Think Forward Podcast

Merrick runs a social media content agency and found faith this year. He explains why he works 3:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. for his family, how faith now guides his business decisions, and what actually grows a personal brand: volume plus testing, a tight niche and a big enough audience.

Follow Merek van Bylandt on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/merek.vb/

Many leaders today act as if they are their own gods, detached from any higher accountability. This conversation explores why a return to christian values could be the missing piece for those in power. We examine the current state of business ethics and why the lack of a shared moral framework creates instability in our institutions.

Beyond the boardroom, we also touch on the human experience of suffering and pain. It is a reality that connects us all, yet it is rarely discussed in professional settings. This is a raw look at what happens when we stop pretending we have all the answers and start looking for a deeper purpose.

🔔 Subscribe for weekly founder stories on mindset, startups, and scaling.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:51 Why Jesus Christ? How Merrick found faith
1:51 Why is the world in such a bad place?
3:54 What if leaders answered to a higher standard?
7:33 Is the Bible logical? Probability and science
9:12 When money becomes your god
11:30 How faith guides business decisions
15:15 Why work 3:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.? Family first
19:54 Is social media pushing faith out?
22:24 Action bias: when to kill a strategy
22:52 Why posting every day isn't enough
23:48 Learn from every video: hooks, curiosity gaps, payoff
25:48 Pick a niche: speak to a few people
28:46 Personality vs niche: how big is your TAM?
33:29 On camera: why reading scripts kills your content
35:41 The 5 people he models (Patrick Bet-David)
40:13 Fear of failure: the goals-by-30 pressure
41:58 Top 3 advice: the valley of death and informed optimism
45:48 What is the meaning of life?

Merek Van Bylandt, co-founder of Dominant Media, explains how he went from working on film sets to running a social media agency with 40 to 55% net margins. He talks about a client who made $1.6 million in six months but never paid the agreed 15% cut. He also covers how moving into a garage and then signing a $4,000 a month apartment lease pushed the business to double.

Follow Merek van Bylandt on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/merek.vb/

In this raw interview, Merek Van Bylandt lays out the agency models that failed, including the Growth Operating revenue share deal and an unlimited editing offer that looked too good to be true. He shares the five fundamentals a mentor used to fix his margins: being accountable for the finances, fixing funnel bottlenecks, talking to clients wherever they prefer, holding mandatory client check-ins, and steering clear of distracting projects like an AI script writing agent. He also explains why net profit matters more than gross revenue and walks through his 3:30 AM daily routine. If your agency brings in revenue but you have no profit to show for it, this episode will change how you run it.

Which lesson from Merek hit you hardest? Drop it in the comments.

Subscribe for weekly founder stories on mindset, startups, and scaling.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Introduction

00:15 - Why a Normal Career Path Wasn't Enough

01:41 - From Film Sets to Failed Dropshipping

09:17 - Landing the First $3,500 Client

10:05 - Agency Ups and Downs: Revenue Share and Unlimited Editing

20:39 - Net Profit vs Gross Revenue

21:42 - The 5 Business Fundamentals From His Mentor

29:00 - Why the AI Script Agent Failed

30:14 - Why He Still Takes 95% of Client Calls

30:47 - His 3:30 AM Daily Routine

Key Themes:

Social media marketing agency growth | Agency net profit margins | Revenue share deal gone wrong | Unlimited editing offer mistakes | Using financial pressure to grow a business | Fixing marketing funnel bottlenecks | Client retention and check-ins | Entrepreneur daily routine🔔 Subscribe to Think Forward Podcast for weekly stories on mindset, startups, and scaling.

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Samuel Games, founder of Canine Car Care, explains why understanding psychology is his unfair advantage: it lets him charge higher prices, market with less effort, and build a team that performs. This is how to sell the feeling instead of the service, find your bottleneck, and attract premium clients.

