Factory Life: Buying a Manufacturer with $1m SDE

December 18, 2023
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B

en Jasper was a guy who'd spent most of his life checking boxes.

Following a well-trodden path to conventional success.

Not that it was easy; he worked very hard to get where he got.

But at 40, he started to fatigue of his all-consuming job in finance and to contemplate how the second half of his career could look different.

He wanted more control over his time than the 24/7 world of New York hedge funds allowed.

He wanted to see his family more.

He wanted boundaries.

Now, I hear you saying: "Boundaries? By owning & operating a small business?? Ha!"

Well Ben did achieve them, even though the plastics manufacturer he bought requires him to arrive at the factory at 4:30am every morning.

We get into it, Ben's new lifestyle. He goes out of his way to provide a window into the unglamorous, pre-dawn work of operating a 10-person manufacturing business with no management.

Ben Jasper at his factory
Ben Jasper at his factory

But to be clear:

Almost a year into his ownership, and it is going well for Ben. Both as an investment and as a vehicle for the professional path he desired.

Please enjoy this conversation with Ben Jasper, owner of a plastic bag manufacturer in New Jersey.

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Factory Life: Buying a Manufacturer with $1m SDE

Ben Jasper made a change at age 40, acquiring a plastic bag manufacturer with 10 people & a daily start time of 4:30am.

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Key Takeaways

Introduction

Listen to the introduction from the host
B

en Jasper was a guy who'd spent most of his life checking boxes.

Following a well-trodden path to conventional success.

Not that it was easy; he worked very hard to get where he got.

But at 40, he started to fatigue of his all-consuming job in finance and to contemplate how the second half of his career could look different.

He wanted more control over his time than the 24/7 world of New York hedge funds allowed.

He wanted to see his family more.

He wanted boundaries.

Now, I hear you saying: "Boundaries? By owning & operating a small business?? Ha!"

Well Ben did achieve them, even though the plastics manufacturer he bought requires him to arrive at the factory at 4:30am every morning.

We get into it, Ben's new lifestyle. He goes out of his way to provide a window into the unglamorous, pre-dawn work of operating a 10-person manufacturing business with no management.

Ben Jasper at his factory
Ben Jasper at his factory

But to be clear:

Almost a year into his ownership, and it is going well for Ben. Both as an investment and as a vehicle for the professional path he desired.

Please enjoy this conversation with Ben Jasper, owner of a plastic bag manufacturer in New Jersey.

About

Ben Jasper

Ben Jasper

Show Notes

Ben Jasper made a change at age 40, acquiring a plastic bag manufacturer with 10 people & a daily start time of 4:30am. 

Topics in Ben’s interview:

  • Managing a portfolio of $500 million on Wall Street
  • Leaving finance to prioritize family
  • Buying a plastic bag manufacturer
  • Starting his work day at 3:30 AM
  • His intense 2-month initiation
  • Creating a manual and financial model to manage the business
  • Challenges of maintaining old machinery
  • Understanding his employees' personal values
  • Long-term vision to hire an operator
  • Negative revenue growth in the manufacturing industry

References and how to contact Ben:

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Episode Transcript

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