# How Firefighter Friends Built the Murphy Door: Interview with Curtis Leishman
I recently sat down with **Curtis Leishman**, my longtime colleague and co‑founder of **Murphy Door**, for the inaugural episode of the *90 Proof Wisdom* podcast. We met as firefighters/EMTs and built a side hustle that has since become a nationally recognized hidden‑door company. Our conversation is a candid look at friendship, grit and entrepreneurship. Watch the full video below and read on for the highlights.
## Key takeaways
– **Origin story** – Curtis and I started Murphy Door while working full‑time as firefighters. We initially sold hardware kits and used *Starbucks* as our makeshift office because a coffee purchase meant free internet and unlimited refills.
– **Motivation** – Firefighter wages were low and we wanted to create additional income to provide for our families. Curtis recalled that our bi‑weekly checks were around $800 for 120 hours of work, and some colleagues worked multiple jobs just to get by.
– **Work–life balance** – Being away from home for multiple jobs took a toll. Curtis said he realised the impact when his family stopped getting excited for him to come home because they assumed he wouldn’t be around long.
– **Doing business on the go** – Because we were still on active duty, Curtis and I often answered customer calls from our fire truck. Curtis joked about placing hardware orders while sirens blared in the background and calling customers back after responding to emergencies.
– **Finding investors** – We approached John Porter of Focus Services Group to cover the cost of a trade‑show booth. He invested around $24k for a percentage of the company, valuing the fledgling business at roughly $100k.
– **Growth through hustle** – Early revenues were modest; we did about **$30 k in sales in 2012**. However, the product quickly gained traction. By 2016 we were balancing orders and calls while still on duty, sometimes pausing mid‑shift to process sales.
– **Lessons** – Grit and resourcefulness matter more than perfect timing. We built Murphy Door while working exhausting public‑safety jobs and used whatever resources were available—like free Wi‑Fi at Starbucks and the downtime between emergency calls—to keep the dream alive.
## From the firehouse to a side hustle
Curtis and I worked together at **Riverdale Fire** and later Roy and Weber Fire Districts. With families to support and limited earning potential in public service, we began looking for ways to supplement our income. “[At the end of the day a firefighter’s net check is around $750 to $800 every two weeks for 120 hours of work],” Curtis explained. We noticed many colleagues juggling two or three jobs, and neither of us wanted that lifestyle. Instead, we decided to build a product business.
Our initial idea was to sell **hidden door hardware kits**—steel hinges and pivots that allow bookcases or cabinets to swing open like doors. We weren’t cabinetmakers, so the hardware approach minimized the need for woodworking. To save on overhead, we held “office” meetings at a local Starbucks in Riverdale; for the price of a cup of coffee we enjoyed all‑day internet access and free refills.
> *“We literally would have our meetings inside Starbucks … that office at Starbucks was what—two years? Maybe a year and a half,”* I laughed.
## Balancing family, duty and entrepreneurship
Working full‑time as first responders while building a business was grueling. Curtis described answering customer calls from the back of an ambulance or fire truck: “[We’d be] taking customer service calls … riding a paramedic intercept or a fire truck trying to place an order for a hardware set with sirens in the background.” We would pause orders mid‑shift and call customers back after returning from cardiac arrests and house fires. Remarkably, most customers were patient and supportive.
Family life suffered, too. Curtis recalled a moment when he realized his kids barely noticed when he came home. *“I’d walk through the door and instead of my kid or my wife being excited that I came [home] … they just know that I’m never going to be there,”* he said. That awareness added urgency to make our side hustle succeed so we could eventually dedicate more time to loved ones.
## Securing support and validating the idea
Starting a product company requires capital, so we turned to **John Porter**, owner of Focus Services Group. Porter agreed to fund our first trade‑show booth and help build a professional display. We valued the company at around **$100k** and offered investors points for every thousand dollars contributed. Porter’s $24k stake bought him a significant percentage and allowed us to test our product at a trade show.
The response was encouraging. Although our first year’s revenue was only **about $30 k**, customers loved the concept of hidden doors disguised as bookcases. I noted that early hardware orders often came while we were on duty, leading to comical scenarios where we apologized for returning calls from the fire line.
## From Starbucks to a multinational brand
As sales grew, Curtis and I began manufacturing complete **Murphy Doors**, not just hardware kits. The business has since expanded beyond the U.S., with presence in Canada, France and Japan. Today, Murphy Door offers dozens of customizable hidden door styles and continues to employ former firefighters, paramedics and veterans.
The company’s success stems from the perseverance and creativity of its founders. We used free resources, reinvested every dollar and trusted our network to validate the concept. Above all, we never forgot why we started. “[We wanted] to help compensate our non‑compensation from a fire department—really, that’s what it came down to,” I said.
## Why this story matters
Repurposing long‑form conversations into articles helps new audiences discover powerful stories. Our journey offers lessons for anyone building a business while juggling demanding work and family responsibilities:
1. **Start where you are.** Use whatever time and resources you have—like free Wi‑Fi at a coffee shop—to make progress.
2. **Leverage your network.** Friends and local investors can provide critical early support. Offering clear terms, as we did, builds trust.
3. **Prioritize family and balance.** Recognize the toll entrepreneurship can take on loved ones and strive to adjust as the business grows.
4. **Be transparent with customers.** Taking calls from a fire truck and admitting you’re on a call might seem unprofessional, but honesty builds goodwill.
5. **Stay focused on your mission.** For Curtis and me, the goal was always to create security for our families and community; that purpose sustained us through long nights and setbacks.
## Watch the full interview
The quotes above only scratch the surface. In the full 90‑minute conversation, Curtis and I dive deeper into product design, funding strategies and the transition from hardware kits to complete hidden doors. If you’re a firefighter, entrepreneur or fan of origin stories, **watch the video at the top of this article** and subscribe to *90 Proof Wisdom* for more episodes.
*Do you have a similar story of balancing public service and entrepreneurship? Share your experiences in the comments below.*