About

Why I Started The Next Bell

My name is J.C. Nichols, and I'd like to tell you why The Next Bell means so much to me.

In January 1993, I moved to Kansas City from a small farm town in northern Missouri with just $200 in my pocket and a sack of frozen hamburger patties that I "borrowed" from my parents' freezer.

I moved in with a friend who was a school teacher and took a job at a local grocery store earning $8.50 an hour. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

After paying rent and my bills, I eventually found myself down to my last two dollars.

Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I asked my friend to take this picture.

I wanted a reminder of where I was starting—not because I planned to stay there, but because I promised myself I would never quit.

That photograph still sits in a frame on my credenza today. Every time I look at it, it reminds me to stay humble, work hard, and never forget where I came from.

To earn more money, I began estimating and managing paint jobs for a local painting company while still working full-time at the grocery store. For five years I worked two jobs. Many weeks I worked seven days a week, and once I even worked 43 straight days without a day off.

Eventually, I took a leap of faith and started Nichols Painting, a Kansas City painting company.

Over the next three decades, Nichols Painting grew into a successful business that has painted thousands of homes throughout the Kansas City area. Along the way, I also became a real estate agent and an insurance agent. None of it happened overnight. It came from showing up every day, treating people fairly, and refusing to give up.

Looking back, I often think about all the things I wish someone had taught me when I was in high school—how to manage money, build confidence, choose good friends, and recognize opportunities.

That's why I created The Next Bell.

My hope is that the lessons I've learned over the years can help students avoid some of the mistakes I made and discover their own path to success much sooner.

I believe every young person has incredible potential. Sometimes all they need is someone who believes in them.

I hope you'll join me in helping students become...

One Bell Closer to Their Future.

J.C. Nichols
Founder, The Next Bell
Author:  Paint, Profit, Repeat: How to start, run, and profit from your own home painting business

Kansas City | 1993

Down to my last $2... but not my last hope.