From Fainting on the Mountain to Saving Billions: My Life as an Entrepreneur
Share
Hey, I'm Gavin Mlinar, CEO of Blacklisted Consulting, bestselling author, and the guy who turned fainting on a mountain into a brand. If you're here, you're likely curious about the real entrepreneur life: the failures, the breakthroughs, and the grind that turns rejection into revenue. It's not all viral reels and passive income. It's more like hiking the equivalent of Everest... and passing out three times before you summit. Let me take you through my story.
The Early Days: Blacklisted and Building
I founded Blacklisted Consulting after being "blacklisted" from corporate America for speaking truth in rooms full of yes-men. Instead of shrinking, I built a company that turns cost into capital. My consulting firm helps companies save money. Over my 15-year career in procurement and sourcing, my teams and I have helped companies save more than $1 billion, through smarter sourcing, renegotiated contracts, and supply chain overhauls that actually stick.
Year one was brutal: bootstrapping, late-night strategy sessions, and proving to skeptical CFOs that a guy with a chip on his shoulder could deliver eight-figure savings. But every "no" became case study fuel. Every saved dollar became proof that expertise, not ego, wins.
The 29029 Everest Challenge: Three Faints, One Finish
Nothing tests entrepreneurial resilience like the 29029 Everesting Challenge, hiking 29,029 vertical feet on one mountain in under 36 hours. I tried it at Snowbasin, Utah, in 2022 and fainted once. In 2023, I returned to the same mountain and fainted twice. Medics hovered. My legs quit. My mind screamed enough.
But I treated failure like a procurement audit: dissect, optimize, retry. I adjusted hydration, pacing, gear, and mindset. Third attempt at Stratton, VT? I summited. That finish wasn’t luck, it was a system built from collapse. Now, every time I see that medal, I remember, entrepreneurs don’t avoid falling. We learn how not to stay down.
My gear celebrates that truth. Check out the collection at Yes Your Way to Success, hoodies, hats, and tees with mantras born on that mountain: Every piece sold is a reminder that progress isn’t linear, it’s a series of calculated recoveries.
The Coffee Partnership: Fuel with Purpose
I didn’t launch a coffee brand, I partnered with one. Teaming up with a woman-owned coffee farm, I sell single-origin Brazilian coffee that’s bold, smooth, and built for focus. It’s not just coffee; it’s a morning ritual for builders. Dark, rich, and unapologetic, like the conversations we have over it. Want some? Click here and order away!
Writing the Playbook (Literally)
I write to decode what’s working now, and what will dominate in 2026. My blogs live on my website and break down real-world strategies: low-capital business models, AI-powered side hustles, niche e-commerce trends, and procurement hacks that turn overhead into opportunity.
The Real Talk: What Nobody Tells You
Entrepreneurship is:
- **Spreadsheets at 2 a.m.** while your friends sleep.
- **Losing a $400K contract** the day before payroll.
- **Fainting on a mountain** while others post sunrise yoga.
- **Celebrating a $3M savings win** with gas station coffee.
But it’s also:
- **Watching a client reinvest savings** into hiring their first 50 employees.
- **Getting a DM that says**, “Your blog made me quit my job and double my income.”
- **Wearing your own hoodie** that says *Third Time’s the Summit*... because you lived it.
The Systems That Saved Me
Success isn’t talent. It’s architecture. Here’s what works:
1. **The Billion-Dollar Lens**: Every decision gets asked, *“Does this save or make money?”* If not, cut it.
2. **Failure Autopsies**: After every collapse—client loss, failed launch, mountain blackout, I run a 24-hour review. What broke? Fix it.
3. **Multiple Revenue Rivers**: Consulting delivers big checks. Blogs build authority. Gear and coffee create recurring income. Never bet on one stream.
4. **The 1% Daily**: One new supplier contact. One blog draft. One cold outreach. Compound beats intensity.
5. **Community as Capital**: My network isn’t a contact list, it’s a war room. We swap vendor intel, funding leads, and hard truths.
To the Founder Up at 2 A.M.
You’re not behind. The doubt? Normal. The fear you’re faking it? Standard issue. The mountain you’re climbing, whether it’s $1M in savings, $100K in revenue, or just one more rep after fainting, doesn’t care about your feelings. It cares about your systems.
I got blacklisted. Fainted three times on the same mountain. Saved companies a billion dollars with a laptop and a grudge. Now I run a firm, write playbooks, sell gear that funds dreams, and drink Brazilian coffee with people building tomorrow.
If you like this content, please show your support through the purchase of my book, merchandise or by hiring me to speak.