Podcasts Culture Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson Matt Barber & Joel Doub, Part 2 - Tales from an Entrepreneurial Adventure

Matt Barber & Joel Doub, Part 2 - Tales from an Entrepreneurial Adventure

Published: May 28, 2021, 4:07 a.m.

Matt Barber and Joel Doub are the owners of Tom Morgan Rodsmiths, one of the West\u2019s most renowned custom fly rod companies.\xa0 I was introduced to Matt and Joel nearly three and half years ago and was quickly fascinated by their entrepreneurial journey and Tom Morgan Rodsmiths\u2019 storied history in the fly fishing world. As longtime listeners may remember, I recorded a podcast with Matt and Joel in January of 2018, about a year after they had purchased the company from Tom and Gerri Morgan. In that conversation we talked in depth about the history of the company, Matt and Joel\u2019s unconventional backgrounds, and their plans for the future of TMR-- it was a fun conversation that led to a great friendship between all of us.

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But in the more than three years since I published that episode, Tom Morgan Rodsmiths has grown in size and scope, and Matt and Joel have continued to evolve as business owners.\xa0 They\u2019ve enjoyed highs that include being featured in the New York Times and steadily growing their sales year over year. But they\u2019ve also faced unexpected challenges, most notably a global pandemic and its far-reaching supply chain and economic effects. But thanks to their creativity, planning, complementary skill sets, and unwavering commitment to the values of the founders Tom and Gerri Morgan, Matt and Joel have thrived as entrepreneurs and built wonderful lives for their families in Montana.

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A quick, one-time snapshot of any entrepreneurial venture can never provide the full, vivid story of a company and its owners, so I wanted to bring Matt and Joel back on the podcast to give us an update and share some of their hard-earned wisdom and lessons learned. We talked a bit about the specifics of the fly fishing business, but most of the topics we discussed were around resilience, teamwork, marketing, managing complex work, and maintaining a positive attitude-- actionable advice that almost anyone could put to use in business or creative endeavors. You don\u2019t need to listen to our first episode to glean value from this one, but it\u2019s worth a listen too, so there\u2019s a link in the notes to access that episode if you\u2019d like.

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Be sure to check out the Tom Morgan Rodsmiths website and follow them on social media-- links to everything are in the notes. They will be celebrating the company\u2019s 25th anniversary in the coming weeks and offering some special, one-of-a-kind products that will be of interest to anglers and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. Thanks to Matt and Joel for the inspiring conversation, and I hope you enjoy!

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

  • 4:30 \u2013 Introduction to Matt and Joel
  • 11:30 \u2013 Update on the progress of Tom Morgan Rodsmiths
  • 16:15 \u2013 Matt and Joel discuss the benefits and challenges of co-owning a business
  • 12:15 \u2013 Matt and Joel discuss how they navigate owning Tom Morgan Rodsmiths while respecting the legacy of its founders
  • 27:45 \u2013 Matt and Joel talk about coverage they received from the New York Times
  • 31:45 \u2013 Matt and Joel explain their thoughts and practice of marketing their products
  • 38:15 \u2013 How Matt and Joel stay organized to manage the many, many challenges of running a business
  • 49:30 \u2013 Matt and Joel discuss generosity in their work and lives
  • 53:15 \u2013 Matt and Joel talk about living in Montana, having recently moved there
  • 56:15 \u2013 Matt and Joel\u2019s book recommendations
  • 58:45 \u2013 Matt and Joel\u2019s parting words of wisdom

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