In this episode of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Mike Nelson of Five Towers Media and Derek Foster of Daigle Cleaning Systems have an honest conversation about what it really takes to build and grow a business. Listen in as they share lessons from their own business journeys, discuss the importance of building a strong team and being a strong leader, how success is a never-ending project, and more!

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0:15 Introduction

1:29 How Long It Really Takes to Build a Business

3:19 Derek’s 15-Year Business Journey

5:00 Starting Without Corporate Experience

6:27 The Never-Ending Project of Growth

8:14 The Myth of “Set It and Forget It” Success

10:00 Quitting the Day Job

12:15 Competing in a Crowded Industry

13:32 Growth Milestones: 0 to 50+ Employees

15:04 Building Culture and Processes

17:31 Delegation and Leadership Evolution

19:03 Education, Certification, and Self-Improvement

21:32 Defining Good Management

28:24 Providing Resources and Getting Out of the Way

30:09 Learning From Mistakes and Documenting Solutions

33:18 The Importance of Hiring the Right People

35:06 Employee Recognition and Internal Growth Paths

37:30 Recruiting and Meeting Talent Halfway

39:03 Creating Career Roadmaps and Aligning Pay

41:01 Perceptions of Hard Work

44:52 Advice for Startups and Final Thoughts

47:13 Thank You to Our Sponsors