The Level Up Podcast with Paul Alex

Episode: How Faith and Grit Took Brock McClelland From Homeless to Eight Figures

Date: November 30, 2025
Host: Paul Alex Espinoza
Guest: Brock McClelland

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the inspirational transformation of Brock McClelland: from addiction and homelessness to the helm of an eight-figure contracting business. Brock shares how faith, unwavering grit, key relationships, self-development, and disciplined hard work fueled his journey. Host Paul Alex guides a candid discussion that delivers tactical lessons for underdogs, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking to level up mentally, spiritually, and financially.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Brock’s Background: From Rock Bottom to Building Back

• Addiction and Early Recovery: Brock openly shares his past with drug addiction, starting at age 12 and spanning over 17 years, culminating in a pivotal rehab stint in 2018.

  • Memorable Quote: “I was a statistic that became a product of my environment and then changed the statistic to become a success story.” (12:01, Brock)

• Homelessness and Humble Restart: Exiting rehab, Brock faced temporary homelessness but soon met his now-wife, who played a foundational role in his turnaround.

  • Memorable Quote: “I made a covenant with [God] when I was in that detox facility: get me out of this, give me one more chance.” (13:26, Brock)

Launching the Business: Grit, Family, and Faith

• Pandemic Pivot: Left his secure union boilermaker job due to unsafe conditions and fear for his young family during COVID-19, turning to the roofing trade he’d learned secondhand.

  • Timestamp: [04:10]–[05:42]

• The Leap of Faith: Inspired by a friend’s promise of work, Brock launches his own roofing company from his garage, supported by his wife’s belief in him.

  • Quote: “I walked upstairs to my wife. I was like, hold my protein shake. I’m starting a roofing company.” (10:52, Brock)

• Early Hustle: Invested in self—bought a used truck, got magnetic signs, hit the ground for jobs, and leveraged personal connections for first contracts.

  • Timestamp: [16:39]–[17:53]

• Marriage and Support: Brock credits his wife’s unwavering faith and her family’s example of generational wealth as catalysts for his ambition.

  • Quote: “Without her, I don’t know if I’d be where I am today in life or who I have become.” (11:19, Brock)

Scaling with Integrity and Differentiation

• Market Research and Innovation: Observed competitors’ complacency—especially regarding new roofing regulations and ventilation standards—and built a business model around exceeding those benchmarks.

  • Timestamp: [17:53]–[21:36]

• Customer Service and Best Practices: Differentiated himself by doing better on-site assessments, educating customers, and leading with transparency.

  • Quote: “A homeowner is telling me I’m the only one who went on their roof, went in their attic, and had this ventilation conversation with them.” (20:59, Brock)

• Leadership and Growth: Grew to a 40-person team, building out full management structure by trial, error, and relentless self-education.

  • Timestamp: [25:36]–[25:50]

Mindset, Sacrifice, and the Power of Hard Work

• Extreme Sacrifice: Brock normalizes 100-hour weeks early on, sometimes missing days with family to lay the foundation for future success.

  • Quote: “I needed you to trust me. I have a plan and a vision, and I’m going to bring this home for us.” (24:39, Brock)

• Mental Programming: Constantly reprogramming mindset with motivational input (Eric Thomas, e.g.), emphasizing work ethic over any innate advantage.

  • Timestamp: [22:35]–[23:22]

The Role of Faith and Coaching

• Divine Guidance: Brock attributes much of his path to faith and the Holy Spirit, describing hunches and intuition as being spiritually guided.

  • Quote: “If you’re a nonbeliever, this is going to be hard for you to understand. But this thing is real.” (18:32, Brock)

• Investing in Coaching and Brotherhood: Entered masterminds and hired coaches only after self-scaling to capacity, finding value in both business structure and personal guidance under pressure.

  • Timestamp: [27:40]–[29:24]

Adversity, Self-Responsibility, and Breaking the Cycle

• Choosing Responsibility: Discusses the dangers of perpetual victimhood; stresses making different choices as the only way to change outcomes.

