Andy Mewborn

Distribute

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Founder & Customer Support

Taplio

Co-Founder

Outreach

Enterprise Sales

Sales Engineering Lead

Scaled the early success team to 14 people.

Manager - Customer Success

Early Employee.
Specialties: Data Sync, API, Onboarding, Platform Integrations, Partner Ecosystem

Product 

Start-Up Chile

Our team was selected for Generation 11 of Start-Up Chile (the YC of South America). We provided solar energy services and installed solar power systems.

Gridlee - Co-founder & Sales

Progress Chef

Sales Development Representative

Muhuru Bay Community Microgrid Project

Designed 3kW off-grid power system
Modeled renewable energy resources at remote site
Implemented system in Kenya
Tested and installed 11-channel GSM telemetry system

Electrical Engineer

Seattle City Light

Power Systems Engineer

Distribute.so

I use to be young & cool. Now I do b2b SaaS. 

Husband. Dad. Ironman. Pilot. Taco lover. 

Founder of Distribute // Co-founder of Taplio (acq. by Lemlist) // Early @ Outreach.io.

Creator

A community of over 4,000+ B2B professionals growing together on Linkedin.

• "Brand30 absolutely did wonders for my business." -Maritha Koortzen

• "Brand30 changed the trajectory of my life...To say it’s opening doors for me is an understatement" - Amanda Stern

• "Brand30 provided the group accountability and expert advice I needed to more than double my LinkedIn engagement in just one month" 

🚀 Start Building An Audience Of Potential Buyers On LinkedIn In 30 Days👇

• https://www.brand30.io/

8 months ago, we had 0 users. Today, Distribute.so has 15,000+ users. I’ve helped build a $250M company before, but this feels different.

Building a startup is glamorized on social media. But the reality is messy. Here are the 7 ugly truths about building fast in 2025 that nobody talks about:

1. Hitting a wall is normal 
I've been stuck at revenue plateaus multiple times. It feels terrible. But you can get moving again if you don't freeze.

2. You will mess up 
I've hired the wrong people. I've built the wrong features. I've spent money on things I didn't need. It's part of the game.

3. People will copy you 
We just beat 4 competitors for a deal. They are going to look at our product and copy it. Let them. By the time they copy us, we will be onto the next thing.

4. Saying "No" is painful 
To close those 18 killer logos, we had to say "no" to hundreds of other ideas. It hurts to say no to customers. But if you try to please everyone, you please no one.

5. Cash flow is everything 
It doesn't matter how cool your idea is. If you run out of money, you die. We watch every dollar.

6. It takes longer than you think 
People overestimate what they can do in a year. And underestimate what they can do in a decade. We are playing the long game.

7. Just start 
Every successful founder started with nothing. No revenue. No customers. No audience. The only difference is they didn't quit.

I’m documenting the whole ride here. The wins. The losses. And the lessons.

Follow along if you want to see how we get to the next level. Just keep building.

Andrew Mewborn

Click my profile, get a free taco 🌮 (also I automate your follow-ups)

7 ugly truths about building fast in 2025

Everyone told me I was crazy. "You can't sell to Enterprise logos without a massive sales team." "You can't be Product-Led and Sales-Led at the same time."

I disagreed. We have 15,000+ users on our self-serve app. But we also just closed 18 massive killer logos in 3 months.

Here is the 7-step playbook we used to move upmarket without losing our soul:

1. We stayed lean intentionally 
Most founders hire 10 reps the moment they get traction. We didn't. We used our own product to handle the volume.

2. We looked at our own backyard 
We didn't buy cold lists. We looked at our 15,000 free users. We found the ones who were using the product every day. Then we asked them: "Who is your boss?"

3. We sold the Result, not the Method killer 
Buyers don't care how your tech works. They care about the problem disappearing. We showed them exactly how Distribute would solve their problem in week 1.

4. We gave before we asked 
We didn't try to trap them in long contracts immediately. We let them use the product. We let them see the value. Trust is built by giving, not taking.

5. We stopped chasing shortcuts 
We didn't use clever tricks. We just focused on making the product 1% better every day. Word of mouth is the only growth strategy that lasts.

6. We kept the team tiny 
We are doing millions in revenue potential with a team that fits in a minivan. This keeps us profitable. And it keeps us hungry.

7. We worked in public 
I shared the wins and the losses on LinkedIn. This built trust with buyers before we ever spoke to them. They felt like they knew us.

TAKEAWAY: You don't need to follow the Silicon Valley rules. You don't need to raise $100M. You don't need a fancy office. You just need a product that people love. And the guts to do it your way.

