Matt McGaughey had already built a successful career when life forced him to reconsider what mattered most.

When he and his wife faced a difficult season trying to grow their family, Matt made the decision to step away and focus on home. That choice eventually helped lead him down a new path—entrepreneurship.

Today, Spinakr Solutions has grown from Matt simply raising his hand and asking, “How can I help?” into a global organization serving clients around the world.

In this episode of The Grit Mindset with Matt Rosen, McGaughey talks about building a business, learning to let go as a founder, surrounding yourself with people you trust, and creating a culture that puts people first.

He also shares his perspective on navigating AI and rapid change, why leaders need to listen before they act, and the importance of knowing when to stay the course—and when to adjust it.

Because grit doesn't always mean stubbornly following the original plan. Sometimes it means listening to the wind, changing direction, and continuing forward.

Gabe Moreno thought he was ready to lead the school that had already been such a big part of his life.

They told him he wasn't.

Instead of letting that rejection define him, Gabe left, gained new experience, developed as a leader, and kept moving forward.

Years later, Bishop Dunne called him back—this time to become president.

In this episode of The Grit Mindset with Matt Rosen, Gabe talks about what those years taught him about failure, perseverance, leadership, and why being told "not yet" doesn't mean "never."

He also shares why today's world of convenience may be making it harder for the next generation to tolerate frustration—and why learning to fail might be one of the most valuable skills we can teach.

Watch the full conversation on The Grit Mindset with Matt Rosen's YouTube channel.

At 18, Ted Clouser arrived in Arkansas with $400 in his pocket and faxed his résumé to every computer company he could find.

One hired him.

Twenty years later, he owned it.

But becoming the owner exposed a problem Ted never saw coming: he had spent two decades building a company around himself. Every question led to the same answer—“Ask Ted.”

When he tried to step into a different role, the business struggled to function without him, beginning one of the most difficult seasons of his life.

In this episode of The Grit Mindset with Matt Rosen, Ted talks about rebuilding the business, rebuilding himself, and the advice from his wife that helped change his perspective:

Stop trying to solve the next 18 months. Win today.

It’s a conversation about leadership, resilience, family, and learning that being indispensable isn't always the same thing as building something sustainable.

Watch the full episode of The Grit Mindset with Matt Rosen.

Homero Gonzalez grew up just 13 miles from downtown Dallas in a neighborhood with no grocery store and no restaurants. Decades later, his path would take him through the Dallas Museum of Art, SMU, sales, the West Texas oilfields, and eventually entrepreneurship.

Then he put everything he had on the line to buy half of his father-in-law’s struggling painting company.

In Homero’s words, the business was already “in the grave being covered up.” He decided to pull it out and resuscitate it.

In this episode of The Grit Mindset with Matt Rosen, Homero shares the lessons that shaped him—from staring at an empty commission box on the last Friday of the month to the mentor who gave him a set of golf clubs and one year to change his trajectory.

He also shares the question he asks himself every morning: Am I destroying wealth, or am I creating it?

Four years into building his company, Homero describes the business as a toddler—messy, bruised, stumbling, but growing. It’s an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, risk, resilience, and the grit it takes to keep building when success is anything but guaranteed.

Seven years ago, Jeff Crilley told Matt Rosen he needed a podcast. Matt said no. This episode exists because Jeff didn’t give up—which turns out to be a theme throughout his life.

Jeff grew up a poor kid in Detroit before spending 25 years in TV news. He stretched a ten-week internship to fifteen until he got caught, then talked his way into a job that didn’t exist. Years later, he left the only career he’d ever known to start Real News PR from his living room with just 30 business cards.

In this episode of The Grit Mindset, Matt and Jeff talk about turning fear into fight, the difficult clients who teach you the most, and the small changes that can completely alter your direction. Jeff also shares how his daughter helped him see the future of the company he built—and why he almost said no to that, too.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you have what it takes to make the leap, this episode is for you.

Success isn't built by avoiding failure—it's built by getting back up every time life knocks you down.

John Humphrey has experienced more than his share of adversity. From overcoming childhood trauma and navigating failed businesses to surviving a devastating car accident and rebuilding after personal heartbreak, he's learned that resilience isn't about avoiding challenges—it's about refusing to stay down.

In this episode of The Grit Mindset with Matt Rosen, John shares the lessons that shaped his entrepreneurial journey, why mentors and relationships have been the greatest investment of his career, and how building a strong network can open doors you never imagined.

Today, John is the co-founder of Cove Point Data, helping organizations leverage data, analytics, and AI. But the real story isn't about technology—it's about perseverance, leadership, and the mindset required to keep moving forward when life gets hard.

In this episode:

• Why grit is about getting back in the game
• The power of mentors and your personal board of directors
• Lessons from building and scaling multiple companies
• How networking changed John's life and career
• Why failure is an event—not a person
• The importance of resilience in business and life
• Finding purpose through adversity

Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating your own challenges, this conversation is full of practical wisdom that will stay with you long after the episode ends.

Rick Hopper's story is a powerful reminder that where you start doesn't determine where you finish.

He spent two and a half years addicted to meth, lost everything, and hit rock bottom. After getting sober, he rebuilt his life one step at a time—starting with a job at Home Depot.

That fresh start eventually led him to build and sell two companies, appear on Shark Tank, and dedicate his time to helping entrepreneurs through Biz Owners Ed, a free 10-week program for Dallas-area business owners.

One of the most impactful moments in this conversation isn't about success—it's about what happened after his first big breakthrough, when every customer wanted their money back. His response to that challenge became one of the defining moments of his entrepreneurial journey.

In this episode of The Grit Mindset with Matt Rosen, Rick shares honest lessons about resilience, integrity, leadership, and the mindset required to overcome adversity.

Every entrepreneur has a moment when they wonder if they're going to make it.

For Brian Childers, it was staring at payroll on Wednesday... with no idea how he'd pay his employees on Friday.

He shares what got him through that moment, what he learned from building and selling his business, and why discipline—not motivation—is what keeps you moving forward.

Watch the full episode of The Grit Mindset on YouTube.

By the time Ashley Lowrance left for college, she'd lived in 11 houses.

Eleven new schools. Eleven rooms where everyone already knew each other. The daughter of an Air Force brigadier general and B-52 pilot, she learned to do one thing extremely well: walk in, observe, figure out what mattered to these people, and find her seat at the table.

Years later, with no sales experience and no network in Dallas, she asked a man for a shot in an industry she'd only ever been a client of. He turned her down — and warned her she was setting herself up for failure. He referred her to a founder named Gary Seaman, who believed in her on the spot.

Today she's president of that company.

In this episode of The Grit Mindset, Ashley shares why motivation can't be given to anyone, why she hires for passion over polish, and the mentorship advice she'd give that runs against everything you've heard: avoid the well-meaning critics.

They said his dog food was killing dogs. He ate it for 30 days to prove them wrong.

Mitch Felderhoff turned a competitor-backed smear into a 400% sales jump—and later, a moment with his kids that changed how he defines success.

His definition of grit: knowing it has to be done, and doing it anyway.

A conversation about conviction, family, and building something big on purpose.

Watch the full episode of The Grit Mindset on YouTube.