Built Around Here

Most people think being a leader means having the answers.

Brandon Downey makes a case for knowing what you don’t know—and surrounding yourself with people who can help you see it.

In Episode 3 of Built Around Here, the CEO and co-founder of Trilogy Innovations joins Daniel Fournier to talk about entrepreneurship, imposter syndrome, and growing into leadership without having everything figured out.

We talk about:

• Building relationships before you need something

• Asking for help and learning to delegate

• Why AI still needs human expertise

• The sacrifices and uncertainty behind building a business

• Creating opportunities through education and technology in West Virginia

Brandon shares why getting an answer isn’t always the same as understanding it—and how the people around you can change the way you approach both business and life.

If you’re building something, stepping into leadership, or wondering whether you belong in the room, this conversation is for you.

🎙️ Built Around Here
Conversations with the people building businesses, careers, and communities around us.

Presented by Booking Butler AI. When you’re busy doing the work, missed calls can become missed customers. Booking Butler helps your business answer calls and capture booking opportunities when you can’t pick up. See how it works: https://www.bookingbutler.ai/

Connect with Trilogy Innovations:
Website: https://www.trilogyit.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trilogy-innovations

Follow Daniel:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielfournierofficial/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanielFournierOfficial

Have a business or a story worth sharing? Apply to be a guest:
https://www.builtaroundhere.com/be-a-guest

Follow the show for more conversations with the people building things around here.

Most people think you need the whole plan before you start a business.

Miranda Chapman took the leap first and figured out the rest as she went.

She once planned to become a chiropractor. After becoming a mother, she took a flexible job with a local insurance agent and found something she had been looking for in healthcare: a way to help people. Eventually, she left to build Chapman Insurance Agency on her own.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What it took for Miranda to become an independent agency owner

• Why the cheapest insurance policy may leave out coverage you need

• What people often misunderstand about health, renters and life insurance

• Why customers have more options than they might think

• How AI can give an agency more time for people without replacing human judgment

Miranda shares the lessons she learned while building her business and explains why having someone who will actually talk through your options still matters.

If you’re building something before you feel ready—or you’ve ever wondered what your insurance really covers—this conversation is for you.

🎙️ Built Around Here
Conversations with the people building businesses, careers and communities around us.

Presented by Booking Butler AI. When you’re busy serving customers, every missed call could be a missed opportunity. Booking Butler helps your business answer calls and capture bookings even when you can’t pick up. See how it works: https://www.bookingbutler.ai/

Connect with Miranda and Chapman Insurance Agency:
Website: https://www.insuremecia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirandachapmaninsurance/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miranda-chapman-025ab263

Want to share your story on Built Around Here? Apply to be a guest: https://www.builtaroundhere.com/be-a-guest

Follow the show for more conversations with the people building things around here.

This conversation is for general information, not individualized insurance advice.

Most people think careers are supposed to make sense while you’re living them.They usually don’t.Kristen Malone went from sales → wealth management → nonprofit work → running her own marketing company.And a lot of the things that ended up building her business weren’t things she originally planned to monetize at all.In this episode, we talk about:Why doing work for free can sometimes be one of the smartest ways to build experienceHow sales teaches you skills that transfer into almost everythingWhy your weird career detours might actually become your advantageHow Kristen uses AI without outsourcing the thinkingWhy white-glove service and real human interaction are becoming more valuableBuilding trust instead of chasing short-term winsHow to learn new skills when nobody is giving you a roadmapWhat actually happens when you leave the “safe” career path and build something yourselfKristen also explains how volunteering and pro bono work gave her the portfolio and relationships that eventually helped launch her marketing career.And we get into something I think more businesses are going to realize over the next few years:Technology should make your customer experience better — not give you an excuse to stop caring about customers.Kristen makes a strong case for investing in people, customer service, and the kind of white-glove experience that’s getting harder to find.If you’re building a business, changing careers, or figuring things out as you go, this one is for you.🎙️ Built Around HereConversations with the people building businesses, careers, and communities around us.Presented by Booking Butler AIFollow the podcast:https://www.instagram.com/danielfournierofficial/https://open.spotify.com/show/5Hhllex7yXsvGdKSdSUGD6https://www.facebook.com/DanielFournierOfficialhttps://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@DanielFournierOfficial⁩  https://x.com/therealdanfourWant to be a guest?Own a business or have a story worth sharing?Apply here: https://www.builtaroundhere.com/be-a-guestFollow Kristen Malone Marketing:https://christenmalone.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/christen-malone/Booking Butler AI:https://www.bookingbutler.ai/https://www.instagram.com/bookingbutler/https://www.facebook.com/BookingButlerAISubscribe for more conversations with the people building things around here.