Bobby young owner of covert results. And it's been five years since you've been on the podcast, we talked to you back when you left working with the government. And I thought that it would be great to share with our community. What are the top five things that you've learned over the last five years of opening a business and running a business? And you've grown so quick? And how has it been going? So before we jump off and do that? Can you give us a quick story of what what's your backstory in case they haven't listened to the first podcast? You have to go listen to it for the backstory because we don't have time to go into all of it today.
Yeah, so I was with Metro Nashville police pharma from 2007 and 2018 decided to leave the government workspace industry or whatever you want to call it and enter the private life and entrepreneurship started the company in March 2018. And it's already February 2023. So we're on our sixth year of business started from nothing sitting at my kitchen table, not this kitchen table. But here we are, again at another kitchen table talking kitchen tables. So I'm out the business. But really from the very beginning. I mean, it's just all about hard work and boots, boots on the ground approach having the right people having the right team around you. And just staying consistent with working and content, which you all obviously help with. And I mean, it works. It really does. But it just takes time and you just have to stick with it.
So consistency matters is like the big thing that I hear out of that. So take us back in the beginning of your journey, why wouldn't people say why would you Why did you leave your your corporate job or your government job or your real job? Like there was a driving force that said to you, okay, it's been X amount of years, it's time to do your own thing, because I know I mean for both of us, you know, I was near 30. And I was doing two things at once and live in a dual life and it's hard to do all that. And when you're getting married and you're starting a family, it's like you know, dividing your time, which is something that I want to ask about. But what was that one thing that made you say, Okay, it's Tom.
There are many, but it was a very tough and make decision to leave government work. It's easy to get a check every two weeks and great benefits and it was a great stepping stone I encouraged everybody to work somehow in the public industry, public sector, government space to learn what hard work really is for low pay The number one thing why I left and started a company is because I was being held down. I mean, that's really what was going on.
Can you define what that means? Like held back? Right opportunities were not happening because of political reasons.
Yeah, I mean, that's definitely a down to Yeah, politics is one, you're sometimes you could be placed in an on a team or a unit, surrounded by people that don't share the same values and visions that you do. And when you work and excel higher than others around you, then you're not white. So this is true. I mean, sometimes you work really hard and enjoy and respect your job and you're just sometimes penalized for that. So that's really one big reason. I mean, there are several other really big factors and leaving when I did I had an ACL injury where I still to this day cannot sprint. You just had another surgery. Yeah, I just had another surgery in November but I blessing Yeah, it's a blessing. Yes. Yeah. But if I was on the streets and trying to chase after someone it was it would be impossible I could not I could not sprint so gain 30 pounds ish because I can't sprint but
he just doesn't know it. Those are excuses so I get a walking treadmill that you actually have a peloton. Yes, but But doing peloton and having like a treadmill desk while you're doing it's like two different completely experiences. And so just like moving and walking, and I think you should get one he just doesn't know it yet.
I love the job though. And yeah, I mean, doing wiretaps is is literally if y'all listening, you remember the show the wire, which I'd never watched, it was exactly the same. It's it's this is Movie TV show kind of stuff where we showed up in a warehouse, we had a big secure room with a biometric fingerprint and entryway and you were sitting in front of a computer, putting your headphones on listening to incoming calls coming in from large scale drug dealers, murderers, things like that. And it was a it was awesome. But politics totally got rid of the unit and just made me so bitter that I just was just done. And I think a lot of people in government space and especially in law enforcement right now it's a big problem. It's just everybody's burn out. And they're they're tired of it. So luckily, I got out at a good time and retired after 11 years successfully. And you know, we're already six years into a private business, which is private investigations, armed security training, and now cybersecurity.
Great segue. Great segue. But the reason I want you to want you to bring that up and tell the story is because sometimes and I'm doing this in air quotes, if you're not watching bad things happen. And we think it's the worst thing in the world. Like when you It's like we're doing fun slash silly stupid things as adults, and I think you slid into a base and like it ripped your Oh, no,
I was caught in a pickle between first and second base.
Okay, the point is, you're applying for each softball for the government for government, it
was a recreational team, but everybody on the team, they were police and SWAT team and they had they had a good a grand old time laughing at me while I was on the ground screaming for an ambulance.
