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I’m with Chima Imoh, who shows me a working prototype of smart footwear he’s building through MíMíroír Technologies. The shoe has a screen, tracks steps, connects to a phone by Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and runs through an app, with ideas like gamification and left-right haptic feedback to guide movement. Chima shares that he started developing the concept while incarcerated at 18, using that time to learn, think, and build a wider wearable tech ecosystem that begins with shoes. When I ask about a costly mistake, he talks about an early build where he cut soles and ran a ton of wire through the shoe, then realized a simpler approach: treat the tech like a removable pod and keep the cavity open for upgrades. He breaks down a key point about inventing: getting an idea on paper and protecting the IP is step one, but building a successful business is a different challenge. Right now, his biggest hurdle is funding, because investors care most about returns, so he keeps pushing forward by bootstrapping and staying unshakable.

I’m at Tickers & Timbers on Capitol Street in Charleston with Tonya Perry and Robby Cline for Bud Light Buckets: The Prelude, the kickoff to Bud Light Mini Hoops Mania. They’re using the night to bring creators and local businesses together, swap audiences, and build connections while showcasing what the venue and the distributor can offer. Tonya talks about a lesson from ownership: she opened this location without food or a bar because funding was tight, and she later realized people only came for special occasions like team events. She adds food and a bar so locals can come in anytime, not just to throw axes, and she highlights the other experiences here like rage rooms, escape rooms, and paint splatter. Robby breaks down what a distributor does in West Virginia’s three-tier system and jokes about the myth that distributors get free beer, then focuses on supporting customers through promotion. He explains the mini hoops tournament runs January through mid-March with a March 21 final in Huntington, and the winner earns a Vegas trip and a shot at $10,000.

I talk with Cody Garcelon from Ellis Insurance Agency about his hustle in personal and commercial insurance. He gets into the work after meeting Danielle and stays in it for almost five years. Cody explains that commercial insurance protects what a business owner builds, and that the wrong coverage can put your whole livelihood at risk. He walks through an early lesson where poor organization costs him time, and he tightens up his time management fast because the pace keeps speeding up as clients stack up. He clears up a big misconception: not all insurance is the same, and state minimum limits may be legal but can run out fast and expose your personal assets. Cody’s main challenge right now is time, plus building more public presence, so we work on video content and he pushes through the camera nerves by doing it anyway. He says the best way to grow is talking to people and building connections, and he keeps moving by remembering his why.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast I talk about why New Year’s resolutions work when you use them the right way. I treat a resolution as a “fake because,” a simple reason that helps you start making better choices, even if it is not your deepest motive. Then I focus on actions, not outcomes. “Lose weight” is vague, and even “lose 20 pounds” stays weak unless it turns into steps you can do each week and measure, like weighing in on Monday and cutting desserts, then adjusting if the scale does not move. I push a system you can repeat and refine instead of a wish you hope comes true. Last, I recommend keeping your goals private. When you announce them, you can get the reward feeling without doing the work, and you also invite pressure that can turn into resentment. Progress fuels motivation, so I track small wins and keep moving.

I talk with Santa Claus at Lee Studio Productions. He runs a once a year workshop visit where kids come in, play with toys, make cookies, drink chocolate milk, draw and color, and hand him their Christmas list, then leave with an 8×10 photo. I ask how he pulls it off in a short window, and he points to his helpers and the elves who spend two days setting the whole space. We talk about the building, which also houses Lee Studio of Dance, with trophies on the walls and a lot of vintage toys and items from a personal collection. I ask the key questions for families, and he shares that he likes sugar cookies with vanilla and green icing, wants ice cold milk, and carrots make a good treat for reindeer. He jokes about staying on an empty beach when he vacations. We also plug farm events like Fear on the Farm, a Bloody Mary workshop, and a Krampus night. He closes by reminding kids that Christmas magic still exists and encourages parents to read ’Twas the Night Before Christmas on December 24.