They said you can't sell Enterprise without a suit.

had our quarterly all-hands today

CEO said we're "laser-focused on execution"

CTO said we're "moving fast and breaking things"

CFO said we have "18 months of runway"

VP Sales said we're "building a repeatable sales motion"

i asked "what does any of that mean?"

got pulled into a 1-on-1 about "culture fit"

turns out "what does that mean?" is not a growth mindset question

i'm now "transitioning to focus on other opportunities"

which means i have 2 weeks to find another company where nobody knows what they're talking about

shouldn't be hard

I helped build Outreach to $250M in revenue. I helped over 4,000 people grow on LinkedIn. Now, I have 15,000+ users on my new company, Distribute.so

I have seen the movie before. And I can tell you that the sequel is very different from the original.

Back in 2015, the playbook was simple: Force the sale. Hire an army of BDRs. Buy a massive list of emails. Send thousands of messages a day. It worked then. It doesn't work now.

Here are the 6 things that have changed in the last 10 years:

1. Buyers ignore the noise 
Email open rates have tanked. Sending more messages doesn't work anymore. You have to earn their attention, not demand it.

2. Don't push, attract 
You can't force a sale anymore. You have to create interest through content and brand. Then you capture that interest when they are ready.

3. Small teams are winning 
We closed 18 killer deals with a tiny team. You don't need 50 reps. You need a few seniors who know what they are doing.

4. Reputation is the new advantage 
Features get copied in a week. But they can't copy who you are. Your personal brand is the most efficient sales channel that exists.

5. Easy beats Powerful 
killer software used to be clunky and expensive. Now, the best tools feel like consumer apps. If it feels like work, they won't use it.

6. Speed over Forecasts 
We don't try to predict every dollar. We try to move fast. We launch, we test, we fix. Speed is the only advantage a startup really has.

TAKEAWAY: If you are still running the 2015 playbook, you are working too hard. The game has changed. You can either complain about it, or you can adapt. We chose to adapt. And it's working.

I helped build Outreach.io to $250M in revenue

I just beat 4 competitors to win a killer contract. We didn't have the most features. We didn't have the biggest sales team. But we have 15,000+ users and just closed our 18th killer logo in 3 months.

How did we do it? We realized that the old way of selling software is broken. Most founders try to build everything for everyone. They add buttons, settings, and complex workflows. They think "more features" equals "more value."

They are wrong. In 2025, buyers are overwhelmed. They don't want another tool they have to learn. They want something that just works.

Here is the 7-step playbook we used to win on Simplicity:

1. Go where the big fish swim 
We didn't wait for them to come to us. We found where they were hanging out and showed up.

2. Prove it, don't pitch it 
Our competitors sent 40-page slide decks. We sent a link to the product. If you have to explain how it works, it's too complicated.

3. The "Zero-Training" Standard 
We built Distribute so a 5th grader could use it. If a user needs a certification to use your tool, you have already lost. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

4. Escape the "Feature Trap" 
Customers will ask for a million things. We said "no" to 90% of them. We only built the things that made the core product faster and easier.

5. Sell it yourself 
I didn't hire a VP of Sales to figure this out. I did it myself. Founders should sell until at least $500K ARR because nobody knows the product like you do.

6. Find the "Aha!" instantly 
We found the one specific thing that made users say "wow." Then we made that experience happen in under 60 seconds.

7. Let the product drive the deal 
When the product is simple, the champion can sell it internally for you. They don't need you to fly in for a demo. They just show their boss, and the boss gets it.

TAKEAWAY: Startups are hard. But in 2025, complex startups are impossible. Stop building more. Start building simpler. That is how you win.

I just beat 4 competitors to win a killer contract

intern: "should I add my phone number to my email signature?"

CEO: "absolutely, we're accessible"

intern: "what about my LinkedIn?"

CEO: "yes, we're modern"

intern: "calendar booking link?"

CEO: "of course, we're efficient"

intern: "headshot?"

CEO: "why not, we're human"

intern sends first email

signature is 47 lines long

includes:

• 3 phone numbers
• 4 social media links
• calendar link
• company tagline
• legal disclaimer
• "Sent from my iPhone"
• sustainability notice about not printing emails
• AI-generated motivational quote

the actual email says "sounds good"

we promoted them to Head of Email Excellence

I spent 3 hours on a crap ton of follow-ups at Outreach while we scaled to $250M. Now our 15,000+ Distribute users do better follow-ups in 30 seconds. After closing 18 deals in the past few months, I learned something most founders miss: complexity kills deals, simplicity closes them.

