The Sweaty Startup

Jules and I talked about what building real wealth actually looks like and how most people completely misunderstand what it takes. I walked through the early days of Storage Squad, the financial mistakes that nearly broke me, and the pressure of borrowing millions before I knew what I was doing. We got into how one boring self-storage deal changed the entire trajectory of my life, why simple execution beats revolutionary ideas, and how I've kept my personal burn rate low even as my income scaled. This episode is about the long game, how momentum compounds, and why the most important number in your life isn't your net worth, it's your monthly freedom number.

Grow your business:

https://sweatystartup.com/events

Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X

Newsletter:

https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter

My Companies:

Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com

Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com

Self storage – https://boltstorage.com

RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com

Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com

Paid ads – https://adrhino.com

SEO – https://boldseo.com

Insurance – https://titanrisk.com

Pest control – https://spidexx.com

Sell a business:

http://nickhuber.com/sell

Buy a business:

https://www.nickhuber.com/buy

Invest with me:

http://nickhuber.com/invest

Social Profiles:

X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup

Podcasts:

The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show

https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81

Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal:

https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

I broke down my full trajectory from broke college kid to owning a portfolio of companies bringing in hundreds of thousands a month. I shared the hardest moments, crying on a Boston sidewalk after wrecked trucks and bad reviews, and why most people underestimate how brutal the stress can get. We got into the financial whiplash that comes with entrepreneurship, how I think about lifestyle creep, and why I still live like it could all vanish. I also walked through how I reinvested everything after my first seven-figure refinance, how I think about net worth vs cash flow, and what it actually costs to run my life, including the plane. If you want the unfiltered version of how I built this, this episode is it.

Grow your business:

https://sweatystartup.com/events

Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X

Newsletter:

https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter

My Companies:

Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com

Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com

Self storage – https://boltstorage.com

RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com

Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com

Paid ads – https://adrhino.com

SEO – https://boldseo.com

Insurance – https://titanrisk.com

Pest control – https://spidexx.com

Sell a business:

http://nickhuber.com/sell

Buy a business:

https://www.nickhuber.com/buy

Invest with me:

http://nickhuber.com/invest

Social Profiles:

X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup

Podcasts:

The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show

https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81

Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal:

https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

Jared and I got into the real truth behind why most people struggle to build a real business. I walked him through how I learned to operate, how I built my hiring systems, and why delegation and simple execution beat complicated ideas every single time. We talked about the mistakes entrepreneurs make when they overthink instead of taking action, how I built teams inside my portfolio companies, and why international hiring changed everything for me. I also broke down how I evaluate markets, how I test demand in ten minutes, and why most people should start with boring businesses before they even think about buying a company. This is the most honest breakdown of what actually works and what never does.

Grow your business:

https://sweatystartup.com/events

Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X

Newsletter:

https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter

My Companies:

Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com

Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com

Self storage – https://boltstorage.com

RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com

Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com

Paid ads – https://adrhino.com

SEO – https://boldseo.com

Insurance – https://titanrisk.com

Pest control – https://spidexx.com

Sell a business:

http://nickhuber.com/sell

Buy a business:

https://www.nickhuber.com/buy

Invest with me:

http://nickhuber.com/invest

Social Profiles:

X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup

Podcasts:

The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show

https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81

Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal:

https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

In this episode, I sat down with Andrew Giancola to talk about what actually builds wealth, ownership, leverage, and playing long-term games. We got into the mindset shifts that helped me go from a service business to raising tens of millions of dollars, and how Andrew made the leap from financial stress to financial freedom. This conversation is packed with lessons for anyone serious about escaping the treadmill and building something that lasts.

Grow your business:

https://sweatystartup.com/events

Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X

Newsletter:

https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter

My Companies:

Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com

Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com

Self storage – https://boltstorage.com

RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com

Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com

Paid ads – https://adrhino.com

SEO – https://boldseo.com

Insurance – https://titanrisk.com

Pest control – https://spidexx.com

Sell a business:

http://nickhuber.com/sell

Buy a business:

https://www.nickhuber.com/buy

Invest with me:

http://nickhuber.com/invest

Social Profiles:

X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup

Podcasts:

The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show

https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81

Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal:

https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

I sat down with Amy Calandrino to talk about one of the biggest traps in small business, owning a job instead of an asset. We unpacked the real difference between momentum and just being stuck on a treadmill, how real estate can either unlock freedom or bury you, and why most people overcomplicate entrepreneurship. If you're serious about building something durable, not just flashy, this conversation is worth your time.

Grow your business:

https://sweatystartup.com/events

Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X

Newsletter:

https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter

My Companies:

Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com

Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com

Self storage – https://boltstorage.com

RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com

Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com

Paid ads – https://adrhino.com

SEO – https://boldseo.com

Insurance – https://titanrisk.com

Pest control – https://spidexx.com

Sell a business:

http://nickhuber.com/sell

Buy a business:

https://www.nickhuber.com/buy

Invest with me:

http://nickhuber.com/invest

Social Profiles:

X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup

Podcasts:

The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show

https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81

Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal:

https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

Tom and I talk about the moment I turned down a multimillion dollar cash-out offer and instead decided to raise twenty million dollars and buy control of Somewhere.com. I walk through how that deal came together, how I borrowed nine million from the founder, structured the investor tranches, and rebuilt the leadership team while still running Bolt Storage and RE Cost Seg. We get into why I believed the company could become a publicly traded business and how my media brand helped me raise over forty million for storage, somewhere and other deals. I also explain how I split my time across multiple companies, why I spend 350k a year on my personal media team, and how building a brand on X completely accelerated my career. This episode is about unreasonable ambition, calculated risk and making moves even when nobody gives you permission.

