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Guest: Glenn Poulos - The entrepreneur who's done it THREE times
Host: Kumar Dattatreyan
Episode: Live conversation that got REAL about sales, failures, and what actually works
Ever wonder what separates entrepreneurs who actually succeed from those who just talk about it? Glenn Poulos isn't your typical business guru. This guy has literally been in the trenches for 40 years, built companies from scratch, sold them for millions, lost everything once, and then did it all over again.
And here's the kicker - he's doing it a THIRD time right now, growing a $3M company while sharing exactly what he's learned. No fluff, no theory, just real talk from someone who's actually done it.
Glenn drops this golden rule early in the conversation, and honestly, it's so simple yet brilliant that you'll probably smack your forehead. It's not just about literally sitting in lobbies - it's about how you show up in every business interaction. The story behind this rule alone is worth the listen.
Wait until you hear about his first exit. Dude became a multimillionaire on paper, then watched it all disappear when the company went bankrupt. Most people would've given up. Glenn? He started over and built an even bigger company. The mindset shift he shares here is pure gold.
Forget the big dramatic business moves you see on social media. Glenn breaks down why focusing on the "second hand" - those tiny, consistent daily actions - is what actually builds million-dollar companies. This hit me right in the feels because it's so true but nobody talks about it.
On Why Face-to-Face Still Wins:
"Every time you're not in front of the customer, someone else is, and that's why they got the order you didn't."
This isn't some old-school dinosaur talking. Glenn's currently running a modern distribution company and he explains exactly why Zoom calls don't close deals the way showing up does. The private jet analogy he uses? Chef's kiss.
On Actually Understanding Your Customers:
"The best way to sell to a customer is to become an absolute expert on how the customer literally makes money."
He breaks down why most salespeople completely miss this and how knowing your customer's real profit centers changes everything about how you pitch.
On When to Walk Away:
"I'd rather be last than second, because second is the first loser."
This strategy probably saved Glenn millions over his career. He explains exactly how to know when you're wasting your time and what to do instead.
Glenn doesn't sugarcoat what's happening right now with tariffs and economic uncertainty. He's literally dealing with potential 50% tariffs on his products while trying to grow his business. The way he and his suppliers are handling this? It's a masterclass in creative problem-solving under pressure.
Plus, his take on AI in sales is refreshingly honest - he's using it where it makes sense but explains why robots can't replace showing up with something in your hand and something in your mind.
The conversation takes an unexpected turn when Glenn talks about what it's really like to sell your business and stay on with new owners. His advice? Get out as fast as possible. The reasoning behind this completely flipped my perspective on exit strategies.
And his current approach to building his third company? It's the complete opposite of hustle culture. He's focused on showing up every day and "doing the next right thing." Sounds simple, but the way he explains it will make you rethink everything about scaling a business.
LinkedIn: Glenn Poulos - Seriously, connect with him. He's one of those rare entrepreneurs who actually engages.
Book: "Never Sit in the Lobby" on Amazon - Quick read, practical stuff you can use immediately
Website: glennpoulos.com - Check out his other podcast appearances
Current Company: Prong USA - He's literally building this in real-time
Look, I've interviewed a lot of entrepreneurs on this show. But Glenn's different. He's not selling courses or coaching programs. He's just a guy who's actually built multiple successful companies sharing what really works. No BS, no hidden agenda, just honest conversation about the realities of entrepreneurship.
The best part? You can tell he's still hungry. At his age and success level, he could easily retire, but he's out there building his third company and loving every minute of it. That energy is contagious.
If this conversation resonated with you, smash that subscribe button. We're going live every week with entrepreneurs and innovators who are actually doing the work, not just talking about it.
Coming up: More real talk with people who are disrupting their industries and changing how business gets done.
Watch the full episode now and let me know in the comments what hit you the most. Was it the lobby rule? The tariff strategy? The second hand philosophy? I'm curious what lands with you.
This was recorded LIVE - thanks to everyone who joined the conversation in real-time and asked questions in the chat!
