In our latest episode of the Unscripted podcast, we explored the fascinating journey of entrepreneurs who have successfully turned their passion projects into sustainable businesses. Our conversation with Jon Stager of Foxmoor Studio revealed valuable insights about finding your niche, building authenticity, and persevering through challenges.
The Unexpected Path to Success
One of the most striking revelations from our discussion with Jon was how his breakout product wasn’t what he initially expected. Despite investing significant time designing an elaborate standing desk, it was a simple wooden monitor stand that became his bestseller on Etsy.
“I didn’t expect that to be the item. I actually spent a lot of time engineering and designing this standing desk design, which I actually still use my prototype. I’ve actually never caught on. And maybe I just didn’t market it enough. But I was sure that that would be the item, which is like a bigger, higher dollar thing. But no, it was the monitor stand.”
This experience mirrors what we’ve seen with other successful entrepreneurs whose “simpler” ideas often resonate more widely with audiences than their complex flagship products.
Personal Connection Driving Innovation
Jon’s story reminded us of another remarkable entrepreneur we’ve featured: Téa Phillips, founder of ATS Innovations and creator of the Metaflex glove. Like Jon, Téa’s business journey began with a deeply personal connection – watching her grandmother struggle with arthritis.
This personal motivation led her to develop an innovative solution that combines compression therapy for arthritis relief with a built-in grip strengthener that users can wear throughout their day. What started as a solution for arthritis has expanded to serve athletes and others seeking hand mobility and strength.
Téa’s engineering background, coupled with her personal connection to the problem she was solving, exemplifies how the most meaningful innovations often emerge from intimate understanding of user needs. You can learn more about her journey on her LinkedIn profile.
Finding Your Authentic Voice
A common thread among successful entrepreneurs is their commitment to authentic expression. Jon emphasized keeping his business “humble” and maintaining hands-on involvement rather than scaling to a point where he would lose connection with his craft.
This authenticity extends to how entrepreneurs communicate with their audiences. We’ve seen this with digital entrepreneurs like Jeremy Rivera of SEO Arcade, who has built his reputation on straightforward, no-nonsense SEO advice. Jeremy’s approach to digital marketing reflects this authentic voice, as evident in his background shared on the SEO Arcade about page.
Jeremy has also recently channeled his expertise into The SEO Content Guidebook, demonstrating how entrepreneurs can expand their impact by packaging their knowledge in different formats.
Key Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
From our conversations with these and other successful entrepreneurs, several powerful lessons emerge:
- Your breakthrough might not be what you expect – Be open to market feedback about which of your offerings resonates most deeply.
- Personal connection creates powerful motivation – The most sustainable businesses often address problems or needs the founder has personally experienced.
- Start small but think strategically – Jon’s advice to begin as a side hustle allows you to test and refine before making a full commitment.
- Leverage digital platforms to expand reach – Whether it’s Etsy, Amazon, or social media, digital marketplaces can quickly take local expertise global.
- Persistence matters more than perfection – As Jon put it: “Just be persistent. Persistent and consistent if possible. Even when it’s slow, just keep one foot in front of the other and it always picks up.”
- Continuous learning drives growth – Jon’s mantra “You have to know better to do better” underscores the importance of ongoing education.
Join the Conversation
Have you transformed a personal passion into a business opportunity? We’d love to hear your story and feature it on an upcoming episode of Unscripted. Contact us through our website or social media channels to share your entrepreneurial journey.
For the complete interview with Jon Stager and more insights from entrepreneurs like Téa Phillips and Jeremy Rivera, subscribe to the Unscripted podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
The Unscripted podcast explores the authentic stories behind successful entrepreneurs, uncovering the lessons, struggles, and triumphs that defined their journeys.