Built From the Ground Up: Ambition, Ownership, and the Journey So Far

Built From the Ground Up: Ambition, Ownership, and the Journey So Far

When people ask me what I do, the short answer is that I run three businesses—Wildtrax, Native Automotive, and Barkko. But behind that title of "owner" is a much deeper story, driven by ambition, fueled by countless challenges, and shaped by a relentless desire to build something real from the ground up.

Owning and running multiple businesses wasn’t part of some master plan. It started with a simple idea: to create things I believed in. Wildtrax began as an outlet for adventure—a vision to build vehicles that could take people beyond the map, into the wild. Native Automotive grew out of a respect for craftsmanship and the idea that vehicles should be as unique as their owners. Barkko, the latest addition, reflects a more personal passion for utility, design, and durability in everyday gear.

Each brand has its own identity, but they all share one common thread: ambition.

Ambition Isn’t a Destination—It’s a Habit

Ambition, for me, is not just a vision board or a five-year plan. It’s the daily decision to push harder. It’s waking up early to solve problems no one else sees, staying up late to refine details others would overlook, and constantly asking myself, “What’s next? How do we do this better?”

Every business owner knows the grind: the late nights, the early mornings, the setbacks no one talks about. But ambition keeps you in the fight. It makes you show up, even when the odds are long and the outcome is unclear.

Building More Than Brands

When you own a business, you're not just creating a product or service. You're building a culture. You're responsible for a team, a reputation, and a standard. That responsibility is heavy, but it’s also what makes ownership so meaningful.

At Wildtrax, we’re not just lifting rigs—we’re elevating experiences. At Native Automotive, we don’t just repair vehicles—we breathe life into them. And at Barkko, every product we design is tested against a single question: would I use this myself, every day?

Ownership gives you the freedom to say yes to what matters—and more importantly, the power to say no to what doesn’t.

The Road Ahead

I don’t claim to have everything figured out. Running three businesses is chaos, clarity, pressure, and pride all rolled into one. But every day, I’m thankful for the opportunity to build. Not just brands, but a legacy.

If you're reading this and you're thinking about starting your own thing—do it. Back yourself. Be ready to work, to fail, to learn fast. Because when your name is on the line, your effort hits different.

My journey is still in progress, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Ambition got me here—and it’s what will carry me forward.

See you out there.

— Owner, James Munday

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