Unblocked Ep. 145 The Power of Risk, Resilience, and “Yes or No” with Kurt Karjalainen
Sep 28, 2025
37:41
In this episode of Unblocked, I sit down with entrepreneur Kurt Karjalainen, owner of Premier Merchants Group, LLC. What started as a college side hustle with a single ATM has grown into a thriving business with more than 3,000 ATMs across 42 states.
Kurt shares:
- How he spotted opportunity in a market others overlooked.
- Why being willing to start as a beginner matters more than being perfect.
- The sales mindset shift that took him from frustration to traction = “I want a yes or a no, but not a maybe.”
- His philosophy of time freedom and why it shaped every decision he made.
- The creative problem-solving that turned financial roadblocks into partnerships that fueled massive growth.
If you’ve ever wrestled with fear of failure, indecision, or perfectionism, Kurt’s story is proof that persistence, clarity, and a bias for action can create unimaginable results.
If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this.
Links and Resources:
- Order my #1 New Release book In Pursuit
- If you love what you're hearing on the podcast, you've gotta check out my private coaching offers. Click HERE to learn more about one-on-one coaching with me!
- Get your complimentary copy of The Unblocked Journal to help bring awareness to perfectionist thinking and what it's creating in your life.
- Join My Do The Thing Community
Let’s Connect:
- Follow me on Facebook & Instagram: @JessicaSmarro
- Share your thoughts and experiences with the hashtag #UnblockedPodcast and tag @jessicasmarro!
Connect with Kurt: kurt@pmgcom.com
Let's Get Unblocked!