424: Engineering Sustainable Empires, Lessons From Timeless Toys and The Power of Reinvention with Brad Pedersen

Brad Pedersen is an angel investor, accomplished entrepreneur, and business coach. In 2008, he founded Tech 4 Kids, which later became the maker of some of the world’s most iconic toys. He later co-founded Pela, an innovative start-up specializing in sustainable phone cases which he grew to over $100 million. In 2021, Brad and his Pela team launched Lomi, a successful crowd-funding campaign that raised $9.8 million for the world’s first smart kitchen waste composter which is an incredible device if you haven’t heard about it.  In our conversation, Brad gives us a glimpse of his wild journey filled with epic highs and gut-wrenching lows, including surviving bankruptcy multiple times and how that prepared him to take on the world’s greatest challenges through his later ventures.  You’ll get to hear his tactics on hiring a dream team in your business, and why he’s not a fan of the “24/7” hustle mentality. He also shares a personal revelation inspired by his kids and why he’s now laser-focused on making every moment count with his loved ones. A Wide-Ranging Conversation Through… Fail fast and learn from your flops Creating a “don’t do” list Just keep moving If there’s no health, there’s no wealth! You’ll never wish you had more meetings  Hard work alone doesn’t cut it The “School of Hard Knocks” recruitment process  Aim for leadership that’s firm, fair, but fun Choosing discipline over regret How small a impact ripples and makes waves Brad’s advice on fatherhood, marriage, health, and business Get the Full Show Notes Want access to the full show notes, including links to all resources mentioned during today's conversation? Visit FrontRowDads.com/424 More About Front Row Dads Connect with us @ FrontRowDads.com & Instagram  Want to hang out with other FRDs in Austin? Watch this 3-min video from our last Front Row Dads Live event. Tickets avail now for December's event.  Not able to travel? We got you. Join our next online event, built just for kickass dads who know there’s more to learn. FrontRowDads.com/summit  FRD is solving a huge problem for dads. Our culture has turned “Dad” into a joke. Go ahead, google Dad and you’ll find Dad Bod, Dad Jokes, Dad Weed, etc. Culturally, it’s a Homer Simpson mentality, and it’s BS.   Our community is built for solid men. Men with range. Those who are badass, and know there’s still more to learn, together.   Most guys find it hard to find “their crew.” Finding other committed men, who are successful in life, and want to put family first – these guys are rare. Is this you? In FRD, hundreds of men from all over the world show up for each other, to share resources and raise the bar of fatherhood (our core values) If you’re reading this, you want to grow.  Podcasts are great, but guys… when you’re ready to stop just listening to content, and want to JOIN the conversations – the FRD brotherhood is ready for you.   One more thing…  Has this podcast helped you? If so, please tell us how we’re doing. Please take a minute and leave a review. Seriously, they matter. Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts  | Spotify