So but in that moment, it's like you're thinking about oh, my gosh, my gun, my badge, my job, everything's gonna get stripped away. I'm gonna have to do it, did it come off the road and then do desk work, which reminds Yeah, for somebody with with our personality, it's just like it, you know, we have to have purpose, and we don't want to sit behind it. And listen, there's nothing wrong with it. We need all these people. And we need all these jobs with different personalities need different things to be fueled. And so the whole reason I like for you to tell that stories because sometimes bad bad things happen, that give you the time to sit down and focus and be still. And when you're still things can happen. And that's where the pandemic for a lot of people we were able to be still and that's what our culture has changed so much. And so if you're listening or watching this the first thing to know that if something is bad, like you're gonna have to look for those signs that are you know, that there's more or you're outperforming your colleagues or you're doing amazing things in somebody else's business, but then the other people around you when I was in healthcare and did sales, I would, you know, recruit more people and outperform people and my bosses did not like me because they're like, you're so reactive and you want answers right now and there's a bigger picture and you don't understand what's going on and you have To stop reacting and in some of that, I do agree with that someone else's emergency is not always my emergency. And so it taught me a lot. But on the flip side of things, it taught me what I didn't want. And so now there's pros and cons to everything. But, you know, a couple of things is that you came out of that started a business. And right out of the gate, you wrote a book about the largest
Cocaine Seizure and national history. Yeah. And it's called, well, the original version was called gray Rouse and Father 1422, which 1422 was the case number. And then it was rewritten. And now is on Amazon, it is called the good line.
Yeah. And I mean, if you look at the cover, you could probably guess, you know, a lot of coke, but it is, there were a lot of people in this community, like involved in that stuff. And just having people involved reading it, they're like, oh, my gosh, I as a consumer, or is that what you would call people who don't really know the day to day drug world, like, you know, an average consumer who's editing a book and she's like, holy shit, you know, I'd go to that Walgreens and get my my prescriptions filled. And I didn't know at 3:32pm in broad daylight, you know, there's these big drug deals going on, and you're leaving your dog and your kid in the car running because it's daylight, you think you're in a safe area, it's just been bringing awareness to the community is so much more important. But the reason I'm asking you this is because y'all, you're not gonna go write a book and make a million dollars overnight.
Okay, I made 50 cents. Here's what I got a check from Amazon, I think it was 50 cents. But there's,
there's Hey, we all have to start somewhere. Right? But but there was there, there wasn't a whole lot of time to promote it, but from not yet, but from a therapy standpoint, like, would you say to someone that is and you've been said the word? What would you say? Not salty, but you're burnt out and salty, and you would had it? So it's almost therapeutic to sit down and write it out in a book? Yeah. Well,
I mean, you obviously have to get the book and read it to understand it was the last and best wiretap case ever worked by the 20th, Judicial District drug task force. And it was a whole lot of work. And that's what a lot of the feedback that we've gotten from readers is that oh, my goodness, I didn't know how much work y'all really put into it. Well, yours. Well, I mean, we were up on a wire, as in we're on different phone lines, from July 2014, all the way to march 2015. So I mean, that is a long time, and it cost a lot of money to and resources, but the small unit, it was six people. I mean, we got so much done more than a lot of other units. I mean, I It's been told that our unit, at the time was doing the second most wiretaps in the entire United States, which is insane. And now it's gone. It doesn't exist anymore. There's a reason it's gone. But yeah, you'll have to read the book. But
so I would say, you know that that's the second big, pivotal moment is, you know, you really wanted to write a book, and I'm over here, like, Are you sure you want to focus? I mean, you know, there's a lot going on, but at the same time, it's like, you know, my mentor is like, some people just need to get it out and like, get the pain out and like put it down. And whether you sell one copy or not. If that one person reads it, it could help save their life. Or it could help with just them being more aware of what is going on around you. Because we're from a very a growing city that we were in
what I was trying to explain it. I mean, the unit was so great, and it just totally disappeared and went away. There was one local news outlet story on it, that it was shifting or changing names, which was laughable. But I wanted people to know and understand the unit was was great. And there was no reason why it actually went away other than politics. And the reason why I wrote it was so people would know, it was a great unit. There was nothing wrong with it did a great job, but also in a little bit of way. Revenge. I mean, I'll admit it, I was angry. And you know, mom said, you got a whole lot of cuss words and that. Sorry, mom, there are sorry, there were a lot of curse words. So the rewritten or revised division, or the revision copy. The good line does not contain as many curse words, but it's still a good book. It's just
the nature of the beast. And so, you know, I was just thinking back about for five years. I don't know if you do this yourself for your business or a business that you want to start by doing a lifeline and every year doing like the highs and the lows for you personally and for the business. And if you look at five years, it's like okay, damn, you know, you've done a lot. So in writing evoking and going through it, what is like your biggest takeaway, if someone was like, I really want to do that, like, what would you tell them?
