We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marty O’Dea a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Marty, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

The first step to finding success is understanding your purpose. Put simply, to become truly successful, you need to know why you’re here—and walk in that purpose.

Every one of us is given a purpose in this life. It may shift in different seasons, but it’s always there, waiting to be lived out.

The second part of this idea is giving yourself permission to discover that purpose. Most of us don’t have it figured out at five years old. Sure, there are rare cases—a kid who dreams of being a surgeon and goes on to become one. But for the rest of us, it takes time. We have to allow ourselves to explore, to stumble, to grow into the calling that’s been placed on us.

The journey to discover your purpose is the beginning of the path to success. Along the way, you’ll face failure—but you’ll also gain clarity, confidence, and small wins that light the way forward. Through that process, you’ll begin to understand what your goals should be—not just what the world says success looks like.

Because here’s the truth: success isn’t a destination. It’s not a title or a number in your bank account. It’s the act of walking in your purpose, day in and day out, through the highs and lows of life.

You’ve probably heard the stories: someone “makes it”—they earn their first million, they get the break they’ve been chasing for years—and yet something still feels missing. That’s because it was never just about getting somewhere. It was always about becoming someone—becoming who you were made to be.

For me, my calling starts with being a husband, a father, and a friend. Those roles are non-negotiable—they’re the foundation of who I am. I love entrepreneurship, and I believe the resources it brings—finances, relationships, flexibility—can absolutely support and amplify my purpose. But I have to be careful not to let those gains distract me from the mission itself. If I build a $10 million company but lose sight of my role as a father, I didn’t succeed—I missed the mark. Every business move I make, every goal I chase, has to align with those core callings. Otherwise, the money, the recognition, the “success” is just noise. Without purpose, it’s all empty.

So be honest with yourself. Start the journey of discovering your purpose on this earth. And if you already know what it is—start taking steps, every single day, to live it out.

In that, you’ll find fulfillment. Joy. Peace. Regardless of your bank account, your status, or your following.

Just keep moving forward—even when it’s hard, even when you fail. Because when you walk in your purpose, you’re already walking in success.

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

I’m co-owner of West Land Coffee Roasters—a small-batch specialty coffee company based in Oceanside, Ca. My journey into coffee wasn’t a straight line. I actually come from a construction background, but I’ve always had a love for meaningful work, good conversation, and the kind of rituals that bring people together. Coffee became that intersection for me.

My Partner and I acquired West Land from a couple friends who had plans to open a coffee shop. Their original plan didn’t take root and we ended up buying the brand from them to take to the next level. When we took over the company it was just a passion side project for us. Just me and my partner roasting beans and filling online orders—but it’s grown into something much more. Our mission is simple: craft exceptional coffee that fuels adventure and connection. Inspired by the rugged landscapes of Baja California and the California coast, we’re continuing to building the brand that reflects freedom, grit, and the joy of being outside.

We roast high-quality, ethically sourced beans and offer them through subscriptions, wholesale partnerships, and mobile coffee experiences. Whether it’s a café looking for a reliable, flavorful roast or a customer looking for a better morning ritual, we provide more than just coffee—we deliver intention in every cup.

What sets us apart? We’re not trying to be the biggest—we’re trying to be the most real. We care about relationships. We know our producers, we talk to our customers, and we stand behind our work with pride. We also bring a creative edge to what we do—from branding and packaging to storytelling and community events.

I’m most proud of building something that’s rooted in values: family, craftsmanship, purpose, and adventure. I’ve got four kids, a wife who homeschools, and a dream that our business can support not just us, but other families and communities too. Additionally, I love having a business that I can provide opportunity for my wife and kids to engage, work, and build along side me with their skills and passions.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Jumping into West Land was a massive pivot for me. Over the past year, we sold our house, I left my day job, and my wife gave birth to our fourth child. It’s been a season full of transition—and a fair amount of head-scratching as we try to make sense of what this new chapter looks like.

Someone recently asked me how I knew it was time to leave my job. The truth is, I’m not sure there’s ever a perfect answer to that question. But deep down, I just knew. It still took me six months to act on that decision—after countless days, weeks, and months of going back and forth. In the end, it came down to intuition. Sometimes you just know. The hard part is trusting yourself enough to listen.

We often think responsibility means following the path we saw modeled for us—our parents, our peers, some image we have in our heads. But I realized the most responsible thing I could do was to take a step back, pursue something I truly enjoy, and prioritize my family.

Any entrepreneur will tell you: success usually comes after a lot of pivots. The businesses that fail often do so because the CEO refuses to shift, even when it’s clear the original idea isn’t working. I don’t want to be that kind of CEO—not in business, and not in life. I found myself heading down a road I didn’t want to be on. And instead of hoping things would just change on their own—or waking up 20 years from now filled with regret—I knew we had to make a move.

Pivoting isn’t easy. Sometimes it feels like bushwhacking your way through unfamiliar terrain just to find the right trail. But if it leads you closer to purpose, joy, and the people who matter most, then it’s absolutely worth it.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

Payroll! There is something to be said for those in life who have HAD to make payroll and those who have never tasted the weighty task.

I have had many a weeks – one or two days before payroll gets withdrawn from our account – and my only task is to chase down checks from general contractors no matter where they were county. Also, I would be lying if there was a time or two when I couldn’t collect enough and had to fund the business from our savings just to keep our employees paid.

Now this is not a unique situation to a small business owner, in fact, if I had to guess, it is probably a common story. But there is something that gets fashioned in you when you place yourself as the producer, creator, or provider and actually have to deliver. I personally learned the value of being able to collect a pay check, and the effort it takes to produce each dollar. I believe that everyone would be benefitted to have the experience of having to make payroll. To make sure employees get paid – maybe at the cost of yourself being paid. There is no room for excuses or entitlement, you just have to put your head down and produce.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.westlandcoffeeroasters.com
• Instagram: @westlandcoffeeroasters
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martyodea/