Hype Pod - The Hype Network Podcast

Arun Koshy: Right.

What's up, innovators
and kingdom builders?

You're listening to the Hype
Pod, real Conversations on tech

Innovation and Culture Trends
from a faith-filled perspective.

This is episode 54.

Today we have an incredible guest
who embodies the spirit of faith

resilience and the entrepreneurial
drive from hustling candy on the

playground to leading and thriving
commercial painting business, and

now serving as Pastor Luis Pon is.

Journey is a powerful testament
to transformation and purpose.

We're gonna dive into how his deep
faith has shaped his remarkable

business ventures and life path.

Welcome to the podcast, pastor

Luis Ponce: Luis.

Uh, it's really good to be here.

Total honor.

Arun Koshy: Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

So how you, how you doing today?

Any, any big updates?

I'm excited.

I'm excited.

Uh, just

Luis Ponce: our six month
old baby is thriving.

We're having the time of our lives.

Amazing.

Yes.

And our kids are doing well.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And you just bought a house.

Congratulations.

Yeah.

We're in the middle of
the, of the remodel.

Yeah.

Which, um, as a contractor, I
thought it was gonna be easier.

Yeah.

But, uh, we're enjoying it,
enjoying every moment of it.

Um, yeah.

Arun Koshy: It's different
doing it for your own house than

Luis Ponce: for somebody else's, right?

Yes, yes, yes.

Definitely different.

But lately I've just re been
reminding myself to enjoy the moments.

Good, good.

So I think, uh, since the baby was
born, I'm just like more aware of.

Of moments.

Yeah, yeah.

You know, that I really
wanna maximize and enjoy.

Arun Koshy: I love that.

Actually good advice for me.

I'm going through a home renovation
myself and sometimes all the decisions

you get a lot of decision fatigue,
but just gotta enjoy the moment.

It's a beautiful thing
to be able to do this.

Right.

Total blessing in the
Bay Area, especially.

Right.

Um, so I wanted to just chat a
little bit about, let's start

with your entrepreneurial journey.

Um, and so I know you started
young, you were hustling a lot.

You were hustling as a kid.

As I said, you went to DJing,
uh, you had a catering company.

Um, where did the spark come from?

Was it instilled from,
um, your family or Yeah.

Where did it come from for you?

Luis Ponce: No, I think as a child it
just naturally, I naturally gravitated

towards, um, being entrepreneurial.

Um.

You know, like I mentioned,
I dabbled in a couple things

as, as a, as a teenager even.

Mm-hmm.

But it wasn't until I was
part of the family business.

My dad started a company
in 2001 painting company.

I was a teenager at that time.

And, um, I, I didn't really have
a plan for my life at that time.

I, I just really didn't, uh, thrive a
lot in the school system, public schools.

I just didn't feel like.

Um, the teaching style was, was for me.

Mm-hmm.

And, um, I started working in the family
business in the summer, and then next

thing you know, I'm working full time
and, uh, getting a, a real experience on

what it is to, to be part of a, a family
business, which is its own dynamic.

Like Yeah, yeah.

Like anybody that has
worked in a family business.

They have some stories.

Yeah.

Well,

Arun Koshy: tell us a little bit about it.

Is there a lot of pressure for you
to kind of live on that legacy?

Like what is that dynamic when
you're in a family business?

Luis Ponce: Yeah, I mean, I think for
me there, there wasn't any pressure

to take it over or anything like that.

I think it was just, you know,
my dad trying to, um, turn

me into a productive adult.

Mm-hmm.

Um, he had me work there in
the summer then full time.

But I, I actually started off pretty bad.

Like I was a.

The youngster that wasn't
focused while they were at work.

And, you know, I remember just, um, not
taking, uh, my job seriously at all.

It wasn't until I got married that I
said, you know, I have to really, uh,

be responsible and be focused on my job.

But definitely, um,
challenging, I'm not gonna lie.

Um, I had my, uh, some of my
sisters work in the company.

Yeah.

Mom and dad and so.

If you are not equipped to work
in a family business, you're

gonna make a lot of mistakes.

Mm.

Mm-hmm.

And so for you though, you

Arun Koshy: eventually branched out, um,
you went from the family business, you

stayed in kind of the same space, but, um,
you and your wife, who's your partner now

in your business, you guys branched out.

What was the kind of journey there
and why did you decide to do that?

Luis Ponce: Yeah, no, I think, uh,
it came to, uh, a moment where we

realized that we, my, my dad and I.

Had slightly different visions
of what we were trying to build.

And at that time I was trying
to get clarity on what the, um,

what we were building exactly.

And um, because I was putting in all
my effort into this company and just

once I realized that we were out to
build different things, I just decided,

my wife and I, that it was time to
start something, uh, on our own.

And, um, it wasn't easy.

Like, I wish I could say like,
um, it didn't create any, uh,

any problems with the family.

Mm-hmm.

Um, but it did, it was challenging.

Um, it, it was kind of a surprise
to my father, even though we

had plenty of conversations.

Mm-hmm.

But, um, now I can say
like, we're totally good.

Um, definitely learned a lot through it.

Um, but we were also looking
for a bigger challenge.

Yeah.

Um, just a different space
with more challenges.

