Entrepreneurship is often portrayed as overnight success, but the reality is built on resilience, long-term thinking, and the willingness to keep moving forward when things get difficult. In this episode of A Founder’s Life, Leo Gestetner sits down with Grant McCrabb, Founder and CEO of GeoTrek Vans, to discuss his remarkable startup journey from flipping used camper vans to building one of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer RV manufacturers in North America. Grant shares how a simple side hustle evolved into a rapidly growing manufacturing company, why saying yes early helped create opportunities, and how endurance sports have shaped his founder mindset and approach to business leadership. As an ultra-runner, Grant compares entrepreneurship to running a 240-mile race. Success isn’t about sprinting—it’s about learning how to pace yourself, overcome setbacks, and keep showing up day after day. Throughout the conversation, we also explore family, resilience, leadership, risk-taking, product innovation, and why entrepreneurs should stop waiting for the perfect moment before starting. Whether you’re launching your first startup, growing a small business, or leading an established company, this episode is packed with practical insights from someone building a business for the long term. This episode covers: • How GeoTrek Vans grew from a side hustle into a national manufacturer • The importance of hiring people who are better than you • Why endurance sports create better entrepreneurs • Building resilience during difficult seasons • How family shapes better leadership • The biggest lessons from scaling a manufacturing company • Why focus becomes more important as businesses grow • The mindset required for sustainable business growth • Practical startup advice for aspiring founders Grant also shares the deeply personal story of how his father’s life-changing skiing accident reshaped his perspective on risk, resilience, and pursuing meaningful goals. That experience continues to influence the way he approaches entrepreneurship, leadership, and life. If you enjoy conversations about entrepreneurship, business leadership, founder stories, startup growth, and personal development, you’ll enjoy this episode. This episode of A Founder’s Life is brought to you by Thankz, helping founders scale with reliable remote talent. Get $1,000 off your first month by emailing founders@thankz.com with the subject line Founder’s Life. 🌐 Follow A Founder’s Life • YouTube: @AFoundersLife • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-founder-s-life-podcast/ • Instagram: @afounderslife • Spotify & Apple Podcast: https://linktr.ee/afounderslife 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Grant McCrabb Website: https://www.geotrekvans.com LinkedIn (Grant): https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-mccrabb-51b0242b5/ LinkedIn (GeoTrek Vans): https://www.linkedin.com/company/geotrek-vans LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/leogestetner Website leogestetner.com/leo Subscribe Now! youtube.com/@afounderslife?sub_confirmation=1
