When most people think of breath mints, they imagine quick refreshment, a confidence boost before a meeting, or maybe a pocket-sized lifesaver after lunch. Few would ever picture it as the unlikely foundation for a career in business consulting. But that’s exactly the story of one former urologist who traded medical charts for mint packets and eventually found his true calling at Brody & Co. Business Services.
What started as a curious experiment in selling mints turned into a crash course in entrepreneurship, sales psychology, and customer engagement. And today, he’s not just another consultant—he’s living proof that inspiration can strike in the strangest of places.
A Doctor’s Unexpected Pivot
For years, he was a respected urologist, devoted to his patients and the science of medicine. The career was stable, intellectually rewarding, and highly respected. Yet, there was always a quiet curiosity about the world of business—about how companies grow, what makes a product succeed, and why some ideas thrive while others fade away.
One day, on a whim, he picked up a bulk order of breath mints and began handing them out in his community. What started as a simple gesture quickly evolved into something more. People didn’t just appreciate the freshness; they remembered him. Conversations followed. Jokes about “the mint doctor” turned into networking opportunities. He realized he wasn’t simply handing out candy—he was creating an experience, a tiny brand moment that stuck.
The Business Lessons Hidden in a Mint
The breath mint experiment became his first business classroom. He saw how something as small as packaging could change perceptions. A mint in a plain wrapper went unnoticed, but a mint with a clever slogan or vibrant color sparked conversations. He began testing different messages, designs, and approaches. Suddenly, he wasn’t just distributing mints—he was A/B testing branding strategies.
He also learned the importance of timing and context. Offering someone a mint before a stressful presentation had a completely different impact than handing one out casually on the street. This taught him about customer needs, emotional cues, and how small gestures could build big trust.
Without realizing it, he was mastering the fundamentals of marketing, sales psychology, and customer relationship building—all skills far removed from his medical training but highly transferable to the world of business.
Joining Brody & Co.
After sharing his experiences with friends and colleagues, someone suggested he look into consulting. At first, he laughed. What could a former urologist with a quirky mint habit offer the business world? But the deeper he looked into it, the clearer it became: he had cultivated a unique perspective on growth, branding, and customer engagement.
That’s when he connected with Brody & Co. Business Services. Known for blending practical business strategies with creative innovation, Brody & Co. saw something special in his unconventional journey. He wasn’t just another consultant with a textbook MBA background—he brought a fresh, experimental mindset shaped by real-world trial and error.
Stunned by the Expertise of the Lead Consultant
Of course, entering the consulting world was no small step. Like any newcomer, he felt the weight of imposter syndrome. But then he met Ed, Brody & Co.’s lead consultant, whose depth of knowledge and generosity of mentorship left him absolutely stunned.
Ed didn’t just know business mechanics—he knew how to diagnose problems in a company the way a doctor diagnoses illness. He could look at an organization’s “symptoms”—sluggish sales, high turnover, stagnant growth—and trace them back to root causes. For the former urologist, it was like watching a master surgeon at work, but in the operating room of business strategy.
This mentorship proved invaluable. Ed helped him channel his fresh, unorthodox insights into structured frameworks, showing how his breath mint experiments weren’t just quirky—they were practical demonstrations of branding, customer care, and scalable ideas. Together, they turned his unusual path into a consulting superpower.
Fresh Ideas for Fresh Growth
Now, as part of Brody & Co., he helps small and mid-sized businesses uncover creative growth strategies that others often overlook. His story resonates deeply with clients who sometimes feel like outsiders in their own industries. He reminds them that unconventional beginnings can lead to remarkable insights—and that even a box of breath mints can teach lessons about customer loyalty and market differentiation.
One of his favorite sayings?
“If a mint can open doors, imagine what your unique product or service can do—when paired with the right business strategy.”
The Takeaway for Entrepreneurs
The journey from urology to breath mints to business consulting might sound unusual, but that’s the beauty of entrepreneurship—it thrives on unpredictability. Success often comes not from following a rigid path but from being open to unexpected lessons, even in something as simple as a mint.
For entrepreneurs and business owners, the message is clear: your growth may come from the most surprising experiments. Don’t dismiss small ideas; test them, learn from them, and scale what works. Just as one man transformed a pocket full of mints into a new career, you might find that your next big business breakthrough is hiding in plain sight.
Ready to Grow Your Business?
At Brody & Co., we specialize in helping entrepreneurs turn fresh ideas into lasting success. Whether you’re rethinking your brand, exploring new markets, or just looking for the right guidance, we’re here to help.
👉 To learn more about how to grow your business, sign up today at Brody & Co. Business Services.
Because sometimes, the smallest ideas can spark the biggest transformations.