Meet Matthew Kozlowski | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matthew Kozlowski and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matthew, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I learned at a young age that working in Corporate America was not for me. I was based in Chicago in the health insurance leads business making barely $45,000 a year in 2009. It was fun, almost like college 2.0, but our industry changed and I saw a huge consolidation change coming with Obamacare approaching. I spoke with a good client of mine for months on end speculating what will happen. He offered me a partnership to do a call center in South Florida and I weighed out my options. We never really came to terms, but I was young and realized I can always go back to Corporate America if things did not work out.

So my thought process was a calculated risk more than anything. For the next 11 years, we, along with another partner grew something into a very large company I never dreamed would be possible. It my mind, though, it became repetitive. And I felt like I stopped growing. I was doing the same thing for a decade my heart was never really in. My mind is wired to fix things and innovate. Once I left my company, I really got to explore things I wanted to do. That is where I am now, I work on 4 different projects/companies that keep my mind constantly thinking and trying to solve problems. It no longer feels like work.

When I was 20 years old, I chased money, now I strive more mental peace. Work with people I enjoy working with, do things that I don’t wake up dreading evert morning. I don’t think you have that option when you work for someone. Granted, owning a business, it is hard to turn off being in that business. The work is always there. If I clock out at 5pm, that problem is still waiting for me.

What should our readers know about your business?
The business I am most excited about is one that hasn’t made a dollar yet, but once we officially launch, I feel we will change a whole industry. It has been over 2 years in the making from a thought in my head to research, to development, and now going to market.

Every other business, I have been involved in, I look at my competition, I try and see what they are doing, what mistakes they have made in the past, and fast forward my trajectory. Now I don’t have that luxury. Every day I ask why no one has done this as it seems so logical and occurs in other industries, but here we are. When we show our software platform for the first time to someone in the industry, the best reaction is, “why didn’t I think of that?”, but now we have to execute our vision and by no means do I think it will be an easy one.

I wouldn’t have this ability to work on this company if I didn’t have other streams of income. It is difficult at times to work on something that does not make money and also have the patience to do so. I have an amazing team that work tirelessly and trusts our vision as well. Without them, it would still be a thought in my mind.

To get to this point to where I am now, I feel like I have been kicked in the face 100 times. Some days it is really easy, some days it flat out sucks. But regardless, of what happens, I try never to stress. I have an unbelievable optimism about everything I do. If you keep pushing, I always feel like your best effort will win. That is the best lesson I can pass on. Why stress about something you have no control over? People worry about everything. I have adopted a Zero f*cks mentality. We are broke? Ok, let’s make some money. We failed today? Ok, what did we learn and how do we win tomorrow. Someone said this was dumb? Great, what about the next person.

The thing I hope everyone really sees our company, Leafy, is that it is meant to make everyone in the CBD and smoke shop industry have a better way of being involved. The industry is shunned by big tech. Legal products that are constrained to business practices from pre internet days is unnecessary. Whether you are a manufacture, brand, retail shop or consumer, our whole goal is to make your life easier and more convenient. Give people the ability to make educated choices and allow brands to tell their story and advertise without fear of getting kicked off social media.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I feel like everyone always called me for this when I lived in Miami. My favorite restaurant in Miami isn’t your typical Miami restaurant. Cafe Prima Pasta in Miami Beach has some of the best Italian food I have ever had. You can feel the history and recipes passed down through generations of family there. Growing up in the restaurant industry, I am quick to critique, but every time I have gone (and it was weekly) the food, service and drinks were always top notch.

On to the fun stuff in Miami, so there will be some cliche things here. Mostly likely a boat/yacht at Haulover, Joia Beach is always a favorite spot, and most likely will end up at E11even where you can show up at 3 am and be greeted by the best hosts and servers in the world. You walk in and see one of your favorite artists performing, mixed with Cirque du Soleil acts and you can dance on couches until the sun comes up. It is one of the most fun night clubs that whether you are spending a house mortgage that night or go general admission, you have a 5 star experience. After a night like that or two, there will be relaxing on the beach, which is my favorite place to be.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have always had a great friend group of entrepreneurs to bounce ideas off of that have gone through similar struggles I do in my career. Without them, it would be difficult to really progress in my career. Sometimes being the dumbest person in the room gives you the most opportunity to learn. It really gives you the best chance of leveling up in your career is to surround yourself around people that have done similar things you look to accomplish.

In saying that, I have been around ultra successful and wealthy people that make you forget what is most important. I would never change my upbringing, I have 2 of the most amazing parents that taught me moderation and humility. There are many times where I have lost who I was and how I was raised. Being from the Midwest, you grow up with different values than living in California and South Florida. They taught me to always be a good person, work hard, and do what you love. Money always does not matter. My father, who may not remember this conversation when I was 18 ready to graduate, told me, “Whatever you choose to do in life for work, you better enjoy it because you do it for a long part of your life. If you hate, you will probably hate half of your life.”

So this is how I live my life. I ask myself in almost every decision, “will this decision, give me long term fulfillment and enjoyment?” It seems simple, but you get stuck chasing things that don’t always matter in the long run.

Website: https://leafy.global/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leafy.global/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/91532250

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leafy_global

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leafyglobal