Founder2Founder with Aaron Spivak

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Keida Dervishi, the 23-year-old founder of Soulmate Customs, a custom embroidery brand that hit $1 million in revenue in under 11 months without spending a dollar on ads. What started as a hoodie gift for her mom’s birthday quickly turned into a viral business powered by emotional storytelling and relentless content creation.

Keida shares how growing up in an immigrant household shaped her drive, how she transitioned from child star in Albania to business builder, and what it’s like leading a fast-scaling brand at such a young age. From hiring mistakes, to burnout, staying grounded, to posting 40+ times a day, this conversation is a real look at what it takes to scale with zero shortcuts.

Chapters:
02:08 – Growing Up in an Entrepreneurial Household
03:47 – From Child Star to Burnout on Stage
05:43 – Accidentally Entering Entrepreneurship
07:00 – The Hoodie Gift That Started Soulmate Custom
09:58 – Viral Launch and Selling Out Within Days
11:32 – No Strategy, Just Action: Early Days of Posting
12:37 – Moving Out of Her Bedroom to Scale Fulfillment
13:02 – First TikTok Lives and Learning to Sell
14:22 – Hiring Challenges and Missteps
15:45 – The Family Business Breakdown: Who Does What
16:37 – Discovering Her Why: The Fear That Fuels Her
18:01 – A Breakthrough Moment at Founders Club
19:04 – The Realities of Building While Your Parents Age
21:10 – Navigating Burnout, Routines, and Sleep Struggles
23:10 – Posting 40+ Times a Day: Pressure and Purpose
25:12 – Why Consistency Is Her Superpower
27:21 – Leading a Team as the Youngest in the Room
30:44 – Building Confidence and Letting Go of Limiting Beliefs
34:11 – Embracing Embarrassment to Achieve Greatness
35:27 – What Keeps Her Going: Live Calls with Customers
38:47 – Giving Credit Where It’s Due and Admiring the Work
41:38 – What’s Next for Soulmate Customs
44:45 – Learning to Let Go as the Business Grows
49:28 – Curating Her Circle and Protecting Her Environment
54:25 – Working With Her Brother and Navigating Family Tension
57:22 – What She’d Tell Her 9-Year-Old Self

Guest Links:
Website: https://soulmatecustoms.com/
Instagram: @SoulmateCustoms
@Keida02

Kintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwide

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Heath Wolfson, serial entrepreneur and founder of FrontCare, a creator-powered telehealth platform. With a 20-year track record of building businesses across safety, media, and health, Heath shares how he’s repeatedly turned market inefficiencies into high-growth ventures.

He opens up about navigating failure, executing without outside capital, and spotting cultural trends before they explode. From launching Tattoo Nation in shopping malls to scaling one of Facebook’s biggest publishing engines, Heath now turns his focus to reshaping healthcare access through affiliate-driven telehealth.

Chapters:
 02:49 – Early Life, College, and First Entrepreneurial Sparks
 03:57 – A Practical Approach to Entrepreneurship
 04:58 – The First Business: Event Marketing in NYC
 06:35 – Lessons from a Short-Lived Nightlife Venture
 07:51 – A Quick Detour at Morgan Stanley
 08:52 – Bringing Tattoo Parlors to Shopping Malls
 10:35 – Navigating Regulations in Traditional Retail
 12:45 – The 2008 Crash and a Failed Expansion
 13:56 – Forgetting a $100M Success: Glow-in-the-Dark Safety
 15:56 – Getting a Law Passed and Building a Manufacturing Deal
 17:19 – How a Nightlife Job Led to a Fortune
 19:22 – Partnership, Production, and Exit to a National Brand
 21:49 – Real-Time Pattern Recognition and Risk
 22:32 – Understanding Market Timing and Survival
 24:11 – Acquiring Inked Magazine and Going Omnichannel
 25:36 – The Birth of Facebook E-Commerce
 27:00 – Owning and Monetizing Massive Facebook Pages
 28:38 – Cambridge Analytica Fallout and Platform Risk
 30:51 – Why Timing is Everything in Business
 32:22 – The Dangers of Scaling Too Fast
 33:42 – Zooming Out: Lessons Over Two Decades
 34:46 – Transitioning from Media to Health
 35:38 – Accidentally Overdosing on Ozempic
 37:48 – Experiencing the Power of GLP-1s Firsthand
 39:21 – Bootstrapping a Brick-and-Mortar Weight Loss Clinic
 40:51 – Selling Telehealth Models to Founders and Creators
 43:11 – Breaking Down the Legal Fight Between Compounders and Big Pharma
 44:36 – Making Health an Empowered Conversation for Creators
 45:52 – Building a Trust-Based Health Affiliate Ecosystem
 47:31 – Quality Control and Compliance in Telehealth
 48:45 – Inside the FrontCare “Clinic as a Service” Model
 49:46 – Helping Gyms, Salons & Clinics Monetize Wellness
 50:38 – Legacy Thinking and the Next Chapter
 52:26 – Advice to His 17-Year-Old Self: Buy Real Estate
 53:56 – Why Money is a Tool, Not a Destination
 55:07 – Empowering Through Access and Ownership

