Built from Scratch

This is my monthly Founder Journal. A personal record documenting the decisions, lessons, and adjustments as I build toward a $1M business by the end of 2027.In this episode, I’m capturing five lessons from March 2026, recorded in real time while building a mid-six-figure service business.Lessons from March 2026:Effort Is a Deposit, Even When You Don’t See the ReturnHaving One Focus Moves the Business the MostPlan First, Then Move FastTurn Numbers Into a StoryIf the Business Breaks Without You, It’s Not Ready to Scale

Description:This is my monthly Founder Journal. A personal record documenting the decisions, lessons, and adjustments as I build toward a $1M business by the end of 2027.In this episode, I’m capturing five lessons from February 2026, recorded in real time while building a mid-six-figure service business.Lessons from February 2026:Consistency Will Teach and Reward YouIt Must Be Explainable to a 5th GraderIf You Pay Hourly, You’ll Get Hourly WorkLaunch Version One Before It’s PerfectFrom Make or Break to Measured ProgressResources:Silos, Politics and Turf Wars by Patrick LencioniToyota's 5 Why's

This is my monthly Founder Journal. A personal record documenting the decisions, lessons, and adjustments as I build toward a $1M business by the end of 2027.In this episode, I’m capturing six lessons from January 2026, recorded in real time while building a mid–six-figure service business.Lessons from January 2026:Scarcity works when trust already existsBreaking beliefs unlocks faster progressThe game is heaven, not hellValue stacking increases perceived value in salesSimple messages need to be repeated oftenHow we launched a pricing increase the right wayResources:The Chore Club: https://www.thetododudes.com/chore-clubHe Leadeth Me Book: ⁠https://a.co/d/h5qgYBj⁠Alex Hormozi & Tony Robbins Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6OXqTdIr33hh21OZPZ2yXV?si=3d67281ba0c04a1b&nd=1&dlsi=62deae23e6844a4c

After hiring over 150 people, I’ve learned one powerful truth: when someone doesn’t work out, it’s usually our fault.In this episode, I’m unpacking what truly makes (or breaks) a team member’s success.. your onboarding process.We’ll cover:1️⃣ The onboarding experience that sets people up to win2️⃣ How to make those first days on the job actually matter3️⃣ And how to retain your best talent long-termWhether you’re scaling your first team or refining your company culture, this episode will show you how to turn new hires into A-players, starting from day one.

When we started The To-Do Dudes, people didn’t buy into us, they bought into the idea: students showing up, working hard, and helping their community. We charged just $18 an hour and still got plenty of “no’s.” But every stage of growth came with a lesson. From pricing struggles and pushback to finally earning the trust and loyalty of our customers.In this episode, we break down the full journey that taught us about value, elasticity, and reputation. You’ll hear about the growing pains, the tough lessons in credibility, and the moment we realized that people will pay a premium for reliability, speed, and quality.

In this episode, I share how one of my biggest mistake ended up becoming one of my greatest advantages years later.This episode is all about trusting the process, learning from what feels like failure, and understanding that sometimes the dots only make sense when you look back.

One year after Olivia’s first appearance on Built From Scratch, we sat down again to reflect on how much can change in twelve months. We revisited her original quotes, talked about the growth of OG’s Bakery (including the story of how she got into her first grocery store), and explored why she’s so passionate about encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs.And just when it seemed like the conversation was wrapping up, the episode took a turn I’ll never forget, I proposed to Olivia live on the podcast.This is our story.

Ever get to the end of the month and wonder, “Where did all the money go?”In this episode of Built From Scratch, Erik Libby (Founder & CEO of To-Do Dudes) breaks down the 7 financial metrics that completely changed the way he runs his business. From cost per lead and customer acquisition cost, to lifetime gross profit, retention, and margins, these are the numbers that turned confusion into clarity.Whether you’re a founder, small business owner, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode will give you a simple framework to measure what really drives growth and profitability.Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Egypt, Youssef moved to Dubai at age 3 and later came to the US in 2021 to study Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Future Technology on a full ride scholarship at Boston University.A serial founder: his first startup failed dramatically—but his second venture was a successful exit, which led him to join a VC firm as a partner.He was a TEDx speaker, who spoke about the importance of health care over military during the pandemic.And now, invests in early-stage companies through The Genesis Fund, helping tomorrow’s innovators in the Boston area scale and thrive.Youssef is only 22 years old.Contact Info: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefrezkalla/ Website: https://genesisfund.co/Email: [email protected] Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

