Built By Me Podcast

Thinking about buying a franchise? 🤔 Franchise consultant Lisa Linkowsky (@MilestoneFranchising) joins the Built By Me Podcast to spill the tea on the REAL world of franchising.

In this episode (Ep. 2), Taina and Mo dive deep with Lisa, covering everything from surprising franchise industries (pet waste disposal?! 🤯) and the actual costs involved ($50K to $3.5M+) to the hard truths about whether franchise ownership is the right path for you. Lisa shares critical advice for aspiring franchisees and business owners considering franchising their own concepts, based on her years of experience.

Learn:
✅ The most unexpected franchise industries you never knew existed
✅ The #1 question to ask yourself before franchising your own business
✅ The biggest mistakes people make when buying or starting a franchise
✅ Why having the right structure and avoiding shortcuts is crucial
✅ How franchises offer a unique support system ("think tank")
✅ The real costs and financial runway needed for success

Is franchising a shortcut to success or a demanding venture requiring serious grit? Tune in to find out!

Connect with Lisa:
https://www.milestonefranchising.com @MilestoneFranchising

In this episode, hosts Taina and Mo introduce the second season of the Built By Me Podcast. They share exciting updates, including an increase in episode count to 25, a mix of in-person and virtual interviews, and a broader range of topics such as customer-driven growth, AI, and more. They express gratitude to their listeners and invite audience participation for future content ideas. Follow them on social media for updates and giveaways, and get ready for an engaging new season!

00:00 Welcome to Season Two!

00:27 Meet Your Hosts

00:50 Exciting Plans for Season Two

01:27 Diving into AI and Technology

02:15 Engage with Us!

03:30 Get Ready for Giveaways

03:45 Conclusion and Farewell

In this special end-of-season episode, Taina and Mo look back on the incredible first year of the Built By Me Podcast. It's been an exciting ride from launching the show to featuring 21 amazing guests and reaching 700 downloads! They share some memorable moments, thank the guests for their insights, and express heartfelt gratitude to the listeners and community for their support.

As a token of appreciation, they're giving away a $100 Amazon gift card to one lucky subscriber! All you need to do is subscribe, like, and comment on the latest episode. Plus, get ready for more exciting giveaways in 2025!

Looking ahead, Season 2 promises even more amazing guests, new topics, and collaborations. The mission remains the same: to inspire and support entrepreneurs. Thank you for being part of this journey, and here’s to a bright, successful new year!

In this episode of the Built By Me Podcast, hosts Taina and Mo are joined by Sid Graef, owner of Spectrum Window Cleaning and host of The Huge Convention. Sid shares his incredible journey from starting a business with minimal resources to building a thriving company centred on leadership, community, and automation. Learn his strategies for scaling a business, building a solid team, and overcoming failure.

Key Takeaways:

• The power of working on your business, not in it.
• How to scale effectively using automation and referrals.
• The importance of clear core values in building a team.
• Overcoming failure by learning from your mistakes.
• Leveraging reviews and social proof for growth.

Subscribe to the Built By Me Podcast on your favourite platform, leave us a review, and follow us on YouTube for exclusive content. Don’t miss future episodes packed with actionable tips for entrepreneurs!

In this episode of the Built By Me Podcast, hosts Taina and Mo sit down with Daniel Myers, Director of Field Operations at FieldPulse. Daniel shares his journey from working in the trades to helping businesses transform through technology and automation. With over 20 years of hands-on experience, Daniel offers insights into how automation is reshaping field service businesses and improving operations, customer satisfaction, and profitability.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of meeting customers where they are with modern tech solutions.
• How automation in field service management saves time and improves scalability.
• Breaking habits: Overcoming resistance to new technology in trades.
• The future of AI and its role in predictive analytics for service businesses.
• Tips for starting and growing a service business sustainably.

Subscribe to the Built By Me Podcast on your favourite platform, leave us a review, and follow us on YouTube for exclusive content. Don’t forget to enter our $100 Amazon gift card giveaway by subscribing to our YouTube channel!

In this insightful episode of the Built By Me Podcast, we sit down with Angela Schroeder, founder and CEO of Unique Genius Virtual Assistance. Angela shares her entrepreneurial journey from running a dance studio to creating a thriving VA agency that empowers entrepreneurs to focus on what they do best by delegating the rest.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Angela’s Journey: Learn how Angela’s passion for helping others succeed led to the creation of Unique Genius and why delegation has been a key to her success.
• Operating in Your Unique Genius: Discover the importance of identifying your strengths, understanding what lights you up, and delegating tasks that don’t align with your mission.
• Building a Remote Team: Angela explains how to create a strong culture for remote employees, including training, collaboration, and fostering connection among team members.
• AI and Business Efficiency: Dive into the transformative role of AI in enhancing the productivity of virtual assistants and why staying ahead of technology is essential for entrepreneurs.
• Overcoming Misconceptions: Angela addresses common myths about outsourcing and virtual assistants, such as concerns over quality, time zones, and security.
• Real-Life Success Stories: Hear inspiring examples of how Angela’s clients have leveraged virtual assistants to reclaim their time, improve customer experiences, and drive business growth.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur overwhelmed with tasks, a business owner looking to scale, or simply curious about the role of virtual assistants, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you delegate smarter and achieve more.

Key Takeaways:

1. Delegating tasks to virtual assistants allows entrepreneurs to focus on their core strengths, leading to faster growth and greater satisfaction.
2. Building a collaborative and supportive remote team culture is vital for success.
3. Leveraging AI tools can exponentially increase productivity and efficiency.
4. It’s never too early to hire a VA; most business owners wish they had started sooner.
5. The right VA can take ownership of processes, improve customer satisfaction, and boost revenue—sometimes paying for themselves in just weeks!

