Mark Stoner is the owner of Ashbusters Chimney Services, one of the top chimney sweeper companies in the country. He explains how chimney sweeping is a dangerous job due to the health and safety hazards involved. But still, somebody has to do it.
Blue Collar Millionaires: "The Millionaire Chimney Sweep" Slideshow
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Mark charges around $150 - $200 for a chimney sweep, but explains that repairs are what really brings in the money. He charges around $1,500 - $5,000 for a chimney repair.
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Mark spends his money on what he calls "Tennessee toys," which include a $20,000 Arctic Cat ATV, a $22,000 Victory Vision motorcycle and a $29,000 Can-Am Spyder motorcycle.
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You could say Mark wrote the book on being a blue collar entrepreneur. His book is called "Blue-Collar Gold: How to Build a Service Business from the Dirt Up" and he hopes it will inspire others to start their own blue collar business.
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Hawaiian natives Joe and Kristen Souza's business, Kanile'a 'Ukulele, is known for high-quality, hand-crafted ukuleles; Joe describes them as the "cadillac of ukuleles."
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Joe started out as a firefighter, but always loved playing the ukulele so he started apprenticing in making them. Eventually, he started his own business.
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Joe shows off the patented true bracing system that Kanile'a 'Ukuleles have.
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Joe and Kristen live in a $2.2 million island estate with what Joe describes as "the most beautiful view this island has to offer."
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Steve Hightower started out as a janitor, but now he's an oil tycoon worth millions. His company, Hightowers Petroleum Company, is expected to do $1 billion in annual revenue in the next three years.
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Steve is also a partner with soccer team, FC Cincinnati. Ever since then, Steve has become quite the soccer fan.
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Steve explains that, despite his success, he is still a very humbled individual who is doing the best he can.
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