Arun Koshy: Yeah.

And so you moved into the
commercial space, right.

Um, what were some of the challenges that
you kind of faced getting into that space?

Luis Ponce: I would say the
customer acquisition part.

I, I honestly was pretty naive
thinking that maybe I'll run some

Google ads, didn't know anything
about marketing networking.

And, uh, I just thought
it was gonna be easy.

Yeah.

And so I looked at, um, you know,
all the capital I had to launch and

I'm like, oh, this should be plenty.

And then realized that it was
much harder than I thought.

I didn't know, uh, that every type of
commercial building had it's, uh, unique

way of acquiring that type of customer.

And so I, we spent a lot of
money trying to figure it out.

Yeah.

And so it was very
challenging the first year.

Arun Koshy: Interesting.

So your, your wife, who's your partner?

Sassy.

She, um, she helps on the
business side of things, correct?

Luis Ponce: Yeah, I mean,
honestly, she is, um, amazing.

Uh, I wouldn't be able to do,
um, what I do without her.

Uh, she handles anything HR
related, uh, anything with, uh,

being compliant with the state.

Um, and I handle more of the, the sales,
the marketing, developing the team.

Yeah.

Uh, but yeah, there's a lot of things
that she does that I would be able to do.

I, yeah.

I'm just not equipped.

Yeah.

What,

Arun Koshy: and I know like we often
talk about picking your co-founder

is like the most important thing.

It's like a marriage.

You ended up picking your wife.

Was that a difficult decision to
get into business together or was

it like obvious like, yeah, we
should get into business together?

Luis Ponce: No, honestly, we've
um, been working together since we

met, uh, in ministry and then when
we were, uh, part of the family

business, she helped as well.

So it's been pretty natural
for us to always be working

together ever since we met.

And so when the opportunity came to
launch the painting company, I didn't

even consider any other option.

It was like.

For sure that we were
gonna launch it together.

Arun Koshy: Yeah.

And, and we, we were talking about, um,
kind of your other business as well.

You have that drywall, uh, masters Inc.

Which is another business
that you're a partner of.

Um, tell us a little bit about that
journey, because you found another

couple in which you were able to
partner with and start another business.

Luis Ponce: Yes.

Around the same time, in 2022, um,
we ended up launching Drywall Masters

with our friends, Victor and Sury.

And it.

It was very organic.

Um, when I met Victor, I wasn't, uh,
thinking of launching anything with him.

Mm-hmm.

But things fell into place and, um,
we felt it was right to partner with

them and they felt the same way, and
we launched them at the same time.

So it was challenging because you
have two, two couples trying to launch

companies and figuring stuff out,
and it was almost like raising twins.

Um, that's how I would describe it.

Yeah.

It's like having twin babies.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

What

Arun Koshy: were some of the things that
attracted you to, um, this partnership?

Like what, what was it
that's like, oh yeah.

I'm willing to kind of, 'cause
you're already starting one business.

Yes.

You're probably at capacity,
you know, kind of, oh my god.

No worries, no worries.

Let me,

yeah.

And so, uh, as I was saying, it
was just you're kind of at capacity

with this, uh, first business.

Like what were.

Some of the, you know, decision
making or the things that attracted

you to starting another one.

Luis Ponce: Yeah, I think it was
just alignment and values and,

uh, desire to work together.

I think, um, when I met them, I, I knew
I wanted to be in partnership with them.

Sometimes you meet people that
you know for sure that you want to

build something together mm-hmm.

Or you want to do life with.

Yeah.

And as soon as I met them, I, I knew
they were, um, they were aligned

in values and just amazing people.

Yeah.

It's been a great partnership.

Since, uh, we started the company.

Arun Koshy: Yeah.

Nice.

And so, um, just from that kind
of moment where you had the family

business, you were kind of learning
the ropes of what it looked took to run

a business, how did you know you had
what it takes to, to start a business?

Luis Ponce: Well, I was pretty much
running, uh, my parents' company.

I was a partner on that company as well.

And so I was like a GM or just
general manager for the company.

And so the moment I, I
realized that I had what it.

It took was, um, once I really started
leading the company, it started growing.

It started doing very well.

And, and that's when I said, you know
what, I think, I think I have what

it takes to launch our own company.

Mm-hmm.

So I think it was when I
started to see results.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It wasn't just a matter
of time, but when the, uh.

Concrete results started to come in.

Yeah, I love

Arun Koshy: that.

And so you have both these
businesses, they're both start

up, um, as you go through them.

What were some of those, uh, kind
of like pivotal moments where you

made some of the correct decisions
or even the wrong decisions that,

you know, you made, you had to pivot
or continue on with the decision?

For

Luis Ponce: sure.

I would say it happened.

The first big pivot was the
first year where, uh, every

month we were losing money just.

You know, spending more
than was coming in.

And, uh, I realized that we
were on a trajectory to fail.

Mm.

And I, I, I guess I, we completely
changed the strategy and I, I went

back to biblical principles, right.

Of knocking on doors and in sowing.

Yeah.

And so, uh, I kind of
switched the strategy from

depending on someone else to.

Had my phone ring where
I started cold calling.

I started just knocking on doors and we
started to get the traction we needed.

