Creating Massive Success Through the Art of Conscious Marketing with Mike Konrad

What happens when your boss rejects your million-dollar idea? You start your own company.
Mike Konrad entered the electronics manufacturing industry in 1985 with dreams of startup riches. The reality? Far different. But after his employer dismissed a groundbreaking product concept, Mike made a decision that would change his life forever—he started Aquis Technologies in his garage.
In this raw and inspiring conversation, Mike shares the untold story of entrepreneurship: the lawsuit that nearly bankrupted him before he even started, the crushing reality of bootstrapping, and the pivotal moment when a single word from his boss launched a 30+ year business journey.
This isn't your typical success story. Mike pulls back the curtain on every mistake, near-miss, and hard-won lesson that transformed him from a technically minded engineer into a strategic business leader.
🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
✅ Why technical expertise alone isn't enough to run a business
✅ The critical difference between passion for a product and business acumen
✅ How education-based marketing attracts better customers
✅ Why relationship-based business beats transactional thinking
✅ The abundance mindset that changes everything
✅ How to survive lawsuits, near-bankruptcy, and cash flow crises
✅ The power of mentorship and strategic hiring at the right time
Chapters:
(01:22) Unrealistic expectations
(19:54) AD money vs education
(22:39) Conscious marketing
(35:28) Stop making fear-based decisions. Make the right decisions; make good decisions.
(40:00) Only 20% of all business startups ultimately survive, according to government statistics.
(46:42) Making mistakes.
Sponsored by:
BLU Scholarship: https://www.blu.university/a/2147984849/YbykQKgP
Mike Konrad bio:
Mike is the founder and CEO of Aqueous Technologies, a company he launched in 1992. With more than three decades of entrepreneurial experience, Mike is a self-described “reluctant entrepreneur” who entered business not by choice, but by necessity—after his employer declined to develop a product he had designed. Armed with strong technical skills but lacking formal business training, he built the company through trial and error, persistence, and continuous transformation.
He is the author of The Reluctant Entrepreneur: Anatomy of a Business Start-Up – From Uncertainty to Unstoppable, a candid account of his journey that details the missteps, near-failures, and hard-won lessons that turned an uncertain start-up into a sustainable business. Mike regularly speaks at major universities and business organizations, sharing practical, real-world strategies with the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders.
In addition to his writing and speaking, Mike hosts two podcasts: The Reluctant Entrepreneur Podcast, where he interviews business owners about their own startup and growth journeys, and The Reliability Matters Podcast, which focuses on technical excellence and best practices in the electronics industry. These platforms have allowed him to connect with diverse audiences, exchange insights, and inspire both aspiring and established professionals.
Connect with Mike:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.reluctantentrepreneurpodcast.com
Connect with Extraordinary America: https://extraordinary-america.com/platform
Or watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mT4gcpzgWrM