Guest Links:
LinkedIn: Heath Wolfson

Kintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwide

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Brett Eaton, keynote speaker, high performance coach, and author of Uncomfortable Either Way. After a life-changing back injury and the loss of his father at 16, Brett discovered a powerful truth: life is going to be uncomfortable no matter what, so choose the version that leads to growth.

He shares the frameworks behind his success, including the game-changing “Sunday Setup,” how to spot self-sabotage in real time, and why founders must upgrade their relationship with discomfort and money. This conversation is packed with raw honesty and practical takeaways for anyone serious about building a life that lasts.

Chapters:
02:14 – Brett’s Origin Story: Injury, Loss, and a New Lens
03:46 – Sports, Hustle, and Learning to Love the Grind
05:10 – When Patience Becomes an Excuse
06:34 – Living in 90-Day Sprints
08:01 – Gamifying Progress to Stay Consistent
09:38 – Who Actually Needs a Coach?
11:06 – Bad Coaching Investments & What to Watch For
12:56 – Transitioning Out of Fitness-Only Coaching
14:27 – Starting with Strengths, Not Weaknesses
15:36 – Taking a Life Inventory
17:00 – Learning While You’re Winning
19:08 – The Full Sunday Setup Breakdown
21:50 – Identifying Weekly Landmines
24:59 – If It’s Not on the Calendar, It’s Not Real
27:06 – Why Founders Must Prioritize Energy
29:27 – The “F*ck It” Button: Spotting Self-Sabotage
33:43 – The Comfort Trap
34:40 – The Cost of Coasting: Blockbuster Syndrome
37:48 – Embracing the Good Old Days While You’re In Them
39:32 – Being Young vs. Being Present
40:45 – “I’m in My Prime”: A New Morning Mantra
41:49 – What Comfort Really Signals
45:14 – Why Brett Finally Wrote the Book
47:27 – Money Mindset & Unlearning Limiting Beliefs
50:38 – Facing the Numbers & Taking Control
54:25 – Surrounding Yourself with People Who Talk About Money
1:01:31 – One Honest Question That Changed the Game
1:05:12 – Advice to His 16-Year-Old Self

Guest Links:
Website: www.bretteaton.com
Instagram: @bretteaton_
YouTube: @bretteaton_

Kintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwide

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder Aaron Spivak sits down with Lucy Nelles, leading community-building expert and co-founder of Coffee & Chill Miami, the wildly popular bi-weekly sober wellness party that now draws over 1,000 guests per event. With over 100 sold-out events and collaborations with top global brands, Lucy has cracked the code on making in-person gatherings profitable, scalable, and deeply impactful.

She shares how she went from feeling isolated in a new city to building a movement, and now teaches others to do the same through her program, Community Mastery. Listen in for insights on team structure, brand partnerships, pricing strategy, and how to build meaningful connections without alcohol.

