Stevan Vukanic: Using LinkedIn, Mentorship, and Calculated Risk to Build a $30M Construction Vision

Paul Kane: Earning Growth by Facing Your Fears

With more than 35 years in the residential and commercial construction industry, Paul Kane of Kane Construction has built a reputation as the guy people call when a project gets complicated. As a general contractor specializing in custom homes, high-end renovations, and complex construction challenges, he has spent decades turning problems into solutions and ideas into reality. Known for his ability to connect people as easily as he connects the dots on a difficult project, Paul Kane combines deep industry knowledge with a practical, no- nonsense approach that clients appreciate. Whether navigating the intricacies of a luxury home build, solving an unexpected jobsite challenge, or helping a homeowner bring a vision to life, he focuses on finding the right solution—not the easy one. When he's not managing projects, you'll likely find him sharing a well-timed joke, making an observation that leaves everyone laughing, or introducing two people who should have met years ago. After all these years in construction, he's learned that buildings are important, but relationships are what really hold everything together. He refused to provide a headshot, a social media profile, or even a proper bio, so we had to rely on what everyone else says about him—which turns out to be pretty impressive. In this episode, Philip and Paul Kane discuss:  * Crucial aspects of a successful business  * The value of pivoting, creativity, and relationships  * How building strong relationships affects your business success  * Progressing through and despite fear  Lightbulb Moments: * Honesty, trustworthiness, and developing sincere relationships with clients are crucial aspects of a successful business. * Every project presents unforeseen challenges requiring constant pivoting, creative problem-solving, and relationship management. * Building strong relationships through trial and error, common sense, and referrals is important for success. * Face your fears and don’t shy away from challenges. Fear is a door that leads to personal growth and success. Strive to learn continuously and apply newfound knowledge in your life.  “Listening is listening and hearing. It makes you understand things more.” - Paul Kane Connect with Paul Kane:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-kane-77819086/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-kane-77819086/]  Connect with Philip:  Website: https://www.fornarolaw.com/ [https://www.fornarolaw.com/]  Podcast Website: https://lbmpodcast.com/ [https://lbmpodcast.com/]  "X": https://x.com/FornaroLaw [https://x.com/FornaroLaw]  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/philipfornaro/ [https://www.pinterest.com/philipfornaro/]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fornarolaw3002 [https://www.youtube.com/@fornarolaw3002]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fornarolaw [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fornarolaw]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fornarolaw/ [https://www.instagram.com/fornarolaw/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FornaroLaw [https://www.facebook.com/FornaroLaw]  https://www.facebook.com/philip.fornaro.3/ [https://www.facebook.com/philip.fornaro.3/]  Podcast Production by Turnkey Podcast. Thinking of starting a podcast? Get more info at https://turnkeypodcast.com/ [https://turnkeypodcast.com/] or reach out to Doug Sandler directly at Doug@TurnkeyPodcast.com [Doug@TurnkeyPodcast.com] or call 410-340-6861.  You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  Horton’s Home Lighting Lighting isn’t just about seeing – it’s about how a space feels. Thoughtful design. Expert execution. Real impact. https://www.hortonshome.com/ [https://www.hortonshome.com/]

Mark Roberge: How to Scale at the Right Time, with the Right People, for the Right Reasons

