This week I sat down with Nick Friedman, the original college hunk behind College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving, a company that started with a beat up cargo van the summer before his senior year of college and has grown to more than 200 franchises and over $300 million a year in sales. Nick has been on Shark Tank and Undercover Boss, is a two time Emmy Award winning producer, and is a dad of four who has been married since 2013.
We got into the culture he built at work and the one he tries to build at home, including the four L's his family lives by and what it means to be a chief repetition officer. Nick shared the story of his son swallowing a glass bead, how a false viral accusation tested his patience, why he tells entrepreneurs to have urgency of effort and patience for the results, and the honest way he and his wife handle resentment in their marriage. If you're a dad chasing something big while trying to keep your marriage and kids first, this one is for you.
Timeline Summary
[0:00] Introduction and the October Dad Edge Alliance promo: a signed book, two free courses, and an advance copy of The Marriage Drift
[3:11] How a best friend's mom, a beat up cargo van, and a joke turned Nick into the original college hunk
[6:42] Turning HUNKS into an acronym: honest, uniformed, nice, knowledgeable service
[7:52] Why 80 to 90% of calls came from the female household decision maker
[13:39] Why a company without a culture is like a picture frame without a photo
[14:55] Chief repetition officer: reinforcing purpose and values every single day
[17:12] The family core values Nick lives by: listen, learn, laugh, and love
[23:07] Nick's son swallows a glass bead, and the framed lesson that now hangs in his room
[25:23] From Shark Tank to Undercover Boss: the two bookends of Nick's TV journey
[35:22] Staying steady when a viral false accusation hits social media
[39:58] Urgency of effort, patience for the results, in business and in parenting
[41:48] The critter state: why kids and adults need to cool off before logic can land
[48:02] Raising the floor: your character as a leader, a father, and a human
[50:27] Nick's honest take on his marriage and why being intentional matters
[52:49] The no resentment longer than 24 hours rule
[55:09] Larry shares why only 12% of married couples call their marriage fulfilling
Key Takeaways
- Purpose and values shape behavior, behavior shapes culture, and culture shapes results, so be the chief repetition officer and reinforce them every single day.
- Teach your kids your values with stories they can remember, like the framed glass bead on your son's wall, because stories stick in a way rules never do.
- Have urgency of effort and patience for the results, and give your kids and yourself grace along the way.
- When emotions run high, let the critter state settle before you reach for logic, whether you're talking with your wife or your kids.
- Don't let your marriage run like a family LLC, be intentional with date nights and honest conversations, and don't let resentment last longer than 24 hours.
Links & Resources
- Nick Friedman: https://nickfriedman.com
- College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving: https://www.collegehunkshaulingjunk.com
- Dad Edge Alliance (October Bonuses): https://thedadedge.com/join
- Dad Edge Day at State Farm Stadium: https://thedadedge.com/nfl
- The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1551
Closing
Nick's story about his son swallowing that glass bead, and now having it framed on his wall, stuck with me because it shows how one story can teach what a lecture never will. His answer about his marriage, that he wouldn't give himself an A+ and knows he can do better, is the kind of honesty that keeps us from drifting. Pick one thing from this conversation this week, maybe a no resentment longer than 24 hours rule with your wife or a story that teaches your kids a value. Go out and live legendary.