009. Failing Forward with Keith Gober
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We’re all familiar with the entrepreneurial roller coaster, right? One day you’re up and on top of the world! But the next day you feel like your entire life is plummeting and you don’t know how to keep it all going.
Personally, I couldn’t relate to this more! But there’s something special that happens when you hit that bottom and discover your own resilience and strength. It’s the overcoming and finding that one little drop of courage that can shift everything in your business, and that’s what this week’s guest really represents to me!
I’m so excited to introduce you to Keith Gober, owner and co-creator of Mangled Mascots, a pet toy company for passionate sports fans with a heart to include their four-legged friends in all the game-day excitement!
Keith’s story is packed with ups and downs, and finding the courage to fall hard, fail forward, and get back up again. From losing his business to the 2008 crash, to rebuilding his life one brick at a time and rediscovering his passion — his journey inspired my heart so much throughout this interview.
On today’s episode, Keith shares his story of concept to product with Mangled Mascots, and how lasting inspiration is found in those you love. With his dog, Lucy, at the helm -- Keith found the courage to create something he knew pets and their sports fan owners would connect with and enjoy.
We discuss his path to finding investors and how partnering with Shark Tank genius, Kevin Harrington, shaped his entire launch. Keith shares his heart for family and how aligning yourself with the right people can make or break your business. We also cover his exciting new partnership with Walmart and why taking big risks with big heart pays off everytime!
I loved Keith’s humility and willingness to share not only the highlights of his entrepreneur journey, but also the pitfalls and what he’s learned along the way. If you’re feeling discouraged this week or are just in a low season with your business, this interview is 100% for YOU!
I know you’ll feel so encouraged by Keith’s story and I can’t wait to hear how you connect to everything we discuss!
Meet Keith.
Keith Gober is the co-creator of Mangled Mascots, the fastest growing and most unique sports pet toy product in the US! Like many of us, Keith grew up surrounded by dogs and they were always included in the family fun. He’s kept that tradition alive in his own family today, and found the inspiration for Mangled Mascots in his adorable pup, Lucy. Lucy is no longer with us, but her heart (and paw print!) is all over the Mangled Mascots brand!
Keith saw a huge hole in the market when he was searching for college sports fan pet toys at a big chain pet store. He had a vision of Lucy tearing apart a rival team’s toy, and knew that the concept would bring other fans so much joy as well! He decided to create the product himself, and Mangled Mascots was born.
After sewing the first prototype himself, the moment of truth came and Lucy gave her seal of approval—she completely tore it up! Watching her tear into a rival team’s mascot put a huge smile on Keith’s face! He knew he had discovered something special that the majority of dog-loving families would enjoy as much as he did and help them bond with their pets even more.
Today, Keith has partnerships with Shark Tank’s Kevin Harrington as well as Walmart! The ups, the downs, the risks and rewards are all so inspiring throughout Keith and I’s conversation. I know his story is going to motivate you to take the next step or overcome whatever is holding you back!
“The great thing about being scared in life is it creates an opportunity for courage.”
The heart behind his business.
Keith’s heart for Mangled Mascots really blooms from his love for his furry friend, Lucy. When he was going through the loss of his business in 2008, she was the one he confided in and found comfort. Lucy was a faithful companion, and Keith is honoring her legacy so well in the brand.
One of Keith’s favorite things was to watch Lucy tear into a toy and rip it to shreds. That’s where the heart for Mangled Mascots was born! He knew other sports fans would love to see their pets tear into the competition, so the entire brand was sparked from that little moment of joy! More than anything, Keith’s heart is about creating memories with your family and pets. It’s about bringing people together and putting smiles on faces, and Mangled Mascots does just that!
From failing to forgiveness.
Keith is no stranger to the entrepreneurial roller coaster. His story is packed with the ups and downs of starting a business, fighting for your idea, and discovering your passion. “So many times when I ran into problems in business, it’s because I didn’t listen to my gut. I reacted emotionally,” says Keith. After the 2008 crash and the loss of his business, he laid awake at night asking himself what he could’ve changed and what decisions he should’ve made to prevent it all from happening. Can you relate?
Through that process, he finally learned to forgive himself and show himself grace as he let go of past failures and looked towards future ideas. It’s that radical forgiveness, that daily practice, that got him moving again. While holding ourselves accountable and learning from our mistakes is a way forward, it’s the forgiveness that really connects us back to our calling.
Focus on helping people.
When it comes to business advice, Keith says to focus your heart on helping people. I loved how Keith breaks this down throughout the episode. “Help as many people as you can along the way,” he says.
“If you help enough people you create an environment where they can help you someday and help other people. Maybe you never see a return, but helping people navigate the mind field of being an entrepreneur is incredibly rewarding.”
Best Advice to your younger self.
Be prepared for a road that is tough at times. It’s ok to fall down, but not okay to stay down. You just have to keep getting up and chase your passion. When those bad things happen, sometimes it’s going to be due to your mistakes. Other times it’s simply something you had no control over. When it is your fault, look at yourself in the mirror and forgive yourself. Every entrepreneur has fallen down, but the the successful ones don’t stay down.
“When things are tough, you have to lean into it to get to where you want to go. You have to keep grinding and keeping fighting, and eventually good things happen.”
Connect with Keith.
So how did Keith find the confidence he needed to overcome the ups and downs of business? How did he start from scratch and build a brand he’s proud of? I know you’re going to feel so much encouragement from Keith’s heart this week! Press play to listen to the full interview and hear more about failing forward with Keith Gober!
Connect and check out the links mentioned in the episode below!
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