Balancing Life and Medicine

Balancing Life in Medicine: Nurturing a Family Business with Integrity, Community, and Resilience

Dr. DeWayne Baugus Season 1 Episode 8

How does a family-owned business thrive in the face of adversity and larger competitors? Join us on "Balancing Life in Medicine" as we sit down with Jeremy Armstrong from BA French Drains to uncover the secrets behind his entrepreneurial success. From working in landscaping to becoming a community pillar, Jeremy's story is filled with invaluable insights on running a family business, the power of networking through BNI, and the emotional resilience required to navigate tough times.

In this episode, we shine a light on the importance of personal service and how it can be a game-changer against larger competitors. Jeremy shares candidly about the significance of honesty, communication, and reliability in building a thriving business. You'll also hear about his wife's ventures into teaching bread-making classes and exploring natural health remedies, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit that runs deep in their family. Community support and personal growth are at the heart of their success, providing a rich tapestry of inspiration for anyone looking to grow their own ventures.

We also celebrate the essence of family values and the impact of community service. Sharing heartwarming stories from Jeremy's 21-year marriage to his daughter's crochet business, we explore how a service-minded upbringing can inspire entrepreneurial pursuits. The episode concludes by spotlighting the substantial contributions of BA French Drains to Tulsa and Broken Arrow communities, emphasizing the crucial role local businesses play in enriching their neighborhoods. Tune in for an episode filled with lessons in faith, perseverance, and the undeniable power of community.

BA French Drains - (918) 695-0342 - bafrenchdrains@gmail.com

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Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Thank you for joining us today on Balancing Life in Medicine. We're going to be meeting Jeremy Armstrong and his family of entrepreneurs, how he's making a difference in the community and the many blessings that his family is offering to those out there. I do have to say that there was a correction during the video. It was wonderful to be corrected, isn't it? I love that we talked about the length of a hug to make a difference in someone's life. It's actually six seconds. So join us and let us excite you as far as diving into Jeremy's family's life and all the great things that they're doing Well.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Thank you for joining us today on Balancing Life in Medicine. I'm Dr Dewayne Baugus. My guest today is Jeremy Armstrong, with BA French Trains. We're going to go through what makes a family-owned business successful, the different things that we encounter as a family when we start a business, when we have to recreate ourself in a business and how we fit in the community, what we contribute, and the blessings that come along with helping others better their life and their homes. So thank you for joining me today, Jeremy.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Thank you for having me.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Doc, you bet. So I've known you for a long time. Yeah, seems like forever.

Jeremy Armstrong:

I don't know if that's just years or personality Long time, but yeah, we were just talking about what? 2018? 18, I think yeah, yeah.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

In networking groups.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yes, yeah, I think we were part of BNI. Can we say that? Well, yeah, I think we can.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

I don't know if we owe them anything now that we said that I don't think YouTube's going to shut us down or podcasts are going to have a problem, especially because we're almost an advertisement, because it was a great opportunity to meet you.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yeah, met a lot of good people through it. Still know it even though we're not in it. But yeah, it was good. I think we're always going to be plugged in because, as business owners, that's just the way we are. Yeah, we want to be.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

The community, how we tap into different lives by helping other businesses grow. And I know then it was interesting because I didn't know who you were, but you were the crazy guy that showed up with different T-shirts on. I think you had one like oh, yeah, most referrals, or something. Yeah, I was like yeah, this guy's Kept doing it for.

Jeremy Armstrong:

I don't know if it was monthly or weekly, but yeah, yeah, my wife would make up other shirts. Was that your wife was doing that to you? It was amazing.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Yeah, it was great Because my first impression was like this guy, he does landscaping. I think he's probably smelled too many pesticides.

Jeremy Armstrong:

He's a little. I don't know what he's getting into.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

But Stacy was a very big. He was a common denominator in that networking group, yeah, and helped me understand.

Jeremy Armstrong:

All three got in trouble together.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

It was great. Yeah, it was. Yeah, that was their origins of.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Spark was the falling apart of that networking group for us, yeah, which I mean it made it what Spark is today.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Just all those battles we have, or whatever we go through, the changes, the next step, yeah, how we adapt and how things come better, like they get better after those things. You were a part of Outside Ink at that time.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yes, we were one of three owners.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

How did you get into Outside Ink? How did you get into that business? What got you into that?