5
11 ratings
Guest: Glenn Poulos - The entrepreneur who's done it THREE times
Host: Kumar Dattatreyan
Episode: Live conversation that got REAL about sales, failures, and what actually works
Ever wonder what separates entrepreneurs who actually succeed from those who just talk about it? Glenn Poulos isn't your typical business guru. This guy has literally been in the trenches for 40 years, built companies from scratch, sold them for millions, lost everything once, and then did it all over again.
And here's the kicker - he's doing it a THIRD time right now, growing a $3M company while sharing exactly what he's learned. No fluff, no theory, just real talk from someone who's actually done it.
Glenn drops this golden rule early in the conversation, and honestly, it's so simple yet brilliant that you'll probably smack your forehead. It's not just about literally sitting in lobbies - it's about how you show up in every business interaction. The story behind this rule alone is worth the listen.
Wait until you hear about his first exit. Dude became a multimillionaire on paper, then watched it all disappear when the company went bankrupt. Most people would've given up. Glenn? He started over and built an even bigger company. The mindset shift he shares here is pure gold.
Forget the big dramatic business moves you see on social media. Glenn breaks down why focusing on the "second hand" - those tiny, consistent daily actions - is what actually builds million-dollar companies. This hit me right in the feels because it's so true but nobody talks about it.
On Why Face-to-Face Still Wins:
"Every time you're not in front of the customer, someone else is, and that's why they got the order you didn't."
This isn't some old-school dinosaur talking. Glenn's currently running a modern distribution company and he explains exactly why Zoom calls don't close deals the way showing up does. The private jet analogy he uses? Chef's kiss.
On Actually Understanding Your Customers:
"The best way to sell to a customer is to become an absolute expert on how the customer literally makes money."
He breaks down why most salespeople completely miss this and how knowing your customer's real profit centers changes everything about how you pitch.
On When to Walk Away:
"I'd rather be last than second, because second is the first loser."
This strategy probably saved Glenn millions over his career. He explains exactly how to know when you're wasting your time and what to do instead.
Glenn doesn't sugarcoat what's happening right now with tariffs and economic uncertainty. He's literally dealing with potential 50% tariffs on his products while trying to grow his business. The way he and his suppliers are handling this? It's a masterclass in creative problem-solving under pressure.
Plus, his take on AI in sales is refreshingly honest - he's using it where it makes sense but explains why robots can't replace showing up with something in your hand and something in your mind.
The conversation takes an unexpected turn when Glenn talks about what it's really like to sell your business and stay on with new owners. His advice? Get out as fast as possible. The reasoning behind this completely flipped my perspective on exit strategies.
And his current approach to building his third company? It's the complete opposite of hustle culture. He's focused on showing up every day and "doing the next right thing." Sounds simple, but the way he explains it will make you rethink everything about scaling a business.
LinkedIn: Glenn Poulos - Seriously, connect with him. He's one of those rare entrepreneurs who actually engages.
Book: "Never Sit in the Lobby" on Amazon - Quick read, practical stuff you can use immediately
Website: glennpoulos.com - Check out his other podcast appearances
Current Company: Prong USA - He's literally building this in real-time
Look, I've interviewed a lot of entrepreneurs on this show. But Glenn's different. He's not selling courses or coaching programs. He's just a guy who's actually built multiple successful companies sharing what really works. No BS, no hidden agenda, just honest conversation about the realities of entrepreneurship.
The best part? You can tell he's still hungry. At his age and success level, he could easily retire, but he's out there building his third company and loving every minute of it. That energy is contagious.
If this conversation resonated with you, smash that subscribe button. We're going live every week with entrepreneurs and innovators who are actually doing the work, not just talking about it.
Coming up: More real talk with people who are disrupting their industries and changing how business gets done.
Watch the full episode now and let me know in the comments what hit you the most. Was it the lobby rule? The tariff strategy? The second hand philosophy? I'm curious what lands with you.
This was recorded LIVE - thanks to everyone who joined the conversation in real-time and asked questions in the chat!