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What does it really take to scale from flipping houses to acquiring more than $300 million in real estate? In this episode, Paul Williams shares the lessons he learned after starting as a college student investor, building a trucking company, exiting that business, and going all-in on real estate. Paul breaks down his journey from single-family investing and high-volume house flipping to owning and operating nearly 2,000 multifamily units, while discussing capital raising, credibility, investor relationships, market cycles, and the opportunities he sees in today's multifamily market. He also shares candid insights on mistakes, lessons from both successful and struggling investments, why consistency matters more than speed, and how aspiring investors can build the track record, relationships, and confidence needed to grow in commercial real estate. If you're looking to raise capital, scale your portfolio, or learn from someone who has navigated multiple market cycles, this is an episode you won't want to miss. 5 Key TakeawaysWhy Paul Transitioned from Single-Family to MultifamilyAfter completing 20+ flips per year, Paul realized the constant transaction cycle was demanding and difficult to scale. Multifamily offered a path to larger-scale growth with greater efficiency. The Fastest Way to Build CredibilityEarly in his career, Paul leveraged the track records of experienced operators. Today, he emphasizes that consistency, relationships, and a proven track record are the strongest credibility builders in capital raising. How Organic Content Attracts InvestorsPaul shares how simple educational videos and consistent market visibility have generated investor interest, including reconnecting with people he hadn't spoken to in decades. Why Today's Market May Present a Major Buying OpportunityDespite investor caution following recent market challenges, Paul believes current market conditions are creating opportunities similar to previous strong buying periods, particularly for disciplined multifamily investors. The One Trait That Separates Successful InvestorsAccording to Paul, most people quit before they reach success. His advice is simple: stay in the game long enough, keep learning, keep building relationships, and eventually opportunities will compound in your favor.About Tim MaiTim Mai is a real estate investor, fund manager, mentor, and founder of HERO Mastermind for REI coaches.He has helped many real estate investors and coaches become millionaires. Tim continues to help busy professionals earn income and build wealth through passive investing.He is also a creative marketer and promoter with incredible knowledge and experience, which he freely shares. He has lifted himself from the aftermath of war, achieving technical expertise in computers, followed by investment success in real estate, management skills, and a lofty position among real estate educators and internet marketers.Tim is an industry leader who has acquired and exited well over $50 million worth of real estate and is currently an investor in over 2700 units of multifamily apartments.Connect with TimWebsite: Capital Raising PartyFacebook: Tim Mai | Capital Raising Nation Instagram: @timmaicomTwitter: @timmaiLinkedIn: Tim MaiYouTube: Tim Mai
Where do markets stand as investor froth scales back? Join Manpreet Gill and Rajat Bhattacharya as they discuss where we stand on investor positioning, why we expect the Fed to stay on hold for the rest of 2026, and the strong investment case for gold. ou can read our latest Weekly Market View today here.Speaker(s):- Manpreet Gill, CIO of Africa, Middle East & Europe (AME/E), Standard Chartered Bank - Rajat Bhattacharya, Senior Investment Strategist, Standard Chartered Bank For more of our latest market insights, visit Market views on-the-go or subscribe to Standard Chartered Wealth Insights on YouTube.
Achieving success in real estate isn't about predicting the future. While many investors have spent the last few years waiting for certainty, some of the best operators in the industry, including today's guests, have been quietly positioning themselves to acquire high-quality assets at significant discounts and prepare for the next market cycle.That's why I'm excited to welcome founding partners of RREAF Holdings, Kip Sowden and Doug McKnight. With nearly 80 years of combined investment experience spanning multiple economic cycles, they've built a vertically integrated real estate investment and operating company that has grown from $100 million in assets to nearly $5 billion. Their disciplined approach and commitment to long-term value creation have helped them navigate market downturns while continuing to uncover opportunities others overlook.In this conversation, we discussed why today's market dislocation is creating some of the best buying opportunities in years and why the quality of sponsors matters more than ever. They also reveal the reasons why they're bullish on build-to-rent communities, mobile home parks, distressed acquisitions, and the lessons they've learned from navigating decades of market cycles.In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ How Kip and Doug used vertical integration to scale RREAF from approximately $100 million to nearly $5 billion in AUM.✅ How RREAF's vertically integrated operating model helps them identify opportunities, manage risk, and outperform competitors across multiple real estate sectors.✅ How changing housing preferences among younger generations and first-time homebuyers are creating new opportunities in build-to-rent communities, mobile home parks, and other residential real estate sectors. Show Notes: LifestyleInvestor.com/294Tax Strategy MasterclassIf you're interested in learning more about Tax Strategy and how YOU can apply 28 of the best, most effective strategies right away, check out our BRAND NEW Tax Strategy Masterclass: www.lifestyleinvestor.com/taxStrategy Session For a limited time, my team is hosting free, personalized consultation calls to learn more about your goals and determine which of our courses or masterminds will get you to the next level. To book your free session, visit LifestyleInvestor.com/consultationThe Lifestyle Investor InsiderJoin The Lifestyle Investor Insider, our brand new AI - curated newsletter - FREE for all podcast listeners for a limited time: www.lifestyleinvestor.com/insiderRate & ReviewIf you enjoyed today's episode of The Lifestyle Investor, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device. You can also help by providing an honest rating & review.Connect with Justin DonaldFacebookYouTubeInstagramLinkedInTwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
He came to me making $4K a month.18 months later he's doing $130K (with his top month being $250K)I sat down with Aman to break down exactly how he did it.The offer rebuild, the sales process, hiring his first reps, and the one framework that took him from 30K to 50K almost overnight.No fluff. Just the actual moves we helped him make to change his bloodlines trajectory.Watch here on Youtube: https://youtu.be/heUpJslxbIM
Explore how a global supply chain company turned its data platform into a customer-facing product designed to operate at the speed of disruption. Boris Rabkin, Chief Information Officer at Ligentia, shares how the company executed that shift through a deliberate phased approach and a partnership with ThoughtSpot. He breaks down how to build a data foundation that scales, what it takes to embed analytics where decisions happen, and how to structure AI ownership and governance across a global regulatory environment. Key Moments: From Reactive to Proactive with Agentic AI (04:46): Supply chain disruption response has changed from slow email chains and fragmented data to agentic systems that flag issues and test decisions in real time. Boris illustrates how Ligentia navigated that shift firsthand. Embedding Analytics Into the Customer Platform (09:00): Boris explains why bolting analytics onto a separate tool creates friction and why embedding intelligence directly into the existing customer platform is the better call. How to Phase a Data Transformation That Sticks (12:12): Boris outlines three phases: stabilize the foundation, standardize definitions, then build a usable experience. Skipping the plumbing is where most transformations fail. Where AI Ownership Really Belongs in the Enterprise (14:03): Understand why AI ownership should sit where value is created. Learn how centralized governance ensures data accuracy and security across the organization. What the Asyad Acquisition Unlocks for Ligentia (22:49): Boris shares how the new investment opens doors to scale the platform globally, automate logistics workflows, and monetize data beyond services. Key Quotes: “ We wanted to control the brand experience, the same login for our customers. Removing the friction and having the experience of being in one trusted platform for making those decisions… This is where [ThoughtSpot] came in.” - Boris Rabkin “I think AI should be owned where value is created. It shouldn't be a centralized function inside a lab. If it's not close to the product and the people that are using it, AI won't create the value.” - Boris Rabkin “Speed is one thing, but confidence in the data is something that really drives decisions.” - Boris Rabkin Mentions The EU AI Act's ‘Wait and See' Window Is Closing Asyad Group and Ligentia Join Forces to Accelerate Global Growth and Enhance Technology-Driven Supply Chain Solutions ThoughtSpot Supply Chain Solutions & Case Studies The Acquired Podcast: Formula 1 | From Bankrupt Teams to a Global Sports Empire The Acquired Podcast: Costco | How a Wholesale Club Built a Customer Fanaticism Guest Bio Boris Rabkin is the Chief Information Officer at Ligentia. As a Chief Information Officer and Board Member, he brings a distinctive blend of strategic vision and execution capabilities to drive business growth and operational excellence through digital transformation. With extensive experience leading global teams and technology initiatives, Boris is driven by a passion for leveraging data, AI, and automation to build scalable, secure, and resilient enterprises that deliver lasting value. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.
