Mowing Yards to Owning the Business: Zach Kessie on Fundamentals, Grit, and Building a Company

Brad Noll sits down with Zach Kessie of Clounie Landscaping, Inc. for a conversation about the long, unglamorous road that turns a seventh-grader mowing a construction company's yard into the owner of a landscaping business. Zach traces his path from Warsaw, where he likely would have followed the ortho manufacturing route, to a single chance in seventh grade that pointed his life in an entirely different direction. What follows is a study in fundamentals. Zach worked every rung of the ladder, mowing, cleaning the shop, laboring, and cleaning up job sites, before being told he wasn't going to be much of a carpenter. Rather than take that as a dead end, he took the advice to go back to school and came back as a project manager. It's a story about paying attention, staying humble, and letting the basics carry you further than talent alone ever could. For entrepreneurs and aspiring leaders, Zach's journey is a reminder that there are no shortcuts. Every skill compounds, every job teaches something, and the willingness to start at the bottom is often what makes ownership possible down the road. Key Takeaways ● Start where you can get in the door. Zach's entire career traces back to one seventh-grade chance to mow a construction company's yard. Sometimes the smallest opening changes everything. ● Master every rung of the ladder. From mowing to cleaning the shop to laboring, Zach learned the business from the ground up, and that foundation made ownership possible. ● Feedback isn't rejection. Being told he wouldn't be a great carpenter didn't stop Zach, it redirected him toward school and, eventually, a project manager role. ● Full circle takes patience. The kid who mowed the yard came back to buy a landscaping business in the same industry. Long games reward those who stay in them. ● Humility is a fundamental. Willingness to do the unglamorous work is often what separates those who build something from those who stall. Timestamps 00:00 The seventh-grade chance that started it all 07:00 Warsaw roots and the road not taken 15:00 Working every job in the field through high school 23:00 "Go to school": turning feedback into a new direction 31:00 Becoming a project manager and learning the business 36:00 Full circle: buying a landscaping company of his own Connect ● Student of the Game Podcast: https://www.nollteam.com/podcast ● Brad Noll on LinkedIn:   / bradnoll24   ● Noll Team Real Estate: https://www.nollteam.com ● Zach Kessie on LinkedIn:   / zach-kessie-47322215   ● Clouniie Website: https://clounieland.com/ About Noll Team Real Estate Since 2003, Noll Team Real Estate has been helping people in the Fort Wayne area find the freedom to live the lifestyle they want. Despite changing markets and business tactics, we have remained true to this better and improved business model by focusing on building relationships and serving others in everything we do. Whatever stage of life you are in, our goal is to provide you with the wisdom and tools necessary when buying or selling a home. We put you first to ensure an enjoyable and profitable experience. #StudentOfTheGame #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #PersonalGrowth #MasterTheFundamentals #RealEstate #RealProducers #Mindset #WinAtLife #Landscaping #SmallBusiness #FortWayne This podcast was produced by Truth Work Media — helping businesses and organizations tell their story through strategic podcast production. Learn more: https://truthworkmedia.com/