From $100 Gigs to $100K Remodels: Stephen Deubel's Epic Rise

Summary

The Living Your Legacy Podcast: Episode Summary

Title: From $100 Gigs to $100K Remodels: Stephen Deubel's Epic Rise
Host: Rudy Mawer
Release Date: June 2, 2025

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of The Living Your Legacy Podcast, host Rudy Mawer sits down with Stephen Deubel, a veteran general contractor, media personality, and entrepreneur with over three decades of experience in construction and design. Stephen shares his inspiring journey from performing small handyman tasks to overseeing multimillion-dollar remodeling projects. He also delves into his passionate mission to create sustainable housing solutions for homeless veterans through innovative container homes.

Early Beginnings: From Handyman to Contractor

Stephen's entrepreneurial spirit ignited while juggling a regular job and small gigs. Reflecting on his humble start, Stephen explains:

[02:45] Stephen: "Get at it and just knock it out because when somebody starts out, no one knows everything right away. You learn as you go..."

Stephen's initial foray into handyman work involved simple tasks like hanging picture frames. His dedication to learning and willingness to embrace feedback played a crucial role in his early growth. Balancing his passion with practicality, Stephen obtained his contractor’s license, enabling him to take on larger projects and expand his business.

Building a Successful Remodeling Firm

As Stephen's reputation grew, so did the scale of his projects. Transitioning from minor tasks to substantial remodeling jobs, he recounts:

[05:21] Stephen: "...if I could turn around and start a radio show about home improvement and show my passion and desire to make them understand how to do things right. And if you can't do it yourself, call a professional. I'm a professional."

This dual approach not only educated homeowners but also generated leads for his expanding business. Stephen emphasized the importance of confidence and commitment in scaling his enterprise:

[06:13] Stephen: "...you have to have confidence in yourself to know that this is what I can do no matter what. And yes, I’m going to be able to [succeed]."

Embracing Media: Expanding Influence

Stephen's venture into media significantly amplified his impact. Starting with a radio show focused on home improvement, he seized opportunities as they arose:

[08:15] Stephen: "...when I did a press release, ABC15 in Phoenix called me to do an educational spot about home improvement. They loved it, and I did it for two years, every other week."

This exposure led to collaborations with TV producers like Cindy Christie, resulting in shows like Fine Wine and Design in Phoenix and segments on container homes. Stephen's media presence allowed him to reach a broader audience, advocating for sustainable living and community support.

Innovative Housing Solutions: Container Homes

A pivotal moment in Stephen's career was his interest in container homes, which align with his commitment to sustainability and affordability. He explains:

[09:31] Stephen: "Container homes are sustainable living. As the economy changed, people started downsizing, and there's a lot you can do to make it a viable, economical way of living."

Stephen’s fascination with container homes led him to explore their applications beyond traditional housing, including emergency housing solutions. This exploration became the foundation for his mission to support homeless veterans.

Mission for Homeless Veterans: Building Legacy

Stephen's mission transcended business success, aiming to address a significant societal issue—homelessness among veterans. He narrates the serendipitous discovery of a blueprint for a homeless container community:

[10:29] Stephen: "...someone in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, did exactly what I wanted to do. He built a homeless container community, and ten months later, it was completely done with veterans moved in."

Inspired by this model, Stephen envisions replicating such communities nationwide. His goal is ambitious:

[16:12] Stephen: "I would like to see at least one homeless container home community in every city in the country."

This vision embodies his definition of legacy, aiming to create lasting, positive change for those who have served the nation.

Defining Legacy

When asked about the meaning of legacy, Stephen emphasizes creating enduring structures that continue to benefit others:

[14:42] Stephen: "A legacy to me means that it's something that I had a vision... that when I am gone, that legacy can live on where people can expand on it and have it grow."

Stephen’s legacy is not just about his business achievements but also about fostering communities and supporting veterans, ensuring his contributions have a lasting impact.

Future Vision: A Nationwide Impact

Looking ahead, Stephen's aspirations are both grand and heartfelt. He articulates his ten-year vision:

[16:04] Stephen: "I would like to see at least one homeless container home community in every city in the country."

This goal reflects his unwavering commitment to leveraging his expertise and resources to tackle homelessness among veterans, solidifying his legacy as a catalyst for meaningful societal change.

