40 Under 40: David Till

David Till is a born entrepreneur.

Not only does he run a successful tire shop in Premier Tire, with locations in the Ponderay and Priest River areas, he also operates Blue Collar Co., Armor of God Fitness, Rush Tire Disposal and Monarch Capital.

He always loved trying new things and exploring ways to make things work, but watching his dad launch his own tire company after years with a national chain inspired him to turn those dreams into reality, Till said.

A workplace injury shifted his plans, launching a career in sales. He talked to anyone he could and took online courses and YouTube videos from sales experts to learn the industry’s sales side.

He was soon transferred to the company’s Coeur d’Alene store, where he led in both gross sales and volume. It wasn’t long before Till said he went to work for an outside sales company in Spokane, where he did seven figures in sales in a short amount of time.

"Of course, none of that money came to me, but from doing that, I realized I have some skills," he said.

After the injury and with a new baby on the way, his wife, Kantrel, told him he should pursue his dreams.

"She told me that if there's any time for you to launch your business, it's now," Till said. "You can't do it with two or three kids and a mortgage."

Till launched Premier Tire in Priest River with his brother, Brennan, and the business quickly built a reputation for great service and quality tires. An investor happened into the shop, was impressed, and offered to invest in a Ponderay location, which opened in early January.

Because the first of the year is a slow time for tires, Till decided to launch an energy drink company "for fun."

"It was just a thing because it's so hard to figure out, and whenever there's something really, really hard to figure out, I'll just keep going until I figure it out."

Till connected with a manufacturing company, curious what it would take to get product — and that, he said, was where his sales expertise came in.

Instead of a minimum order of 30,000 or 50,000, Till secured a deal for 300 cans, allowing him to build the brand and start trademarking the company. An investor later discovered the drink at a local store, tracked him down at the tire shop and, after a few conversations, bought a 30% stake in the company.

"With their help, it took the drink company to a whole new level with distribution centers," Till said. "It's just insane the way it's going."

Till credits both his wife and his parents with giving him the drive and support to pursue entrepreneurship. He saw how hard they worked and the financial difference between being an owner and a worker.

"That's the only way to really make an exorbitant amount of money, right, is through entrepreneurship," Till said. "It's the highest risk with the highest reward. Success in business isn't luck or being smarter than someone else, it's whoever can handle fear, uncertainty and pain longer. It's just doing it — taking the jump and trying."

Fear, he said, is a monster that is a "mile wide but only an inch deep."

"Once you jump in, it's not too bad, but it looks menacing from the outside," he added.

Till noted the old saying that hard work pays off — that working hard, pushing forward and refusing to take no for an answer leads to success.

He encouraged others with ideas to set aside 15 to 20 minutes each day to focus on a business plan. Soon, he said, the idea will start to come together. Then, once you have the idea and a plan — simply jump.

"Just go for it. Jump in feet first and go for it," he said.

Till also credits his injury for pushing him toward something different — a career as a professional arm wrestler, where he is quickly making a name for himself not only in the U.S. but worldwide. He recently competed aboard and is setting his sights on being in the top 10 in deadlift in the world this year.

Another venture, Monarch Capital, was launched as a way to pay forward lessons he learned from mentors. It gives other entrepreneurs the chance to grow and scale their business dreams.

In exchange for a modest stake, Till helps develop a business plan, connects entrepreneurs with legal advice and bookkeeping services, and more.

"I'll help you go from an idea to owning a company," he said, noting he offers them the chance to buy him out down the road.

The advice he gives them is the same advice he would give his younger self: persevere.

"When you make a wrong turn, maps doesn't tell you to go home," he said. "It redirects you, so make sure you never stop trying to get to your destination."