Grit Mindset with Matt Rosen

In this episode of The Grit Mindset, host Matt Rosen sits down with entrepreneur and investor Ray Larson. Ray shares how he built his career from launching a print management company to running a family office today. He opens up about the challenges he faced early on, the tough pivot from print to search, and the realization that he needed to reinvent his IT shop to keep moving forward. Along the...

From boy scout to Green Beret, Daniel Elkins has dedicated his life to service. As the Founder and President of the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA), Daniel created the organization to fill a critical gap—advocating for Special Operations Forces (SOF) and their families in the halls of power on Capitol Hill. In this conversation with host Matt Rosen, Daniel opens up about: -The uni...

What does it take to step into the CEO seat—and stay there? In Episode 29, host Matt Rosen sits down with Mark Sinatra to unpack the grit behind leadership. Mark reflects on when he first knew he wanted to be a CEO, the types of businesses he gravitated toward, and the hard truth that finding people who share your vision is rare. His advice? When you find those people—keep them. Matt pushes the co...

In this inspiring episode, Matt Rosen sits down with Sunny Vanderbeck , entrepreneur, investor, Army veteran, and author of Selling Without Selling Out . Sunny takes us on a journey of resilience, grit, and the lessons learned from building and rebuilding companies. From starting college at 16, earning an engineering degree, serving in the U.S. Army, and launching his first company in his 20s—Sunn...

In this episode of The Grit Mindset , host Matt Rosen sits down with longtime friend and former co worker Vimal Vachani , founder of Crex Software —a SaaS company revolutionizing real estate technology. From his early passion for data and analytics to building software that now serves the entire real estate vertical, Vimal shares how Crex empowers property managers whether they oversee 10 building...

🚀 On this episode of The Grit Mindset, Matt Rosen sits down with entrepreneur Chaitan Fahnestock, founder of Sportsmo, the “gamified giving” app changing how fans support their teams. From growing up in Wichita and working in the family heating & air business to building a his own companies, Chaitan shares his biggest lessons, setbacks, and what grit really means to him. 💪 Discover how patie...

In this episode of The Grit Mindset, Matt Rosen welcomes Eli Goldaris, Managing Director at Isagani Yorke Capital Partners. With years of experience guiding businesses through complex deals, Eli has built a reputation for helping owners position their companies for growth and long-term success as a seasoned entrepreneur. Eli shares why so many businesses and M&A deals fall apart, what strategi...

In this episode of The Grit Mindset, Matt Rosen takes us back to 2002, when the tech bubble burst and he traded IT sales for bar ownership in Dallas’ Lower Greenville. He shares the wild ride of opening Dirty Daves—from build-out headaches, parking problems, and too many free drinks… to debt before opening day, missing daiquiri machines, and hiring the DJ as manager. Matt gets real about the mista...

In this episode of The Grit Mindset , the roles are reversed—Matt Rosen welcomes Ollie Chandhok , President and Publisher of the Dallas Business Journal , to the hot seat. After being featured himself in DBJ, Matt now gets to interview the man behind the headlines. Ollie shares his unique journey from selling nuts and bolts in warehouses to leading one of the most respected business publications i...

What happens when a 5-year-old boy believes moms are supposed to go find dads? That’s how Larry Hagner began his journey—a journey marked by absence, abuse, discovery, and ultimately, purpose. In this powerful episode of The Grit Mindset with Matt Rosen, Larry opens up about his early childhood—growing up without a father, surviving a toxic step-parent relationship, and the life-changing moment wh...

In this episode of Grit Mindset with Matt Rosen, host Matt Rosen takes the mic solo to share his own journey of resilience, entrepreneurship, and personal growth for the very first time on the show. Tune in for candid advice and real-world strategies to help you harness your own grit and pursue your goals with confidence.

What does it take to rise from the chaos of a war-torn childhood to leading a successful furniture company? Join Matt Rosen as he sits down with Veronica Schnitzius, President of American Leather, who shares her incredible journey from Medellín, Colombia, to the heart of Dallas. Discover how grit, resilience, and the power of community shaped her path to success. Tune in for actionable insights th...