Jeremy Armstrong:

So I used to do takeoffs for big refinery heaters and we went through a small group and he was the owner, the original owner, of Grass Solutions. I kept going to his small group, small group and then finally he wanted to bring me on. So I just started in the ditches, just started digging, and then, five years into it, four years into it whatever there was three of us that bought him out and then us three took over outside Inc Gotcha.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Was it a short period of time?

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yeah, it was. It was a lot of climbing real quick. God knew where I needed to be and he needed to do it fast. And then what was that? 23,? A couple months after I lost Dad, the guys came to me and they wanted to buy me out. So it was a rough part of time but man, it was great it was so glad it happened.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

It's interesting how the Lord will shift us through different chapters in our life, especially when things are emotionally heavy. It's almost like the bottom, seems to drop out, everything goes bad and keeps going bad, or seemingly that way, when there's a blessing, and that's hard to explain to someone who doesn't understand.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Doesn't know that it's coming. Yeah, that valley, there's always a hill on the other side of it. You just got to go through it. You got to know, when you're in it too, that, knowing that I'm fixing to be blessed, watch out or get beside me. Come on, because it's going to be good.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

That's the victory in the valley, isn't it?

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yeah, Because I mean it's dark down there, but as long as you're a follower, you know. I mean it's fixing to be bright. Yeah, you can see the light.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

I think that that's also a part of that blessed hope. As a believer, you, that's also a part of that blessed hope. As a believer, you know, you hope, but you also know that there's something coming, now you don't know what it is. No, you don't, and I think that that's a big part of it is just moving forward, doing what you know you can do and knowing that the Lord's with you and he's going to bless you, as long as you're listening to.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Him. Keep taking those steps. It might be a wide valley, but eventually you'll come out of it.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

You'll come out of it. So outside ink turned into BA French Trains.

Jeremy Armstrong:

No well for us. I mean outside, stayed outside. They're still out there with two owners, and then my wife and I. She's the owner of BA French Trains. I work for her, gotcha.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Yeah, I work for my wife as well. She's the owner of the clinic. Yeah, we need managers.

Jeremy Armstrong:

I'm too pretty for jail, if anything goes wrong.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Nice. Well, she's not just managing you, she's got the kids involved.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Oh, yeah, yeah Well, and the first year was very rough on her. I mean, she does everything. I mean everything the schooling. Both the kids are homeschooled our oldest is in stillwater, but she does that. She worked with me all day in the ditches come home, do books and then tend to her gardens, chickens, farm animals, take care of the kids, because I just take a nap, go to sleep and she wakes me up for dinner and I go to bed. How do they do that?

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

I don't know my wife does, she teaches classes, pilates. She comes here, she runs the schedule, she does the marketing, advertising, she does every bit of organization. I show up and I stick people and then I'm like man, I'm tired.

Jeremy Armstrong:

And she's like this is so painful. And she's like okay, Okay, honey, they're amazing.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

They are Well, they're the other half of us, yeah.

Jeremy Armstrong:

That's that Lord's support, because he knows that some of us he knows I'm real good for six hours and then the rest of it she has to have.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

She's like I got it. Well, that has. How long have you, has it been since you started that business?

Jeremy Armstrong:

BA. Yeah, we started in March of 23. Yep, a year and a half.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

So March of 23 you started, and then you got voted.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yes, in 20,. What is this 24? Yeah, so in 23 we got best in the Tulsa world.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

How does that work I?

Jeremy Armstrong:

don't know just our clients and God there, it is right. How does that work? I don't know Just our clients and God there. It is right it had to be, because we were only in it for a solid nine months before the voting took place.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

So you're standing up against giants that you just oh yeah.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Huge crews. Yeah, you know companies with 30 crews and it's still just me and my wife out there. But a lot of that's you know we're local. It's family owned operated. You deal with us for the estimating. You deal with us for the job works, you know it's not. And we're just personable people. I mean a lot of people call you and say I don't know why, but I'm supposed to pick you. Well, I know why, but thank you. Pick you. Well, I know why, but thank you.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

There it is. There's a confidence in knowing that you're going to do a good job for each individual you step in front of. I think would you say that's the heart of business. Yeah, Just being honest with people.

