On the Exceptional Companies Podcast, I get to sit down with entrepreneurs who are not just building businesses but reshaping how business impacts people. In Episode 042, I had the pleasure of speaking with Andrew Perkett, the founder of COS Hauling, and our conversation left me inspired.
Andrew’s story isn’t just about hauling junk. It’s about faith, stewardship, capacity, and a mission to leave his city cleaner and stronger than he found it.
From Ministry to Entrepreneurship
Andrew grew up right here in Colorado Springs and pursued a degree in pastoral ministry. He thought he’d left church life behind, but God had other plans. Ministry gave him incredible opportunities to serve and lead, but it also revealed what he described as the church’s “unhealthy relationship with busyness and money.”
What struck me most was his perspective on stewardship. As Andrew put it, “Being a good steward isn’t hiding money under your mattress. The parable of the talents shows us that investing, multiplying, and growing—whether finances or relationships—is a holistic approach to life.”
When he and his wife stepped into real estate investing, they wrestled with whether it was greedy. Their conclusion: it all depended on what they did with the blessings. If it went only to themselves, then yes, it was greed. But if it created jobs, bought food or diapers for struggling families, or supported nonprofits, then it became stewardship in action. That reframing laid the foundation for the work Andrew is doing today.
Discovering Capacity
One of the most powerful parts of our conversation was Andrew’s take on capacity. He compared it to a rubber band—only useful when stretched.
“If I had tried everything I do now six years ago, I couldn’t have done it,” he told me. “But as you stretch your capacity, you discover you can do more—and do it well.”
I resonated with that deeply. I see it in my own coaching: people often claim they don’t have time, but then I ask them to track their week. Inevitably, we discover hours lost to Netflix or scrolling Facebook. It’s not a lack of time, it’s a lack of capacity management. As Andrew explained, you can grow capacity intentionally—through service, stretching yourself, and committing to deep work.
Lessons From Ministry and Mentors
Andrew’s years in church leadership weren’t wasted. They were a crash course in managing people and ideas. He shared with me a story of a mentor who reframed his frustration with leadership he disagreed with: “You have to go through this to become the leader you want to be—because now you’ll never do this to your employees.”
That perspective gave Andrew a new appreciation for hardship as preparation. It also gave him the confidence to step out. In 2020, he co-founded a nonprofit for men’s mental health, which proved meaningful but financially unsustainable. “We finally admitted it,” he said. “We want to make money.” That honesty propelled him into real estate, and eventually, into launching COS Hauling.
COS Hauling: A Mission for a Cleaner City
What began with one truck and trailer quickly grew into a thriving business. Four months in, Andrew invested in a hydraulic trailer, and the jobs kept coming. But COS Hauling isn’t just about removing junk—it’s about building a cleaner city and leaving spaces better than they were found.
The mission is simple: “to leave our world better than when we arrived.”
That plays out in four values:
- Local Trust – Be experts and deliver the highest quality.
- People First – Care for people, keep prices fair, and donate work to nonprofits.
- All In – Sweep, blow, and go beyond expectations.
- Have Fun – Enjoy the work, enjoy the team.
I loved his story of a client who chose COS because they honored the original quote while competitors doubled theirs after seeing her nice home. “Our price is our price,” Andrew told me. That kind of integrity is rare—and it’s why people trust him.
Culture, Accountability, and Presentation
I pressed Andrew on culture, because to me, culture without accountability isn’t culture at all. He agreed. “Culture is what you create and what you allow,” he explained. “If something goes against who we are, and you don’t say anything, then that becomes your culture.”
This hit home for me. I’ve seen what happens when culture isn’t backed by accountability. I once had a contractor toss cigarette butts in my driveway while building my house—and my young daughter picked one up and put it in her mouth. Another time, a business development rep showed up to a high-stakes client meeting in sandals and a t-shirt. Presentation and accountability matter. Andrew gets that, and he’s built COS Hauling around those principles.
Bad Advice vs. Good Advice
We also talked about the kind of advice entrepreneurs should ignore. Andrew’s take? Don’t fall for the myth of “burn the ships” or “grow as fast as possible.” “You can be all in without being foolish,” he said.
Instead, his counsel is to grow steadily, build healthy systems, and avoid instant gratification. COS Hauling has expanded every year, not through overnight success, but through intentional processes and patience.
On the flip side, the best advice he’s lived by is to value people above everything. Mentors, friends, competitors—even in junk removal, he collaborates with others in the city, trading jobs when they’re busy and supporting one another. “We collaborate, not compete,” he told me. That’s a mindset I wish more entrepreneurs would embrace.
Staying the Course
As we wrapped up, Andrew offered a word of encouragement: “Stay the course. Be consistent. Know who you are. Surround yourself with people who support you.”
For him, that support begins with faith and with his wife, whose steady presence has carried him through tough seasons. It’s a reminder that no one builds alone, and that perseverance—rooted in values—pays off.
Connect With Andrew
- Personal: Facebook & Instagram — Andrew Perkett
- Business: COSHauling.com and @COSHauling on social platforms
Andrew also recommends two books for anyone who wants to grow their capacity: Beyond High Performance and No Limits by John Maxwell.
In the end, Andrew’s story is about far more than hauling junk. It’s about stewardship, integrity, and leaving every space—whether a driveway, a city street, or a relationship—better than it was before. That’s the kind of entrepreneur I love sharing with you on this podcast.
AND MORE TOPICS COVERED IN THE FULL INTERVIEW!!! You can check that out and subscribe to YouTube.
If you want to know more about Andrew Perkett, you may reach out to him at:
- Website: COSHauling.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theperkettrealtor
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewperkett
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andrew-perkett-989aa696/
- Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coshauling/
- Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cos-hauling-llc
Connect with Chris Seegers:
- Website: https://exceptionalcos.com/
- Email: Ch***@************OS.com
Other Resources:
- Books: Selling Main Street by Chris Seegers
