Builders & Doers

Horizon Search
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Builders & Doers is where founders, operators, and investors get practical about building. Each episode unpacks one decision that mattered, the options on the table, and the evidence behind the choice. Clear lessons you can use to launch stronger, lead smarter, and stay ahead. A Horizon Search production. Get The Searchlight newsletter: https://www.thesearchlight.com/subscribe

  1. 6H AGO

    Why Your AI Strategy Is Backwards — and What to Do Instead - Peter Swimm | 68

    Most companies are letting AI make decisions it shouldn't and missing the simple moves that would actually save them time and money. Peter Swimm has spent 30 years in tech, from Chicago libraries to Microsoft, and he's built a smarter way to think about conversational AI, autonomous agents, and what it really means to own your company's brain.Find Peter: https://youtu.be/n8vCZr1FHpYBuilders & Doers is produced by Horizon Search.0:00 Intro0:56 From Chicago libraries to Microsoft — the origin story2:28 Technology as a tool to an outcome3:41 How clients get stuck mouse-trapping their way through business4:52 Helping clients take the baton and run with it5:57 The outsider advantage — working with hundreds of product teams7:45 COVID as the watershed moment for how we work9:47 Owning your company's brain instead of giving it to Microsoft11:54 Remote work, return to office, and incentive structure15:10 Why daily standups might be doing the opposite of what you think19:54 Mayor of Toyaville — everyone is the mayor of their own digital life22:01 Zero authority models and antiquated org charts23:13 Small teams as a strategic advantage26:14 The worst AI anti-pattern — autonomous agents27:54 How Peter stopped hallucinations by building a watcher first29:22 From 3000 scripts to 11 apps in four weeks33:22 Using urgency as a weapon — setting boundaries in product teams35:09 Measuring ethics with a number38:57 How to coach non-technical founders on AI41:10 Curiosity as a north star — different paths to the same destination43:31 Recalibrating startup aspirations — five families happy is enough47:27 The future of conversational AI as connective tissue50:07 The most fun use of AI Peter has seen51:10 Advice to younger self — trust your instincts on imposter syndrome53:26 Where to find Peter

    51 min

  2. 1D AGO

    From Sleeping on Couches to Building a Seven Figure Insurance Agency - David Price | 67

    Fifteen years ago David Price was battling addiction, sleeping on couches, and had no car. Today he runs a thriving insurance agency and mentors hundreds of agents across the country. His path from rock bottom to building a business that grows without him is a masterclass in grit, long-term thinking, and knowing when to stop believing the lies. Find David: https://youtu.be/YQ44QX5loqsBuilders & Doers is produced by Horizon Search.0:00 Intro0:57 What drew David to insurance in his mid-30s3:10 The three prerequisites 5:33 Resilience, grit, and a rough childhood as a business advantage8:18 Sports as the first turning point — wrestling and building confidence12:10 Being always the new kid and how it built social skills15:38 Why sales was always survival for David17:23 Introvert who leads hundreds of agents19:57 The teacher that changed everything — Miss Krats22:01 Ethical insurance — principles before production24:47 Why David sells final expense life insurance26:40 Long term decisions over short term cash grabs — lessons from recovery31:43 Three traits that separate six figure agents from those who never break through35:28 Scaling from solo producer to running an organization38:14 Leads drove everything — the math equation behind agency growth45:47 Lead flow strategy — quality over quantity and the custom lead portal52:08 From owning a job to owning a business55:39 Time is the real currency57:19 What is next for the Price Group — AI powered CRM and lead innovation59:52 Final message — find the right mentor, have the right attitude, take the right action1:00:41 Where to find David Price

