Joe Marzahl shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Joe, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Getting out on our land and working on projects. We own 130 acres in Oklahoma, and whether I’m mowing, planting food plots, cutting trails, or building something new, I completely lose track of time. It’s like therapy—hands in the dirt, sweat on my back, and the quiet satisfaction of creating something tangible. I come home exhausted but in the best way possible, with the reward of seeing exactly what I accomplished. Nothing beats it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My wife, Elle, and I are the owners of 7-Ranch Getaways, a glamping retreat we built after I made the leap from the corporate world into entrepreneurship. After years of back-to-back meetings and conference calls, I realized I couldn’t imagine another 20 years on that path. I was burned out and ready for something more meaningful. So I left it behind to create a business rooted in freedom, family, and nature.
Today, we host guests in two luxury geo domes and the only mirror cabin in all of Oklahoma, offering a one-of-a-kind stay where people can recharge, reconnect, and experience the land in a new way.
Alongside 7-Ranch, I’m also a licensed rural real estate agent in Texas and Oklahoma, helping people buy and sell land—whether it’s farms, ranches, hunting property, recreational tracts, or homes on acreage. For me, it’s about more than transactions; it’s about helping others find the same sense of peace, possibility, and connection to the land that transformed my own life.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
That’s an easy one—my wife, Elle. I still remember the moment clearly: I was wrestling with the idea of leaving the corporate world, weighed down by the security of a paycheck but drained from the grind. She looked at me and said, “If you don’t try this, I’ll be mad at you.” It was exactly the push I needed. Her belief in me came before I fully believed in myself, and with that kind of love and trust, taking the leap into entrepreneurship suddenly felt less like a risk and more like the only option.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
About 14 years ago, my father took his own life. It was, without question, the hardest thing I’ve ever had to face. I knew he was suffering, and while I take comfort in knowing he’s at peace now, the pain of losing him is something that never fully goes away.
I don’t know that you ever completely “heal” from something like that, but I do believe it has shaped me into a stronger and more grounded person. One of the biggest lessons it taught me was not to get lost in the “what ifs” or the “what could happen.” Instead, I try to anchor myself in the present—finding gratitude in small, everyday moments.
I wish more than anything that he could be here to see the life my family and I are building, both personally and professionally. But I hold on to the belief that he is watching, proud of what we’re creating, and in some way still a part of it all.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
I think a lot of really smart people are getting it wrong by overlooking the basics. I was never the person with the best grades or the highest test scores, but what’s always set me apart is doing the little things consistently—returning calls, hitting timelines, following through.
It’s easy to get caught up in big ideas, strategy, or intellect, but none of that matters if you don’t actually do what you say you’re going to do. Those simple habits are what separate people who just talk from people who actually build trust and get results. And the truth is, everyone has the ability to do them—but far too many don’t.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Definitely. For years, I chased the corporate ladder—titles, promotions, bigger paychecks. Each time I got what I thought I wanted, the satisfaction was fleeting. The excitement of a new role or fancy title faded quickly, and before long, I was already chasing the next one. That constant cycle made me realize I wasn’t finding real fulfillment in that world. It took stepping back and ultimately leaving that path to recognize that what I truly needed wasn’t another promotion, but a completely different direction.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://7-ranch.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/7_ranch_getaways/?igsh=MWcycTluNnk5Y3czYQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-marzahl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/7-Ranch-Getaways/100093173176601/
- Other: https://arrowheadlandcompany.com/joe-marzahl/
