Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Josh Hibbert. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Josh, thanks for taking the time to share your stories 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.
About a year ago, I bid farewell to what I thought would be my lifelong career. Forced to make a choice due to circumstances beyond my control, I found myself on a forked path. On one hand, I could continue in my comfortable leadership role, a position offering prestige and stability in a reputable organization. On the other hand, I had the opportunity to take a leap of faith and bet on myself, venturing into the unknown. Spoiler alert – I chose the latter.
To provide some backstory: I ascended quickly to a senior leadership position in my former organization, reaching what many considered the pinnacle of my profession. However, the journey to the top was steep. I worked incredibly long hours, sacrificed personal time, and maintained an unhealthy work-life balance. Nevertheless, through the grind, I climbed the ranks and achieved a status that my ego relished. If not for the need to reevaluate my life choices, I would probably still be logging over 70 hours a week building someone else’s empire. My professional identity had become so deeply entwined with my persona that when asked, “Who are you?” I would reflexively recite my credentials, title, and work history.
I was constantly chasing the next big thing – a promotion, a pay bump, equity in the company – always striving for more. This ambition fueled me, even as I ran myself ragged.
But everything changed within a matter of weeks.
During a rare vacation, I embarked on a fantastic trip to France with a group of friends. This was my first time in Europe and, truthfully, my first real break from work in years. This trip, which unfolded serendipitously, likely altered my life’s trajectory. I recall a pivotal internal dialogue while snowboarding down the French Alps: “Why the hell haven’t I done this sooner?” I promised myself then that I would make changes to savor more meaningful experiences and better manage my time. Just as the trip was ending, I received a message from my organization’s owners. They wanted to speak urgently. As I sat in the terminal at Charles de Gaulle Airport, I learned that they were selling the company and wanted me to facilitate the transition for the new owners. The flight back was a long one.
In the days following, I grappled with the idea of starting afresh in a new organization, recreating the professional persona I had cultivated over many years. Perhaps it was my unchecked ego speaking again, but I listened. It prompted me to step back and reassess my situation.
The news I received at the airport provided the impetus to explore other opportunities. Despite my entrepreneurial spirit, previous side projects had languished due to my demanding job. Now, however, with the need to make a significant decision, it became apparent that I had to prioritize my health, my sense of self, and my legacy. It was time to check my ego, look in the mirror, and bet everything on myself.
Aside from leaving an organization that I truly loved, the challenge was that I hadn’t planned for such a change. Financially, I was ill-prepared to walk away from a steady income.
Despite not having any firm plans or a clear idea of my next steps, I informed my employer that I wouldn’t be joining the new venture, choosing instead to explore fresh opportunities.
The initial weeks were a mix of chaos and exhilaration. On one hand, I was wrestling with how to stay financially afloat; on the other, I was undertaking a profound journey of self-discovery. The stress was palpable as I watched my bank account diminish, and I often found myself questioning my decision. Fortunately, a supportive network of people helped me weather this period. Along with the moral support of my circle, I liquidated my 401k, sold stocks, and slashed non-essential expenses to make it work, essentially going into financial survival mode.
As I began to recalibrate my life, I finally had time to think. I revisited past startup ideas, the side gigs that didn’t work out, or the ventures that I never applied time or energy towards. I vetted those previous seeds of thought, and more came pouring out of me. New ideas & concepts seemingly presented themselves at will thanks to my clearer mind and expanded bandwidth.
One of the first ventures I embarked upon was Pineapples in Paradise, a project focused around my pre-existing Airbnb business out of St. Petersburg. It initially started as an NFT project, aiming to offer travel perks and discounts through a network of Airbnb properties and local vendors. However, due to the less-than-stellar reputation of the “NFT” world among investors, my partners and I shifted gears. We are now preparing to launch this as a premium travel program represented by digital memberships. We will still be providing discounted stays at Airbnb’s throughout Florida and special offers on local experiences, and we will be utilizing blockchain technology and maintaining the NFT infrastructure. However, our go-to-market strategy & core messaging resembles a more traditional business venture. We plan to launch sometime in 2024, depending on market conditions.
