Landon McKinnis: From Rejection to Shark Tank, Why He Never Quit

Landon McKinnis wanted his mom and his kids to be proud of the man he was becoming. That purpose kept him moving as he built GoNutz through rejection, grief, and the uncertainty of entrepreneurship.

In this episode of Mick Unplugged, Landon joins me to talk about the because behind his work. He reflects on growing up in Shawnee, Kansas, facing racial discrimination, and finding his own identity. He also shares how faith helped him learn patience when things weren't happening on his timeline.

We get into the business journey, too: the first shipment of inventory, a viral TikTok moment, slowing sales, and the Shark Tank email he initially thought was a joke. Landon explains how being prepared helped him respond to the opportunity, what it felt like to pitch the Sharks, and why listening to customers matters.

YOU’LL HEAR

- The family relationships behind Landon's purpose

- How childhood experiences shaped his work ethic and sense of identity

- The challenges that followed going viral

- Why business records, numbers, and preparation mattered before Shark Tank

- What customer feedback taught him about the product he was building

- How he stays focused when competitors have bigger budgets and teams

- A friendly Kansas City versus Carolina barbecue debate

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 Faith, Patience, and Being Ready

00:16 Welcome to Landon McKinnis

01:12 The Because: Family, Purpose, and Making Them Proud

03:47 The Unplugged Truth: Identity, Setbacks, and Faith

09:18 The Hot Takes: Building GoNutz and the Shark Tank Journey

33:46 The Room: The Opportunity That Changed Everything

38:31 The Unplugged 5: Barbecue, Resourcefulness, and Running Your Own Race

43:14 Friendship, GoNutz, and Your Because

Put it into practice: Choose one useful step you can take with the resources you have today. Keep your attention on the work in front of you and the people you're doing it for.

Follow Mick Unplugged for more conversations about purpose, leadership, and the because behind the work.

Connect & Discover Landon McKinnis

GoNutz / ORBÉ: https://thegonutz.com/

Founder story: https://thegonutz.com/pages/orbe-story

This conversation uses the GoNutz name. The company's current website introduces ORBÉ as its new primary brand.

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Book: How to Be a Good Leader When You've Never Had One

https://howtobeagoodleader.com/

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Content note: Discussion of grief, racial discrimination, and personal grooming.

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