In this episode of the One More Boom podcast, host Nick Gemmell interviews Dustin Kucher, the owner of Dark Ark Welding. They discuss Dustin's journey from humble beginnings to running a successful Indigenous-owned business with 57 employees. The conversation covers the challenges of growing a business in the oil and gas industry, the importance of resilience, and the strategies Dustin employs to maintain quality and safety. They also touch on investment strategies, the significance of personal awareness, and the lessons learned from past failures. Dustin emphasizes the need for hard work, delayed gratification, and focusing on controllable factors to achieve success. Takeaways You're part of a community that doesn't settle for the status quo. Dustin Kucher shares his journey from humble beginnings to business success. Resilience is key in navigating challenges in business. Focus on building systems and processes for sustainable growth. Investment strategies like dollar cost averaging can apply to business. Learning from failures is crucial for growth and improvement. Personal awareness is the first step to growth in any industry. Delayed gratification is essential for long-term success. Surround yourself with people who have proven results. Building a strong company culture is vital for employee retention. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:08 The Journey of Dark Ark Welding 06:01 Navigating Business Growth and Challenges 08:31 Resilience Through Economic Downturns 11:34 Financial Management and Employee Retention 14:19 Building a Sustainable Business Culture 17:01 Future Aspirations and Business Strategy 19:50 Strategies for Growth in Real Estate and Business 21:12 Investment Strategies and Dollar Cost Averaging 23:26 Tax Strategies for Business Owners 25:05 Planning for the Future: Vision and Goals 28:18 The Importance of Authenticity in Business 29:55 Learning from Business Failures 31:59 Focus and Intentionality in Business 34:47 Expanding Services and Future Plans 36:09 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 38:39 Embracing Community and Grit