Amardeep Parmar from Bae HQ welcomes Vivien Wong, Cofounder of Little Moons.Amardeep Parmar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amardeepsparmarVivien Wong: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivien-wong-07804123/Little Moons: https://littlemoons.com/
Many aspiring investors think they need a lot of money, experience, or the perfect market to get started in real estate. Soli Cayetano proves otherwise. In this episode of The Real Wealth Show, Kathy Fettke sits down with Soli to discuss how she bought her first out-of-state rental property while still in college, scaled to 25 units in her first year, raised millions in private capital, and eventually transitioned into boutique hotel investing. Soli shares the lessons she learned building an out-of-state portfolio, raising private money, partnering with investors, and growing from a $98,000 rental property to multi-million-dollar hospitality projects. Whether you're just getting started or looking to scale your portfolio, this conversation offers practical insights on taking the next step in your investing journey. Looking for beginner-friendly real estate investing resources? Download our recommended books and guides at www.RealWealth.com/BeginnerBooks. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 01:19 – RealWealth Beginner Books Resource 01:30 – Soli's Beginning in Real Estate 04:30 – Investing Out of State 06:00 – Building an Out-of-State Team 07:40 – 25 Units in One Year & Raising Private Money 09:39 – The First Private Money Deal 11:02 – Private Money Terms Explained 12:05 – Equity Deals & Key Lessons Learned 13:14 – Soli's Money Upbringing 16:00 – Transitioning Into Boutique Hotels 19:30 – Soli's Five-Year Vision 21:00 – Starting Small and Scaling Up 23:17 – Outro DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to make or consider any investment or course of action. For more information, go to www.RealWealthShow.com.
There may be 400 million SMBs in the world, but there is no such thing as a typical SMB. That's what makes the segment so difficult and so valuable. From AI adoption and cybersecurity to marketplaces, partner ecosystems, and hyper-local go-to-market strategies, SMBs operate by a different set of rules than enterprises. What works for one business, industry, or geography may not work for another, making SMBs one of the most complex markets to understand and serve. In this episode of Zinnov Podcast, Kristine Henley, WW Head, Public Sector Partner Core at AWS, joins Rajat Kohli, Partner, Zinnov, to explore how SMBs are evolving, why many companies still misunderstand the segment, and what leaders need to do differently to build and scale successfully in the SMB market. Tune in now.
This week, I'm sharing the books that shaped the way I think about business and helped me scale my family's company from $1 million to $44 million in revenue.These are more than popular business books sitting on a shelf. Each one solved a specific problem at a critical stage of growth, from leadership and operations to hiring, sales, and scaling. In this episode, I break down the lessons that had the biggest impact on my entrepreneurial journey and explain how you can apply them to your own business.Whether you're running a home service company, building your first team, or trying to break through your next growth ceiling, these are the books I recommend most often.In This Episode: The books that changed how I lead and manage Frameworks that helped scale from $1M to $44M Lessons on hiring, delegation, and accountability How great operators use books to solve real business problems The mindset shifts every entrepreneur needs to grow Watch this episode early on the John Wilson YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@JohnWilsonOAOSend Us Mail!More Ways To Connect with O&OJohn's YouTube ChannelWeekly Newsletter Owned and Operated Leave a ReviewJohn Wilson, CEO of Wilson CompaniesJack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC
**To sign up for the VAMP Webinar, June 16 at 1pm ET:https://events.zoom.us/ev/AjeqbDavKTXXc6iR8Z6Sbr8ttRf-9pqHa4fj_vccOfo1dwgNt6sG~AnY80C-qT5FYf6tPvk9UKHiJqkeUb_76qCOKNJdretWRhD6K3Ps2OwBmPwIn this solo episode of Fraudology, Karisse Hendrick breaks down a potpourri of recent fraud news stories that are shaking up both the retail and banking sectors. Karisse exposes how organized crime rings are shifting their tactics to outsmart even the tightest security frameworks, highlighting why continuous adaptation is the only defense in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.The conversation explores the mechanics of a highly devious new retail scam targeting major retailers through manipulated HTML price-matching. Karisse provides an inside look at how these groups leverage local code manipulation on personal devices to walk away with hundreds of dollars in real store credit per hit, effectively dodging security measures previously put in place to halt bulk gift card theft.We also explore the "hot topics" dominating the fraud landscape today:The Power and Price of AI Cybersecurity: How major US banks are scrambling to patch thousands of IT vulnerabilities exposed by Anthropic's new preview model, Mythos, which can stitch together low-risk flaws into serious, exploitable threats.The Reality of AI Replacement Plans: Why CEOs are facing unexpected hurdles with corporate layoffs, balancing the spiraling token costs of running AI agents against the irreplaceable institutional knowledge of human teams.Biometric Exfiltration from Selfies: The startling reality of "scissor-hand" or peace sign poses in photos, where modern high-resolution cameras and AI tools allow fraudsters to reconstruct permanent fingerprint ridges.The Scale vs. Quality Shift in Phishing: How AI bots are allowing bad actors to simultaneously launch highly personalized bank impersonation attacks against small community banks and regional credit unions, overwhelming their baseline operational capacities.Additionally, Karisse dives into the strategic logistics behind these multi-state fraud sprees, detailing how criminals use encrypted messaging apps and overseas reshippers to launder their proceeds. We break down the connection between retail fraud and elder tech support scams, revealing how stolen or victim-funded gift cards feed directly into high-end electronic purchases. Finally, we examine how deep-web dumps of dead credit card data are weaponized by scammers to accurately identify a consumer's specific financial institution before they ever make a call.
