Ron Rubin: How Do You Find Gold in Your Own Backyard?

Ron Rubin is a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and dreamer who turned a 40-year vision into reality with his Sonoma County winery. We spoke about his journey from a small-town Southern Illinois upbringing to achieving his dream of owning a vineyard, the power of mentorship, the lessons learned from a lifetime in business, and the importance of pursuing dreams without delay. Rubin’s book, Gold in Your Backyard, distills 50 years of leadership and life lessons, emphasizing that opportunity is closer than you think.

The most striking takeaway is Rubin’s philosophy of finding “gold” in your immediate surroundings. As he shares, “Well, the hook is gold in your backyard. You don’t have to go everywhere around the world. It’s right there. All you have to do is dig deep enough.” This mindset challenges the notion of chasing distant opportunities and encourages listeners to uncover potential in their current environment. His story of waiting 40 years to fulfill his winery dream after a life-threatening health scare in 2009 is a poignant reminder to act on aspirations sooner. “If you have a dream, go for it, make it happen. No one can tell us what’s going to happen tomorrow,” he urges, underscoring the urgency of living intentionally.

Rubin’s practical wisdom shines through in his approach to business and life. He emphasizes mentorship, crediting his father and others for shaping his path: “My first lesson that I learned in 1972 was to find a mentor.” His voracious reading habit—over 3,000 business books—offers a self-education model for those without formal degrees. One clever nugget he adopted from The Trillion Dollar Coach is starting meetings with “low lights” before highlights, ensuring challenges are addressed first. He also shares a budgeting tactic for entrepreneurs: “Put a line called mistakes in your budget… when we made a mistake and it cost us a lot of money, I didn’t lose sleep over it. It’s in the budget.” This reframes mistakes as inevitable and manageable, reducing stress for business owners.

From his advocacy for B Corp certification to his insistence on punctuality (“If you’re on time, you’re late”), Rubin’s lessons are both actionable and inspiring. His three keys to business success—customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and cash flow—distill complex entrepreneurship into a clear framework. “There’s only three keys to business… customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and cash flow,” he explains, highlighting the often-overlooked importance of liquidity.

Key Takeaways:

• Seek Mentors Early: Find experienced guides to navigate your journey, as Rubin did with his father and others.
• Act on Dreams Now: Don’t wait for a crisis to pursue your passions—start today, as Rubin learned after his 2009 health scare.
• Embrace Continuous Improvement: Whether through B Corp certification or personal growth, aim to do better each year.
• Budget for Mistakes: Allocate funds for errors to reduce stress and turn unspent “mistake” budgets into profit.
• Master the Basics: Focus on customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and cash flow to build a sustainable business.

Rubin’s story is a masterclass in resilience, resourcefulness, and redefining success by finding treasure where you stand. His blend of heart, hustle, and hard-earned wisdom makes this episode a must-listen for dreamers and doers alike.