← VEL Institute Podcast - Inspiring stories from Veterans, Entrepreneurs and Leaders.
May 22, 2018 · 1h 30m
Gordy Bunch is a U.S. Coast Guard Veteran, 2015 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Founder of TWFG, and Chairman of The Woodlands Township. In our podcast we talk about how Gordy built a $600,000,000 business using $10,000 of his personal savings. There is much to learn from Gordy Bunch in this interview. Podcast Segments The first decision in business [1:42] 1,000 Lb. Samurai Statue [2:40] A road trip to San Diego [4:13] 1994 Haitian Rescue [7:40] Lessons from the Coast Guard [10:22] Human trafficking & The Chinese Mafia (Snakeheads) [12:06] Gordy’s early prep for business [16:25] Right person, wrong job [22:15] Hanging onto employees or releasing them [23:43] The Peter Principle [25:40] Gordy’s ideas about success [28:18] Helping create 100’s of millionaires [31:06] Early days of Entrepreneurship [32:56] Early adoption, first mover advantage & market research [37:49] Building a company from 1 person to 5,000 & the importance of staying humble [40:54] Balancing life by serving [47:25] Divine intervention [55:08] How Gordy gauges his success [59:02] The most important thing Gordy does with his time [1:01:47] Jesus and becoming an Ironman [1:04:24] Beetlejuice, electrocution and Jedi mind control [1:07:55] Helping others to gain strength [1:11:56] The importance of commitment [1:13:07] The greatest challenge and getting through it [1:13:44] How to learn from our greatest failures [1:16:20] Gordy sharing advice with a young entrepreneur [1:18:24] Principles Gordy lives by [1:21:33] Selected links from show VEL Institute Gordy Bunch Article TWFG Financial TWICO Insurance Susan G. Komen American Heart Association CASA College of the Ozarks