Unlock the secrets of entrepreneurial success with Shane Spillers on this week’s episode of Grit Mindset! As a seasoned entrepreneur and EOS implementer, Shane shares invaluable insights on overcoming challenges and building resilient teams with host Matt Rosen. Discover how clarity in goals and the right people in the right seats can transform your business journey. Tune in for actionable strateg...

What does it take to transform challenges into opportunities? In this episode of Grit Mindset, host Matt Rosen sits down with Matt McGaughey, founder of Spinakr Solutions, to explore the grit behind building a global consulting firm from the ground up. Discover how embracing vulnerability and fostering trust can empower your team to thrive in a fast-paced world. Tune in for actionable insights tha...

How do you cultivate grit in today’s fast-paced world? In this episode of Grit Mindset with Matt Rosen, Matt chats with Gabe Moreno, president of Bishop Dunne Catholic School, about his inspiring journey from student to leader. Gabe shares valuable insights on transforming challenges into opportunities, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and building confidence through competence in educat...

In this episode of Grit Mindset with Matt Rosen, I sit down with the CEO of PCA Technology Solutions, Ted Clouser, who opens up about the emotional toll of stepping into leadership—and how hitting rock bottom led him to a whole new level of growth. From battling depression to transforming his mindset, Ted shares the raw, real journey behind rebuilding not just a business, but himself.

Welcome back to the Grit Mindset Podcast! I'm your host, Matt Rosen, and today I'm sitting down with Homero Gonzalez, the founder of DFW America Painting and Wallcovering. Born and raised in Dallas, Homero shares how his local roots and relentless mindset helped him build a successful business right here in the community he calls home. We dive into his entrepreneurial journey, the values that driv...

On today's episode of The Grit Mindset Podcast , I talk with Jeff Crilley, founder of Real News Public Relations and Real News Studios — and the very person who owns the space where this podcast is recorded. Jeff shares his story of growing up in Detroit, spending over 20 years in TV news, writing a book, and delivering hundreds of speeches for free over six years. He also dives into how those exp...

In this episode, I sit down with John Humphrey, founder of CoPoint Data, to talk about how the company got its start back in 2024—and how it’s grown into a focused data and AI consultancy. From advanced analytics and machine learning, John shares how CoPoint is helping clients make smarter decisions with their data.  It's a story of grit, persistence, and building something valuable from the groun...

In this episode, I sit down with Rick Hopper, the inventor behind Readerest — the magnetic eyeglass holder that took Shark Tank by storm. We dive into the origin of Readerest, the hustle behind getting it off the ground, and the incredible journey through entrepreneurship and invention. Hear how grit, vision, and a little bit of magnetism changed Rick's life. This one’s not to be missed. Stay Grit...

In this episode of The Grit Mindset, I'm joined by Brian Childers, Founder/ CEO Comport. Brian is a tech professional and entrepreneur whose story begins in the small town of Colfax, Louisiana. Raised in a close-knit community of fewer than 2,000 people, Brian developed the grit and determination that would shape his future. After earning a degree in computer technology, he launched his career and...

In this episode I'm joined by the inspiring Ashley Lowrance, President & CEO of GL Seaman & Company. From serving some of DFW’s most innovative businesses to partnering with clients across the country, Ashley explores the intersection of business leadership, workplace strategy, and long-term growth. Whether you're scaling a company, shaping a team, or rethinking how space influences perfor...

In this episode, I'm joined by my friend and serial entrepreneur Mitch Felderhoff. Mitch shares his journey from growing up in the small town of Munster, Texas, to taking over his family’s livestock feed business, transforming it into a successful pet food company, and eventually selling it to private equity. Mitch walks us through the highs, the challenges, and what it’s like to pivot from pet fo...

In this episode, I'm joined by my friend and fellow DFW Roundtable member, Kent Taggart. Kent is the founder of Mender , a successful IT Asset Disposition company that’s doing some fascinating and impactful work in the tech world. We dive into how Mender helps large enterprises and data centers responsibly manage their old IT equipment—from desktops and laptops to servers and networking gear. Kent...

In this episode, I’m joined by a great friend of mine, Wes Keyes, the CEO of Brother Bill’s Helping Hand. Wes shares his journey leading this incredible nonprofit for the past eight years and how Brother Bill’s provides wraparound services to families in need. From a community clinic and after-school programs to a grocery store and job training initiatives, their mission is to equip individuals wi...