The Founderz Lounge Episode #69 with Codie Aljets.

In this episode, Don Varady and Steve Bon sit down with Codie Aljets of Sage Country Customs to unpack a story shaped by adversity, creativity, and grit. After a battle with stage 4 colorectal cancer, Codie was forced to slow down, reassess his priorities, and ultimately rebuild his life around purpose and craftsmanship.

Codie shares how his journey from firefighter to full-time metal artist changed not just how he works, but how he thinks. The conversation dives into mindset, authenticity, pricing creative work, earning visibility in a niche market, and why consistency and learning matter more than chasing perfection.

This is a raw, grounded conversation about turning hardship into direction, building something real, and doing work that actually reflects who you are.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Trailer

[01:04] Catching up

[02:45] Getting to know Codie

[05:34] Medical struggles

[08:30] The lightbulb moment

[11:06] The metal art business

[13:01] The beginning of craftsmanship

[15:31] Turning passion into a business

[18:52] Entrepreneurial mistakes

[21:39] No more favors

[23:25] Balancing quality with profitability

[28:30] Marketing a niche business

[31:31] Going international

[34:36] Building a brand name

[37:27] Scaling

[41:53] Managing client expectations

[45:37] Lessons for younger craftsmen

[46:38] Dream collaboration

[48:48] Hot take

[51:01] Connect with Codie Aljets

Website: https://www.codiealjetsart.com/

[51:51] Codie’s dog

Key Takeaways:  

• “What you carry in your mind ends up manifesting elsewhere in your body.” ~Codie Aljets [04:25]

• “I don’t care if I’m the best, but I want to at least succeed at what I do.” ~Codie Aljets [09:41]

• “If you’re not being seen, people aren’t thinking about you.” ~Codie Aljets [27:26]

• You’ve got to take those 100 or 200 no’s to get that one yes. ~Codie Aljets [30:02]

• “If you’re not learning, you might as well be dead.” ~Codie Aljets [45:43]

• If it’s not authentic, nobody’s going to come to you. ~Codie Aljets [46:33]

Connect with Codie Aljets:

Website: https://www.codiealjetsart.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/codie.aljets/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagecountrycustoms/ 

Connect with Don and Steve…

Don Varady:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/don.varady/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donvarady/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-varady-450896145 

Steve Bon:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbon 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevebon8 

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