Built to Last

Levi Lawrence and Colby Jardine
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Candid conversations with entrepreneurs on life and business. Join us as we uncover the habits, mindsets, and strategies that help organizations and people thrive for the long haul.

  1. 4D AGO

    Why Smart Businesses Struggle to Grow - With Joe Testouri

    In this episode of Built to Last, Colby and Levi sit down with entrepreneur and advisor Joe Testouri for a wide-ranging conversation about building companies, understanding customers, and navigating the realities of scaling a business. Joe shares lessons from working with companies at different stages of growth, explaining why many founders struggle to truly understand their customer, how sales maturity impacts strategy, and why honest conversations are often the most valuable ones in business. The discussion explores everything from market positioning and relationship-building to the mindset required to grow sustainably. For entrepreneurs navigating growth or trying to sharpen their strategy, Joe offers thoughtful insights grounded in real-world experience. Connect with Joe - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joetestouri/ Show Notes: 00:00 – Introduction • Levi and Colby welcome Joe. 01:20 – Meet Joe Testouri • Joe shares his background and work. 04:20 – Knowing Your Customer • Why many businesses misidentify their customer. 08:18 – Joe’s Ideal Clients • The companies Joe typically helps. 12:30 – Sales Maturity • How sales changes as a business grows. 17:00 – Founder Growth Challenges • Why founders struggle to step back. 21:00 – Entrepreneurship and Lifestyle • Travel, business, and balance. 26:30 – Hard Conversations • Why honest conversations drive growth. 33:00 – Strategy vs Execution • Why execution matters more than planning alone. 40:00 – Market Positioning • Standing out by defining your niche. 48:30 – Patterns in Growth • What Joe sees in successful founders. 56:00 – Business Relationships • Why trust matters long term. 1:04:00 – Advice for Founders • Joe’s guidance for navigating growth. 1:15:00 – Building to Last • The mindset behind durable businesses. 1:22:00 – Closing Thoughts • Final reflections on growth and entrepreneurship.

    1h 42m

  2. APR 2

    Passion Over Profit & Managing Burnout - With Antonio Lennert

    Antonio Lennert’s story is a masterclass in reinvention, personally and professionally. He shares how a major life move, a creative career, and an unexpected obsession with Great Lakes surfing led to building Surf the Greats: not just a shop, but an ecosystem built around education, inclusion, and community. Along the way, we get a real look at what it takes to build something niche, and make it viable. The conversation then turns inward: burnout, purpose, and the kind of personal work that doesn’t fit neatly into a business playbook. Antonio reflects on what it means to lose direction, how support systems can change outcomes, and why partnership alignment is one of the most underestimated leadership challenges. It’s honest, grounded, and full of insights for anyone building while also trying to stay human. Connect with Antonio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoniolennert/ Antonio's coaching business: https://www.theridein.com/  Time stamps 00:00 – Welcome + why this conversation matters. 01:59 – Antonio’s background. 03:59 – Three major pivots: leaving Brazil, burning out in design, finding purpose in surfing. 09:12 – Identity, belonging, and why surfing became more than a sport. 14:56 – “Surfing in Toronto?” Great Lakes waves, tech shifts, and surf culture inland. 20:09 – Not about money: building an inclusive community and a full surf ecosystem. 31:59 – The inner-work phase: burnout recovery / 10-day silent retreat. 47:23 – Loss, grief, and leadership. 58:57 – Becoming a coach. 01:15:10 – What “change” means now. 01:25:10 – Looking forward: what’s most exciting now (purpose, momentum, and the next chapter)

