The Grit Factor Podcast w/ Karl Jacobi

What if the worst day of your life gave you the greatest leverage in your business?

In this episode, we sit down with Andy Westmaas, a veteran entrepreneur with a 40-year career spanning executive non-profit fundraising to building an e-commerce empire that sits in the top 5% of Amazon sellers. Andy recently made headlines in his own life by acquiring an award-winning toy company with a Shark Tank pedigree—but the road to success wasn't paved with simple wins.

Andy opens up about the "earth-shaking" decision to dismantle his high-performing internal prep team to move to a 3PL, a move driven by the need to reclaim his time and focus on his true "zone of genius": sales and buying. We also dive deep into the dynamics of running a multi-million dollar business with a spouse, exploring the "Visionary vs. Integrator" relationship that allows him and his wife, Michelle, to thrive.

But the heart of this conversation lies in Andy’s concept of "Walk Away Power." forged through the 15-year battle and eventual loss of his son, Jacob, to mental health struggles. Andy shares how this profound personal tragedy taught him to hold business outcomes loosely, giving him an unshakeable edge in negotiation and leadership.