In this episode, I sit down with Munsok So, President and CEO of So Hospitality Group. With over two decades in the hospitality industry, Munsok has transformed the Saint Louis dining scene through his leadership of well-known brands like Drunken Fish and Kimchi Guys. His journey from running a nightclub to building a multi-brand hospitality group showcases a deep passion for food and community-driven growth.

Our conversation dives into Munsok’s approach to building sustainable businesses, creating effective systems, and leading with vision. We discuss how he has navigated challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and his commitment to revitalizing the downtown Saint Louis area. Munsok’s reflections on leadership, strategic expansion, and balancing creative ambition with operational excellence offer invaluable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs.Connect With Our Host:

Twitter: ⁠twitter.com/ItsRajTut

⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajtut/

⁠Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/ItsRajTut⁠TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@itsrajtutConnect with our guest:https://www.linkedin.com/in/munsokso/https://sohospitalitygroup.com/Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome00:00:32 - Overview of Seoul Hospitality Group and Brands00:02:01 - Munsok’s Early Passion for Food00:04:12 - Entrepreneurship Beginnings with Nightclub Ownership00:09:30 - Transitioning to Drunken Fish and Restaurant Ownership00:15:20 - Building Business Systems and Strategic Delegation00:19:39 - Expanding to Multiple Locations00:26:10 - Developing Kimchi Guys and Fast Casual Concept00:35:47 - Real Estate Investments and Downtown Revitalization00:44:30 - The Launch of the Coffee Concept00:49:00 - Final Thoughts and Advice on Hospitality and BusinessThis podcast is brought to you by Storyboard Living.

If you're looking to sell us a 40+ unit multifamily property in the St. Louis region or another part of MO/IL, please email deals@storyboardliving.com

Connect with us on our ⁠Website⁠ or ⁠LinkedIn profile⁠.

In this episode, I sit down with Tyler Kelley, co-founder of Slam! Agency, a marketing agency based out of Saint Louis, and a passionate entrepreneur who's dedicated to giving back through coaching and mentoring. Tyler grew up in a working-class area of North County, Saint Louis, and while his path initially seemed headed toward trades or the military, a spontaneous decision to apply for college set him on the course to entrepreneurship. We dive into his early ventures, including starting a DJ business in college, which led him to teach himself web design and SEO, foundational skills that would later shape his marketing career. Tyler shares how he bootstrapped his way into the world of digital marketing and how Slam Agency evolved into a business that helps companies elevate their market presence.

Throughout the conversation, Tyler offers powerful insights into the entrepreneurial mindset, overcoming financial challenges, and embracing technology. He talks about how the 2008 financial crisis wiped out his business, forcing him and his wife to rebuild from scratch, and the lessons they learned during that time. We also explore the future of AI in business, including the rise of autonomous agents and humanoid robots, and how these innovations will change the landscape for entrepreneurs. Tyler’s dedication to mentorship and empowering others is evident, as he shares how seeing others succeed inspired him to give back, especially in underserved communities. This episode is packed with practical advice, inspiring stories, and a glimpse into the future of business and technology.

Connect With Our Host:

Twitter: ⁠twitter.com/ItsRajTut

⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajtut/

⁠Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/ItsRajTut⁠

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@itsrajtut

Connect with out Guest:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerkelley/

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Introduction to the episode and Tyler Kelley, co-founder of Slam! Agency.

00:01:18 – Tyler’s background: Growing up in working-class North County, Saint Louis.

00:03:05 – The options growing up: Trades or military, and how he made an unexpected decision to apply for college.

00:04:55 – Tyler reflects on how a casual conversation influenced his decision to go to college.

00:06:24 – The importance of seeing others succeed and why mentorship matters to Tyler.

00:08:48 – The start of Tyler’s entrepreneurial journey: DJing in college and launching a mobile DJ business.

00:10:27 – How learning web design and SEO set Tyler on the path to digital marketing.

00:14:21 – Facing financial loss during the 2008 crisis: Losing everything and rebuilding from scratch.

00:16:33 – Building Slam Agency: How Tyler and his team grew the agency from its early days.

00:20:17 – Tyler’s introduction to AI and how ChatGPT changed his approach to business.

00:23:16 – Practical applications of AI in communication and storytelling for entrepreneurs.

00:25:57 – How AI helps Tyler do more, not less, and why it's about leverage, not shortcuts.

00:27:26 – The future of AI: Autonomous agents, humanoid robots, and how they’ll change business forever.

00:30:01 – Why every business will need to adapt to AI and automation.

00:46:20 – Introducing the Fractional Chief AI Officer: Why this role will become essential for businesses.

00:50:01 – Tyler’s biggest lessons learned from financial hardship and the power of gratitude.

00:52:42 – Tyler’s core family values and how gratitude is a superpower for success.

This podcast is brought to you by Storyboard Living.

If you're looking to sell us a 40+ unit multifamily property in the St. Louis region, or another part of MO/IL, please email deals@storyboardliving.com

Connect with us at our Website: https://storyboardliving.com/

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storyboard-living/

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with John Krewson, the founder and CEO of Sketch Development, a company he started in 2015 that has rapidly grown to $10 million in revenue and earned a spot on the Inc 5000 list for two consecutive years. John shared his incredible journey of building a software development and coaching company that serves large organizations. He explained how Sketch focuses on teaching companies to better understand software development while providing consulting services that help structure and organize their technology teams for greater success.

One of the main takeaways from this episode is John's deep insight into leadership and company culture. From his early exposure to software as a child to his unexpected leap from entertainment into tech, John's path was filled with lessons on adaptability and perseverance. He also dives into the principles of agile software development, explaining how Sketch uses a unique combination of software delivery and management education to help organizations optimize their processes. His view on balancing efficiency with effectiveness, as well as the importance of learning to be comfortable with being wrong, offers a fresh perspective on leadership in today’s complex business environment.Connect With Our Host:

Twitter: ⁠twitter.com/ItsRajTut

⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajtut/

⁠Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/ItsRajTut⁠

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@itsrajtut

Guest Links:

• John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krewson/

• Sketch Development Website: https://www.sketchdev.io/

Timestamps: 00:00:00 Preview00:00:31 Overview of Sketch Development & growth00:01:32 John’s approach to working with clients00:05:35 Early exposure to tech and the Apple II story00:16:00 Founding Sketch Development and challenges in the first year00:25:08 Scaling Sketch with fewer developers00:33:14 Agile methodology and its role in Sketch’s growth00:39:02 Building company culture and leadership strategies00:46:12 Designing the new headquarters for team collaboration00:50:14 Benefits of face-to-face interaction in the workplace00:54:28 Remote vs in-person work and the value of in-office collaboration00:56:52 Final advice on being open to learning and being wrongThis podcast is brought to you by Storyboard Living.

If you're looking to sell us a 40+ unit multifamily property in the St. Louis region, or another part of MO/IL, please email deals@storyboardliving.com

Connect with us at our Website: https://storyboardliving.com/

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storyboard-living/