Inspiration and Influences

Throughout his journey, Stephen cites influential figures and personal experiences that shaped his path. He mentions Kai Pennington from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as a significant inspiration:

[18:08] Stephen: "I watched Kai Pennington on Extreme Makeover, Home Edition, and I said, I can do that."

Stephen’s diverse background, including his time as a mobile DJ and his experience in the amusement business, contributed to his strong work ethic and passion for community service.

Connecting and Collaborating

Stephen encourages listeners to engage with his ongoing projects and support his mission. He provides multiple avenues for connection:

[18:38] Stephen: "You could find me on my podcast website, boxcartuniverse.com, or on my business site, idealhomeimprovementaz.com."

By inviting collaboration and support, Stephen seeks to build a network of investors, builders, and advocates to expand his initiative nationwide.

Conclusion

Stephen Deubel's story is a testament to the power of determination, adaptability, and a clear mission. From humble beginnings as a handyman to leading large-scale remodeling projects and spearheading a mission to support homeless veterans, Stephen embodies the essence of building a lasting legacy. His journey offers valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals seeking to make a meaningful impact. As Rudy Mawer aptly concludes:

[19:03] Rudy: "...that's a wrap. A true legacy in the making and a mission right that can help thousands of people and make a big impact in the country and maybe even the world. So thank you so much, Super excited to see the episode and as always, keep building a legacy."

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Key Takeaways:

• Continuous Learning: Embrace challenges and learn on the go to grow professionally.
• Media Leverage: Utilize media platforms to amplify your mission and reach a broader audience.
• Community Focus: Align business endeavors with meaningful societal contributions.
• Legacy Building: Aim to create lasting positive impacts that extend beyond personal achievements.
• Collaboration: Engage with like-minded individuals and organizations to scale impactful projects.

For more insights and to follow Stephen Deubel’s journey, visit Boxcar Universe or Ideal Home Improvement AZ.

Transcript

[Rudy]

You went from probably earning $100 to hang a few pictures, right? To a hundred thousand dollar house remodel, easy. Now you're looking at how do I tackle a big problem in the world, right? How do I really have that global impact, which is the legacy side?

[Stephen]

It would really mean a lot to me to be able to see that, to know that something that I had an idea and I was able to have people experience something that I created for the good of the country and for the good of the people of our military.

[Stephen Dubel]

Stephen Dubel is a veteran general contractor, media personality and Entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in construction and design. He's the host of Boxcar Universe, a podcast that explores innovative housing solutions like container homes and sustainable design. Stephen blends his passion for building with a commitment to meaningful causes, using his platform to advocate for veterans and raise awareness for colorectal cancer.

[Stephen]

One of the things that I wanted to do, I wanted to give back to the community. So I said the best way to do that is that it spans the globe like a super high school Internet. Elvis Preston. I have a Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone. It's not over until I win the living your legacy podcast for those who live to leave a legacy. Oh, that is sensational. Jordan, open Chicago with the lead. You said Paul is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream.

[Rudy]

Hello and welcome back to another episode of Legacy Makers. Sat with me today is Stephen, who has a fascinating journey and even more fascinating and impactful mission that we're going to dive into. And an epic story how he went from hanging a few picture frames as a handyman to building a very successful, well known and big remodeling firm. He's remodeled hundreds of homes, charged, you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars. So a big jump from hanging a few pictures. Welcome to the show.

[Stephen]

Great to be here, Rudy. Thank you for having me.

[Rudy]

Of course. So I know you're up to a lot. You know, you have radio, tv, podcasting, obviously building your company and you're on a big mission, which I think super awesome, which I'll let you share. But I'm excited to dive into this and obviously your main TV episode too. So let's start from ground zero. How did you get into all this? You were doing a bit of handyman stuff. You were telling me online, you take a gig, you go to Home depot, buy a VHS and watch how to do it right before YouTube existed and then turn up the next day and.