And so I was just so thankful
that we were able to pivot because

we were on, on a bad trajectory.

Arun Koshy: Yeah.

Yeah.

And one thing you told me, um, on the
call we had was you kind of figured

out this new marketing strategy, right?

Like doing content, which is.

Not really something typical I
think you've seen in your space.

Right.

Tell us a little bit about that and like
how you came about that idea of like,

you know, creating this kind of content.

Luis Ponce: So it all started as I,
um, began attending vibe, uh, when I

saw what the, uh, digital team could
do with just a Sunday survey Yeah.

Saying Create this amazing real, I said,
what if I can do that for my business?

Mm-hmm.

What if like, we, I can
create a similar rail.

Sh highlighting the work
that our team is doing.

And so at that time, um, I reached
out to a team member from one of

the, uh, digital team Digital.

Mm-hmm.

And yeah, they, they believed in us and
we, uh, brought them on board full-time.

Mm-hmm.

So that was actually our first hire
because we understood that as a

new company, we needed visibility.

Right.

And I had learned a simple,
uh, process of, uh, visibility,

credibility, profitability, which.

You know, you first need
to focus on being visible.

Mm-hmm.

And at some point people will put
you in the category of credibility.

Yeah.

And then the profit
profitability will come.

Right.

And so I understood that.

And as a new company, brand
new in the market mm-hmm.

I realized that uh, we
had to prioritize that.

And so we started creating content.

I was super nervous at first.

Yeah.

I didn't know how difficult
it was to speak into a camera

and do a, uh, any video.

Yeah.

Took me a long time
just to do a 32nd video.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And uh, I just started getting comfortable
to the point where I now really enjoy

creating content and yeah, definitely, um,
has helped us a lot to gain, uh, traction.

Arun Koshy: Yeah.

You were telling me a little bit
about like now your reach is kind

of extended past the Bay Area.

There's people noticing
your video and your content.

Um, even you were mentioning that
the next generation of, you know,

painting companies or, um, like
content creators are kind of noticing

the stuff you're putting out.

Luis Ponce: Yeah.

One of the things we did when we started,
uh, doing content is we, um, did a

research in the Bay Area on just all
the construction companies, what type

of marketing they were doing and how
often, and we realized that, uh, not

too many companies were doing consistent
marketing, especially video content.

Mm-hmm.

So we started that in 22.

And, uh, slowly we began to see the, the
younger entrepreneurs come up in our space

and, you know, they started following us
and then they started liking our videos.

Yeah.

And yeah, we've had, um, some reach
out that they want to collaborate

that, uh, uh, just they want to
come, uh, fly into the area to

just create some content together.

Yeah.

So it's been pretty cool.

Um, I went to a conference
in, in Anaheim and.

I had people say, Hey,
I've seen the videos.

Nice.

And it's pretty cool.

Arun Koshy: Yeah.

What do you find like, 'cause this is
actually probably really important for

a lot of business owners out there,
which is you can build good product,

but if you don't tell the story well
enough to be able to, you know, show

people it's hard for them to come,
you know, meet you where you are.

Right.

Um, what kind of content did
you see resonated with, you

know, your customers and stuff?

What, like what kind of content hit.

Luis Ponce: Yeah, I think a lot of
people enjoy, uh, the behind the

scenes, just getting to know the,
the ins and outs of your day to day.

Mm-hmm.

I think that one is always
very, um, uh, popular and it

creates a lot of engagement.

Um, I think there's, uh, so many different
types of content, but the one I find.

The most engaging is when either the
founder or the face of the company mm-hmm.

Is willing to do the content.

Yeah.

Because that's actually one of the
advantages I have over other painting

companies is that the owner, the
president, whoever, they're unwilling to

get in front of a camera consistently.

Mm-hmm.

And, um, yeah, it takes a lot to, to do it
consistently because a lot of them think,

oh, I should, I'll just pay someone Right.

But it gives me a big
advantage when I'm there.

Arun Koshy: Yeah, I, I like that idea
of like, you are the one that's kind

of getting your hands dirty, right?

When you kind of think of like the
CEO, the president, it's kind of like

they're the ones calling the shots.

Other people are kind of doing the work,
but for you it was, I need to be the

one that's at the forefront of this.

I need to be the one
getting my hands dirty.

Um, and I think that might kind of lead
into my next question, which is, you

know, you're kind of doing, running
these two businesses, how did you.

How were you able to scale?

Like you're still getting your kind of
hands dirty, doing the work a little bit.

How are you able to scale
and kind of do, do all of it?

What was the things that,
um, you, you were able

Luis Ponce: to do?

I think it, it starts with
knowing how to build a team.

Mm-hmm.

I'm still in the process of learning
and implementing some things, but I, I

credit everything to just the church.

Yeah.

I, the way, um, we build
teams here at the church.

Um, just even having our, our huddles,
just all that I've actually just

implemented on the business side.

Mm-hmm.

And so I would say what has helped us
grow and scale is, uh, building the team.

So before I used to think it
was a, just about hiring, right.

Doing the right interview and, and making
sure that I had the best candidates.

Mm-hmm.

But then.

I realized that that's only the beginning.

It's on me to equip them and actually
create the environment for them to thrive.

