What does it take to leave stability behind, bet on yourself, and build a career through uncertainty?

In this re-released episode of The Grit Mindset, Matt Rosen sits down with data center industry veteran and entrepreneur Michael Carnes to discuss the lessons he's learned from nearly three decades of growth, setbacks, and reinvention. From leaving Blockbuster during its peak years to helping build one of the early pioneers in the data center industry, Michael shares how perseverance, calculated risk-taking, and strong relationships shaped his journey.

Michael reflects on navigating the dot-com crash, overcoming financial uncertainty, launching entrepreneurial ventures, and adapting to the rapidly evolving world of data centers and AI. He also shares why networking, mentorship, and surrounding yourself with the right people can be the difference between surviving and thriving.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, business leader, or someone considering taking a leap of faith, this conversation offers valuable lessons on grit, resilience, and long-term success.

For Scott Harper, grit isn't about avoiding failure—it's about learning from it, pushing through it, and staying in the game long enough to win.

In this episode of The Grit Mindset, Scott shares the lessons that helped him build Dialexa from the ground up, navigate major setbacks, overcome near-disasters, and ultimately lead the company to a successful acquisition by IBM. He reflects on the role that hard work, resilience, mentorship, and surrounding yourself with great people play in building something meaningful. Scott also offers candid insights on maintaining perspective during difficult seasons, learning from failure, and why "embracing the suck" is often an essential part of the journey to lasting success.

Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or working through your own challenges, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom on perseverance, leadership, and staying focused on the mission when things get tough.

For Scott Levy, grit is simple: keep betting on yourself and your team when there are plenty of reasons to quit.

In this re-run episode, the founder of Result Maps shares how building a business while raising young children, managing demanding clients, and leading distributed teams inspired him to create a platform that helps founders stay aligned, build better habits, and scale with purpose.

Scott also reflects on his family’s immigrant story—particularly his grandfather’s journey to America at age 15 with nothing—which continues to shape his perspective on resilience and adversity. A passionate supporter of the veteran community through Warrior Rising, Scott brings a powerful blend of leadership, perseverance, and service to everything he does.

Whether you're working to strengthen your team, clarify your vision, or push through a challenging season, this conversation offers practical insights and inspiration to help you keep moving forward.

In this special re-run episode of The Grit Mindset, entrepreneur John Hudson shares his powerful definition of grit: “discipline on steroids.” Through decades of experience building a successful logistics company, leading teams, and even launching a gym during the uncertainty of COVID, John opens up about the realities of perseverance, failure, leadership, and knowing when it’s time to pivot.

This conversation is packed with practical wisdom for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone navigating setbacks while chasing meaningful success.

Season 1 of The Grit Mindset is complete, and before Season 2 launches, I’m revisiting the episodes that shaped the show most.

There was no better place to start than Episode 1 with Michelle Johnson, former CIO at Freeman, with Fortium when we recorded, and now CIO at Associa. She took a chance on a brand new podcast with a host who had no idea what he was doing yet.

She gave me two ideas in that first conversation that I've carried through everything since.

The first: "It takes grit to quit." Not as a catchphrase. As a real observation. Sometimes the gritty move isn't to keep pushing — it's to walk away from what isn't working so you can put your energy somewhere it will.

The second: "You learn how to do hard better." She was quoting the women's basketball coach at Duke. Not easier. Better. That's the whole show in one sentence. Grit isn't about life getting smoother. It's about getting more skilled at handling what's hard.

Season 2 is coming. Until then, stay gritty.

After 60 episodes, Matt Rosen is putting the Grit Mindset on hiatus — not from burnout, but to break through a craft ceiling. In this Season 1 finale, he shares three specific lessons from three guests who changed how he thinks about interviewing, vulnerability, and the people closest to him. Plus: what's coming in Season 2, when the show returns, and how listeners can shape the next chapter. Stay gritty.

Character isn't built in a boardroom; it’s forged in the quiet, grueling moments of showing up when it would be easier to stay down. On this episode of The Grit Mindset, Matt Rosen pays tribute to the unwavering resolve of energy executive and close family friend Cindy Jaggi.

Cindy’s journey is a masterclass in what it means to be steadfast—serving as the anchor for her family and her company through a decade of extraordinary trials. This is a story about the quiet strength required to 'soldier on' when the stakes are highest.

In this episode, we explore:
-The Early Foundation: How overcoming adversity in rural Missouri as a teenager prepared her for the high-stakes world of energy leadership.
-The Corporate Climb: Navigating the ladder in a demanding industry with a persistent, "no-excuses" work ethic.
-The Invisible Lift: Balancing the pressures of executive leadership with the daily demands of managing a household and raising two children.
-Grace Under Fire: Navigating a ten-year battle with breast cancer—undergoing treatment without ever missing a day of work.
-The Ultimate Partner: Supporting her husband through his medical challenges with transverse myelitis, proving that true grit is often a selfless act.

Cindy Jaggi is living proof that your character is your most valuable asset. Her life reminds us that being 'unbreakable' isn't about avoiding the storm—it's about being the one who holds steady until it passes.

Melvin Bullitt didn't just walk onto an NFL roster; he fought his way from undrafted free agent to Super Bowl Captain for the Indianapolis Colts. But for Melvin, the gridiron was only the first half.

In this episode of The Grit Mindset, the Texas A&M legend gets raw about the "silent season" following retirement and the mental fortitude required to pivot from professional athlete to elite entrepreneur. We dive into:
-The Undrafted Mentality: How to outwork the "sure bets" when no one is looking.
-The Post-Game Pivot: Navigating the identity shift and mental health challenges after the cheering stops.
-The Bullitt Experience: How he’s scaling grit, leadership, and community through his premier training facility.
-The 1% Philosophy: Why incremental daily wins are the only way to survive high-stakes environments.

Whether you're an athlete, a business leader, or someone in the middle of a major life transition, Melvin’s story is a masterclass in staying dangerous when the odds are against you.