Meet Joshua Munn | Business Owner & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joshua Munn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joshua, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After my release from prison in Florida in March 2015 I quickly realized that the best way for me to get the best results for myself and any future family that I may have was to become my own boss. It definitely took me a while to get to that point, and I didn’t actively work towards that milestone until somewhere in 2019. It took me almost 5 years to become an entrepreneur, but I’m proud to say that the only person who has paid me a paycheck since April of 2020 has been myself. The only person to decide when and how long I work has been me. And the only person to approve my vacation days is also me.

Don’t get me wrong; being an entrepreneur hasn’t been easy in the least. You go from working 40 hours a week to working 70-80 hours a week… But the biggest difference is that all of that work you’re doing is contributing to YOUR dreams and goals instead of someone else’s.

In the early days of my business there were 100-hour weeks, but that was to get us established within the fledgling cannabis industry. An industry that is still illegal in some states and is still very guarded and untrusting of newcomers. Now we get plenty of word-of-mouth business and still only focus on the business within the State of Oregon.

I spent years in prison learning trades in telecommunications, fiber optics-based cabling systems, copper-based cabling systems, brick & block masonry and environmental services. However, due to the fact that most businesses that offer these services also have contracts with Law Enforcement and other Government Agencies that require all employees to pass a Class 3 background check I was unable to secure employment in industries where I had hands-on training and experience. That is what gave me a clear direction to work towards being a business owner.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets our business apart from others is experience and integrity. We deliver on our promises every single time, and we do it because through our many experiences in the various sides of business and cannabis we are able to consistently deliver solid consultations.

It’s definitely not been easy. As a business we have always operated on cash flow alone, with no outside financial influence. This is something we are very proud of. To get through the hardest times we were simply disciplined and resourceful. Sure, there have been days and weeks where we just wanted to throw in the towel and give up, but we had the discipline to keep pushing through the pain and discomfort. We have been able to create business at times when we needed it the most to keep operating by tapping into our network of cannabis businesses and entrepreneurs.

The most important lesson that has been reinforced repeatedly along the way has been that “your network is your net worth”.

The best thing that people can know about WTG Advisors and the WeedTestGuy Brand is that we operate with the utmost integrity while constantly striving for progress and innovation. The story of how we got here (my story) is the story of an underdog, who with a second chance, was able to turn lemons into lemonade.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We love the outdoors, so any visitors have to see the Oregon Coast and the Columbia River Gorge. You can’t go wrong with mountains and waterfalls along the massive Columbia River. In the Gorge we would have to stop in Hood river and grab a ham & brie panini from Boda’s Kitchen. On the way to the coast, though, we would have to stop at Pirate’s Cove in Girabaldi. Their stuffed Maine Lobster and filet mignon is truly next level!

In the City of Portland itself, Cheryl’s on 12th has the best brunch menu (reservations recommended). For a nice dinner I would reserve a table in the Cigar Room at El Gaucho. Honestly, though, Portland’s food truck scene is pretty major. I would stay away from any Thai Food or sushi food trucks, though.

Any time I have a friend visiting I try to take them to a cannabis farm. After all, cannabis is my business! It’s usually the highlight of their visit…

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people and books deserve a bit of credit for my successes! Long ago I learned that you can travel fast by yourself, but you can travel FAR with the right people.

Most of my past success is attributed to those closest to me; my support team who believed in me. From my grandparents who raised me to my wife, Kara; they’ve had my back. It’s hard to succeed when people around you don’t believe in your chances of success.

The Florida Department of Corrections also helped a lot with my success by giving me a motivation to succeed like no other. 10 years of that experience should keep anyone on the straight-and-narrow.

Books on business and strategy also helped get me to where I am. From Sun Tzu to Robert Greene I’ve found guidance in many many books.

And most recently my successes as a husband and father are probably mostly attributed to my having become a Freemason. Joining the fraternity has truly helped me to reflect upon my actions and my life and have thus helped make me a better man.

Website: wtgadvisors.com

Instagram: @wtgadvisors