$200M Without a Single Investor: The Marketing Genius Behind Portland Leather Goods

"You're not a marketing genius. You don't even have a job. You do yoga all the time." These were the words Curtis Matsko's girlfriend hurled at him when he boldly declared he was going to quit his job and start a hundred-million-dollar company selling leather journals. Her response? "That's the stupidest idea ever." Fast forward to today, and Curtis Matsko didn't just prove her wrong - he built a $200 million global leather goods empire that sells one product every three seconds on Black Friday. From hustling at art festivals to building a 600,000 square foot international operation, Matsko's journey is a masterclass in entrepreneurial audacity and marketing genius. What happens when you ignore everyone who says your idea is crazy and instead bet everything on your vision? By treating marketing as his primary product and breaking through every limitation, Curtis reveals the unconventional strategies that transformed Portland Leather Goods from a garage startup to a rapidly expanding brand. With raw honesty and infectious energy, he shares critical lessons about surrounding yourself with motivated people, breaking through your own expectations, and why data should always serve decision-making. This isn't just another startup story - it's a blueprint for turning seemingly impossible dreams into world-changing businesses. If you're an entrepreneur looking for real-world inspiration and tactical insights, this episode will light a fire under your ambitions.