Jeremy Armstrong:

That's all they want to know Communication and to do what you say Show up. If you say you're going to show up, it's amazing how many times you just go to an estimate and people are like you're the fourth one I've called. You're the only one that showed up. I was like why? Wow, you're the only one that will call me back. Nobody wants business, everybody wants money, but they don't want to work. Yeah, exactly.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

I think that's a common theme in the world we're in today. In the world we're in today, especially this economy, is everyone wants money, but they don't want to be there to do it, and I think that one of the key factors in you know, my wife and I this is a family-owned business, like Stacy and Heidi, many others that are business owners there's a lot of family roots, and with that family root comes a lot of honesty and a lot of drive to do the best you can be honest and help out the community, and I think when you come with a heart that is true in that regard, then you're always going to succeed.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yeah.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Because people are always looking for honesty and truth. Yeah, that shines through the best sales tactic.

Jeremy Armstrong:

It will also come out if you're faking it. So it's just yeah. Yeah, I mean, it's just time, let them weed themselves out.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

So nine months, you already hit.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Tulsa's best. And then this year we've been voted, we made top three already. We still got what is today. We still got three weeks, I think, until the award ceremony.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Gotcha.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Shooting for two years in a row. That's amazing. It is, it really is.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

So your wife is now going into another venture too, right?

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yes.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

She's doing what my wife is terrified of doing, and that's learning how to make her own bread.

Jeremy Armstrong:

She knows that will be the downfall of everything in her life if we can make her own bread, she loves it. Yeah, yeah, it's great. They had a sold out event last monday at magnolia soap and it was just, I mean 20 people, you know. One night, a couple hours for just to learn how to make sourdough. That's great what's the? Name of her business, eden's roots eden's roots?

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

yeah, um, does it have a physical location or she's going to different places? Yeah, different places, different venues.

Jeremy Armstrong:

So she'll come set up yeah yeah, She'll come to houses if you've got enough, you know a big enough party get together, Kind of like Tupperware back in the day. Same concept, but. But with more addictive things like bread yeah yeah they're trying to venture into, like uh tinctures and those kind of things, teaching you how to make those, because you fill up your medicine cabinet with actually some good stuff instead of, yeah, some stuff that you'll have side effects for in 30 years that's and that's taking over my job, isn't it?

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

yeah, the teachers, we, we made a lot of tinctures in in chinese medicine and there's so many great things that come out of those, not necessarily the flavor no, god no. But it's. I always like to stand back from my education in Chinese herbs formulas, tinctures, extractions, things that help people formulas, tinctures, extractions, things that help people. Because well, let's face it, we're in oklahoma and if you can tailor tinctures toward the people you live around in the community that you are, in other words, what you see every day as a parent.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Um, what you're seeing as far as, uh, other other parents in the community, what they're going through based on their diet, their environment, that's more effective than anything that they could teach me in school. Um, cause, let's face it, 4,000 years ago in China, they don't really know about diet and Cokes and things like that here in our world.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Um, but MSG salt shakers, all that fun stuff. The killers.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

I don't know why I have high blood pressure. We'll get pressure.

Jeremy Armstrong:

That's a different video and we're going to have to have her on if she wants to come on and talk about those tinctures because, to be honest, I would love to promote anything that she makes or promote that growth. Is there any way you can poke her to make the introvert subside? Yeah, there's no spot for that.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Now there's acupuncture points I can use to get hit, but I don't know if that's bringing someone out of their introvert.

Jeremy Armstrong:

It's more of a pain reaction.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

But no, I think that comes with time the more confidence she builds. And it's actually from the community, isn't it? The more you see the response and how much they enjoy your services. Anything that you get into, it's that feedback, that helps you grow.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Gives you the confidence to Say what you want to say.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Yeah, Do what you want to do. She feed you any tinctures. She make you drink anything weird.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yeah she makes something called a toothache, does it taste horrible and your whole mouth's numb and you're just drooling everywhere and she's giggling in the background.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

It makes you wonder sometimes, when you're married to a person like that, it's like is this medicinal or are you doing this just for fun?

Jeremy Armstrong:

Why does this smell like vodka?

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

I didn't know it takes vodka to do most of it.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Come home and she's got shot glasses everywhere. I'm like rough day with the kids Making tinctures, okay.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

So she's growing in that direction and you're chugging along.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yeah, we actually were able to start a crew this year, or sub subcontractors, but yeah. So, we can continue to grow and provide that good, a good service.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

So you went from the family crew and now you're to the kids helping. Gotcha and you and you've done all that in in literally less than a year.

