We were lucky to catch up with Joshua Hooks recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Joshua, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My work ethic comes from being raised by an entrepreneur father who lived and breathed hard work. He was the kind of person who led by example, never asking anyone to do something he wasn’t willing to do himself. From a young age, I watched him build, hustle, and persevere through both success and struggle. That consistency and grit became part of who I am.
He helped me start my first business at just 11 years old, selling snacks to local manufacturing employees around our town. I didn’t realize it at the time, but he was teaching me the fundamentals of entrepreneurship; how to take initiative, build relationships, and create value. That experience taught me that nothing worthwhile comes easy, and that true success is built on showing up every single day with discipline, creativity, and a willingness to outwork everyone else in the room.
To this day, that same mindset drives how I approach business, leadership, and life.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My journey has always been rooted in entrepreneurship and the belief that hard work, creativity, and purpose can build something truly meaningful. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to start and grow several successful ventures across very different industries, each one reflecting a mix of innovation, community, and passion.
I was the Founding CEO of Denago Electric Vehicles, where I helped bring a new generation of low-speed electric vehicles to market and built a national dealer network from the ground up. I’m also the Co-Founder of Station House BBQ, a Tampa-based barbeque restaurant that celebrates America’s first responders while delivering incredible food and hometown hospitality. Another venture close to my heart is Sunburn Drink, a functional beverage brand I co-founded that’s redefining the sun-care category.
Most recently, I launched HooksHustle, a business consulting firm where I work hand-in-hand with founders and business owners to help them scale their companies. Through HooksHustle, I leverage my network, operational experience, and proven systems to guide businesses through everything from brand development to expansion and strategic partnerships.
Beyond business, I’m deeply committed to giving back. I currently sit on the boards of three nonprofits; FASFA United, A Servant’s Way, and iReset, each focused on improving lives through education, service, and personal transformation.
What excites me most today is seeing how all these paths intersect. Whether I’m helping a startup find its identity, advising a manufacturer entering the U.S. market, or mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs, my focus remains the same: to build, inspire, and create lasting impact.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three qualities or skills that have shaped my journey most are resilience, marketing, and sales.
Resilience is the foundation, because entrepreneurship will test you in ways you can’t imagine. There will be failures, detours, and long nights, but the ones who win are the ones who get back up every single time.
Marketing has been my creative outlet and my edge. It’s about telling a story that makes people feel something. If you’re just starting out, focus on understanding your audience, not just what they buy, but why they buy.
And sales is the lifeblood of every business. It’s not about pressure; it’s about connection. Learn to listen, solve problems, and build trust.
For anyone new to the entrepreneurial journey: be patient, stay curious, and don’t wait for the perfect moment, it doesn’t exist. Start where you are, with what you have, and keep moving forward.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
A book that has had a lasting impact on me is “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. It’s one of those classics that never stops being relevant, no matter how much the world changes. What stood out to me most was Hill’s focus on mindset, the idea that our thoughts, when backed by faith and persistence, become the blueprint for our reality.
One of the biggest takeaways for me was the power of definiteness of purpose; knowing exactly what you want and refusing to settle until you achieve it. Hill also emphasized the mastermind principle, which is the idea that surrounding yourself with like-minded, driven people multiplies your potential. I’ve seen that play out time and time again in business, great things rarely happen alone.
Finally, the book reinforced the value of persistence. Success rarely happens overnight; it’s built through consistency and a refusal to quit when things get uncomfortable. That lesson has guided me through every venture I’ve built and every challenge I’ve faced.
For anyone on their own journey, Think and Grow Rich is more than a book, it’s a roadmap for developing the mindset that makes success possible. I personally have read the book well over 10 times and each time I get a new nugget out of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.HooksHustle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hookshustle/?igsh=dDE5eGY3bGZha2Ex&utm_source=qr#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hookshustle?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=MqU0X0yxdNw554vC#
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hookshustle/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: https://x.com/hookshustle?s=21
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hookshustle
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