In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Joe Robey, a humble, no-BS entrepreneur who went from growing up with little to leading a thriving nationwide fiber optics company while raising six kids and living life on his terms.
We talk about everything from overcoming adversity, to how sports built his confidence, to how he uses business as a tool to bless others. Joe gets real about his rough childhood, why that struggle became his superpower, and what it means to design a life where family always comes first.
If you’re a parent, business owner, or just someone trying to balance ambition with being present—this one is for you.
Key Talking Points of the Episode
00:00 Introduction
02:55 JJ’s Joke of the Week
06:30 Who is Joe Roppe?
08:00 Transitioning from building properties to fiber optics
12:50 Starting a nationwide company from scratch (with no credit!)
14:34 How sports helped Joe gain confidence in life
20:14 Teaching kids grit when they grow up without struggle
26:20 The importance of curating adversity for your children
29:48 Navigating life with a blended family
34:30 Scaling the business to 80+ employees
37:07 Redefining success: It’s not about money
40:14 What being motivated by your family should look like
46:03 How Joe and his wife balance entrepreneurship and parenting
52:23 Laser-focusing your work time to stay present at home
54:19 The game-changing power of forced accountability
59:48 The joy of hunting with your kids (and the best quote ever!)
01:04:50 How to connect with Joe and his team
Quotables
“If I’m going to preach discipline to my kids, I better be in the gym before they wake up.”
“At the end of the day, I want my kids to say, ‘My dad showed me how to live right.’”
“Money is just a tool. Legacy is the mission.”
Links
Joe Roppe
https://www.facebook.com/elitecutoverconnections
https://www.facebook.com/joe.roppe.1
https://www.instagram.com/jroppe4/
608B Capital