Here's why the best salespeople are deleting tools, not adding them:

1// YOUR BUYERS DON’T WANT YOUR 55-SLIDE DECK

They want one page with what you discussed, the ROI, and next steps.

We tracked 10,000+ deals.

Average time on slide decks? 47 seconds.

Average time on simple deal pages? 8 minutes.


2// YOUR CHAMPION CAN’T SELL INTERNALLY WITH MEETING NOTES

They need a business case, ROI calculator, and executive summary.

Not a transcript.

When we switched from sending 27 attachments to one link, deal velocity increased MUCHO.


3// EVERY TOOL YOU ADD CREATES ANOTHER PLACE TO LOSE

The average rep uses 10+ tools for follow-ups.

Fathom for notes. Loom for demos. Google Docs for emails. Canva for slides.

The winners? They use one tool that does it all.


4// SIMPLICITY SPREADS FASTER THAN FEATURES

When we made Distribute dead simple, word-of-mouth exploded.

No training needed. No change management.

Just send your follow-up in 30 seconds and move on.


TAKEAWAY:

I watched Outreach grow because it simplified prospecting.

Now I'm watching Distribute grow because it simplifies follow-ups.

The pattern is clear.

Simplicity isn't just a feature.

It's a moat.

We beat 4 competitors  with 90% fewer features

prospect: "tell me about your product"

me: "what if I told you that you could save 20 hours per week?"

prospect: "how?"

me: "great question. let me share my screen. can you see this?"

prospect: "yes"

me: "perfect. so imagine your current workflow..."

**proceeds to spend 40 minutes describing their own job back to them**

me: "...and that's where we come in"

prospect: "what does your product actually do?"

me: "I'm going to send over some case studies and let's reconnect next week"

booked the follow-up

still haven't answered what we do

this is sales

investors rejected our pitch deck last month

they said our projections were "unrealistic"

we were forecasting $100M ARR by year 2 with zero marketing spend

i asked "don't you believe in product-led growth?"

they said "you have 3 customers"

so i updated the deck

changed "customers" to "enterprise partners"

changed "3" to "a curated selection of design partners"

changed "$47 MRR" to "high-intent early revenue signals"

we raised $8M Series A last week

words matter more than numbers

Last week I asked 4,000+ sellers how long they spend on follow-ups. 73% said 2-3 hours. That's 750 hours per year writing emails nobody reads. I helped build Outreach to $250M, and even we were wasting time on follow-ups.

Here's the math that'll make you sick:

Let's say you close 20 deals per year. Each deal takes 5 calls. Each call needs a 3-hour follow-up. That's 300 hours. Or 37.5 work days. You're spending 2 months per year on admin work.

**screams at sky***

While you write follow-ups, your competitors are on their next call.

Here's what actually works in 2025:

1// Stop crafting. Start automating.

AI can write better follow-ups than you.
It remembers everything. Never forgets the ROI discussion.
Includes the right case studies.
Our 15,000 users proved this.

2// Stop sending files. Send experiences.

PDFs get lost.
Attachments get ignored.
But a personalized page? That gets shared with the CFO.
We see 3x higher engagement on deal pages vs traditional follow-ups.

3// Stop hoping. Start tracking.

You need to know when the CFO views pricing. When legal downloads the contract. When your deal goes cold.

Email can't tell you this. 

The sellers crushing quota aren't working harder.

They're working different.

They turned 3-hour follow-ups into 30 seconds.

And their buyers actually engage.

Holy sh*t, right?

You waste 37.5 days per year on follow-ups

I helped scale Outreach to $250M. Then I started my own company and made every mistake I swore I never would. Here are the 6 dumbest things I did building Distribute to 15,000 users:

1// I spent 3 months building features nobody asked for

We had a roadmap. It was beautiful. Customers wanted something else entirely. I should have talked to 50 more people before writing a single line of code.


2// I chased logos instead of problems

Early on, I got excited when big names showed interest. I bent the product to fit them. They churned anyway. The customers who stayed were the ones whose problem we actually solved.


3// I wrote follow-up copy like a robot

I'm embarrassed to show you our early emails. Corporate garbage. The moment I started writing like a human, reply rates doubled.


4// I ignored my own LinkedIn audience for 6 months

I had built a following. I knew how to create content. But I thought "real companies" needed paid ads and SDR teams. Wrong. My posts still drive more pipeline than anything else.


5// I hired before I had a repeatable process

Brought on help too early. They failed. It wasn't their fault. I didn't have a playbook to hand them yet.


6// I thought the product would sell itself

It doesn't. Nothing does. Even great products need someone to explain why they matter.


TAKEAWAY:

Building a startup is just a series of mistakes.

