Candid Career Advice that Every Business Student Should Hear Right Now College debt has grown by 43% in the last decade, but another investment metric that young people in the early stages of their careers need to consider is time. How are you spending it to get the education you need to reach your goals? With the fast-paced changes coming from the AI revolution how you get skills, whether in the classroom or through on-the-job experience can make a huge difference to your future marketability as an employee who can bring value to a business. Joe shares his perspective as an entrepreneur, as a C-suite executive in a publicly-traded company and most importantly as someone who has been hiring recent MBAs. Key Questions and Discussion: - What has higher ROI: skills or degrees? - Is specialization enough if AI is coming for your job? - What does it actually mean to follow your passion? - What’s the real value of an MBA ... to your employer? - What’s the no bullshit difference between a CEO and an entrepreneur?

The Unbelievable Story of Cliff Young Is a Lesson for All Entrepreneurs When a 61-year-old Australian potato farmer named Cliff Young showed up to run a 540-mile ultra-marathon in rain boots, everyone laughed. Joe unpacks the unlikely legend of Cliff Young and what his story reveals about innovation, disruption, and the power of not knowing the “right” way to do things. From herding sheep to building startups, this conversation traces how not knowing the rules can become your biggest advantage. 5 Key Takeaways: - Ignorance can be an advantage. Maybe you see the norms and then break them, but what if you never see them at all? - Everyone does it the same way until... someone does it differently, and better. And that changes everything. - Disruption is about context. The biggest innovations often come from those who see how the world is changing. - Results beat credentials.  Cliff’s steady “shuffle” outlasted the pros. A start-up beats a publicly-traded company. - Belief is fuel. Whether it’s a marathon or a new venture, conviction can carry you farther than credentials. And having a chip on your shoulder doesn’t hurt. With references to Uber, Airbnb, Go Brewing, Easy Man and Dealer Inspire.

A Story About Sales, Service, Generosity and Being Open to the Unfamiliar Joe shares how a small gesture from a customer early in his career—a box of CDs—shifted his entire mindset about success, leadership, and service. This story traces how a simple act of generosity helped shape the principles behind Go Brewing and the belief that helping others get what they want is the real key to getting ahead. 5 Takeaways: 1. Accept the unexpected. The smallest gifts can hold the biggest lessons—if you’re open to them. 2. Succeed by helping others. Success follows from making others’ lives better. 3. Connection beats persuasion. Great sales—and relationships—start with relatability. 4. Ask boldly. Sometimes all it takes is the courage to simply ask for what you want. 5. Pay it forward. When generosity shapes your actions, opportunity has a way of finding you again and again. Shout-outs to Zig Ziglar, Ford and Alex Banayan.

Pulling a trailer, running a marathon, starting a business: how doing the thing exposes fear for what it really is. Joe reflects on how fear shows up in both everyday challenges and defining moments—from business risks to personal tests of endurance and everyday fitness routines. He shares how discomfort and uncertainty are often part of the process of learning, not signals to stop. From anecdotes about nearly crashing a trailer while driving on the highway, to feeling like an imposter amongst marathon runners, to intimate observations as a parent watching his kids struggle, Joe shares hard-won stories and subtle realizations about how his relationship to fear guides his actions and motivates his ”Go Mindset.” 5 Key Takeaways 1. Action is the antidote to fear. You can’t think your way past it—you have to do the thing. 2. Don’t give fear a voice. The more you speak your doubts, the more they echo back. 3. Experience teaches what theory can’t. No book or video replaces what you learn by trying. 4. Curiosity beats perfection. Wondering “what if I could?” gets you moving faster than waiting until everything’s right. 5. Fear fades with familiarity. What once felt impossible becomes manageable once you’ve faced it—even if the trailer falls off twice.

Will your business show-up in AI search? Here’s the test... AI is rewriting the rules of search — and business owners can’t afford to ignore it. Joe had a private meeting with execs from OpenAI (ChatGPT) and cuts through the noise to share how businesses need to adapt. From optimizing websites for AI engines to creating content that actually goes from discoverability to relevancy, we break down the shift from Google to ChatGPT, Claude, and beyond — and why it matters for your business right now. 5 Key Takeaways: - AI will be the new search engine — queries are increasingly starting in ChatGPT or Claude, not Google, and the difference in user experience should inform your business strategy. - Your website is (still) your foundation — clear, structured, modern sites rank better with AI-driven engines, so don’t get cute with content. - Platforms matter — Shopify is building AI integrations; outdated systems could leave you invisible. (And this isn’t just an e-commerce concern.) - Content wins — original, relevant writing will still drive organic traffic but will also create engagement WITHIN AI. (Hint: quality over quantity, but quantity too.) - Pro tip: Publishing directly within AI platforms like Claude is a current hack to boost visibility (and that’s the low-friction way toward quantity). Plus Joe leverages his expertise in SEO and digital marketing to assess the fast-moving impacts of AI search and offer actionable tactics to test go-to-market strategies right now.