    1h 1m

  3. 4D AGO

    Why Hiring Family Could Be Killing Your Business - Liz Weber | 63

    Liz Weber is a certified management consultant, executive advisor, and author ranked among the top 30 global gurus on leadership. After building a career helping founder-led and family-owned businesses navigate succession, strategy, and leadership development, she's become the person owners call when the hard decisions can't wait. In this conversation, Liz walks us through the number one mistake family businesses make with succession planning, how to hold even family members accountable to company values, and what it actually takes to transition from best producer to best leader. Find Liz: https://youtu.be/EzDkMUmbP58 Builders & Doers is produced by Horizon Search. 0:00 Intro 0:49 Putting family before the role 1:10 Family business working hard for thin margins 3:18 The 7am emergency call 4:16 When company values get tested by your own son 5:53 Why accountability needs an outside voice 7:22 Top 30 global leadership guru 8:53 Imposter syndrome vs self belief 11:26 The mindset shift new leaders miss 13:00 Becoming the calm in the storm 15:15 Balancing mindset skill and strategy 17:47 The number one mistake when promoting from within 19:18 From best producer to best leverager of talent 20:18 Why cousin Rich should not get the sales role 23:59 The first lever Liz pulls when entering a company 26:51 Strategic plan as the anchor for leadership 27:44 Don't Let Them Treat You Like a Girl 32:11 Leadership outlook for 2025 37:27 One practice to lead more strategically today 38:53 Where to find Liz Weber

    39 min

  4. APR 13

    She Paid Off Six Figures of Debt in 3 Years on a Starter Salary - Veronica Deraleau | 61

    Veronica Deraleau is an opera singer, Army Reserve veteran, financial coach, and author of Making Money is Simple. After graduating with an MBA and staring down six figures of student debt, she applied commercial real estate underwriting techniques to her personal finances and paid it all off in three years on a starter salary. In this conversation, Veronica walks us through her ARIA money model, the psychology of debt and shame, why outcomes-based budgeting beats cashflow management, and what opera performance training teaches about high performance under pressure. Find Veronica: makingmoneyissimple.com Builders & Doers is produced by Horizon Search. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:48 Graduating with six figures of debt 4:12 The guilt and shame cycle with money 5:12 Why personal finance feels harder than it should 7:45 Learning from high net worth real estate clients 8:49 Outcomes-based budgeting vs. cashflow management 9:40 The Money Simple method (SIMPLE framework) 11:29 Setting a 5-year target and beating it in 3 11:37 Military meets opera: singing in the Army Reserve 14:07 Stage fright, breath compression, and performance psychology 16:50 Why your average matters more than your best day 19:01 Losing and finding ourselves: unlearning bad patterns 21:05 Going down the wrong road is part of the process 25:00 Talent plus reps plus strategic application 27:57 The ARIA money model: Awaken, Reframe, Intention, Action 29:16 How coaching created clarity 32:01 The mental block of dual identities in business and art 34:15 Pattern recognition and AI disruption 38:55 Advice for entrepreneurs with low financial structure 40:45 Why data points keep you sane as a founder 42:48 Best purchase under $50 43:12 The most expensive mistake that doesn't look expensive 43:39 Renting vs. buying 44:46 Best scary financial decision 46:04 Favorite opera 46:08 Where to find Veronica

    47 min

  5. APR 9

    The Future of XR Is Closer Than You Think - Karen Alexander | 61

    Karen Alexander, founder of XR Women and co-founder of the Academy of Immersive Arts and Sciences, joins David and Becky to explore why extended reality is approaching a tipping point in adoption. From her unconventional journey out of academia and literature into immersive technology, Karen shares where XR is being quietly adopted across enterprise, education, and healthcare, the real risks companies face, and why the limits of XR are not technological but imaginative. She also discusses the gender gap in XR entrepreneurship, the power of body swapping for empathy training, and her vision for social, creative virtual worlds. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karenfalexander Website: xrconnected.com XR Women: xrwomen.com Academy of Immersive Arts and Sciences: academyimmersive.org 0:00 - Highlights 1:03 - Karen's journey from literature to XR 3:07 - What is reality? 5:19 - Where XR is headed and the tipping point 8:55 - Risks of XR adoption 11:40 - Benefits of immersive training 15:02 - Haptics, smell, and the senses in VR 16:55 - What kids understand about XR that adults miss 18:10 - Body swapping and diversity training 21:22 - Public speaking training in VR 23:40 - Will we live in virtual worlds? 30:18 - XR Women and the gender gap 33:48 - XR in healthcare 42:24 - Dream XR experience with unlimited budget 44:10 - Where to find Karen

