In this concise 7‑minute interview, Professor Pete Alexander talks with Danny Lehr, co‑founder and CEO of Caffeine & Kilos, a lifestyle brand that sells fitness‑focused apparel and coffee. Lehr explains why he values the health and fitness industry, emphasizing the impact on people’s quality of life. He shares his core business philosophy: always do the right thing, never compromise your values, and confront hard decisions and conversations head‑on. He recommends that leaders prioritize integrity over short‑term convenience. Lehr also acknowledges mentor Noah Kagan of Sumo Group as a valuable influence and suggests him as a future podcast guest. He recounts his first job working in his family’s heating, air‑conditioning, and rental business, highlighting early lessons about entrepreneurship and self‑reliance. The episode ends with contact information – the company website caffeineandkilos.com and Lehr’s Instagram handle @danny_lehr.
Chapters
This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast, where business leaders share their insights. It is 6 questions in 7 minutes because successful business leaders are busy and rarely have more time to spare. So let's get to it. Question number 1: In a few sentences, please tell me who you are and what you do.
So my name is Danny Lear. I am a co-founder and the CEO of Caffeine and Kilos. And Caffeine and Kilos is a lifestyle brand in the fitness industry. We sell apparel and coffee to promote a healthy, active lifestyle.
Danny, it's great to have you on the show. Question number 2, what's the best thing about working in your industry?
The great thing about being in the health and fitness industry is it is really important, and I know that we are really helping people. We're helping people live a healthier, happier life and just improving that quality of life. We believe there's no substitute for being healthy. And so promoting that just feels great.
Oh, I love it. I can hear the passion in you. Question number 3. I have a book, a fictitious book with answers for business. What chapter would you think most companies should read?
It's never wrong to do the right thing. I, I, hate it when people say, "That's just business," in any situation. I like to go to sleep at night knowing that I did the right thing and my conscience is clear. I don't need to tell myself some story in order to sleep.
I love it. Great way to word it. Question number 4: Other than the generic work harder, have a great attitude, and care for customers, what advice or insight would you like to give to other business leaders?
Uh, 2 things. One is never compromise your values. It just goes back to that last question as well. I hear too often people you know, try to justify a decision they make. You know, if you feel like you have to justify a decision, then maybe it's not the right one to make. And that doesn't mean it's always easy. Sometimes, sometimes there's a decision and, you know, this— that really seems like this would be the easier path, but in the end, the easier path is always the right one, because then you don't have to go back and double back and justify the different things you've said or done or, or the ways you've acted. And so I think that's the biggest thing is Kinda know what your values are, kinda know what you stand for, and then make your decisions based on that. And the other little piece of that is don't go away from the hard decisions and the hard conversations. Every time I've been dreading a conversation, man, I do not wanna call this guy, when I do and I actually hop on the call, 9 out of 10 times, actually every time except for once, it actually goes way better than you expected. You know, in that one time where it was not a pleasant conversation, at the end of the day, I've got— that's got nothing to do with me, right? You call, you have the hard conversation, make the hard decision, and you always feel better afterwards.
I think that's so insightful because I, as you're describing that, I think about the other hard conversations that I've had as well. And, you know, dreading that conversation, that negative baggage that the other person doesn't have, that we've just built. You know, it's, it's great that you, that you suggest that because it is, it's very, very insightful. Thank you. Question number 5: What other business leader like yourself would you like to acknowledge and invite to be on my podcast?
There's one, one gentleman, Noah Kagan. He is in charge of Sumo Group. They do some different online marketing things. They make tools for businesses. For marketing. He has been a great mentor of mine and a good friend as well. He'd be fantastic.
Perfect, I'll reach out to him. Thank you for that referral. Question number 6, our final question: please tell me about your first job.
My parents owned and operated a heating and air conditioning business when I was a kid, and my grand— my grandfather started it, um, and then my parents were running it. And my, my grandfather also had a bunch of rentals around town, so growing up, I mean, I was I was, you know, 9 or 10 years old and I was at the family business kind of doing some stuff over the summer, or my grandfather would be remodeling a house that he bought and I'd be over there doing that type of thing. So, kind of, I loved getting in there and kind of doing that grunt work. At the time, it's fun, you know, when you're 10, it's fun building walls and that type of thing. So, that was actually, I learned a lot about entrepreneurship and just being around a business that's being run and kind of the difficulties and also benefits from that. And biggest lesson from there is kind of learn that you don't have to just get a job and work for someone else. You know, you can run your own business and make your own money. The idea of entrepreneurship was never foreign to me. It never seemed like this crazy thing that people do because I knew people that did it.
What a great story. I love it. Thank you for sharing that, Danny. Thank you so much for being on the show. How can people find you?
The best way is to go to caffeineandkilos.com. That's how you can find out about the company. And myself on Instagram, it's @danny_lehr. That's L-E-H-R.
Perfect. This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast. For more insights and ideas, please go to LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, or iTunes and search for the Winning at Business and Life podcast. Thank you for listening.