What makes a great leader different from a great manager? Joe confesses why one-on-ones drain him, what he learned in the Boardroom of a publicly-traded company about persistence, and how changing environments can unlock hidden potential -- especially with support from good managers. Key Takeaways: - CEOs and entrepreneurs need to know the difference between leadership and management (and then prioritize their roles accordingly). - How recurring 1-on-1 meetings can become a waste of time—and the alternative that works better. - How changing environments helps people see -- and know -- what they couldn’t before. - Why making others look good isn’t just cynical career growth advice. Plus Joe shares real-life observations from the boardroom that have shaped his leadership style as an entrepreneur: be persistent, give tough feedback well, and trust your direct reports to get sh*t done.

Joe dives into the art (and risk) of hiring ahead of where your business is today. From bringing in talent before the role exists to structuring equity and vesting agreements, we explore how the right people can accelerate growth—or hold you back. Learn how to balance vision with reality when building your team. 5 Key Takeaways: - Hire forward, not backward: Bringing in talent for where you’re headed—not just what you can afford today—can unlock faster growth. - Roles can follow people: Sometimes the right person shapes the role, not the other way around. - Know when to find partners vs. contractors: Equity can fill critical gaps when you can’t pay market salaries. - Use vesting to de-risk equity grant: Protect both founders and hires by aligning incentives over time. - Disruption requires buy-in: A great team challenges norms but stays aligned with the CEO’s long-term vision.

The Leadership Hack to Turn Discomfort Into Collaboration Conflict is inevitable as teams grow—but how you handle it makes all the difference. Joe describes real-life examples of why ambiguity is the root of many workplace tensions, how to spot it early, and the fastest way to resolve issues before they spiral. From surprise three-way calls that cut through the noise to creating space for empathy, you’ll hear practical strategies for quickly turning conflict into collaboration. Key Takeaways: - Ambiguity is an early warning sign: conflict often comes from poor communication and can turn into ”us” vs. ”them.” - Speed wins: the quicker you address an issue, the less damage it causes. - Being direct can be uncomfortable: and that tension can drive effective change. - Encourage open dialogue:  empower teams to solve problems without escalation.

How to unlock enterprise value, delegate effectively & adapt systems to match goals We dive into the most persistent question every founder faces: ”where should you really spend your time?” From making pizzas in the early days to building national marketing campaigns, Joe shares how he decides what drives enterprise value, how he makes delegation an effective priority, and how to balance what fuels you with what fuels the business. 5 Key Takeaways: - Every “yes” is also a “no”: time is your scarcest resource. When you say yes to one thing you are saying no to something else. Choose wisely. - Delegate early in the day to unlock team productivity: if you’re the bottleneck, everything slows down. - Get in the weeds with curiosity: you don’t need to know it all, but you need to bring broad perspective to seemingly small decisions. - Reevaluate goals often: what mattered last year may not matter today and so your processes may be outdated. - Processes are hidden resources: multiply time and enterprise value. Plus Joe makes a confession about being the Chief Optimist.

What We Learned When No One Wanted What We Loved (and how that saved us money!) A/B testing online for customer preferences was a tried and true strategy for Joe as he built websites and digital marketing campaigns in the automotive space, but how could he apply those lessons for CPG retail in the ”real world?” He shares a wake-up moment as a founder about confidence, bias, and the importance of testing ideas before scaling. From launching a canned water experiment that looked clever on paper—but creeped people out in real life—to uncovering what customers actually want, this conversation is packed with lessons for entrepreneurs who think their “gut” is enough. 5 Key Takeaways: - Your confidence doesn’t equal customer preference: Watch, listen and learn from your customers especially in early stages of product development. - How to test in the real world to prevent expensive mistakes: simple DIY experiments can yield valuable insights. - If you’re inside the bottle, you can’t read the label: Good branding is important but being overly clever can backfire when customers don’t “get it.” - Data beats opinions: whether from surveys, ads, or in-person experiments you don’t need a lot of data to make better decisions and you’ve got no excuse for not collecting data. - Tips to avoid paralysis by analysis: meet your customers where they are, test only what matters, and keep going.

Tips to Approach Diet & Fitness: Test, Track & Take Action Now Joe gets candid about his journey from neglecting fitness while grinding to grow his business to losing 45 pounds, running marathons, and sustaining healthier habits as a leader, father, and husband. In this episode, we dive into the often-overlooked connection between entrepreneurship and personal health. We break down the myths of “perfect routines,” why waiting until “next week” never works, and how small changes with realistic expectations can transform both your health and your business. Plus Joe shares his own shortcomings to help others assess what’s right for their own lifestyles. Key Take-Aways: - Start Now, Not “Next Week:” Putting off health until “Monday” or “after the holiday” is just a delay tactic. If you don’t tolerate delays in your business, why would you delay making changes to improve your health? - Better Health = Better Leadership: Prioritizing fitness and diet leads to greater energy, mental clarity, and confidence, directly impacting performance as an entrepreneur. - Sleep Is the Foundation: Without adequate rest, exercise and nutrition won’t deliver results—protect your sleep first. - In Your Diet, Track Weeks, Not Days: Weight loss and body transformation are 90% diet; tracking calories and protein intake is a game-changer, but you have to track results over weeks, not days. - Accountability Creates Momentum: Challenges, races, or workout partners provide the structure and motivation to stick with new habits.