Mm-hmm.

Which is as practical as not
setting expectations that are

too high for them, meaning like.

First you've gotta stack up
some wins to build momentum.

And so I think when, when I began
to learn how to build teams, yeah,

that's when uh, things started
to take off a little bit more.

Arun Koshy: Yeah, I love that.

And actually, um, a lot of the
characteristics you have come

from a little bit of your faith
journey that got you here.

Um, could you tell us a
little bit more about that?

You, I mean, you grew up in the
church, um, but it wasn't like a

very consistent journey, you know,
to get here and now you're a pastor.

Can you tell, take us
through that journey?

Luis Ponce: Definitely.

So, I grew up in church, uh,
thanks to my parents who took

me there as, as a child, right?

But once I got to my adolescence, um,
that's a very crucial time, right?

You're trying to find your identity,
who, who, who are you gonna be?

And at that time I just, um, I guess I
experienced my first disappointment in.

In leadership.

Mm-hmm.

I remember I had, um, my youth leaders
and all that, and one youth leader

in particular just so happened to, to
kind of go back to his old lifestyle.

And I was very, uh, disillusioned
because I said what happened?

I really looked up to this individual.

I I wanted to even dressed like him.

'cause I'm, I'm a teenager, I'm
about 16 years old and so I was

left, uh, you know, to just kind
of figure things out on my own.

And I just left the church
from 16 to about 23.

Mm-hmm.

And in that time, uh, I just really,
really went, uh, to a deep place where I

was not only influenced by other people,
but I became a bad influence for others.

And I would, I just look back at it
as a very dark time in my life where.

I basically lived out
the prodigal son story.

Mm-hmm.

You know, my parents, um, were always
praying for me and I, I credit the prayers

of my parents for keeping me, uh, alive.

Mm-hmm.

You know, 'cause I put myself
in situations where I could have

lost my life or my, my liberty.

And, you know, it reminds me of
the proverb that talks about bad

company corrupts good character.

And, you know, growing up
I had a, a stable home.

Both my parents went to church,
but all it took was bad company.

And all of a sudden I'm
on a path of destruction.

Mm-hmm.

And around the, uh, age of 16, I actually
got recruited into a local gang, did

the whole initiation, and I was on
the path for either death or jail.

And God was so gracious.

Um, I, within a couple
less than six months, um.

Some happened with the gang that,
uh, they, they turned against

me and they wanted to kill me.

Mm-hmm.

And so at that age, I'm, I'm
literally fearing for my life, and

that was actually the first time
that I experienced God as a savior.

Mm-hmm.

You know, not only for salvation,
but actually for my protection.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

And, you know, along my journey, I've
experienced him in different facets.

Right.

When you literally fear for your life, it,
it's, I, I don't wish that upon anyone.

Uh, when you, when you're afraid,
when fear grips you and you think

you're gonna find your enemies,
you know, at the grocery store.

Mm-hmm.

And so, um, I lived like that
for a couple years and, um, I

got into the, the rap scene.

Uh, I was doing Spanish rap
and that environment just.

Put me in front of people
that were very bad influence.

Mm-hmm.

And next thing you know, I, um, I'm
consuming drugs and, you know, uh, a lot

of times you think you're in control,
but then you realize that it, you know,

these substances end up controlling you.

And I became an addict
at like 20, 21 years.

I'm a straight up addict and just
kind of living a double life.

I was still working with my dad.

But doing what I had to do to maintain
the addiction, which was like very tough.

And yeah, that's, I hit rock
bottom, uh, around 22, 23.

And, um, yeah, I mean, I,
in order to maintain the

addiction, I started selling it.

Mm-hmm.

You know, 'cause I, that was like
my best way to, to maintain the

addiction and all of a sudden I'm in
the worst environments possible where.

You know, I'm in homes where
they're selling drugs and just

doing all kinds of bad things.

And it was by the grace of
God that I hit rock bottom.

God allowed all these
situations to happen.

And at that time, um, SIE, my wife had
just started the Young Adults Youth group.

Mm-hmm.

And my, and

Arun Koshy: this is at your
parents' church, right?

Yes.

This

Luis Ponce: is at my parents' church.

And, uh, my parents, uh, gave CEI my
number for the youth group to call me.

This is a young adult youth group.

Mm-hmm.

And so they start calling me on
a weekly basis and I'm like, man,

it's these church people again.

Yeah.

And uh, my parents are telling
me every time they see me,

you need to go back to church.

And I'm telling them, you need
to mind your own business.

Like, this is my life.

Right.

And I'm in that space and.

It, it's not until I hit rock bottom
that I'm like, where's that number again?

You know, I started looking for it.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And at

Arun Koshy: this point you had not
given up on your faith, but you were

just kind of like a little bit removed
from, from your faith at this time.

Luis Ponce: Yeah.

It was such, um, such a unique time
because I knew I didn't belong there.

There was moments where, you know,
I'm actually drugged up knowing.

That I don't belong there.

Wow.

And that is, you know, I I, I would
feel God tugging at my heart saying

like, Hey son, you don't belong here.

Yeah.

And um, what began to bring the
breakthrough was actually bringing

this addiction to, to the light.

