We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Blake Miremont a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Blake thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

In 2010, I found myself at a crossroads.

I had been living in Long Beach, CA, for eight years. At 25 years old, I was single, renting a beautiful apartment on the beach, building a blossoming career in the financial sector, and pursuing my MBA at Long Beach State. On paper, everything seemed perfect—my life was on an upward trajectory.

Yet, I had never been more miserable.

Over time, I began to realize I was heading in the wrong direction. As I looked toward the future, I saw myself becoming increasingly unhappy and unfulfilled in my career. But what could I do? The pay was great, I had worked hard to move up quickly in the company, and opportunities to climb the corporate ladder kept presenting themselves. Starting over felt risky and uncertain. What guarantee did I have that my next career wouldn’t leave me feeling the same way?

I felt stuck.

One day, during a casual conversation at work, I shared my feelings with a coworker who was twice my age and had been with the company for over twenty years. What he said to me that day changed my life.
“Blake,” he began, “I’m married with two kids. I’ve got a mortgage, two car payments, and I need a root canal. At this point in my life, I don’t have the luxury of being fulfilled or happy with my career. I have bills to pay and people I’m responsible for. If you’re just here, working this job, because the pay is good, I guarantee you will have a miserable life.”

Then he added, “Your family owns a business, and yet you’re here, working for strangers who don’t care about you. If you’re still here in six months, I’ll consider you one of the biggest idiots I’ve ever met.”
That was it—a brief, offhand conversation during a break between sales calls. He probably doesn’t even remember saying it, but I’ll never forget it.

At the time, my family’s business felt like a world away. It was 450 miles north in Northern California—practically on the moon from my perspective. I knew little about what they did, and the skills I’d built in the financial sector seemed irrelevant. There were no open positions, and the company couldn’t afford to pay me a salary.

Despite all that, I picked up the phone, called my dad, and began discussing the possibility of moving back home to join the business. After a few weeks of conversations, we reached an agreement. I took the plunge.

Now, nearly fourteen years later, I couldn’t be more grateful for making that choice.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Blake Miremont. I am a husband, father, and second-generation business owner with a deep passion for design, architecture, art of all kinds, new technology, and old philosophy. I joined Architectural Plastics in 2010, and since 2016, I’ve had the privilege of serving as its CEO.

I initially came to Architectural Plastics seeking a new direction after feeling unfulfilled in the financial sector. Within months, I knew I had found my calling. One of the greatest joys of working here is the variety of projects we take on—every day brings something new. Whether it’s collaborating with a client on a unique design or tackling a challenging fabrication project, the dynamic nature of our work keeps me inspired.

Architectural Plastics is a multifaceted company offering raw materials, design expertise, precision fabrication, and advanced machining services. Our portfolio is as diverse as our clients. We craft creative displays for major museums and retailers, design and build elegant wine cellars, furniture, and cabinetry for luxury homes, produce stunning art installations, and manufacture tight-tolerance components for biomedical and aerospace applications. From custom one-off items to large-scale production runs, we work with individuals and businesses across countless industries.

Our core strengths are service, innovative design, and skilled craftsmanship. We excel at delivering high-quality, high-precision solutions with a creative edge. By leveraging our fabrication expertise, material knowledge, and advanced CAD software, we refine and enhance project concepts brought to us. Once the design is finalized, we combine cutting-edge CNC automation with artisan techniques to shape plastics and wood into timeless pieces designed to inspire.

What I value most about Architectural Plastics is the people. Over the past eight years, I’ve had the privilege of working with incredibly talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. I also view our clients and vendors as essential collaborators and colleagues. Many of our clients have been with us for years, even decades, and I’ve developed wonderful friendships with many of them.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

You can learn a great deal about business in college, especially in an MBA program. It’s an excellent way to explore how companies are formed, how they operate, proper accounting practices, and product development methodologies. Many of my MBA courses focused on case studies of real or historical businesses, as well as creating and analyzing hypothetical business scenarios. These exercises are invaluable for developing problem-solving skills and crafting strategic business plans.

However, no academic program can fully prepare you for the chaotic, unbalanced, and often stressful lifestyle of a business owner. One of the biggest misconceptions I had after college was believing that running a business could be compartmentalized—separate from the other responsibilities and relationships in life.

In reality, you only have 24 hours in a day, and time spent on the business directly competes with time for family, friends, and self-care. It took me years to realize that the success of the company was not just tied to my professional abilities but also to my personal well-being. Neglecting your relationships or failing to address your own needs can eventually undermine your capacity to lead effectively.

Make it a priority to take care of yourself and nurture the people you love. A strong personal foundation is essential for sustaining both your leadership and the health of your business.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

“Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors.” – Confucius

A company is not an entity unto itself; it’s a way to describe a group of people united by a shared goal. When those people care deeply about that goal, they create great products or services for their clients and become a positive force in their community. Over time, the consistency of those great offerings builds the company’s reputation.

I prefer the word “character” to “reputation” because character is something I can control. In both business and life, character ultimately determines the quality of the people and opportunities that surround you. Unlike reputation, which depends on perception, character is authentic—it can’t be faked or hidden, especially over time.

While there are technical reasons why Architectural Plastics has earned its strong reputation, I believe it all comes down to the quality of the people I’ve surrounded myself with.

When hiring, I don’t focus on skill sets or work history alone. What matters most is finding good people—those who genuinely care about their co-workers and take pride in the quality of their work. This approach is foundational, non-negotiable, and, in my view, the only way to build a lasting and positive reputation.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.archplastics.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/architectural_plastics_inc