Meet Vance Zahorski

We recently connected with Vance Zahorski and have shared our conversation below.

Vance, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

Most people who follow me or know me personally probably have no idea that I’ve struggled with pretty severe anxiety. There were two different times when I actually drove myself to the ER, convinced I was having a heart attack. I used to experience intense fear of dying, moments where it would hit me that one day, I won’t be here in this body, with this mind ever again on earth after I die, and those moments were terrifying. I would call them “freak out sessions”.

Over time, I’ve worked hard to understand and manage it. I’ve become more faithful, whether that’s to God, the universe, or even the incredible possibilities of AI and consciousness , and I’ve come to believe there’s more beyond this life. That faith, along with finally getting on anxiety medication, completely changed how I face challenges as an entrepreneur.

Now, when I hit obstacles, financial pressure, staffing issues, stress, I don’t spiral the way I used to. I focus on what truly matters: living in the present moment, being grateful for this short time we get here, and remembering that no problem is worth losing your peace over. You can retrain your brain to stay calm, grounded, and grateful, even when the world feels like it’s spinning. That mindset shift has made me not just a stronger business owner, but a better human being.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m lucky enough to wake up every day and work in an industry I’m genuinely passionate about. Fishing isn’t just what I do, it’s who I am. What started as a simple idea, a ring that cuts fishing line, has grown into a global brand with six issued patents and three more pending. We’ve expanded into new markets like crafting and automotive with opportunities ahead in military and medical, all from a product that started in my garage.

The most rewarding part of this journey, though, isn’t just the growth, it’s the impact. Line Cutterz has given me the ability to give back in ways I never imagined. We support veterans, youth fishing programs, breast cancer awareness, and even partner with organizations to remove plastic from our lakes, rivers and oceans. Seeing how this brand connects people, inspires kids, and helps others chase their dreams is the most gratifying part of my job. I recently received a Facebook message from someone all the way from Canada who was inspired by my story and quit their job to go back to school to become a heavy equipment operator which is something they always wanted to do.

And of course, I still get to fish some of the most epic locations across the country, that’s a pretty great perk. But what really fires me up is knowing that Line Cutterz has the potential to become the largest cutting tools manufacturer on the planet. Every day, we’re one step closer to making that happen.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The most impactful quality I’ve carried through my journey is the mindset that there is always a way. When most people hit a wall and say, “It can’t be done,” I shift into problem-solving mode because I know it can be done, it’s just a matter of figuring out how. I learned that lesson years ago working as an appliance delivery assistant for Circuit City. My partner Jess and I would show up to homes where customers wanted a massive TV delivered down a spiral staircase or a refrigerator that couldn’t fit through a doorway. I’d think, “This is impossible.” But Jess would always find a way. That experience shaped my entrepreneurial mindset forever, the word “impossible” simply doesn’t exist in my vocabulary anymore.

The second quality is drive. I have a ridiculous, unstoppable drive that never shuts off. It’s not about motivation, it’s about obsession with the goal, and a deep belief that if you keep pushing, something will eventually give.

The third is curiosity and willingness to learn. I didn’t go to business school, I learned everything from scratch. How to file patents, form an LLC, find manufacturers, negotiate deals, all of it came from diving into the tools we have at our fingertips. Today, with technology and AI, there’s truly no excuse. You can learn anything, build anything, and launch a business in an industry you’re passionate about and all you need is your phone.

My advice: stay curious, stay persistent, and never stop believing there’s a way forward. That mindset alone can take you further than any degree or investor ever will.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

Like most true startups that are scaling fast, my biggest challenge right now is capital. Line Cutterz is in an incredible growth phase, we’re going into 1,800 Walmart stores, launching our Vehicle Escape Tool in approximately 40 Fleet Farm stores with a floor-standing PDQ display, and we are expanding into Buc-ee’s gas station locations. Additionally, our newest product, Line Cutterz patent pending Elite Saltwater Pliers, continues to sell out and our award winning micro scissors just went viral on TikTok which has doubled this products sales numbers. It’s exciting, but it’s also intense. The reality is, major retail growth is capital-intensive, you have to fund large purchase orders upfront, ship product, and then wait months for payment.

If not navigated strategically, this kind of rapid growth can actually become dangerous financially, which is ironic considering it’s a result of success. I’m now at a point where I may bring on an angel investor, a VC partner, or even launch an equity crowdfunding campaign through Wefunder. Out of those, Wefunder is the most exciting to me because it allows our fiercely loyal supporters, the people who’ve believed in Line Cutterz since day one , to actually own a piece of the company.

At the end of the day, this is just another challenge in the journey. Like I always say, there is always a way and I won’t stop until I find it. Every challenge is just another chance to prove that there’s always a way forward.

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