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

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