Chapters:
02:14 – Introducing Lucy: From Isolation to Community
03:46 – The Move to Miami & Early Challenges
04:34 – The First Event That Sparked It All
05:10 – Ice Baths, Stock Tanks & the Rise of a Trend
06:59 – How Coffee & Chill Was Born
08:03 – Losing $10K on One Event (and What She Learned)
09:30 – The #1 Mistake Event Hosts Make
11:00 – The First Coffee & Chill: JBL Speakers & 250 Guests
12:38 – Gradually Raising Ticket Prices & Building Trust
13:57 – Driving Repeat Attendance Every Two Weeks
16:24 – Special Collaborations: Art Basel, F1, NFL
17:18 – How Lucy and Her Co-Founder Divide and Conquer
19:39 – Keeping a Healthy Co-Founder Relationship
21:06 – Investing in Learning for Herself and Her Team
24:28 – Launching Community Mastery to Serve Others
26:09 – Balancing Two Businesses Without Burnout
27:37 – Time-Blocking, Non-Negotiables, and Systems
30:26 – Expanding Coffee & Chill Into New Cities
31:45 – How to Stand Out in a “Saturated” Market
33:31 – Rethinking Nightlife: No Booze, All Wellness
38:54 – Why Lucy Quit Drinking and What Changed
43:07 – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Through Results
45:45 – The Bigger Mission: Building In-Person Culture

Guest Links:
Website: https://coffeeandchill.com/
Instagram: @luceilanelles & @coffeeandchillmiami

Kintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwide

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Chris Mead, co-founder of CROSSNET and Founders Club, for his most open and personal conversation to date. From a small Connecticut town, to building one of the fastest-growing backyard sports brands in America, Chris unpacks the highs, lows, and lessons of scaling a startup from scratch.

They dive into the origins of CROSSNET, the $1M mistake during an acquisition, the toll of leadership decisions, and how those experiences shaped the vision for Founders Club. If you’re navigating the founder journey, this episode is packed with the kind of honest insights you won’t get anywhere else.

Chapters:
 02:49 – Growing Up in Small-Town Connecticut
 04:40 – From Film School, to HBO, to Burnout
 06:30 – Learning Amazon Dropshipping in College
 08:26 – Fired, Broke, and Starting Over at Uber
 12:49 – Inventing CROSSNET in a Backyard
 15:06 – Quitting Jobs and Moving to Miami
 17:49 – Going All-In with Marketing
 19:21 – $87K to $9.8M: CROSSNET’s Hockey Stick Growth
 21:30 – The Year Everything Went Wrong
 25:19 – The Mistake of Not Cutting Fast Enough
 28:10 – Trusting the Wrong CFO and Losing Sight
 30:01 – The Acquisition That Fell Apart
 33:50 – Picking the Wrong Buyer for the Wrong Reasons
 35:10 – The Second Exit: Why Vivier Was the Right Fit
 38:15 – What He’d Tell His Younger Self
 42:04 – Why He Wouldn’t Change a Thing
 42:46 – Building Founders Club from Scratch
 46:41 – What Makes the Community Work
 49:29 – There’s No Real Community for Founders… Until Now
 51:07 – What a Great Member Looks Like
 54:10 – Building a Life Beyond the Business
 57:15 – Relationships Compound Like Capital
 58:19 – Founders Forum and the Future of Events
 1:00:51 – The Long-Term Vision for Founders Club
 1:06:49 – Why This Will Never Be a Suit-and-Tie Club

Guest Links:
Instagram: @crossnetgame & @chrismeade
Website: https://vivereltd.com/pages/crossnet

Kintsugi: The AI-powered tax compliance platform trusted by over 3,000 companies worldwide

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this special episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify, for a no-fluff, behind-the-scenes conversation recorded live with over 100 Founders Club members. Harley unpacks the deep connection between personal identity and building lasting companies, while discussing how founders can grow smarter and why success demands unshakable character and long-term thinking.

This isn’t a surface-level chat, Harley dives into the psychological drivers behind great founders, how AI is changing hiring and operations, and why you should fire yourself before it’s too late. He shares tactical insights on platform strategy, what Shopify looks for in celebrity-led brands, and how to build a company that’s authentic, resilient, and scalable. From DJing at 13, to leading one of the most iconic tech companies globally, Harley’s founder journey is packed with clarity and conviction that every entrepreneur can learn from.

