Some businesses are hard.
Some industries are hard.
Then there is trucking in the oil field.
When Chris sat down with Patty Rodriguez, CEO of GreyHawk Oilfield Trucking, the conversation quickly moved beyond trucks and logistics. This became a story about grit, identity, and learning to trust yourself when life forces you into situations you never planned for.
Patty’s journey proves something many entrepreneurs eventually discover. Growth rarely arrives neatly packaged. Sometimes it shows up disguised as chaos.
Learning Entrepreneurship Before Realizing It
Long before GreyHawk existed, Patty had front-row seats to entrepreneurship through her grandparents.
Her grandmother owned a restaurant. Her grandfather ran a tire business. What stood out was not the businesses themselves. It was the freedom and work ethic she saw behind them.
Her grandfather constantly reminded her:
“If you want to learn something, you need to use your hands.”
That lesson followed her into adulthood.
Years later, when she found herself stepping deeper into trucking operations, despite knowing very little about engines or equipment, she leaned on that mindset.
She got into the trucks.
She went to job sites.
She asked questions.
She learned by doing.
Sometimes experience is the only teacher.
When Everything Changed at Once
GreyHawk began in 2014 after Patty and her husband decided to launch a trucking company.
At first, she was hesitant.
She already had a successful career in lending and financial services. Entrepreneurship felt risky, and leaving security behind was uncomfortable.
Then the pandemic hit.
Then life changed again.
After divorce entered the picture, Patty suddenly found herself navigating not only personal change but also learning how to lead the business independently.
That meant learning an entirely different world.
She bought field clothes, boots, and started riding with drivers daily.
If trucks were heading out, she was going too.
She explained that she had to learn the business from the ground level because no one else could do it for her.
The process was painful.
There were financial losses.
Truck accidents.
Bad hires.
Moments where quitting felt easier.
But looking back, she sees it differently now.
She explained that every mistake taught her something she needed.
The hard seasons were preparing her.
The Fear That Eventually Disappears
One of the most powerful moments came when Patty talked about fear.
Early on, fear controlled many decisions.
Fear of failing.
Fear of losing.
Fear of making mistakes.
Today, she sees things differently.
Business ownership changed her relationship with uncertainty.
She shared that even though she would never want to relive those seasons, she needed them.
Through every challenge she learned:
- How to identify red flags in people
- How to trust her instincts
- How to adapt quickly
- How to recover after setbacks
Most importantly, she learned something unexpected.
She has permission to disappoint herself sometimes.
That realization creates freedom.
Building Something Bigger Than Yourself
Today, GreyHawk operates thirteen trucks and supports eighteen families.
For Patty, that may be one of the greatest rewards of entrepreneurship.
Success stopped being only about revenue.
It became about impact.
She talked about meeting incredible people, creating relationships, and putting herself into rooms with leaders and business owners that eventually benefited her team.
She said something especially meaningful when talking about her children.
She does not expect them to eventually take over the company.
Instead, she wants them to become who they are meant to become.
That mindset reflects maturity many entrepreneurs eventually develop.
Building something meaningful does not mean controlling someone else’s future.
The Hidden Skill Every Entrepreneur Needs
When Chris asked what advice she would give a younger entrepreneur, Patty answered quickly:
Self-discipline.
Without it, she believes entrepreneurship becomes nearly impossible.
No one is setting your schedule.
No one is watching your work.
No one is holding you accountable except yourself.
She explained that structure became a necessity early in life through career responsibilities, raising children, and eventually balancing multiple businesses at once.
Discipline was never glamorous.
It was survival.
Stepping Away So You Can Keep Moving Forward
Running a business creates pressure most people never see.
Payroll.
Cash flow.
Employees.
Customers.
Family responsibilities.
The weight can become overwhelming.
Patty shared that when stress becomes too much, she intentionally disconnects.
She likes quiet.
Nature.
Time alone.
She joked that her friends call her a turtle because she retreats into her shell whenever life gets heavy.
But for her, stepping away is not avoidance.
It is restoration.
Sometimes the best way to move forward is to become still for a moment.
Closing Reflection
Entrepreneurship has a way of exposing everything.
It reveals fears, insecurities, strengths, and capabilities we never knew existed.
Patty’s story is not about perfect strategy or overnight success.
It is about refusing to stop.
There were moments when people told her she would lose everything.
Moments where selling felt easier.
Moments where walking away probably looked reasonable.
Instead, she kept moving.
And sometimes that is the difference.
Not perfection.
Not certainty.
Just the decision to keep going.
Thank you for joining us for this episode of The Exceptional Business Podcast. Stay tuned for more conversations that inspire connection and growth.
AND MORE TOPICS COVERED IN THE FULL INTERVIEW!!! You can check that out and subscribe to YouTube.
If you want to know more about Patty Rodriguez, you may reach out to her at:
- Website: https://greyhawkot.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patty-rodriguez-2906b67a/
Connect with Chris Seegers:
- Website: https://exceptionalcos.com/
- Email: Ch***@************OS.com
Other Resources:
- Books: Selling Main Street by Chris Seegers
