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

Hi Joseph, thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

This is a loaded question and there’s so many different routes you can take to become successful. What measures success is different for everyone so for me it comes down to a couple different factors. The first being the enjoyment in the field that you work in. If you are able to continue finding joy within your business and see it less as work and more of an extension of who you are, then I consider that success. Along with that, putting your ego to the side is another huge piece on the path to success. As a business owner, your work is not to directly benefit yourself, its meant for the growth of the business. Finding motivation in the little things is also important. While burnout is possible if you are putting too much into what you’re doing, taking a step back once in awhile to find motivation that you may have not even noticed was needed.

One of my favorite quotes I’ve heard is “you can’t share the same success if you haven’t shared the same problems.” I interpreted it as even if the issues someone can go through are similar to another’s, their path to overcome it is different. Learning from others can help you find the variables in the equation, but wont give you the direct answer to solve it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I grew up in the inner-city of Cleveland, Ohio and lived there until I was 18 and started my journey to The Ohio State University, where I found love in the art of fine art photography. I graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. While I still loved what I was able to accomplish with my art career, post-graduation I realized I wanted to go a different route in life. I wanted to intertwine my love for art with something that echoed my extroverted and personable demeanor.

Fate, it seemed, had its plans when I passed a Pedal Wagon on my path one day. Intrigued by its unique design, I found myself reaching out to the company about a possible open job position and soon enough, I was behind the wheel, cherishing the excitement I could bring to others as a captain. It started as a part time job, but quickly turned into a window to the city’s heart, its people, and their personal stories. It resonated with who I was and my creative nature, allowing me to go above and beyond to create memorable experiences for our guests.

Within a span of a year and a half, I climbed the ladder from being a part time captain to a full time city manager, learning and evolving with each step. This chapter honed my skills in management, giving me a glimpse into the intricacies of running a business, and making a positive impact in the community. It was a consistent back and forth of learning, unlearning, and relearning.

After unjustly being let go from my position due to circumstances that were ultimately out of my control, I decided to stay in this field and build out what I thought knew was a special experience. This is how Trolley Pub, the premier party bike experience in Columbus came to be.

Today, as the founder, every day is a new verse in my ongoing narrative. Trolley Pub isn’t just a business; it’s a platform that celebrates the love for the community, creativity, and local businesses. It’s about breaking up the mundane & creating unforgettable memories, one ride at a time. My venture into being an entrepreneur was less about chasing a title and more about carving a niche where my creativity, love for Columbus, and entrepreneurial spirit worked in perfect harmony.

What sets me a part from similar businesses to mine is my personality & the heart and soul I pour into what I do and the genuine joy I derive from it. There are two characteristics that cant be taught and you either have them or don’t and those are passion and loyalty. Every customer interaction is a chance to create a ripple of positivity in someone else’s life. And as I steer ahead, my aim remains to enrich the local market, support local businesses, and offer a unique, enjoyable experience to every person that hops on board. Through Trolley Pub, I seek to create not just a tour, but a journey filled with laughter, discovery, and the essence of community.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When my time ended with Pedal Wagon, I felt completely broken. I put so much of who I was into their brand and success to where my personal growth was directly intertwined with its growth. Losing out on that and being let go in the demoralizing way that I was definitely made me feel like I was at rock bottom professionally. All the confidence that I spent those 7 previous years building was now second guessed and I spiraled into confusion on where my life was going.

With the help and motivation from many close friends and colleagues, I was able to change the tune of what I thought was a requiem in my life into an upbeat feeling of potential success and overcoming adversity. My life has never been fair when it comes to situations out of my control, but that has never once stopped me from pushing forward and carving out a life I believe I deserve. This was just another piece of that puzzle that proved that even in the darkest of times, there is light and its always brighter as you pursue closer to it. Getting to this understanding took many years of self reflection, but I wouldn’t trade this outlook or how I got here for anything.

Any advice for managing a team?

As a manager or owner, the position is not about you, its about your team. Everything you work for is to build up the company and the team within it. You are meant to lead by example and set the tone for how you expect everyone else to work within your system. Being direct with your staff and actually for caring about them as people and not seeing them as expendable will build morale quicker than any other way you can think of. I went to a conference recently and heard a great piece of advice that goes perfectly with this idea. Create goals that your employees can understand and share with you, but trust them to use their own path to get to them while providing support when needed.

Contact Info:

• Website: trolleypub.com/columbus
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trolley_pub_columbus/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trolleypubcolumbus
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trolley-pub-columbus/
• Twitter: twitter.com/trolleypubcbus
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu2OtftIvdRnhddxUY7QdJQ
• Other: Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@trolleypub.columbus Trip Advisor – www.tripadvisor.com/UserReviewEdit-g50226-d25546825-Trolley_Pub_Columbus-Columbus_Ohio.html