Some entrepreneurs hold on to their business idea tightly, and refuse to accept outside advice. Our next guest is living proof that great publicity is not all it takes to have a successful business, and that willingness to change can make you greater in the long-term.

Please introduce yourself to our readers…

I’m Ryan Naylor, founder and President of LocalWork, one of many businesses I’ve started over the past 10 years, some of which are still alive and some of which are not.

You once started your own business – what was it?

Three years ago I pitched Esso Watches to Mark Cuban and the rest of the sharks on ABC’s Shark Tank TV show. That experience was life-changing, not because I received funding–I didn’t, but because it revealed my passion: helping people find work that they love.

Esso Watches sold fashionable silicone band watches with designs originating from Italy & Western Europe.

What made you decide to go out on your own vs work for someone else?

After living in the Dominican Republic serving a religious mission for 2 years, I valued the “American Dream” more than ever.

Did you take any outside funding?

No, I bootstrapped.

Did you have any partners?

No.

What was your vision/goal for the company? (Did you meet that?)

My first vision was to create a supplemental income for myself on the side, but as things grew rapidly I started dreaming about becoming a household brand name. I didn’t meet that. The largest lesson I learned was to stay true to your brand while growing.

What was your company culture like? Did it ever change?

The culture from the beginning had a very fluid, open, and transparent community feel. It never changed. We intentionally wanted to keep it as comfortable as possible.

Why are you not with that business anymore? 

I recognized that I had started this business for the opportunity, and not because it represented my passion and the direction I wanted in life. On Shark Tank, I realized that I didn’t have passion for what I was doing and I decided to do an entrepreneurial pivot to focus my time on a company that could directly help families.

Would you do it again?

Absolutely. Through each entrepreneurial endeavor, there are lessons learned that could never be taught. Emotional highs & lows teach you how to be a sound entrepreneur.

What are you doing now?

I’m the founder and President of LocalWork.com. We’re an online job board that matches businesses and job seekers with a culture-first approach. We’ve helped our job seekers secure over half a billion dollars of income since our start three years ago.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting their own business?

Finances are the number one reason you will succeed or fail in the first 24 months. Often times we get so emotionally attached to an idea that we make illogical financial choices in trying to keep the business afloat. Find someone you trust who can call you out if you start making these types of financial mistakes.

What is your favorite song?

Anything by Jimmy Eat World…I’m a Millennial!

Thank you Ryan! You can reach him on LinkedIn at RyanNaylor.