Jeremy Armstrong:

I would say year, year and a half on the adding the crew yeah, literally less than a year, I would say a year. Year and a half On the adding the crew yeah, but from the start it's just been a year and a half On this business yeah.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

That speaks wonders to people who are like can I start my own business? Because I've heard Stacy say this to us many times business owners are all rich.

Jeremy Armstrong:

And that's a complete lie. Just keep speaking it into existence. Just keep talking it.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

So people think that that's unachievable. To be their own business owner, to start their own passion or to excel in what they really are?

Jeremy Armstrong:

made to do.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

And for you to say, well, yeah, I got started in it. You know, I went from one company starting my own company, from one company starting my own company, and within one year best in Tulsa, within two years, less than two years you've got your own cruise. You're not just like, yeah, we have a five and ten-year plan. This is really blowing a lot of things out of the water and I think that that has a lot to do with the economy and offering an honest service to people. But there's another part of it. I think that is really would be considered kind of magical. Obviously, the Lord is the one that's paving this path for you, but there's you stepping into it and making personal contact, conversation, one-on-one it's not text messages it's not like through a voice.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

It's you're meeting these people, yeah, and when you're getting to meet people out there, what are you? You're, you're working with very wealthy people and also people who really don't have.

Jeremy Armstrong:

They need a service because their yard's flooded um, and they know that they can't afford it, but they just need to know what it costs, I mean, yeah we're all at different places right now, but, yeah, there's always a way to help people, and that honesty yeah, I mean you just tell them what it is. I mean, yeah, I can help you, I can't help you, you don't need this, you need this. You don't even need me call these people, you know something like that.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

So it's, it's to bring it focus. It's not necessarily what you can get from people, it's what you can give them. Yeah, and I think when people receive something from a business owner or from a company Just honesty they feel fulfilled. Yeah, I had one.

Jeremy Armstrong:

This week A lady called me out and I was like I told her everything and I didn't even sell her nothing. She's like let me pay you for your time. I was like no, I don't need anything, you just didn't know. She's like oh, thank you so much, you're welcome, but I mean, it's just the way. It is the way you're supposed to treat them.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

That's gratifying, yeah, it's gratifying in itself, knowing that you helped somebody. Now you have with you, with your wife, now you have someone here next to us, a young entrepreneur starting up.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Another business in the family Right.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

So, goodness gracious, you guys are just going to take over the country here.

Jeremy Armstrong:

This little one is. She's going to run things. She's not the introvert One or the other.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

She'll run it. She's going to run things.

Jeremy Armstrong:

She's not the introvert, one or the other. She'll run it. She'll run it. Yeah, she's not the introvert, no.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Well, and I think that there's that other story, the back story, about you're doing all these things and you're achieving so much and you're meeting people at their level, whatever service they may need as far as what they're calling you for, but also you're raising a family. You got one in college Stillwater, yep.

Jeremy Armstrong:

She's 20. Yeah, 20. How'd that happen? No, don't go into that 20 years old.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

I mean, I know, when I first met you I was like, yeah, he's probably got kids under the age of 10, you know, and there you are, you got one I did, but I had an older one too. Yeah.

Jeremy Armstrong:

So we just passed 21 years last month. Marriage, wow, yeah 21 years.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

I've seen the wedding pictures you posted.

Jeremy Armstrong:

That's pretty amazing for 32,. Huh, I wish I'd know. I don't want to go back. I'm good, I'm happy, right here.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Good yeah, because everybody's happy around you. I mean, you've created organizations within organizations, one of them being Team Hug.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yeah, I'm vice president.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Sure, and if any of the viewers have watched or listened to any previous podcasts, there were two individuals Stacey Ray and President, president, president, stacey Ray. And then we have Nathan Williams.

Jeremy Armstrong:

He's just the receiver. He hasn't received his badge yet.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

I think he was the catalyst for Team Hug, though, wasn't he? He was the reason we are. Team Hug Because you didn't like hugs. No.

Jeremy Armstrong:

There's quite a bit of people that don't. That's coming around, kenneth.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Yeah, this is our guy behind the scenes. Yeah, hugs are awkward for some people and I don't care. Jeremy doesn't care, stacey doesn't care, now, nathan doesn't care.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Now Nathan knows All right, come on, let's get it over with.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Let's just do this.