In this raw interview, Sam breaks down his "don't be that guy" approach to social pressure marketing, the ad copy formula that moves people from pain point to dream outcome, and the difference between internal and external urgency. He also shares how he tracks close rate, show rate, and lead quality to find the real constraint in his business, how he incentivizes his team, and the time an employee almost sued him. If you run a service business and can't land premium clients, his framework will change how you market and hire.

Which lesson from Sam hit you hardest? Drop it in the comments.

Subscribe for weekly founder stories on mindset, startups, and scaling.

🤝 CONNECT WITH SAMUEL GAMES (Canine Car Care)

▶ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caninecarcare

▶ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@caninecarcare

▶ Website: https://caninecarcare.ca

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Introduction

06:05 - Why AI Is an Echo Chamber

09:52 - The One Skill He'd Keep If His Business Disappeared

10:50 - Business Psychology: Sell the Feeling, Not the Service

11:50 - The Ad Copy Formula: Pain Point to Dream Outcome

15:04 - "Don't Be That Guy" and Internal vs. External Urgency

17:56 - The Employee Who Almost Sued Him

20:36 - How to Incentivize Your Team

24:38 - Finding Your Bottleneck: Close Rate, Show Rate & Lead Quality

29:24 - His Best Advice: Trust Yourself

Key Themes:

Marketing psychology for small business | Selling emotion over features | Social pressure and "don't be that guy" ads | Internal vs external urgency | Hiring and incentivizing employees | Finding your business bottleneck | AI as an echo chamber | Car detailing business🔔 Subscribe to Think Forward Podcast for weekly stories on mindset, startups, and scaling.

Follow us:

✅ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hwOppw3mfk8UvqGP57rLs?si=3e87ffd6722f4edd

✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadra.manouchehri/

✅ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadra-khorvash-ab9bb4210/?originalSubdomain=ca

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Carter Griffin went from never going to church to fully surrendering his life to Jesus after healing from depression and a knee injury. This is how to find faith, submit to God, and build a daily relationship with Jesus.

Follow Carter Griffin on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/carter_.griffin/

In this raw conversation, Carter breaks down his exact journey to Christianity, why God's reality became undeniable to him, what submitting to God actually means, how to pray and read Scripture daily, and how the Bible explains Old vs New Testament, the Trinity, and end times. If you are curious about Jesus, struggling with doubt, or want to experience God's peace for yourself, his framework for opening your heart and letting go will change how you think.

What part of Carter's testimony hit you hardest? Drop it in the comments.

Subscribe for weekly founder stories on mindset, startups, and scaling.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Introduction

00:37 - Who Is Carter Griffin, Follower Of Jesus?

02:04 - Finding God Without Growing Up Christian

04:47 - How To Experience God For Yourself

06:40 - What It Really Means To Submit To God

11:47 - Proof Of God: Healed Knee Injury And Miracle Healing

16:25 - Old Testament Vs New Testament Explained Simply

19:54 - Fruits Of The Spirit: What Defines A True Christian

26:20 - End Times Prophecy And Current World Events

28:36 - Daily Prayer And Bible Reading Routine To Stay Close To Jesus

Key Themes: Finding faith without growing up Christian | What it means to submit to God | How to pray and read the Bible daily | Old Testament vs New Testament explained | Fruits of the Spirit and true Christianity | End times prophecy and current world eventsFollow us:

✅ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hwOppw3mfk8UvqGP57rLs?si=3e87ffd6722f4edd

✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadra.manouchehri/

✅ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadra-khorvash-ab9bb4210/?originalSubdomain=ca

✅ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.manouch

✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkforwardpodcast/#ChristianFaith #FindingJesus #HowToPray

Timestamps:

00:08 Working with Farris LLP - One of the leading Law firms in Canada01:46 The most interesting cases that Bijan has overtaken06:19 Family & its role as a substantial rite of passage09:03 Importance of Travelling11:08 What advice do you have for the younger generation?13:51 What is the meaning of life?

