In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Rylie Hicks, a young entrepreneur and the CEO and co-founder behind Scrubs Spotless (and other ventures), to talk about what “success” really means, how to build businesses around clear metrics, and how AI and smart marketing systems can help operators scale faster without breaking trust or the business model.

What You’ll Learn

• Why defining “success” upfront (cash flow, longevity, lifestyle, exit, or impact) changes every decision you make as a founder.
• How to operationalize a business by categorizing problems, building repeatable systems, and tracking the right metrics not just the easy ones.
• The importance of protecting reputation while you grow, especially in service businesses where trust is the product.
• What seasonality really looks like in local service work, and why planning for peaks and valleys is a core leadership skill.
• Which acquisition channels have been most effective for Riley’s service business, including Meta ads and Google Local Service Ads.
• How to use AI beyond basic prompting by integrating it into SOPs, routing, and customer follow-up workflows.
• Why using multiple AI tools for different jobs can improve speed and clarity in day-to-day operations.
• A practical mindset for founders: you won’t feel fully “ready,” so learning fast, testing intelligently, and making your best informed guess is part of the job.

Rylie’s conversation with Taylor reinforces a grounded, operator-first approach to entrepreneurship: clarify what you’re optimizing for, build systems that protect quality as you grow, and use modern tools like AI to reduce friction across operations and customer experience. The result is a more resilient business and a leadership style built on learning, adaptability, and clear priorities.

To learn more about Rylie Hicks and their work, visit scrubbedspotless.com