Grit, Failure, and Knowing When to Walk Away | The Struggle Is Real with Per Welinder

Per Welinder recounts his early struggle arriving in the U.S. with no money, skating in the morning and cleaning dryers to survive. Decades later, he shares how he built and held onto a licensing-based business model for too long, despite signs it was failing. He reflects on the stress of leadership, the difficulty of layoffs, and how different regions handle labor and risk. A brutally honest look at the emotional and strategic costs of running a business.

Key Topics

[00:00] First struggle: arriving in the U.S. broke in 1980

[02:00] Surviving off lint-cleaning jobs and 26¢ donuts

[04:00] Second struggle: holding onto a broken licensing model too long

[06:00] Knowing when to walk away from a business

[07:00] The stress founders face and who should (or shouldn't) build companies

[10:00] Emotional toll of layoffs and learning from loss

[12:00] Navigating lawsuits, leases, and tough legal realities

[14:00] Comparing U.S. vs. European labor laws and business flexibility

Quotes

• “I was too pigheaded to walk away when the writing was on the wall.”
• “Starting a business is one thing. Staying in the game? That’s something else entirely.”
• “It’s not just grit—it’s how much cortisol you can take before you break.”
• “If you’re launching a brand, you’re basically re-launching it every single day.”
• “The U.S. gives you flexibility in business. In Europe, it’s like steering a Titanic.”