    46 min

  6. APR 7

    The 12-Minute Secret That 25x'd His Income - John Mitchell | 60

    At 50, John Mitchell was making $200–300K a year and felt stuck. Three months later, he discovered what he calls the full secret of Think and Grow Rich, developed a 12-minute daily technique around it, and within four years had 25x'd his income. John now teaches the Science of Success at the University of Texas (rated a top-5 business school by U.S. News), licenses his methodology to coaches, and wrote the book on it. In this conversation, we unpack the science of the conscious vs. subconscious mind, why 95% of daily actions are unconscious, and how reprogramming your autopilot changes everything from your career to your health to your relationships. This is not a get-rich-quick pitch. It's a framework backed by neuroscience and vetted at the university level. Whether you're a coach, a founder, or someone who feels like there's more in the tank, this one's worth 44 minutes of your time. Learn more: themissingsecret.org 0:00 – John's epiphany at 50 1:00 – Two life goals: money and love 2:00 – Discovering Think and Grow Rich 3:15 – The book only gives you half the secret 4:00 – Income starts doubling 5:00 – Teaching at the University of Texas 6:00 – How do you create success in your life? 8:00 – The two fundamental human problems 9:00 – Feeding your desired life to yourself daily 10:30 – Why effort doesn't match results 13:00 – The snowy night in Dallas that changed everything 15:00 – "I don't control the very thing that determines my success" 16:00 – The full secret revealed 17:00 – Control, confidence, and less stress 19:00 – Why willpower fails 21:30 – Conscious mind vs. subconscious mind 26:00 – Overriding the survival wiring 29:00 – Darren Hardy's advice: teach it to coaches 33:00 – The brownie story: aware vs. evaluate 36:00 – Reading vs. listening to your template 38:00 – The 2% vs. the 98% 42:00 – Holding his granddaughter and the meaning of it all 43:30 – Where to find John and a free 9-minute video

    44 min

  7. APR 7

    Why 60% of CEOs Get Fired (and How to Avoid It) - Glenn Gow | 59

    Glenn Gow has coached CEOs for decades and served as a venture-backed CEO for 25 years. In this conversation, we explore the hidden neural pathways that drive CEO behavior, why the habits that got you here won't get you there, and what it actually takes to scale yourself alongside your company. Glenn shares how he helps leaders break through blind spots, reframe success, and build culture through storytelling. We also get into the investor-founder dynamic, AI's impact on coaching, and why the org chart of the future will have humans reporting to AI agents. Glenn's website: glenngow.comThe Scaling CEO: youtube.com/@glenngow1015 0:00 – The blind spot every CEO has 1:10 – What are success patterns? 3:15 – Why 60% of venture-backed CEOs get fired 5:30 – Showing up with the wrong kit 6:00 – How Glenn unlocks self-awareness 7:00 – "It's always the CEO's fault" 8:30 – The Sheryl Sandberg "and that's on me" story 9:50 – Why personal change feels threatening 11:30 – 99% of what we do is hardwired 12:00 – Communication as the CEO's real job 14:10 – Reframing 97% as success, not failure 17:00 – Building culture through stories, not values posters 21:30 – Prioritization: the three things exercise 25:00 – Dopamine traps and the long arc 27:00 – AI as a threat to coaching 29:00 – Three areas every CEO should deploy AI 32:00 – Humans reporting to AI agents 35:00 – "ChatGPT is cheap. I'm expensive." 37:00 – Value vs. cost in executive coaching 39:30 – The investor-founder misalignment 42:00 – Glenn's non-negotiables for joining a board

