Podcast Summary
Hard work and dedication: Following your passion and putting in the effort can lead to extraordinary achievements, as demonstrated by Josh Smith, who turned his knife-designing hobby into a multi-million dollar business after 20 years of dedication.
Hard work, dedication, and a strong work ethic can lead to great success, as demonstrated by Josh Smith, the founder of the Montana Knife Company. Smith, who was inspired by the Dirty Jobs TV show, went from working as a lineman to creating a multi-million dollar knife business. His story serves as a reminder that following your passion and putting in the effort can result in extraordinary achievements. Smith's knives, which he began designing in his late teens, took 20 years to become a reality, but his unwavering commitment to his craft paid off. For job seekers, the episode also emphasizes the importance of hard work and perseverance, as well as the value of apprenticeships and trades. Overall, the conversation with Josh Smith highlights the power of hard work, dedication, and following your dreams to create something exceptional.
Hard work and determination: Success often comes from hard work and determination, even when faced with obstacles. Childhood experiences of working and being challenged can be valuable in achieving future success.
Success often comes from hard work and determination, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The speaker grew up in Montana, working in his father's excavation business and learning valuable lessons through hands-on experience. He also pursued his passion for knife making from a young age, with the help of mentors who challenged him to improve. Despite setbacks and the frustration of constantly being surpassed by others, the speaker persevered and eventually built a successful career in knife making. The lessons he learned through work and responsibility during his childhood played a crucial role in his success.
Craftsmanship and sharp tools: Deep satisfaction and connection to the world can be gained through craftsmanship and the use of sharp tools, whether for practical tasks or artistic pursuits. American-made products made with high-quality materials can also bring a sense of pride and support local economies.
The intersection of craftsmanship and the use of sharp tools, whether it's forging a knife or building a log cabin, can lead to a deep sense of satisfaction and connection to the world around us. This was evident in the speaker's childhood experiences, where he spent hours peeling logs for a playhouse and later developed a passion for knife making. The speaker also highlighted the importance of American-made products, drawing on the example of American Giant's durable hoodies, which are made with high-quality materials and create jobs in factory towns. The use of sharp tools, whether for practical tasks or artistic pursuits, can be both fearsome and fulfilling, and the speaker's stories illustrate the enduring value of hard work and craftsmanship.
Craftsmanship, Mastery, Pride: Taking pride in one's work instills a deep sense of mastery and can positively impact future generations. Hands-on experience and perseverance are crucial for developing craftsmanship skills and following one's passions.
Growing up around heavy machinery and learning to operate it smoothly at a young age instilled a deep sense of mastery and pride in the speaker's father and himself. This mastery extended beyond just operating the machines, but also applied to other trades like lineman work and knife making. The speaker emphasizes the importance of taking pride in one's work and the impact it can have on future generations. He also highlights the value of hands-on experience and the loss of artistry in vocational education. The speaker's personal experiences, from running equipment as a child to building a road on his property and becoming a successful knife maker, demonstrate the importance of perseverance and following one's passions. Overall, the speaker's reflections underscore the value of craftsmanship, mastery, and taking pride in one's work.
Unexpected opportunities: Being open to new experiences and opportunities, even if they seem unlikely or outside of one's comfort zone, can lead to unexpected rewards and business growth.
Opportunity can come from the most unexpected places. A man named Josh, who identified as a sword builder, received an email from a friend's friend in London requesting Damascus steel samples for a sword. Despite not intending to send any samples, Josh found himself building the sword and eventually traveling to London to meet the client, who turned out to be a sheikh. This encounter led to a business opportunity, as the sheikh placed an order for multiple swords. This unexpected experience taught Josh the importance of being open to new opportunities and the potential rewards that can come from stepping out of one's comfort zone. Additionally, the conversation highlights the importance of clear communication and understanding the specific needs of clients to ensure a successful outcome.
Hardworking professions: Hardworking professions like lineman or foundation repair require a unique combination of physical strength, cerebral knowledge, and teamwork, offering a sense of community and reliance on each other, much like a military unit. Montana's vast public lands and strong sense of neighborly help add to the access to natural beauty and hardworking spirit.
The trades, such as being a lineman or working in foundation repair, require a unique combination of cerebral knowledge, physical strength, and teamwork. These professions offer a sense of community and reliance on each other, much like a military unit. Additionally, Montana, with its vast public lands and strong sense of neighborly help, offers unparalleled access to natural beauty and a hardworking spirit. As for the speaker, his diverse experiences, from playing baseball to enduring a yak attack, have contributed to his well-roundedness and likely played a role in his entrepreneurial pursuits. Overall, the value of hard work, perseverance, and community cannot be overstated. Schedule a free home inspection from GroundWorks to ensure your home's foundation is solid, and check out the latest episode of Go Below With Ro to learn more about the team's work.
Perseverance, dream pursuit: It takes time, resilience, and hard work to build a successful business or pursue a dream. Surrounding oneself with supportive communities and successful people can provide encouragement and validation.
Building a successful business or pursuing a dream takes time and perseverance. The speaker shares his experience of wanting to start a Montana knife company for 20 years before finally launching it in 2020. He emphasizes the importance of learning resilience and hard work from growing up in a small town and the value of sticking with a dream despite setbacks. The conversations in a bucket truck, a small and confined space, allowed him to share his dreams and receive support from others. Surrounding oneself with successful people and communities can provide encouragement and validation. The speaker also highlights the importance of creating something of value that can be passed down, as opposed to the disposable culture we live in today. This can apply not just to knives and guns, but to any tool or object that holds sentimental value.