Today's guest is Eric Becker. Eric is the founder and co-chairman at Cresset, an award-winning multi-family office with more than $250 billion in assets under management and advisement. Prior to launching Cresset, Eric co-founded Sterling Partners, a value-added, growth private equity firm that raised eight funds with over $5.7 billion of capital. Eric is the bestselling author of The Long Game, an acclaimed work that empowers entrepreneurs to lead with vision, think beyond the short term, and create enduring impact, and the host of The Long Game Podcast, where he sits down with founders, CEOs, investors, and multigenerational leaders to explore the decisions, discipline, and long-term thinking required to build companies that last.In this episode, we discuss Cresset's origin story, the lessons Eric has learned from decades of investing. Eric also explains the main characteristics of successful and enduring companies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
You can feel it the moment Vanessa Raymond starts talking, she has lived more than one life. She begins as a musical theater performer from South Africa, travels the world, then hits the quiet question that comes after you reach a lifelong dream: now what? From that crossroads, she moves into fitness, wellness, and ultimately entrepreneurship, learning the hard parts most of us avoid: sales, marketing, and how to consistently grow a client base.We get real about what it takes for a small business to actually scale. Vanessa shares why mentorship matters, how “launch and adjust” beats waiting for the perfect time, and what happens when you finally stop trying to do everything alone. She also pulls back the curtain on Achieve Systems, the global entrepreneur community she now co-runs with her husband, Robert Raymond, and the practical resources that help business owners at every level, from brand-new founders to leaders pushing past seven and eight figures.You will hear specific growth tools like business plan templates, lead generation that feeds the top of your funnel, and systems for building revenue streams that boost visibility and credibility. We also dig into why in-person conferences still create the strongest trust in a digital and AI-driven era, plus the confidence work behind the strategy, finding your zone of genius, and standing in your power.If you are building a business, dreaming about starting one, or craving a smarter way to grow, press play and take notes. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs momentum, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Support the show Thank you to our sponsor Complete Coverage Football - http://www.completecoveragefootball.com
5pm - John’s Signature Gathering Event … At the Coyote? // Some interesting stats on the initiative signers so far // Tacoma, West Seattle move forward with Light Rail, Ballard scaled back for now // JFK is born on this day in 1917 // LETTERS
Danny started with a pressure washer in the back of his SUV, knocking on doors and figuring it out the hard way. After joining HSBC, he scaled from $72K to over $220K in just over a year, but the bigger shift was going from solo operator to building a real business through people, creating opportunities for his team, and starting to see his company as an asset.See where your business stands —Take the free Growth ScorecardListen to the full audiobook free — Get Off The TruckFollow HSBC Social's:Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | HSBC Accelerator | Jobber | Home Service Business Coach Email: info@homeservicebusinesscoach.com
What if the biggest mistake investors make is focusing on how to buy a deal instead of how to exit it? In this episode, Frank Herman shares how he and his partners scaled to over $100M in real estate assets, completed multiple full-cycle projects, and built a unique investment strategy around student housing and condo conversions. Frank explains how his journey from truck driver to real estate entrepreneur began with Rich Dad Poor Dad, how an unexpected capital-raising opportunity led to a $5 million partnership, and why patience, transparency, and investor trust have become the foundation of his business. He breaks down his approach to nurturing investor relationships, identifying opportunities with multiple exit strategies, and focusing on specialized partnerships rather than trying to do everything himself. For investors and entrepreneurs looking to build long-term wealth, raise capital effectively, and create sustainable growth, this conversation delivers practical lessons from more than two decades in real estate.
Investor Fuel Real Estate Investing Mastermind - Audio Version
In this episode, real estate investor Jon Bombaci shares insights on value-add multifamily investing, the impact of house hacking, and strategies for acquiring portfolios from retiring landlords. Perfect for investors looking to scale and optimize their real estate portfolios. Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind: Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply Investor Machine Marketing Partnership: Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com Coaching with Mike Hambright: Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform! Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/ New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club —--------------------
This is how you scale a contracting business without burning yourself out.Sam Wakefield and Doug C. Brown just became business partners. Sam's been training contractors on sales and systems for years. Doug took Tony Robbins' sales team from seventeen point eight percent close rates to forty-three point two percent in four months. He's worked with ClickFunnels, E-Myth, and dozens of trades companies.When they combined forces? Exponential results.In this episode, you'll see exactly how we scaled a plumbing business from forty-five thousand dollars per month to one hundred fifty thousand dollars per month in ninety days. That's three times revenue in a quarter. But here's where it gets good. When Doug looked at the numbers, he cut the plumber's expenses in half. Then we added process around everything. And within two and a half weeks into the month, this guy had his best sales day, best sales week, and was on track for his best month ever.That's revenue growth plus expense reduction plus process improvement happening at the same time.How We Scaled This Plumbing Business:Step one: revenue growth through sales training and systems. Step two: expense restructuring and profit optimization. Step three: process implementation around everything. Result: triple the revenue in ninety days, cut expenses in half, best month ever by week two point five.The Formula:Money in minus money out equals result. That result equals the owner's quality of life. If you improve both sides of that equation at the same time, you transform the owner's life.Key Teaching Points:Why most contractors build the business on their own backHow to get it off your back through process and systemsThe axiom: success happens at the speed of implementationNinety percent of your time should be spent selling when growing to your first millionBut selling at a profit, that's the differenceSam's strength: revenue growth, sales frameworks, communicationDoug's strength: expense reduction, profit margins, process, efficiencyTogether: exponential growth contractors never thought possibleThe right tool at the right time, why most people fail with softwareMost contractors buy wrong tools at the wrong time or right tools at the wrong timeSoftware doesn't fix broken business fundamentalsNo magic bullets in businessDigitized follow-ups and AI call centers are distractions if the timing is wrongWhy random tools and software waste contractor's moneySame concepts apply whether you're two hundred K or two hundred million in revenueBut your focus changes at each stageRussell Brunson was Doug's student at Tony Robbins before ClickFunnelsDoug's credentials: Tony Robbins, ClickFunnels mentor, E-Myth, trades companiesRevenue growth without profit improvement equals owner crushedProfit improvement without revenue growth equals leaving money on the tableYou need both at the same time with proper processThe synergy of growing revenue, cutting expenses, and adding systems simultaneouslyReal Results from This Episode:Virginia plumber, forty-five thousand dollars per month in sales. After ninety days with Sam's training, one hundred fifty thousand dollars per month. Then Doug restructured the expenses, cut them in half. Then we added process. Week two point five into the month, best sales day ever, best week ever, best month ever. And that's just the beginning because we're still implementing.Work with Sam & Doug:Website: https://www.closeitnow.netCoaching and training: https://www.closeitnow.net/coachingFacebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/closeitnowEmail: sam@closeitnow.netGoogle Review: https://g.page/r/CbfnnDqTCwQdEAE/reviewThe Build - Company Scaling Partnership:This is the new offering from Sam and Doug. Not just sales training. Not just profit optimization. Both. Together. You built the revenue. We help you build the business. Email sam at closeitnow.net to apply.Summer Sales Surge Series 2026:Live virtual training June through September. Monday nights seven PM Central. Fourteen ninety-seven dollars for the entire bundle. Email sam@closeitnow.net or visit salesurgebundle.comThree Ways to Work with Sam:One: On-site training. Half-day classroom plus half-day ride-alongs with your team.Two: Virtual training. Same frameworks, delivered remotely for teams or individuals.Three: The Build. Company scaling partnership with Doug C. Brown. You built the revenue. We help you build the business.Next Week: Leader of One, Leader of ManyLeave a review on Apple Podcasts or Google to help more contractors find this show.Google Review Link: https://g.page/r/CbfnnDqTCwQdEAE/review