Mm-hmm.

I spoke to my parents, I said,
Hey, I actually have an a drug

addiction and I owe money to my.

My drug dealer, like I'm in big trouble.

Right.

And man, my parents embraced me.

Uh, I really felt God's the love
of the father through my parents.

Mm-hmm.

They brought me back into the home.

I started attending the
youth group and, um.

That kind of led to the
massive transformation.

Mm-hmm.

Once I started attending,
um, things began to change.

Arun Koshy: Yeah.

And you were about to not
attend this youth group, right?

Like you, there was a moment
where you got to like, it was

like a midweek essentially, right?

Yep.

And then you almost turned
around, but there was a calling

to, to keep going, right?

Luis Ponce: Yeah.

No, I mean, when, when you're
in rock bottom and you make

the first steps mm-hmm.

To come back, you know, when you're.

You're in the process of repenting.

Um, it is, it is very difficult.

Mm-hmm.

People underestimate this process.

And I remember so vividly, I went
up to the door, this is a, like a

midweek, and I was about to knock
on the door and I kind of froze

and I said, maybe I should go back.

Mm-hmm.

And so I stood there in front of the
door with my hand up, uh, considering

if I should knock or, or not.

And I ended up knocking.

And when I get there.

You know, everybody seems so weird to me.

I'm like, why?

You know, why are people so happy?

And you know, I'm in this dark place,
almost borderline depression and

um, yeah, I just started to attend.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

And

Arun Koshy: it's crazy
how, uh, God works, right?

He puts these people in your life that,
you know, obviously are of the faith,

they're kind of following God, but
even if your faith is lacking, just

being around these people, like your
parents, show so much love and grace.

And then your, your future wife, CEI was
able to kind of lead a group for you, um,

and then help bring you back out of it.

Tell us through that journey of like,
now you're kind of going to this

midweek and you know, how you kind of
maintained your faith through there.

Luis Ponce: Yeah, so I started attending
and what, what happened was, um, in,

in that phase that I was away from the
church, um, again, you know, making bad

decisions, one of those decisions was.

You know, getting a DUI on
the day that I turned 21.

Mm-hmm.

And so what that does is it gives
you a bunch of consequences.

You have to do community service.

Mm-hmm.

And I didn't show up one time,
so they had a warrant for, for my

arrest and my, um, the detectives
went to the house looking for me.

And the most powerful thing that my
dad did for me was actually turn me in.

So they knock on the door,
they ask for me, and my dad

says he's in the living room.

So they take me and as I'm
going out, uh, to handle this,

this, um, just consequence,
he tells me, don't worry, son.

I'm gonna be praying for you.

And I was so fearful because I, I
didn't want to go to any type of jail.

Mm-hmm.

Because.

I was, um, in bad terms with the gang.

Mm-hmm.

And so I go in there completely fearful.

I'm like, oh my God.

Like I'm gonna get killed.

Right?

And so I do one of those Hail Mary
prayers when I said, God, if you get

me out of this, I will never look back.

And I went in there and I literally
prayed most of the day, most of the night.

And, um, as soon as I came out, I came
out a totally transformed individual.

God totally restored me
from the drug addiction.

It was a, a miraculous, uh, restoration.

I never had to go to any rehab center.

Mm-hmm.

I never had any single struggle.

What was very interesting through that,
uh, transformation that God did was that

for the first six to 10 years after that.

I would have nightmares where I
would, I would relapse in my dream.

Mm-hmm.

And I would feel so much guilt.

Mm-hmm.

And I would wake up and say, oh my God.

It was so, it was just a dream.

Yeah.

And so it was almost like God reminded
me how I would feel, what my life

would look like if I went back.

And so once I experienced that
miraculous, uh, restoration,

I was radically transformed.

Mm-hmm.

Uh, the way I showed
up to church was just.

On fire.

Yeah.

I was the first one there, last
one to leave, trying to invite

every single person I knew.

Wow.

And that, that way of serving with
so much gratitude is very noticeable.

Yeah.

And at the time, uh, the pastor, uh, just,
I don't know, I think he was playing a

little matchmaker because he, he asked
Sy and I to co-lead the young adults.

Okay.

And the rest is history.

We started leading the,
uh, young adults group and.

Got engaged, got married, and we're
about to hit our 14th year this year.

Arun Koshy: That's incredible.

What a story, what a story of like
turnaround, but also your grit,

your determination to not give up.

Right?

Your determination to say, yeah,
despite what happened in my

past, there is a future for me.

Um.

How much of that translated
to now, you know, your skills

to be able to start business?

Luis Ponce: For sure.

Um, the, the one thing I want to add
to that is for many years I, I wouldn't

want to share it because of shame.

Mm.

You know, and I think it's important
to know that, you know, our testimony

is, is part of our journey, right?

Yeah.

And, uh, along that journey,
you, you see God's mercy, God's

grace, God's faithfulness.

His love.

And so now when I share it, it's not to
glorify, uh, the past, but just to remind

myself and other people that man, when
God does a work in someone's life mm-hmm.

It is, it is a powerful thing.

And you know, it shouldn't
be hidden away, right?

Mm-hmm.

And so when, when I experience those
sort of things, it definitely translates

into, um, the business because, you
know, I feel like I've experienced, um.

