The Start, Scale & Succeed Podcast

In this invigorating episode, David Lorango, CEO and Founder of Startup Accelerators, shares how to reignite growth when marketing spend no longer moves the needle. If you struggle with flatlining revenue despite bigger budgets and a solid team, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- Why more ad spend alone kills ROI at scale- How to shift from acquisition-only to full-funnel creativity- What injecting fun and joy unlocks breakthrough campaignsThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 4 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizDavid is the director of e-commerce at Uniqlo and the founder and CEO of the marketing agency Startup Accelerators. As a high-demand coach, David has helped over 300+ startups scale successfully. With over 15 years of experience as an innovative marketing leader, David has driven growth for top brands including Chanel, MAC Cosmetics, Clorox, Forever 21, and The Wonderful Company. David’s biggest success story was with Nick’s Ice Cream. When David started with Nick’s in 2019, the company was only selling in stores in the northeast. By the end of 2022, Nick’s was in 14,000 stores, including Walmart. They had raised $100 million in seed round funding, and the business was doing nine figures.Want to learn more about David Lorango's work at Startup Accelerators? Check out his website at https://startupaccelerators.io/Connect with David at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlorango/Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

In this energizing episode, Alan McLaren, Co-Founder of STRATA Originals, shares how to build a powerful leadership brand that pulls opportunities to you instead of pushing uphill. If you struggle with team execution feeling heavy and growth stalling despite a strong C-suite, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- Why your personal visibility is the hidden multiplier for company momentum- How to start building thought-leadership in just 15 minutes a week- What authentic commenting on LinkedIn does that original posts alone can’tThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 5 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizAlan McLaren, Co-Founder of STRATA Originals, co-leads a personal branding agency specializing in working with CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, and legal professionals. With a strategic, intentional, and authentic approach, Alan has coached or trained over 600 CEOs in the past two years. Alan’s passion for personal branding comes from over two decades of experience in leadership roles, including public companies, partnerships, and entrepreneurial ventures. As Co-Founder of Infinitycomm, a full-service marketing agency, he developed deep expertise in public relations and marketing, honing his ability to craft and elevate brands, including those of CEOs and their personal brands.Want to learn more about Alan McLaren's work at STRATA Originals? Check out his website at https://strataoriginals.com/Every CEO broadcasts a leadership signal. The question is: how clear and trusted is yours?If you believe your voice and presence shape how investors, employees and the market perceive you, the Leadership Signal Scorecard was built for you.It’s a complimentary five-minute diagnostic that reveals how visible and trusted your leadership signal is today.You’ll receive your score benchmarked against other CEOs, along with personalized next steps to strengthen your presence and scale your impact.See where you stand: https://quiz.strataoriginals.com/Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

Tyler Wagner, founder of Authors Unite and host of The Tyler Wagner Show, has guided over 700 authors to bestseller status. He reveals how writing a book in under 90 days can elevate your credibility and revenue. Tyler emphasizes the importance of giving value to convert readers into clients and how controversy can drive sales. He discusses the dynamics of product quality versus marketing and the advantages of hybrid publishing. Finally, he shares insights on scaling your business through referral partnerships, proving that bestseller lists are within reach for dedicated authors.

In this liberating episode, Shae Bynes, Chief Fire Igniter of The Good Faith Group LLC, shares how to replace grind with grace for sustainable success and true freedom. If you struggle with burnout and the hidden costs of ambition, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- How to receive grace as a gift already available to you- Why grace, not hustle, is the fuel for lasting results- What grace-empowered leadership creates flourishing culturesThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 4 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizAffectionately known as the “Chief Fire Igniter,” Shae Bynes is a catalyst for grace who equips leaders to create cultures where both people and results flourish. A pioneer in the Kingdom business movement, she has impacted over one million people globally through her books, courses, podcasts, and speaking, helping leaders embrace a grace-empowered way of life and leadership. With 25 years of experience, including leadership at a Fortune 50 company and over a decade as a founder and business owner, Shae brings strategic clarity and transformational insight to her advisory work with both entrepreneurs and executives.Want to learn more about Shae Bynes's work atThe Good Faith Group LLC? Check out her website at https://shaebynes.com/Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

In this venturesome episode, Christopher Hnatko, Founder of Spartan Trading, shares how to master trading with institutional insights and avoid common pitfalls. If you struggle with financial leaks and poor risk decisions, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- How to define risk thresholds for scalable business choices- Why institutional views reveal hidden market dynamics- What real-time mentoring builds confident profitabilityThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 1 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizChristopher Hnatko is the founder of Spartan Trading, an online trading education platform that empowers aspiring and experienced traders to master the stock and options markets. With decades of experience spanning hedge funds, financial institutions, and live trading floors, Chris has seen firsthand how traditional trading education falls short—and he built Spartan Trading to fill that gap. Chris’s approach is actionable, hands-on, and results-driven. He doesn’t just teach theory—he walks traders through real-time market opportunities, high-probability setups, and decision-making strategies that accelerate learning and build confidence.Want to learn more about Christopher Hnatko's work at Spartan? Check out his website at https://spartantrading.com/Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