While working on the Pineapple project, I began my professional relationship with Ms. Jenna Schwartz, who would become my business partner in several endeavors. We found great synergy in our collaboration and decided to launch Provenance Consulting Group (PCG). At PCG, we serve as executive coaches and business consultants, guiding entrepreneurs, and businesses across diverse industries. We have helped numerous startups and contributed to the success of several enterprise-level clients. One of our most innovative services is an artificial intelligence solution called “VisionAIry.” Leveraging emerging technology, VisionAIry can be programmed & trained on any company’s unique processes and procedures, serving as an interactive guide for employees. This AI solution has been a game-changer for businesses looking to manage their growth, particularly in the realms of HR, onboarding, and training. Aside from our work at PCG, Jenna and I also work together in the Mergers & Acquisitions space, specializing in Healthcare entities.
In stepping away from my former role, my bandwidth is at an all-time high. This has allowed me to start a couple of other endeavors as well. Most recently, I created a health & wellness platform called “Profletic” – where my goal is to share resources & insight on how to maintain a healthy approach to the “hustle.” In learning from my experience, I want to use my background & expertise as a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Executive Coach to blend these two worlds. To help others live a more fulfilling, healthy life as they try to reach the summit of their own respective professional endeavor. My goal is to help others rise professionally without sacrificing what matters most, their health, wellness & sense of self!
Another project in the pipeline is the launch of a nutritional supplement company, Via Supplements, in partnership with my best friend and business partner, Alex Korpita. Our mission is to disrupt the traditional supplement world by not just providing quality products, but also offering meaningful protocols to address what we perceive as flawed practices in the industry. We hope to be a beacon of change, transforming the way supplements are marketed and used to prevent harmful cycles of dependency and adverse effects on wellness.
The last year has been a period of tremendous growth for me, and I can honestly say I have never been happier. I am so thankful I decided to take that risk of the unknown, as it has paid off in an incalculable way. At this very moment I am in the midst of a year long road trip of the US. Never did I envision myself journeying across the country in a motorhome with my beloved girlfriend and dog, relishing financial freedom, owning my time, and going all in on myself.
Josh, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I grew up in a small town in Upstate NY, what some would call “snow country” that only made it in the news for record snowfall or blizzards. I never traveled very much as a kid, so as I started coming of age, I had my heart set on getting out and experiencing more of the world. I decided to attend the University of South Florida for undergrad, never having been to Florida in my life. One of the best decisions I made was taking that leap! I left home and started my own journey. A bit of culture shock at first, but I adapted to “city life” and absolutely loved it. I completed my time at USF with a BS in Health Sciences & a couple lifelong friendships that I still cherish today. From USF, I returned home to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY.
That is really where my professional identity started to take shape. I knew that while working towards my DPT I did not want to be a treating Physical Therapist forever. At the first opportunity that presented itself, I signed on with a company that I saw growth potential with – and ultimately made the transition from treating Physical Therapist, to Healthcare Executive within just a few months of graduating. That is the company that I spent the better part of my professional career with, however, as I mentioned I transitioned out of that role to focus on passion & purpose projects for myself.
The problem I’m trying to solve with each of my personal businesses is to make the world a better place & to help others. At Provenance Consulting Group, our mantra is to be the “how” to other’s “why.” Jenna and I strongly feel that by helping others unlock their potential, we are creating a better world through our work. We focus on bringing new ideas & methodologies to new or existing businesses. I personally love being able to leverage exciting new technologies within more traditional business models to help our clients gain a competitive edge. At PCG we have fully embraced Artificial Intelligence, and pride ourselves on being the stewards for others to enjoy it’s disruptive potential.
