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What happens when you lose everything in 2008—and still choose to pay everyone back? Rob Stephenson rebuilt not just a business, but a reputation that now wins national NARI COTY awards.
Summary:
Rob Stephenson, founder of Stephenson Construction, shares how leaving engineering, moonlighting in rental units, and surviving the 2008 collapse shaped his disciplined, integrity-first approach to design-build. We unpack his early pivots from art and engineering, learning the trades out of necessity, brand lessons from Target, and how a move to Atlanta unlocked new opportunity. Rob breaks down practical pricing, cash flow, licensing, and client selection—plus a DIY cautionary tale involving a wet metal roof, no tie-off, and a painful lesson learned.
🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari
💡 GOLD NUGGETS
• How growing up in Philadelphia sparked his love for home projects
• Art vs. engineering at Tuskegee — and the early career pivots that followed
• Learning every trade through rental-unit trial by fire
• Building the first spec home, licensing insights, and partnership lessons
• The 2008 crash: overleverage, failure, and choosing integrity over shortcuts
• Moving to Atlanta and how Target taught him branding discipline
• Building a design-build team that wins national COTY awards
• Story proof: why case studies beat sales pitches
• Cash flow, pricing, and client fit — practical rules that keep you alive
• Quickfire picks: E-Myth for Contractors, basements, and service pet peeves
• DIY disaster: the wet metal roof and the importance of safety tie-offs
🔗 Guest Links
• Website: https://www.stephensonconstructionllc.com
• NARI Directory: Search “Stephenson Construction” on NARI.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rsstephenson/
🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari
• Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast
• LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/
• Website | https://chrislalomia.com
From the Zoo to Wild is a book for entrepreneurs passionate about home services, looking to move away from corporate jobs. Chris Lalomia, a former executive, shares his path, discoveries, and tools to succeed as a small business owner in home improvement retail. The book provides the mindset, habits, leadership style, and customer-oriented processes necessary to succeed as a small business owner in home services.
Chapters
1. Cold Open: Infomercials And Real Estate Schemes (00:00:00)
2. Welcome To Small Business Safari (00:00:54)
3. Introducing Rob Stephenson (00:03:05)
4. Philly Roots And Early Craft Influence (00:04:13)
5. Art Vs. Engineering: Tuskegee Choices (00:06:39)
6. First Jobs And Corporate Frustration (00:10:20)
7. Moonlighting Into Real Estate And Trades (00:15:54)
8. Licensing And First Spec Home (00:18:15)
9. Overleveraged And The 2008 Collapse (00:21:17)
10. Integrity, Debt, And Not Walking Away (00:25:10)
11. Leaving Birmingham: Bias And Opportunity (00:28:24)
12. Building A Career In Atlanta (00:32:13)
13. Target Taught Branding And Marketing (00:35:25)
14. Team, Design-Build, And Awards (00:39:20)
15. Quickfire: Books, Basements, And Pet Peeves (00:42:25)
16. DIY Nightmare: The Metal Roof Lesson (00:45:10)
17. Closing Thoughts On Grit And Growth (00:47:35)
259 episodes
