From The Ground Up Show

Dima Sobovoy - Eight Kids, Multiple Businesses & a Kingdom Mission | A Journey from Welfare to Leadership

In this episode of From The Ground Up Show, host Erick Loden sits down with entrepreneur, father of eight, and founder of Contractor SEO Academy, Dima Sabavoy. Dima’s story is anything but typical. From receiving welfare as a young man to building multiple businesses, leading faith-driven communities, and helping contractors across the country grow through SEO and digital strategy — his journey is rooted in hard work, conviction, and calling. In this conversation, we dive into: * The reality of growing up around broken systems — and choosing responsibility over dependency • Building businesses while raising a large family • Faith as a foundation for leadership and entrepreneurship • The mission behind Biblical Contractor and Kingdom-minded work • Why success without purpose isn’t enough • What it really means to build from the ground up This is a powerful discussion on freedom, faith, family, and the responsibility that comes with opportunity. If you're an entrepreneur, contractor, leader, or anyone trying to build something meaningful — this episode will challenge the way you think about work, provision, and purpose. 👉 Don’t forget to follow, download, and share to help more leaders discover stories that matter. #FromTheGroundUpShow #Entrepreneurship #FaithDrivenBusiness #ContractorLife #BusinessWithPurpose #LeadershipMatters #BuildFromNothing Connect with From The Ground Up Show:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com [https://fromthegroundupshow.com] https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p [https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p] https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow [https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow] https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/ [https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/] tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06 [http://tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06] https://x.com/FTGUshow [https://x.com/FTGUshow]   Watch the video show on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/nSCxXJRYjpA [https://youtu.be/nSCxXJRYjpA]   Appear on the Show as an expert guest or ask a question of Erick and one of his guests:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com [https://fromthegroundupshow.com]   Guest Links: https://majenix.com/ [https://majenix.com/] https://www.skool.com/contractorseoacademy/ [https://www.skool.com/contractorseoacademy/] https://thegoodcontractorslist.com/ [https://thegoodcontractorslist.com/] https://www.roofingseoschool.com/group.html [https://www.roofingseoschool.com/group.html]

Greg McAfee - Why Execution Matters More Than Ideas

What does real leadership look like when growth, culture, and execution all matter at the same time? In this episode of From the Ground Up, Erick sits down with Greg McAfee, a seasoned construction industry leader, to talk about what it truly takes to build and sustain a successful company over the long haul. Greg shares lessons learned from decades in the field—lessons shaped by hiring decisions, equipment investments, leadership missteps, and moments when doing the hard thing was the only option. This conversation goes beyond surface-level business advice. Greg breaks down how discipline, accountability, and clear expectations create teams that perform, why leaders must be willing to invest before results show up, and how consistency and execution separate companies that last from those that stall out. You’ll hear practical insights on building strong people, making smart financial decisions, and leading with conviction—even when the path forward isn’t obvious. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why execution matters more than ideas or intentions * How leadership decisions ripple through culture and performance * The importance of investing in people, equipment, and systems * How long-term thinking creates sustainable growth * What separates effective leaders from reactive managers Whether you’re in construction, entrepreneurship, or leadership in any industry, this episode offers grounded, real-world wisdom for anyone trying to build something meaningful—and keep it moving forward. 🎧 Tune in to hear how strong leadership and disciplined execution are built from the ground up. #LeadershipDevelopment  #ConstructionLeadership  #BusinessGrowth  #EntrepreneurMindset  #CompanyCulture  #ExecutionMatters  #BuildSomethingThatLasts Connect with From The Ground Up Show:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com [https://fromthegroundupshow.com] https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p [https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p] https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow [https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow] https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/ [https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/] tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06 [http://tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06] https://x.com/FTGUshow [https://x.com/FTGUshow]   Watch the video show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yOcLNMC-7F8 [https://youtu.be/yOcLNMC-7F8]   Appear on the Show as an expert guest or ask a question of Erick and one of his guests:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com [https://fromthegroundupshow.com]   Guest Links: https://www.gregmcafee.com [%0Dhttps%3A/www.gregmcafee.com%0D]

Ken Dickson - Building What Lasts: Leadership Lessons from the Construction Industry

What does it really take to build something that lasts? In this episode of From the Ground Up, Erick sits down with construction leader Ken Dickson for an honest, inspiring conversation about resilience, leadership, and doing the hard work when no one is watching. Ken shares hard-earned lessons from decades in the construction industry—why execution matters more than sales, how strong teams carry companies through uncertainty, and what separates contractors who survive from those who don’t. This episode is a reminder that real success isn’t built overnight—it’s built through discipline, people, and perseverance. Perfect for contractors, entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders who want practical insight and motivation to keep pushing forward, even when the work gets tough. Topics include: construction leadership, business growth, team building, risk management, and long-term success. 🎧 Build smarter. Lead better. Keep going.   #ConstructionLeadership  #BusinessBuilders  #ContractorLife  #EntrepreneurMindset  #BuildingSuccess  #LeadershipLessons #FounderStories   Connect with From The Ground Up Show:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com [https://fromthegroundupshow.com] https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p [https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p] https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow [https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow] https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/ [https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/] tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06 [http://tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06] https://x.com/FTGUshow [https://x.com/FTGUshow]   Watch the video show on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/FESIzu8q9vo [https://youtu.be/FESIzu8q9vo]   Appear on the Show as an expert guest or ask a question of Erick and one of his guests:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com [https://fromthegroundupshow.com]   Guest Links: https://amw-inc.com/ [https://amw-inc.com/]

