I’ve had the chance to talk to a lot of entrepreneurs on my Never Been Promoted podcast, and one thing that’s consistent is this: no journey is the same. When I spoke with R Blank, founder of Healthier Tech, his story wasn’t one of straight-line success. Instead, it was filled with sharp turns, early mistakes, and key pivots. What really stuck with me, though, was how R embraced the challenges he faced and adapted along the way.
R shared how he started out without any guarantee of success but pushed forward regardless. That’s something all entrepreneurs can relate to—the uncertainty, the constant pressure to make it work, and the relentless pursuit of progress. R’s story is filled with moments we can all learn from, particularly about how he navigated change and kept his business evolving.
Staying Persistent When Nothing Seems Certain
One of the biggest takeaways from my chat with R is how he handled uncertainty. It’s part of the game for all of us, but not everyone is willing to push through the tough times. When R started his first company after college, he didn’t have a roadmap or a clear vision. In fact, he had no idea if it was going to work at all.
“I’ve only ever had one real job, and it lasted 10 months,” he told me with a laugh. “After that, I left and started my first company.”
R’s early ventures weren’t home runs, but he stuck with it. He sold his first company, moved on to another, got bought out, and then dove into grad school. It wasn’t the typical ‘success story,’ but that’s the point. Entrepreneurship is rarely straightforward.
Key Takeaways from Our Discussion:
- Expect uncertainty: It’s going to be part of your journey, so don’t wait for everything to be perfect.
- Celebrate small wins: R wasn’t shy about his ups and downs, and he didn’t need each success to be massive to keep going.
- Don’t stop evolving: Even if your business doesn’t start out how you imagined, keep adapting until it fits the market.
The Power of Pivoting: When Things Don’t Work, Change the Strategy
One of the most valuable lessons I learned from R is knowing when to pivot. He founded Healthier Tech during the pandemic, originally with the idea of creating physical products. That made sense because his previous business, Shield Your Body, was focused on selling products that protected people from harmful tech exposure.
But this time, something didn’t click. After putting in months of work on a new product line, R realized that it wasn’t going to be the right direction for Healthier Tech. “I thought we were going to make more products because that’s what I knew. But it wasn’t working, and I had to be honest with myself about it.”
That’s when he made the pivot toward content and courses. It wasn’t an easy decision—he had already invested time and money into physical products. But in the long run, it was the right move.
The pivot didn’t happen overnight, but once he leaned into the new direction, things started falling into place. Now, Healthier Tech is a thriving brand, offering courses, summits, and a podcast—all focused on helping people build healthier relationships with technology.
What I Learned from His Experience:
- Don’t be afraid to pivot: Sometimes you have to ditch an idea, no matter how much work you’ve already put into it.
- Trust your instincts: R didn’t let pride or sunk costs hold him back when he saw that things weren’t working. He adapted.
- Find what works: It took some trial and error, but once R found the right path for Healthier Tech, he doubled down on it.
Reflections from the Interview
One of the best insights R shared was about building a sustainable business model. He’s big on diversification and creating different revenue streams. “The more connected streams of income you have, the more stable your business becomes,” he said. That really hit home for me. Too many entrepreneurs rely on one thing and get caught off guard when that stream dries up. R built his business to survive different challenges—whether it was supply chain disruptions or changes in consumer demand.
Here’s What I’m Taking Away:
- Diversify your revenue streams: Having multiple streams of income will give you stability when the market fluctuates.
- Keep learning: R’s willingness to adapt and try new things is a reminder to never get too comfortable.
- Build your brand, not just a product: People connect with stories and brands, not just products or services.
- Stay flexible: If something isn’t working, be willing to shift. Stubbornness won’t keep your business afloat.
- Listen to your market: R pivoted because he paid attention to what was (and wasn’t) working for his customers.
Final Thoughts
Talking to R reminded me that entrepreneurship is really about resilience. It’s not about having a perfect plan from the start. It’s about starting, learning, and adapting along the way. R’s willingness to pivot, adapt, and diversify made all the difference in his journey, and those are lessons every entrepreneur can apply to their own business.
If you’re in the middle of building your business and things aren’t going as planned, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Maybe a small pivot or adjustment is all you need. And don’t be afraid to embrace uncertainty—it’s where the best lessons are learned.
CONNECT WITH R BLANK:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rblank9/
Website: https://www.shieldyourbody.com/