Leading with grit is more than a leadership mantra; it’s the real-life story of how Kyle Ewing turned stacks of unsold paper in his basement into TerraSlate, a multi-million-dollar company whose waterproof, rip-proof products are now used by the U.S. military, biotech firms, restaurants, and even the NFL. His journey is proof that persistence, creativity, and accountability can transform even the “boring” into something extraordinary.

In our conversation on this week’s episode of Reflect Forward, Kyle shares how grit became his core value, the engine that carried him from stacks of unsold paper in his basement to scaling a thriving company. We talk about what it really takes to sell a product nobody thinks they need, why accountability creates stronger teams, and how leaders can flip the pyramid to serve their people and customers better.

If you’ve ever wondered how to lead through challenges, embrace mistakes, and build a culture rooted in ownership, this episode will inspire you to see grit not as a buzzword, but as a daily leadership practice.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode
•	The origin story of TerraSlate: from wrinkled passports to waterproof menus and military manuals
•	How to pivot when your first idea flops and find true product-market fit
•	Why consistency and persistence are the secret weapons in sales and entrepreneurship
•	The power of psychological safety and accountability in building strong teams
•	How leaders scale by delegating authority and removing roadblocks

Key Takeaways
1.	Grit is the ultimate differentiator. Success comes from persistence, iteration, and showing up consistently, even when no one believes in your idea.
2.	Accountability builds culture. The best employees own their mistakes and create systems to prevent them in the future.
3.	Leaders must flip the pyramid. Your job is to remove roadblocks so your team can shine and serve customers.
4.	Selling is serving. Relationships and trust matter more than hard closes; people buy from people they like.
5.	Hire A-players early. Pay for top talent and let go of mediocrity quickly to unlock growth.

Mic Drop Moments
•	“Leading with grit means owning mistakes and turning them into momentum.”
•	“I work for my employees; they work for the customer.”
•	“You’re 2,000 cold calls away from success—consistency wins.”
•	“The buck always stops with the leader. Own it, fix it, move forward.”

About Kyle Ewing
Kyle Ewing is the founder and CEO of TerraSlate, makers of waterproof, rip-proof paper for mission-critical environments and everyday durability. TerraSlate serves industries ranging from hospitality to defense, and Kyle also writes the LinkedIn newsletter Ideas to Empires.

Connect with Kyle
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleewing/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=bizkyle
Instagram: @bizkyle  https://www.instagram.com/bizkyle/
TikTok: @bizkyle https://www.tiktok.com/@bizkyle
YouTube: @bizkyle https://www.youtube.com/@bizkyle 

Connect with Kerry
Don’t forget to subscribe to Reflect Forward on your favorite podcast platform or YouTube. Visit my website, kerrysiggins.com, to explore my book, The Ownership Mindset, and get more leadership resources. Let’s connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok!

Find Reflect Forward on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kerrysiggins-reflectforward 

Find out more about my book here: https://kerrysiggins.com/the-ownership-mindset/ 

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-siggins/


Leading with Grit w/ Kyle Ewing

Reflect Forward isn’t your everyday leadership podcast. This show is about exceptional leadership. Game-changing leadership. Learn from peers, experts, authors, and more on how to be an uber successful leader…one that stands out from the rest. One that inspires others to do great things. One that others want to follow. How does Reflecting Forward fit into exceptional leadership? You can only become great at what you do by deliberately creating your future by reflecting on the past and present…what you did well, mistakes you’ve made, and lessons you’ve learned.

Kerry Siggins is the CEO of StoneAge, the global leader in the manufacturing and distribution of high pressure waterjetting tooling and automated equipment. Kerry is also a member of Young President's Organization (YPO) and sits on several boards. She is a sought-after speaker, thought leader, leadership blogger and podcast host.