In thisempowering episode, Betsy Pepine, Owner of Pepine Realty, shares how to dismantle invisible boxes and embrace entrepreneurship. If you struggle with dissatisfaction and unseen expectations, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- How to identify confining boxes from family and society- Why self-reflection reveals your true entrepreneurial path- What mentors guide you from employee to founderThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 1 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizBetsy Pepine is a best-selling author, speaker, and serial real estate entrepreneur. Her brokerage, Pepine Realty, has been named to the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the USA multiple times and has earned spots on the Top 50 Florida Companies to Watch and Florida Trend Best Companies to Work For lists. Additionally, the Wall Street Journal has consistently recognized Betsy’s real estate team as one of the top-producing real estate companies in the United States. Betsy also owns a title company, a real estate school, and a property management brokerage. Betsy earned an economics degree from Duke University and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.Want to learn more about Betsy Pepine's work at Pepine Realty? Check out her website at https://www.pepinerealty.com/Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

In this Streamlined episode, Mary Cravets, Founder and CEO of Simply Get Clients by Mary Cravets, shares how to simplify client generation and boost income without burnout. If you struggle with overwhelm and inconsistent revenue, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- How to simplify strategies to focus on high-impact actions- Why defining "working" prevents wasted effort on tactics- What intentional choices align business with your freedomThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 2 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizMary Cravets is an award-winning Client Generation Expert and International Speaker who helps coaches grow their businesses without working nights and weekends. She’s heard all the confusing and conflicting advice out there - so she isn’t surprised that most coaches struggle to establish a sustainable business. But she’s here to change that. Using her methods, the majority of Mary’s clients quickly increase their income by 50% or more. Clients range from the former CFO of Microsoft North America to coaches in their first few years of business.Want to learn more about Mary Cravets's work at Simply Get Clients by Mary Cravets? Check out her website at https://simplygetclients.com/Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

In this transformative episode, Gary Mitchell, Founder of OnTrac Coach, shares how to transition from star lawyer to effective firm leader. If you struggle with control and team management, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- How to build teams around your strengths for efficiency- Why mindset shifts enable entrepreneurial risk-taking- What delegating perfection frees for firm growthThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 3 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizGary Mitchell has spent over two decades helping lawyers reshape their practices into businesses that work for their lives, not against them. Drawing on three decades of experience in business strategy, communications, and leadership, he supports lawyers in building efficient teams, modernizing operations, and mastering skills law school never taught. As founder of OnTrac® Coach and creator of the Law Firm Xelerator™ Program, Gary helps managing partners and law firm owners accelerate their firms’ profitability.Want to learn more about Gary Mitchell's work at OnTrac Coach? Check out his website at https://ontraccoach.com/Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

In this clarifying episode, Rion Westfall, Founder of 537bd, shares how to hunt internal revenue patterns and scale without chaos. If you struggle with unclear messaging and profit erosion, you won't want to miss it.You will discover:- How to answer “What do you do?” in seven seconds with power- Why continual evaluation beats more processes for margin growth- What deep questions unlock control over your revenueThis episode is ideal for for Founders, Owners, and CEOs in stage 5 of The Founder's Evolution. Not sure which stage you're in? Find out for free in less than 10 minutes at https://www.scalearchitects.com/founders/quizRion Westfall has spent years working across 15 countries and founding nine companies, gaining a deep understanding of how businesses operate on a global scale. Throughout his travels, he frequently conducted independent audits and operational evaluations, uncovering a recurring truth — while people, processes, and equipment may differ, the underlying patterns of business success remain remarkably similar. Driven by this discovery, Rion developed a specialized program centered on identifying and leveraging these internal patterns — the key to achieving scalability for small and mid-sized businesses.Want to learn more about Rion Westfall's work at 537bd? Check out his website at https://www.537bd.com/ or connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rion-westfall-own-your-revenue-business/Mentioned in this episode:Take the Founder's Evolution Quiz TodayIf you’re a Founder, business owner, or CEO who feels overworked by the business you lead and underwhelmed by the results, you’re doing it wrong. Succeeding as a founder all comes down to doing the right one or two things right now. Take the quiz today at foundersquiz.com, and in just ten questions, you can figure out what stage you are in, so you can focus on what is going to work and say goodbye to everything else.Founder's Quiz

Scott Ritzheimer dives into what it means to thrive at any stage of business, challenging the notion that constant growth is necessary for fulfillment. He emphasizes aligning your vision with your current stage for increased satisfaction. Discover the importance of embracing mystery to combat boredom and stimulate engagement. Ritzheimer also explores unique joys at each stage and why some founders yearn for the simplicity of earlier phases. Ultimately, he reveals a key habit that sustains success and sparks a fulfilling journey.