Mike Tecku first appeared on this podcast in 2019 as an Amazon market vendor. Shortly afterward, he offered that enterprise, a maker of floormats. He retired, grew to become bored, and in 2022 launched Momentum, a direct-to-consumer dietary shake producer. He and I mentioned that enterprise final 12 months in his second look.

He’s again. Momentum Shake is flourishing, as is Tecku. He’s developed from the nuts and bolts of making a living to attaining a function, constructing a crew, and self-improvement. “If I’m not rising, I’m dying,” he informed me.

Our total audio dialog is embedded beneath. The transcript is edited for size and readability.

Eric Bandholz: Your entrepreneurial journey is spectacular.

Mike Tecku: Progress provides me that means and a way of being alive. If I’m not rising, I’m dying. The American dream of not having to do something runs counter to human nature. When I retired, I acquired good at golf. I learn many books however couldn’t shake the urge to unravel issues. I’d be in a retailer and assume, “That is an fascinating product. I ponder if I may make this.”

I acquired depressed after I wasn’t engaged on something. I may really feel myself shrinking. A few 12 months into that, I made a decision I wanted to re-embrace being an entrepreneur. That’s simply who I’m. These are my items. I needed to make use of my items and strengths, and now I had the privilege of utilizing them in a method that I needed, not simply to outlive or earn cash.

The world is consistently altering. To make one thing good is unimaginable, however you possibly can pursue it by frequently adjusting. The farther you get alongside, the extra exact the vacation spot is, and the extra attuned you might be to your aim. You achieve information and make higher choices. Once you’re actually into one thing, you’re frequently rising and perfecting your artwork.

Bandholz: How does an organization attempt for perfection?

Tecku: You need to develop belief together with your clients so that they know you have got their finest curiosity at coronary heart. If we modify the flavoring of our shakes, clients fear we’re making it cheaper when the truth is the other. You have to be clear with clients and talk that you simply need to add extra worth with out growing their prices. It’s important to zoom out past provide and demand. What benefit are you able to deliver to the market apart from making more cash?

I need to produce a product 10 occasions higher than everyone for a similar worth. Most companies are simply media and advertising and marketing platforms. They don’t contact the product. In the event that they’re doing something in any respect, they’re promoting commodities. I need to make one thing that could be a masterpiece and stacks a lot worth into it.

That wasn’t taking place with our outsourced producer. I like these folks, however they’ll’t innovate on the pace I would like. I can reduce prices by 30% after I take over manufacturing. I can shrink money move, enhance amount, cut back prices, and enhance high quality. The one method to try this is thru proudly owning the manufacturing course of.

Bandholz: What are the pitfalls of in-house manufacturing?

Tecku: Step one is believing it’s doable. I spent 10 years pondering manufacturing was sophisticated and past my experience. However I needed to begin questioning myself. Why can’t I assemble a crew of clever, hardworking people? Why can’t I clear up these issues?

The aim is to make manufacturing straightforward. If I can construct one thing easy and scalable, it is going to be safer and dependable. I prefer to forecast 5 to seven years down the highway. What are my targets? I need to scale to 100 million {dollars}. What does that appear to be within the variety of models I must make a day and the machines able to that?

I’m shopping for machines to simplify and cut back the possibility of error. We are able to’t get rid of errors, however we will streamline processes, steps, and inputs. The machines I’m shopping for ought to have the ability to make a thousand baggage an hour with one worker. That’s a scalable system.

Bandholz: You will have a single SKU incomes hundreds of {dollars} month-to-month. You’re not touching it. There’s magnificence in that.

Tecku: It’s stunning as a result of it frees me for development and enchancment. Recall the outdated phrase, “Work on your enterprise, not in it.” That may’t change. You need to be on prime wanting on the items. My job is decision-making. I would like two hours of hyper-focused pondering on daily basis.

Continually executing shouldn’t be the very best use of my expertise. Some individuals are method higher at it. I contemplate all parts of the enterprise to be property. The manufacturing facility I’ve been constructing for the final six months is an asset. I would like it to run completely with out me. That includes the machines, the house, the crew — each resolution.

Bandholz: I battle with shifting from the execution function into technique and decision-making.

Tecku: I attempt to examine with my crew to see in the event that they want one thing from me. I’ve to remind myself that is what they’re good at and that they recognize my belief in them. If you wish to create impartial individuals who assume for themselves, it’s a must to allow them to fail. My job is to find out the subsequent step. There’s no proper path. It requires lots of strolling round, studying books, speaking to people, and paying consideration.

Bandholz: The place can people comply with you?

Tecku: Our website is MomentumShake.com. I’m on LinkedIn.