Behind The Anvil Podcast – Season 2, Episode 31 From Marine to Mentor: Building Better Business Systems with Rue Knows In this episode of Behind The Anvil Podcast, host Michael Peterson sits down with entrepreneur, Marine Corps veteran, and business systems expert Rue Knows for an honest conversation about resilience, rebuilding, and creating businesses that actually work. Rue shares his incredible journey of joining the United States Marine Corps at just 17 years old, overcoming homelessness after his military service ended due to injury, and eventually building a successful painting company that generated more than $1.2 million in annual revenue. But as he explains, impressive revenue doesn't always equal profit. Rue opens up about the costly mistakes, leadership challenges, and hard lessons he learned while growing too fast without the right systems in place. Michael and Rue dive into: The realities of transitioning from military life to entrepreneurship. Why Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are essential for long-term success. Building businesses that don't depend on the owner for every decision. Hiring, leadership, and avoiding expensive growth mistakes. Residential vs. commercial contracting. The power of virtual assistants and AI to help small businesses save time and increase efficiency. How AI tools like ChatGPT can help entrepreneurs with writing, marketing, business planning, and creative work. Why business owners should validate AI-generated information instead of accepting it at face value. Planning your business by working backward from your long-term goals. Michael also shares personal updates about returning to knife making, lessons learned from scaling his own business, and his vision for combining a knife shop with a café in the future. Connect with Rue Knows: RueKnows.com @RueKnows YouTube: @RueKnowsLocal Follow Behind The Anvil Podcast New episodes every Monday on your favorite podcast platform, with the video edition releasing later on YouTube. Hosted by Michael Peterson Owner, Mike's Damascus Knives LLC Stay Sharp, America!

Behind The Anvil Podcast, host Michael Peterson sits down with Dr. Robert Garcia—U.S. Air Force veteran, CEO of Garcia Global Media, founder of SHIFT Advanced Life Design Magazine, author, and media strategist. Dr. Garcia shares his incredible journey from growing up in a low-income family in Northern California to earning multiple advanced degrees and building a nationally recognized public relations and media company. He opens up about the challenges he faced, how the Air Force changed the direction of his life, and the lessons that helped him transform setbacks into opportunities. The conversation explores the creation of SHIFT Magazine, its mission to help readers "shift into a better version of themselves," and how Dr. Garcia helps entrepreneurs, veterans, and small business owners gain visibility through podcasts, television, magazines, and strategic media campaigns. Michael also shares his own experience working with Dr. Garcia and how those efforts helped him gain television exposure. You'll also hear stories about Garcia Grill, where Dr. Garcia served hundreds of meals to fellow service members during deployment, his thoughts on handling negativity on social media, practical advice for building a recognizable brand, and why consistent effort beats chasing overnight success. Whether you're an entrepreneur, veteran, content creator, or someone working toward a dream, this episode is packed with motivation and practical advice to help you keep moving forward.

Connect with Dr. Robert Garcia: • Website: Garcia Global Media • Facebook: Rob "The Warrior Strategist" • LinkedIn: Dr. Robert Garcia • SHIFT Magazine: SHIFT Advanced Life Design Magazine

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Season 2, Episode 30 – Take the Chance and Have That Conversation Sometimes the biggest opportunities in life begin with a simple conversation. In this episode of Behind The Anvil Podcast, host Michael Peterson is joined by co-host Brad Caughey to discuss why you should never be afraid to take a chance and talk to someone new. Michael shares the story of meeting a representative from Valor Atomics at a Maverik in Utah—a brief conversation that could lead to an exciting future collaboration and a behind-the-scenes look at one of America's most innovative nuclear technology companies. The conversation expands into the future of American energy as Michael and Brad explore helium-cooled small modular nuclear reactors, the need to modernize the aging U.S. power grid, the role of coal, natural gas, wind, solar, and why reliable energy should remain America's top priority. They also discuss domestic manufacturing, data centers, infrastructure, trade skills, and why taking calculated risks can open doors in both business and life. Brad also gives an update on BC Custom Rods, explaining the difference between inshore and offshore fishing rods, his custom rod-building business, and what's next as he continues growing the company. Michael also talks about returning to Robinson Transport on the night shift, the realities of life behind the wheel, and finding gratitude in the opportunities God provides—even when life doesn't go according to plan. Whether you're an entrepreneur, outdoorsman, energy enthusiast, or someone looking for encouragement to step outside your comfort zone, this episode reminds us that one conversation can change everything. Take the chance. Start the conversation. You never know where it might lead. Follow Behind The Anvil Podcast and Mike's Damascus Knives: YouTube: Website: https://MikesDamascusKnives.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/MikesDamascus X (Twitter): https://x.com/MikesDamascusKnives TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mikesdamascusknives Follow BC Custom Rods: Facebook: https://facebook.com/BCCustomRods Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Until next time... Stay Sharp!