    1h 35m

  3. MAR 7

    Overcoming Business Slumps and Growing Consistently - With Affan Chowdhury

    In this episode of Built to Last, Colby and Levi sit down with Affan Chowdhury, an entrepreneur, marketer, and the founder of Notionhive, a digital agency based in Bangladesh. Affan shares his unique journey from Bangladesh to North America, explaining how he navigated business culture shifts between countries and industries. Affan’s story is full of valuable insights on building relationships, embracing vulnerability, and balancing business growth with personal well-being. From adapting to Canadian business culture to building strong networks and navigating the challenges of running a global business, Affan’s perspective offers a fresh view on entrepreneurial success. If you're navigating change, especially across cultures or industries, this episode is a must-listen. Affan’s journey will inspire anyone looking to scale thoughtfully and authentically. Connect with Affan https://www.linkedin.com/in/affanmahmud/ Shownotes: 01:00 | Introduction to Affan Affan’s background and journey from Bangladesh to Canada.03:00 | Moving to North America Reasons behind the migration to Canada.Exposure to North American business practices and lifestyle.06:00 | Business Culture in Different Regions Key differences in business cultures between the US, Canada, and Bangladesh.09:30 | Building Relationships through Networking Affan’s approach to networking in Canada through events like Meetup.12:00 | Vulnerability in Business Power of being vulnerable and transparent with clients.16:00 | Overcoming Slow Periods in Business How Affan fills his pipeline during slow sales periods.20:00 | Handling Change and Growth Lessons learned from managing growth in different regions.24:00 | Health and Entrepreneurship Importance of maintaining physical and mental health as an entrepreneur.28:00 | Productizing Your Service Why productization is key to scaling.33:00 | Finding Consistency in Business The role of consistency in business and health.36:00 | Building a Sustainable Business Model Diversification to keep businesses stable.40:00 | The Importance of Giving Back The impact of giving back on the entrepreneurial community.45:00 | Navigating Difficult Conversations How Affan approaches tough conversations with clients and partners.Balancing honesty with diplomacy.49:00 | The Future of Business and AI Affan’s thoughts on the role of AI in business.How businesses can adapt to AI-driven changes.53:00 | Wrapping Up: Final Thoughts Reflections on Affan’s journey and approach to life and business.1:06:00 | The Changing Role of AI in Business How AI impacts service-based businesses and what it means for long-term strategy.Future opportunities in AI for entrepreneurs.1:06:00 | Balancing Ambition with Realism Discussing the balance between ambition and the reality of growing businesses.1:16:00 | Creating a Healthy Business Environment The importance of building a company culture that prioritizes mental and physical well-being.1:20:00 | Looking Ahead: Future Goals and Growth Affan’s vision for his business and the new markets he’s exploring.

    1h 27m
  4. Navigating Change & What Comes Next (Season Finale)

    10/17/2025

    Navigating Change & What Comes Next (Season Finale)

    Colby and Levi sit down, just the two of them. Reflecting on their first season of Built to Last. A 15-episode journey exploring the messy, real, and transformative experiences of entrepreneurs. They revisit standout moments from guests, and also share how these conversations shaped their own business journey at Iron House Pro, and how both the podcast and their company are evolving toward a clearer mission: helping organizations navigate change. If you’ve ever questioned your next step, wrestled with growth, or needed space to hear real talk from fellow builders. This episode is for you.  Links & Resources: Iron House Pro https://www.ironhousepro.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/levilawrence/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/colby-jardine/ 00:00 – Season Wrap-Up & Why It Matters Recap of how the podcast started and evolvedReflections on hitting 15 episodes and the value of “just starting”Why these kinds of conversations are rare—but necessary 03:00 – What We Learned from Our Guests Highlights from episodes with Justinas, Anthony, Michael, and MarinaLessons on grit, offshoring, burnout, moving countries, and perspectiveAcknowledging the emotional and practical weight behind entrepreneurial decisions 11:30 – The Power of Real Conversations Levi and Colby share how meaningful dialogue shaped themThoughts on small talk fatigue and the value of depthDiversity of experiences from guests across regions and industries 17:00 – Evolving Iron House Pro’s Focus How their work organically shifted toward helping companies navigate changeDefining the real value behind services like tech adoption, websites, and process workFinding alignment and clarity in both mission and language 25:00 – Why We’re Doubling Down on Change Real-world examples of organizational risk, artificial margin, and technical debtStories of small but impactful shifts in collaboration, onboarding, and structureHow building resilience often means investing in things that won’t show ROI right away 36:00 – Culture, Communication & Shared Language Why shared values, expectations, and conflict frameworks matterBuilding environments where people can take time off without fearCreating connection through team rituals and common experience 41:00 – Season 2: A New Focus Why the podcast will now center around “navigating change”How the guest lineup and structure will shift moving forwardInviting stories from listeners—especially the ones that aren’t often heard

