Founder's Story
Competitive Advantage: Rob Lombardi’s Tactical Blueprint for Decades of Business Success | S2 Ep. 173
Tue, 11 Feb 2025
In this episode of Founder's Story, Rob Lombardi shares his remarkable journey from elite athlete to successful entrepreneur. As the CEO of Lombardi Interiors, Rob explains how the discipline, mental toughness, and self-reliance he developed on the tennis court seamlessly translated into building a business that has thrived for decades. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from an individual sport to the demanding world of entrepreneurship and offers insights into how his competitive mindset helped him overcome obstacles and continuously push the limits.Key Topics DiscussedFrom Athlete to Entrepreneur:Rob’s early experiences in competitive tennis and the inherent lessons of discipline, focus, and self-coaching set the foundation for his business journey.The Mental Game:How mastering emotional control and resilience on the court prepared him for the solitude and challenges of launching and scaling a business.Building a Lasting Brand:Insights into how personalized service, quality, and a relentless pursuit of excellence helped Lombardi Interiors stand out in a competitive market.Navigating Change and Disruption:Strategies for staying ahead in an evolving industry, emphasizing the importance of continuous self-improvement and adaptability.Leadership Lessons:Rob’s reflections on what it takes to lead a company, maintain a strong company culture, and keep pushing the boundaries despite market challenges.Notable Quotes“In both tennis and business, when you face a tough challenge, it all comes down to your mindset.”“The discipline I learned on the court taught me that every loss is a lesson, and every setback is an opportunity to grow.”“Building Lombardi Interiors wasn’t just about business—it was about creating a legacy through relentless passion and perseverance.”Resources & LinksConnect with Rob Lombardi:LinkedIn Profilehttps://www.lombardiinteriors.com/Our Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://www.avocadogreenmattress.com* Check out Indeed: https://indeed.com/FOUNDERSSTORY* Check out Kinsta: https://kinsta.com* Check out Northwest Registered Agent and use my code FOUNDERS for a great deal: https://northwestregisteredagent.com* Check out Plus500: https://plus500.com* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Chapter 1: How did Rob Lombardi transition from athlete to entrepreneur?
I also personally know a lot of athletes who are retiring or they got injured and now they're out of the game and they have no idea what they're going to do with their life. But you are the CEO of Lombardi Interiors. which I can't believe has been around since 1964. Like that is insane.
Like I don't think people are thinking about, you know, hopefully they can make it to two or three years in business, but not, you know, multiple decades. Well, let's start off Rob with how was that transition when you were an athlete and then you said, okay, I want to go into business.
Chapter 2: What lessons from tennis helped Rob succeed in business?
Yeah. I mean, it was, it wasn't like a aha moment. It was, it was kind of a, you know, um, a step process. I think being an athlete, you know, gave me, I just always was competitive. So I wanted to challenge myself. You know, I wanted to always strive to be better. I had a growth mindset. You know, with tennis, it's a one-on-one sport.
And, you know, in college, it was, you know, you're out on the court, you're calling your lines, you're coaching yourself. You're keeping score. So when I got out of college and made that transition, I knew I kind of wanted to rely on myself more. I didn't want to work for a big company. Although I did start in the corporate world, I always knew I wanted to work for myself.
And just because it was more challenging, it was lonely. And the tennis world is lonely, too. You're out there by yourself. But that's kind of what I wanted. It was tough in the beginning. I think that was the biggest challenge, just being on your own. You don't have human resources. You don't have a tech department. You're doing that all yourself. And that's my personality.
I've always been like that. So for somebody making that transition, I think, You know, it's something you have to want. You have to be comfortable with being on your own, you know, challenging yourself every day, working hard, you know, grinding it out. And anybody that's been an athlete at a high level understands that part, the training every day, you know, getting up early, doing things.
that people don't see, but in the business world, it's the same. And being a CEO, being running a business, that's definitely what it takes to be successful. So I think that's, you know, that's kind of my background a little bit.
I never thought about how the, how tennis specifically translate because it's not really a team sport. It's an individual sport. That's a great point. What other things did you learn being that you are in this individual sport besides the obvious, like you had said, you know, waking up early and showing up, was there other things that you felt translated over?
Definitely. I mean, I think the mental part of the game in tennis translated well. I played soccer, too, and it was a completely different mindset. With tennis, you're out there by yourself. You have to control your emotions. You have to... you know, keep that momentum, that positive momentum in a match. And that translates into the business world.