Scaling shouldn't mean just pouring gas on the fire and hoping you don't burn the house down. In this episode, you’ll get a sharp, real-world breakdown of what it actually takes to hit product‑market fit, nail your go‑to‑market strategy, and hire the right sales talent without falling for standard, cookie-cutter playbooks. In this episode, Philip and Mark Roberge discuss:  * Defining and diagnosing product-market fit * Why go-to-market fit must come before real scaling * Leading indicators of retention and customer value * The “inappropriate cut and paste” problem in sales and GTM * AI, disruption, and the future of happiness, capitalism, and work Lightbulb Moments: * Scaling too early or too fast is one of the biggest reasons promising companies fail—not because the product is bad, but because the timing and speed of scale are wrong. * Product market fit is not about revenue or customer count; it’s about consistently creating value that shows up in retention and repeat behavior. * Go-to-market fit is a separate, critical milestone: proving you can acquire and serve customers profitably with real prices, real quotas, and real demand generation. * Copy‑pasting another company’s hiring profile, sales methodology, or demand strategy without context is a recipe for misalignment and wasted resources. * AI will reshape how companies build, sell, and operate, and it also opens a door to redesign capitalism itself around greater freedom, time, and happiness if society chooses to use it that way. “There is no universal answer to those questions... and you have to design that system within your context, and usually context is like, Who are you selling to, and what are you selling, product and market?” - Mark Roberge Mark Roberge is a Co-Founder at Stage 2 Capital, a venture fund supported by over 1,000 sales and marketing executives that has invested in more than 100 startups, helping founders scale through proven revenue growth strategies and experienced go-to-market leadership. He has also been part of the Harvard Business School faculty for over a decade, where he teaches sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship while mentoring early-stage founders. Prior to this, he was the fourth employee and founding CRO of HubSpot, where he built and scaled the go-to-market function from zero revenue to IPO, pioneering a data-driven, buyer-centric sales model that has influenced modern sales teams globally. Mark holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and an undergraduate engineering degree from Lehigh University. He is the author of the bestselling books The Sales Acceleration Formula and The Science of Scaling, which distill decades of experience into a practical, data-driven roadmap for founders, executives, and investors striving to achieve sustainable, scalable growth.  Mark has been featured in popular publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, Inc. Magazine, Boston Globe, TechCrunch, and Harvard Business Review, delivered keynotes at major conferences including South by Southwest, SaaStr, Inbound, and the World Business Forum, and guest lectured at leading institutions such as MIT, Stanford, and Harvard.   Connect with Mark Roberge:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markroberge/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markroberge/]  Connect with Philip:  Website: https://www.fornarolaw.com/ [https://www.fornarolaw.com/]  Podcast Website: https://lbmpodcast.com/ [https://lbmpodcast.com/]  "X": https://x.com/FornaroLaw [https://x.com/FornaroLaw]  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/philipfornaro/ [https://www.pinterest.com/philipfornaro/]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fornarolaw3002 [https://www.youtube.com/@fornarolaw3002]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fornarolaw [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fornarolaw]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fornarolaw/ [https://www.instagram.com/fornarolaw/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FornaroLaw [https://www.facebook.com/FornaroLaw]  https://www.facebook.com/philip.fornaro.3/ [https://www.facebook.com/philip.fornaro.3/]  Podcast Production by Turnkey Podcast. Thinking of starting a podcast? Get more info at https://turnkeypodcast.com/ [https://turnkeypodcast.com/] or reach out to Doug Sandler directly at Doug@TurnkeyPodcast.com [Doug@TurnkeyPodcast.com] or call 410-340-6861.  You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  Horton’s Home Lighting Lighting isn’t just about seeing – it’s about how a space feels. Thoughtful design. Expert execution. Real impact. https://www.hortonshome.com/ [https://www.hortonshome.com/]

LBM Flash Moments: Harnessing “Angry Energy” Without Losing Your Joy

Pushing your energy into overdrive can deliver massive results—but at what personal cost? In this flash moment, Phil unpacks how “angry energy” helped him crush an intense workload, why it drained his joy, and what it means to protect your true zone of genius. Connect with Philip:  Website: https://www.fornarolaw.com/ [https://www.fornarolaw.com/]  Podcast Website: https://lbmpodcast.com/ [https://lbmpodcast.com/]  "X": https://x.com/FornaroLaw [https://x.com/FornaroLaw]  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/philipfornaro/ [https://www.pinterest.com/philipfornaro/]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fornarolaw3002 [https://www.youtube.com/@fornarolaw3002]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fornarolaw [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fornarolaw]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fornarolaw/ [https://www.instagram.com/fornarolaw/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FornaroLaw [https://www.facebook.com/FornaroLaw]  https://www.facebook.com/philip.fornaro.3/ [https://www.facebook.com/philip.fornaro.3/]  Podcast Production by Turnkey Podcast. Thinking of starting a podcast? Get more info at https://turnkeypodcast.com/ [https://turnkeypodcast.com/] or reach out to Doug Sandler directly at Doug@TurnkeyPodcast.com [Doug@TurnkeyPodcast.com] or call 410-340-6861.  You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  Horton’s Home Lighting Lighting isn’t just about seeing – it’s about how a space feels. Thoughtful design. Expert execution. Real impact. https://www.hortonshome.com/ [https://www.hortonshome.com/]

