Tired of Corporate? Here's What Happened When He Left

What does it take to go from corporate stability to building something entirely new? In this Season 3 episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez sits down with entrepreneur and inventor Todd Hanson, founder of Compass Carts, to explore innovation, perseverance, and purpose-driven leadership.

Todd shares how a hunting trip sparked the idea that became a patented product, why honest feedback matters, and how community helps you stay grounded while you grow. If you’ve been sitting on an idea or navigating a career pivot, this episode will encourage you to take the next step.

Subscribe, share this episode, and remember: leadership doesn’t have to be lonely.

Timestamps / Chapters

00:01:55 Welcome + episode theme

00:02:36 Corporate-to-entrepreneur journey

00:05:09 Meet Todd Hanson + Compass Carts

00:05:41 The moment that sparked the invention

00:06:32 19 prototypes + product launch

00:11:41 Why community + feedback matters

00:14:22 Start before you know everything

00:15:10 Move with imperfect action

00:16:13 SWOT analysis + adapting to uncertainty

00:17:48 Improvise, adapt, overcome

00:18:50 Trade shows + evolving customer needs

00:22:20 Closing + where to follow

Key Themes + Takeaways

• Innovation begins when you refuse to accept the status quo
• You don’t have to know everything to start
• Community creates space for honest feedback and growth
• Persistence beats perfection: 19 prototypes
• Adaptability matters when external changes show up

Guest Credentials

Todd Hanson is an entrepreneur, inventor, and founder of Compass Carts (Rochester, Minnesota). He spent over 21 years in business development at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage before launching his product in November 2023.

Connect with Todd Hanson and Compass Carts.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddhanson1

Compass Carts Official Site :https://compasscarts.com/

Start your own podcast: The Entrepreneur’s Podcast Blueprint: https://bit.ly/46gso9B

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