We recently connected with Richard Fergola and have shared our conversation below.

Richard, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career

I was a high school special education teacher for 21 years before starting my own business in BBQ. I can tell you that public education is just way too much top down leadership styles. Too much good ole boy network of people that hire people that are not necessarily the most qualified candidate. At the end of the day, it will always be the kids that suffer from this structure.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

After being an educator and coach for 21 years, I needed a change. Competition BBQ was something I was getting in to and wanted more. So I helped start a new BBQ supply store in KC. I also developed my own line of BBQ rubs that are sold worldwide and I also teach BBQ classes around the world. I built Fergolicious BBQ from my backyard and garage to one of the most well known BBQ brands in the world.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

BBQ was my side hustle for years while my fulltime job was a high school teacher and coach. When I started cooking more contests, appearing on cooking shows on TV and selling my products is when I realized I needed to put more focus on my side hustle and make it my full time gig.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Not much to tell here except everything came from my own pocket. To fund everything I bought for my BBQ business and then had to sell, sell, sell to make my money back plus profit.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.fergoliciousbbq.com
• Instagram: @FergoliciousBBQ
• Facebook: @FergoliciousBBQ
• Twitter: @FergoliciousBBQ
• Youtube: @FergoliciousBBQ

Image Credits
Anthony Fergola