Episode 005: Why Most Machine Shops Stay Stuck (And How to Break Through) | Paul Van Metre

Most machine shops don’t fail because of a lack of work. They fail because of leadership. In this episode of the Threaded Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Paul Van Metre—former machine shop owner, co-founder of ProShop ERP, and a leading voice in the industry through MakingChips. Paul has lived the full journey—from building and exiting a shop to helping hundreds of others bring structure, clarity, and discipline to their operations. But this conversation goes deeper than systems and strategy. We break down the identity shifts required to grow as a leader, why so many shops get stuck between $500K and $2M, and how things like culture, gratitude, and mentorship directly impact performance inside a business. If you're a shop owner, leader, or someone on the floor who knows you're capable of more—this episode will challenge how you think about growth. ---------------------------------------- 🔑 WHAT WE COVER: * The identity shift from machinist to owner * Why most shops stay stuck in the $500K–$2M range * The role of people, systems, and technology in scaling * How gratitude shapes culture and performance * Why isolation is one of the biggest threats to shop owners * What separates shops that grow from those that stall ---------------------------------------- 🔗 CONNECT WITH PAUL VAN METRE * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulvanmetre/ * Website / ProShop ERP: https://proshoperp.com/ * MakingChips: https://makingchips.com/ ---------------------------------------- 🔗 CONNECT WITH TY HAGUEWOOD / THREADED LEADERSHIP * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ty-haguewood-41a168240/ * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThreadedLeadership * Website: https://www.threadedleadership.com/ ---------------------------------------- 🚀 WORK WITH ME If you're serious about scaling your shop and becoming the leader your business actually needs— join the Threaded Community: https://www.skool.com/threaded-leadership-4135/about