This episode is part lesson, part documentary to take a real look into where I’m spending my time as a CEO and the adjustments I’m actively making. There are constant challenges around setting the right priorities, and in this episode, I share what’s working, what isn’t, and where my head is at right now.Here’s what I cover:Deciding whether to prioritize sales or product firstWhy business feels like a game of Settlers of CatanThe value of having meeting-free daysHow I decide what to cut to stay focusedFind Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Dubai and raised in Phoenix, Shaun studied Economics & History at Vanderbilt University.While at Vanderbilt, and after leading United Nations linked projects like Imagine Land 2040, he co-founded Atlog, an AI voice agent for physical retail (starting with furniture) that handles customer service and collections calls.In 2025, Atlog was accepted into Y Combinator’s first spring (“X25”) cohort; the team graduated right as Shaun was completing his degree at Vanderbilt.Shaun is on a mission to bring helpful AI into real-world commerce and make technology serve outdated industries.Shaun is only 22 years old.Contact info:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karakkattu/Website: https://www.atlog.ai/Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from New Jersey, Jake earned a B.A. in Economics (with a minor in Computer Science) from Vanderbilt University.As COVID-19 shut the world down and his work environment changed, he saved up a six-month nest egg to go all-in on his startup, Pepper—a social-cooking app he co-founded with childhood friend in September 2021.What began as a group-chat experiment sharing homemade meals has grown into a community of over 1 million home cooks worldwide, with Pepper featured on Fox’s Food Stars and At 27 years old, Jake was named to Forbes 30 Under 30.He’s on a mission to improve cooking experiences by bringing social media–style engagement to real-world food sharing.Jake is only 28 years old.Contact info:Website: https://www.peppertheapp.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakearonskind/Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Do you ever finish an interview and still wonder, “Should I hire them?”I’ve been confident one moment, second-guessing the next.In this episode, I walk through the 5-step process we now follow at To-Do Dudes to confidently choose the right team members. Starting from application and going all the way through their first week on the job.You’ll learn:How to evaluate candidates before the interview startsOur exact 4-part interview structureRed flags to catch earlyWhat we watch for between interview and day oneHow training performance reveals everythingThis process has helped us avoid costly mistakes and build a team that fits and stays.Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

In this episode, I walk through the real-world framework I use to build and launch internal systems from scratch.We’re covering:Defining the actual goal (and not doing too much at once)Creating without scope creepTesting before delegatingHow to document clearlyWhy delegation ≠ abdicationIf you're building anything that involves people, process, or automation, this will save you time, energy, and a lot of rework.Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Andrew is an Ohio native and the founder of dcdx, a branding agency he went all‑in on in 2020 when his senior‑year internship at Vanderbilt was canceled.In the five years since, he’s helped build magnetic, Gen Z‑focused brands for Spotify, Chipotle, Crocs, Eventbrite and more. He made Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, was an Ad Age Gen Zers to Watch in 2025, and was even featured in FastCompany publication.I got to interview Andrew after his recent launch of offline, a platform that brings social‑media branding into real‑world experiences.He’s on a mission to make the future human, he’s redefining how brands connect with the next generation.Andrew is just 26 years old.Contact info:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-roth43/Website: https://dcdx.co/Website: https://www.offlinetalent.com/Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

I finally did it! After nearly two months of late nights, caffeine runs, and endless tabs, our “holy grail” data sheet is live. In this episode, I pull back the curtain on how I wrestled scattered spreadsheets, CRMs, and support tickets into one single, living dashboard and the three “N”s that made it all click.Niching: I used to believe we had to be everything to everyone. But once we focused in on what actually moved the needle, it was clear that cutting services made us better, not worse. By niching, it reduces the training required, logistical complications, and gives you more time to focus on the true demand of the customer.Numbers: It’s like taking a blindfold off. For too long, we had been navigating by gut feeling. Now we finally have the system that can show what our CAC, LTGP, # of inquiries, # of new customers, and other important metrics.Nurturing: I’ll admit, I tried to hand this new system off to my team and walk away, but that completely flopped. I had been working on this system for over 200+ hours. Instead, I share the pivot I made using the “Document → Demonstrate → Duplicate” framework that helped the team get up to speed fast.Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