Join The Creative Finance Playbook Coaching Program & Learn Directly from Jenn & Joe:https://creativefinanceplaybook.com/Most people think building a real estate portfolio while working a full-time job is impossible… but Abby & Ryan prove otherwise
How to install the AI-powered client acquisition machine that books 5-20 high-value clients/month. Watch the full breakdown → https://wearetherainmakers.com/demowatch gem: $2,200/hr consulting → $1. Test drive the full Rainmakers OS (AI agents + 161 playbooks + 24/7 VirtualChris) → https://wearetherainmakers.com/testdrive One coach did $318K in 30 days. Another did $566K with zero ad spend. A new coach signed 101 clients with 600 Instagram followers. Your BS detector went off. Good. In this video I'm pulling up my Mac and we're doing the research together. Real clients. Real numbers. Real proof you can verify yourself. If we're just meeting for the first time… I'm Chris Dufey, founder of The Rainmakers. We build full marketing ecosystems for coaches and consultants. So they can make $1M/yr working just 2-4hrs a day. I've built and sold a multi-7-figure coaching business, been behind the scenes of 7, 8, and 9-figure online businesses, and right now we're deep in the trenches building AI-powered systems that actually move the needle. I started sleeping on a couch with my baby daughter, wondering how I'd make rent. Built my first business to multi-7-figures, sold it, Then spent years getting paid $25K/month retainers to fix some of the biggest info-businesses on the planet. Scaled my consulting offer to $1M/year in 63 days. Launched an agency, took it to $200K/month in under 90 days, Then burned it all down because "bigger" doesn't always mean "better." Now I live between Bali and Australia with my four daughters, wife and dog. This channel is for founders who want simple, scalable businesses that buy back time with proven systems that just work. Subscribe, or drop a comment. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdufey Substack: https://chrisdufey.substack.com/ Website: https://chrisdufey.com Website: https://wearetherainmakers.com
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, we're talking with Luis Villaseñor, co-founder of LMNT, about how he took an electrolyte brand from an idea in 2018 to over $100 million in revenue within three years. Luis shares how he leveraged his keto community, partnered with the right people, and built a nine-figure consumable brand. Get LMNT Today: https://drinklmnt.com/ Get on the waiting list at https://capitalism.com/bootcamp Timestamps (0:00) Intro (1:00) Luis's background as a keto coach (5:00) The recurring revenue opportunity (7:00) Building for an untapped market (9:00) Leveraging an existing audience (12:00) Launch response exceeded expectations with overwhelming customer demand (16:00) Bringing in operating partner James Murphy (20:00) Starting with just $75K self-funded capital investment (27:00) Building LMNT through a community-first approach (35:00) Trends in the market right now (45:00) How important is it for new brands to go after emerging trends? (48:00) Closing
#923 What does it really take to build a billion-dollar brand from a side-hustle idea? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, Shawn Nelson, founder and CEO of Lovesac, shares how a giant foam-filled beanbag he stitched together after high school sparked a 25-year entrepreneurial journey. From maxed-out credit cards and a scrappy first retail store to reinventing the furniture industry with modular couches, Shawn opens up about the mistakes, resilience, instincts, and culture that fueled Lovesac's rise to 300+ stores and thousands of employees — all while staying true to a “design for life” philosophy and building a company people genuinely love! (Original Air Date - 9/25/25) What we discuss with Shawn: + Origin of Lovesac in 1998 + Giant beanbag side hustle + Missionary years in Taiwan + First retail store launch in 2001 + Lessons from early mistakes + Pivot to modular couches (Sactionals) + Importance of instinct in business + Culture, fun, and company values + Scaling through marketing & DTC model + Redefining success beyond money Thank you, Shawn! Check out Shawn Nelson at ShawnDNelson.com. Check out Lovesac at Lovesac.com. Follow Shawn on Instagram. Watch the video podcast of this episode! To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to MillionaireUniversity.com/training. To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Philippines imports $15 billion worth of oil every year. 4 million tricycles burn a significant share of it. Paul Johnston is the CEO of Pure EV, 350 electric tricycles operating across the Philippines, 92% utilisation, drivers taking home 30% more income. The technology works. The numbers work. We go into the unit economics, the financing barriers, the charging infrastructure, and why converting Jeepneys is a maths problem and not a technology problem. The question is want. Connect with Sohail Hasnie: Facebook @sohailhasnie X (Twitter) @shasnie LinkedIn @shasnie ADB Blog Sohail Hasnie YouTube @energypreneurs
In this episode, we cover How I Scaled My Pest Control Business From 0 to 300k. This one goes through real lessons, hard-earned mistakes, and practical insights that can help current and aspiring pest control owners build their businesses smarter.Are you a pest control owner looking to grow? Join Our Facebook Group with 2,300+ Members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pestcontrolmillionairesThe Pest Control Millionaire Podcast is all about helping small business owners scale their lawn and pest companies by talking to experts in the service industry.For business coaching and mentorship, visit pestcontrolmillionaire.com.Send your business and entrepreneurship questions to info@pestcontrolmillionaire.comand we'll answer them on the show!Produced by Sofia Salaverri and Dalton Fisher, Fisher Multimedia LLCFisherMultiMedia.com
How much business are you losing simply because you're not staying in consistent contact with your audience? Most companies don't have a sales problem—they have a follow-up problem. And follow-up isn't about chasing people…it's about staying top of mind with value, relevance, and consistency. That's why my interview with Smita Wadhawan, CMO of Constant Contact, on the THINK Business – What Are You Good At? series hit on a hard truth—consistency is the new marketing advantage. Here are 5 takeaways that stood out: ✅ Mindshare → Market Share People can't buy from you if they forget you exist. Marketing isn't optional—it's oxygen. ✅ Consistency builds trust Trust isn't built in a moment—it's built in the follow-up moments people rarely do. ✅ Simple wins Customers don't want clever. They want clear. They want fast. They want relevant. ✅ Start now—then scale Stop overthinking platforms, funnels, or brand perfection. Start small. Ship. Learn. Improve. ✅ AI is here to help, not replace Use AI to automate repetitive work—so you can stay human where it matters most. Smita Wadhawan Verma Global Chief Marketing Officer | Top 50 CMO | PayPal | Intuit | GoDaddy | Visa | SaaS | HealthTech | FinTech Award-winning Chief Marketing Officer with experience at GoDaddy, PayPal, Intuit, VISA, and SimplePractice — across SMB/consumer, SaaS, HealthTech, and FinTech. Global teams and global leadership at EcoVadis. Scaled and led businesses from a mid-size company to a $32B established brand, with budgets up to $175M. Expertise in growth marketing, product marketing, B2B and B2C marketing, lifecycle marketing, PR and comms. Smita has built and led teams of 150+ people in highly matrixed, cross-functional organizations across the US, Europe, Africa, Japan and India. She has partnered with top agencies like Koto, Instrument, Razorfish, TBWA, Highwire PR — and managed award-winning internal creative teams. Under Smita's leadership, her teams have won Digiday Awards and several Webby Award nominations. Smita is well known as a culture champion and recognized as a highly influential and inclusive C-Suite leader who can inspire teams to deliver outstanding results. Recognized as a 2024 Top 50 CMO in the US. Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: @jdwoskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.dwoskin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejondwoskinexperience Website: https://jondwoskin.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondwoskin Email: jon@jondwoskin.com Get Jon's Book: The Think Big Movement: Grow your business big. Very Big! Connect with Jeff Gunsberg:Website: https://title-connect.com Connect with Smita Wadhawan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smitawadhawan/ *E - explicit language may be used in this podcast.
