Building a Balanced Business: Mike Salguero on Scaling ButcherBox Thoughtfully 

In this episode of The Next Next, host Jason Jacobs interviews Mike Salguero, founder and CEO of ButcherBox. They discuss Mike's journey from the failure of his first startup, CustomMade, to the success of ButcherBox, a direct-to-consumer meat delivery service that now boasts over $500 million in revenue without raising outside capital. The conversation explores the importance of maintaining a work-life balance, the challenges of scaling a business independently, and the role of AI in enhancing customer experience. Mike shares insights on how to build a company that aligns with one's lifestyle goals while addressing broader industry challenges, such as worker welfare and sustainable meat production. 

00:00 Introduction to Mike Salguero and ButcherBox 

01:15 Mike's Journey from CustomMade to ButcherBox 

03:01 Balancing Family and Business 

03:33 The Role of AI in ButcherBox 

05:35 Building ButcherBox: Philosophy and Growth 

07:46 Lessons from CustomMade 

11:14 Launching ButcherBox 

20:33 The Growth and Challenges of ButcherBox 

27:38 The Power of Saying No 28:18 Balancing Personal and Professional Life 

29:43 The Importance of CEO Forums 

31:34 The Plate-Spinning Analogy 

33:06 Golden Plates: Health, Relationships, and Kids 

34:41 Navigating Financial Independence 

37:24 Reviving the Founder Mindset 

40:04 Empowering Your Executive Team 

45:20 Challenges in the Meat Industry 

50:51 The Future Vision for ButcherBox 

54:07 Final Thoughts and Reflections