Matt Kuehlhorn, founder of Kooler Garage Doors and host of the Craft Your Life podcast, joins us on this episode. From painting walls for $20 an hour to building a multi–eight figure exit business, Matt shares his journey of resilience, reinvention, and relentless growth. We dive into his background in education and nonprofit work, the leap into entrepreneurship, and the culture-driven leadership style that fuels his team today. Matt also opens up about personal development, comparison, systems, and what it really takes to build a business worth selling.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
How Matt went from living out of his car to building a thriving trades business
Why culture and vision are the backbone of any growing company
The role of discomfort and “agitation” in fueling entrepreneurial growth
How to recognize when you’re getting too comfortable—and what to do about it
Key systems and people strategies that make a business scalable and sellable
Why comparison can either rob you of joy or become your biggest motivator
The mindset shifts required to build a company with a multi–eight figure exit potential
🔑 Key Topics Covered:
✅ Entrepreneurial Reinvention & Resilience
✅ Building Culture & Vision-Driven Leadership
✅ Systems Thinking & Process Design
✅ Hiring, Team Building & Predictive Index Tools
✅ Scaling Trades Businesses (Painting → Garage Doors)
✅ Personal Growth, Comparison & Gratitude
✅ Exit Strategy & Multi–Eight Figure Potential
👤 Featured Guest:
Matt Kuehlhorn – Founder, Kooler Garage Doors | Entrepreneur | Podcast Host (Craft Your Life)
🎙️ About The Open Concept:
Your go-to podcast for construction industry insights, trade business strategies, and leadership advice that actually works.
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