Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business 1228: The Scalpel vs. The Sledgehammer: How to Break Through Walls in Your Business w/ Anthony Brown
In this episode, Brian sits down with Anthony Brown, a second-generation entrepreneur who is revolutionizing a highly technical and niche industry. Anthony shares the incredible story of growing up in his father’s lubrication systems business and how a strategic partnership led him to launch APEX Lubrication, a tech-forward company using machine learning to solve major industrial problems. This conversation is a masterclass in long-term vision, proving that the seeds you plant today can lead to industry domination years down the road. For any entrepreneur feeling impatient, this episode is a powerful reminder that building something truly great requires a strong foundation, the right relationships, and the grit to push through the walls you will inevitably hit.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
- 🚀 How to transform a traditional family business into a tech-forward industry leader.
- 🤝 Why fostering deep relationships is the key to launching a new venture and getting your first crucial clients.
- 🛠️ The power of creating hands-on educational programs to build authority and solve customer turnover.
- 📈 How to balance building the business you have today with the one you want to have in five years.
- 🗣️ Why strategic storytelling is one of the most underrated and powerful tools for sales, team motivation, and brand building.
- 💡 How to find simple solutions in a complex world and why true simplicity is incredibly difficult to achieve.
📝 About Anthony Brown
Anthony Brown is Vice President of Mighty Lube and OPCO Lubrication Systems, bringing over 20 years of expertise in conveyor chain maintenance. A graduate of Johnson & Wales University with a degree in International Business, he specializes in Industry 4.0 technologies and smart lubrication systems.
In 2017, Anthony launched the MOCS training program, delivering hands-on education to maintenance teams across North America. Building on that momentum, he founded APEX Lubrication in 2022—a company focused on using machine learning and real-time data to enhance conveyor performance across multi-site industrial operations.
Anthony is recognized for driving innovation in predictive maintenance and for equipping industrial teams with the tools and knowledge to achieve operational efficiency.
🎯 Anthony’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"You're going to hit a wall. I don't care how good your idea is, how good a team you have, you're going to hit some walls. And do not take a hammer to that wall. You're going to want to take a precision tool like a scalpel to that wall and slowly pick at it."
📢 Memorable Quotes
- “That's the world I want to be in. I love being in an area where you are creating something that has never been there before and then providing solutions to customers that they never thought could even exist.”
- “Your story is what makes who you are, what that product is going to be for years and years to come.”
💡 Actionable Takeaways
- ✅ Identify the biggest "wall" in your business right now. Instead of trying to smash through it, brainstorm three small, precise "scalpel-like" actions you can take this week to start chipping away at it.
- ✅ Practice telling the story of your business. Write it down or record yourself explaining why you started, the problem you solve, and where you're going. This story is a powerful tool for your next sales call or team meeting.
🔗 Links & Resources