Merv Zook - The Last Man Standing: Faith, Family, and finding God’s path in the Trades

What does it really take to earn your place—and keep it? In this episode of From The Ground Up Show, we explore leadership, responsibility, and the kind of work ethic that’s built under pressure, not hype. This conversation digs into what it means to create real value, become indispensable, and carry the weight that comes with building something bigger than yourself. We talk about leadership when there are no shortcuts: being responsible for other people’s livelihoods, pushing forward when confidence runs out, and trusting discipline and faith when the path isn’t clear. This episode goes beyond hustle culture to examine the long game—why consistency beats intensity, why resilience matters more than motivation, and why true success often looks like endurance. If you’re building a business, leading a team, or laying the foundation for a long-term legacy, this episode is a reminder that meaningful success is earned daily—from the ground up.  #FromTheGroundUpShow  #BusinessPodcast #LeadershipPodcast #EntrepreneurMindset #BuildDontHype #LongTermThinking #EarnedNotGiven Connect with From The Ground Up Show:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com [https://fromthegroundupshow.com] https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p [https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p] https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow [https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow] https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/ [https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/] tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06 [http://tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06] https://x.com/FTGUshow [https://x.com/FTGUshow]   Watch the video show on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/YJ5Rs16akK0 [https://youtu.be/YJ5Rs16akK0]    Appear on the Show as an expert guest or ask a question of Erick and one of his guests:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com [https://fromthegroundupshow.com]   Guest Links: https://niceelectricco.com/ [https://niceelectricco.com/]

Brian Gottlieb – from $3000 start-up to $1 Billion in Sales – scaling the right way

What does it actually take to scale a business to $1,000,000,000 in sales in just 12 years—and sustain it? In this episode of From the Ground Up, we sit down with Brian for a rare, behind-the-scenes conversation about rapid growth, disciplined leadership, and the systems required to operate at the highest levels of business. Brian shares how he built and lead a company that reached nine figures—and then ten—without chasing hype or shortcuts. This episode dives into what really drives scalable success: building the right teams, understanding marketing at scale, creating accountability, and staying focused on long-term value instead of short-term wins. Brian also talks about how his perspective evolved over time, why mentorship and developing people became central to his mission, and what separates businesses that grow fast from those that grow right. If you’re an entrepreneur, executive, or business owner who wants insight from someone who’s actually operated at the billion-dollar level—not just talked about it—this episode delivers. Real experience. Real numbers. Real leadership. Press play and hear what it takes to build from the ground up—at scale. #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #ScalingABusiness #BusinessGrowth #BillionDollarBusiness #FromTheGroundUp Connect with From The Ground Up Show:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com [https://fromthegroundupshow.com] https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p [https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheGroundUp-k9p] https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow [https://www.facebook.com/fromthegroundupshow] https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/ [https://www.instagram.com/fromthegroundupshow/] tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06 [http://tiktok.com/@from.the.ground.u06] https://x.com/FTGUshow [https://x.com/FTGUshow]   Watch the video show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DWkcJrRAvTM [https://youtu.be/DWkcJrRAvTM]     Appear on the Show as an expert guest or ask a question of Erick and one of his guests:  https://fromthegroundupshow.com [https://fromthegroundupshow.com]   Guest Links: https://briangottlieb.com/ [https://briangottlieb.com/] https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Hammer-Approach-Leadership-Performance/dp/B0DGLZ7B4B/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36DIUGZJZMMX2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DSK2lpjypxRLSS518TGXPP9MMyLly2C0F3e3idlc9UQnWQOQJWrizF1PmwSh7hakyaDlETNFTTi2gXWMGS6Yb3IziqJ1ArDFFGZgDUeYFwyU1KATOa3xDb4VgrX_zgaWvETccxRHQVaq704dEzX1slAC5_s9VzFQNxR_a0yjBtL4eo5xT2yMdZNzQVWHbmYRxifZqPpyHuflA1IufWbNzjBZwcYgEA96uif4YJ5HybI.1SnN3LB7I6LJTZaDJHzl5sQ56UUdSMWVEFUwqEMZSf4&dib_tag=se&keywords=beyond+the+hammer&qid=1769200068&sprefix=beyond+the+hammer%2Caps%2C299&sr=8-1