It's a long process, it's not going to be quick. And you're likely not going to make a million dollars writing the book. It. I mean, if you have already a lot of money, which I think let's define a lot of money, well, I think some people that are producing books these days, and it says, New York's best seller, it's because they bought their own copies, I think it's you have to, you have to sell like 10,000 copies in the first 48 hours are the first couple of weeks that the book is launched. So some people just bought their own copies, which is kind of cheating, I would say. But yeah, I mean, I think if you're looking to write a book, just do it. And you know, take your time, don't rush through it, but you're gonna have to dedicate probably six months to 12 months, at least to write it and get it out. And if you are looking to make money, hire Angela and her crew, to brand it and put it out there and all the content and all that stuff. So, you know, we just didn't have all the time to put it out there. But it, it takes a lot. It takes time and takes money. But it was I would say overall, it was definitely worth it.
It's a great source of you know, people come to us and like we're gonna do this book parties, these launch parties. And, you know, it's great. But it's also thinking about, you know, we like to do things like smart books for lead magnets, meaning I'm gonna give you something for free, and you give me your email or your phone number, if you want to be on our list. And you know, it's a great, it's a great lead magnet. But knowing the purpose of why you want to write a book, or why you want to do something, which I think for I don't know, I mean, I'm just taking a stab at it. But it was more I know, for me personally, just getting it out. And well, I don't write it down. Usually I've voiced dictate it. But it's just therapy, it makes you feel better. Regardless, if you sell a thing or not. It's just about finishing that project. Sometimes that is going to mean something to you.
Everybody's got a story. So how are you going to tell your story. And this sense, it was a monumental moment, a pivotal moment in my own career, it launched me into entrepreneurship based on what happened to me at the drug task force. I mean, there's all kinds of reasons. I just happened to put them in a book.
And then the next big thing so clearly on a list y'all have like, these are the five things that I want him to talk about, because I'm so proud. The next big thing is you launched a nonprofit. And so I'd love for you to talk the business side experience of when he says these things to me. And then I'm like, Okay, it's not that easy. Like there's there's a lot of paperwork, there's a lot of waiting time we've been through this with clients before, especially some of our clients who've done their wedding and they want to set up a nonprofit, or they would rather people put money into a cause. And many people, they don't know the resources, sometimes that there's already things that are set up. And then many times they go to those places, and it doesn't fulfill what they need, because the focus is something else. So just because you hear of a a nonprofit that is helping with ALS, or HIV or cancer, they focus on very different things. You know, it just depends. And so you did some research and tell us about the nonprofit.
Yeah, so the nonprofit is called Operation rose, and go to the website, Operation rose.org. Check us out. And the specific and sole mission is to combat human trafficking through education and training. There is an investigative piece of that, but we're focused solely on the education to hotels, motels, and schools. We know for a fact from our own experience that this type of crime is occurring within the hospitality industry. So why not target the hospitality industry for our free human trafficking and awareness training? So there was a retired there is a retired detective from Metro Nashville Police Department, Jason mayo, who works with me in my private investigation and security business over results. He decided to join us and very quickly, I asked him about partnering up and doing operation roads as a nonprofit giving back to the community because Jason was the lead and head trainer for Metro Nashville police department regarding human trafficking, training and awareness. So Jason was already doing exactly what we were trying to accomplish and had written the training material that was already been presented to the community. So when he retired, it was sort of an easy segue. Yeah, is an easy segue to just go right into that he was essentially going to be doing some of the same stuff as far as the training. But one big, big, big thing about training, when you're under the government versus the private batch is, there's no rotate. So the training that operation rose puts on is real. There's real pictures, there's live video, there are things that in your that are put in your face, so that you understand. So that you understand the seriousness of what's going on here in Nashville and in the world, really. But no one regulates our training. And the government or the police department can't come in and say, Well, we really don't want you to say that, or we don't want you to show that or can you not tell the audience about this website? Well, you know what, it's the truth. And that's what I like about it. And it's our nonprofit, we're going to train people in the community how we want, and we've gotten really great feedback from the community on it. As far as showing them signs and indicators and what to look for.
And Operation rose, I just, I'm, I'm still like some of the things that I sit in board meetings and learn. I'm just flabbergasted that I've been in the industry for over two decades. And I mean, even some of the hotels that we've rented out for weddings and events, and a lot of the owners and the GMs they don't even realize it's going on. And the most important thing is they don't have a process.
