What Junk Removal Taught Me About Leadership, Service, and Second Chances

When I started in junk removal, I thought I was just getting rid of “stuff.”
Old couches. Broken appliances. Mattresses soaked in years of stories no one wanted to talk about.

But I quickly realized — this business isn’t about junk. It’s about people.

And for me, it became personal.

From Survivor to Servant Leader

I’ve been through some things.

I’ve survived cancer, a diagnosis that cracked me wide open and forced me to reevaluate everything — my time, my impact, my mission.

I’ve survived Lynch Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, and all the uncertainty that comes with it.

And I’ve survived the pressure cooker of business ownership. From scaling operations with 1-800-GOT-JUNK to building my own team at Survivor Junk Removal, every step has been about one thing: growth through grit.

What Junk Taught Me About Leadership

In this business, your team sees everything:

• The filth.
• The chaos.
• The breakdowns behind closed doors.

It’s not glamorous — and that’s what makes it real leadership training.

You don’t lead from behind a desk here. You lead from the driveway. From the hoarder house. From the final walkthrough.

You lead by:

• Showing up early.
• Jumping in the truck.
• Cleaning what others won’t.
• Owning mistakes.
• Building people who can do more than just lift — they lead.

Leadership isn’t a title. It’s how you make people feel safe, seen, and stronger after every interaction.

Service Isn’t a Job — It’s a Calling

Some people haul junk for money.

We do it to give people their space, their dignity, and their peace of mind back.

I've helped a widow clean out her husband’s garage.

I've stood in silence while a mother pointed to what she could part with after losing a child.

I've watched hoarders cry in relief as years of shame were finally lifted off their chest — along with the clutter.

That’s service. That’s purpose.

Second Chances — For Them and For Me

You know what junk removal really is?
It’s a reset button.

For the customer — and for the crew.

I’ve watched team members who were counted out in life get their shot here. I’ve seen young guys with no direction become leaders, husbands, and fathers who are proud of what they do.

That’s the heart of my book, Leading with Grit — giving people tools to lead from wherever they stand.

Because everyone deserves a second chance.
This business gave me mine.

The Junk Evolution

That’s why I created The Junk Evolution — not just to help junk removal companies grow, but to help the people behind them evolve.

It’s about:

• Leading with purpose.
• Building strong cultures.
• Setting clear standards.
• And reminding every operator out there that we’re in this to build something bigger than just revenue.

We’re here to build people.

The Final Walkthrough

Junk removal taught me that leadership isn’t about what you say — it’s about what you do when no one’s watching.

It taught me that service isn’t an add-on — it’s the mission.

And it taught me that every load we haul is a second chance — for the customer, for the team, and sometimes, for ourselves.

If cancer taught me anything, it’s that time is short — but impact is long.
And in this business, if you do it right, the impact is massive.

Keep hauling. Keep leading. Keep evolving.



— Kevin Hess
Founder, Survivor Junk Removal
Author of Leading with Purpose and Leading with Grit
Creator of The Junk Evolution