Grit Won't Quit

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Leo Cervantes of Chilangos Mexican Restaurant for an inspiring conversation about hard work, opportunity, and perseverance. Originally from just outside Mexico City, Leo shares his journey of coming to America in search of a better future. From getting his first job as a dishwasher without even knowing what a dishwasher was, to learning English while working as a busboy, Leo opens up about the challenges, risks, and mindset that helped him grow. Tom and Leo also talk about opening his first restaurant with only $500 in his pocket, the people who believed in him along the way, and how Chilangos has now been part of the Atlantic Highlands community for over 25 years. They also touch on his time serving as a councilman in Highlands and the story behind his book Chilangos in House. This episode is a real conversation about chasing the American dream and never being afraid to knock on the next door.

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Karina Gaudier, founder of Autism Workforce Solutions, to talk about the untapped potential of neurodiverse talent and why so many companies are missing the mark when it comes to hiring and retaining autistic employees.

Drawing from her own experiences as an autistic professional, Karina shares how those challenges inspired her to build a company focused on helping organizations create better workplaces through understanding, support, and smarter hiring practices. She explains how small adjustments in communication, onboarding, and management can make a major impact on employee success and retention.

Tom and Karina also dive into the larger conversation around workplace inclusion, the misconceptions surrounding autism in professional settings, and why embracing neurodiverse talent can create stronger teams and better business outcomes.

This episode is a powerful conversation about leadership, opportunity, and building workplaces where more people can thrive.

Learn more at AutismWorkforceSolutions.com 🎙

In this Chef Series episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom and Chef Mike are joined by Joe Leone of Joe Leone's Italian Specialties for a conversation about friendship, food, and the realities of the restaurant industry. With Mike and Joe having been friends for over 30 years, the episode dives into everything from starting out in wholesale and chasing payments to how the industry has changed over time. They discuss the chaos that comes with food service, how COVID completely shifted the business, and why employee loyalty looks very different today. The conversation also touches on overrated food trends, underrated traditional flavors, and the importance of cooking food that genuinely makes people happy. Tom, Mike, and Joe break down competition in the industry, why reputation matters, and how a few bad workers can impact everyone around them. This episode is a real behind-the-scenes look at the food world from people who've lived it for decades.

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Angela Mancini, founder of La Luna Counseling & Wellness and The Drop In Nest, for a conversation about mental health, entrepreneurship, and building support systems that people truly need. After experiencing postpartum anxiety and depression herself, Angela was inspired to create La Luna Counseling & Wellness, a practice built around helping people feel seen, supported, and comfortable asking for help. Since launching in 2022, La Luna has expanded to multiple locations while continuing to grow its client-centered approach to care. Tom and Angela also dive into her newest venture, The Drop In Nest, a virtual urgent care concept for mental health designed to help people connect with support immediately instead of waiting days or weeks for an appointment. They discuss how conversations around mental health have evolved, the importance of recognizing when everyday life is being impacted, and the challenges of starting a second business while continuing to grow the first. This episode is a real conversation about burnout, healing, entrepreneurship, and creating spaces where people can get help when they need it most.

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Scott Mahoney of Family Wealth Management to talk about what it really takes to survive and succeed in the financial services industry. Scott shares his journey from the early days of struggling to find clients to building a thriving business over the past 20 years. He opens up about the challenges most advisors face, including low conversion rates, long sales cycles, and the pressure that causes many to burn out early. Tom and Scott dive into the importance of patience, authenticity, and continuous learning. They discuss how building genuine relationships, planting seeds for future opportunities, and staying consistent through market ups and downs are what truly create long term success. Scott also shares insight into leading a team, navigating uncertain markets, and why trust is everything in this business. This episode is all about perseverance, mindset, and doing the right things over time to build something that lasts.

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Maurice Greene to talk about the transition from college football to building a successful career in HR and sales.

Maurice shares how the mindset, discipline, and work ethic he developed through sports carried over into his professional life. From putting in extra effort to staying consistent through long sales cycles, he breaks down what it really takes to grow in competitive environments.

Tom and Maurice dive into the importance of building genuine relationships, earning trust in sales, and why authenticity matters more than ever. They also discuss how applying lessons from sports can shape leadership, career growth, and long-term success.

This episode is all about mindset, consistency, and doing the little things right over time.

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom is joined again by Aaron Levine for another Book Club conversation, this time diving into The Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Tom and Aaron give an honest take on the book, including why some of the concepts are hard to embrace and the level of commitment it truly takes to create massive change. They talk about setting aggressive timelines that force action, the reality of operating at the level of the top 0.01%, and what happens when your growth starts to separate you from your peer group. The conversation also explores identifying the parts of your business that aren't scalable, quitting the wrong things faster, and the importance of raising your standards if you want to grow. They also touch on how having a coach or outside perspective can be critical when trying to implement these ideas in the real world. This episode is a real and unfiltered look at what it actually takes to scale, and why most people won't do it. Tune in and take away something valuable.

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Hadri Jaffal, the force behind Iron Body Fit, to talk about what it really takes to grow a business when traditional funding isn't an option. After facing a major setback with a failed bank loan, Hadri shares how he shifted his mindset and focused on building momentum instead of chasing the perfect pitch. By leveraging storytelling, relationships, and relentless execution, he was able to raise capital, build belief in his vision, and scale Iron Body Fit into a global franchise with hundreds of locations across France and the US. Tom and Hadri dive into how momentum becomes the real currency in business, how to attract investors without formal pitches, and what it takes to expand quickly while managing the chaos that comes with growth. They also discuss the role of culture, leadership, and why the human element still matters even as AI continues to evolve. This episode is all about thinking differently, moving fast, and building something big without waiting for perfect conditions.

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Jonathan Ramadan of Father and Son Custom Homes to talk about building a business the right way from the ground up. Jonathan shares how he's been around construction his entire life, starting out working in restaurants before fully committing to the family business. As he grew into his role, he realized that success meant more than just working in the business—it meant learning how to work on it. Tom and Jonathan dive into the importance of putting the right people in the right positions, trusting specialists to do what they do best, and building a team that allows the business to grow beyond just one person. Jonathan also opens up about the early days, including the reality of having employees making more than him while he focused on building something bigger long term. This episode is all about leadership, long-term thinking, and making the decisions that set your business up for real growth.

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Anthony and Toni Ann of Accurate Billing Group to talk about building a business that supports medical providers where they need it most. Starting during the early days of COVID, this husband and wife team saw a gap in the industry and stepped in to help. With over 25 years of experience, Toni Ann shares how they've built a company focused on handling the complexities of medical billing so providers can focus on patient care. Tom, Anthony, and Toni Ann discuss the growing number of professionals leaving large group practices to start their own, and how many of them struggle to find billing companies willing to work with smaller operations. Accurate Billing Group has made it a priority to serve clients of all sizes, with a strong focus on the mental health space. They also dive into what it takes to manage accounts daily, build trust with clients, and continue expanding the business, including their growth into upstate New York. This episode is all about finding a niche, serving others, and building a business that truly solves a problem.