Such, uh, tough times that when
I look at a business challenge,

I'm like, this is nothing.

Right.

Right.

I, I was literally about to lose my life.

Mm-hmm.

Um, how hard can this,
uh, work challenge be?

Right.

Right, right.

And so it does give you more grit when
you've been close to losing your life.

Mm-hmm.

When you've been, um, rock bottom,
you definitely develop a different

Arun Koshy: grit.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

And how does this translate to the, the
people that you want to be around or.

Like what you wanna instill in
the people that you work with?

Luis Ponce: I would say it gives me the
ability to see the potential in others.

Cool.

Because when I look at myself, I'm
like, man, you know, 15 to 20 years

ago, nobody would bet anything on me.

Mm-hmm.

Like I, I, I literally
had no plan for my life.

And so when I'm reminded of that, I'm
able to develop people much differently.

Mm-hmm.

I don't just see them
for who they are now.

I can visualize the potential.

Yeah.

And get the goal out of them.

Mm-hmm.

So that's how it translates into team
building and just building a company.

Arun Koshy: Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And so for your, um, current businesses
that you have, do you feel like your, your

faith is something that you openly share?

You know, you know, within the workplace,
this is something that a lot of people

have, you know, issues kind of doing,
but like this is something that's changed

your life and in such an incredible way.

How do you share that

Luis Ponce: in the workplace?

Yeah, I think you do
have to be intentional.

I think both of us have heard of,
um, you know, the, the strategy

where you're pretty, um, secret
about it, where you're like, let you

know I'll just live a great life and
uh, you know, be a good testimony.

But, um, when they ask, I'll be ready.

Right, right, right.

I do think you have to be intentional.

I'll give you an example, um, about our
last foreman meeting, which are our leads.

Uh, we try to give trainings that are
not just about painting, but leadership

and just personal development.

And the topic was about how to
become the best version of yourself.

And so we dealt with just, uh,
being healthy, uh, physically,

mentally, and spiritually.

And so that allowed us to have a
conversation on the spiritual side and

I asked them like, Hey, how important
is the, your, your spiritual life like?

And so we were able to intentionally.

Bring that conversation into the
workplace, and this is part of training.

Uh, you know, it's, it's, it's a big part
of ourselves to, uh, to consider that.

And so that's how I, uh, have found, uh,
the best way to, to talk about my faith.

Mm-hmm.

I also do try to live a life
that's worthy of imitating.

So everything I do or don't do is.

Process through that filter.

Mm-hmm.

Like is this gonna create a
good testimony of my character

or is this gonna affect it?

So every single action is run through that
filter of like, is this gonna help me give

a testimony of Christ or, or affect it?

Yeah.

Yeah.

And

Arun Koshy: actually
you mentioned that your.

Your motto or your mission, I guess,
as you're building company isn't

just to, to make money, right?

Like you want to actually do this so
that you can minister more people.

Talk a little bit more about how your
mindset isn't about making money.

It's about doing excellence and
building good business, but it's

not just about making money.

Yeah.

Luis Ponce: I think our focus is
obviously we wanna be, um, a, a,

aside from being profitable, which
that is the most obvious thing.

Mm-hmm.

We actually want to be good stewards.

That's, that's my aim and
that's also my metric.

Mm-hmm.

So basically is whatever I'm
entrusted, I want to multiply and grow.

Mm-hmm.

Right.

So, you know, it's not just the
company and the resources, but

it's the people, the, and, and so
we want to create a company that,

um, provides real opportunities,
uh, for our team members to.

You know, even own part of the
company and, and grow within the

company so they can, uh, have
success in their financial, uh, area,

but but also grow as individuals.

Mm-hmm.

I don't want them to just
come in and provide a service.

I wanna see them grow in their family
life and just every single area.

And so that's actually what we're after.

One, we want to be great stewards, and
two, we do want to create a company.

And so we think that the money
that's gonna take care of itself.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Uh, obviously we do look at financials
and all that, but we're more after the

company that we're trying to build.

Yeah.

Arun Koshy: And actually, one
of the things that you did,

so I, you know, hype network.

You, the idea is to create this, um,
network of people that are trying

to build for the kingdom of God.

And those connections can kind
of help scale everybody else to,

to build the kingdom even better.

But you actually were a part
of a group like this that you

started at your original church.

So what was some of that heart that
you had at the original group that

you started, that you see here?

Um, with High Network?

Yeah.

Luis Ponce: I think it started
when I realized that sometimes.

We're not fully equipped on how to
be the church outside of these walls.

Right.

So we think that, uh, church is like,
you know, Sunday service mm-hmm.

And the activities.

And so when I began to see that, you
know what, I think there's a calling

on my life in the business world.

Right.

And it was when I actually read the
book Anointed for Business mm-hmm.

Uh, from Ed cso, that opened up my
mind to this responsibility we had as.

Business owners, entrepreneurs
to be the church out there.

Mm-hmm.

And, and so at that time, I, uh,
at the church I was going to, it

was the Spanish speaking church.

I, uh, asked the pastor, Hey, um, what if
we were to start a group for the business

owners within our church to just create
this, uh, networking environment where

we pray for each other and we just share
these connections, best practices, and we

help elevate the businesses of the house.