    42 min
  5. The Hard Truths of Small Town Entrepreneurship – With Michael Petrovici

    10/02/2025

    The Hard Truths of Small Town Entrepreneurship – With Michael Petrovici

    In this episode of Built to Last, Colby and Levi sit down with entrepreneur and self-described “chaotic builder” Mihai (Michael) Petrovici. Whose journey from a Walmart manager to a multi-business owner in Bathurst, NB is equal parts inspiring and cautionary. With 7 businesses, 50+ employees, and a distillery now under his belt, Michael opens up about what it really takes to build something from scratch in a small town. From tight payroll weeks to the pride of seeing a packed café you helped create, Michael doesn’t sugarcoat the highs or the lows. Whether you’re considering launching a product, scaling operations, or just surviving the chaos of entrepreneurship, this episode will leave you feeling less alone and more equipped for the journey! https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpetrovici/ https://www.nbdistillery.ca/  https://www.aubootlegger.com/ Segment Breakdown: 00:00 | From Romania to New Brunswick  • Michael shares how his early life and family journey brought him to small-town Canada. 02:00 | Landing in Bathurst (By Accident)  • A temporary relocation becomes permanent—and unexpectedly sparks entrepreneurship. 05:00 |Au Bootlegger: The First Business  • Opening a craft beer bar without restaurant experience, and learning everything on the fly. 08:30 | Applying Walmart Systems to Small Biz  • How Michael brought structure, operations, and process to his bar using corporate tools. 11:00 | Starting Caffeine Café  • Launching a low-risk coffee concept that filled a local gap—and quickly gained traction. 14:30 | Buying a Bookkeeping Business  • His entry into service-based business and how automation changed the model. 17:00 | Growth vs. Sustainability  • Why Michael resists the pressure to scale for the sake of it—and what he focuses on instead. 20:00 | When Payroll Gets Tight  • A close call with cash flow and the lessons learned about forecasting and responsibility. 23:30 | Building the Distillery  • The personal passion and strategic thinking behind launching NB Distillery. 26:30 | Forecasting Gone Wrong  • The reality check that came from overestimating product demand—and underestimating risk. 29:30 | Juggling 7 Businesses  • How Michael manages chaos, team dynamics, and leadership across multiple ventures. 32:00 | A Brutal Winter in Business  • One of the toughest seasons yet—and what it revealed about resilience. 35:00 | Marketing vs. Product Quality  • The challenge of competing in a crowded liquor market where flash often beats substance. 38:00 | Why He Still Believes in Local  • Despite the setbacks, Michael shares why community-driven business still matters. 41:00 | The 5-Story Project  • A new residential build, how it came together, and why it’s more than just real estate. 45:00 | Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs  • Why he recommends building cautiously—and keeping your day job early on. 50:00 | Would He Do It Again?  • Final reflections on pride, risk, and what drives him to keep building.

