Cash Flow, Stress & Staying Alive: The Reality of Early Entrepreneurship

Why Great Employees Are So Hard to Find (And Keep)

As businesses grow, one challenge never goes away: finding the right people to step up, take ownership, and help move the company forward. In this episode, David Alan and Stan discuss leadership, employee development, company culture, hiring challenges, accountability, motivation, and what separates top performers from everyone else. They dive into the realities of building teams, developing future leaders, coaching employees, setting expectations, and why effort, attitude, and personal growth often matter more than experience alone. Whether you're a business owner trying to build a stronger team, a manager looking to develop employees, or a professional hoping to advance your career, this conversation offers practical insights into what it really takes to grow. Topics discussed include: • Leadership and team development • Employee accountability and performance • Company culture and workplace success • Hiring and retaining great employees • Professional growth and career advancement • Building future leaders • Entrepreneurship and business growth • Employee motivation and ownership • Coaching and mentorship • The mindset required to succeed If you're looking to build a stronger business, become a better leader, or take the next step in your career, this episode is for you. Available everywhere that podcasts are streamed. www.builtbydoingpodcast.com

Has Your Business Outgrown Your Original Customer?

What happens when your business outgrows its original customer? In Episode 13 of Built By Doing, David Alan and Stan Kleja dive into one of the hardest realities of entrepreneurship: raising prices, evolving your business model, and understanding that not every customer or client is meant to stay with you forever. From David Alan Clothing’s early days selling custom suits for just a few hundred dollars to scaling a premium luxury brand experience, David shares the mindset shifts, fear, and business strategy behind increasing prices while improving product quality, customer experience, and long-term growth. Stan brings the accounting and operational side of the conversation, discussing inflation, service pricing, client retention, business scaling, recurring revenue, and why many entrepreneurs struggle to value their own time properly. This episode covers: • Raising prices in business • Scaling a service business • Custom suit business growth • Entrepreneurship mindset • Outgrowing customers • Premium customer experience • Inflation & pricing strategy • Business operations • Client relationships • Value-based pricing • Leadership & entrepreneurship • Building a luxury brand • Business growth strategies • Time value as an entrepreneur • When to let clients go If you're an entrepreneur, small business owner, creative, or founder trying to grow your company without burning yourself out, this episode will hit home. 🎙️ Built By Doing Podcast www.builtbydoingpodcast.com Real conversations about entrepreneurship, leadership, growth, mindset, business strategy, and building something meaningful through experience.

Social Media Is Lying About Business Growth

What does real business growth actually look like? In Episode 12 of Built By Doing, David and Stan break down one of the biggest misconceptions in entrepreneurship: the idea that more revenue automatically means a healthier or more successful business. From profit margins and overhead to scaling too quickly, hiring too soon, opening multiple locations, social media comparison, and defining your own version of success, this episode explores the difference between the perception of growth and the reality behind it. They discuss: Revenue vs profit and why both matter Why growing too fast can actually hurt a business The dangers of chasing vanity metrics Opening new locations strategically Social media comparison and entrepreneurship Hiring, overhead, and scaling operations How to define your own version of success Why efficiency matters more than appearances The realities of entrepreneurship and business ownership Long-term business strategy vs short-term perception This episode is packed with practical insight for entrepreneurs, startup founders, small business owners, leadership teams, and anyone trying to scale a business while maintaining profitability, freedom, and quality of life. If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, business growth, company culture, scaling strategies, startup operations, revenue growth, profit margins, or building a sustainable business, this conversation offers an honest look at what growth really means behind the scenes.

When Is the Right Time to Expand Your Business?

What does it actually take to expand a business successfully? In Episode 11 of Built By Doing, David and Stan break down the real-world process behind expanding a company into new markets, opening additional locations, building systems, hiring teams, and scaling without losing the culture that made the business successful in the first place. With David Alan Clothing actively expanding into Columbus, Nashville, and other major metro markets, this episode gives an honest behind-the-scenes look at the challenges, risks, financial decisions, and operational systems required to grow a modern business. They discuss: How to know when your business is ready to expand The importance of systems, processes, and infrastructure Why cash flow and low overhead matter when scaling Hiring the right people and protecting company culture Expanding into new cities and testing new markets CRM systems, lead tracking, and operational visibility Why processes create freedom for business owners The balance between reinvesting into growth vs paying yourself Lessons learned from opening multiple locations Why scaling too early can hurt a business This episode is packed with practical business growth advice for entrepreneurs, small business owners, founders, operators, and anyone thinking about scaling a company, opening additional locations, or building a brand beyond one market. If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, business operations, company growth, leadership, scaling strategies, franchise-style expansion, systems development, or building a sustainable business, this conversation offers an honest look at what expansion really requires behind the scenes.

Why Small Businesses Drive the American Economy

Small businesses power nearly half of the American economy—but most people don’t realize just how important they are. In this episode of Built By Doing, David and Stan break down eye-opening small business statistics, entrepreneurship realities, and what it truly takes to build, grow, and sustain a business over time. From startup survival rates and small business employment numbers to the sacrifices entrepreneurs make behind the scenes, this conversation dives into the real-world challenges of business ownership, leadership, growth, hiring, timing, customer service, and scaling a company. They discuss: Why 99.9% of U.S. businesses qualify as small businesses The realities of entrepreneurship and working for yourself How small businesses contribute to GDP, jobs, and exports Why customer experience matters more than ever The balance between growth, timing, and risk-taking What separates businesses that survive from those that fail The hidden sacrifices business owners make behind the scenes Why culture, systems, and people determine long-term success Whether you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, startup founder, marketer, freelancer, or someone thinking about starting a business, this episode offers practical insight into business growth, entrepreneurship mindset, leadership, and what it actually takes to survive in today’s economy. If you’re interested in small business statistics, entrepreneurship advice, startup growth, leadership lessons, business ownership, or how successful companies scale, this episode delivers a grounded and honest conversation about the realities of building something from the ground up.