In this episode of Keep Hustling, Aaron Gordon sits down with Phil DePaul to discuss the journey from backyard wrestling in Staten Island to building successful home service businesses. Phil DePaul shares insights on embracing your uniqueness, staying authentic, and channeling relentless drive, what he calls "Boom Zeal." The conversation covers the challenges and rewards of the home services industry, the importance of building a strong reputation, and why finding your tribe leads to deeper satisfaction and financial success. Phil DePaul also reflects on working alongside his father, the enduring value of skilled trades, and the significance of long-term relationships in business. The episode closes with Phil DePaul's motivational mantra: "The work works on you more than you work on it." Stay tuned for a blend of humor, real talk, and practical wisdom about hustle and authenticity.

Get To Know Phil Depaul

Phil DePaul, known as The BoomZeal Guy, is a visionary entrepreneur, speaker, and leadership mentor based on Long Island. As the founder and CEO of BoomZeal Enterprises, he is driven by a mission to raise standards in both business and life while protecting what matters most to people.

Born and raised in Staten Island, New York, Phil showed an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. In high school he founded and televised a backyard wrestling federation and later built a successful wrestling themed e-commerce business. He earned a bachelors degree in computer science from Wagner College with minors in mathematics and economics.

His professional career began with a part time data entry role at Coastal Plumbing Supply. Over 14 years he advanced steadily and played a key role in growing the company from two to five locations before helping rebrand it as Coastal Supply Group and serving as vice president of strategic development. He then joined The LiRo Group as deputy program manager of construction for the New York State Governors Office of Storm Recovery where he led and motivated large teams through complex projects until 2019.

Fueled by a desire to forge his own path Phil entered full time entrepreneurship in 2019 as the ninth franchisee of United Water Restoration Group. He has since expanded his portfolio by launching the Long Island franchise of 1-Tom-Plumber and building complementary service businesses focused on plumbing, water damage restoration and related solutions. Through these companies he helps Long Island homeowners and commercial property managers protect their properties from water damage and plumbing emergencies while delivering exceptional service.

At the heart of everything Phil does is the SCARD leadership framework: Solution-Oriented, Collaborative, Accountable, Resilient, and Dynamic. He believes good enough is never enough and that true protection of homes families businesses and futures begins from within. Phil continues to share real-time lessons from his journey inside the BoomZeal Labs community on Skool where he equips leaders and entrepreneurs with the tools and mindset needed to safeguard their time money and purpose.

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3 Key Listener Takeaways 1. Own Your Authenticity: Phil DePaul champions embracing your true personality in business. By unapologetically leading with "boom zeal," he's built a brand and community that rewards energy and authenticity rather than playing to the middle. This is proof that genuine self-expression attracts stronger relationships and greater fulfillment.

2. The Right Kind of Crazy Wins: Success in home services and in hustle-heavy careers favors those willing to run toward challenges. Phil DePaul's journey from backyard wrestling to entrepreneurship celebrates "the right amount of crazy," showing that passion and drive are competitive advantages in any high-pressure field.

3. Legacy Outlasts Quick Gains: Both Phil DePaul and Aaron Gordon underscore the importance of reputation, consistent service, and delayed gratification. Building a durable, respected business comes from over-delivering, resisting shortcuts, and steadily raising the bar for yourself and your team because, ultimately, your work works on you more than you work on it.

Show Overview 00:00 Embracing the Buffalo Spirit

03:28 Finding self-awareness through reading

08:13 Being driven and authentic

12:52 Building a values-based community

14:22 Finding success by being authentic

19:49 Building a Sustainable Service Business

23:36 Building Reputation and Brand Equity

27:56 Encouraging listener feedback

28:28 Podcast closing remarks