The Hard Truths of Small Town Entrepreneurship – With Michael Petrovici

In this episode of Built to Last, Colby and Levi sit down with entrepreneur and self-described “chaotic builder” Mihai (Michael) Petrovici. Whose journey from a Walmart manager to a multi-business owner in Bathurst, NB is equal parts inspiring and cautionary. With 7 businesses, 50+ employees, and a distillery now under his belt, Michael opens up about what it really takes to build something from scratch in a small town.From tight payroll weeks to the pride of seeing a packed café you helped create, Michael doesn’t sugarcoat the highs or the lows. Whether you’re considering launching a product, scaling operations, or just surviving the chaos of entrepreneurship, this episode will leave you feeling less alone and more equipped for the journey!https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpetrovici/https://www.nbdistillery.ca/ https://www.aubootlegger.com/Segment Breakdown:00:00 | From Romania to New Brunswick • Michael shares how his early life and family journey brought him to small-town Canada.02:00 | Landing in Bathurst (By Accident) • A temporary relocation becomes permanent—and unexpectedly sparks entrepreneurship.05:00 |Au Bootlegger: The First Business • Opening a craft beer bar without restaurant experience, and learning everything on the fly.08:30 | Applying Walmart Systems to Small Biz • How Michael brought structure, operations, and process to his bar using corporate tools.11:00 | Starting Caffeine Café • Launching a low-risk coffee concept that filled a local gap—and quickly gained traction.14:30 | Buying a Bookkeeping Business • His entry into service-based business and how automation changed the model.17:00 | Growth vs. Sustainability • Why Michael resists the pressure to scale for the sake of it—and what he focuses on instead.20:00 | When Payroll Gets Tight • A close call with cash flow and the lessons learned about forecasting and responsibility.23:30 | Building the Distillery • The personal passion and strategic thinking behind launching NB Distillery.26:30 | Forecasting Gone Wrong • The reality check that came from overestimating product demand—and underestimating risk.29:30 | Juggling 7 Businesses • How Michael manages chaos, team dynamics, and leadership across multiple ventures.32:00 | A Brutal Winter in Business • One of the toughest seasons yet—and what it revealed about resilience.35:00 | Marketing vs. Product Quality • The challenge of competing in a crowded liquor market where flash often beats substance.38:00 | Why He Still Believes in Local • Despite the setbacks, Michael shares why community-driven business still matters.41:00 | The 5-Story Project • A new residential build, how it came together, and why it’s more than just real estate.45:00 | Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs • Why he recommends building cautiously—and keeping your day job early on.50:00 | Would He Do It Again? • Final reflections on pride, risk, and what drives him to keep building.