In this episode, I share raw entrepreneurial reflections from memos I kept in April, May, and June. You’ll hear unfiltered thoughts on:How coffee has surprisingly affected meChoosing between logical and emotional decisionsWhy authoritarian leadership can diminish buy-inPushing through moments when you’re on the verge of tearsEntrepreneurship is a rollercoaster. My hope is that these lessons, even if small, give a boost to those finding their way. Keep moving!Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from St. Pete, Florida, Cole is the founder of Opal, a mental health AI platform built to support therapists and patients. He began his career in machine learning after earning a Master’s in Computer Science from NYU. From there, he joined Morgan Stanley, then moved to Asapp, where he led the core AI team focused on improving communication efficiency for call centers.That experience set the stage for his next chapter. In June 2024, Cole launched Opal—and in just one year, the platform has already reached 25,000 active users and earned a spot in the Techstars AI Health Accelerator, in partnership with Johns Hopkins and Florida Blue.Cole is just 28 years old.Contact info:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cole-s-smith/Website: https://www.heyopal.com/Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

“You gave a great pitch… but did anyone actually buy?”After 22 live presentations in just 6 months, I realized there’s a big difference between presenting and converting.In this episode of Built From Scratch, I’m sharing 5 adjustments I’ve made to my pitch that helped me gain more traction — whether I’m in front of real estate agents, potential partners, or a room full of prospects.From cutting the fluff to closing with a clear CTA, these changes made a real difference.Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

After five mentor sessions, I committed to morning deep-work sprints and uncovered three key insights:It always takes longer than you plan (Hofstadter’s Law in action)A cleared calendar is the fastest route to focusBig projects demand big time blocksPlus a look at how a trusted team lets you disappear into focus work without everything else falling apart. No fluff—just practical steps to carve out uninterrupted time and tackle your most important priorities.Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

How blocking full days for deep work—like my ongoing Excel sprint—beats endless multitasking.How Adam Grant, Kobe Bryant, and Steve Jobs eliminated distractions and embraced the process.I’ll share my Wednesday deep-focus routine, kitchen-timer sprints, and the prep (sleep, nutrition, team updates) that makes it all possible.Ready to move your “big rock” forward?Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Ontario, Canada, Leo’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2020 when he co-founded a nonprofit called Notzr while still in high school. During that time, he scaled to over 50 classes internationally and brought the platform into 20 schools.In 2024, Leo joined Enttor as an unpaid intern and quickly rose to become its co-founder and CTO. He dropped out of UCLA to go all in, helping close their first enterprise deal for $30,000—with $500,000 in revenue projected this year.Enttor has since raised $400,000 at a $10M valuation and now works with major DTC brands like Legacy.com. The team plans to raise their Series A by the end of 2026.Leo is only 20 years old.Contact info:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leojiaxu/Email: [email protected]: https://www.enttor.ai/Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Montreal, Canada, Charles began his entrepreneurial journey in 2020 when he founded a platform for buying and selling crypto mining hardware—just two weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.His interest in crypto mining started in 2016, when a friend introduced him to the Ethereum and Bitcoin. Four years later, Charles turned that curiosity into a Asic Jungle that has since grossed over eight figures in revenue, grown to a team of seven, and served Fortune 500 companies.Recognized for his expertise, Charles was featured in Forbes in 2022 and continues to be a trusted name in the crypto mining space.Charles is just 29 years old.Contact info:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-wissa/Website: https://asicjungle.com/Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

The To-Do Dudes has officially turned five. What started out as yard work for my grandmother has turned into an operation with 36 team members, over 3,000 homeowners served, 7,000+ projects completed, and more than 500 five-star reviews on Google.Hitting this milestone has given me a chance to reflect on the journey. While we’ve had plenty of wins our team is proud of, there have also been many mistakes and lessons along the way.In this episode, I’m sharing the five biggest takeaways I’ve learned in the past five years. Each year has come with its own challenges, scars, and valuable insights that have shaped both the business and me as a founder.Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Ontario, Canada, Sharuka’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2020, when she and her sister Navina turned a sewing machine and a passion for self-care into First Love—a brand rooted in fashion, wellness, and advocacy.What started with handmade silk scrunchies evolved into Everything Oil, a multipurpose hair and skin product Sharuka invested $20,000 of her own savings into. First Love has since been featured in Vogue three times and now focuses on making luxury wellness more accessible to immigrant and underserved communities.By 2024, First Love grew into a $50,000 business supported by a loyal customer base and a community initiative called Love Club.Today, Sharuka balances running the business, a part-time job, and her work as a creative director supporting other local founders—while staying committed to the belief that wellness and self-love are necessities.Sharuka is only 27 years old.Contact info:Website: https://shopfirstlove.ca/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop.firstlove/Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

From hiring friends to building scorecards and screening 120+ applicants — here’s how our hiring and onboarding process evolved across field and admin roles. What we got wrong, what we fixed, and what you can steal to make your next hire your best one yet. Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

This episode is for the entrepreneur at day one. After reflecting on my own journey, I’ve identified 7 key steps that helped me finally gain traction and move from idea to action. It took me a long time to figure things out — but my hope is that this episode can help you start stronger, avoid the stalls, and get your venture off the ground faster. Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Massachusetts, Matt dreamed of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.He started hustling early, launching a car detailing business at 13, proving his sales skills at 14 by selling a record-breaking 88 football booster cards, and leading an initiative as a 17 year old to raise $175,000 for cancer research in one night.His company Storage Scholars started in 2017 with $18,000, and has now grown into a $7 million in top-line revenue, serving 150 colleges nationwide.He was featured on Fox News Business, shared a stage with Daymond John at Wake Forest’s Face to Face Speaker Forum, and even secured an investment from Mark Cuban on Shark Tank.Matt is only 26 years old.Contact info:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-gronberg-aa1050188/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt_gronberg/?hl=enWebsite: https://www.storagescholars.com/Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

We're currently experiencing a period of growth at The To-Do Dudes as we begin expanding into new markets. With that, the challenges of project management have become more complex. What worked last year will not continue to work this year.In this episode, I share what we used to do and how our approach has evolved today.Leila Hormozi Podcast Reference: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LMPzKk2ylmz0nccR2HNK5Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

In this episode, I talk about going from zero customers to a few customers during our Daytona Beach expansion. Using Alex Hormozi’s strategy of his “Core Four” to get customers, I show how we have adopted this for our customer acquisition strategy. This episode is for those that are just starting a company, looking for more customers, or expanding into a new territory. Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

This episode is a bit different. As I reflect on Q1 of 2025, I’ve pulled together unfiltered audio memos and videos from throughout the quarter. To keep things raw and authentic, I only removed pauses to make your listening experience smoother.In this episode, I dive into:Why not fixing something that’s broken might actually be a good thingWhy kids may hate schoolWhy we should push even harder when we’re finding successHow Jesus fasting for 40 days and 40 nights gives us more strength than we realizeFind Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

In this video I will talk about goal setting that took us from a failing company losing money, to hitting our first profitable year in 2024 with an even better outlook for 2025. Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Canada, Shubs graduated from the Ivey Business School and began his career in Mergers & Acquisitions and Innovation Banking. He was also part of the founding team of a Y Combinator-backed startup.Now, Shubs is the Co-Founder of Sharpstakes, a seven-figure business that provides sports betting recommendations. Since launching, he has attracted over tens of thousands of users nationwide, has been recognized by SCCG Management’s prestigious “20 in Their 20s” list, and even secured a 2nd place finish at the Ivey Business Plan Competition, earning a $7,500 prize.Shubs is only 22 years old.Contact info:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shubskaushal/?originalSubdomain=caWebsite: https://www.sharpstakes.ca/Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Is your week filled with distractions, an unorganized schedule, or, worse, no clear plan at all?In this episode, I break down my Sunday strategy for setting up a productive week. With a few simple adjustments, I’ve seen a big improvement in my focus, efficiency, and overall direction.Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Five Founders on Hiring Employee #1In this episode, I sit down with five entrepreneurs under 30 to discuss their experiences hiring their first full-time employee. These founders come from diverse industries, including food, collectibles, and labor staffing.You’ll hear from:Finn Gomez – Detroit Salsa CompanyOlivia Gargett – OG’s BakeryChad Tjugum – Rarirty Coin MarketsAdam Green – StunioZach Richards – Caddy MovingFind Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Canyon grew up as a multifaceted athlete, playing both baseball and hockey.His entrepreneurial journey began in 2019 when, as a senior in high school, he started a landscaping company called CP Landscaping Services.In September 2020, he decided to pursue a degree in finance and real estate, enrolling at the University of Wisconsin.Towards the end of his college career, he launched a company called “Side Shift,” which began as a school project and has since grown into a business operating on 1,000 campuses with over 30,000 users.Since founding the company in January 2024, he has secured partnerships with brands like Doritos and Hot Sauce, raised over $200,000 in funding, and recently broke into the top 25 business apps on the App Store.Canyon is only 22 years old.Contact Info for Canyon:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/canyonpergande/Website: https://www.canyonpergande.com/Sideshift:Website: https://www.sideshift.app/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sideshift/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sideshiftapp?_t=8n18cjc5Eeh&_r=1Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sideshiftapp/Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Sebastian earned his BBA from Babson College, graduating with the prestigious Dean’s Award Platinum Pin.He started his career as a Social Media Manager at ERIFIXSocial, building digital strategies from the ground up.In the underground rap scene, he made a name for himself as CHESCO, battling his way up to landing a Red Bull sponsorship.He’s also an Airbnb property owner, proving that his business acumen extends far beyond marketing.But what really sets him apart is that he didn’t take the traditional startup route. No VC funding, no big investors, instead, he bootstrapped Interlix with nothing but sweat, sacrifice, and persistence.Sebastian went from rap battles to business battles, his journey is all about resilience, reinvention, and making it happen on his own terms.Sebastian is only 22 years oldContact info for Sebastian:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.franchesco.p/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/S.Franchesco.P/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SebastianFranchescoParedesInterlix Staffing Info:Website: https://www.interlixstaffing.comFind Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

