What happens when successful entrepreneurs look back at the decisions that helped build their companies, only to realize some of those same decisions created problems down the road?

In this episode of Talking TOP 500, Pat O'Toole and Tim Musch sit down with two Legends of Home Improvement, Brian Gottlieb, founder of Tundraland and author of Beyond the Hammer, and Brian Elias, founder and CEO of ReFloor and founder of 800 Hansons.

Rather than focusing on success stories, this conversation digs into the lessons behind the lessons: expensive lead-generation mistakes, sales organizations that needed to be rebuilt, growth that actually made the business weaker, and strategies that seemed smart at the time but produced unintended consequences. The guests share what they learned about knowing when to push harder, when to change course, and when it is finally time to walk away from an idea.

The conversation also looks ahead to the next stage of growth. What should an owner of a $10 million or $20 million home-improvement company avoid when trying to reach $50 million or $100 million? Brian Gottlieb and Brian Elias offer hard-earned advice designed to help other entrepreneurs avoid the mistakes that come with scaling a business. The episode also serves as a preview of their upcoming session at Top 500 Live, where these lessons will take center stage.