Think Your Way to an Epic Life Podcast featuring Mitch Case
In this episode, Mitch Case shares his journey from a successful career in HVAC sales to taking a bold leap into entrepreneurship, only to face failure, rebuild, and discover a deeper definition of success.
He opens up about the role of relationships in shaping both business and life, the lessons learned from losing a business, and how those experiences led to the creation of The Pickup Project, a community built on trust, connection, and shared experiences through sport.
This conversation highlights the power of vulnerability, intentional relationships, and the idea that meaningful connections, not credentials are the true foundation of long-term success.
Watch the Full Episode
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJxlM4ei8Ck&t=1185s
Transcript
Below is the full transcript of the episode:
Intro:
Welcome to another episode of Think Your Way to an Epic Life. Today’s guest proves that relationships, not résumés are what really matter when building a powerful career.
If you have a life you’re proud of, chances are you have strong relationships.
Mitch Case took a leap most people only dream about—and he failed hard. But he rebuilt from the ground up and now leads in commercial real estate investing. He’s also one of the most authentic community-builders I’ve ever seen.
If you haven’t heard of the Pickup Project, we’ll dive into it. If you’ve ever felt the pull to do something bigger—but fear held you back—or wondered how to build a business on trust and connection, you’ll love this conversation.
Why Mitch Took the Leap
Mitch shared that while working in commercial HVAC sales as a mechanical engineer, he was earning well—but lost sight of what truly brought him joy.
One night, while trying to close another sale, he realized:
His wife was home pregnant with their second child
His 3-year-old was waiting
And he was chasing money with a stranger
That moment hit him hard.
His wife asked him a powerful question:
“If we look back in 20 years and you didn’t make this decision, would you regret it?”
That question removed his fear.
That same night, he submitted his two-week notice.
When Everything Fell Apart
After running a business for about 4.5 years, things declined:
Finances worsened
Debt increased
His health suffered
His family life was strained
His wife stepped in again and said:
“This isn’t what we signed up for.”
What helped him through:
Support system – His wife never called it a failure
Perspective shift – The business taught him lessons he couldn’t have learned otherwise
Community response – When he shared publicly, people praised his courage
He realized:
Most people didn’t even know he “failed”
The fear was mostly internal (ego-driven)
The Power of Vulnerability
Mitch emphasized that vulnerability is essential:
It strengthens relationships
It allows people to support you
It prevents damaging trust
“If I hid it or lied, I’d damage the relationships that matter most.”
Failure’s Biggest Lesson
His wife believes failure taught him something success never could:
👉 Presence
He became:
A more present husband
A more present father
He stopped missing:
School drop-offs
Dance recitals
Everyday family moments
The “Quarters, Dimes, Nickels, Pennies” Concept
A therapist helped him understand relationships like money:
4 Quarters → closest inner circle
10 Dimes → strong connections
20 Nickels → acquaintances
100 Pennies → surface-level contacts
He realized:
He had almost no “quarters” besides his wife.
So he intentionally:
Reached out more
Scheduled time with friends
Built deeper relationships
The Pickup Project (Origin Story)
The Pickup Project started as a solution to:
Expensive networking events
Shallow conversations
Overcrowded business gatherings
Instead, he invited people to:
Play basketball
What happened:
2 people → 4 people → full courts
Real relationships formed
Business followed naturally
During COVID, a survey revealed:
Nearly $1M in business happened within the group
The biggest impact?
“Genuine friendships”
Why It Works
Basketball removes filters:
People act naturally
You see real character
Conversations go deeper
It also:
Breaks social barriers
Connects different backgrounds
Builds trust faster
Why Men Need Spaces Like This
Mitch shared that many men:
Bottle emotions
Avoid deep conversations
Carry pressure alone
Meanwhile, women:
Share openly
Process emotions together
The Pickup Project helps men:
Open up gradually
Build real friendships
Have emotional outlets
Mindset Shift (Survival → Growth)
A turning point came from a 66-day habit-building program focused on:
Health
Wealth
Love
Happiness
Key realizations:
He had more to offer
He needed to grow beyond a fixed path
He needed to align joy + strengths
His Definition of Generational Wealth
Not luxury or material things.
Instead:
Financial freedom to choose work
Assets that generate income
Ability to serve others
Passing opportunities to future generations
“It’s about freedom and impact—not just money.”
Biggest Advice
Mitch’s bold advice:
Know your value
Reach out anyway
Send the message
Make the call
Ask for mentorship
Offer value (even free work)
Also:
Don’t neglect close friendships
Final Reflection
Everything in his journey points to one truth:
You are one relationship away from a different life