By: Joshua Finley
Here’s a thought experiment. Imagine yourself spinning several plates on poles. Now, replace each of those standard plates with crockery of various designs. You might have a serving platter, a cheeseboard, a soup bowl, or various dinner plates. Now set them spinning. The result could easily be a pile of shattered crockery—there are simply too many variables to keep everything up in the air.
This thought experiment reveals the nature of complexity and the fact that it takes a specific set of skills to handle complex variables. One individual who has built his career around managing complexity is Brad Burns, founder of Burns Holding Corp.
Burns has not only founded Burns Holdings but also co-founded a variety of startups across several industries. Today, he is active in contracting and construction, signage, pool installation, concrete and hardscape installation, and more recently, seafood. His business, City Seafood, supplies fresh seafood to restaurants and country clubs and has recently started serving the public. Arch City Group, another of his ventures, focuses on opening and operating franchise quick-service restaurant (QSR) concepts in the St. Louis metro area.
When it comes to managing the various businesses under his supervision, Brad Burns emphasizes that teamwork is essential. “It seems like only yesterday I was working in construction and setting up a contracting business. One thing I learned is that teamwork forms the foundation of success. With a focused and motivated team, you can accomplish significant goals. Selecting the right people and empowering them unlocks real potential,” says Burns.
Burns’ first entrepreneurial venture, Wayne Contracting, established in 2014, provided commercial general contracting services and offered Burns his first opportunity to dive into the demanding world of startups. Today, the company operates in 48 states and is on track to achieve $15M in revenue for 2025. This growth demonstrates Brad Burns’ commitment to empowering teams, which contributes to sustainable success.
The Goldilocks Principle
When Burns interviews potential team members, he seeks a particular combination of passion, creativity, and experience—and an employee willing to take initiative. “Startups are, by their nature, environments that reward creativity and passion. However, the employee needs to bring the right mindset to the team, which includes a focused outlook. It’s about striking the right balance and finding the ideal fit,” explains Burns. This “Goldilocks principle” means Burns wants a team member who will think creatively while keeping sight of goals and contributing to a positive company culture.
Burns also believes that fostering innovation can enhance productivity, and he views an open-door policy as the best way to achieve company goals.
“Startups are high-energy environments, but that doesn’t mean chaos. Founders and leaders should set performance targets and establish processes to help team members reach them. At the same time, leaders should allow space for innovation, empowering sales staff to make decisions,” Burns notes.
For Burns, this approach involves allowing sales staff to explore unique solutions to challenges, including finding a work-life balance that benefits both them and the organization. “As long as clients are satisfied, there’s flexibility within operational guidelines. In my view, organizations thrive when employees are committed to innovation and consistently deliver quality.
“If they have experience or have read about alternative methods, we’re open to exploring new processes and approaches. I’m not going to be the one to dictate strict hours—if you need a day for personal time, it’s fine, provided you have a strong track record of meeting goals and satisfying clients.”
Past, Present, and Future
For Brad Burns, being an entrepreneur is not solely about financial rewards—it’s about creating lasting impact.
“When I started, long before earning a master’s degree, launching my contracting startup, or transforming family experience from a small print shop into a signage company (Vizex) with substantial revenue, I had a vision—to shift the paradigm for my family,” Burns shares.
Growing up in a family of modest means, Burns envisioned a future beyond sales or construction and believes that dreams, when combined with actionable planning, can lead to success. Burns explains that aspiring entrepreneurs need to think beyond societal constraints and have a realistic plan when pursuing their ambitions.
“Reaching for success sometimes means challenging established perspectives and norms. Self-belief and fresh viewpoints can yield remarkable outcomes, whether you’re a startup founder or a salesperson,” Burns says. He believes that financial gain alone is not enough to sustain an entrepreneurial journey—having a vision for broader impact is essential.
“Money is valuable, but my motivation comes from building a foundation for my children’s future. It’s a multi-generational approach. I’ve faced challenges, and I want to equip them with the resilience to handle adversity—not by giving them financial security alone but by instilling resilience. I might even start limiting their screen time,” Burns jokes.
Burns offers one final piece of advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: stay committed to your dreams and persevere.
“Focus and determination are what distinguish those who succeed from those who merely dream.”
To learn more about Brad Burns, his background, and his unique approach to teams and startup success, visit his LinkedIn profile or personal website.
Published by: Josh Tatunay
