Getting fired from an internship can launch a career faster than you ever planned.

Hazem and Mack sit down with Joseph Jackson, longtime Houston real estate investor and builder. They hear how a Houston kid went from a Brevard, North Carolina internship, where he was fired for showing up late, to buying a $10,000 condo at age 22, fixing roofs himself, and building a construction company out of a little Chevy S10. Joseph explains why he hunts for the worst house on the block, how he stress-tests every deal, and why he calls relationships the real foundation of the business. He also shares why he wrote his first book, There is a House for That, and what he wants his children to learn from it.

Buy Joseph's book There is a House for That: https://a.co/d/05BNq30k

To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank.

Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Key Takeaways

1. Joseph got his start after an internship firing showed him he could cover six months of bills. He bought his first properties in the early '90s, when the savings-and-loan fallout had pushed prices down to the $6,000–$13,000 range.

2. He stress-tests every deal by asking whether the property can still cash-flow if rent and occupancy both drop by half. If it can, he knows he can hold it through any market.

3. He looks for the worst house on the block. Renovating the eyesore makes neighbors upgrade their own homes, and they then bring him leads for the next job.

4. Joseph built his contractor network by asking how he could help each subcontractor, not just who offered the lowest price. Some of his crews have worked with him for 20 years at close to 20-year-old pricing.

5. There is a House for That is a book on life philosophy that uses real estate as the backdrop. It starts with a "True North" self-evaluation, and it comes from his "travel house," "college house" and "car house" approach, where each property funds one part of life. It took about 18 months to write after ten years of thinking about it.

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A great office does more than look good. It makes people feel cared for.

Hazem and Mack sit down with Shelli Lambert, founder of Interior Green International, to hear how she turned creativity, cold calls, and a willingness to learn the hard parts of business into a 30-year Houston company serving roughly 450 corporate clients. Shelli shares what plants can do for an office, why her technicians are the heart of the company, and how a business that began with one tree grew into a major interior, exterior, and holiday-design operation.

Learn more about Interior Green International (https://igiplants.com/).

To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank.

Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Key Takeaways

1. Shelli always knew she wanted to own a business, but she found her path after leaving an unfulfilling sales job, working for another plant company, and starting Interior Green International.

2. The company grew through persistence. Shelli recalls setting aside full days to make as many as 75 cold calls, learning how to earn appointments and build long-term client relationships.

3. Interior Green serves roughly 450 corporate accounts through weekly plant care, design, maintenance, and replacement, taking the burden of plant care off office teams.

4. Holiday design became a major extension of the business. The company begins production in July, installs interior and exterior décor in the fall, and continues removals well into the new year.

5. Shelli credits much of her longevity to taking care of employees. Some team members have been with her for nearly 20 years, and their relationships with clients are central to the company’s success.

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You can measure a bank in assets. Or you can measure it in the people who trust you with their next step.

Hazem and Mack mark Integrity Bank’s two-year anniversary with a candid conversation about building a community bank from the ground up, approaching $400 million in assets, and earning the trust of customers through referrals and relationships. They discuss interest rates, bank consolidation, hiring experienced bankers, supporting Houston nonprofits, future branches, and why the best measure of growth is not a balance-sheet number but the businesses, families, and employees behind it.

To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank.

Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Key Takeaways

1. Integrity Bank approaches its two-year anniversary with nearly $400 million in assets, surpassing the original projections Hazem and Mack made during the chartering process.

2. The bank has grown through relationships and referrals, not simply by chasing deposits or loans. Hazem and Mack emphasize learning each customer’s story, needs, and goals.

3. Integrity Bank’s roughly 27 employees bring an average of 22 to 23 years of experience, combining seasoned bankers with younger talent who may become the next generation of community bankers.

4. Community involvement is part of the model, not an afterthought. The bank supports efforts including turkey drives, schools, and other Houston nonprofit organizations.

5. Hazem and Mack believe community banks remain essential because customers need decision-makers who know them personally, understand their businesses, and can help them navigate both opportunity and risk.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.