Timestamps: 0:00 Fighting the Law Society of B.C.19:42 How much power does the Law Society of B.C. hold?27:28 Bijan's petition against the dysregulated power in the judicial system34:07 Owning your law firmLinks:Bijan socials -- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bijanahma... -- Instagram:   / bijanlaw  

Timestamps: 0:00:00 Intro0:02:20 Why choose Canada?0:04:46 Value of University Education0:05:59 How was life before you moved to Canada?0:08:50 How did you end up in Dubai?0:12:45 Being part of the UBC Board of Governers0:17:24 Odyssey Bar & Online Content Management systems0:22:44 Confrontational approach in EntrepreneurshipLinks:UBC LipDub 2011 YT link:    • [OFFICIAL] UBC LipDub - Raise Your Gl...  Global News Cover on Viral LipDub Video: https://globalnews.ca/news/113981/vid...

Bijan socials -- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bijanahma... -- Instagram:   / bijanlaw  

20-year-old Samuel Games went from reselling vintage clothes to building a $700+ per-detail car detailing business for dog owners. This is how to start a business with no money, find your bottleneck, and scale.

In this raw interview, Sam breaks down his exact entrepreneur mindset, how low self-esteem fueled his drive, why he niched into Canine Car Care, how Google Ads got him to his first 20K month, and how Facebook Ads made him #1 in Victoria. If you're stuck at 3-4K/month, his framework for finding your business bottleneck and ruthlessly fixing it will change how you think.

What part of Sam's journey hit you hardest? Drop it in the comments. Subscribe for weekly founder stories on mindset, startups, and scaling.

🤝 CONNECT WITH SAMUEL GAMES (Canine Car Care)

▶ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caninecarcare

▶ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@caninecarcare

▶ Website: https://caninecarcare.ca

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Introduction

00:48 - Who is Samuel Games, Founder of Canine Car Care?

01:30 - How He Started: Reselling Vintage Clothes as a Teen

02:15 - Starting a Car Detailing Business & Hitting $3-4K/Month

03:05 - The Pivot: Why He Niched Into Dog-Owner Detailing

04:10 - Rebrand Failure, Then First $20K Month with Google Ads

05:15 - Google Ads Died: Scaling with Facebook Ads to #1 in Victoria

08:44 - The #1 Growth Lesson: Finding Your Business Bottleneck

09:07 - Laughed At For Wanting To Be a Millionaire

13:17 - Reframing Bullying & Low Self-Esteem Into Drive

Key Themes: Starting a business with no money | Car detailing business niche strategy | Finding and fixing business bottlenecks | Entrepreneur mindset and identity | Turning low self-esteem into drive | Scaling from $3K to $20K months 🔔 Subscribe to Think Forward Podcast for weekly stories on mindset, startups, and scaling.

Follow us: ✅ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hwOppw3mfk8UvqGP57rLs?si=3e87ffd6722f4edd ✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadra.manouchehri/ ✅ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadra-khorvash-ab9bb4210/?originalSubdomain=ca ✅ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.manouch ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkforwardpodcast/#EntrepreneurMindset #CarDetailingBusiness #HowToStartABusiness

In this episode, Actor and Content Creator Ryan Pugh reveals why he did not take over his family's chocolate factory, how Shooter's Chocolates scaled to Costco and Whole Foods, and what it really takes to build an acting career in 2026.

Follow Ryan Pugh on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ryanwmpugh/

You will learn how chocolate shot glasses are actually manufactured, why most aspiring actors never book paid roles, and how AI is reshaping creative careers and the future of entertainment.

