JP Dinnell Podcast 071

Title: No Handouts, No Plan B, No Excuses | Josh Straussberger
Date: January 31, 2025
Host(s): JP Dinnell, Lucas Pinckard
Guest: Josh Straussberger

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, JP Dinnell sits down with long-time friend, business partner, and ministry leader Josh Straussberger. Together with co-host Lucas Pinckard, they delve into Josh's journey from a blue-collar upbringing and teenage rebellion in Memphis to business ownership, family, and leadership roles across multiple organizations—including Echelon Front and Jesus and Jiu Jitsu. The discussion is rich with personal reflections, practical lessons on grit and ownership, and the importance of building culture, humility, and discipline—both in business and life.

Main Themes

• Building from the Ground Up: Josh’s journey from challenging beginnings and multiple career pivots to successful business ownership
• Extreme Ownership in Life and Business: How JP and Josh apply Echelon Front’s leadership principles on and off the mat
• Overcoming Personal Obstacles: Addiction, health, and the process of real change
• Family, Faith, and Legacy: The intersection of spiritual growth, fatherhood, and intentional decision-making
• No Excuses, No Plan B: The necessity of commitment, work ethic, and patience in seeing things through

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Life and Family Dynamics (03:21–08:51)

• Memphis Roots: Josh grew up in Memphis, with a blended family and strong influence from his grandparents.
• Learning Humility and Listening: Challenges of a single-parent home taught Josh not to take things personally and to be humble.
  • “You have to give your family the benefit of the doubt... there was never, never, not once her intent [to exclude me]" – Josh (06:45)
• Sports Lessons: Despite playing baseball, basketball, and soccer, Josh admits a lack of commitment and effort, a lesson he tries to impart to his kids today.
  • The way he encourages his own children is by asking reflective questions, giving them ownership, instead of forcing effort.

2. Rebellion, Trades, and Tough Lessons (11:43–23:18)

• Troubled Teen Years: Admits to a rebellious streak, resisting authority, and learning sometimes the hard way.
• Trade School Experience: Inspired by his dad, he pursued electrician training but was fired for insubordination—quitting soon after.
  • “I was a quitter of all quitters. Not because something got hard, just because I didn’t like the parameters around it." – Josh (22:15)
• Importance of Trade School: In retrospect, wishes more youth knew the value of skilled labor and apprenticeships.

3. Rock Bottom, Faith, and Relationships (23:25–29:48)

• Personal Downfall: After a bad breakup and deepening issues with alcohol and isolation, Josh hit rock bottom and began seeking change.
• Turning Point: A “come to Jesus” moment, reconnecting with his mother, returning to church, and getting a job—where he met his now-wife.
  • “It was a downward spiral that was progressing... you have to hit bottom before you can wake up.” – Josh (23:58)
• Supportive Partnership: Jen (his wife) encouraged him toward healthier choices but always with patience—never with ultimatums.

4. Family Growth and Work Ethic (29:48–41:10)

• Early Marriage: Both worked at a dental supply company, and Josh tried community college before realizing his path was elsewhere.
• First Child and Career Change: Shifted into manufacturing, working his way up from an entry-level CNC machinist and striving to eventually allow his wife to be a stay-at-home mom.
• Parental Sacrifice and Development: Lucas and JP discuss the importance of intentional parenting and its impact on children.

5. Health Crisis and the Power of Fitness (41:10–53:13)

• Weight Gain and Low Energy: At one point, Josh reached 250 lbs, drinking “a 12-pack of Mountain Dew a day.”
• Kickboxing as a Catalyst: At his wife’s prompting, attended a kickboxing class, realized how out of shape he was, and committed to change.
  • “Nine minutes into this class... I’m literally hanging onto the bag, white as a sheet, about to pass out.” – Josh (46:52)
• Transformation and Business Seed: Fell in love with fitness and eventually lost 30 pounds in six months—kicking off a dream to one day own a fitness gym.

6. Jiu Jitsu, Community, and Personal Growth (53:13–62:21)

• From Cardio to Combat: Friendship with Blake led to trying jiu jitsu—initially hesitant, but it stuck.
• Building Culture: Talks about how the right gym culture (family-oriented, inclusive, fun) makes all the difference in longevity and fulfillment.
  • JP praises Total Fitness Kickboxing's approach to teaching real technique in an approachable way.
• First Tournament Experience: Hilariously recounts losing his first jiu jitsu tournament due to adrenaline and a “cheeseburger in the gut,” learning a lesson in patience and points-based strategy.
  • “I go for it. Miss. He comes on top, chokes me. I lose. And the girl coaching me... just walks off.” – Josh (69:00)
• Value of Humility and Feedback: Emphasizes the importance of honest reflection, learning from losses, and good coaching.