From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022. Our interviews on Entrepreneurs On Fire are meant to be evergreen, and we do our best to confirm that all offers and URL's in these archive episodes are still relevant. Jason Yarusi, founder of Yarusi Holdings, has acquired $180M in real estate across 1,500 multifamily units, hosts two podcasts, and is an avid ultra runner. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. Everyone has something to offer, you may lack money but you have time to learn and find opportunities, your only limitation is your mind. 2. Surround yourself with good people and take action, which leads to better questions and results. 3. In multifamily real estate, tenants' rent covers expenses and mortgage, and anything left becomes cash flow, gradually paying off your building. Download Your Free Passive Investing Guide and Schedule Your Passive Investing Call Today - Passive Investing Introductory Call Sponsor HighLevel - The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies. Learn more at HighLevelFire.com. 50 - Join JLD on his free '50 days to something' video series on YouTube and create something special in 50 days.
Marc Sanderson is the founder and CEO of INNERGY, but he didn't start as a software founder. After earning his MBA and searching for a company to buy, he and partner Walter Wilkie acquired a small architectural woodworking business in Minnesota in 1997. Running that business revealed a deep operational problem: there was no software built for how custom woodworking shops actually operated. So Marc built his own. That internal tool eventually became Innergy, a vertical SaaS ERP platform for architectural woodworking and high-end residential millwork businesses. Today, Innergy handles everything from CRM and estimating to project management, engineering, fabrication, and field installation. In 2025, the company reached roughly $25M in revenue, is growing more than 50% annually, and expects to approach $40M in 2026. After bootstrapping growth for years using profits from the original woodworking business, Marc sold 51% of Innergy to growth equity firm MainSail Partners in 2025 for more than $40M, while remaining CEO. In this episode, he shares practical lessons about vertical SaaS, customer intimacy, onboarding complex ERP systems, finding the right growth equity partner, and why strategy still matters more than AI. Key Takeaways Deep Domain — Marc built software from firsthand pain inside his own woodworking business, not from an outside startup idea. Education Matters — INNERGY advantage isn't only software. Customer education and operational thinking drive adoption and retention. Growth Equity Fit — Marc rejected investment several times before choosing a partner that could help scale—not just provide cash. Meet Customers — ERP success came from meeting customers where they are instead of forcing "best practices" immediately. Customer Intimacy — INNERGY's onboarding, benchmarking, and peer learning approach helped create ~95% retention. Quote from Marc Sanderson, Founder and CEO of INNERGY "AI is just a tool. I see organizations creating a chief AI officer. I don't have a chief Outlook officer. I don't have a chief Internet officer. I don't have a chief Web officer. It's just a tool at the end of the day." "Just because you can cook rice infinitely at no cost doesn't make you a Michelin star restaurant. It's all the other aspects of these integrated activities that make you who you are. And at the end of the day, as long as we are creating value for our customer, they will continue to write a check to us." "A lot of the AI efforts that are going on across the industry is focused on cost reduction, expense reduction internal to the software firm. Great. That helps us get to a breakeven or beyond. It helps with the rule of 40. However, it does not create more intimacy with the customer." Links Marc Sanderson on LinkedIn INNERGY on LinkedIn INNERGY website MainSail Partners website Podcast Sponsor – Full Scale This podcast is sponsored by Full Scale, one of the fastest-growing software development companies in any region. Full Scale vets, employs, and supports over 300 professional developers, designers, and testers in the Philippines who can augment and extend your core dev team. Learn more at fullscale.io. The Practical Founders Podcast Tune into the Practical Founders Podcast for weekly in-depth interviews with founders who have built valuable software companies without big funding. Subscribe to the Practical Founders Podcast using your favorite podcast app or view on our YouTube channel. Get the weekly Practical Founders newsletter and podcast updates at practicalfounders.com. Practical Founders CEO Peer Groups Be part of a committed and confidential group of practical founders creating valuable software companies without big VC funding. A Practical Founders Peer Group is a committed and confidential group of founders/CEOs who want to help you succeed on your terms. Each Practical Founders Peer Group is personally curated and moderated by Greg Head.
