Pivot, Prosper, & Persevere

In this episode, Joe Meling sits down with Don Gonzales to talk about what it really takes to build a successful leathercraft business — starting with apprenticeship and ending with marketing that actually works. Too many makers focus only on improving their skills. Skill matters. But skill alone doesn’t build a business. Don shares how learning through apprenticeship can fast-track your growth as...

What happens when you bet on yourself — with zero experience and zero contacts? In this episode of Pivot, Prosper, and Persevere , I sit down with Steven Van Plew to talk about what it really looks like to enter a brand-new industry with nothing but belief, work ethic, and the willingness to outwork the competition. Steven shares how he: • Broke into an industry with no network • Built his reputat...

You don’t need all the skills before you start - you need the courage to take the first step. This entrepreneur stepped far outside his comfort zone and built businesses he had no formal training to run. Through determination, adaptability, and grit, he found success, learned the skills along the way, and ultimately redefined what freedom and fulfillment look like for him.  This conversation is fo...

Many people fear treating their hobby as a business because they don’t want to lose the joy they had in it to start. A business is what you create it to be and it can’t steal your joy unless you let it. Being intentional, learning to set boundaries, and having a clear vision can allow you to protect your joy. 

Many people stay stuck where they’re at due to a fear of failure. Failure is a perception and a decision. Making a pivot on your career is not a failure when done in the right way. There is a lot of your past or current career that will actually carry you forward into the future stronger. 

Taking on the mindset of an owner while you are still an employee not only helps you bring more to the table, but it also helps develop your skills while you’re in your current position. Riley Waggoner has worked hard and dedicated himself over the last 4 years to build his skills both personally and professionally. I love his perspective that he shares on catching and casting vision. It’s been an...

At 29 years old, Ryan Gill made the decision to go “all in”. He invested everything he had to start a new business with no guarantee of success. He started by himself with 1 dump truck. 21 years later, along with his business partners, they sold their business to the largest construction company in the world. The path to success was anything but a straight line for Ryan, but his refusal to fail pa...

Follow along as we visit with entrepreneurs ranging from main street makers to international business owners. The stories are diverse but the principal is that same. There is a certain mental toughness that comes with entrepreneurship. Some people have it going in, some develop it along the way, while others get discouraged and quit before reaching their full potential.  When we face troubles and...

This is a trailer for what's to come in this podcast!