7. Taking the Leap: Business Ownership and Texas Move (81:24–92:42)

• Inspired by Mentors: Saw the positive impact and viability of fitness kickboxing franchises and aimed to open one.
• The Hard Move: With support from his wife, relocated from Memphis to Dallas to launch Total Fitness Kickboxing. Drove between Memphis and Dallas for months, juggling job, buildout, and family.
  • “It wasn't just, ‘Cool, I'm going to go do this,’ and then it happens and then the people come. Like, you got bills to pay, also the money you're putting into the business.” - Josh (86:20)
• Building with Grit: Planned for the long haul, worked 16–17-hour days, and credits his brother’s partnership for early success.
• Lessons Learned: Overprepare, anticipate setbacks, be willing to do the unglamorous work. Patience and intentionality are key.
  • “People just aren’t... willing to put in the work, to see something through to the finish.” – Josh (92:30)

8. Integrating Extreme Ownership (101:02–114:36)

• Early Adopter: Read “Extreme Ownership” before joining Echelon Front; applied its principles to business, marriage, and team-building.
• Echelon Front Involvement: Started as a volunteer, now runs logistics for major events and training exercises—having embraced humility, attention to detail, and a service mentality.
• Patience in Growth: Emphasizes the need for “tactical patience” as organizations scale.
  • “It takes time to be a part of anything that is in the beginning stages of growth.” – JP (103:46)

9. What Sets Great Teams Apart (108:54–113:16)

• No Entitlement, Just Service: Describes how truly successful team members come with a spirit of service and learn quietly before seeking advancement.
  • “You can see what people want by their actions, not their words.” – JP (110:58)
• Continuous Learning: Josh praises mentors like Jesse and stresses the value of honest, sometimes tough feedback for growth.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ownership & Effort:
  “If there's something you want, you just need to be willing to put in the work. The people you surround yourself with are gonna come into play on that.” – Josh (121:09)
• On Adversity:
  “You have to give your family the benefit of the doubt... sometimes you just get left, and there's no time for you...I learned humility through those situations.” – Josh (06:45)
• On Business Grit:
  “The idea that you want to be an entrepreneur and go to work so you can not work anymore just, it doesn't make sense to me.” – Josh (93:55)
• On Supporting a Mission:
  “It was an easy no brainer... Extreme Ownership has helped me, and to be able to help facilitate other people get this... it's hitting on what that mission is.” – Josh (102:24)
• On Teamwork and Learning:
  “There's a ‘keep your mouth closed and listen and you'll learn some things.’ And they don't come across that way, but there's a lot that you can learn as a new person...” – Josh (109:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Josh's Upbringing in Memphis: 03:21–08:51
• Trade School and Early Adulthood Struggles: 11:43–23:18
• Rock Bottom & Redemption: 23:25–29:48
• Kickstarting Fitness Journey: 41:10–46:52
• Discovering Jiu Jitsu: 53:13–54:07
• First Jiu Jitsu Tournament: 61:27–70:16
• Business Founding & Move to Dallas: 81:24–92:42
• Lessons from Extreme Ownership/Echelon Front: 101:02–114:36
• Reflections on Service & Team-Building: 108:54–113:16

Closing Thoughts

Josh ends with gratitude and a reminder about the value of hard, consistent work and the company you keep:

“As you're growing, the people you surround yourself with are gonna come into play... it's very important that you have the right people around you and that you have the right mindset as you go forward with whatever your goal is.” (121:09)

JP closes by encouraging listeners to “continue putting in the work... to build your legacy and to never settle.” (122:16)

Episode Resources/Plugs

• Total Fitness Kickboxing: TFK_Denton & TFK_TheColony on Instagram
• On the Path Printing (custom apparel/printing)
• Jesus and Jiu Jitsu Podcast (weekly episodes)
• Echelon Front: Consulting and leadership events
• Origin USA / Jocko Fuel / Bruiser Arms
• Little Cattle Company (Texas beef products)

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in practical leadership, humble beginnings, and building something meaningful through hard work, faith, and a relentless refusal to make excuses.