In this episode, I share my thoughts on the ten phases of building the To-Do Dudes team - from hiring neighborhood kids to creating a structured leadership and efficient field team operation. Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Edina, Minnesota, Michael started his entrepreneurial journey at a young age by reselling vintage clothes.In 2021, while attending Grand Canyon University, he went on to co-founded Chewk’s Cookies. What began in a dorm room quickly grew into a thriving business with two food trucks, a storefront, and features in outlets like Phoenix New Times.After selling his share of the company in January of 2024, Michael is now the Wholesale Accounts Lead at Dodo Coffee Co. in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he’s bringing his passion for people and storytelling to the world of coffee.Michael is just 22 years old.Contact Info for Michael:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-blum-9a53a7270/Substack: https://substack.com/@cookieman18?r=4izwwb&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-pageChewk’s Cookies:Website: https://www.chewkscookies.com/Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Wyandotte, Michigan, Finn's journey began in middle school with a class assignment creating a pretend business. Inspired by his great-grandmother salsa recipe, he turned his idea into reality.Starting with local samples, it has grown into a storefront featured in 40 markets, including three Meijer stores.Finn has been featured on NPR, Fox 2 Detroit, along with other local news sources. Has been a competitor in the Michigan Founders Fund Summit, and a talented trumpeter performing with five ensembles, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Civic Youth Band.Now a senior at Michigan State University, Finn continues to impact his community and pursue his dreams.Finn is only 22 years old.Contact Info for Finn:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finn-gomez-728522199/Detroit Salsa Company:Website: https://www.detroitsalsa.comEmail: [email protected]: https://www.facebook.com/DetroitSalsaCo/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detroitsalsacoFind Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Hunter’s entrepreneurial journey began in 5th grade, selling snow cones, flipping Jordan sneakers, and turning Goodwill finds into eBay gold.While he started strong, his path wasn’t without challenges. Living with a learning disability and battling self-doubt, Hunter transformed these obstacles into fuel for his success.He went on to study Entrepreneurship at Ball State University, and during that time launched Simpler Living LLC with $250,000 in capital, a 300-person waiting list, and the opportunity to audition for Shark Tank.After graduation, Hunter managed 17 Jiffy Lube locations before transitioning to his current role as President of a company, working under the mentorship of leaders running $100M+ businesses. Hunter is just 25 years old.Contact Info for Hunter: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunterjbeale/ High School Hustle: Website: https://highschoolhustle.org/about Email: [email protected] Resources: Personalized AI note-taking: Plaud.ai Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Manitoba, Canada, Maddie began her entrepreneurial journey at 13, landing a fashion internship with Triple Flip after pitching her designs to over 150 businesses.By high school, she co-founded Social Clothing, transforming a class project celebrating Canadian traditions into a full-time passion.In 2020, Maddie launched MAD Social Agency as a side hustle, quickly scaling it into a thriving full-service marketing agency.Today, Maddie leads a 30-person team, boasts a LinkedIn following of 18,000, has completed over 400 projects across three countries, and holds a spot on Canada’s 30 Under 30.Maddie is just 23 years old.Contact Info for Maddie: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maddie-thompson-68188818b/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddie.theresa/?hl=en Mad Social Agency:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madsocialagency/?hl=en Website: https://www.madsocialagency.com/ Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Huntington Beach, California, Jake’s entrepreneurial journey began at just 8 years old, selling hockey tape outside his local rink. Over the years, he’s built six businesses, including JPS Surfboards and Chore Hub, which employed 180 students to serve over 3,000 homeowners annually.At the end of 2022, Jake launched Snow Scholars, connecting college students with homeowners needing help shoveling snow. His innovative vision caught national attention on Shark Tank Season 16, where he secured a $150,000 investment from Mark Cuban to scale the business. With plans to expand to 26 college towns by next year, the vision for Snow Scholars is just getting started.Jake is only 22 years old.Contact Info for Jake: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakejpiekarski/ Email: [email protected] Snow Scholars: Website: https://www.snowscholars.com/ Extra Links: JBS Surfboard Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVopD-ndBXw&t=163s&ab_channel=CARTERTH1 Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

