Advice You Can't Google: Larry Robbins on Building Shops, Careers, and Character
Mon Feb 02 2026
Launching a CNC shop young comes with no shortage of advice — but not all of it comes from experience earned the hard way.
In this episode, we bring in Larry Robbins to speak directly to the next generation of shop owners. Larry has spent decades building companies, leading teams, and navigating growth, failure, and reinvention inside manufacturing. Instead of talking tools or tactics, this conversation focuses on the fundamentals that actually last.
Larry shares lessons on planning before you leap, learning from mistakes without repeating them, and why humility, honesty, and relationships matter more than any single machine or strategy.
Along the way, we explore how younger founders can use modern tools like AI without losing the human side of business, why budgeting and organization are non-negotiable, and how building value means thinking beyond short-term wins.
This episode serves as a reset for anyone starting early — or starting over — in manufacturing. If you're thinking about ownership, leadership, or legacy, this one is worth slowing down for.
Segments (1:44) Why we're launching the Generation CNC highlighting founders under 30 (3:02) Larry's first piece of advice: Leverage older generations as resources (4:45) Why writing a real business plan matters, even if you're not borrowing money (6:03) Learning by doing, making mistakes early, and why experience compounds over time (9:00) Imposter syndrome, asking questions, and why no one should aim to be the smartest person in the room (10:23) Truth, integrity, and why lies always cost more in the long run (11:14) Mark your calendars and meet us at IMTS 2026! (12:06) How modern tools like AI can help young founders build better business plans (14:21) The power of networks and how relationships open doors (18:25) Holding yourself accountable as a business owner (20:49) Staying organized, building systems, and why chaos is optional (28:24) What's Your Method? Transitioning manual machinists to CNC (35:47) How Factur can help you build consistent sales pipelines through targeted outreach (36:49) Humility, passion, and why you shouldn't build a business around something you don't care about (39:21) Generational businesses, entrepreneurship inside family companies, and carrying the torch forward (44:15) Giving back, mentoring younger leaders, and why relationships outlast transactions (50:30) Why AI can't replace networks and never will (55:48) What's happening with workholding that you need to pay attention to (1:06:09) Why an investment in ProShop ERP is an investment in your business (1:07:45) Final reflections on leadership, legacy, and building something worth passing on Resources mentioned on this episode Mark your calendars and meet us at IMTS 2026! Check out Methods Machine Tools and connect with Jleflore@methodsmachine.com Get a free report of opportunities in your industry from Facturmfg.com/chips Why an investment in ProShop ERP is an investment in your business BOOK: Die with Zero Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube
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Launching a CNC shop young comes with no shortage of advice — but not all of it comes from experience earned the hard way. In this episode, we bring in Larry Robbins to speak directly to the next generation of shop owners. Larry has spent decades building companies, leading teams, and navigating growth, failure, and reinvention inside manufacturing. Instead of talking tools or tactics, this conversation focuses on the fundamentals that actually last. Larry shares lessons on planning before you leap, learning from mistakes without repeating them, and why humility, honesty, and relationships matter more than any single machine or strategy. Along the way, we explore how younger founders can use modern tools like AI without losing the human side of business, why budgeting and organization are non-negotiable, and how building value means thinking beyond short-term wins. This episode serves as a reset for anyone starting early — or starting over — in manufacturing. If you're thinking about ownership, leadership, or legacy, this one is worth slowing down for. Segments (1:44) Why we're launching the Generation CNC highlighting founders under 30 (3:02) Larry's first piece of advice: Leverage older generations as resources (4:45) Why writing a real business plan matters, even if you're not borrowing money (6:03) Learning by doing, making mistakes early, and why experience compounds over time (9:00) Imposter syndrome, asking questions, and why no one should aim to be the smartest person in the room (10:23) Truth, integrity, and why lies always cost more in the long run (11:14) Mark your calendars and meet us at IMTS 2026! (12:06) How modern tools like AI can help young founders build better business plans (14:21) The power of networks and how relationships open doors (18:25) Holding yourself accountable as a business owner (20:49) Staying organized, building systems, and why chaos is optional (28:24) What's Your Method? Transitioning manual machinists to CNC (35:47) How Factur can help you build consistent sales pipelines through targeted outreach (36:49) Humility, passion, and why you shouldn't build a business around something you don't care about (39:21) Generational businesses, entrepreneurship inside family companies, and carrying the torch forward (44:15) Giving back, mentoring younger leaders, and why relationships outlast transactions (50:30) Why AI can't replace networks and never will (55:48) What's happening with workholding that you need to pay attention to (1:06:09) Why an investment in ProShop ERP is an investment in your business (1:07:45) Final reflections on leadership, legacy, and building something worth passing on Resources mentioned on this episode Mark your calendars and meet us at IMTS 2026! Check out Methods Machine Tools and connect with Jleflore@methodsmachine.com Get a free report of opportunities in your industry from Facturmfg.com/chips Why an investment in ProShop ERP is an investment in your business BOOK: Die with Zero Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube