The Leader Mentality
How A Myrtle Beach Coffee Truck Built Momentum
A lot of people say they want to “start a business someday” until they realize the hardest part is the quiet beginning, when the product is ready but the calendar is empty. We talk with Carlee Martin, founder of Kei Coffee Company in Myrtle Beach, about what it really takes to get traction in year one and why momentum usually comes from doing the uncomfortable basics over and over. If you’re thinking about entrepreneurship, a coffee truck is the perfect case study because every win and mistake shows up immediately in sales, bookings, and repeat customers. We get into how Carlee fills her schedule with farmers’ markets, school pop-ups, and festivals, and how social media marketing actually works when it’s done with personality instead of hype. She shares the behind-the-scenes reality of posting consistently, riding local word of mouth, and even showing up in person to ask for a spot when there’s no obvious application. We also talk differentiation: why a unique Kei truck brand and a “fun, real, human” vibe can be a stronger marketing asset than another polished ad. Then we go deep on the unglamorous stuff that keeps a small business alive: using scalable systems like Square POS, setting minimums for events so you don’t lose money, and pricing with a spreadsheet instead of feelings. Carlee breaks down why a $7 specialty latte isn’t just a number, it’s cost of goods, tax, fuel, insurance, time, and the difference between surviving and burning out. We wrap with the truth every owner learns fast: you don’t trade one boss for none, you trade one boss for hundreds, and you have to protect your personal life if you want the business to last. Subscribe for more real-world leadership and entrepreneurship conversations, share this with someone building their first business, and leave a review so more people can find the show.
