The Cost of Carrying It All with Matt Marciante
In this episode, Rocky sits down with entrepreneur and designer Matt Marciante for a raw conversation about ambition, pride, and the hidden costs of doing everything alone. They unpack the underdog identity, why survival mode eventually breaks down, and what it really takes to build something sustainable. This episode challenges the idea that struggle equals success and invites leaders to rethink how they win.
Episode Highlights
. Why the underdog mindset can quietly give us an excuse to lose.
. The difference between surviving and actually competing to win.
. How pride can disguise itself as loyalty, grit, or self-reliance.
. Why building with “scrappy” teams eventually raises the personal cost.
. Letting go of doing everything yourself without losing your edge.
. Learning to ask for help and trusting both yes and no as valid answers.
. Shifting from proving you can to building something that lasts.
About This Episode
In this episode, Rocky Garza sits down with entrepreneur and designer Matt Marciante for a deep, honest conversation about leadership, competition, and growth. Together, they explore what happens when survival mode stops working, why the underdog identity can quietly limit success, and how pride often keeps leaders isolated.
This conversation dives into building teams, asking for help, redefining winning, and learning how to stay in the game long enough to enjoy it. If you’re a founder, leader, or high performer wrestling with burnout, ambition, or the pressure to do it all yourself, this episode offers clarity and challenge.
Get To Know Our Guest
Matt Marciante is an entrepreneur, leather maker, and designer who builds products and brands with the same philosophy: quality first, no unnecessary noise. Through Marciante & Company and Mission Leather Co, he designs and produces handcrafted leather goods rooted in timeless design, ethical sourcing, and practical function. As the founder of Pretty Decent Marketing, he brings that same hands-on mindset to marketing—creating clear, honest systems that turn attention into sales without the fluff. His work helps brands, creators, and small businesses grow through thoughtful design, strong storytelling, and marketing that actually works.
