Adam Trenk, CEO of Genuine Billy Cook Saddles. When he acquired the company in 2019 after the founder passed, the brand had lost much of the reputation for quality that made it a household name for decades. His mission wasn't simply to operate a saddle company. It was to restore Billy Cook as the benchmark for craftsmanship in the western saddle market and to build products that people use and appreciate while they make the best memories of their lives.

Billy Cook Saddles hit their first profitable year in 2023, and then a tornado completely destroyed their factory in Sulphur, Oklahoma in 2024. They rebuilt from the ground up, added an arena adjacent to the new factory, launched the Sulphur Stampede as a Western heritage festival to help revitalize the town economically, and secured the position as the Official Saddle of the National Finals Rodeo.

This is a story of refusing to take no for an answer. Enjoy!

Website: https://genuinebillycook.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genuinebillycook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genuinebillycook

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GenuineBillyCook

Favorite Books:

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

White Fang by Jack London

Call of the Wild by Jack London

They Red Pony by John Steinbeck

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SALT Electrolytes Wholesale Application: ⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com/pages/wholesale

Chris Burns aka Chris Bones is the pretty face behind The BJJ Project currently blowing up on the inter-webs. In this episode we discuss Chris' explosive internet growth as the face of this venture, his amazing team, his training, and his constant battle with paparazzi (ok, maybe not the last one). He also speaks about his coach and mentor, Rickson Gracie. Passing on Rickson's deep understanding of Jiu Jitsu is the reason Chris does what he does.

If you are a business owner, or hope to be one, there is a wealth of wisdom to be gathered in this episode. If you are a Jiu Jitsu nerd, well, enjoy!

Website: https://www.thebjjproject.com/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/chrisbonesjj/ https://www.instagram.com/the.bjjproject/ https://www.instagram.com/zeropointsydney/

YouTube: @the.BJJproject

Favorite Books:

The Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Social Blunders by Tim Sandlin

I am Legend by Richard Matheson

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

Get You Some Salt Electrolytes Drink Mix: ⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://saltelectrolytes.com ⁠

SALT Electrolytes Wholesale Application: ⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com/pages/wholesale ⁠⁠

This week I interview Brian Portugais, the owner of Rapid Systems Engineering. Today Brian is a successful entrepreneur, but he went through some crap to get there. In this episode we hear Brian tell his story of experiencing the rock bottom, feeling that everyone was judging him for his bad decisions, and what he did to get past his past.

Rapid Systems Engineering Website: https://www.rapidsystemsengineering.com/

Favorite Books:

Unintended Consequences by John Ross

Get You Some Salt Electrolytes Drink Mix: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com⁠

SALT Electrolytes Wholesale Application: ⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com/pages/wholesale

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