[Stephen]

Get at it and just knock it out because when, when somebody starts out, no one knows everything right away. I mean, you learn as you go, and you have to be open to learning it. You also have to be open when people criticize you, because that's a big part of learning, right? Yeah, exactly. A great feedback loop. So that's how I started. And I, and I did that through, you know, several, several years actually. We did that while I was working a regular job. So I was trying to build my business and then finally I, I was asked to do bigger projects. So then I went and got my contractor's license and I started doing bigger and better things. The reason that I started it was originally because I saw too many people in the Phoenix market, homeowners that really didn't know how to do things and they were hurting themselves. I mean, seriously falling off ladders, being rushed to the hospital and things like that. And one of the things that I wanted to do, I wanted to give back to the community. I think that's where my feelings started doing that. I said the best way to do that is that back in my other life, I was a mobile dj. So dealing with the public, I always like to be able to turn around and create an environment with music to make people put smiles on people's faces. And that's what I wanted to do. If I could turn around and start a radio show about home improvement and show my passion and desire to make them understand how to do things right. And if you can't do it yourself, call a professional. On the I'm a professional. So obviously it was a twofold. Teach them. And if you don't think you could do it, call me. So that's part of how to generate leads for my business.

[Rudy]

Well, I think what's interesting already, I do want to. Before we go any further, one thing you said right away, which I love about entrepreneurs, is they have this like, say yes and then figure it out later kind of attitude. Right. But and often it's like, you know, it can be nerve wracking, but that it leads to a lot of success. I find, you know, like a lot of people I know, myself included, you know, you know, you kind of go along with it, say yes, and then you're determined to figure it out. And then at least this whole new business or new idea or career. Right?

[Stephen]

Yeah. I mean, one of the things that I always felt like when you go, first of all, if I go into a person's home, even if it's just to hang a picture or do a complete tall house, remodel, it's important for them to understand that I know what they want to do and I view it as a privilege to come into their home and make these changes and create their dreams.

[Rudy]

Well, and I love you all entrepreneurial story like it's. And I love featuring this. Like you know, you went from probably earning $100 to hang a few pictures, right. To a hundred thousand dollar house remodel, easy. Yeah. Yeah. That's a big jump, right?

[Stephen]

Yeah, it's a big jump.

[Rudy]

It's not a 10x jump. It's not even 100x jump.

[Stephen]

Right.

[Rudy]

It's even bigger. It's thousand. So what experience you have, like for anyone listening that's maybe in the earlier phases of their career, they're in the hundred dollar hanging picture frame phase.

[Stephen]

Right.

[Rudy]

And it's like you know, you,000 X and now you're doing these major projects and now you're on an even bigger mission to help the homeless, which we'll talk about in a minute. But it can seem daunting up front. Right. Like if I had spoke to you when you were hanging your first picture and said hey, one day you'll be doing 200 grand renovations. You're gone. No way. You know. Right. Like tell us about how that journey's been.

[Stephen]

Well, it's been, it's been, it's been a journey that I think to, to get started with and how you can progress and why you get referrals from your existing clients is that if, if you are on a mission that you want to be able to do it not just in construction or remodeling, but anything.

[Rudy]

Yeah.

[Stephen]

You have to know that. You have to have confidence in yourself to know that this is, this is what I can do this no matter what. And yes, I'm going to be able to need to reach out and you have to make it a long term goal. But you have these short increment steps you have to go through when you start and you have to be committed to those. And yes, you're going to have failures, but failures are nothing more than a step back and learning. Well, I need to take a different road. Much like when you advertise, you have different phases that you try this phase, you try that phase and see which one responds the best and you make adjustments along the way.

[Rudy]

Well, even with products, a lot of what I teach in marketing is a lot of the products you launch and test don't quite work out, but then you find one that does and you can make millions of dollars from it. Most people aren't successful because they just stay at one and it's not working, and then they quit.

[Stephen]

Well, they give up. Yeah.

[Rudy]

Or they just stay there and hope that it's going to work one day. But real entrepreneurship, it's a lot of innovating, pivoting, testing.

[Stephen]

Yeah. And you have to be. Besides the confidence, you have to be committed to the mission.

[Rudy]

Yeah.

[Stephen]

To be able to do that and reach out and. And know. I mean, when I made. Believe me, I had those feelings, which I'm sure you had. When you went from one step in your career to another, when you turn around, you're like, well, I know I can do this. I want to do this, but I'm feeling this. And you just. You just push through those fears to know that when you get to the other side and then you look at it back from the other side, like, what was I afraid of?

