21 Hats Podcast

Dashboard: A Business Owner Chooses His Third and Final Act

13 snips
Oct 31, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Josh Patrick, a former vending business owner and consultant, dives into his third act focused on the complexities of retirement and death. A cancer survivor, he candidly shares his fear of retirement and how it links to identity loss. Josh emphasizes the emotional impacts of business on families and advocates for gentler practices in leadership. He explores poignant questions about death rituals and the potential of psychedelics in confronting death anxiety. His insights challenge entrepreneurs to prepare for the personal side of exit strategies.
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ANECDOTE

From One Branch To A $6.5M Company

  • Josh bought a one-location vending branch from his father and grew it into a $6.5M, 90-employee business over two decades.
  • He expanded by adding branches and operations, transforming a small operation into a major regional company.
INSIGHT

Values Provide Strategic Focus

  • Values-led companies outperform unfocused ones because owners set clear values and use them to guide behavior.
  • Josh insists owners pick no more than five values and write clarifying statements so teams don't invent conflicting values.
ADVICE

Practice Personal Responsibility Daily

  • Stop blaming and practice personal responsibility to change company culture.
  • Teach values through regular conversations and use mistakes as learning opportunities instead of punishment.
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