What we have covered:

✅ Inside the family chocolate factory supplying Costco and Whole Foods

✅ How chocolate shot glasses, cups and mints are actually manufactured

✅ Private label vs retail strategy for chocolate brands

✅ Why he chose acting and content creation over the family business

✅ How to break into acting: background work, agents, self-tapes and auditions

✅ From horror feature films to a Super Bowl commercial: Real acting economics

✅ Vertical dramas and phone soap operas: The next entertainment format

✅ How AI is threatening acting and creative careers

✅ Mindset, willpower and advice for building a career in creative fields

✅ UGC creation, going viral and the Pedro Pascal story on The Last of Us setTIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction0:41 - Meet Ryan Pugh: Actor & Content Creator0:53 - Shooters Chocolates: Origin Story

19:00 - Nepotism, Industry Connections & The Audition Process

27:23 - Inside an Audition: Memorizing Lines & Landing His First Lead Role

41:23 - Super Bowl Commercial, Pay Rates & Buyouts

44:33 - The Actor Strike, AI, and the Rise of Vertical Dramas

49:07 - Will AI Replace Actors?

54:49 - Who Controls AI, and Who Profits From It?

57:11 - AI, Monopolies, and the Next 50 Years1:

14:25 - UGC, Nook, and Content Creation as a Side Hustle1:

16:50 - The Pedro Pascal Story on Set1:

17:21 - Final Three: Ego, Business Advice, and the Meaning of Life

Key Themes:

Family chocolate factory business model | Chocolate manufacturing process explained | How to become an actor in Hollywood | Acting auditions and commercial buyouts explained | Vertical dramas and phone soap opera trend | AI impact on creative careers🔔 Follow & listen to Think Forward Podcast for weekly conversations with founders, creators, and industry experts.

Follow us: ✅ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hwOppw3mfk8UvqGP57rLs?si=3e87ffd6722f4edd ✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadra.manouchehri/ ✅ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadra-khorvash-ab9bb4210/?originalSubdomain=ca ✅ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.manouch ✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkforwardpodcast/© Think Forward Podcast. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced without prior written permission.

In this episode, Former Amazon FBA coach Michael Elliott reveals why he quit coaching, how his public tallow brand was sabotaged, costing him $100,000, and why he's now building an AI mentorship platform for coaches and creators.

You will learn why most Amazon FBA brands fail, how to protect your brand from sabotage, and the exact product differentiation strategy that still works in 2026.

Follow Michael Elliott on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mike.j.elliott/

What we have covered: ✅ Why top Amazon FBA coaches are quitting the guru industry

✅ How public exposure led to wiped reviews and a $100,000 loss

✅ Inside his new AI mentorship platform for coaches and creators

✅ Product choice and differentiation strategy using AI

✅ Why only 20% of Amazon FBA students ever launch a product

✅ The engineer who scaled a pet product to $100K/month with zero adsTIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Introduction To Michael Elliott And Think Forward Podcast

01:16 - Why He Quit Amazon FBA Coaching

02:09 - The Dark Side Of The Coaching Industry And Paid Ads

06:28 - How His Amazon Tallow Brand Was Sabotaged

11:58 - Losing $100,000 On A Public Brand

13:36 - Building An AI Mentorship Platform For Coaches

16:29 - Product Selection And Differentiation Strategy With AI

22:51 - Why 80% Of Amazon FBA Students Never Launch

35:02 - Success Story: Engineer Scales Pet Product To $100K Per Month

39:48 - Top Skills For Entrepreneurs: Communication, Persistence And Creativity

Key Themes: Amazon FBA Coaching Challenges | Ecommerce Brand Sabotage And Recovery | AI Mentorship Platform For Coaches | Amazon FBA Product Differentiation Strategy | Low Success Rate In Amazon FBA Courses | Entrepreneur Discipline And Persistence

-----------------------------------------------🔴 DISCLAIMER:The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guest and host and are intended for educational and informational purposes only. They do not constitute professional, financial, legal, investment, or career advice.⚠ COPYRIGHT NOTICE:This video is the original property of Think Forward Podcast. Unauthorized copying, reproduction, re-uploading, or redistribution of this content without permission is strictly prohibited. Please respect YouTube's copyright policies.

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