100 / 102
I guarantee
[that] if you feel
it, others will
as well and that
constitutes a
potential market.
No matter how
big or small,
that’s a market
that you can
help grow and
develop.
[ 96 ]
TOBACCO BUSINESS
[
MAY
/
JUNE
|
17 ]
Tobacco Business:
Why did you
decide to start your own business?
Rodney Jerabek:
I’ve always been an en-
trepreneur, but truth be told it was just after
my father was diagnosed with a rare form of
terminal cancer that I started Five Pawns. His
particular form of cancer was not smoking
related, but founding Five Pawns became my
outlet. It became a way to divert my feelings
of grief and fear and repurpose that energy
toward helping others. I wanted to make my
father even more proud than he already was,
and prevent others from feeling the way I did.
He was Five Pawns’ biggest fan and got to see
the success before we eventually lost a best
friend, father and mentor.
When faced with obstacles and
challenges, what motivated you to
continue to push forward?
Again, I pushed forward to make my dad
proud during his time with us. It also allowed
us to involve him by listening to his guidance
and working with one another. Since he’s
left us, the focus has shifted toward harm
reduction and it’s been extremely satisfying
to see millions of people convert[ing] to this
harm-reduction technology.
Yes, we have challenges and obstacles to-
day due to regulation, but I’m still passionate
about what this technology has the ability to
do in a post-regulation era. I’m actually for
reasonable regulation of our industry, and
Five Pawns is confident about the pathway
we’re laying out to the FDA for our PMTAs
later next month. We’re all in with this pro-
cess and remain cautiously optimistic that
we’ll continue to deliver products to our con-
sumers long into the future.
With so much competition in the
vape industry, how do you manage to
maintain market share among your
competitors?
We just put the blinders on and do what we
do best. We don’t get caught up with what
the competition is doing, and [we] focus
our efforts on producing the best product
we can with the best possible customer ser-
vice to back it up. We’ve created a lifestyle
brand and we’re grateful that others appre-
ciate our effort.
What’s your advice to those who
have a great idea for a product or
business but who have no idea how
to launch it?
Do your research. I remember when I first
had the idea of launching Five Pawns. I didn’t
even tell my wife or family what I was work-
ing on for the first six months. I needed to be-
lieve enough in myself and my idea before I
could properly sell it to others.
Branding 101 will also tell you that you
need to have a story. Hopefully you don’t
need to fabricate one and it’ll just fall into
place. Your story will follow your journey and
write itself as you go. I recognize [that] this
isn’t normal, but it can happen. Call it luck,
call it intuition, call it timing…it happens
when you follow your passion.
What’s one mistake you see many busi-
nesses and entrepreneurs making and
what advice would you give them on
how to avoid this pitfall?
You need to know your strengths and weak-
nesses. Identify what good you can bring to
the table and surround yourself with those
that can bring what you can’t. Create balance
within your organization and build a strong
team that only makes you better. Remember,
you’re only as good as those that you surround
yourself with, and I’m grateful to [both] my
immediate and extended Five Pawns family.
Many people have their keys to
success. What are some of yours?
It started with my parents, and they’ve made
me who I am. My wife and daughter have also
supported me through what’s been a very fun—
but wild—ride. It’s the people I’ve surrounded
myself with who make my brand and me what
and who we are today. They shape our future.
I have incredible partners, employees and Five
Pawns family members that make me a million
times better than who I’d be on my own.
Knowing what you know now in busi-
ness, what advice would you give to up
and coming entrepreneurs?
Find something that you’re passionate about
and don’t listen to others if they tell you that
you’re crazy. Follow your heart. I guarantee
[that] if you feel it, others will as well and that
constitutes a potential market. No matter how
big or small, that’s a market that you can help
grow and develop.
TB