Chapters:
 01:28 – Balancing Personal Brand vs. Business Brand
 06:49 – Why Founders Must Go Direct (and Skip Legacy Media)
 07:27 – 3 Traits of the Most Successful Brands
 12:45 – How AI is Replacing Full-Time Roles at Shopify
 14:20 – Growing Firebelly Tea with Fewer People and More Energy
 15:47 – Hire Founders, Not Résumés
 17:44 – Why Shopify is Run by Founders (and How That Works)
 19:06 – Harley’s Grandfather & Building with Character
 23:49 – Work-Life Integration & Founders in Relationships
 28:11 – Daily Habits, Self-Awareness & Why Harley Meditates
 31:29 – The Only Meetings Harley Never Misses
 34:38 – When Shopify Builds In-House vs. Letting Apps Thrive
 40:35 – What Business Are You Really In? Harley Coaches a Founder Live
 46:12 – How to Stop Losing DTC Sales to Amazon
 50:01 – Why It Doesn’t Matter Where the Sale Happens
 50:44 – Shopify’s Celebrity Strategy (It’s Not About Fame)
 55:50 – Harley’s Final Ask: Help a Founder IPO

Guest Links:
Instagram: @Harley & @Shopify
Website: https://www.shopify.com

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Steve Schwartz, Master Tea Blender, best-selling author, and founder of Art of Tea—an award-winning tea brand based in Los Angeles. After dropping out of college to care for his mother, Steve discovered Ayurvedic medicine and began a journey that would take him across the globe sourcing and blending the world’s finest teas.

Starting with $2,500 in credit card debt, Steve built a vertically integrated company that now supplies iconic restaurants and hotels. He shares how he turned tragedy into purpose, created the U.S.’s first tea sommelier role, and built a legacy-focused business with intention and heart.

Chapters:
02:32 – Losing His Mother and the Awakening of Purpose
04:11 – Discovering Ayurveda and the Art of Botanical Blending
06:23 – The Truth About Supermarket Tea
07:12 – The Power of Ritual: Why Tea Is Not Just a Beverage
08:52 – Choosing Steady Growth Over the Hockey Stick
11:03 – Building with a Multi-Generational Vision
12:35 – American Flips vs. Eastern Longevity Thinking
14:40 – Why Art of Tea Avoids Supermarkets
16:03 – Creating the First Tea Sommelier Position in the U.S.
17:22 – Expanding Art of Tea to the East Coast
19:13 – Controlling Quality Through Vertical Integration
21:16 – Coaching vs. Babysitting: Leadership Lessons
22:12 – The Daily Work of Unlearning Scarcity
25:37 – Childhood Scarcity and the Roots of Limiting Beliefs
28:08 – From Rabbi Aspirations to Global Tea Advocate
30:00 – Smiling as Strategy
33:14 – The Power of Giving Before You Receive
36:44 – Parenting, Abundance, and Entrepreneurial Mindsets
39:58 – Why Entrepreneurship Is the Best Way to Live
43:30 – Creating Safe Spaces for Founders to Be Real
45:29 – Betting on Himself With a Baby on the Way
47:09 – Filling an Org Chart by Removing Himself
50:11 – DJ Fails and the Power of Vulnerability
53:01 – The Real Reason People Join Founder’s Club
54:06 – Building Grit in the Next Generation
55:46 – One Day a Week Off: Shabbat as a Business Advantage
57:12 – What His Late Mother Would Say Now
59:14 – A Message to His 20-Year-Old Self
1:00:33 – The Power of Trust Over Fear
1:03:19 – What He Wants to Be Remembered For
1:05:53 – Getting Out of Your Own Way
1:07:20 – What’s Actually Going On With Matcha
1:11:39 – Matcha Sourcing Crisis and the Japan Trip That Changed It
1:13:55 – The Matcha Trend Explained
1:18:06 – Closing Reflections on Legacy and Leadership

Guest Links:
Website: https://www.artoftea.com/
Instagram: @artofteala  @steveschwarx
LinkedIn: Art Of Tea   Steve Schwartz

FERMÀT: The AI native commerce platform that optimizes shopping experiences, leading to best-in-class shopper engagement and conversion. FermatCommerce.com 

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Megan Klein, founder of Little Saints, the sugar-free, mushroom-powered non-alcoholic cocktails and spirits brand redefining the way we drink. A former environmental attorney turned two-time brand founder, Megan’s journey is one of radical pivots, personal reinvention, and unshakable self-belief. She shares how she went from shutting down her first startup to investing her last million, selling her own apartment to fund it, and scaling Little Saints to $9.6M in revenue without traditional VC backing.

