Entrepreneurship has this way of pulling you in two different directions. On one hand, there’s the rush to grow fast, scale big, and make a splash. On the other, there’s the often-overlooked need to stay grounded—keeping your health in check and your ego out of the way. That’s something that really hit home for me while talking with Joe Hansley, the founder of GoMix, in an episode of Never Been Promoted. Joe has been through it all, from college football to a brief stint in the NFL, and now as an entrepreneur who’s faced the highs and lows of building a business.
What I loved about Joe’s story is how he’s managed to juggle health and business, all while learning some hard lessons about what really matters. His journey is a crash course for anyone looking to build something from the ground up and still stay true to themselves. Let’s break it down.
1. Letting Go of the Ego
Early on in his entrepreneurial journey, Joe admitted he got caught up in the vanity of it all. He didn’t just want to succeed; he wanted everyone to see him succeed. “I wanted to be the guy with a team, the guy with all the moving parts,” he shared. And you know what? He wasted a lot of time and money on things that didn’t push the business forward.
He reflected on it during our conversation: “I was worried about how other people perceived my business. I wanted to look successful before I really was. Now, I see how dumb that was.”
Key Takeaways from Our Discussion:
- Focus on what actually matters: Joe’s story really drove home how easy it is to get distracted by appearances, rather than focusing on what’s truly important—growth, product quality, and customer satisfaction.
- Watch where the money goes: It’s tempting to spend money on things that make your business look bigger than it is—team expansions, fancy offices, or flashy marketing. Joe learned the hard way that if it’s not actually helping the business grow, it’s a waste.
- Ego is expensive: We’ve all been there. You want to show off that you’ve “made it,” but too often, it leads to poor decisions. Joe’s experience is a reminder that sometimes, the most important moves are the ones no one else sees.
2. Growth: Smarter, Not Faster
When you first start a business, it’s easy to fall into the “grow fast” mentality. That’s what Joe did initially, pushing hard to expand and land deals. But then came the wake-up call. He realized that while he was out hustling for bigger clients, he didn’t have the systems in place to support the kind of growth he was chasing. “We outran ourselves,” he said. The demand was there, but the infrastructure wasn’t.
Joe shared, “We went after opportunities we weren’t fully equipped to handle. Looking back, if we had landed one of those deals, we wouldn’t have been able to deliver. It was a real slap in the face.”
What I Learned from His Experience:
- Make sure your systems can handle the growth: Joe’s story is a reminder that it’s not just about getting customers in the door; it’s about being able to deliver once they’re there. Before pushing for that next big client, check if your team, systems, and production can keep up.
- Quality over quantity: He learned that it’s better to scale slowly and maintain quality than to rush growth and sacrifice the integrity of your product or service.
- Patience pays off: It’s so easy to get caught up in wanting everything now. But Joe’s journey shows that patience and focusing on sustainable growth can save you from a lot of headaches down the line.
This one hit me hard. I’ve seen plenty of businesses try to scale too fast, only to collapse under their own weight. It’s a mistake I’ve almost made myself, and hearing Joe talk about it was like a confirmation of my own gut instincts.
3. Reflections from the Interview
One of the things Joe and I dug into was the importance of mentorship and how it’s been a constant theme in his life—from his days as a college athlete to his entrepreneurial ventures. “You’re the sum of the five people you spend the most time with,” Joe said, quoting a piece of advice he’s lived by.
Joe didn’t just luck into success; he sought out guidance. “I had mentors, coaches, people who were better than me at things I didn’t understand.” That openness to learning was key, and it’s something I try to remind myself of daily.
After chatting with Joe, I walked away with a few solid nuggets of wisdom that are going to stick with me as I continue building my own projects. These aren’t fluffy, feel-good lessons—they’re real, hard-earned truths that every entrepreneur needs to hear.
Here’s What I’m Taking Away:
- Stay humble, stay grounded: Success can be fleeting, and ego can sabotage progress. Joe’s ability to recognize this early saved him from making even bigger mistakes.
- Build systems that support growth: Don’t chase the big clients if you can’t support them. It’s better to walk before you run.
- Health is wealth: Joe built a business around health and wellness because he knows firsthand how critical it is to perform at your best. Take care of your body if you want to take care of your business.
- The right people matter: Surround yourself with those who challenge you, and avoid those who hold you back.
- Be patient with growth: Don’t rush success. Be intentional, stay focused, and don’t let the pressure to grow fast make you lose sight of what’s truly important.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, entrepreneurship is a long game. Talking with Joe reminded me that it’s not about how fast you get there but how well you handle the journey. We all want success, but that doesn’t mean we should sacrifice our health, our values, or our long-term vision to get there. If Joe’s story teaches us anything, it’s that real success comes when you find that balance—between hustle and health, between ambition and patience.
Want more insights from Joe Hansley’s journey? Catch the full episode of Never Been Promoted to hear the entire story in his own words. It’s one you won’t want to miss: Unbelievable Insights from a Former NFL Player Turned Entrepreneur Joe Hansley
CONNECT WITH JOE HANSLEY:
Website (Company): https://gomixtech.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joehansley/