So that as we are being more successful,
we're also bringing more resources mm-hmm.

To the church.

And so we started that and what
was interesting was that there

were more people that weren't
believers coming to this group.

Amazing.

Yeah.

And so at that time we were
like, okay, what do we do?

Right.

Yeah.

So what, what we learned there
is that the best way to influence

someone is to help them increase
their quality of life in some way.

Mm.

So.

If when we started helping them with just
the basics of like creating a business

plan and all that, we were helping
them increase the quality of life.

Yeah.

And I realized that when you do
that, you gain influence over them.

And, uh, we were very strategic
because we're meeting at the church,

but we said, what if we serve them?

And, but we're not just after the
invite where it's like, Hey, um,

here's, here's these resources, but.

Do you want to come on Sunday?

Right.

And so with some people, we
actually took a while to invite 'em.

Mm-hmm.

But they knew we were part of the church.

Right.

Right.

They knew we were meeting up at a church
and that ended up being more effective.

Mm-hmm.

After a while after we built some
rapport and added true value.

Then we that invite was more powerful.

Arun Koshy: Yeah.

Yeah.

And I actually think that's
maybe the core of what I believe

is to be a kingdom builder.

It's not you're building, uh, a product or
a service that's directly for the church,

but it's really how you act and how you
operate within that realm of the morals

and principles of being Christ-like.

And then you can kind of showcase
that to the people that you work with.

People that can see your product,
and then the invite kind of comes

almost as just an effect of them
seeing the output that you do.

And so it's really cool
to see you embody that.

Um, you know, kind of in your workplace
and stuff and in the partnerships that

you do have and something that you've
actually, um, impressed on me was the

kind of legacy that you wanna leave.

What, what is that legacy
that you wanna leave?

Luis Ponce: Yeah, I think when it
comes to, um, you know, on the, on

the company side, I, I want to create
a company that empowers other people.

Uh, to lead the company,
to lead themselves.

And, you know, as we open the different
locations in the Bay Area, I wanna

really, really allow those to grow
within the company to ultimately run.

The different locations and have them
be, um, like a intrapreneur where

they're almost like a business owner.

Mm-hmm.

Without, um, having to
take all this risk Yeah.

Yeah.

And put their livelihood at stake.

So I want to create this really
big platform for other people

to grow where you don't have to
carry such a big weight, you know?

Yeah.

Because, and so that's when, um, we
actually already, uh, began doing this,

our, uh, business partner Tony mm-hmm.

Who we brought on two years ago.

He was also doing his thing and
I said, look, I can do my thing.

You can do your, or we can
create something bigger together.

Cool.

Yeah.

That will allow us to have, um, the
life that we want to live, which is, you

know, being able to do more ministry.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Arun Koshy: And so, um, with this, I think
it'd be kind of nice to get your advice.

You're a business owner, you've
kind of done it for the people out

there that you know are looking
to start, they have an idea maybe.

What's some advice you would say to
kind of help those people get started?

Maybe people that don't even feel
qualified to, to start a business?

Luis Ponce: Yeah.

The most important thing in my opinion
is, um, is, is not the business plan.

It's actually the why.

Mm-hmm.

Why would you want to do it?

The reason why that's so important
is when you hit those roadblocks,

which you're guaranteed to hit.

Mm-hmm.

You need to be able to resort back
to the reason why you're doing it.

Uh, and, and that'll
push you through mm-hmm.

The obstacles, a lot of people don't
even start because they're analyzing

if they have enough capital, if,
if they have enough knowledge.

And I would say a really high
percentage of people never even

start second, uh, a good percentage
of people, uh, quit too soon.

Mm-hmm.

They, they'll stop as soon as it gets a
little bit overwhelming with obstacles.

Mm-hmm.

So that's where your mindset and,
and your determination, the grit.

It'll push you through those
obstacles and, you know, that's

when you'll see the breakthrough.

But I would say like the most
important thing is, is knowing why

you want to be an entrepreneur.

Yeah.

It's definitely not for everyone.

There's, um, there's a saying,
uh, or, or a way to describe

entrepreneurship that I really like.

Mm-hmm.

And entrepreneurship is like
getting punched in the mouth and

liking the taste of your own blood.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

I've heard that.

Yeah.

You're, you're gonna get
punched and, um, you know.

You're going to really question
if you're built for it.

Mm-hmm.

But once you tolerate that pain
where you're like, okay, yeah,

this is difficult, but, um, there's
no other way around it, you know?

Yeah.

If you want to build something
amazing, uh, it's gonna be difficult.

So,

Arun Koshy: yeah.

How do you feel like you, um, if you
were to advise somebody, um, which that

was like you're your steward kind of
getting through this, how do you find

that discernment in terms of, you know.

I need to keep pushing versus,
oh, this isn't the right solution.

I need to pivot and do something else.

Luis Ponce: Yeah.

That's a really good question.

I think it, it's gonna
be, um, case by case.

Mm-hmm.

I, I think, you know, you, you
definitely want to get, uh, have a team

to give a, um, a very honest opinion.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I think that decision, should
it be, shouldn't be made.

Uh, on your own right.