[Rudy]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Stephen]

You know, why was I feel these feelings?

[Rudy]

Yeah. And I think once you've done it a few times, it gets easier because you start, like, you have reps and, you know, confidence. Right.

[Stephen]

But when I started the radio show and. And I had no idea ever that I was ever going to do any tv because my mission was, I want to get on and help people through the radio. And then all of a sudden, I did a press release, and ABC15 in Phoenix, they have a morning show called Sonora Living. Well, one of the producers, Sonora Living, saw my press release, and they called me, they said, hey, would you mind coming on, do an educational spot about doing, you know, home improvement? And I'm shy. Okay, I'll try. You know, let's try it. And I did it. They loved it. And then I did it for two years, every other week.

[Rudy]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Stephen]

And all of a sudden, it's like, at that point, I said to myself, I am taking all limits off anything that I ever think that I could or want to do, because the sky is the limit.

[Rudy]

Yeah.

[Stephen]

And then I push through that. And then more tv. I did a show with my good friend and TV producer Cindy Christie for. Called Fine Wine and Design in Phoenix. We did that for several years. And then I've also done. We also did the TV version of my radio show talking about home improvement. And it just progressed one thing after another to the point where I had gotten interested in talking about. And container homes.

[Rudy]

Yeah.

[Stephen]

Because container homes are sustainable lifestyle, actually sustainable living. Because as the economy changed, people started downsizing, and there isn't a whole lot that is different inside a container home that you would find in a regular home. Obviously, the design's a little different. Your people that want to live smaller, it's perfect for them. And there's a lot that you can do, not just on the inside, but on the outside, to make it a real viable, you know, economical way of living.

[Rudy]

Well, it's pretty. Yeah, it's fascinating. I see a lot of them popping up. You know, I've seen. I was at a trade expo the other day with Damon John, and we were getting a tour around this expo and there was a couple of these, and they're just really fascinating. And they're obviously way more affordable than a house, and they're very nice. Right, so let's talk about it. Just tell everyone, because I did tee it up earlier. What's the big mission with the homeless linked to the container home?

[Stephen]

Okay. Well, along the way, when I got interested in container homes and I kind of tweaked my home improvement show to include that, obviously, like I did in all my other steps that I did, I reached out, started looking for anything and everything that had to do with container homes, homes that were used for. There's a company in Massachusetts that actually do. It's like a hydroponic garden in a container. They can actually crank out 800 heads of lettuce in one week, which is totally amazing. And I actually went down. They have one on display down at the University of Arizona. I went down. We actually saw it firsthand. It was amazing. So I started looking for all these different things. I came across a gentleman in New York who deals with emergency housing. And we had touched base when I met him. He was just getting started, talking with the people in Hawaii when they had their fires. So we started talking about that. Then LA fires came and doing that. And then another gentleman who I had spoken to actually has a nonprofit organization dealing with helping homeless veterans doing home improvement work. And then I start looking into more things that had to do with the housing and homeless veterans. And you see homeless veterans on the street all day. I'm like, you know, if I could do something and bring a group of people together, investors, the builders, because I know a lot of construction people that actually build container homes now over the last few years, that we could put a mission together to build a homeless container community, not just in Phoenix, but around the country, that would be something that I would be very interested in. And just when I thought it, and I'm still looking for more information, I got a message. God must have made me. Look at this one website, and there's a gentleman who actually, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, did exactly what I wanted to do. He got a group of people together, they built a homeless container community for all homeless. And he's got a complete group blueprint. And then he had just broken ground when I started working with him and got to know him. And about eight, 10 months later, I had him back on my show and it was all completely done. The, the, the veterans were moved in and everything else. And he said, I said to him, I said, you know what I would really like to do? I said, you've got this all worked out. People are call, you know, obviously subcontractors in different cities would be different, but you've got the whole blueprint all made out for exactly what I want to do. And he said, steve, anytime you want it, just let me know. We'll get together. And I'm like, okay. So at that point, I'm like, I need to find it, find the people that I need to do to make this happen. Yeah. And then lo and behold, several months ago, I came across your head.