Grow your business:

https://sweatystartup.com/events

Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X

Newsletter:

https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter

My Companies:

Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com

Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com

Self storage – https://boltstorage.com

RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com

Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com

Paid ads – https://adrhino.com

SEO – https://boldseo.com

Insurance – https://titanrisk.com

Pest control – https://spidexx.com

Sell a business:

http://nickhuber.com/sell

Buy a business:

https://www.nickhuber.com/buy

Invest with me:

http://nickhuber.com/invest

Social Profiles:

X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup

Podcasts:

The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show

https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81

Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal:

https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

This is the full conversation I had with Will Smith and Niklas James on the Acquiring Minds podcast in April of 2025. We broke down how I bought Somewhere.com, how I run my real estate private equity firm, and how I leverage offshore talent to scale revenue while saving costs. We discussed how I think about building teams, why sales is the foundation of all businesses, and why buying a company isn't a shortcut, it's a challenge most people aren't ready for.If you're thinking about buying a business, this episode will show you the side of acquisitions people rarely talk about. Big thanks to Will Smith for having me on, follow him here: https://x.com/whentheresawill Check out more of his work here: https://acquiringminds.co/episodes Also shoutout to Niklas James from Minds Capital for co-hosting this conversation with Will. https://x.com/NiklasWJ In the intro, I mentioned that you should check out this episode from Acquiring Minds that came out just before Thanksgiving, episode 407 with Linh Tran. He quit corporate, bought a small HVAC business, scaled it, and now makes over $5M a year with a CEO running it for him. It's a really good episode: https://acquiringminds.co/articles/linh-tran-advanced-commercial-group-apex-fund

Grow your business:

https://sweatystartup.com/events

Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X

Newsletter:

https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter

My Companies:

Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com

Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com

Self storage – https://boltstorage.com

RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com

Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com

Paid ads – https://adrhino.com

SEO – https://boldseo.com

Insurance – https://titanrisk.com

Pest control – https://spidexx.com

Sell a business:

http://nickhuber.com/sell

Buy a business:

https://www.nickhuber.com/buy

Invest with me:

http://nickhuber.com/invest

Social Profiles:

X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup

Podcasts:

The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show

https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81

Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal:

https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

Nick Lamagna and I sat down to talk about what really happens when you're in the trenches, when the deals are falling apart, the pressure's on, and you're questioning everything. We got into the difference between chasing shiny objects and building real wealth through boring businesses, why the best opportunities aren't always the loudest, and how who you surround yourself with can either push you forward or keep you stuck. If you're trying to figure out how to play the long game in business and life, this one's worth your time.

Grow your business:

https://sweatystartup.com/events

Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X

Newsletter:

https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter

My Companies:

Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com

Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com

Self storage – https://boltstorage.com

RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com

Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com

Paid ads – https://adrhino.com

SEO – https://boldseo.com

Insurance – https://titanrisk.com

Pest control – https://spidexx.com

Sell a business:

http://nickhuber.com/sell

Buy a business:

https://www.nickhuber.com/buy

Invest with me:

http://nickhuber.com/invest

Social Profiles:

X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup

Podcasts:

The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show

https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81

Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal:

https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

Elijah and I dive into some of my most controversial takes, things I believe today that most people will agree with in 20 years. From mouth breathing and marriage to AI and heart disease, this episode is packed with stuff nobody's talking about but probably should be. No fluff, just sharp takes and honest conversation.

Grow your business:

https://sweatystartup.com/events

Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X

Newsletter:

https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter

My Companies:

Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com

Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com

Self storage – https://boltstorage.com

RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com

Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com

Paid ads – https://adrhino.com

SEO – https://boldseo.com

Insurance – https://titanrisk.com

Pest control – https://spidexx.com

Sell a business:

http://nickhuber.com/sell

Buy a business:

https://www.nickhuber.com/buy

Invest with me:

http://nickhuber.com/invest

Social Profiles:

X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup

Podcasts:

The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show

https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81

Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal:

https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

I went from running a student storage company out of college to owning 63 self-storage facilities, building a global team across five continents, and acquiring a multi-million dollar recruiting business. In this episode, I sat down with Will Smith and Niklas from Acquiring Minds to break down how I structure deals, why offshoring changed everything for my operations, and how I think about building in public, despite the hate that comes with it. We also talk through the tradeoffs of chasing internet fame vs. quietly building real businesses. This one goes deep.

Grow your business:

https://sweatystartup.com/events

Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X

Newsletter:

https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter

My Companies:

Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com

Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com

Self storage – https://boltstorage.com

RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com

Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com

Paid ads – https://adrhino.com

SEO – https://boldseo.com

Insurance – https://titanrisk.com

Pest control – https://spidexx.com

Sell a business:

http://nickhuber.com/sell

Buy a business:

https://www.nickhuber.com/buy

Invest with me:

http://nickhuber.com/invest

Social Profiles:

X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup

Podcasts:

The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show

https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81

Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal:

https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03