kickstartIQ

From Idea to Sold — Grit Meets Strategy on a Shoestring

I’ve been where you are, taking a real idea in my real life and pushing it to market on a shoestring. With kickstartIQ (kIQ), I’m sharing my journey of building businesses, uncovering courage, sparking creativity, and navigating just enough chaos to learn something new each day. I’ve built products, got them on shelves, and I’m still building. I’ll show you what worked for me and what didn’t, so you can see the reality behind the grind. No yachts, no unicorns. Just grit, smarts, and real-world lessons.

My Journey

I’m a doer, tinkerer, and maker. I took my idea for Johnny Ringo’s Burritos from corner stores in Las Vegas to grocery shelves across Texas to California, and helped scale other products like pretzels, protein bars, and salsa. It wasn’t just about the idea stage; I learned how to get to that first real sale.

Using a Stoic focus, practical strategy, and smart tools (yes, AI too), I turned grit into growth. Some strategies worked wonders; others taught me tough lessons.

This isn’t startup theater. I’ve been through real-world entrepreneurship; scrappy, smart, and sold. At kickstartIQ (kIQ), I’ll share what I did and what I’d do differently.

What I’m Working On Now

I’m producing 40 free kickstartIQ videos to pull back the curtain on steps I’ve taken. Here’s an idea of what I have planned to share:

• Idea & Validation: how I capture raw ideas, research demand, and test assumptions
• Sketches & Prototypes: turning napkin sketches into physical prototypes and iterating fast
• Final Design & Branding: polishing logos, defining brand voice, and preparing assets
• Packaging & Production: material selection, product photography, printing specs, and finding co-packers
• Pricing & Profitability: building unit economics, managing costs, and setting price points that work
• Pitching & Distribution: crafting buyer pitches, negotiating shelf space, and managing logistics
• Supply Chain & Inventory: forecasting demand, coordinating suppliers, and keeping stock in check
• Marketing Collateral & Campaigns: creating ads, flyers, social content, store demos, and running lean promos
• Customer Service & Feedback: gathering feedback, troubleshooting issues, and iterating for improvement

You’ll see what worked, what didn’t, and how I tweaked my approach at each stage.