What does it take to run a fab shop, scale a personal brand, and merge two business models—without losing your mind?

In this episode, the Ross Brothers, Rodney Ross & Austin Ross joined us from South Dakota to share how they're navigating their journey of running two different welding businesses. One is rooted in boots on the ground fabrication. The other? A YouTube channel that has turned into a full-blown brand & welding instruction hub. They talk openly about burnout, balancing visionary leadership with structured execution, and the real impact of building your personal brand (even as a welder). This episode is for the folks trying to grow fast, stay grounded, and keep the fire lit in the middle of the chaos. 

You'll learn:  - What it looks like to delegate when you're still in the thick of it - Why YOUR personal brand matters; influencer or not - How staying authentic on and off the screen opens doors

Timestamps: 01:06 – Welcome to MakingSparks 04:58 – How Mid-State Welding started after years on the pipeline 06:34 – Austin’s YouTube journey and the birth of Ross Welding 09:55 – Why their personalities had to collide to make this work 14:14 – TV appearances, Magnolia Network, and what “natural integration” actually looks like 20:35 – Building trust online through value, not sales pitches 26:34 – How Rodney leads young welders with “There’s always a way” 33:36 – Delegation, burnout, and finding your first real hire 39:20 – Should you train green or hire top talent? Here’s what’s working 45:07 – Final thoughts on grit, gratitude, and moving forward together Resources: Lights Out podcast by MakingChips: https://www.makingchips.com/lights-out By The Numbers with Mike Payne: https://www.makingchips.com/by-the-numbers Mid State Welding: https://www.midstate-welding.com/ ARossWelding: https://www.arosswelding.com/