109: The Highs and Lows of Entrepreneurship with Kevin Peak of Strategic Treasurer and CaJa Popcorn

Summary:

All of us are trying to launch something, whether it’s inside a business or outside of one, a startup, or a side hustle. And with any launch, there is usually a gap of where you are and your ultimate destination (with a lot of stops, detours, and unexpectedness in between). Along the way, you’ll encounter points where you have to make critical decisions for your business or idea, and sometimes, you might feel a bit out of your element. This is why we do this podcast — we seek to link you with resources and shared experiences of others to help you where you are right now.

That’s why we were happy to sit down with Kevin Peak for today’s interview — Kevin has been where you are. For nearly six years, Kevin owned and operated CaJa Popcorn, a wholesale and retail popcorn company that specializes in artisanal flavors such as pimento cheese, spicy BBQ, and sea salt caramel. Then, he decided to return to his first love as a treasury consultant, selling his successful business and starting over from scratch. In today’s episode, you’ll hear the highs and lows of being solopreneur, when he knew it was time to sell the business, and the skills he’s acquired along the way.

Welcome to episode 109 of the Launch Youniversity Podcast.

Links + Resources:

CaJa Popcorn

Strategic Treasurer

ATDC: Technology Business Incubator

BizBuySell

Three Takeaways:

• Spend time with people who are doing interesting things. You might want to launch something new, but you’re not quite sure what it will be. That’s OK! We encourage you to hang out with people who are doing cool, creative things (and not necessarily in the exact industry you’ll be launching in). Get some inspiration, perspective, and new relationships — all these things will guarantee a great launch later.

• Brace yourself for challenges. Launches are almost always met with challenges. Be prepared for them and keep reminding yourself: the tension won’t last always.

• Find others to help in your areas of weakness. There will come a time during your launch when you’ll be confused about what your next steps should be. Lean on your existing relationships (or make new ones) to help you navigate those areas where you lack adequate knowledge.

Thank you for listening to the Launch Youniversity Podcast! If you have a question that you want to be answered on the podcast… ask us here!