Yeah, most time they're actually denying it. They just say it doesn't happen here. And yeah, it's totally ignorant to say that honestly. And actually, if there's any hospitality people listening to this episode, you better pay attention because your establishment can get sued for not taking training and the human trafficking industry. I mean, if there is a victim of human trafficking, that can prove the your hospitality or hotel had or motel had knowledge of what's going on, they will sue you. So take our free training. Again, it's free operation res.org. And there's
a difference between so depending on what state or country you live in, there are certain regulations around it. And until I actually started paying attention when I'm traveling and speaking and teaching, I send him random Markopolos, and I have no idea what time it is sometimes, because I'm in different time zones, but every airport and everywhere I go, no matter what part of the world, or what country I'm in, or what language people speak, like, humans, it's everywhere, but I've never been looking for it. And I never noticed it. I never it's not that I turned my head and I just had no idea. And then you, you know, awareness is brought to you and I'm just like, holy shit, like this industry is I mean, it's just, it's sick. But I would say the biggest thing that you guys did, yes. You know, you did hire a company to help like, get all the nonprofit stuff. So you know, outsourcing those expertise to an attorney and to someone who does it. But the biggest thing is you guys got a bill passed. And so I just wanted to share your experience like how the hell do you do that
was actually just a resolution. So essentially, just a strong recommendation from the metro Council, which, if you don't know much about Nashville Metro Council is one of the largest and they're a pretty powerful government body, all elected officials. So we were able to get that passed unanimously, had a whole lot of sponsors on the bill that we passed. It was a it was a resolution and that was in November of 21. So we started the nonprofit in January of 2001 hired a company through the Entrepreneurs Organization, which were members of and which is a great resource reached out and they they helped us it was the process was very easy because they knew what they were doing. And but I would say if you're looking to start a nonprofit at the same time, it's not very easy. There is a lot of paperwork, a lot of your time getting a strong board their time. And sometimes that's even harder getting someone's 30 minutes or an hour that you really need more than it's it that's harder than getting $10,000
Sometimes Yeah. So what's your top so the first gala just happen and you guys plan to make an annual event but what was your top takeaway that you learned from that Gala? Where you're like, God, I wish I would have known this before. Um, like, was there one thing where you were just like, yeah, we if we had more time or if we had more this?
I mean, I think if we had better connection ones with bigger sponsors that probably would have helped a little bit, especially Olivia alleviate some of the stress. We hadn't met early on and did a budget, we already had a budget plan seven to eight months prior to the event. So the pre planning really helped. But probably the most stressful moment is not knowing if we're going to be able to make this event go because of all the costs that were associated with it. So I mean, everybody wants to help, it is a nonprofit, but, you know, if you're hiring people, vendors, and they're doing services or entertainment, I mean, they're also doing this this for a job for a living, so they're not going to do it for free. They may help you out a bit. But But yeah, I mean, so everybody pitched in at the last minute. And it went off really well. I can't say without a hitch, because there was some pitches, but But it went really well. You know, we didn't net 100,000. But our goal in the very beginning was to raise 100,000. And we hit that mark almost on the nose. You know, we netted a little little less than half of that. And of course, those funds are going to go directly to training and continuing education. And if we have any investigative tips that come in, we have a volunteer team of prior law enforcement that help with other nonprofits where we band together and help on the investigative side for human trafficking.
But the two most important things is to know your budget, know your numbers, know where the money is coming from first and get that together before jumping ahead and planning all these things. And then at the end worrying about, Where's all this going to come from? And what about ticket sales? And what about this? And what about that? Like it's not
vaporware paperwork is huge, and it's overwhelming and our taxes and 990s. And, you know, I know, trust me, I've learned and researched a lot. And it's, we're still dealing with it right now. I mean, we still have letters to get out for donations over $75 from last year. So it's a work in progress. But we're only getting better. We went to a meeting on Tuesday with a bunch of hotels. And you know, they love the idea. I mean, who doesn't free training, but it's just about getting the hotel industry, grabbing their attention and getting all their employees in one room at one time. So that we can speak and deliver our training and content.