When Lew Frankfort joined Coach half a century ago, it was a small NYC handbag maker without a single storefront. Frankfort reveals how he scaled the brand into a global icon worth more than 20 billion dollars with a signature blend of “magic and logic”. Lew's memoir is Bag Man. Find it at: https://lewfrankfort.com/Subscribe to the Masters of Scale weekly newsletter: https://mastersofscale.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Apply to work with me one-on-one: https://www.cleartheshelf.com/applyRyan set a goal of $600,000 in Amazon sales, then he tripled it. He did $1.8 million in his first full year of doing online arbitrage. He did this while graduating from college and turning down every corporate job offer. He's 23 years old, and this year he's targeting $5,000,000 in revenue. In this podcast, we learn about his journey, find out what got him started, and he shares what he's done to scale his business. Chapters:00:00 - Video Game Currency to $1.8M on Amazon (Origin Story)05:23 - "Burned the Boats" While Barely Profitable07:00 - What Walmart Corporate Taught Him About 3P Selling10:00 - Why People Quit Before the Inflection Point14:00 - The FAFO Moment: $600K Goal, $1.8M Finish18:52 - Turning $1 Into $400 in Sales on a Single Deal20:04 - Order Cancellations: The Full Checklist22:04 - Replenishables and Stalking Your Own Storefront on Keepa26:00 - Why He Took an $85K Loan to Scale (The Math)29:00 - Cash Conversion Cycle Explained (60-70 Days)34:00 - Team of Five: Hiring VAs With a 3% Pass Rate39:00 - The Trick Questions That Eliminate 97% of Applicants42:01 - Teaching VAs to Solve Problems (Not Just Report Them)45:00 - Culture Building: Chemistry, Character, Competence49:08 - VA Incentives: 5% of Cashback + Tiered Lead Bonuses52:15 - The Custom Credit Card Dashboard (SimpleFin API + Float Scores)55:00 - Invoice Compilation Tool Built in One Day With Claude Code59:00 - P&L Management: The Weekly Reconciliation Process01:03:00 - Why He's Never Been More Bullish on Amazon01:06:00 - Fuel Surcharge and Delivery Date +7: "What Does Complaining Do?"01:07:00 - Diversify Within Your Catalog, Not Across Platforms01:11:37 - AI-Generated Fake Return Photos (His VA Caught Them)01:15:00 - Scaling to $5M: The Reverse-Engineered Framework01:20:00 - "What Got Me to 1.8M Won't Get Me to 5M"01:24:00 - Lightning Round: Bet on YourselfFollow Ryan:X/Twitter: @CookingCashflowInstagram: @CookingCashflow Follow Chris Grant:X/Twitter/Instagram: @cleartheshelf Newsletter: https://cleartheshelf.com/newsletterFollow Chris Racic:X/Twitter: @ChrisRacicNewsletter: https://oaleads247.com
Emmanuel Zunz, the CEO and founder of ONErpm, has spent 16 years building one of the fastest-growing independent music companies in the world, across 40 territories, with a staff of over 500, and without a single round of outside investment. In this episode, he breaks down exactly how that happened. This week on the podcast, Emmanuel and Dmitri get into why the traditional definition of independence is outdated, why Taylor Swift can be on a major label and still be completely independent, and what it actually means for an artist or company to be in control of their own destiny. They also dig into the convergence happening right now between distributors and labels, the race to the bottom on margins that's pushing funded indie companies toward acquisition or collapse, and why Emmanuel believes the label of the future is built on scalable technology, diversified deal structures, and a global roster rather than big advances and market share at any cost. If you work in music distribution, run an independent label, or are trying to build a sustainable creative business on your own terms, this one is worth your full attention. The news The live-music boom has convinced some artists they're bigger than they are Live Nation pushes back on 'blue dot fever': 'It's a normal touring year' Listeners engage less deeply with music labeled as AI – even when it's actually human-made, academic study finds The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to explore how technology is changing the way business gets done. Visit musictectonics.com to find shownotes and a transcript for this episode, and find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Let us know what you think! Get Dmitri's Rock Paper Scanner newsletter.
#909 What does it take to grow a multi-million dollar service business from the ground up? In this episode, host Kirsten Tyrrel sits down with Serge Rochon, founder of Complete Windows & Doors, to unpack how he built a thriving home renovation company over the past 13 years — starting solo and scaling to a 25+ person team. Serge shares the lessons learned from cold-calling and canvassing his way to early customers, how mentorship shaped his start, why he avoided new construction jobs, and the importance of building systems and hiring ahead of the curve. Whether you're just getting started or preparing to scale, this conversation is full of practical wisdom for creating a profitable, sellable service business that doesn't depend solely on you! (Original Air Date - 9/15/25) What we discuss with Serge: + Started business after 12+ years in industry + Chose renovations over new builds + Landed early clients through cold outreach + Leveraged past customer base to launch + Focused on expert installation and service + Scaled from solo to 25+ person team + Built systems to reduce owner dependency + Offers “good, better, best” product tiers + Uses CRM and quoting tools to stay lean + Emphasizes hiring ahead of demand Thank you, Serge! Check out Complete Windows & Doors at CompleteWD.com. Watch the video podcast of this episode! To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to MillionaireUniversity.com/training. To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Alex Davids, founder of Next Evolution Performance, built a global neuroscience coaching business across 15 countries helping CEOs and executives achieve sustainable high performance and prevent burnout. Starting with a psychology background, she identified a gap where executives had no real support beyond being told to "take time off." After scaling to 40 coaches, she made the bold decision to step away, allowing a licensee to buy the business before rebuilding it stronger and more sustainably. Alex shares powerful insights on growing through referrals, genuine LinkedIn outreach, and the importance of daily self-review in both business and life. Her parting advice to every business owner — keep it fun, remember why you started, and trust that you can do it. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Alex Davids shares that the hardest part of growing a small business is staying in it, believing you can do it, and trusting that it is worth it — a feeling most business owners would deeply relate to. The grind is invisible to the outside world; customers see the success but nobody sees the early mornings, cash flow stress, and lonely decisions that come with building something from scratch. Most people quit too early, not because their idea was bad, but because self-doubt becomes louder than the vision, making belief a daily choice every entrepreneur must consciously make. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Alex Davids shares that her favourite business book is "4000 Weeks" by Oliver Burkeman, a profound read that sits on the edge of business, productivity, and life. The book's core message is that humans have on average 4,000 weeks to live, and every time we find tools to become more productive — from microwaves to AI — we simply backfill that saved time with more work rather than reclaiming it for what truly matters. Alex found this deeply relevant to her work with executives, as it challenges the endless productivity chase and forces the reader to ask the most important question of all Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Alex Davids shares that one of her favourite podcasts is Tim Ferriss, whom she has followed since before podcasting was even a big deal, appreciating how he has evolved from the hardcore "Four Hour Work Week" mindset to exploring what truly matters in life and business. She also highly recommends Consulting Success, a community and resource platform out of Canada specifically designed to help consultants build successful businesses, offering incredible tools, community support, and a critical eye on growth strategies. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Alex Davids shares that the one tool she would recommend right now is Whisper Flow, an AI dictation tool that she describes as absolutely game changing for small business owners. It allows you to think out loud and dictate your thoughts into anything, turning spoken ideas into polished and meaningful content with ease. Beyond tools, she strongly recommends finding a group, team, or community that provides regular reflection and review support, specifically highlighting Consulting Success out of Canada as an incredible resource that has delivered huge value to her own business through its tools, community, and structured approach to helping consultants grow successfully. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Alex Davids shares that the advice she would give herself on day one of starting out in business is beautifully simple yet deeply powerful — keep it fun, remember why you started, and trust that you can do it. After 19 years of building a global business, stepping away, rebuilding, and navigating every challenge that comes with entrepreneurship, she believes that staying connected to your original purpose and maintaining a sense of joy in the work is what ultimately keeps you going through the toughest moments. It is a reminder that success is not just about the destination but about enjoying and believing in the journey every single day. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: It's only a difficult conversation if you choose to see it that way — otherwise it's just helping people understand points of view — Alex Davids If you can't hand on heart say you can run this business and feel energized without burning out, then you're not doing a great job — Alex Davids Your thoughts become all the habits you have, all the ways you show up, and all the things you deliver — so make them count — Alex Davids
Zach started like most owners, doing everything himself and grinding to around $67K. Today he's built a $900K business with high-margin services, a self-sufficient crew, and a schedule that lets him be home when his daughters get off the school bus.See where your business stands —Take the free Growth ScorecardListen to the full audiobook free — Get Off The TruckFollow HSBC Social's:Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | HSBC Accelerator | Jobber | Home Service Business Coach Email: info@homeservicebusinesscoach.com
Luke Truetken didn't scale his agency by chasing more opportunities. He scaled by eliminating distractions and going all in on one niche. After years of running both a landscaping company and a generalist agency, Luke realized that trying to balance too many things was slowing down growth instead of accelerating it. You can watch the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDHhZlBsy0E The... The post How Luke Truetken Scaled His Agency to $110K MRR by Going All In on One Niche appeared first on Seven Figure Agency.
