00:00
You're listening to the Radcast. If it's radical, we cover it. Here's your host, Ryan Alford. Hey guys, what's up? Welcome to the latest edition of the Radcast.

00:18
still here at the Think Billions event. My man Chris Hansen's joining me. Serial entrepreneur. He's a pretty fucking good dude if you ask me. Good to have you Chris. Appreciate that. Thanks for having me Ryan. Yeah man. It's fun. This setting man, and I keep telling this for people when we were talking on this show here at this event, you gotta watch this episode. Sometimes you know you can get away with just listening but you gotta see this background. No, that's unbelievable.

00:48
energy and vibe we're putting out. I know I can't recreate this vibe in the studio now but I look forward to chopping up with you thanks shout out to Howie P for throwing a great bit here at howie P yeah unbelievable castle he was a kid and was he oh no no I feel like I'm in Morocco right now I like it yes I get used to this a little spoiled but Chris man I know you got your hands and a ton of things I always like to highlight interesting people here on the show

01:18
show and talk about entrepreneurial journeys. There's a lot of interest out there in that and I know our audience digs hearing people's stories and how they got started and you got your hands in so many things. You know, I don't know if you're watching any of the videos, got some samples on the table, we'll get to that. But Chris, this is stuff.

01:38
I know we could talk like anyone for an hour, probably about somebody's background. But just give everybody the Cliff's Notes version of your background. Yeah, so I live in Tampa, where my main business is located down in Florida. I've got a medical testing laboratory. It's called Genesis Reference Labs. So me and my partners, we all met as sales guys for a real big corporate medical company out in Houston actually.

02:08
You know, we always had that itch to kind of break off on our own. So in 2018, we had, you know, put some money to the side, started saving together. And we bought a lab at a bankruptcy in 2018 down in Orlando. Obviously, we didn't know COVID was going to happen. You know, the world was shocked just as we were. Really good for us. We were, you know, scaling, growing, building our business, you know, doing what we could do. And then COVID hit.

02:38
went all in on that. It was really make or break for us. But we just said, this is it. Let's throw everything we've got at it. We're either going to blow it up or bust it out. Go big or go home. Go big or go home, man. Yeah, so we went all in on it. And it was really good for us. We were happy that we could help in that time, obviously. But it was wild. But it was a journey. It was long days, long nights.

03:08
hours a day trying to get supplies it was just it was chaotic but that was really our big come-up you know like I said we we had pushed years before that we'd been in the business we caught our big break you know we've been together about eight years now so it was great for us so after that you know we've got a great executive team great management team we really scaled the business you know we started with seven employees we've got 127 employees now

03:38
solid team, good people, hard working people. How many locations? So we've got three locations. We have a lab, the main lab is in Orlando. We've got one in Texas and we've got one in Colorado. So we've got the right team in place which kind of freed up my schedule. My partners let me off my leash, per se. And they said let's go diversifying and some other things. And I've always been kind of curious,

04:08
the next big thing so we branched out into you know we just opened a medical aesthetic studio down in Clearwater Florida called the refinery so anyone down Clearwater get your Botox or some laser treatments come on down. Nice. And then we branched into the CBD wellness space so we've got this company VaK. VaK.USA on Instagram you can find us. Take a VaK.com.

04:38
Okay. And the vision behind that was, you know, we worked with physicians all over the country. CBD obviously gained a lot of popularity, but there was still a lot of, a lot of doctors not really educated on it or what, you know, unsure about it. So I saw it as an opportunity to kind of educate our doctors, give them something else they can, you know, provide their patients with in the practice. Also an emerging industry where I really wanted to try to bring like a whole wellness,

05:08
line into it with incorporating you know natural herbs ashwagandha, lemon balm, chamomile. We're not just focused on the cannabinoids. You know I think there's a future and alternative right medicine, holistics. I think people are a lot more open to that now and then we also are in the boating business so we run boat charters. I mean we're covering the gambit here brother. Hey you are the

05:38
You gotta be diversified. Yeah, you are man. Yeah, all right. So what about the charters down in Florida? Yeah, so down in Sarasota. Sarasota. And Annamarie Island. So anyone down there? I've never spent. Nice area? Beautiful. I mean. CST Key, you ever heard of it? Yeah, I've heard of that. I've never been, you know. Beautiful, it's been rated number one beach years, years, years. Sand looks like flower. It's beautiful. Oh. I'll look for the internet.