Megan opens up about her lowest moments, from navigating loneliness during the pandemic, to hitting $10 in her personal bank account, and the turning point that came from trusting her own intuition over outside “expert” advice. She dives into how plant medicine shaped her leadership style, the hard lessons of Shark Tank, and why aligning brand growth with personal growth has been the foundation of her success. This is an unfiltered conversation on grit, discernment, and building a category-defining CPG brand on your own terms.

Chapters:
02:21 – From Lawyer to Rooftop Farming
04:51 – The Fog of Misalignment in Corporate Life
07:41 – Equity-Only Hustle at Farmed Here
08:22 – Building The Fresh Factory from a Failed Startup
11:42 – Fundraising Lessons from the First Business
12:35 – Investing Her Own $1M to Start Little Saints
14:37 – The Solo Founder Reality During the Pandemic
16:42 – Hemp Silk Cocktail Masks: The First Little Saints Product
18:05 – The Dry January Experiment That Sparked the Brand
21:00 – Discovering Ayahuasca and Plant Medicine’s Impact
28:55 – Quitting Alcohol for Good
32:39 – Going All-In with DTC
36:09 – Selling Assets to Save the Business
39:50 – Crisis Summer: Cancellation, Family Emergency, and Cash Shortage
41:06 – Unlearning the Need for Outside Approval
46:57 – Filming Shark Tank and Walking Away from the Deal
51:01 – Scaling from $100K to $9.6M in Three Years
53:17 – Laying the Foundation for $20M+ Growth
56:53 – Using Plant Medicine to Become a Better Leader
59:08 – Radical Feedback from the Team
1:03:26 – Little Saints Dirty Martini Demo
1:07:20 – Building in Miami and Creating the Little Saints House
1:11:32 – In-Person vs. Remote Team Dynamics
1:13:08 – What December 2020 Megan Would Be Most Proud Of
1:16:03 – Message to a 16-Year-Old Megan
1:18:39 – Blending Personal Development with Business Growth
1:21:31 – Choosing Alignment Over Short-Term Gains
1:22:23 – Where to Buy Little Saints

Guest Links:
Website: littlesaints.com
Instagram: @littlesaintsco
LinkedIn: Little Saints

Fully Accountable: Mention this ad and have your onboarding fees waived at https://fullyaccountable.com

FERMÀT: The AI native commerce platform that optimizes shopping experiences, leading to best-in-class shopper engagement and conversion. FermatCommerce.com 

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this special episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak brings you an unfiltered masterclass with legendary entrepreneur and investor, Mark Cuban. Recorded live for members of The Founders Club, this exclusive session covers Cuban's raw insights on building billion-dollar companies, the unglamorous truths of scaling, and how AI is rewriting the rules for modern founders. From sleeping on floors to exiting for $5.7 billion, Cuban reflects on his journey and the mindsets that separate the winners from everyone else.

Mark doesn’t hold back; he dives into why founders should stop glamorizing fundraising, how sales always win over hype, and the one habit that will leave your competition behind. He shares honest perspectives on balancing relationships and business, the brutal reality of hiring the wrong CEO, and how to futureproof your company in the age of AI. Whether you’re bootstrapping or scaling fast, this episode is packed with tactical clarity and real founder-to-founder advice.

Chapters:
 01:40 – Why Personal Brands Are Overrated
 03:15 – The One Trait All Successful Founders Share
 05:45 – Sales First, Always
 07:40 – Raising Capital Is Not an Accomplishment
 09:34 – Work-Life Balance? Wait Until You're Winning
 12:20 – How AI Is Changing the Game (and Why You Can’t Delegate It)
 15:00 – How Founders Should Be Learning AI Right Now
 17:15 – When to Sell (Even If You're Loving the Business)
 20:00 – Why College Accreditation Is Fundamentally Broken
 22:00 – What’s Next for Higher Education in an AI World
 24:00 – Why You Should Think Twice Before Publishing Anything
 25:55 – Should You Hold Back Expansion When Prepping for Exit?
 27:40 – Launching Into Sports Partnerships the Smart Way
 29:45 – Niche Product? Why You Should Be More Expensive
 32:10 – When It’s Time to Hire an External CEO
 34:30 – How Mark Leverages ChatGPT in Real Business Decisions
 36:20 – Fundraising in a Tough Market: Take the Money or Bridge?
 39:00 – Handling Tariffs and Scaling Beyond Local Markets
 41:00 – One Simple Daily Habit That Pays Big Mental Returns
 44:55 – Should You Expand Your Product Line or Focus Deeper?
 47:15 – Promoting Internally vs Hiring for Scale
 49:45 – Equity Strategy: What’s Too Much, What’s Too Little
 52:30 – The Belief Cuban Had to Unlearn About Leadership
 54:50 – "Don’t Be a-”: A Founding Principle That Pays
 55:45 – What Every Founder Needs to Learn About Healthcare Costs
 57:15 – Mark’s Final Word: Keep Showing Up