In this episode, I’m sharing my personal journey with performance evaluations—what we got wrong at first, what we’re doing better now, and how we plan to level up in the future to build stronger leaders.I’ll break it down into three parts:What We Did at the Start: And why it didn’t work.What We Do Now: It’s better, but still a work in progress.Where We’re Going: The changes we’ll make to truly develop leaders.If you’re frustrated with not getting the best out of your team, wondering if your direction is even landing, or just starting to figure out performance reviews, this one’s for you.Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Justin grew up playing both basketball and football at a high level. In March 2022, he started attending Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, where he played Division II football.In 2023, Justin launched The Juice Products, inspired by his mom’s breast cancer diagnosis and the realization that many everyday products contain harmful chemicals.Since starting his business, Justin has been featured on local news, won thousands in pitch competitions, and focused on giving back to the next generation.Justin is just 20 years old.Contact Info JustinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-pruitt-763396270/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juiceteam_j/Contact Info The Juice ProductsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejuiceproducts/Website: https://thejuiceproducts.com/Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

From 2023 → 2024, I made five key changes that created for insightful takeaways. In this episode, I’m reflecting on those lessons and sharing the four adjustments I’m making to crush 2025. The new year is upon us—let’s make it the best one yet!Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Bogota, Colombia Daniel’s family moved to the U.S. in 2015 in search of a better future. In 2019, he began his journey at Stetson University, initially pursuing a career in medicine, but quickly realized it wasn’t for him.Faced with the pandemic challenges of 2020, Daniel made a bold pivot, switching his major to business and launching his startup, in December of that year.Since then, Daniel has achieved remarkable success, generating over 400k sales in the first three years and building a following of nearly 100,000 on social media.Daniel is just 23 years old.Contact Info:Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielprada9/Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pradauchiha/Website: https://pradauchiha.com/Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Egypt, Kiro’s journey to the US began after a devastating cybersecurity incident bankrupted his family’s multimillion-dollar business. Seeking a fresh start, Kiro moved to the US with a mountain of debt and a determination to rebuild.In 2019, he began raising awareness about cybersecurity, a field he was deeply passionate about. Just a year later, in 2020, he founded his own company, MetatechFL. Since then, Kiro has launched multiple successful businesses, wearing hats as the CEO, COO, and CTO. He has become a sought-after public speaker in the cybersecurity space and achieved three impressive business exits in the past three years, netting a total of 1.45 Million.Kiro is just 25 years old.Kiro's Contact InfoEmail: [email protected] Website: https://homelead.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirolos-abdalla/Show Resources: Traction (43:23): https://a.co/d/8ZGFx8fEOS Software (44:44): https://eosone.com/What the Heck is EOS? (45:30): https://a.co/d/7GZ6RbxFind Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

From East Lansing, Michigan, Adam grew up playing the piano, excelling in hockey, engaging in the political climate and nurturing a passion for entrepreneurship.In 2017, Adam began his journey at Michigan State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Political Science before completing his Law Degree in 2023.Midway through his college career, Adam launched his own company, aimed at connecting college students with local residents in need of an extra hand.Since then, Adam has achieved remarkable milestones. He’s competed in pitch competitions, winning thousands in awards, been featured on Fox News, 2,500+ jobs completed, has even delivered a TEDx presentation.Adam is just 25 years old.Adam's Contact Info:Website: https://www.stunio.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-green-ab685b197/Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

After 10 episodes of Built From Scratch, I took a moment to reflect on the highs and lows since founding The To-Do Dudes in 2020.In the past few years, we’ve served 2,500+ customers, completed over 5,000 projects, and earned 400+ 5-star Google reviews—all while growing revenue by 87% year over year.There’s still so much to learn, but this journey has been one I wouldn’t trade for anything.Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.