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Matt Barber and Joel Doub are the owners of Tom Morgan Rodsmiths, a Bozeman-based fly rod company known for its unyielding commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and enduring performance. The duo purchased the company in early 2017 from Tom Morgan, a fly fishing legend who, along with his wife Gerri, built the company into one of the world\u2019s most unique and renowned rod builders. Rather than focus on the latest fads or selling a high volume of products, Tom was dedicated solely to building the highest quality rod, one that could be passed on from generation to generation, decade after decade. \u2022 You may be surprised to learn that Matt and Joel are not fishing industry veterans\u2014their previous careers were in education and medical device sales, respectively. But when Tom Morgan decided to sell the company, Matt and Joel\u2019s passion for fly fishing, their willingness to learn from the best, and their commitment to continuing the company\u2019s legacy allowed them to stand out from the crowd of competing buyers. To everyone\u2019s dismay, Tom passed away unexpectedly soon after the sale of the company, but only after imparting his wisdom, craftsmanship secrets, and high standards to Matt and Joel. Building on Tom and Gerri\u2019s rock-solid foundation, the company is now entering its next phase, and the future has never looked brighter. \u2022 Matt and Joel were in Denver for the annual Fly Fishing Show, so we met up to chat about the company and their journey into fly fishing entrepreneurship. We talked at length about Tom and his laser-like focus on quality, and how he was willing to snap a rod in half if it did not meet his high standards. We chatted about the \u201csecret\u201d to making these rods, which mostly boils down to being willing to work harder than anyone else. We talk about Tom\u2019s unique partnership with his wife Gerri, and how the couple went about transferring decades of knowledge and experience to Matt and Joel. We discuss the company\u2019s unique business model, and how it flies in the face of most mainstream, MBA business theories. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, films, crazy outdoor experiences, and plenty more. \u2022 This was a very fun conversation, and I\u2019m excited to watch the company continue to grow and thrive under Matt and Joel\u2019s ownership. Be sure to check out the episode notes for everything we discuss, and follow Tom Morgan Rodsmiths on Instagram and other social media. Enjoy! \u2022\u2022\u2022 http://mountainandprairie.com/tom-morgan-rodsmiths/ \u2022\u2022\u2022 Topics Discussed: 3:00 - How Matt and Joel describe their work 3:25 - Their professional backgrounds 4:50 - Overview of Tom Morgan Rodsmiths 6:40 - How Tom and Gerri and began building rods 7:20 - Tom and Gerri\u2019s first time building a rod 8:15 - Tom\u2019s quest for a \u201cperfect fly rod\u201d 9:50 - Specifics on Tom Morgan custom rods 13:00 - Why the rods do not have fancy names 14:30 - The \u201csecret\u201d to Tom Morgan rods 17:40 - TMR\u2019s business model 20:45 - Why they purchased an \u201cunconventional\u201d business 23:50 - How they\u2019ve been received as the new owners 26:55 - How the Tom Morgan philosophy has carried over into other parts of life 29:15 - Their history as \u201cmakers\u201d 32:30 - Thoughts on life in Bozeman 36:20 - The process of buying the business 40:00 - What Tom and Gerri like about Matt and Joel 42:30 - Tom\u2019s unexpected passing 43:40 - Gerri\u2019s influence on the company and Matt and Joel 46:15 - On being embraced by the industry after Tom\u2019s death 48:00 - \u201cThe O\u2019Dell,\u201d Casting for Recovery, and Duke Beardsley 55:30 - Future of the business 1:00:30 - Favorite books 1:05:20 - Most powerful experience in the outdoors 1:08:10 - Favorite location in the West 1:10:00 - Best advice ever received 1:11:20 - Request of the listeners 1:13:15 - Matt asks Ed a question! 1:16:00 - Connect with Tom Morgan Rodsmiths