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In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Jason Morgan, known online as Patriot Prime, to talk about how a lifelong love of Transformers grew into a successful YouTube channel. Jason shares how his interest started as a kid and later turned into content creation after he was challenged to start a channel. We discuss the skills he learned while serving in Iraq, how those experiences helped him develop video production skills, and what it felt like when fans first began recognizing him at conventions. Jason talks about the work that goes into creating videos, the mistakes he made spending money on products he didn’t really want, and how he learned to focus on content that connected with his audience. We also explore the importance of community, building relationships through shared interests, and staying approachable as your audience grows. His advice is simple: do it because you enjoy it, treat people well, and keep going even when others doubt you. His story is a reminder that a hobby can grow into something much bigger when you’re willing to stick with it.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk about why negative comments are part of doing business online. If you want attention, you have to accept exposure, and with exposure comes criticism. I explain that most negative comments are not a sign your marketing is failing. They’re a sign people are finally seeing your content. I break down the difference between pointless attacks and criticism that has value. Random insults should be ignored, but honest feedback can reveal problems your friends may never point out. I also discuss how complaints about your industry can become opportunities to show how your business is different. When someone raises a concern, you’re not responding for that person alone. You’re responding for everyone else who reads the comment. My message is simple: don’t let online trolls dictate your business strategy. Ignore the noise, learn from valid criticism, address misconceptions, and keep moving forward. Negative comments are often proof that you’re getting the attention your business needs to grow.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Jesse A. Lewis of Blue Kangaroo Pack Outs of River Cities in Huntington, West Virginia. Jesse helps people recover personal property after fire, water damage, or a natural disaster. His team packs out items, documents them, cleans them, restores them, stores them, and returns them when the property is ready. What stands out to me is that this is not a moving company. Every item is photographed, barcoded, and tracked through the process. Jesse talks about starting the business two and a half years ago and learning that things do not move as fast as you think they will. He also shares how important relationships are with referral partners, insurance companies, customers, and his team. Right now, his biggest challenge is awareness. People often tell him they wish they had known about Blue Kangaroo sooner. Jesse believes every entrepreneur needs sales skills because you are always selling your company, your vision, and yourself. His core belief is faith in the idea, even when business tests you.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Shelby Pritt, founder of Be Real Estate Services. Shelby helps real estate agents in Indiana and West Virginia keep deals moving through custom transaction coordination. She comes from ten years in lending and title, where she saw how many ways a deal can fall apart. Now she builds systems that help agents save time, stay organized, and focus on selling. We talk about her first year in business, including the lesson she learned from scaling too early. That experience taught her that you cannot expect someone to copy your work without the right structure, training, and standard operating procedures in place. Shelby also explains what makes her service different from a brokerage-provided transaction coordinator. She builds each system around the agent, instead of forcing everyone into the same process. Her best investment has been software that keeps agents and clients updated at any hour. Her core belief is service first.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Mykah Ballard, creative director for Virtue Marketing Collective. Mykah works with businesses that have a vision but need help turning it into a clear message. We talk about how many entrepreneurs are good at what they do but struggle to explain it to the right people. Mykah explains why marketing is not just posting online. It takes strategy, targeting, and a clear understanding of who you are trying to reach. She also shares one of her early lessons: trying to appeal to everyone makes your message weaker. Her best investment has been a project management and CRM system, while her biggest waste was an ad that was too broad. We also talk about self-discipline, showing up when no one is pushing you, and why every conversation can be a pitch. Mykah’s guiding principle is simple: you do not get what you do not ask for.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I break down the line “Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise” as a full formula for getting ahead. Early to bed is about discipline. It cuts off the hours where most people waste time, scroll, snack, drink, or drift into bad habits. Early to rise gives you quiet leverage before the rest of the world starts pulling at you. That time can be used to read, plan, exercise, or build the side hustle before the workday begins. Work like hell means accepting that the work never goes away. It changes, and it can become higher leverage, but there is no path where you just sit back and count money. Then you have to advertise. Good work does not speak for itself if nobody knows you exist. People are busy with their own lives, so you have to tell them what problem you solve and keep telling them. Discipline, a head start, hard work, and promotion are still hard to beat.