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Gary Mizell is the founder of Kore Systems, a systems integration company specializing in mission-critical infrastructure for the federal government, municipalities, pharmaceutical compounding facilities, and data centers. Over the last 18 years, he has grown the company into a multi-million-dollar operation generating approximately $6 million in annual revenue while leading a team of 15 employees. In addition to his legacy business, Gary is also a partner in a new data center venture and has worked on major international infrastructure projects involving nuclear nonproliferation with the Department of Energy.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Building a $6M infrastructure company from the ground up
• The transition from employee to entrepreneur and knowing when to take the leap
• Why relationships and integrity are the foundation of long-term business success
• The hidden cost of hustle culture on family, health, and emotional wellbeing
• Leadership lessons from scaling a company without burning out
• How emotional health directly impacts decision making and business performance
• The role of meditation, breathwork, and self-awareness in entrepreneurship
• Creating a legacy that extends beyond money and professional success

The Legacy & Wealth Podcast, hosted by Mitchell Clark and presented by The Standard, features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, and high-performing men building wealth, leadership, and legacy. Each episode explores the mindset, discipline, and strategies required to grow successful businesses while navigating responsibility, family, faith, and long-term impact.

Timestamps

00:00 The cost of hustle culture and burnout
01:07 Introduction to Gary Mizell
01:42 Building Core Systems and mission-critical infrastructure
03:02 Launching a new data center venture
03:20 Growing a $6M company over 18 years
04:22 Learning the trades and discovering entrepreneurship
07:14 Why skilled trades are making a comeback
09:23 Transitioning from employee to entrepreneur
11:17 Choosing independence over security
14:54 Working internationally on nuclear nonproliferation projects
17:53 Balancing entrepreneurship and family life
18:20 When Gary’s daughter told him, “Dad, you look dead”
20:06 Replacing yourself as the bottleneck in business
22:03 Creating meaningful memories with family
26:01 The challenges of entrepreneurship and fatherhood
30:47 Why long-term client relationships matter
36:44 Integrity, trust, and difficult business relationships
44:17 The power of referrals and strategic partnerships
46:15 Why hustle culture eventually breaks people down
49:02 Why Gary joined The Standard
53:54 How emotional health impacts business performance
59:24 Meditation, breathwork, and managing stress
01:03:23 Aligning family vision, business, and personal growth
01:07:01 “All my dreams have come true”
01:08:07 Building a retreat center focused on healing and leadership
01:10:56 Defining legacy beyond money and success

The Standard is a private, in-person membership community for six-figure men who want to grow in their wealth, health, and relationships by surrounding themselves with other high-performing men operating at their level or above. It is designed for men who have outgrown their current environment and need a structured system of proximity, personalized strategy, and accountability to continue growing across every area of life.