From Kilimanjaro to Closing Deals: Joseph Blackman on Crushing Fear, Building Connections, and Winning Big
- S5E321
- 1:04:47
- August 9th 2025
In this episode of the Safety Consultant with Sheldon Primus, we welcome Joseph Blackman, founder of Vitendo Training Solutions and host of the Public Works Podcast. Joseph’s story is as inspiring as it is practical: from a career reset to summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in just five days, he’s learned firsthand what it takes to persevere under pressure.
He opens up about:
- How climbing Africa’s highest peak helped him conquer self-doubt
- Building Vitendo into the go-to service for capturing startup and commissioning training for cities, utilities, and agencies
- Why the Public Works industry needs better storytelling to highlight its unsung heroes
- Tactical LinkedIn networking and lead generation strategies
- How to price and position your services based on value, not hours
- Turning training into recurring revenue with CEUs and long-term contracts
Whether you’re a safety consultant, entrepreneur, or just someone facing your own “mountain,” Joseph’s insights on resilience, relationship-building, and business growth will inspire you to keep moving forward.
Resources & Links:
- Connect with Joseph on LinkedIn: Joseph Blackman
- Visit Vitendo Training Solutions: vitendo.us
- Contact Joseph: [email protected] | (925) 628-7646
Safety Consultant with Sheldon Primus
The Safety Consultant Podcast with Sheldon Primus is your ultimate weekly guide to starting or growing a profitable occupational safety and health consulting business. Are you ready to be your own boss and make a greater impact? Your expertise can help more people create safer workplaces, and your skills deserve a platform where they can truly shine. If you feel limited in your current role and believe your knowledge could serve the broader workforce more effectively, this podcast is for you. Join us as we explore the steps to launch your own safety consulting business, share insights on navigating the industry, and provide strategies to maximize your impact on workplace health and safety. Now is the perfect time to take control of your career and make a difference!
Sheldon is an active US safety consultant, trainer for the Cerified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS), Certificate of Occupational Safety Manager (COSM), Authorized OSHA Outreach Instructor, Instructor for MidSouth OSHA Training Institute Education Center.
Sheldon is an author, speaker, and executive coach.
