Insightful Investor #81 - Blake Johnson: Entrepreneurship, Bootstrapping, Resilience
Jul 29, 2025
Blake Johnson, a serial entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, shares his inspiring journey from a small farming town to building Byte, a billion-dollar company without outside funding. He discusses the importance of resilience and emotional intelligence in entrepreneurship, the challenges of bootstrapping a business, and the impact of AI on direct-to-consumer strategies in health. Blake also emphasizes philanthropy's role in empowering youth, drawing from his own experiences overcoming hardship. Tune in for invaluable insights!
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Early Entrepreneurial Hustles
- Blake Johnson started his entrepreneurial journey in first grade, selling cinnamon spice sachets called Puppy Dog Tails.
- He also engaged in various small businesses selling items like pigs and candy, learning hustling skills early on.
EQ Outweighs IQ
- Blake believes 80% of entrepreneurial success depends on emotional intelligence (EQ) and 20% on IQ.
- School rewards IQ, but real-world business relies more on EQ and people skills.
Embrace Failure and Flexibility
- Expect failure and be comfortable with it; it's part of the journey to success.
- Focus on the destination but remain adaptable about the path taken to reach it.