The Messy Middle of Building

Marc and Lamees discuss the emotional toll of post-launch work, the 'messy middle', and needing space to regroup.

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What sustains you when you’re standing between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming?

In this conversation, Marc sits down with Lamees Butt, builder, entrepreneur, and founder of Riser, to explore what it really takes to thrive in the messy middle of building. From Lego castles as a child to scaling tech companies and now reimagining the hiring process, Lamees shares candid insights on resilience, visualization, confidence, and why culture—not skill—determines success.

She also opens up about the personal loss of her mother and how her mother’s lessons in confidence continue to shape her journey today. This is an honest, practical, and deeply human look at building—whether it’s a career, a company, or yourself.

Timestamps:

00:00 | Who are you? Lamees on being a builder

03:00 | From Lego blocks to early entrepreneurial sparks

06:00 | First ventures, failures, and the lessons of timing

08:00 | Losing autonomy and the awakening to build for herself

11:00 | Visualization + planning: Lamees’ practice for clarity and momentum

17:00 | The “messy middle” of entrepreneurship and mental health

21:00 | Spin bikes, silence, and the tools to reset energy

24:00 | Why intuition is the leader’s ultimate competitive advantage

26:00 | Introducing Riser: reimagining hiring with video + AI + humanity

34:00 | Gen Z, networking, and the hidden job market

41:00 | Conquering the confidence crisis: how to pitch yourself in 60 seconds