[Rudy]

Yeah. Well, what's cool too is like, I like to look at the full journey, right? It's like you're DJing, right? And then you decide you want to get into construction, handyman stuff, right? Right. You start hanging a few picture frames, right? You build that, you start being a handyman, then do more and more, then you start going and doing form remodels and then you start a business, right? You hire some contractors under you, and you were a GC, and then you're doing these big 100, 200k bigger projects, nicer homes, right? And now it's like, now you're looking at how do I tackle a big problem in the world, right? How do I really have that global impact, which is the legacy side. But, but it's always fascinating to, you know, show that, show that potential, right? Because a lot of handymen hang pictures. Twenty years later, they're still hanging pictures. Yes, Right. But some people keep progressing, grow businesses, and then very few. But some will go and go, how do I really help the world? And it seems like you're getting to that point now and looking at that level. So that brings into the legacy side as we come to a close today, what does a legacy mean to you?

[Stephen]

Well, a legacy to me means that it's something that I had a vision. And I'm sure there are other people that had similar visions, but this is a vision that I feel through my experience and the things that I've done so far that I could create this container Home community for homeless veterans and help the people that put their life on the line, that we could never repay, that they should never be homeless because of what they've done. To be able to go back and start something and start creating these communities around and get people invested in the mission to do this, and then as I create this legacy for doing this, that it's something that when I am gone, that that legacy can live on where people can expand on it and have it grow and maybe come up with additional ideas to build on what I started that idea of having container home communities for homeless veterans. And then also, like we were talking with the other two gentlemen, I know being able to help, you know, in case of disasters around the country, to be able to do that. And that would be something that would surely fall under that. That umbrella.

[Rudy]

Yeah, yeah. And so, you know, let's talk about that 10 years from today, if everything goes as planned with you and this can this project, where do you see it?

[Stephen]

I would like. I would like to see at least one homeless container home community in every city in the country.

[Rudy]

Wow. Be awesome, huh?

[Stephen]

Yeah, it would be. It would really be awesome. And it would really mean a lot to me to be able to see that, to know that something that I had an idea and I was able to have people experience something that I created for the good of the country and for the good of the people of our military.

[Rudy]

Love that. And let's, you know, talk a couple of quick things. What about your episode? What else? We've heard a lot about your story, some of your missions. Awesome. I'm sure there's a ton more that we've not heard about. What are a few things they're going to get from your episode?

[Stephen]

Oh, well, there's a lot of things that, you know, how I got started with, how I really got started in construction. Some of the things that I learned when I was growing up, my experience in getting into construction. I was in the amusement business for many years. So I have an affinity for amusement parks and love those kind of things, cars. My dad was a mechanic and I learned a lot about my work ethics from him. And just getting into learning. I got into aviation. I was in the working for a freight forwarder for many years. But along the way when I worked for the amusement park, I had learned a lot of my woodworking skills. And that's where I really got started with that, which I could share that with you in that episode on how that progressed and moved me towards. I can do that. And then the one person, I have to tell you real quick, that was talking about people that inspire you to move forward. Okay. When I was doing the handyman work and the first time when I decided that I was going to get into radio and stuff like that, and I watched Kai Pennington on Extreme Makeover, Home Edition, and I said, I watched him do that. And I'm like, I can do that.

[Rudy]

Yeah, Yeah, I can do that.

[Stephen]

And because I had the experience of working and being in front of the public, being a dj, and it's like, I can do that. Still tried to get a hold of him to interview him, but I never quite make it. The publicist was kind of tough.

[Rudy]

Maybe one day. One day.

[Stephen]

Maybe one day.

[Rudy]

So, last question. Someone's watching, they want to go, you know, maybe get involved in this new big project, or maybe they're local and they want to hire you or at least just follow your journey. And all this content you're putting out there, where do they find you?

[Stephen]

You could find me on two ways. You could find me on my podcast website, boxcart universe.com. you could always. There is a link there. You can email me steveoxcardeniverse.com you could also see some of the construction work and some of our media work on. On both platforms. The other platform is my business, idealhomeimprovementaz.com.

[Rudy]

Great. Love it. Well, there you go, guys. That's a wrap. A true legacy in the making and a mission right that can help thousands of people and make a big impact in the country and maybe even the world. So thank you so much. Super excited to see the episode and as always, keep building a legacy. I'll see you guys soon.