EPISODE · Dec 15, 2025 · 56 MIN
The Dash That Drives Him: Peter Prieto on Family, Faith & Fearless Hustle
from Getting Real with Dan DiSciullo · host Dan DiSciullo
One-Line Summary Peter Prieto shares his raw journey—from young fatherhood and bankruptcy to building NDataStor on relentless customer service, people-first hiring, and never quitting.Full Episode Summary / Show NotesPeter Prieto, Founder & CEO of NDataStor, didn’t follow a typical tech-founder path. A young father by 23, he hustled through bread delivery, warehouse management, high-stakes sales, bankruptcy in 2007, and multiple pivots to build one of California’s most respected IT service companies.Today, NDataStor stands out in the MSP space for its white-glove, human-first customer service—no scripts, no dispatchers, no offshore support. Techs answer phones directly because relationships matter more than tickets.In this heartfelt conversation, Peter opens up about:Raising three kids young and letting them fuel his driveBetting on himself with 100% commission sales (and never looking back)Surviving bankruptcy, health crises, and divorce—then starting NDataStor in 2008Why he hires for people skills over pure technical experienceThe "dash" on the tombstone: Legacy through kindness, humility, and impactEmbracing AI for marketing/sales while preserving the human touch in supportMentors, faith, and chasing the version of himself 10 years from nowTurning every setback into forward momentum ("Quitting is never an option")A powerful reminder that real success is measured in family, resilience, and how many lives you lift along the way.Connect with Peter & NDataStor: Website: ndatastor.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/peterprietoChapters 00:00 – Welcome & Intro to Peter Prieto (NDataStor Founder/CEO) 00:33 – What makes Peter smile most today: White-glove culture & happy clients 02:30 – Hiring for people skills over ego (and the elevator test) 04:53 – Proudest accomplishment: His three kids & new granddaughter 05:34 – Early hustle: Young fatherhood, bread delivery, warehouse to sales 08:57 – Jumping to 100% commission sales (with a mortgage & 3 kids) 13:49 – Betting on himself & closing the big Chevron deal 18:54 – Core values instilled in his kids: Work ethic, good decisions, treat others well 22:43 – Defining success today vs. early days (the "dash" on the tombstone) 24:14 – Starting NDataStor in 2008 after bankruptcy 31:57 – Pivoting to MSP & the 300-ticket launch disaster 35:32 – Next 6-12 months: AI in sales/marketing, automation without losing the human touch 38:04 – Embracing speed & adapting in a changing world 42:55 – Legacy: Humble, kind, big-hearted helper 43:59 – Best mentor lessons (no comfortable salespeople, future self as mentor) 46:58 – Power vs. Force & acts of kindness 49:25 – Health scare & renewed gratitude 54:02 – What "Getting Real" means to Peter 56:08 – Outro
What this episode covers
One-Line Summary Peter Prieto shares his raw journey—from young fatherhood and bankruptcy to building NDataStor on relentless customer service, people-first hiring, and never quitting.Full Episode Summary / Show NotesPeter Prieto, Founder & CEO of NDataStor, didn’t follow a typical tech-founder path. A young father by 23, he hustled through bread delivery, warehouse management, high-stakes sales, bankruptcy in 2007, and multiple pivots to build one of California’s most respected IT service companies.Today, NDataStor stands out in the MSP space for its white-glove, human-first customer service—no scripts, no dispatchers, no offshore support. Techs answer phones directly because relationships matter more than tickets.In this heartfelt conversation, Peter opens up about:Raising three kids young and letting them fuel his driveBetting on himself with 100% commission sales (and never looking back)Surviving bankruptcy, health crises, and divorce—then starting NDataStor in 2008Why he hires for people skills over pure technical experienceThe "dash" on the tombstone: Legacy through kindness, humility, and impactEmbracing AI for marketing/sales while preserving the human touch in supportMentors, faith, and chasing the version of himself 10 years from nowTurning every setback into forward momentum ("Quitting is never an option")A powerful reminder that real success is measured in family, resilience, and how many lives you lift along the way.Connect with Peter & NDataStor: Website: ndatastor.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/peterprietoChapters 00:00 – Welcome & Intro to Peter Prieto (NDataStor Founder/CEO) 00:33 – What makes Peter smile most today: White-glove culture & happy clients 02:30 – Hiring for people skills over ego (and the elevator test) 04:53 – Proudest accomplishment: His three kids & new granddaughter 05:34 – Early hustle: Young fatherhood, bread delivery, warehouse to sales 08:57 – Jumping to 100% commission sales (with a mortgage & 3 kids) 13:49 – Betting on himself & closing the big Chevron deal 18:54 – Core values instilled in his kids: Work ethic, good decisions, treat others well 22:43 – Defining success today vs. early days (the "dash" on the tombstone) 24:14 – Starting NDataStor in 2008 after bankruptcy 31:57 – Pivoting to MSP & the 300-ticket launch disaster 35:32 – Next 6-12 months: AI in sales/marketing, automation without losing the human touch 38:04 – Embracing speed & adapting in a changing world 42:55 – Legacy: Humble, kind, big-hearted helper 43:59 – Best mentor lessons (no comfortable salespeople, future self as mentor) 46:58 – Power vs. Force & acts of kindness 49:25 – Health scare & renewed gratitude 54:02 – What "Getting Real" means to Peter 56:08 – Outro
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The Dash That Drives Him: Peter Prieto on Family, Faith & Fearless Hustle
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