Why You Need to Put Gas on Your Strengths with Curtis Matsko

Curtis Matsko turned a pink diary and a garage startup into a $180 million leather-goods empire - then doubled it year after year by unleashing what he calls “founder magic.” He shares how leaning into your strengths and embracing the unknown can turn every setback into a launchpad for growth.

Curtis Matsko is the CEO and co-founder of Portland Leather Goods, one of North America’s fastest-growing DTC and retail brands. A self-described “over-educated jerk” who never held a real job beyond three days, he’s built his business on pattern recognition, calculated risks, and unapologetic authenticity.

Mariana Patiño, PA/EA at Portland Leather Goods, jumps in to share what it’s like being Curtis’ right hand - juggling the logistics, capturing his lightning-fast ideas, and turning his wild energy into every project’s secret sauce.

We talk about:
 ◽️ Why “10× is easier than 2×”—and how big-vision thinking sidesteps incremental bottlenecks.
 ◽️ How to pour gas on your strengths instead of wasting time fixing weaknesses.
 ◽️ The profit math behind scaling both direct-to-consumer and a 30-store footprint.
 ◽️ Why the clearest path isn’t yours - and how to find magic in uncharted territory.
 ◽️ How founder-led storytelling becomes your ultimate competitive advantage.
 ◽️ The secret role of Mariana, his “energy multiplier,” in rapid iteration and team chemistry.

Whether you’re launching your first venture or leading a mature organization, you’ll walk away with a new playbook for bold growth, real-talk storytelling, and the magic that happens when you refuel your superpowers.

Chapters

00:00 – Focus on Your Strengths (Intro Teaser)
00:21 – Podcast Intro & What to Expect  
00:35 – Meet Curtis Matsko, CEO of Portland Leather Goods  
01:39 – From Garage Origins to a $180M Business  
03:22 – The Three-Day Box Boy Job & Pivot to Lifeguarding  
07:04 – Authenticity in Founder-Led Storytelling  
10:15 – The Disruptive Influence Backstory  
13:15 – Balancing “Rush” vs. “Long-Haul” Vision  
16:49 – Pattern Recognition & On-the-Fly Problem Solving  
20:00 – Why 10× Is Easier Than 2× (Mindset Shift)  
23:49 – Scaling Online & Retail: Profit Math Revealed  
26:24 – Crafting Compelling Presentations (55-Minute Talks)  
31:13 – Calculated Risk: Worst-Case Scenarios & Learning Fast  
37:48 – Double Down on Strengths & Team Synergy  
40:54 – Introducing Mariana Patiño!
44:37 – Surprises, Gratitude & Final Takeaways  

Connect with Jeff Abracen on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffabracen/]

If you are or know a disruptive influencer who would make a great guest, we'd love to hear from you. 

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Cover art by Daniel Devoy
Music by Stephen Voyce

©2024 The Disruptive Influence Podcast - Jeff Abracen