06:08
I know I know Greenville's pretty but you know We love any white sad. No you got the lake life come on. Yeah Dead some sun and salt you're welcome anytime there come on down So we run you know day charters fishing charters stuff like that You know that's it's a cool business. You know great perk of it obviously go out on your boats and then the newest thing that we we branched into is actually the

06:38
animal cremation business, real curveball there. So, you know, my partner just approached me with that and I was like, sure guys, it's a little weird because we're all dog lovers, you know. But, you know, there's a need there for that. So, really our goal there was to try to make a little bit more humane, so we've got the crematory and then we also have a plot of land where you can, you know, we'll plant a tree in memory of your animal. Nice. And then we're incorporating that into a dog.

07:08
So you can, you know, go, you know, pay your respects to maybe your old furry friend and bring your new pup out for a play date, what not. So riding off the crematory, we got into the Lab Grown Diamond space, which, so that company is mylegacydiamonds.com. We just launched that. And the concept there is we can take, you know, the ashes of your animal or even loved one and infuse that into a Lab Grown.

07:37
diamond so love it yeah man it's wild we can even take the hair of your kid or your grandmother there doesn't need to be deaf involved can be a living memorial diamond yeah it's all doom and gloom over here you know diamonds are forever diamonds are forever that's what I say I go you know what your DNA is in that stone if if earth disappears tomorrow you'll be floating in space and you still exist somewhere out there your DNA is still floating around

08:07
So that's been going real well, you know, it's...

08:12
It's definitely a niche business. It's something different. Typically the response I get from people is a little bit of shock, but they're like, you know what? I got my dog's ashes at my house. I would do that. Yeah. So yeah, man. And now we're branching into, we've got a jewelry line we're coming out with called Diabre Diamonds. And that's gonna be your standard engagement rings, tennis bracelets. And really the goal there is,

08:41
The diamond business has been very controlled. You could call it a monopoly for a long, long time. Dirty even? Very dirty business. If you've never seen it, I recommend everyone watch Blood Diamond. The irony of clarity with diamonds and how dirty the industry is. Yeah, it's an industry that needed to be shaken up a bit, and that's what we're trying to do. You know, I think nowadays people are a lot more conscious with their purchasing and the type of things

09:11
that they're gonna invest their money in and they believe in. So, you know, if we can provide a equal or superior product that you can feel good about, they're, you know, a lab grown diamond, you've got none of the environmental impact of the mining, which was horrible for the earth. You have none of this, unfortunately, child slavery that goes on from the mining of these diamonds, where, you know, the people that are doing the most work to benefit off these, excuse me,

09:41
of it. You know, they're living in poverty, barely, barely getting by. So, you know, if we can do something that that makes people feel good, look good. It's a win win. And obviously, the price point two is a lot more appealing. It's about a third of the price of a natural earth diamond. But if you look at it on a molecular level, there's no difference. Yeah. Is what are the names? They have like different names for those kind of manufactured diamonds? The diamonds? Are they

10:11
someone's coming up with brand names for different ones, but I think I've heard of a couple of them and I just can't recall what they're called. So there are some large companies that sell, and honestly, most of them. But it's not, so there's not, a manufactured diamond is just called a manufactured diamond. Right, or lab grown. Or lab grown. There's no universal name for it other than how it's made. No. Yeah, okay. No, I wish there was. Yeah, well hey, that's what we need to work on. I know we're gonna talk about that. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

10:41
marketing guy here, right? I believe me, I want something sexier than lab-grown. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I think it was wishful thinking. I was trying to manifest that someone had done this.

10:52
Because I think we got to do it. I think you're on point, which proves that we need something else. Because it's not sexy. It's not doing justice to it. No, Lapcron's like, eh. It kind of sounds interesting, but it kind of cheapens it a little bit. Yeah. Unnecessarily. I agree. When everything you described that's so true with the mindset today with sustainability and wanting to do right and all that's right.

11:16
Lab grown. No, you can call it a conflict free diamond. Yes. Conscious diamond, you know. Yeah, we'll get there. We'll get the juices flowing. So, okay, I wanna give some value to people listening. You guys are obviously, and I think I know the answer because we've talked about it, but for our audience.

