Navigating the Highs and Lows of Business with Blake Tomasino

Podcast Show Notes

Episode Summary: In this inaugural episode, Pastor Paul Ybarra sits down with Blake Tomasino, the owner of Hi-Lo Designs. Blake shares his journey from studying entrepreneurship in college to building a local clothing and design powerhouse in Greeley. They dive deep into the philosophy behind the "Hi-Lo" brand, discussing how to navigate the inevitable peaks and valleys of the entrepreneurial grind.

Key Discussion Points:

• The Birth of a Brand: Blake discusses how his passion for unique clothing and his background in entrepreneurship led him to start his own business after realizing a career in the distillery industry wasn't his path.
• Embracing the Highs and Lows: The "Hi-Lo" name is inspired by the reality of life’s challenges, including Blake's personal experience with post-college anxiety and the "lows" of starting a business.
• The Battery Concept: Pastor Paul shares a powerful analogy about how life, like a battery, requires both positive and negative charges to create power and light.
• The Entrepreneurial Grind: Blake talks about the reality of the three-and-a-half-year "grind," working out of his home, and the importance of continuous growth and equipment upgrades.
• Practical Growth Tips: From using ChatGPT to create a structured daily schedule to prioritizing physical fitness, Blake and Paul discuss how to stay motivated when "seasons" of business get slow.

Words of Wisdom from Blake:

• For Day 1 Entrepreneurs: "It’s going to be tough—take it day by day".
• For the 10-Year Veterans: Keep goal planning and look ahead at the next five years to see where you can tweak and grow.

Connect with Blake Tomasino: Blake offers everything from embroidery and screen printing to graphic and web design. Whether you are a local Greeley business or located as far away as Canada, Blake is ready to collaborate on your next project.

• Business Services & Merch: https://www.hilodzn.com/