This is my monthly Founder Journal. A personal record documenting the decisions, lessons, and adjustments as I build toward a $1M business by the end of 2027.

In this episode, I’m capturing six lessons from January 2026, recorded in real time while building a mid–six-figure service business.

Lessons from January 2026:

• Scarcity works when trust already exists
• Breaking beliefs unlocks faster progress
• The game is heaven, not hell
• Value stacking increases perceived value in sales
• Simple messages need to be repeated often
• How we launched a pricing increase the right way

Resources:

• The Chore Club: https://www.thetododudes.com/chore-club
• He Leadeth Me Book: ⁠https://a.co/d/h5qgYBj⁠
• Alex Hormozi & Tony Robbins Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6OXqTdIr33hh21OZPZ2yXV?si=3d67281ba0c04a1b&nd=1&dlsi=62deae23e6844a4c

After hiring over 150 people, I’ve learned one powerful truth: when someone doesn’t work out, it’s usually our fault.

In this episode, I’m unpacking what truly makes (or breaks) a team member’s success.. your onboarding process.

We’ll cover:1️⃣ The onboarding experience that sets people up to win2️⃣ How to make those first days on the job actually matter3️⃣ And how to retain your best talent long-term

Whether you’re scaling your first team or refining your company culture, this episode will show you how to turn new hires into A-players, starting from day one.

When we started The To-Do Dudes, people didn’t buy into us, they bought into the idea: students showing up, working hard, and helping their community. We charged just $18 an hour and still got plenty of “no’s.” But every stage of growth came with a lesson. From pricing struggles and pushback to finally earning the trust and loyalty of our customers.

In this episode, we break down the full journey that taught us about value, elasticity, and reputation. You’ll hear about the growing pains, the tough lessons in credibility, and the moment we realized that people will pay a premium for reliability, speed, and quality.

In this episode, I share how one of my biggest mistake ended up becoming one of my greatest advantages years later.

This episode is all about trusting the process, learning from what feels like failure, and understanding that sometimes the dots only make sense when you look back.

One year after Olivia’s first appearance on Built From Scratch, we sat down again to reflect on how much can change in twelve months. We revisited her original quotes, talked about the growth of OG’s Bakery (including the story of how she got into her first grocery store), and explored why she’s so passionate about encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs.

And just when it seemed like the conversation was wrapping up, the episode took a turn I’ll never forget, I proposed to Olivia live on the podcast.

This is our story.

Ever get to the end of the month and wonder, “Where did all the money go?”

In this episode of Built From Scratch, Erik Libby (Founder & CEO of To-Do Dudes) breaks down the 7 financial metrics that completely changed the way he runs his business. From cost per lead and customer acquisition cost, to lifetime gross profit, retention, and margins, these are the numbers that turned confusion into clarity.

Whether you’re a founder, small business owner, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode will give you a simple framework to measure what really drives growth and profitability.

Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Originally from Egypt, Youssef moved to Dubai at age 3 and later came to the US in 2021 to study Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Future Technology on a full ride scholarship at Boston University.

A serial founder: his first startup failed dramatically—but his second venture was a successful exit, which led him to join a VC firm as a partner.

He was a TEDx speaker, who spoke about the importance of health care over military during the pandemic.

And now, invests in early-stage companies through The Genesis Fund, helping tomorrow’s innovators in the Boston area scale and thrive.

Youssef is only 22 years old.

Contact Info:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefrezkalla/

Website: https://genesisfund.co/

Email: youssef@genesisfund.co

Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

This episode is part lesson, part documentary to take a real look into where I’m spending my time as a CEO and the adjustments I’m actively making. There are constant challenges around setting the right priorities, and in this episode, I share what’s working, what isn’t, and where my head is at right now.

Here’s what I cover:

• Deciding whether to prioritize sales or product first
• Why business feels like a game of Settlers of Catan
• The value of having meeting-free days
• How I decide what to cut to stay focused

Find Built From Scratch updates on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.