Starting a business with passion: Passion and determination can help overcome initial difficulties and lead to the creation of a successful business, even when faced with challenges and uncertainty.
Passion and determination can lead to the creation of something meaningful, even when faced with challenges and uncertainty. The speaker shares his experience of starting a knife company from scratch, despite initial difficulties and setbacks. He drew inspiration from old, worn-out tools with stories behind them, and applied the same principle to his own business. Ignoring the fear of failure and the comfort of a steady job, he took a leap of faith and built his company with the help of his family and a business partner. Through hard work and perseverance, the company grew, and the speaker was able to hire talented individuals who shared his vision. Today, the company produces 150,000 individual knives a year, and continues to expand. The story serves as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest rewards come from taking risks and pursuing your dreams.
Continuous journey of success: Success is a continuous journey, not a destination. Hard work, determination, education, and trades are essential for achieving success. Never give up on your dreams.
Success is a continuous journey, not a destination. The speaker shared his experience of starting a business and the importance of hard work and determination. He emphasized that success doesn't come overnight and that one should not give up on their dreams. He also highlighted the importance of education and the value of trades, and suggested creating opportunities for inner-city kids to learn trades and build a future for themselves. The speaker's message encourages persistence and emphasizes that everyone has the potential to achieve great things, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Mobile, hands-on education: Building mobile, hands-on education programs can help address skill shortages by providing practical experiences and collaboration opportunities for students in trades.
There's a growing recognition of the importance of teaching practical skills to students, particularly in the realm of trades. The speaker shares his personal experience of building a portable knife shop in high school and believes that making education more mobile and hands-on can help address the current skill shortages. He also emphasizes the significance of collaboration between industries and individuals to create opportunities for students. Furthermore, the importance of creating high-quality tools that feel good in the hand is highlighted, as well as the role of technology in improving efficiency while maintaining the artisanal aspect.
Montana Knife Company's Product Categories: Montana Knife Company offers high-quality knives for various use cases with a focus on hunting, culinary, tactical, and folding knives. They provide free sharpening and a lifetime warranty, and their dedication to innovation sets them apart from mass-produced knives. The trend towards folding knives has led to their expansion into this category.
Montana Knife Company prides itself on purpose-building high-quality knives for various use cases, from hunting and culinary to tactical and folding knives. The company's dedication to quality and customer service, including free sharpening and lifetime warranty, sets it apart from mass-produced knives. Montana Knife Company's focus on innovation, such as developing their own folding locking mechanism, ensures they cater to a wide audience and stay competitive in the market. Despite the trend of fewer people carrying knives due to changes in work culture, the need for self-defense and versatility has led to a resurgence in knife popularity, making the folding knife the next major product category for the company.
Business integrity: Staying true to one's craft and values is essential for maintaining business integrity, even when faced with opportunities for compromise or external pressures.
Passion and authenticity are key to maintaining integrity in business, even when faced with opportunities that may not align perfectly with one's values. The speaker, a knife maker, shared his experience of collaborating with clients who had specific requests, such as replicating historical swords from the Ottoman Empire. He went above and beyond to deliver high-quality products, even if it meant investing more time and resources than initially anticipated. Another important lesson came from the speaker's participation in a reality TV show, Forged in Fire. While the show provided exposure to a wider audience, the speaker was concerned about how his craft would be portrayed. He negotiated with the producers to ensure that the knives made on the show would be returned to him after filming, respecting the significance of each piece to the makers involved. Overall, the speaker's story highlights the importance of staying true to one's craft and values, even when faced with external pressures or opportunities for compromise. By focusing on the quality of the product and the satisfaction of the client, the speaker was able to build a successful business and maintain a strong reputation within the industry.
Appreciating craftsmanship: Recognizing and respecting the passion and craftsmanship behind creations can lead to meaningful experiences and connections. Value your unique skills and experiences, and never underestimate the impact you can have.
Passion and craftsmanship hold significant value, and recognizing and respecting that can lead to meaningful experiences and connections. The speaker shares an anecdote about a production set where craftsmen's work was being overlooked and neglected. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the effort and significance behind every creation, no matter the size or perceived importance. The speaker's own success in the knife-making industry came from the willingness of the community to share knowledge and ideas. He encourages individuals to value their unique experiences and skills, no matter where they come from, and to never underestimate the impact they can have. The speaker's message is a reminder to appreciate the artistry and dedication behind the things we use and value, and to foster a sense of community and collaboration in our pursuits.
Following dreams: Pursuing unconventional dreams can lead to great rewards, even if the worst-case scenario seems daunting, and can result in meaningful relationships and unexpected success.
Following your dreams, even if they seem unconventional or risky, can lead to great rewards. The speaker's father worked hard his entire life but wished for benefits and paid vacation. The speaker, in pursuit of starting her own business, Montana Knife Company, may have seemed crazy to her father, but it was a dream she couldn't let go of. The worst-case scenario was going back to work as a lineman. The conversation with the interviewer was the nicest and most meaningful she had had in a long time, and she appreciated his support. Her mother, an accomplished author, was another source of inspiration. The speaker's collaboration on a seasoning project was an example of how even seemingly small projects can lead to unexpected success. Overall, the importance of following your dreams, no matter the potential outcome, was a significant theme in the conversation.