11:38
You're going wide with the, with the, with the, instead of like deep on one or two things. I mean, you guys, in theory, cause I imagine you could have gone deeper on one or two of the things you named, but y'all are starting new ones on top of new ones when you, you obviously are being successful in each one of those. But what's the strategy there? We're big believers in diversification. You know, I think.

12:07
times are different than they used to be. I think growing up you're told you get a 401k, you get a good safe corporate job with a big name company. And I think maybe for my parents' generation that worked. But I don't think that that going forward is gonna get you the life that most people want.

12:30
You know, so I think and I also look at, you know, I remember 2008 and seeing my own, you know, my, my parents are business owners. They're in the furniture business. Um, and I saw 2008 and the real estate crash and how it affected their business. And I think that really instilled in me. You know, I remember, you know, my mom cutting coupons and whatnot. And, and, you know, I, it's not like I ever starved or anything like that, but I saw the emotional distress. Um, and that I think just really impacted me where I don't ever want to be in this position.

13:00
And I don't ever want to have to rely on other people to a degree. Yeah. Um, but also, you know, I want businesses that regardless, if we're in a booming economy or a bust economy.

13:14
some were bringing in cash flow, you know, which is why I always loved medicine. I wanted to be a doctor. Chemistry, I didn't speak that language. So, you know, quickly we did myself out of that process. And, you know, the next best thing was, all right, well, being medical sales. So, you know, luckily, you know.

13:36
Met a great mentor, he gave me a shot with his lab that I worked for at the time. And I always knew medicine, you know, it was hammered into me, I feel like when I was young, you know, doctor or lawyer, people always gonna need a divorce or always needing to see a doctor.

13:49
So I always knew healthcare was a solid choice. You know, and with our success, you know, you get afforded the ability to kind of pursue the things that you're passionate about and you want to do. So, you know, growing up in Florida, my partners and I were always on the water, wakeboarding, fishing, surfing, whatever it might be. So, you know, when the opportunity kind of presented itself, you know, with the boating business, you know, it was a no brainer. We knew that we all love this. So inevitably,

14:19
it's gonna work. You know, we're passionate about this. It's part of our lifestyle. So, you know, however, you know, I get that that's gonna be up and down. Yeah. You know, that is not an economy safe business. Right. By any means. But when it's booming, it's booming. Yeah, and I, you know, I know you're a boat owner yourself. What were we talking about earlier? What was the acronym you used for boat? Oh yeah, break out another thousand. Yeah, yeah, no doubt. It's not the cost of the boat. Kind of like Howie P's house here.

14:49
It's expensive purchase. Right, yeah. But it's the maintenance. The gift that keeps on giving. Yeah, it keeps on giving. So you know, but yeah, man, I think it's also just having a wide interest. I'm curious. I like to learn. You know, I certainly didn't ever think I'd be in the diamond business if you would ask me two years ago. But I see that that is that not only...

15:14
Is that something I'm intrigued by? And obviously there's massive value, but that was something I really did see. Like this is an industry that hasn't been shaken up. Like this needs a change. And I think, you know, we're at a point in time where people are ready to receive that change. People are open to it. So some of it is just timing, you know, and just culture. Where...

15:39
You know, you kind of just sit back and watch and observe and you can kind of see where, at least I do this, you see little snapshots of where things are going if you're really paying attention and observant to it. What's the hardest part about being an entrepreneur for you? Or like, give us, let's give some value again, like, you know, I'm sure.

16:03
I mean, you know, we're both entrepreneurs. I mean, we could, you know, everybody takes their lashes. But like, what's either like the biggest thing you've learned, like the overarching that surprised you or, yeah, just what comes to mind? That's a great question. I mean, like, is it, I mean, are you?

16:23
Do you struggle with looking back? Are you always focused forward? I'm pretty forward thinking. Yeah, seems that way. I mean, obviously, you know, like you said, you take a few licks along the way. Yeah. There's certain things that no matter how much you study, prepare for, you know, shit's gonna happen. Yeah. You're gonna take some hits. So I think the ability to be flexible and not let that...

16:52
break you. It's really it's a it's a battle with yourself. Obviously, I've got a great team, you know, my partners and I were

17:01
We're like brothers. They're my best friends and my partners. I trust them. And we're all different. We each have our own different genius. If it comes to bookkeeping and finance, I'm not your guy. If it comes to ops and having to kind of lay down the law, not really my thing either. So.

