Every business has multiple layers to it. What the consumer sees / experiences is usually just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the intricacies, moving parts, staffing, scheduling, planning, budgeting, ALL the things that come with operating a successful business.

I'm not sure there is a business with MORE layers than what Steph Gronning does at Infinity Dance Inc. From planning, communication, booking, budgeting, choreography, leasing, travel, physical demand, the list goes on! And oh lets not forget to mention having to handle over 400 kids (and parents)!

Steph is an inspiration - she took a passion of dancing and turned it into a successful business - through years of hard work and determination. Every time there was an obstacle or someone saying she couldn't or shouldn't do something, she trusted herself and did it anyway.

In our conversation we discuss her upbringing in dance, the early days of starting a business, and how she has scaled the Infinity Dance Inc. brand to what it is today, ALL WHILE being a mother of 3, wife, and amazing human being.

Enjoy the episode, I hope you learn something!

#riseandgrind

In this episode I had the privilege of sitting down with one of my best friends - Curtis Valk - to talk about his hockey career.

Curtis currently plays in the KHL for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, and is spending the spring back home in Medicine Hat during the off season.

Curtis played his Junior Hockey for the Medicine Hat Tigers, where he had multiple 90+ point seasons. He then went on to play in the ECHL, AHL, and then finally got the call to play in the NHL for the Florida Panthers. His career then took him to the KHL where he spent multiple seasons playing for the Kazakhstan Team (Barys Astana), and in 2023 got moved to his current Team in Russia.

There are so many things that I love about Curtis, and at the top of that list is his relentless pursuit to always get better at his craft - hockey. Curtis has battled adversity his whole life...from being undersized growing up, to going undrafted, to assending his way through the minor leagues all the way to the NHL. His story is one of hard work, extreme dedication, and never giving up.

I really enjoyed our conversation, I hope you do to, and I also hope that you learn something from Curtis along the way.

Do you have any "3am Friends"?

I'm not talking about the 3am friends that you stumble home with from the bar on the weekend. I'm talking about the 3am friends that you call when you can't sleep, your stress/anxiety is through the roof, you wake up in a cold sweat, and your thoughts are red lining....if you are in the business game, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

3am friends don't tell you what you want to hear, they tell you what you NEED to hear.

Courtney Atkinson is one of my only 3am friends.

The amount of times I've sent him texts at ungodly hours of the night "Hey, you awake?" and I get a response immediately "yeah bro whats up?" is in the dozens.

I am so grateful to have had this chat with Courtney on the Pod, we cover off his early years, what brought him to Lethbridge, the ups and downs of scaling a business, how fitness and mental health plays such a huge role in his life, balancing being a husband and father all while operating numerous businesses, and everything in between.

If you've judged Courtney in the past without ever meeting him, I highly encourage you to listen to this podcast episode.

If you feel stuck in your life and need a kickstart, I highly encourage you to listen to this episode.

If you are looking to scale your business to the next level, I highly encourage you to listen to this episode.

I hope you learn something, I hope you enjoy!

#riseandgrind

The Rise and Grind Podcast Episode 011 - Sean Longmore

Sean is a part owner in Boys On Third, Labels, and Parlay Shoe Trading Company, AND a full time teacher at Eagle Butte High School.

Sean started his entrepreneurial journey over a decade ago, and is always looking for ways to innovate and bring more value to his customers and students.

In this episode we dive deep into the origin story of Boys On Third, how the brand fit in with Labels, the ups and downs of owning multiple businesses, and ALL the things that come with navigating through the stormy waters of entrepreneurship.

There are about a million things I love about Sean, but at the top of the list is the fact that Sean doesn't compete on cheap, his brands are all premium, his products are quality, and the customer experience is world class.

Sean is a hard worker, a Rise and Grinder, and truly enjoys helping people - whether that be getting fit for a suit or helping mold the next generation in one of his classes.

I hope you enjoy this episode, Rise and Grind!

