I still remember the moment I realized people were finally starting to take me seriously. I was young, ambitious, and building what many would have called a “small business,” yet my vision was anything but small. When NPR featured me for launching a company at such a young age, it felt surreal — not because…
Business
Giving Back to the Community That Built You
If you had asked me ten years ago whether I planned on going to college, I probably would’ve laughed and said, “No way — I’m too busy building my empire.” I was one of those people who believed that real experience beat textbooks any day of the week. At the time, I was knee-deep in entrepreneurship —…
The Sandwich Approach: Serving Up Feedback Without the Burn
If there’s one universal truth in management, it’s that delivering feedback can feel a lot like defusing a bomb — one wrong word and boom, there goes morale for the week. Early in my career, I used to think the best approach was just to be “honest and direct.” Turns out, “honest and direct” sounds a…
Thriving When Life Gets Tough: Real Tips To Grow Through Challenges
There have been times in my life when everything seemed to fall apart all at once. Whether it was a business failure, personal loss, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the daily grind, those moments felt like being caught in a storm with no clear way out. I’m sure you’ve been there too — when the…
Where the Heck Do You Even Start as an Entrepreneur? (Spoiler: Probably Not Where You Think)
If you’ve ever stared at a blank notebook or laptop screen thinking, I want to start a business, but what the heck should I do first?, welcome to the club — I’ve been there. Actually, I’ve had season tickets to that club. Starting out as an entrepreneur is both exhilarating and terrifying. It feels like skydiving…
Why the Porter Five Forces Should Be in Every Entrepreneur’s Toolbelt
Starting a business feels a bit like standing at the edge of a diving board for the first time — exciting, terrifying, and loaded with potential. I’ve been there more than once, and every time I’ve launched something new, whether it was a full-scale e-commerce operation or a local consulting gig, one framework has never…
Entrepreneur and Author Justin Calabrese’s Book Now Available at Walmart
Acclaimed entrepreneur, business strategist, and author Justin Calabrese is proud to announce that his latest book, Mastering Momentum: Driving Success in Business Management, is now officially available for purchase at Walmart, both online and in select store locations nationwide. Known for guiding over 150 small businesses toward sustainable growth, Calabrese blends real-world experience with actionable insights…
Where the Best Business Ideas Come From: Turning Real Problems into Purpose
The Myth of the “Big Idea” People often ask me, “Where do you find your business ideas?” They expect me to say something about reading industry reports, scrolling through startup blogs, or brainstorming the next big tech disruption. But the truth is — most great ideas don’t come from boardrooms or business plans. They come from real…
From Teen Visionary to Serial Entrepreneur: How Justin Calabrese Built Seven Businesses Before 30
Long before most teenagers could decide on a college major, Connecticut native Justin Calabrese was already building an entrepreneurial legacy. Barely old enough to drive, Calabrese began transforming his ideas into thriving companies — coding websites in his parents’ basement and shipping products across the country while his peers were still studying for their driving tests. Calabrese’s…
How I Learned to Stop Winging It and Love the Business Plan
If you had asked me in the early days of my entrepreneurial journey whether I thought a business plan was necessary, I would have laughed and said something like, “Why plan when you can just *do*?” I was the poster child for the dive-right-in mentality, brimming with enthusiasm and confidence, convinced that sheer passion and…









