In this episode, Ryan sits down with Matt, a young entrepreneur whose journey proves that a high tolerance for risk and a flair for metalwork can forge a successful business. From finding his passion for welding in vocational school to jumping headfirst into the competitive heavy-equipment repair market, Matt’s story highlights the value of practical, on-the-job skills. He discusses the moment he realized a traditional 9-to-5 was not for him, the grit required to stay afloat in his early days, and how tailoring his craft for niche jobs like line boring and heavy fabrication helped him carve out a profitable niche of his own. Whether you’re a trade-school enthusiast or an aspiring small business owner, Matt’s candid take on striking out independently will resonate. Tune in for real talk on making the leap, building robust client relationships, balancing passion with financial realities, and learning how to turn mistakes into empowering lessons. If you’ve ever wondered whether you can turn a hands-on talent into your life’s work—and thrive doing it—this conversation is your spark to weld your own path in the world of small business. Timestamps: (00:00) Learning Welding & Embracing Non-Traditional Paths (06:00) Breaking Out of the 9-to-5 Grind (10:00) Taking the Leap & Finding Startup Funding (13:00) Early Challenges: Clients, Calls, & Confidence (18:00) Line Boring Explained: Fixing Heavy Machinery On-Site (22:00) Big Repairs & Unexpected Opportunities (25:00) Balancing Specialized Work vs. Paying the Bills (27:00) Owning Mistakes & Adapting in Business (29:00) Advice for Vocational Students & Aspiring Entrepreneurs (31:00) Putting It All Together: Welding Your Own Freedom RYAN’S INSTAGRAM:  @ryandrobbins  ↓ GET IN MY CIRCLE ↓ APPLY TO BE A GUEST!: https://ryandrobbins.com/fireside-chats/ JOIN THE PIT (ONLY $147/MONTH!): https://go.ryandrobbins.com/join APPLY FOR 1-ON-1 COACHING: https://ryandrobbins.com/coaching/ MORE LINKS: https://linktr.ee/ryanrobbins ↓WATCH MORE HERE ↓ https://youtu.be/z3yfM44BOFg?si=r0JyCOAaT8ALf64x