Flash Event: Max Strus Foundation

Max Strus Basketball Camps: 2nd - 8th Grade Skills Camp Details: July 20-23, 2026. Stagg High School, Palos Hills, IL FOUR full days of camp prizes, NBA guest coaches, swag, and giving back. The competition will be tough!  FREE Parking Lot Party - Live Music, Food Trucks, Drone Show Details: July 23, 2026, 6-9 PM. Moraine Valley.  Join us to celebrate 5 years of Max Strus Basketball Camps.  Concert is free to everyone: Rod Tuffcurls And The Benchpress. Food available to purchase: * Peppos * Chi Town Tacos * Waffle Hero Connect with Philip:  Website: https://www.fornarolaw.com/ [https://www.fornarolaw.com/]  Podcast Website: https://lbmpodcast.com/ [https://lbmpodcast.com/]  "X": https://x.com/FornaroLaw [https://x.com/FornaroLaw]  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/philipfornaro/ [https://www.pinterest.com/philipfornaro/]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fornarolaw3002 [https://www.youtube.com/@fornarolaw3002]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fornarolaw [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fornarolaw]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fornarolaw/ [https://www.instagram.com/fornarolaw/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FornaroLaw [https://www.facebook.com/FornaroLaw]  https://www.facebook.com/philip.fornaro.3/ [https://www.facebook.com/philip.fornaro.3/]  Podcast Production by Turnkey Podcast. Thinking of starting a podcast? Get more info at https://turnkeypodcast.com/ [https://turnkeypodcast.com/] or reach out to Doug Sandler directly at Doug@TurnkeyPodcast.com [Doug@TurnkeyPodcast.com] or call 410-340-6861.  You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.  Horton’s Home Lighting Lighting isn’t just about seeing – it’s about how a space feels. Thoughtful design. Expert execution. Real impact. https://www.hortonshome.com/ [https://www.hortonshome.com/]

Josh Stamer: Designing the Golden Age of Philanthropy

Is philanthropy on the brink of a $100 trillion wealth transfer—but will that money actually solve problems, or just sit and grow? In this episode, Josh Stamer unpacks how families can move beyond writing checks to design joyful, strategic giving that changes lives in their own communities and around the world. In this episode, Philip and Josh Stamer discuss:  * Distilling Philanthropy podcast and “bar conversation” concept * The coming $100 trillion generational wealth transfer * Private foundations, donor-advised funds, and charitable trusts * Time, talent, and treasure as frameworks for giving * Anonymous Philanthropy’s model for building high-impact programs Lightbulb Moments: * The impending generational wealth transfer represents a once-in-history chance to redirect massive capital from passive inheritance toward world-changing causes—if families are intentional. * Structured vehicles like foundations and donor-advised funds matter, but the real leverage comes from aligning giving with personal joy, expertise, and a clear problem to solve. * Charitable dollars often get trapped in vehicles and endowments; impact requires a conscious shift from simply growing capital to actively deploying it during one’s lifetime. * Collaboration and reduced ego in the nonprofit sector can dramatically increase effectiveness, especially when many small organizations are tackling nearly identical problems. * Philanthropy should not be treated as a luxury “extra” after everything else is settled; it can be a primary avenue for influence, fulfillment, and meaningful legacy. “There's always more money, there's never more time.” - Josh Stamer Josh is passionate about helping successful families and their advisors maximize their philanthropic impact and achieve unprecedented levels of fulfillment. Throughout a career spanning leadership roles in technology, financial services, and philanthropy—including a recent tenure as Senior Managing Director at Foundation Source, where he helped establish more private foundations over the last decade than anyone else in the country—Josh has become a premier expert in charitable giving vehicles. Now leading Philanthropic Strategy at Anonymous Philanthropy, his insights on Generational Wealth Transfer and Entrepreneurial Philanthropy have been featured in Forbes and Barron's. Personally, Josh and his wife, Veronica, support St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and The Young Life Foundations while raising their two active children, Baron and Gracie. Outside of work, Josh collects sunglasses, plays a very average game of golf, and passionately roots for the Miami Dolphins. Connect with Josh Stamer:  Website: www.anonymousllc.com [http://www.anonymousllc.com], www.distillingphilanthropy.com [http://www.distillingphilanthropy.com]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-stamer-8881597/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-stamer-8881597/]  Connect with Philip:  Website: https://www.fornarolaw.com/ [https://www.fornarolaw.com/]  Podcast Website: https://lbmpodcast.com/ [https://lbmpodcast.com/]  "X": https://x.com/FornaroLaw [https://x.com/FornaroLaw]  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/philipfornaro/ [https://www.pinterest.com/philipfornaro/]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fornarolaw3002 [https://www.youtube.com/@fornarolaw3002]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fornarolaw [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fornarolaw]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fornarolaw/ [https://www.instagram.com/fornarolaw/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FornaroLaw [https://www.facebook.com/FornaroLaw]  https://www.facebook.com/philip.fornaro.3/ [https://www.facebook.com/philip.fornaro.3/]  Podcast Production by Turnkey Podcast. Thinking of starting a podcast? Get more info at https://turnkeypodcast.com/ [https://turnkeypodcast.com/] or reach out to Doug Sandler directly at Doug@TurnkeyPodcast.com [Doug@TurnkeyPodcast.com] or call 410-340-6861.  You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it. Horton’s Home Lighting Lighting isn’t just about seeing – it’s about how a space feels. Thoughtful design. Expert execution. Real impact. https://www.hortonshome.com/ [https://www.hortonshome.com/]