    1h 9m
  6. How Inner Change Powers Business Success - With Gina Mollicone-Long

    09/25/2025

    How Inner Change Powers Business Success - With Gina Mollicone-Long

    Colby and Levi sit down with Gina Mollicone-Long Author, speaker, coach, and founder of the Greatness Group, for an energizing conversation about personal transformation, belief systems, and the real meaning of success. Gina shares her path from a high-achieving corporate career to launching multiple businesses rooted in systems thinking, personal development, and high-performance leadership. From stories about charging her first client triple her salary to reflections on parenting, family dynamics, and failure, Gina brings humor, honesty, and clarity to every topic. Ginas Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginamollicone/ Website: https://ginamollicone.com/  00:00 – Welcome Colby shares how he met Gina and why this conversation needed to happen. 03:00 – Mind Meets Matter Gina introduces her work and obsession with systems, performance, and transformation. 06:00 – ESP & Engineering From asking for psychic school at 10 to earning an engineering degree—Gina shares her start. 11:00 – The Leap Out of Corporate Leaving Molson wasn’t a plan—it was survival. Gina shares what it really felt like to quit. 15:00 – The $300/hr Moment Why doubling her rate changed everything—and what it taught her about self-worth. 20:00 – People Reflect What You Expect How your self-perception shapes how others respond to you. 23:00 – Systems > Symptoms Gina unpacks how systems thinking applies to both business and personal growth. 27:00 – Adversity Unlocks Potential From immigrant roots to inner resilience—how Gina’s family history shaped her mindset. 32:00 – Building The Greatness Group A look behind the business: training, team building, coaching, and scalable delivery. 36:00 – Pandemic Pivots How 2020 forced Gina and her husband to adapt every aspect of their business—and home. 41:00 – Discovering NLP by Accident The unexpected way she stumbled into NLP—and how it transformed her approach. 45:00 – Updating the Program Why holding onto outdated beliefs is like running Word 95 on a modern system. 51:00 – Clearing the Mental Clutter How Gina helps people release limiting beliefs and make room for change. 56:00 – Growing Past Your Circle What to do when your growth outpaces your environment—especially with family. 1:02:00 – Oxford & Neurotheology Why she’s going all-in on a PhD—and how it connects science and spirit. 1:07:00 – Breaking Family Patterns Why families function like systems—and how to shift deep-rooted dynamics. 1:14:00 – When Growth Feels Like Rejection Levi reflects on how personal growth can be misunderstood by loved ones. 1:19:00 – Letting Go to Grow Up Why rejection is often needed for independence—whether you’re a kid or a founder. 1:25:00 – The Gift of Failure Reframing failure as fuel for transformation—not something to avoid. 1:30:00 – You vs. The Wall A marathon story that unlocked a belief: you can do more than you think. 1:38:00 – The Filter Is the Problem Why we only see a sliver of reality—and how to take control of your lens. 1:43:00 – Debugging Beliefs How bad logic and flawed data create limiting beliefs—and how to shift them. 1:49:00 – If You Could Install One Belief… The belief Gina would help people unlock—and why it’s always personal. 1:57:00 – Toboggan Tracks & Possibility A metaphor about repetition, ruts, and what it takes to change direction. 2:00:00 – Wrap-Up A record-breaking conversation closes with reflections

    2h 3m
  7. Why People-First Isn’t Enough: Rethinking Culture with Pierre Battah

    07/11/2025

    Why People-First Isn’t Enough: Rethinking Culture with Pierre Battah

    Challenging common leadership mantras with wisdom, wit, and real-world stories. In this episode of Built to Last, Levi and Colby are joined by leadership expert, award-winning author, and jazz bassist Pierre Battah. What begins as a nostalgic reconnection turns into a candid, insightful exploration of leadership, organizational culture, and the future of work. Pierre shares personal stories from his transition from HR executive to independent consultant and speaker, lessons learned through tough client calls, and his approach to reshaping culture from fear-based to learning-oriented environments. The conversation dives into the nuances of facilitation, performance psychology, and the evolving employer-employee relationship. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, or emerging leader, this episode offers practical wisdom and plenty of inspiration. Links and Resources Mentioned Pierre Battah –https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierrebattah/ Pierre Battah’s website and book https://www.pierrebattah.com/ Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) https://www.canadianspeakers.org/ David Allen – Getting Things Done https://gettingthingsdone.com/ Quotes Worth Sharing “It’s not about being happy—it’s about being engaged.” “I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur. I set out to be independent—and then got hooked.” “Culture isn’t ‘people first.’ It’s results through people.” “Safety isn’t soft. It’s the foundation for productivity.” “Not all things that are curious are part of the work.” Segment Breakdown 07:00 – Changing the Employer-Employee Relationship Reframing leadership in the age of talent scarcity. From “you’re lucky to have a job” to “we’re lucky to have you” Why culture change is harder than culture theory 14:00 – People First? Not Quite. Why “people first” can be misleading The importance of balancing empathy with high standards Creating cultures that are challenging, not coddling 20:00 – Breaking the Culture of Fear A real-world example of cultural fear at a successful company Transitioning to a learning culture: the power of debriefs, safe space, and senior-level self-awareness Why some leaders need to step back for progress to happen 27:00 – When to Walk Away from a Client Recognizing misalignment, even when you're hired Ethics and candor in advisory roles When great work isn’t the right fit 33:00 – Craft of Facilitation & Speaking Pierre’s journey from comfortable speaker to certified pro Learning the science behind storytelling, delivery, and adult education The blend of edutainment and real impact 41:00 – Writing a Book & Building Credibility The surprising reason Pierre decided to write Humans, Resourced Behind the scenes of hybrid publishing and distribution Why a book may not be a business—but it can still build one 61:00 – Advice for Young Professionals Stop chasing passion—start with what you’re good at The unexpected journey from engineering to agriculture Why trying and failing early matters 68:00 – The Future of Work & Leadership The two biggest trends to watch: AI and patterns in your own business Importance of white space and strategy time Why being surrounded by big thinkers matters 75:00 – The Limits of Psychology in Change Work Behavior change vs. emotional diagnosis Organizational coaching and habit adoption The role of incentives in leadership development 83:00 – Levi & Colby Reflect on Resistance Why meaningful change often starts with organizing your data The resistance to long-term investment when ROI isn’t immediate Why “working with” instead of “working at” is a mantra at Iron House