Guest Links:
Instagram: @mcuban
TikTok: @mcuban

Fully Accountable: Mention this ad and have your onboarding fees waived at https://fullyaccountable.com

FERMÀT: The AI native commerce platform that optimizes shopping experiences, leading to best-in-class shopper engagement and conversion. FermatCommerce.com 

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast

In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Larysa Nakonecznyj, CEO of Nako Creative, an award-winning digital marketing agency known for driving measurable results through innovation and tailored strategy. With a background in communications and advertising, Larysa has helped global brands grow fast and grow smart. She’s been recognized with the 2024 Global Recognition Award and was nominated for the Women Empowerment Foundation’s “Rising Star” award.

Larysa unpacks the exact moment her path shifted after a single shift waiting tables, and how she walked away from law school to build something of her own. She shares the story behind her first pitch, scaling too fast, bouncing back from burnout, and the mindset work that’s kept her going. This conversation is a powerful look at what it takes to build a solo agency to seven figures while staying grounded in vision and values.

Chapters:
01:40 – Realizing She Wasn’t Meant to Work for Anyone
03:23 – First Corporate Job & Red Flags
04:59 – The Shift at The Keg That Changed Everything
06:12 – Pitching an Agency She Hadn’t Built Yet
07:33 – The Woman Who Believed in Her First
08:33 – Faking a Florida Trip to Buy Time
09:38 – Where Her Standard for Excellence Comes From
11:29 – Walking Away From Law School
12:57 – Breaking the News to a Traditional Family
14:10 – Seeing Opportunity Everywhere
15:59 – Manifesting Confidence Before the Pod
17:44 – Prepping for the Next Hour, Always
19:15 – Discovering “The Secret” and Shifting Mindset
22:54 – When Scaling Too Fast Breaks the System
24:46 – Burnout and Questioning It All
26:14 – Almost Going Back to School
28:14 – Saying No Becomes the New Strategy
30:01 – Doing It Alone Without a Co-Founder
32:08 – From Doubting to Betting on Herself
33:47 – Building Confidence Through Results
35:29 – Curating a Circle That Believes In You
37:54 – Two Types of Friends (Choose Wisely)
39:17 – Life After Exit and the Power of Community
41:54 – The Mental Weight of Being a Young CEO
44:54 – “Move With Confidence”, The One Conversation That Shifted Everything
46:54 – Building Systems Through Mistakes
48:08 – Why Most Agencies Don’t Work Hard Enough
50:18 – The Ferrari x Art Basel Win
52:59 – The Internal Team Mentality Clients Love
55:20 – Advice to Her 20-Year-Old Self
56:13 – Designing a Business Around the Life She Wants
59:35 – Naivety Can Be a Superpower
1:01:09 – The Truth About Building a Business
1:04:31 – Retention as the Ultimate KPI
1:05:32 – Final Word: Show Up, Work Hard, Win!

Guest Links:
Website: https://nakocreative.com/
Instagram: @nako.creative
LinkedIn

Fully Accountable: Mention this ad and have your onboarding fees waived at https://fullyaccountable.com

FERMÀT: The AI native commerce platform that optimizes shopping experiences, leading to best-in-class shopper engagement and conversion. FermatCommerce.com 

If you're a founder doing $1MM+ in annual revenue, apply for the Founders Club today: https://go.foundersclubofficial.com/intro-fc-aaron

Stay Connected!
Aaron Spivak:
IG: @‌Spivak
Linkedin

The Founders Club
IG: @‌TheFoundersClub
Website www.foundersclubofficial.com 

Founder2Founder:
TikTok @‌Founder2FounderPodcast
Youtube @‌Founder2Founder.Podcast