17:23
We've got a good balance, but I think the hardest part is balance in general of life, you know, taking time to still take a step back, enjoy life. It's easy to say, oh, I'll go on a vacation or something. I'll keep putting it off. It's really difficult when you're in it. You're so driven to get to your goal. And everyone says, don't be in a rush to get to the finish line. Enjoy the journey. Yeah. And I've now looking back on, you know, our different projects.

17:53
most fun and when you're in the trenches man yeah like when you look back at that it's just like dude how the hell did we get here it's but that's the beauty of it yeah it's um that's what keeps you going to those moments we look back and you're like damn dude like how do we make that happen we push through this so but it's just finding that balance in life you know at times staying motivated

18:20
But you just keep trucking, you know, and I'm a firm believer that things work out how they should, you know. God has been good to me as long as I keep pushing and putting the action and doing the right thing. It's like no matter what trials, tribulations, I look back, I've always made it through. So I remind myself that all the time. Yeah, I don't think people reflect on that enough, you know, like.

18:44
the blessing of getting on the other side of things. And like, you know, it's not that we take it for, not everyone takes it for granted, but I don't know that we get still in the moment and like appreciate it. You're right. And I don't, it's a terrible thing that we don't do that more. Man, I agree 100%. And I feel like, cause I, you know, I go through ups and downs all the time, you know, and.

19:09
You know, it's actually I've gotten more into meditation and really trying to do other things. Lately, I've been big on these Nordic saunas, the ice plunges and the sauna stuff. Just trying to kind of settle my mind, look for clarity, look for the answers within instead of constantly asking opinions. Like most times if you sit and let yourself just kind of process, solutions will come to you or at least some clarity. And I'm a big believer in my-

19:39
gut, my intuition. But I've got to be tapped in to really trust that, you know, I've got to take a step back. But when I those moments I'm stressing, I got to remind myself and it was actually a, even a couple weeks ago, and I don't even know what I was stressed about, right? Like you said, and when you're in it, you're like, Oh, God, man. Yeah. And then charged up, you know, you know, exactly why. And then next day, you know, I'm good, but you don't take the time to think.

20:07
well I was feeling like this and now I'm fine. And then when that next situation happens, you don't think, well I made it through that one, so I'll be good on this. So it's a work, it's really a mental battle more than anything. Yeah. As we close out here, Chris, there's this spirit about you that's just really calming and very...

20:29
Is that nature or nurture? Have you always been that way or have you become this way? Because there's just kind of this really good spirit about you, you know, like there's the energy. I appreciate that. Yeah, that's like, just like, I don't know. I wanna say it's always been there, but I didn't realize it, you know?

20:50
You know, obviously looking back, I remember like in seventh grade, my teacher picked me to go to some leadership camp. And it was things like that, that in the time like, oh cool, going to this thing, whatever, go hang out with the guys. But I look, when I really think back, I'm like, all right, it seems to me that there was things people noticed in me before I noticed in myself. But I'm a firm believer in energy and positivity. And it's funny you say that because it really,

21:20
corporate, you don't get that feedback. People are, when they're coaching you, they're going by a guideline almost. It's less feel, it's structured, like this is how we train our people. But I realize the more I've interacted with more entrepreneurs, that's important. People pick up on that. And I think when you get to the point where you can choose who you wanna work with, that's huge. I believe in that too. If I have a good energy from you or a good vibe, I love that.

21:50
That to me is something deeper that can't be explained. And that tells me, all right, this person is someone that I wanna continue to, I'm interested. I wanna learn more about. Yeah, I talk to a lot of people and I don't say that to every person. I appreciate that, man. It's definitely one of your strengths. Thank you. Cool man, Chris, everybody keep up with you as we close out here. I know you mentioned a couple, but let's plug in all of it. Yeah, Genesis Reference Labs is a medical lab.

22:20
or you know, looking for some good lab testing, look us up, vacay.usa, take vacay.com. Go get yourself some sleep gummies, some Delta-8 CBG gummies, and...

22:35
and be on the lookout in the next couple months for Diabre diamonds. If you need an engagement ring for your girl, we got you covered. There we go. Chris really enjoyed it. Look forward to getting to know you better and making some hay with some diamonds. Absolutely. Hey guys, you know, to find me, I'm at Ryan off and on all the platforms. You can find us at the radcast.com search for Chris Hansen. You'll find all the highlight clips from today from beautiful Palm desert. We'll see you next time. The Radcast.