What drives a 41-year-old husband, father of three, and CSO of a $300M brand to willingly get punched in the face—on purpose?

In this raw and riveting episode of Live Life by Design, Jeff Mendez sits down with Dan Gardner, Chief Sales Officer of Bucked Up, to unpack his decision to enter a professional bare knuckle boxing match. From the blood, stitches, and mental battles to the business lessons and parenting insights, Dan shares why this fight wasn’t about victory in the ring—but triumph over complacency.

This one’s about showing up for your goals, leading by example, and becoming your best self—even when it hurts.

This episode is a masterclass in mindset, legacy, and leading with action.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Dan’s fight aftermath

01:30 - Why bare knuckle boxing at 41?

06:24 - Training, diet, and mental prep

10:22 - Doers vs critics mindset

14:12 - Bucked Up’s $300M growth story

23:14 - Will Dan fight again?

29:15 - Mental battles & defining moments

34:04 - Becoming a better father and leader

38:26 - Sales mindset & hospital bed closing story

44:12 - Final advice on excuses & legacy

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