From Kraft Foods to entrepreneur, Joe Zentmyer built and sold First Ascent Rock Climbing, then founded Snaggletooth Goby, growing aquariums into profit with online expansion, subscription revenue, and resilience. (Episode 713 - Joe Zentmyer)

In this episode of Grow a Small Business, host Troy Trewin interviews Joe Zentmyer, Founder of Snaggletooth Goby, shares his entrepreneurial journey from leaving corporate life at Kraft Foods to co-founding First Ascent Rock Climbing, which grew to seven gyms before being sold in 2021. He explains how his passion for aquariums led him to purchase and expand a local store into a growing business, adding recurring revenue streams and online sales. Joe reflects on the challenges of scaling during COVID, including managing hundreds of employees and navigating shutdowns. He highlights the importance of numbers, people management, and hiring the right team for growth. Finally, he offers advice on resilience, balance, and building a strong culture while scaling a small business.

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Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice.

And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions:

1. What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business?

Joe Zentmyer shares that the hardest part of growing a small business is the pace of decision-making and filtering feedback. He explains that entrepreneurs often hear only the extremes—overly positive or overly negative voices—while the real insights usually lie in the middle.

2. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most?

Joe Zentmyer told that one of the most impactful books for him is “The Energy Bus” by Jon Gordon, which focuses on motivating people, getting them aligned, and building positive momentum within a team.

3. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business?

Joe Zentmyer shares that he listens widely to many business podcasts and online resources, cycling through different voices to absorb as much knowledge as possible. He believes entrepreneurs should avoid sticking to just one source and instead learn from a wide range of perspectives.

4. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business?

Joe Zentmyer shares that small business owners should not hesitate to invest in simple online apps and tools that save time on repetitive tasks. Even spending $20–$50 a month on the right software can free up valuable hours, making efficiency a key growth resource.

5. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business?

Joe Zentmyer shares that if he could go back, he would tell himself to believe in the journey and enjoy the ride. Building a business is full of challenges and surprises, but embracing the process with confidence makes it worthwhile.

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Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest:

Success in small business happens when the sum of the team is greater than the whole – Joe Zentmyer

The right people are easier to find than trying to fix the wrong ones – Joe Zentmyer

If you think as a leader you can force people to do what they don’t want, you’re sorely mistaken – Joe Zentmyer