Connect with Angela Schroeder: 🌐 Unique Genius Virtual Assistance
📱 Social: @AngelaBangsSchroeder

Connect with Built By Me Podcast: Instagram: @BuiltByMePodcast
Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review to help more entrepreneurs like you!

In this episode of the Built By Me Podcast, we sit down with Ryan Englin, CEO of Core Matters, to discuss the biggest challenges in hiring and retaining hourly employees. Ryan shares insights on building a winning company culture, designing a recruiting system that works, and why attracting employees is just like marketing to customers.

🎯 Key Takeaways:

• Recruiting is a marketing activity: Craft your job postings like customer ads.
• Build a “bench” of ready-to-hire candidates.
• Employees don’t leave jobs—they leave people.
• Culture isn’t perks—it’s alignment between leadership and employee goals.
• A well-structured hiring process leads to better retention.

If you're struggling to find quality talent or reduce turnover, this episode is packed with strategies to transform your hiring process.

🔗 Resources:

• Learn more about Core Matters: corematters.com
• Get Ryan’s book: corematters.com/freebook

In this episode of the Built By Me Podcast, we welcome entrepreneur and home service expert Colin DeHaan (Cowboy Colin) who shares valuable insights into scaling home service businesses. With over 2,000 applications for his Gutter Launch program, Colin discusses the importance of selflessness in leadership, overcoming pride, and the nuances between coaching and program sales. Dive into this episode for impactful stories and practical advice that can help you grow your business and achieve that entrepreneurial freedom you've always dreamed of!

Key Takeaways:

1. Recognizing and overcoming pride is crucial for business growth.
2. Selflessness is a core quality of effective leaders; those who focus on helping others succeed tend to thrive.
3. Competition can create market awareness and increased demand for services.
4. A clear company vision and willingness to unlearn bad habits sets successful entrepreneurs apart.
5. Understanding the right mindset and current market conditions is key to success in saturated markets.

Notable Quotes:

• “The only reason you think you can't do it is because you think you can't do it.”
• “Dying to themselves and just understanding how little they actually know is a big part of the pride.”
• “Win bigly so that we can give bigly.”

In this episode of the Built By Me Podcast, we sit down with Curt Kempton, founder of ResponsiBid, to talk about the ups, downs, and everything in between when it comes to running a seasonal business. Curt shares how he went from window cleaning to creating a software platform that’s helping home service businesses everywhere scale and succeed.  

From embracing the challenges of seasonality to using automation to lighten the load, Curt’s advice is real, relatable, and packed with insights you can put into action right away. Whether you’re running a business or just curious about what it takes to build something sustainable, you’ll love this conversation!  

Key Takeaways:
- Embrace the Seasons: Fighting the natural highs and lows of your business? Curt says: stop. Lean into them and plan your downtime wisely.  
- Budget for Peace of Mind: Planning ahead means you can take on unexpected expenses without breaking a sweat—and maybe even enjoy that vacation you’ve been putting off.  
- Automation for the Win: AI and automation aren’t just buzzwords. They’re the secret to scaling without burning out your team (or yourself).  
- Customers Come First: Fast, reliable service is a must. Your customers deserve it, and your business depends on it.  

Memorable Quotes:  
- "Don’t wish it was easier; wish you were better."  
- "When you budget right, you’re bulletproof."  
- "Automation ramps up fast and scales even faster—it’s a game-changer."  

Why Listen:
Curt keeps it real about the challenges of running a business and how to stay ahead without losing your sanity. His mix of humour, honesty, and hard-earned wisdom will inspire you to take your business to the next level—whether that’s by embracing the seasons, getting serious about your budget, or finally giving automation a shot.  

Follow Us:
Love what you’re hearing? Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn, subscribe to the Built By Me Podcast, and leave a 5-star review. We appreciate you! ❤️

In this inspiring episode of Built By Me, hosts Mo and Taina visit Terra Nova Nordic Spa in Woodstock, Ontario, and sit down with Jodi Pendry, founder and visionary behind the wellness retreat. Jodi’s journey from a life of farming and competitive horseback riding to creating a serene, nature-inspired spa is filled with perseverance, resourcefulness, and community support. Tune in as she shares how she turned a dream into reality through hard work, resilience, and a little creativity.

Key Takeaways:

• Background and Inspiration: Jodi’s roots in farm life and her transition from massage therapy to opening a Nordic spa.
• Overcoming Obstacles: The challenges Jodi faced with financing and launching Terra Nova during the pandemic and how she found innovative ways to keep building.
• Creating a Unique Spa Experience: Insights into Terra Nova’s design, the importance of a peaceful, natural setting, and how the spa aims to provide a holistic retreat experience.
• The Role of Community: How community support and word of mouth have been essential for Terra Nova’s growth.
• Advice for Entrepreneurs: Jodi’s take on the importance of perseverance, trusting your vision, and taking challenges one step at a time.

Memorable Quotes:

• “Every time you go to do something, it’s a little bit more difficult, a little bit longer time. Perseverance. Stick with your gut, put your head down.”
• “If I stay true to what I’m wanting to create, people will come. We all look for a bit of a community to be part of.”

Connect with Terra Nova Nordic Spa:

• Website: TerraNova.com
• Instagram: @TerraNovaNordicSpa
• Facebook: Terra Nova Nordic Spa

Listen Now:
Join us for a heartfelt conversation with Jodi Pendry on creating a space of relaxation, resilience, and community in the world of wellness. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!