In this episode of the Grow A Small Business Podcast, host Troy Trewin interviews Gulliver Moore shares how he scaled Sunday Treat alongside his co-founder Oliver Clubb from a freelance director/DP partnership into a £2M creative agency serving global brands like Google, Disney, and Revolut. In this episode, Gulliver reveals how consistent 20% year-over-year growth, smart hiring, strong company culture, and high-performing video marketing helped the agency expand to a 14-person team with clients across the US and Europe. He also explains how Sunday Treat is adapting to AI, building viral content strategies, and maintaining creativity while scaling fast. Gulliver shares honest lessons about leadership, delegation, difficult management decisions, and why founders should never delegate hiring. The conversation is packed with insights on business growth, branding, team building, and creating a sustainable agency in today's competitive digital landscape. Why would you wait any longer to start living the lifestyle you signed up for? Balance your health, wealth, relationships and business growth. And focus your time and energy and make the most of this year. Let's get into it by clicking here. Troy delves into our guest's startup journey, their perception of success, industry reconsideration, and the pivotal stress point during business expansion. They discuss the joys of small business growth, vital entrepreneurial habits, and strategies for team building, encompassing wins, blunders, and invaluable advice. And a snapshot of the final five Grow A Small Business Questions: What do you think is the hardest thing in growing a small business? Gulliver Moore shared that the hardest part of growing a business is consistently delivering on big promises while maintaining quality and trust with clients. What's your favorite business book that has helped you the most? Gulliver Moore said his favorite business book is Radical Candor because it deeply influenced how he manages people, gives feedback, and builds an honest company culture. He also highly recommended The Making of a Manager for its practical advice on leadership and team management. Are there any great podcasts or online learning resources you'd recommend to help grow a small business? Gulliver Moore recommended podcasts like Hard Fork, The Vergecast, and Today in Focus to stay updated on technology, AI, and current events. He also emphasized learning through experimentation, especially with AI tools, social media content creation, and hands-on business experience rather than relying heavily on formal coaching or consultants. During the conversation, host Troy Trewin additionally recommended Marketing School, Uncensored CMO, and Everyday AI for marketing and business growth insights. What tool or resource would you recommend to grow a small business? Gulliver Moore recommended using Claude AI for brainstorming, strategy, copywriting, and improving workflows with AI. He also highlighted Monday.com as a powerful CRM and project management system for organizing teams and client work, while Figma was his preferred platform for creating visually engaging presentations and creative assets. He emphasized that combining strong systems, consistency, and AI tools can significantly improve productivity and business growth. What advice would you give yourself on day one of starting out in business? Gulliver Moore said he would tell himself to trust the process, stay patient, and focus on consistently hiring great people. He emphasized that long-term success comes from building a strong team culture, trusting your instincts during hiring, and sticking with the journey even when growth feels slow or uncertain. Book a 20-minute Growth Chat with Troy Trewin to see if you qualify for our upcoming course. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your small business to new heights! Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Hiring the right people is the most important investment you can make in your business — Gulliver Moore You don't need to control everything — great teams do amazing work when you trust them — Gulliver Moore Consistency in your process will eventually create the growth you're looking for — Gulliver Moore
Your daily news in under three minutes. At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes! Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
Moscow marks Victory Day amid a three-day cease fire agreement with Ukraine. AP correspondent Jennifer King has more.
Russia's annual Victory Day Parade this weekend is expected to lack the usual show of ballistic missiles and tanks. Meanwhile, a leaked security brief claims that President Vladimir Putin has tightened his personal security and faces increased threats of assassination and coup attempts. Also, according to a new report by the NGO Mercy Corps, only 4% of Gaza's farmlands remain accessible to its residents for farming, with the rest being damaged in war or under Israeli control. And, Sir David Attenborough, who has documented the natural world and the creatures in it for decades, turns 100. Plus, lost in translation — how some film titles are hard to translate into other languages. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
David is joined by Brandon Vaughn, who scaled a window cleaning and pressure washing business from a two-person owner-operator shop to 70 employees before selling, then built Wise Codings to 39 locations in 4 years working under 5 hours a week, and now runs HireBus, an AI recruiting platform. They break down what actually stops home service owners from scaling, from getting off the tools and building the right team structure to the MAST hiring framework, why recruiting is a volume game, and how AI agents are already replacing CSRs and recruiters in the trades.See where your business stands —Take the free Growth ScorecardListen to the full audiobook free — Get Off The TruckFollow HSBC Social's:Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | HSBC Accelerator | Jobber | Home Service Business Coach Email: info@homeservicebusinesscoach.com
What if there was a real estate strategy generating $40K to $75K per deal — in about four months — that most investors have completely ignored? In this episode of the CT Real Estate Edge Podcast, Rob Weinberg sits down with Chris Gavre, a real estate investor who built a portfolio of nearly 150 rental units by age 25 before pivoting to one of the most underrated plays in today's market: land-home packages. Chris breaks down exactly how his land-home investing model works, why affordable housing demand is fueling its growth, and how he scaled to 50 deals per year with the right systems in place. Whether you're a seasoned investor looking for a better ROI strategy or someone just getting started in real estate, this conversation will open your eyes to an opportunity hiding in plain sight.
Investor Fuel Real Estate Investing Mastermind - Audio Version
In this insightful interview, Tim Herriage shares his 25-year journey in real estate, leadership, and finance, emphasizing the importance of mindset, relationships, and embracing AI technology to stay ahead in the industry. Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind: Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply Investor Machine Marketing Partnership: Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com Coaching with Mike Hambright: Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform! Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/ New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club —--------------------
From Generalist to Niche Authority In this interview, Jason Call shares how he transformed his agency from a scattered generalist model into a focused, niche powerhouse serving small handyman businesses across the U.S. and Canada. What started as taking on any client willing to pay evolved into a clear, strategic decision to go all-in on one market and build around... The post How Jason Call Scaled a Niche Agency to 400+ Clients with Simplicity and Systems appeared first on Seven Figure Agency.