Um, one of the things I highly
recommend is having your team give

a honest opinion at all times and
creating an environment where they

can tell you exactly what they think.

Mm-hmm.

There's another quote that I love
that says, if you don't hear what your

team has to say, you'll be surrounded
with the team that has nothing to say.

Right.

I understand.

So it's this idea that, you
know, a lot of times, uh.

Founders or, or teams, they
don't like healthy debate.

Mm-hmm.

Right.

And you actually want that because it
takes a lot for someone to speak up.

You don't want to, uh, shut that down.

So when it comes to these really
important decisions, you want everybody

to be giving their honest opinion.

Yeah.

Yeah.

You know, and.

You're still gonna end up having
to make the ultimate decision.

Right, right.

But you do want to hear from your team.

Arun Koshy: Yeah.

Luis Ponce: That,

Arun Koshy: I think that's really
good to keep that door open.

But then I guess the next
follow up is then how do you

kind of filter out the noise?

Because a lot of, you know,
making a decision is being able

to identify the right data points
to use to make that decision.

But then when you invite all these
different voices, sometimes it can

almost make that decision harder
because now you have to wait through.

These data points that might not be
actually be, you know, relevant to you?

Luis Ponce: I would say it depends on
the weight of, uh, that, the weight

of the opinion of the individual.

Meaning that, like, let's say
I have a track record with you.

Mm-hmm.

You know, we've gone through
some highs and lows and you know,

I'll, I'll reference the stuff
you've mentioned in the past.

Yeah.

How wise was your advice, stuff like that.

So one, you know, I'm not
just gonna ask anyone.

Right, right, right.

It's gonna be people that.

I have a history with where, you know,
um, we've gone through some highs

and lows together, and then yeah,
I would really, um, kind of filter

the voices even before asking Yeah.

To see how much weight
does their opinion have.

Yeah.

How much experience have, have they,
um, gone through a couple failures.

Yeah.

You know, 'cause man, when you
speak to someone that has failed.

It's, it's a very unique perspective.

Yeah.

Like, they'll give you a
different vantage point.

Yeah.

And so I would talk to those
that have failed, those that

have been successful, but I think
ultimately, obviously God, right?

Yeah.

Right.

Mm-hmm.

Um, but there's times where, you know,
you've done your, your research, you've,

and you gotta make that decision.

What I would add to that is it's better
to have speed than take too long.

Mm-hmm.

Because if you're quick enough.

You can recover.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Most decisions in business, it's
better to be quick to decide and,

and you know, have more time to
make the adjustments later mm-hmm.

Than to take too long and waste a
lot of time just trying to decide.

Arun Koshy: Yeah.

Yeah.

Actually, um, on this kind of topic
of like making decisions, like it's a

key aspect of being a leader and one
of the things that you just became

a pastor this year, um, how much
of that kind of leadership skill.

Do you translate over from
being a pastor also to, you

know, a leader in your business?

Luis Ponce: Yeah, I think, um, the
main, uh, skillset or gifting right,

uh, from pastoring, which is to
call out, you know, the identity

that God has instilled in people.

Um, it's, it's very similar.

Same thing, you know, um,
on the pastoring side.

We are ultimately trying to lead them into
the life that God has for them, right?

Mm-hmm.

And then on the business side, as
we're building teams, we're doing

something similar, you know, and, and
all those that have been successful

will tell you that the relational side
is really what changes not only the

dynamics, but also the environment.

Mm-hmm.

And so once you understand that,
you're not gonna be successful.

Without good relationships,
you will approach all your

interactions much different.

Yeah.

And so I actually, um, you know,
have always seen our team members

more than just a, uh, a worker.

I don't even refer to them as workers.

Mm-hmm.

They're team members.

Yeah.

You know, and that distinction is
so important because even though,

uh, we're leading the company.

Uh, we can't do it without them.

And so I think we're always thinking,
um, more about the individual as a, as

a person than the output that they give.

Yeah.

You know?

Arun Koshy: Yeah.

And if you had to, I mean, we're running
up against time, but this has been an

incredible podcast, incredible story.

Hearing it.

Um, if you had any other advice, you
know, kind of for Kingdom Builders

out there, what would you wanna share?

I would say

Luis Ponce: I would focus more on the
stewardship, you know, um, before.

I used to pray for provision.

Right.

Which we all, you know, kind of
focus too much a little bit on.

Yeah.

I actually pray that God would
equip me to be a better steward.

Mm-hmm.

Right?

Because that's ultimately
what God wants to see.

It's not, it's not how, it's
not how much, you know, we were

able to accumulate or anything.

It's, it's actually what we do with it.

And so that's actually my
prayer and what I would.

Recommend, uh, to other
entrepreneurs is pray for that.

Yeah.

That you would become the best
steward of whatever God entrust you.

Um, that's my advice to Kingdom builders.

Arun Koshy: I love that.

Um, thank you for coming on
the podcast, pastor Release.

Um, it's a great episode and if this
is your first time listening to the

HI podcast, please like, comment,
share, share this episode, great

advice from, you know, a business
leader, um, that's gone through it all.

And so, um.

Thanks again for coming on the
podcast and we'll catch you next week.

Cheers, guys.