    43 min

  8. APR 6

    IMD Professor: Why 90% of Companies Get Sustainability Wrong - Goutam Challagalla | 58

    Goutam Challagalla is a professor at IMD Business School, where he directs the Strategy Governance for Boards program. His new book, Clean Winners, studied hundreds of companies and found that the vast majority are approaching sustainability backwards: putting it at the center of strategy instead of using it as an engine for customer value and innovation. The conversation started with a single quote from activist investor Terry Smith that changed Goutam's thinking: "Any company which thinks it has to define a purpose for Hellmann's Mayo has lost the plot." From there, we got into why the same mistake companies made with digital transformation is now happening with AI, why you should design for customers who care least about sustainability, and what Sustainability 2.0 actually looks like after the current backlash plays out. Goutam's book is Clean Winners, co-authored with Frédéric Dalsace: ⁠https://store.hbr.org/product/clean-winners-sustainability-strategy-that-puts-customers-first/10822 Connect with Goutam LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/goutam-challagalla-161118bb/⁠ Timestamps: 0:00 – Cold open0:58 – The Terry Smith quote that changed everything3:02 – Unilever: from poster child to cautionary tale4:50 – "Not one person out of a thousand could name their favorite brand's purpose"5:50 – Lifebuoy: the one time brand purpose actually worked6:48 – Why you can't scale purpose across 300 brands7:18 – The wrong question: "How do I become more sustainable?"8:07 – You don't need an AI mindset, a digital mindset, or a sustainability mindset9:07 – Sustainability, AI, and digital are enablers, not the center10:14 – The four mindsets: operators, strivers, enthusiasts, resonators11:36 – Why enthusiasts invest heavily and get worse results12:03 – "Ask not what you can do for sustainability, but what sustainability can do for you"13:02 – Undesired outputs: the real zone of innovation14:10 – John Deere: 65% fertilizer savings through precision AI16:17 – Healthier soil, lower cost, and no farmer cares if you call it "sustainability"17:06 – The compliance trap: one CSO spends 90% of her time on it18:08 – 18,000 regulatory changes in one year18:52 – Big Four consultants making more on compliance reporting than advisory19:18 – The pendulum swung too far: passion, regulation, and the correction20:47 – Green, blue, gray: why customer segmentation is the key22:02 – Green customers are never more than 10% of the market22:43 – "If you design for the greens, it will never scale"23:16 – Win with the grays: the counterintuitive move23:54 – Three pathways to resonance: product, usage, and strategic25:05 – "We made the mistake of thinking our goals should be the customer's goals"26:04 – Usage resonance: P&G's 10-minute laundry cycle26:36 – Autonomous mining trucks: zero accidents, 24/7 operations, pay-per-haul29:07 – AI theater vs. AI value: the same trap as sustainability theater30:25 – The one question boards should be asking but aren't32:04 – Why you don't need sustainability to attract talent32:36 – How the CSO role needs to evolve34:50 – The dot-com analogy: this is a correction, not an ending37:03 – Supply chain resilience: the cocoa crisis and Kit Kat's pricing problem39:10 – "What's the one thing to do Monday morning?"39:23 – Follow the money: strategy is where you invest, not what's in your documents40:25 – The hidden gem: East West Seeds in Thailand42:00 – Closing: don't let politics color your business vision

    43 min
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About

Builders & Doers is where founders, operators, and investors get practical about building. Each episode unpacks one decision that mattered, the options on the table, and the evidence behind the choice. Clear lessons you can use to launch stronger, lead smarter, and stay ahead. A Horizon Search production. Get The Searchlight newsletter: https://www.thesearchlight.com/subscribe

Information

  • Creator
    Horizon Search
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Horizon Search
  • Show Website
    Builders & Doers