“Just Start!” How Gary Smith Built an Award-Winning Cigar Brand From Scratch

“Just Start!” How Gary Smith Built an Award-Winning Cigar Brand From ScratchWhat happens when you stop waiting for the “perfect” time and just start?On this episode of Freedom Friday at the Journey to Business Ownership Podcast, I sit down with entrepreneur Gary Smith, founder of Gary Loks Premium Cigars, to talk about a business journey that has been anything but ordinary.Gary’s entrepreneurial mindset took shape after a major layoff at Sprint. After experiencing the uncertainty of depending on an employer, he made a decision that changed his path: instead of continuing to ask someone else for a job, he started creating opportunities for himself.Over the years, Gary tried multiple businesses—from pressure washing to building a nationwide mobile loan-closing business with hundreds of notaries. Then, about five years ago, an unexpected rediscovery of his love for cigars led him into an industry he knew very little about.With less than $10,000, Gary launched his own cigar brand.Since then, \*\*Gary Loks Premium Cigars\** has earned recognition from Cigar Journal and has been featured at major events, while Gary has continued building the brand one opportunity at a time.And Gary’s philosophy toward entrepreneurship is refreshingly simple:“Just start.”In this episode, we talk about:🔥 How being laid off helped shape Gary’s entrepreneurial mindset 🔥 Why he stopped waiting for someone else to give him an opportunity 🔥 The businesses he started before entering the cigar industry 🔥 How he launched his cigar brand with less than $10,000 🔥 Why preparation allowed him to act when opportunity appeared 🔥 The recognition his cigars have received 🔥 Why fear hasn’t stopped him from pursuing new opportunities 🔥 His advice for anyone sitting on the fence about becoming their own bossGary’s message is simple: Start where you are. Don’t wait until everything is perfect. Just start.If you’ve been thinking about entrepreneurship but keep waiting for the right time, the right amount of money, or the right opportunity, this conversation may be exactly what you need.🥃 CONNECT WITH GARY SMITH & GARY LOKS PREMIUM CIGARS🌐 Website: https://garyloks.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-smith-sr-38417b38/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garylokspremiumcigars/Gary also offers personalized cigar boxes and cigars for corporate clients, special occasions, client gifts, real estate closings, and more.🚀 THINKING ABOUT BUSINESS OWNERSHIP?I’m Patrice Miles, franchise business owner and Career Ownership Coach with The Entrepreneur’s Source. I provide \*\*free coaching and consulting\** to help people explore what business ownership could look like in their lives—whether that’s starting a business, buying an existing business, or investing in a franchise.🌐 Start your journey: JourneyToBusinessOwnership.comDon’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE this episode with someone who may need a little encouragement to take the leap.🎙️ Freedom Friday | Journey to Business Ownership PodcastKeep chasing purpose, not just a paycheck.#JourneyToBusinessOwnership #FreedomFriday #GarySmith #GaryLoksPremiumCigars #Entrepreneurship #BusinessOwnership #EntrepreneurJourney #CigarBusiness #SmallBusiness #BecomeYourOwnBoss #entrepreneurmindset “Just Start!” How Gary Smith Built an Award-Winning Cigar Brand From Scratch