might just be as simple—and as challenging—as putting people first. Join us as we unpack Larry's unique blueprint for success, diving into the core values, leadership philosophy, and unconventional strategies that turned a small moving operation into an industry powerhouse. 🚛💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode: What does it take to build a moving company generating over $66 million a year? In this episode, we sit down with Larry O'Toole, Founder & CEO of Gentle Giant Moving Company, to uncover the leadership principles, culture strategies, and operational systems that helped transform his company into one of the most respected brands in the moving industry. Larry shares: ✅ How he built a people-driven company culture ✅ The systems behind scaling past $66M in revenue ✅ Leadership lessons from decades in business ✅ Advice for moving company owners ready to grow If you're a moving company owner, entrepreneur, or leader looking to scale smarter and build a powerhouse brand, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won't want to miss. 🎧 Tune in and learn how to build a company that moves more than boxes it moves people and businesses forward.

Ep 31 - Streamlining the Move: Call Centers, Community and Legends Retreat

In this episode of Shift Happens: Beyond the Boxes, host Jason Bergenske — founder and owner of MoveitPro — sits down with Michael, Manager at Lion's Den, and Jeannie, Director of Business Development, for an insightful conversation about how innovation, teamwork, and community are redefining the moving industry. If you're a moving company owner looking to scale smarter, simplify operations, and connect with like-minded professionals, this episode is your roadmap to success. Transforming the Moving Industry with MoveitPro and Lion's Den The moving industry is evolving faster than ever — and those who embrace technology and collaboration are leading the way. MoveitPro, the software built for movers, by movers, has become the foundation for operational excellence. It allows moving companies to manage dispatch, scheduling, lead tracking, and customer relationships — all within one intuitive platform. Meanwhile, Lion's Den elevates the customer experience through expertly trained call center professionals who bring empathy, emotional intelligence, and genuine care to every conversation. They understand that moving is more than logistics — it's a deeply personal life event. Each interaction is an opportunity to build trust, reassure customers, and deliver peace of mind. This human-centered approach leads to consistent 5-star reviews, lasting customer loyalty, and powerful word-of-mouth growth. Together, MoveitPro and Lion's Den are proving that technology and heart can work hand-in-hand to transform the moving experience.

Ep29 - How Direct Mail Built a Moving Empire | Greg Sheppard (USA Home Listings)

In Episode 29 of Shift Happens: Beyond the Boxes, Jason Bergenske sits down with direct mail legend Greg Sheppard, founder of USA Home Listings. From quitting a job he hated to building a multi-million dollar lead generation business, Greg shares the raw, real, and ridiculously effective strategies that helped him—and many movers across the country—book high-ticket moves consistently. Recorded live at Legends Retreat, this conversation dives into how Greg went from cold-calling to closing luxury moves, and how smart, targeted mail (not spam!) can deliver massive ROI when done right. What You'll Learn in This Episode: The moment Greg risked everything to chase a new pathWhy most direct mail fails—and how to make yours stand out The system that helped moving companies scale to $10M+ How to target high-value homes and avoid tire-kickers Simple tips to increase conversions and get your phone ringing Whether you're trying to fill your pipeline or close bigger jobs, this is the no-BS breakdown of what works in moving industry marketing today. 👇 Resources & Links🌐 Learn more about USA Home Listings: https://usahomelistings.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnQ0OEpVUXlSYm4tMlg2bkd2UVdCYndqakthQXxBQ3Jtc0trVXpYNnBqNUlfLUVCV010cHlyZzdIdm16dk55d1Rvb2kyb2IweFBkdmlxVnNPWjRpLVZ6aUdvTzI2NjkyM2xtNGU1MU5rQ1Zuc3RqaDFWVWJHcVp6UnZRVUR5SGFqbVVIUkYyNUZmaDBQUW9FM01OVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fusahomelistings.com%2F&v=ENqFx7CF6qQ]🚀 Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and COMMENT your favorite takeaway from Greg!