The Contracting business ranks high on the list for failure rate in the world of business ownership.  So when we see a businesses that has not just surivived but has thrived for over 2 decades we were thrilled to dive deep.  Robert Phillips, owner of Phillips Contracting is that exact person.  This is part one of an extended conversation where we discuss the start, the challenges, capturing new opportunities and Robert's passion to continue to stay on top of an evolving outdoor living market.

Mike Legregni joins the Hustle or Bust Podcast.  Mike is the founder of Veteran Wood Co., a Veteran and former Law Enforcement professional.  He started Veteran Wood Co. in 2019 and put his skill working with his hands to immediate use.  We dive deep into Mike’s background and the decisions a new entrepreneur encounters when deciding on when to take the plunge into full time business operator.  We also work-shop a current cross-roads decision with a potential full-time role back in the law enforcement field and some potential ways to examine the opportunities ahead.

It's the holy grail for many entrepreneurs, getting their product into the world's largest retailer, Walmart.  But there's an entire process, language, and system that you need to understand.  In episode 30 of the Hustle or Bust Podcast, we speak with Brian O'Dell, CEO, and Co-Founder of NOR-Dell, a strategic sales development business specializing in big box stores like Walmart.  And he's also an award-winning author of the Mud Street Misfits line of books.  We speak about his 2 decades plus career, winning strategies, and we even debate the very title of the Pod, HUSTLE!

Bruce Marks joins the podcast and we dive deep into Merger & Acquisition Trench Warfare!  Bruce has closed over 1,200 deals valued at over $320,000,000.  We go through the growing and dynamic world of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition, also known as ETA.  We go through deal dynamics when deals blow up, and aspects of search and selling businesses that too many overlook.

It's a simple fact of business life.....highly engaged employees are more productive, create less turnover for a business, and common sense tells us they have a better quality of work life.  We talk about how this topic impacts small businesses, especially in the context of competing for great talent.   PAVERART is in the middle of our largest investment project in 20 years, and this serves as a real-world backdrop to this topic.

The teenage workforce participation rate has been on a multi-decade decline, hurdling towards 25%.  That has massive implications for future generations to develop the needed work ethic required to compete.  But we focus on the flip side:  What are the OPPORTUNITIES for 4, summers a teenager will have in high school by spending time in the workforce?  What will their life look like?  Massively different than those that choose to spend their time on play vs. work.

Episode 26 we deal with the strategic decisions and challenges owners confront:  Invest for growth or hold things tight to the vest.  As we head into tough economic conditions most will look for areas to cut back in their business, build cash and reduce expenses.  Let’s call that “conventional wisdom.”  The other approach is contrarian:  Investing heavily to gain market share and set you up for the future BEYOND the economic storm.  That is the approach we’ve embarked on at PAVERART with a larger capital investment project than at any time during our 20 years of operation.  We talk through our thought processes and break-down of the situation in hopes of providing a different view of the economic situation.

There's a critical trait in leadership that is too often overlooked:  HUMILITY.  Being coachable.  Listening.  We often idolize our national political and business leaders when they meet our worldview.  But at the same time we totally overlook their faults and "train wreck" moments.  So the question for the small business owner?  If we can't see the faults in the highly public leaders, how do we see it on our own teams?  That's a blindspot.  And an absence of humility.  Hope you enjoy episode 25.

Episode 24 of the Hustle or Bust Podcast was a blast!  We introduce you to Mike Marino: Actor and Comedian, affectionately known as the Bad Boy of NJ comedy by his millions of fans worldwide.  We cover the struggles of starting out, the rough business known as show business, and forming great partnerships.  And of course, plenty of laughs.

Small businesses face an age-old dilemma:  How to compete with bigger, more well-capitalized brands.   One tried and true strategy? *  Provide outstanding, personalized customer service.   Another? Over-deliver against your customer's expectations, creating an emotional connection with your clients.    In this episode, we discuss a number of brands, 8 in total.  Half the brands are multi-BILLION, and half are SMALL.   LARGE Brands *  Five Below *  Target *  Costco *  Wegmans  Smaller Brands *  City Bonfires *  Drug City *  Solo Stove   We cite a few solid examples of the small brands breaking through and making it very difficult for the big brands to match, with the City Drug Story.