Sled dog musher. Podcaster. Mental fitness coach. His lessons hit different.

Hey friends, August 1st? How is that even possible?

Oh, but it is.

And that means just four months left of this year. Gulp.

Like me, you probably made some big moves this year, set some big goals.

How’s that going?

I know I’ve got a lonnnnnng way to go before the new year rolls around again.

That’s one reason I joined a business incubator that’s helping me with everything from managing my time to practicing pitching my offer (yay, roleplay!).

We meet every Tuesday at 3 pm Eastern.

Why am I telling you about it?

Because I’ve got some free passes I can give out. You’d get 4 visits to see if it’s for you. In those four weeks, it wouldn’t even be a surprise if you met a collab partner, solved one of those “how the heck am I going to _____” puzzles, or shored up a skill that will help you finish the year strong.

If you’re quick and reply to me with “INCUBATOR” in the subject line, I’ll send you the deets.

Honestly, the only thing that could make this even better would be if the sessions were co-hosted by a whole bunch of sled dogs. Well, except it would be noisy. And hairy.

We have one husky here at the retreat center. Mishka. He’s… well, special. And crazy. Very talkative fellow.

So, I can’t even imagine what it’s like in the household of today’s featured guest. Check out Robert’s story.

The first time Robert Forto watched a dog team take off, he felt it in his bones.

Not the sled. Not the wind.

The ground. The rumble of paws pounding frozen earth. The wild energy of movement synced by purpose. It was the kind of thing you don’t just watch, you absorb.

He was 19. Working in a warehouse. Someone had brought a team of sled dogs to the job site for a demo. Robert had never so much as held a harness. But the second he saw those dogs run, something clicked.

He went home and told his wife, “We’re gonna be mushers.”

And… this is important… he didn’t mean in a few years. Or when the timing was right. Or once they’d saved up.

He meant next week.

They sold what they had. Bought dogs. Moved to a tiny cabin in the woods. And figured it out on the trail.

Turns Out, Sled Dogs Make Great Business Mentors

Running a sled team isn’t about brute strength. It’s about leadership. Trust. Timing. Communication.

You’re responsible for a group of wildly different personalities, each with their own quirks and strengths. And if one dog’s off, the whole team feels it. You have to adapt. Fast.

Robert learned early that leading a dog team and running a business aren’t all that different.

People like to say “just keep going,” but they never tell you how. Mushing teaches you. You learn to read energy. To notice when someone needs encouragement versus when they need rest. You learn when to push and when to pivot. And most of all, you learn to trust the trail… even when visibility is zero.

From Kennels to Coaching

Robert didn’t stop with one sled team. He didn’t stop at all.

Over the next few decades, he:

• Finished the Iditarod (yes, the real one, 1,000 miles across Alaska in bitter cold)

• Earned multiple degrees in business, leadership, and innovation

• Built a successful dog training company, Alaska Dog Works, with clients around the globe

• Launched a podcast network with over 1,500 episodes under his belt

• Started training trainers with a proprietary franchise model

• Founded Peak Experience, a program for entrepreneurs focused on developing mental fitness

Oh, and he’s currently running for borough assembly. Because when he sees a need, he runs toward it.

Not everyone moves this fast. But Robert’s not most people.

Entrepreneurship Is a Mental Game

Here’s the truth no one likes to say out loud: business success isn’t about strategy. It’s about stamina.

Sure, the right systems help. Marketing matters. But when everything hits the fan? When a launch fails, a partner bails, or your tenth idea fizzles?

That’s when most people quit. Not because they don’t care, but because they don’t have the internal wiring to keep going.

That’s what Robert teaches.

Peak Experience blends neuroscience, high-performance psychology, and lessons from a lifetime of doing hard things. His clients don’t get cheerleading. They get challenged.

They come out clearer. Stronger. More focused.

He’s Not Selling Hype. He’s Teaching Endurance.

Robert isn’t flashy. He’s steady.

And that’s a choice.

He could show off the big numbers, the Iditarod photos, the successful business launches. But that’s not the point.

The point is this: you don’t need another pep talk. You need a trail-tested process that helps you become the kind of person who doesn’t fold under pressure.

That’s what Peak Experience is about.

It’s not for dabblers. It’s for entrepreneurs who want to build something that lasts, and are willing to build themselves in the process.

The Wild Path Is Often the Right One

Robert didn’t take the straight path. He took the one with bear tracks. The one that winds through frozen lakes and whiteouts and moments where quitting would have been easier.

And every time, he kept going.

That’s the kind of leader he is. That’s the kind of leader he helps others become.

If you’re chasing something big, something real, and you’re tired of trying to do it alone or perfectly, maybe it’s time to run with someone who knows the trail.

Not just the scenic route. The hard one. The one that matters.

Connect with Robert Forto at https://robertforto.com