But the impact that it makes creating that process can save someone's life and it can change someone's life. So you quickly mentioned EO. And I would love to know it's the entrepreneur organization, if you listen to podcasts probably reference it every single podcast because it is the single most from from just a growth and a leadership and running a business, the only organization that I stay in it because committing to something long term is hard. But when you there's value from it, we do it and so you you quickly met that revenue goal got into EO again, you made it a goal, you said the company's going to do this this year. And so I don't know if you guys can see the theme. But like numbers and goals matter even if it's one thing every year one big B hag big, hairy, audacious goal that you have to block time on your calendar for that. And so what was the biggest takeaway thus far that has the value that you have gotten from being in an organization like you?
Well, I mean, the biggest thing is just being able to bounce ideas and ask questions to other business owners because your chamber of commerce's your other groups like that other networking groups that are that get formed, most of them are pretty much in my experience. They're not all business owners, insurance people, salespeople,
they're not the decision maker, right?
I mean, this is elevated in that sense, where you're actually talking with people that make all the decisions, and they know, they experienced the same things that pretty much all entrepreneurs face, like worried about cashflow, or worried about taxes or how do you start a second business or a third business or a fourth business? So you know, those are those are valuable? Those are probably the most valuable things and segue into us opening another business. Yes, you read my mind COVID results. And we have a nonprofit operation rose which is essentially a business and we're now going to launch another business and it's going to be solely dedicated to cybersecurity and combating the wire fraud problem. So there is obviously a huge issue out there a billion dollar problem where cyber pirates, as I call them, are stealing money from people. Most of the time they are accessing their email and getting account numbers, they're drawing up phishing emails, and they're just really good at it. People that are sitting around in a room, and that's all they have to do all day long, and come up with scans come up with schemes and scams and get and get people's money. And it's taken out people individuals is taken out businesses 50 100,000 at a time, millions. And I think that the team that we've built, and the company that we're going to launch is, is really going to make a dent impact in that. So we're here to punch him in the face so that you're a cyber attacker listening, you better run,
can you just punch up the camera right now. So that can be can we do it together? 567 Give me a gift. Like, oh my gosh,
but it's shocking to me how many people would basically I mean, I don't think we want to release the name of the company. Right now I'm more excited about the product packaging. But the impact that it makes is this, this device, it kind of is like your you know, you have to have cable and internet and a device to have all those things run in your house. And so it's a device that can track if people are trying to tap into things. And it's really going to to disrupt it's going to be great for consumers, because it's going to stop a lot of the fraud, but it's very much going to disrupt the industry that is buying things and selling things. I mean, these businesses, and then they're selling them off of Amazon, which are recently in another podcast for market. Like, well, I couldn't believe they thought I was videoing things, and I was going to sell it off to China anyway, it's it's crazy. As we wrap up, I mean, that's five big things. I mean, a book, a nonprofit, an organization that you stayed in another arm, another business, you know, completely separate from covert results. And then the last big thing, learn how
to manage people, okay, learn how to do, it's not easy. But take the time as a business owner, no matter if your $100,000 business or $100 million business, take the time to meet with every person that you are gonna bring onto your team, we have a really, really great team, almost 20 licensed private investigators. And that's our value prop is that we're just better than the others, because of our people, but it's not easy, managing 15 to 20 different personalities as well. So that's been one of the more difficult things, but also it can be very rewarding. And obviously growth in our business, taking it from the kitchen table from $0 to 1.3 million last year,
which is amazing. I'm so proud of you. There's one more thing I want you to mention. As we log on to a Zoom meeting, you have you had any baby this year. So you have two children and an awesome wife. And with all this business and growth and all these things, how do you manage your time? And how do you make time?
Just multitask like a mother.
Which I don't always conduct but you do what you have to do. But you've you've done very well. The one thing I will say is like you make it a point every single night. You know, you're like we're gonna give the kids a bath together and we're gonna read together and we're gonna say certain what is already say at
night? Are you strong oil is beautiful or is brave
like doing those things that those children will never forget. Don't miss those moments. Like take that time even if you are in a new business or you're opening a new business like take the time to be present. Yep. Thanks for watching and listening.
So y'all, y'all on five years.
Be sure to tune in next week to another episode of business unveiled. That's it for this week's episode of business unveiled. Now that you have all the tools that you need to conquer the world and GSD get shit done. Would you share this with your friends and fellow business leaders? One thing that would really really help us and help new listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a comment and Apple podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you tune in and listen to business unveiled. You can check out the show notes at Angela proffitt.com/podcast and link up with us on social media so you can share your biggest insights and I want to know your aha moments. Until next week, remember, the profitable shifts and structures you're creating in your business help you be more powerful. present in your life so get out there and GSD