Andrew built his business to $190K figuring things out on his own. Within a year, he scaled to over $700K after focusing on hiring, systems, and real structure.See where your business stands —Take the free Growth ScorecardListen to the full audiobook free — Get Off The TruckFollow HSBC Social's:Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | HSBC Accelerator | Jobber | Home Service Business Coach Email: info@homeservicebusinesscoach.com
What does it actually take to scale a short-term rental business without burning out?In this episode, we sit down with Amy Ruocco, founder of Hosted Guest, who went from running herself ragged in her business to building a more profitable, sustainable, and scalable operation.Amy shares how she transitioned from instinct-based decisions to data-driven strategy, what finally helped her let go of day-to-day tasks, and how hiring the right team member changed everything.We also dive into her journey from weddings to short-term rentals, the mindset shifts that unlocked major revenue growth, and how she's on track to hit $1.4M this year without adding more properties.If you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to grow, this episode will show you what's possible.What you'll learn:How Amy scaled her business to nearly $1M and beyondWhy instinct alone won't grow your Airbnb businessHow to stop panic pricing and trust your dataWhat finally helped her hire and let go of controlHow to train a team member to match your voice and standardsWhy your role as a host needs to evolve as you growThe importance of investing in yourself and your businessHow time blocking can reduce overwhelm and create balanceResources mentioned: Join our Strategic Host Coaching Program!
I'm sitting down with Jonathan Ronzio, who scaled Trainual from an idea to $30M ARR—while building a company known for its culture and still finding time to climb mountains, run marathons, and live a full life outside of work. What stood out to me in this conversation is how intentional he's been about building systems—not just in the business, but in his life. We talk about why most founders document the wrong things early, how structure actually creates freedom, and how AI is completely reshaping how companies build, sell, and operate. We also get into how he thinks about balance versus alignment, what changes (and what doesn't) after raising capital, and why the most defining moments in business are usually the ones you never planned for. If you're trying to scale without becoming consumed by your business, there's a lot here worth paying attention to. Key Takeaways (00:00) Introduction (01:28) Summiting Aconcagua vs Closing a Series B (03:01) What Is Trainual and Why It Exists (03:52) The #1 Thing SaaS Founders Document Too Late (04:59) When to Create Company Core Values? (06:48) Why Structure Actually Creates Freedom (09:57) Which Processes Deserve SOPs? (11:43) How AI Transformed Trainual's Product Roadmap (15:16) Will AI Kill SaaS? His Honest Take (18:49) Figure Out How to Disrupt Your Business (20:38) Agentic AI and the New Outbound Playbook (22:34) The Exact AI Tech Stack His Team Uses (26:05) Data Security in the Age of AI (30:11) $400K in Credit Card Debt for FB Ads (32:27) Balance vs. Alignment (34:31) Why Daymond John Joined the Cap Table (38:05) Cultural Practices That Actually Work (39:48) Project Management & Communication Tools (43:36) How to Define Culture at Scale (46:30) Mountaineering Lessons That Made Him a Better Leader (53:08) Living an Adventurous Life (58:50) Obsessive Compulsive Creative Disorder (59:43) Advice for Founders Torn Between Focus and Exploration Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/q17qPXHSEC0 Let's Connect: Website | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitter | Facebook
David Gorsuch is a seasoned entrepreneur and executive with 30+ years of experience leading high growth companies across finance, technology, and services. He has a proven track record of scaling businesses from early-stage startups to successful acquisitions, with 4 strategic exits and leadership roles spanning CEO, COO, and VP-level positions. David has built and transformed companies at every stage - from pre-revenue startups to late-stage enterprises - driving exponential revenue growth, operational excellence, and leadership development. He has worked with bootstrapped ventures, private equity-backed firms, and public companies, including Amazon, Boeing, D+H, and Demandbase. His leadership impact includes: High-Growth Leadership - Scaled multiple businesses, leading to exits at 10x–16x EBITDA Operational & Strategic Excellence - Launched innovative platforms in FinTech, AI, and SaaS Leadership & Talent Development - Coached and advised thousands of leaders, from first-time managers to senior executives and board members Entrepreneurial & Business Acumen - Deep experience in M&A, GTM strategy, and business transformation Connect with David:
Ramon Vela sits down with Ron Schneidermann, CEO of Acely, for a conversation that spans two decades of startup building, a category-defining exit, and a brand-new mission to help high school students conquer the SAT and ACT. Ron is the kind of founder who doesn't just build companies he transforms categories. From scaling AllTrails from a six-person team to a household name, to launching Acely with his daughter as his first inspiration, this is a story about pattern recognition, relentless optimism, and knowing when it's time to go again. * AllTrails: the pivot that changed everything. Ron took over a struggling six-person app in 2015 and made one bold call on day one; stop targeting hardcore hikers and start welcoming everyone. That single brand pivot helped turn AllTrails into one of the most beloved outdoor apps in the world. * The pandemic bet that paid off. When COVID hit and outdoor recreation stopped overnight, Ron pushed all the chips in instead of retreating. By the end of that summer, everything had changed. * Hire smarter. Then get out of the way. Ron's operating philosophy: learner's mindset always, surround yourself with people better than you, give them a clear target, and let them run. * Acely: a dad trying to help his daughter. An AI-powered SAT and ACT prep platform with 14,000 questions, 50 full-length tests, and adaptive study plans — built for a generation that lives on their phones. * Why niche beats horizontal every time. In a world of AI platforms trying to be everything to everyone, Ron is betting on vertical depth and the kind of trust that big platforms simply can't earn. Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to this episode for one of the most candid conversations about what it actually takes to build and scale a consumer brand not once, but four times. Whether you have a high schooler prepping for college admissions or you're a founder looking for a real talk on scaling, this one delivers. Visit acely.com to learn more. For more on Acely, visit: https://acely.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. Plus, don't forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify. Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today's Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: https://www.getsaral.com/demo SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. Let the SARAL team know you're a The Story of a Brand Show podcast listener to get an extended free trial! Visit the link above.
In this episode of The Co-Living Show, we sit down with Franco Montano, a seasoned operator managing 600+ co-living rooms (and owning 150+ himself), to break down what it actually takes to scale a co-living portfolio.Franco shares how he transitioned from running a 42-location T-Mobile business with 750 employees into real estate—and why co-living became his highest ROI strategy.If you're serious about building a cash-flowing co-living portfolio, this episode is packed with real-world insights you won't hear anywhere else.
Amanda Tress is the founder and CEO of FASTer Way to Fat Loss, one of the fastest-growing digital fitness and nutrition companies in the U.S. Founded in 2016, FASTer Way delivers a science-backed, sustainable approach combining intermittent fasting, whole-food nutrition, carb cycling, and strategic workouts. Under Amanda's leadership, the brand has grown into a multimillion-dollar company with thousands of certified coaches and over 564,000 clients worldwide.