  • Quote: “At some point in life, we all come to the fork in the road. I can’t blame my mother, my uncle, my father...when I’m a 25, 28-year-old kid.” (33:07, Brock)

• Family Tragedy: Shares openly about his siblings losing their battle with addiction, reiterating that only you choose your future.

  • Timestamp: [33:33]–[34:58]

Tactical Mini-Masterclass for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

• Advice to Newcomers:
  • Know your market and competition deeply.
  • Establish efficient systems and scalable processes early.
  • Distinguish your offering (his example: ventilations/service).
  • Consistent customer service and authenticity are irreplaceable differentiators.
• Quote: “No one can take your story away, but no one can take your style.” (39:56, Paul)

Launching a Coaching Platform: “His Plan, My Grind”

• Program Pillars: Faith, family, fitness, mindset, nutrition, and purpose.
  • Timestamp: [40:23]–[41:28]
• Philosophy: Hard coaching—emphasizing actionable, honest guidance for both youth and adults searching for direction.
  • Quote: “You just gotta bite down and do it.” (41:34, Brock)

Closing Motivation and Call to Action

• Brock’s Final Advice:

  • Consistency, discipline, grit; nobody will hand you anything.
  • Outwork everyone; if your competition works 40 hours, work 80.
  • Surround yourself with ‘killers’—a strong, positive team.

• Quote: “Whatever you want is at your fingertips. Work for that. I promise you. Be the hardest worker in the room.” (44:04, Brock)

• Host’s Encouragement: Paul reflects on the power of mindset-shifting content, expressing gratitude for audience growth and emphasizing the podcast’s role in motivating change.

  • Timestamp: [43:08]–[43:28]

• Connect with Brock: Instagram - @I_am_McClelland; McClelland’s Contracting and Roofing on all social platforms. DM for deeper support.

Key Timestamps

• [04:01] — Brock’s life before business and the impact of COVID-19
• [10:17] — Starting the business and the “hold my protein shake” story
• [11:32] — Meeting his wife straight out of rehab
• [13:26] — Brock’s covenant with God in detox
• [16:39] — Buying his first truck and real entrepreneurial leap
• [20:07] — Differentiating via updated roofing practices
• [22:35] — Developing a relentless work ethic; programming mindset
• [24:39] — Sacrifices and communication with spouse
• [27:40] — Realizing need for coaching/mastermind investments
• [33:07] — The fork in the road: taking responsibility for your life
• [38:56] — Mini-masterclass: what new entrepreneurs need to know
• [40:23] — Brock’s coaching program vision
• [44:04] — Brock’s closing motivation

Notable Quotes

• “All glory goes to God. Without him, we got nothing and we are nobody.”
  — Brock McClelland, [01:06]

• “I was a statistic that became a product of my environment and then changed the statistic to become a success story.”
  — Brock McClelland, [12:01]

• “I walked upstairs to my wife. I was like, hold my protein shake. I’m starting a roofing company.”
  — Brock McClelland, [10:52]

• “Without her, I don’t know if I’d be where I am today in life or who I have become.”
  — Brock McClelland, [11:19]

• “Whatever you want is at your fingertips. Work for that. I promise you. Be the hardest worker in the room.”
  — Brock McClelland, [44:04]

• “No one can take your story away, but no one can take your style.”
  — Paul Alex, [39:56]

Episode Tone and Language

The conversation is candid, gritty, and motivational, blending honest self-reflection with actionable, no-excuses entrepreneurship advice. Brock’s story is a testament to faith, family support, and the unglamorous daily grind of building something from nothing. Both Paul and Brock maintain a direct, sometimes raw, and always uplifting tone throughout the episode.

This summary covers the full, content-rich interview between Paul Alex and Brock McClelland on The Level Up Podcast, equipping the reader with all the key lessons, emotional beats, actionable advice, and memorable moments from the episode.