    1h 45m
  8. Building Impact Across Borders: A Founder’s Journey Through Startups, Setbacks, and Social Change with Justinus Adriaanse

    06/21/2025

    Building Impact Across Borders: A Founder’s Journey Through Startups, Setbacks, and Social Change with Justinus Adriaanse

    In this wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation, we sit down with Justinus Adriaanse—a South African-born entrepreneur whose life journey spans tech startups, social impact, and the pursuit of a more just world. From launching and scaling one of South Africa’s leading real estate platforms to founding a tuition-free coding academy for underserved youth, Justinus shares a remarkable story of transformation shaped by adversity, leadership, and an evolving worldview. We explore the cultural forces that shaped his early assumptions, the inflection points that shifted his path, and the lessons learned from business success, personal hardship, and moving his family across continents. With honesty and clarity, Justinus reflects on growing as a leader, learning to code at 30, building inclusive organizations—and why happiness might just come down to expectations (and a good meal at Nando’s). Links and Resources Justinus on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/WeThinkCode – A South African non-profit coding academy co-founded by Justinus https://www.wethinkcode.co.za/Private Property – Real estate portal he helped grow and transform https://www.privateproperty.co.za/Tommy Gun’s Barbershop – The Canadian business Justinus now helps operate and grow https://www.tommyguns.com/Solve for Happy by Mo Gawdat – Book on happiness and expectations https://www.mogawdat.com/solve-for-happyCrucial Conversations & Crucial Influence – Frameworks that shaped his leadership style https://cruciallearning.com/Time to Think by Nancy Kline – On creating space for better decision-making https://www.timetothink.com/The Art of Possibility by Rosamund & Benjamin Zander – A book about mindset shifts and reframing assumptions https://www.benjaminzander.org/the-art-of-possibility/ Quotes Worth Sharing “You can’t always change the world you live in, but you can change your expectations of it—and that’s where happiness begins.”“Coding taught me a process for problem solving—without risk. That’s the magic.”“If we create the right process and work on ourselves, we can make a great partnership with 80% of the population.”“We’re either building a country that works for everyone—or eventually it works for no one.”“It’s not about picking the best decision. It’s about picking the best decision people can buy into.” Chapter Breakdown 02:50 – Growing Up in Apartheid-Era South Africa. 07:00 – Building & Scaling Private Property 20:00 – Turning It Around 28:00 – A New Life in Canada 35:00 – Tommy Gun’s & Canadian Business 40:00 – Tech for Opportunity: WeThinkCode 52:00 – Reframing Identity Through an MBA 69:00 – Partnership Conflict & Crucial Conversations 77:00 – Coding, AI & Problem-Solving 83:00 – Buying vs. Building a Business 88:00 – Entrepreneurial Cultures: SA vs. Canada 94:00 – Long-Term Focus & Leadership Growth 103:00 – On Happiness, Health & Perspective Finding joy in the simple—Nando’s included.

    1h 51m
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About

Candid conversations with entrepreneurs on life and business. Join us as we uncover the habits, mindsets, and strategies that help organizations and people thrive for the long haul.

Information

  • Creator
    Levi Lawrence and Colby Jardine
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Built to Last
  • Show Website
    Built to Last