Jeremy Armstrong:

And eventually he's going to be a giver of hugs.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Well, I think that says a lot about your personality and when it's a stranger or someone doing business with you, they're always going to be a person in your community. They're a friend. I think that comes from an upbringing of your dad, who I got to meet. He's an amazing gentleman, a service member, a combat vet, but also he passed that on to you of being a service individual, service-minded. Be honest, be truthful, do your best, help the community grow, and it means a lot. Yeah, and it shines through and it's shining through to one of your offspring over there. That's giggling. She's very embarrassed, but what is it? She makes Coaster, is it Crochets, crochets.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yeah, my Crochet Coasters.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Do you?

Jeremy Armstrong:

have a website. She has a Facebook. Facebook my Crochet.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

My Crochet Right on. So everybody go to my Crochet Facebook.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yeah, Facebook.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Yeah.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Load her up 11 years old. Show her what business is really like Trying to get it going 11.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Yep, so you know QuickBooks, yet Mom taking care of it, okay, she got with Lisa Bain last week Great ministry. Amazingly so.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Lisa's going to start putting some of her crochet coasters in her boxes.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Wow, those boxes. Lisa Bain Ministries. Look her up. She's amazing. She's that stranger that brings you a gift of love when you're in the middle of a traumatic, life-changing experience. That woman is a light that shines isn't she?

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yeah, she's amazing, even her backstory. I mean just her and her mom personally, just before they even started the Lisa Bain Ministries. That's good.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

I need to hear that. I haven't got to hear her story.

Jeremy Armstrong:

She wasn't even supposed to be able to walk, so she sent her shoes to the doctor that told her that, and then finally he's like stop sending me your shoes. She said well, stop telling people they can't walk. Beautiful, yeah, and she's still going strong today.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Yeah, I got to see some of the snapshots I and strong today. Yeah, I get to see some of the snapshots. I didn't get to make it to the last last meeting but, um, thank you for for spending time with me today.

Jeremy Armstrong:

No problem. Thank you for having me.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Yeah, you bet. Um, is there anything that that you would like to add? Or I mean because we need to throw some, some information out there so people can find you. How, how would, how, would people find you? Is it social media?

Jeremy Armstrong:

Oh yeah, we're on Facebook. I think we're. I don't know any of this stuff. I know it's Facebook. I think we have an Insta Instagram, however you say it. So BA French Trains, yes, BA French Trains.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

Okay, yeah, we'll throw a link up on that one. You're gonna have to show me how. I don't know how to do any of that, but keep blessing people. I know the Lord always has something planned for us and you're a beautiful testimony of that. So never stop, just keep going, just keep trucking and all else fails. Just keep hugging people, make them uncomfortable if they like you.

Jeremy Armstrong:

We were serving at a church before during COVID and we would do hugs or handshakes during the middle of COVID. You'd be surprised how many people still wanted to hug. It was just amazing.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

I think that personal contact is something that I see so many people, even in medicine. You know there's a lot of research on hugging people. Did you know that? Uh-huh, you know there's a lot of research on hugging people. Did you know that? Yeah, just to hug someone you know for I think it's between 40 and 60 seconds I'll have to look that up Changes everything about their day. It's a long hug. Yeah, it becomes awkward sometimes.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Be sure you let them know what's going on. Can't stop. Yeah, we got 15 more seconds.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

My watch and my ring are locked behind your back. My, my watch and my ring are locked behind your back, whatever excuse you got to make, but it's there, there's. There's something to be said for a hug, and I think covid that separation from people and and where people are going. You know the cell phone world where people think that that's a proper way of communicating I think it leaves people empty and and you just a handshake is almost like handshake almost means you. I want to give them a hug there's just a grab to bring them in it is, it's just just.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

That's just a ticket coming in for the hug well, um, I'll be looking forward to seeing what where you guys end this year. As far as uh first, second or third, uh in tulsa but Broken Arrow or BA French Drains Google them, look them up Jeremy Armstrong and his wonderful family are making a difference in the surrounding area. It's not just Tulsa, it's Broken Arrow.

Jeremy Armstrong:

Yeah, where do you go? We take about an hour circle. Sorry, kenneth, take about an hour circle from Tulsa Gotcha.

Dr DeWayne Baugus:

So give or take, go, get out there and get to them. Yeah, all right. Well, once again, thank you for joining us and until next time, care for one another, be truthful, be honest with each other and make a difference in your world, and we'll see you next time.

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