The rules of the Real Estate Game in Medicine Hat have changed.....

If you are in the market of buying, selling, renting OR just generally curious about the real estate market in Medicine Hat, you will want to listen to this Episode!

Real Estate is funny.... 9/10 times a home is the most expensive asset that someone owns, but we rarely pay any attention to the value of it. And if we do get some information, it is a quick snapshot or a 1 minute highlight reel.

In this episode I want to dive DEEP into the real estate market in Medicine Hat:

- What is currently going on

- How does this current market affect values

- The new rules of this market

- Why and How people are moving to Medicine Hat

- What to do if you are a buyer, seller, renter

- Where I see this market heading

This episode is jam packed with information, I hope you enjoy!

#riseandgrind

Link to the downloadable "Guaranteed Not Homeless Document" mentioned in the show:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGh30TqXaYTPO-oMpJ-GofsKDjHH7A9Zqt7kX2Z345o9ukiQ/viewform?usp=sharing

Imagine building a business around something that you LOVE to do. Sarah Bitz has done just that.

She has taken her passion of hair styling from hobby, to career, to now business ownership as she is the owner of Studio Select here in Medicine Hat.

Sarah has admirable work ethic, and has built an very loyal client base over the years.

In this episode we get into the beginning years of her entrepreneurial journey, the purchase of Studio Select, and how Sarah goes about operating the business all while still creating time and space for her to do what she loves to do.

I hope you enjoy!

#riseandgrind

Winning is an addiction very few people understand.

It a never ending pursuit for greatness, a never ending game that plays over and over in your mind non stop. And just when you think you've got it, it vanishes.

Winning is elusive, fleeting, and oh so difficult to bottle up and keep.

Gavin Broadhead is a winner, he chases greatness, he runs towards the difficult things in life and tackles them.

He gives himself permission to win, and doesn't feel bad about it.

Gavin has one of the strongest work ethics I have ever seen, and he is willing to go to places other people aren't in his training, nutrition, and his mentality towards whatever he is trying to accomplish.

We cover off a TON of topics in this episode, and the one common theme is that Gavin WINS in all areas of life. THAT is a dude I want to be around.

I hope you enjoy...

#riseandgrind

The Rise and Grind Podcast Episode 007 - Dylan Eckes

One word comes to my mind when I think of Dylan, and that is "Discipline". No matter what Dylan is doing, he doesn't do it half assed, he goes all in and does it right.

From his time as a fitness coach, financial advisor, to now a business consultant, Dylan is WIRED to help people. He practices what he preaches, he does what he says he's going to do, and he shows up his best self for his family.

Dylan is a true Rise and Grinder and embodies everything that this Podcast is about. We covered off SO many topics in this episode, and Dylan drops a ton of value that everyone can implement into their own lives.

I hope you enjoy!

#riseandgrind

The Rise and Grind Podcast Episode 006 - Brooklyn Kalista

Brooklyn is a top producing real estate agent AND broker/owner of Royal Lepage Community Realty in Medicine Hat. She is a driven individual who always strives for building deeper and more meaningful relationships with whoever she serves.

We dive deep into her real estate career, what it was like as a young female in the real estate industry, her transition to broker/owner, community involvement, parenthood, all all the things in between.

Brooklyn is a great ambassador for Medicine Hat, and is no doubt a Rise and Grinder!

The Rise and Grind Podcast Episode 005 - Solo Pod

5 Hacks to Live a Productive Life

How would you feel if I told you I have absolutely no clue what I'm doing? haha.

Over the years I have become very comfortable being in this space of "not knowing what I am doing". It is a skill that has to be developed, and I have 5 Hacks that I KNOW to be true when it comes to living a productive life.

It is my hope that through these Solo Pods I can bring to light some struggles that I know we all face, and offer you some tools to help combat those struggles.

Or at the very least, plant a seed of thought for you to ponder over.

Rise and Grind!