EP:
30

The Art Of Never Giving Up

Featuring
Larry Janesky
CEO and Founder of Basement Systems
1hr 50min
May 4, 2023
About the Show

"If you want to do something, you need to do it now, So take your shot. What's the worst that can happen? You win or you learn, right? That's it. There's no lose."

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Larry Janesky is the CEO and Founder of Basement Systems, Contractor Nation, The School Of Entrepreneurship, and owns over 30 businesses across the United States. Larry is also one of the most accomplished desert motorcycle racers in the world, and has competed and won the Baja 1000 Desert race multiple times.

On this episode of Forward Obsessed, we dive into the importance of focusing our attention on positive and constructive things that align with our goals. We discuss how negative news and media can be detrimental to our well-being and how to combat it. Larry shares their personal childhood experiences that helped shape their work ethic and the lessons they teach their own children, as well as the strategies for effective sales presentations and the importance of being able to connect with different personality types. 

Larry also shares his experience competing in a 1000 mile desert motorcycle race and the lessons they learned from it. We delve into the idea of perseverance and not giving up despite obstacles that come our way. Join us as we explore the importance of investing in our own education and producing value to help society function.


EPISODE LINKS:

Key Moments

Never Giving Up With Larry Janesky

Larry Janesky has a jar of marbles in his bedroom. When he was in his early fifties, he filled that jar with as many marbles has he had weeks left to live, assuming he was going to live to be 100. Every Sunday, Larry removes a marble from that jar and throws it away. The empty space in the jar serves as a daily reminder of his mortality, the precious value of live, and the urgency to tackle every day like it is his last. It is with this philosophy that Larry has built his life - he is the true definition of Forward Obsessed.


Janesky had humble beginnings as a contractor with a "no job too small" mentality, but he built his career on his personal philosophy of never giving up, never stop learning, and living an extraordinary life of shared experiences. From building houses as a teenager to developing the largest contractor network in the country, to competing in the Baja 1000 Desert Motorcycle Race as a middle-aged man, his story is a testament to the power of perseverance and mental grit (Here is the documentary they made about it - Into The Dust)

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Janesky's journey began when he was a teenager and started building houses with his dad. He quickly learned the value of hard work and the satisfaction of creating something with his own two hands. He started his own contracting business and made a commitment to providing top-quality service to his clients no matter the size of the job. His "no job too small" mentality paid off, and he quickly gained a reputation as a reliable and skilled contractor.

But Janesky wasn't content to stop there. He had a vision of building the largest contractor network in the country, and he was determined to make it happen. He expanded his business, introduced new services, and invested in cutting-edge technology to stay ahead of the competition. Through his hard work and dedication, he built the Basement Systems, Inc. and Contractor Nation, which became the largest network of basement waterproofing, foundation, and crawl space repair contractors in the world.

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But Janesky's personal philosophy of never giving up and never stop learning wasn't just limited to his business ventures. He also had a passion for off-road racing, particularly the Baja 1000 Desert Motorcycle Race. While many people might have written off the idea of competing in this grueling race as a middle-aged man with no prior experience, Janesky saw it as a challenge to be conquered. He started training and preparing for the race, investing hours of time and effort into physical conditioning and mental preparation.

The Baja 1000 race is one of the most challenging off-road races in the world, spanning over 1000 miles through the desert and rugged terrain of Baja California. Competitors must navigate treacherous obstacles and face extreme weather conditions in order to finish the race. But Janesky was undaunted by the challenge. He endured the pain, exhaustion, and fear, and ultimately finished the race, becoming the oldest finisher and the 20th finisher in the history of the race.

Janesky's dedication to never giving up, never stop learning, and living an extraordinary life of shared experiences has inspired countless people. Through his work, he has helped thousands of contractors achieve success and grow their businesses. Through his passion for off-road racing, he has demonstrated the power of perseverance and mental toughness in achieving one's goals.

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In today's fast-paced and constantly changing world, Janesky's philosophy is more important than ever. In order to achieve success, we must be willing to adapt, learn, and grow. We must be willing to take risks and push ourselves outside of our comfort zones. And most importantly, we must never give up on our dreams and goals.

So take a page out of Larry Janesky's book and never give up, never stop learning, and live an extraordinary life of shared experiences. Who knows what you might achieve?

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