Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike and Kaitlin OBrien.
Mike and Kaitlin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My basic story is at 20 years old I drove my 1957 Chevy 2 door wagon from Seattle to Morgan City Louisiana to work in the Commercial Diving industry. I had $80 in my pocket when I got my first job as a divers helper called a Diver’s Tender. I bought my first duplex house (live on one side and rented the other) at 23 years old. I worked my way up the ladder from the diver, dive supervisor, operation manager, vice president, a small part in taking a diving company public, sold the company to Stolt offshore (then the largest diving company and ROV company in the world) which I work in the corporate office for an additional 7 years.
During my work in the oil field industry, I started my own corporation always buying property and business on the side when I was working in the oil field. When I had 4 RV/mobile home parks, 1 office building and a couple of houses. I purchased a golf course. that’s when I had to ask for retirement package from Stolt offshore at the age of 50 years old to expand my own company. I was able to take my passion in buying real-estate and made it into a company worth over $13-$15 million just working as an extra job.
I just sold one of my RV Parks this year. Now I am working with XELA a coffee roasting company in Houston helping to expand the coffee market in Houston. plus I have other companies now too in Houston and surrounding areas.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Really it has been a lot of work using my day job before I quit to pay my basic overhead and using my side job in property investments to increase my net worth. but I always tried to save time for my kids. That’s why I quit diving (going offshore) and went into Diving operations that keep me on the beach. Some people get lost in time with a few items on the table and others are looking for more to do with 20 items on the table. I am more looking for more to do with 20 items on the table so a struggle has never crossed my mind. Like is as fun as you want to make it.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Xela Coffee roaster, Corral RV Park, KE JAMS, Shew Fly Propertis, and Jana’s Dirt – what should we know?
I grew my business in purchasing small companies or property with management problems. Because with 30 years of offshore operation experience (learning from my mistakes) working with 100’s of offshore and onshore personnel I learned that people make the job. my employees all stayed with me for 10 plus years as I grew in my companies. I am known for treating my employees as real people, understanding the problems that people have. My business I do is always fair. Any person who I have dealt with I can always go back to.
Proper management knowing what your customer wants. I purchased Spring Valley Golf Course and turned that around and making money, when most golf coarse loose money, because of my customers where “Golf Hackers” I made it where you were able to bring your own beer and play 18 holes with a cart for $28. plus I added/built the first 36 basket pay to play Disc Golf Course in Texas. then sold it tripling my money. I built one of the top RV Parks a 210 space in the Houston area.
Now I am helping out XELA coffee roasters in Houston which is a up and coming company. With a new wave of coffee’s like cold brew, coffee beer, honey coffee and others that XELA is developing blends for the Houston area. XELA is Coffee Roasting business that has exotic coffee beans found around the world. Plus other business we have our buildings and warehouses in downtown Houston, honey farm with a small orchard, buildings in Conroe.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Basic concept that I always use. Look at a 100 deals a year offer on 10 of them and if you get one then you’re doing good. Don’t worry on what a person asking price is….. ask your self “what’s it worth to me”.
Plus anything I do personnel/business: I teach my kids you must get 10 no’s before you get a yes… so every time you get a no you say thank you because your that much closer to a yes… but for me… I never got more than 3 no’s before I got a yes. And that was my wife before she said yes…. (LOL)
Contact Info:
- Address: 4409 Canal Houston TX
- Website: https://xelaroasters.com/
- Phone: 214-674-3112/ 713-557-1821
- Email: Info@XelaRoasters.com
Image Credit:
Benji Aguilar
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