“Grateful, Not Content” — What We Learned from the First Four Giraffes

From mindset shifts to startup grit—4 powerful stories, 1 elevated perspective.

Missed the first four episodes of Be the Giraffe?

This special catch-up episode stitches together our favorite highlights from the trailblazing entrepreneurs who dared to think differently—and stand taller.

Episode 1: Dave Stech – Grateful, But Not Content

Dave opens the series with a no-nonsense look at what it takes to build wealth, lead a family with intention, and leave a legacy. He unpacks how living "grateful but not content" became the turning point in his life—and why your values must guide your vision.

“Comfort is where dreams go to die.”

Key Insight: It’s not about chasing balance—it’s about chasing better. Start with yourself, then your family, then your cause.

Episode 2: Devin Sizemore – The Power of Connection

From business wins to personal chaos, Devin shares his journey through selling a company, rebuilding his life, and intentionally curating his inner circle. He reveals how he built a thriving referral ecosystem—and why connection meetings trump sales pitches every time.

"No one falls up a mountain. You have to do the work. You have to walk through the valley.”

Key Insight: Deep relationships create real opportunities. Add value first, ask later.

Episode 3: Stephen Oommen – Fitting In vs. Belonging

Stephen’s story is one of adaptability, identity, and stepping into his true self. As a first-generation American, he learned to blend into every room—but later realized his greatest strength was vulnerability. He explains how empathy, story, and self-awareness fuel both relationships and revenue.

“If you belong nowhere, you try to belong everywhere. But if you open up, people see the real you—and that's where trust begins.”

Key Insight: Stop trying to be all things to all people. Know your story. Share it. That’s how you build trust that scales.

Episode 4: Josh Chodniewicz – Build Fast, Learn Faster

Josh co-founded Art.com before e-commerce was a thing—and built a business that reached millions. In this episode, he shares what it was like launching in the dot-com era, embracing imperfection, and getting over 1,000 no’s before seeing results.

“If you launch a perfect product, you probably launched it too late.”

Key Insight: Execution beats perfection. Learn by doing—and keep iterating, even when it’s hard.

So What Ties It All Together?

From Dave’s family office philosophy to Josh’s startup hustle, the throughline is clear:

Success comes from seeing differently, acting intentionally, and surrounding yourself with the right people.

And that’s what it means to Be the Giraffe—you elevate your view to find a better path.

🎧 Listen to the full compilation episode here

Keywords: Dave Stech, Devin Sizemore, Stephen Oommen, Josh Chodniewicz, entrepreneurship, startup mindset, legacy, networking, vulnerability, business growth

Takeaways:

• Comfort kills momentum—choose challenge.

• Build fewer, deeper relationships.

• Own your story and lead with empathy.

• Don’t wait for perfect—ship fast, learn faster.

• Your network isn’t your net worth—your value is.

P.S. If this episode resonated with you, you’ll love my Be the Giraffe book.