You, you know, you, you lose a project or you maybe lose a client and you know, you, you have to just let it go and kind of move on. Otherwise you're going to, you're going to fail. So, I mean, it definitely, that tennis part it's, it's kind of like a, you know, think of it as like a chess match, but you're also, it's a, there's a physical aspect of it. The strategy,
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Chapter 3: How does mental toughness play a role in entrepreneurship?
in tennis translates well into business. All my kids played, and I think it's an advantage for a young person to take that, at least have experience in that realm, in that sport.
Let's dive into the mental game. I have always been one to say, yes, anyone can start a business, right? You can create an LLC. It's really easy to do. But it doesn't mean you can be successful and continue because the mental game is very, very hard.
I think out of the hundreds of people we've interviewed, that is the thing that always comes up is do you have the mental fortitude to have what it takes? How did you do that? Maybe when, you know, while you were playing tennis or what did you learn that you were able to really control your emotions and your mind and not just want to give up?
Definitely. I mean, that was the biggest challenge for me. You know, I'm half Italian, so my emotions run a little hot sometimes. So, you know, I remember in high school, sitting in study hall, reading Jim Lehrer's mental, the book on mental toughness, just because it's like, I know this is my weak point.
I was always a pretty good athlete, but I never had, you know, that control, um, emotional control when you're in the heat of, you know, heat of a battle on the court, um, you can lose it very quickly. And you've seen it in professional tennis, that momentum can change in a, in a minute. And then all of a sudden you're, you know, you're losing a match, but, um,
For me, it was definitely the biggest aspect. I played with world-class players, and I think that when I started training with them, I realized I wasn't working hard enough. I wasn't putting in the time. I just... You know, I was at a good level, but I wasn't nearly the level they were at.
So, I mean, that was eye opening to playing, you know, playing at a high level, realizing the dedication and the work ethic that they put in. It changed me as a person. And, you know, that translates into how I ran a business, too. I definitely carried that over and, you know, realized that.
If I get upset or if I get angry, you know, you're not going to make the best decision for your employees and for your company. So it definitely correlates. That's for sure.
So you've been in business for multiple decades. What has been for you maybe a specific thing that you've done in order to continue? Because I think we know competition changes, technology changes, the ability to market and sell changes, people changes. So many things happen, I'm sure, over the last few decades. So what's been something for you that's been really consistent?
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Chapter 4: What strategies has Lombardi Interiors used to stay competitive over decades?
I think a lot of people are afraid of disruption. whether that be technology or maybe a competitor who can get cheaper products or, you know, labor in being outsourced to different parts of the world. There's a lot of reasons I think that people are nervous right now.
And I think specifically when it comes to AI and technology, which might not necessarily impact you so much, but over the years, how do you look at disruption and staying ahead of the curve?
Yeah, I mean, it all comes down to, you know, does that customer want your service? Does that customer want your product? Are you providing a service to them? And like I said, I try to simplify things and really...
I can't necessarily be the cheapest guy in town, but I know I can out-service a lot of my competition, make it personal, make it the best quality that I can give and really offer solutions to their problems, think strategically, put myself in their shoes. And I don't think as maybe you look at some brands and you have luxury brands and
you know, maybe it's a, maybe it's a luxury purse or a luxury car and what makes them, what makes them different? You know, it's a car, you know, but what makes that car different? It's a, it's a, it's a brand of clothing. Why are you going to pay more for that brand of clothing, you know, as opposed to the other one? And, and there's, I think a branding side of it.
People want to associate with quality. They want to associate with, with service. I mean, that's a, You mentioned the technology world now. I mean, how many times have you made a phone call and you can't even talk to somebody on the other line? It's very frustrating. So there is a niche there. And that's my job to figure out what that niche is.
And the difference of nowadays, it changes so quickly. You have to really be on top of it and really... understand the market and understand what your business is. And it changes so fast. So, I mean, for me, it's, you know, it's, it's draining, but I think you, you kind of become accustomed to waking up in the morning and saying, what's, what's this day going to bring?
And I'm, you know, I'm, I'm ready for it.
Yeah. It sounds like what I'm gathering here is Lombardi interiors really continues to create that personalized touch and, and individual to the client, to the customer, which I love that. I think you're right. I think there's so many companies that are just... I love learning a few words before traveling.
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