Profletic, and Via Supplements both allow me to tap into my clinical background and utilize the knowledge I’ve obtained regarding the human body and performance. Being able to still apply that knowledge is important to me, and both ventures provide a platform to help others achieve more – in a healthy way. Profletic is growing quickly with a tremendous amount of support with the content and ideology being shared. I’m very excited to begin collaborations with other business & fitness centric individuals to bring more value to our growing community of athletic professionals – or as we like to say, “Profletes”
I crave disrupting norms – and I truly think Via Supplements will do just that. Alex and I are working relentlessly on our messaging behind this endeavor. We want to be the vehicle of change, or the “via” for people to truly break out of harmful health habits. Our mission is not just to create great supplements to enhance sleep, performance, recovery & all-around good health – we want to provide knowledge and protocols on how to change behaviors as well. The goal is not to create a brand that promotes needing our products just to function. Instead, we feel that supplements should be used to enhance an already optimized routine full of health-conscious decisions, that way when you do use our products – you’re getting the max benefit. Despite our aspirations seeming counterintuitive to a profitable business model, we’re passionate about creating a brand that doesn’t promote dependency. We envision breaking the cycle of harmful health habits, such as heavy caffeine use and lack of quality sleep, and shifting the narrative around supplement use. We’re excited about the extensive research backing our formulas and look forward to sharing our products with the market.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Growing up, I held fast to the belief that hard work was the ultimate key to success. This perspective was nurtured in a blue-collar environment where, instead of summer camps or vacations, I spent my time learning to operate heavy machinery, logging, and working construction under the tutelage of my father. He was my first role model, and undoubtedly is the hardest working individual I’ve ever encountered, almost to a fault. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything as they not only shaped my work ethic but also endowed me with a unique skill set at an early age. Consequently, I carried the tenacious attitude of ‘just keep going’ into my professional life, believing that perseverance and sheer determination would lead to success.
This mindset propelled me to a position of status in my profession, but paradoxically, left me feeling burnt out and unsatisfied. It gradually dawned on me that an essential ingredient was missing from my formula for success. I needed to learn a new lesson, that until you start working smarter – it doesn’t matter how hard you work. I needed to step away and see that until I was working towards my own dream, my vision, my purpose – that the hard work and tireless efforts were merely fueling someone else’s ambition.
It was a considerable challenge to deconstruct and reorient these deeply ingrained values, and even today, I sometimes find myself falling back into old patterns. I have to consciously remind myself to slow down and focus on what truly matters. Again, this is the exact catalyst that pushed me to launch Profletic.
While this transformation was a lengthy and demanding process, I wouldn’t alter any part of it, as it has shaped me into the person I am today. The lesson I had to let go of—the mindset that hard work alone was the panacea—has been my most profound “unlearning” experience to date.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I have a voracious appetite for personal development audiobooks, and I’m fortunate to be in the company of equally intellectually engaged individuals. This leads to a wealth of stimulating conversations. Several thought leaders have made a significant impact on my thinking, and one person that really resonates with me is Jocko Willink. His books “Extreme Ownership” and “The Dichotomy of Leadership” offer an unrivaled perspective on accountability, which proved instrumental when I was managing a large team. At one point, I was directly overseeing around 400 therapists across two companies. Before encountering Willink’s work, I found it challenging to accept that I was ultimately responsible for the consequences of my team’s actions. Though I couldn’t be in three states at once, everything inevitably led back to me.
These books inspired me to overhaul my method of empowering subordinate leaders and establishing the right culture. They encouraged me to bulletproof our standard operating procedures and equip each therapist with the tools they needed to perform their roles in line with our cultural expectations. Moreover, they taught me to step back and give others the space to step up when necessary. I consider Jocko to be an unparalleled voice in the field of management.
From an entrepreneurial standpoint, a few other influential thinkers have shaped my philosophy. Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now” and “A New Earth” profoundly shifted my outlook on life. They stress the importance of cherishing the present moment, rather than being constantly consumed by the worries of tomorrow. For a long time, I was objective-focused, perpetually chasing after the next title, salary, or big account. But now, I revel in the process. Each day, I take a moment to appreciate what I’m doing, which makes it all the more meaningful. While I still set goals, enjoying the journey to reach them allows me to find satisfaction in each day, not just those when I score a “win” or hit a milestone.
Finally, Steve Harvey’s “Every Successful Person Must Jump” speech, Jay Shetty’s “Think Like a Monk,” and Tim Ferriss’ “4 Hour Work Week” have all had their profound impacts. Each of these resources has guided me through different phases of my entrepreneurial journey, particularly in balancing the push and pull between rational and emotional thinking. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.growpcg.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhibbzofficial/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshhibbert/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/pip_nft
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growpcg/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/profletic https://www.instagram.com/growpcg/ https://www.instagram.com/profletic/ https://www.instagram.com/pip_nft/ www.pinapplesinparadise.com www.profletic.com www.viasupps.com