In an Ask-Me-Anything episode Joe shares intimate stories from behind the scenes of starting and running his businesses including the surreal moment of getting a $200+ Million offer and when the only solution was to call a spiritual healer to cleanse the business. Key Take-Aways For Entrepreneurs: - Measuring growth in thirds to find the right balance - Why you should keep banging on the doors of opportunity - How to handle wins that validate risk and losses that can’t be corrected  - How losing key employees can be a time to reset operational needs - Having an optimistic attitude to protect against unpredictable setbacks

Hijacking Super Bowl Commercials. Brand vs. Performance Marketing. Social Proofs Ads vs. Demographic Targeting. Feeling stuck on how to start marketing on Facebook, Instagram or Google? Joe cuts through the noise to share a simple, battle-tested early-stage business strategy. Learn how to build buzz, drive sales, and make every dollar work harder—without falling into the common traps that drain budgets. From hijacking big brand moments to letting the algorithm find your perfect customer, this episode gives you the blueprint to build your brand and drive sales. Key Takeaways: - Brand + Performance: Master the two-part formula for awareness and sales. - PR is your secret weapon—and your ad content goldmine. - Ride the wave of competitor campaigns and cultural moments (Go Brewing landing pages vs. Heineken Zero Super Bowl commercials). - Feed the algorithm with creative variety, not guesses at demographic targeting. - What metrics to measure so your ads pay for themselves. Joe shares expert advice based on his experience building and selling two companies that were at the forefront of digital marketing, as well as real-world examples building a non-alcoholic beverage company that sells online.

Build Email Flows that Unlock Value, Drive Sales & Create Relationships The most undervalued resource of your business is probably your ability to contact customers directly so why would you spend money to drive people to your website or store if you can’t stay in touch with them? In this episode Joe explains why you shouldn’t spend money on ads until you build a system to earn customers’ contact information and then send emails (or text messages) that will: - turn visitors into customers - create long-lasting customer relationships - uncover customer insight that will help improve your product or service - reduce your advertising costs - develop social proof to validate your business Joe shares a behind-the-curtain look at the automated email flows that he developed for Go Brewing and Easy Man, but these practical tips can apply to any business even ones that are not in e-commerce.

In this episode, Joe explains what many startups fail to do before they spend their first dollar on ads. From crafting a clear value proposition to optimizing your website for the buyer’s journey, you’ll learn how to build a brand experience that converts. Using real examples—like the launch of Easy Man, a hemp-derived THC beverage—we explore the importance of testing, simple UX, lead capture, and focusing on one customer persona. Whether you’re a first-time founder or scaling an e-commerce brand, this episode reveals the foundation you must build before launching any campaign. Get the infrastructure right—then go grow.

In this episode, we dismantle the myth that market research requires big budgets or third-party consultants. Instead, Joe breaks down a founder-tested approach to validating ideas using nothing more than a spreadsheet, common sense, and hard-earned insight. We walk through: Why you don’t need fancy market research to validate your idea—just your brain and Google. How to use pricing data and margin math to identify viable product opportunities. The crucial decision between co-manufacturing vs. in-house production and its long-term implications. Why subscriptions can be a game-changer, and how Go Brewing built its recurring revenue from day one. The overlooked cost of customer acquisition and why owning your data (email, SMS) trumps retail or Amazon-only models. How products like Jolie and Liquid Death disrupted legacy categories by reframing formats and lifestyle positioning. The reality of building something ahead of its time—including the lonely early days of Go Brewing’s non-alcoholic taproom. A candid take on why great product ＞ great marketing—you can’t market your way out of mediocrity. The takeaway? You don’t need permission or perfection to start—you need proof. And you can get that by doing the work yourself before hiring or scaling.

You’ve got the idea. You’ve done the research. So why are you still waiting? Go Brewing’s founder breaks down the psychology that keeps most people stuck in the ”someday” phase - and the exact questions he asks himself before taking the leap. From validating passion over market size to why your first-year budget is probably wrong, this episode tackles the gap between wanting to start and actually starting. Plus: the brutal reality of letting go early employees, why fighting business problems makes them worse, and how to know when you’re ready to risk it all.

Want to save $$$ on taxes when you sell your startup? 🚀 Listen to Joe’s game-changing advice on using this exclusion and why hiring the right attorney could save you millions later!

Where does ambition really come from? Joe and his cohost explore the messy reality behind entrepreneurial success—from studying 15 seconds at a time on the assembly line to scaling Go Brewing while juggling new systems. Real talk on why ”work-life balance” is BS, how spite can fuel success, and why you need to stop waiting and go find your own way.

James Lawrence, "The Iron Cowboy," and Joe sit down to discuss many topics, including a part of his story that isn't well known, Ironman training, mental toughness, and so much more. More info at https://www.notalmostthere.com https://www.gobrewing.com https://www.ironcowboy.com/ https://chicagosep.com/contact-patrick-quinn/