Built to Last
Candid conversations with entrepreneurs on life and business.
Join us as we uncover the habits, mindsets, and strategies that help organizations and people thrive for the long haul.
Built to Last
The Hard Truths of Small Town Entrepreneurship – With Michael Petrovici
In this episode of Built to Last, Colby and Levi sit down with entrepreneur and self-described “chaotic builder” Mihai (Michael) Petrovici. Whose journey from a Walmart manager to a multi-business owner in Bathurst, NB is equal parts inspiring and cautionary. With 7 businesses, 50+ employees, and a distillery now under his belt, Michael opens up about what it really takes to build something from scratch in a small town.
From tight payroll weeks to the pride of seeing a packed café you helped create, Michael doesn’t sugarcoat the highs or the lows. Whether you’re considering launching a product, scaling operations, or just surviving the chaos of entrepreneurship, this episode will leave you feeling less alone and more equipped for the journey!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpetrovici/
Segment Breakdown:
00:00 | From Romania to New Brunswick
• Michael shares how his early life and family journey brought him to small-town Canada.
02:00 | Landing in Bathurst (By Accident)
• A temporary relocation becomes permanent—and unexpectedly sparks entrepreneurship.
05:00 |Au Bootlegger: The First Business
• Opening a craft beer bar without restaurant experience, and learning everything on the fly.
08:30 | Applying Walmart Systems to Small Biz
• How Michael brought structure, operations, and process to his bar using corporate tools.
11:00 | Starting Caffeine Café
• Launching a low-risk coffee concept that filled a local gap—and quickly gained traction.
14:30 | Buying a Bookkeeping Business
• His entry into service-based business and how automation changed the model.
17:00 | Growth vs. Sustainability
• Why Michael resists the pressure to scale for the sake of it—and what he focuses on instead.
20:00 | When Payroll Gets Tight
• A close call with cash flow and the lessons learned about forecasting and responsibility.
23:30 | Building the Distillery
• The personal passion and strategic thinking behind launching NB Distillery.
26:30 | Forecasting Gone Wrong
• The reality check that came from overestimating product demand—and underestimating risk.
29:30 | Juggling 7 Businesses
• How Michael manages chaos, team dynamics, and leadership across multiple ventures.
32:00 | A Brutal Winter in Business
• One of the toughest seasons yet—and what it revealed about resilience.
35:00 | Marketing vs. Product Quality
• The challenge of competing in a crowded liquor market where flash often beats substance.
38:00 | Why He Still Believes in Local
• Despite the setbacks, Michael shares why community-driven business still matters.
41:00 | The 5-Story Project
• A new residential build, how it came together, and why it’s more than just real estate.
45:00 | Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
• Why he recommends building cautiously—and keeping your day job early on.
50:00 | Would He Do It Again?
• Final reflections on pride, risk, and what drives him to keep building.