In this episode of Burning the Ships, I share my early entrepreneurial adventure as a commercial fisherman, running 200 crab pots on the James River. This experience taught me hard work, strategic thinking, and resilience, shaping my approach to business and life. I reflect on failing to scale the venture and how that setback set the stage for future success.

This isn’t just a story about crabbing—it’s about taking risks, embracing failure, and turning ideas into action. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or just curious about the grind, this episode will inspire you to keep pushing forward, no matter the odds.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:55 JJ’s Joke of the Week

02:35 What it takes to have successful ideas

03:38 How a waterman’s license works

05:49 Running a crab pot license as a teenager

07:57 Developing the idea to turn crabbing into a business

10:54 How the end of crabbing season shut the business idea down

12:04 Lessons learned from small business ideas

Quotables

“Scaling a business isn’t about titles or roles—it’s about doing whatever it takes to get the job done.”

“If you’re afraid to fail, you’ll never take the bold steps needed to succeed.”

“Ideas are worthless without action. The key is to execute, learn, and adjust along the way.”

Links

608B Capital

https://608bcapital.com/