The winners aren't the ones who avoid them.

They're the ones who make them faster and don't repeat them.

I'm still making mistakes every week.

But at least they're new ones.

I made every mistake I swore I never would

spent all morning analyzing our competitors

Competitor A: raised $50M, has 200 employees, beautiful website
Competitor B: raised $30M, has enterprise clients, won industry awards
Competitor C: bootstrapped to $10M ARR, profitable, amazing product

Us: 1 founders, $a couple mil raised, website built on Webflow template, LinkedIn is our entire marketing strategy

but here's the thing...

we respond to customer emails in under 5 minutes

our competitors take 3 business days

we shipped 12 features last month

they shipped a new font

we're not better funded

we're not better positioned

we're just more desperate

and in B2B SaaS, desperation scales

posted "what if we just... listened to customers?" on LinkedIn

38,000 impressions

427 comments saying "this is so true"

16 VCs sent connection requests

got invited to speak at a SaaS conference

my talk is titled "Revolutionary Customer-Centric Strategies for Modern B2B"

it's a 45-minute presentation on literally just talking to people who pay you

they're paying me $5k to speak

i'm writing a book about it called "The Listening Framework"

it's 280 pages explaining how to have conversations

pre-orders are through the roof

disruption is just common sense with better marketing

We just won a deal against 4 established competitors. They had 10X the funding, bigger brands, and fancier demos. But we won all 4 times. After helping 4,000+ people grow on LinkedIn and scaling Outreach to $250M, I knew exactly why: buyers don't want more tools, they want less work.

Here's how we beat everyone:

Competitor 1: 55 features, 3-hour onboarding
Us: 3 features that actually matter, 5-minute setup

Competitor 2: "AI-powered intelligence platform"
Us: "Your follow-up in 30 seconds"

Competitor 3: 47-page implementation guide
Us: Chrome extension. Click. Done.

Competitor 4: $500/month per user
Us: $49/month. Everything included.

**drops mic**

Here's what I learned closing our first big deals:

1// FEATURES ARE A TAX ON YOUR BUYERS

Every feature needs explaining.
Every option needs deciding.
Every setting needs configuring.
We do one thing perfect instead of 50 things okay.

2// COMPLEXITY IS WHERE DEALS GO TO DIE

The moment a buyer says "let me check with IT," you lost.
The moment they need training, you lost.
Make it so simple they can start now.

3// YOUR CHAMPION NEEDS TO LOOK SMART

They don't win by showing a complex tool.
They win by solving a problem fast.
Give them a quick win, not a science project.

We have 15,000+ users not because we're the best.

But because we're the simplest.

And in 2025, simple beats everything.

Every. Single. Time. YALL.

Step by step ↓

Let me tell you what's really going on…

When a prospect says "we don't have budget"…

They're not broke.

They just spent $47 on DoorDash last night. They've got budget for a new CRM. Budget for that conference in Miami.

What they DON'T have?

A reason to fight for YOUR deal.

See… right now, they're sitting in some internal meeting. Your proposal is open on their screen. And their CFO asks:

"Why do we need this?"

And your prospect?

They freeze.

They fumble.

They can't remember what you said. Can't articulate the ROI. Can't justify the spend.

So the deal dies. Not because of "budget." Because you made THEM do the selling.

That's on you.

Here's the fix:

Send them a Deal Summary BEFORE they go dark.

One page. One link. Everything they need to sell this deal internally:

→ The bleeding-neck problem you're solving 
→ The cost of doing NOTHING (this is the killer) 
→ Exactly what you're proposing 
→ What happens next

You do the selling. They just forward the link.

Takes 2 minutes. Saves you from chasing ghosts for 3 weeks.

💬 Comment "TACO"

I'll send you the exact Deal Summary template I use to close deals without begging for follow-ups.

💬 Comment "TACO"

Year 1: "we're pre-product-market fit, iterating rapidly"
Translation: nobody wants this

Year 2: "we're finding early signals of PMF"
Translation: 2 customers didn't churn

Year 3: "we've achieved strong product-market fit"
Translation: we stopped pivoting because we're tired

Year 4: "we're scaling past PMF into market domination"
Translation: we hired a VP of Sales who convinced us we're doing great

Year 5: "we're exploring strategic alternatives"
Translation: acquisition talks because we never actually found PMF

Year 6: got acquired for $8M by a company that will shut us down in 9 months

called it a "successful exit"

changed LinkedIn title to "Founder & CEO (Exited)"

already working on the next one

customer: "can you add dark mode?"
us: "it's on the roadmap"

customer: "can you fix this bug?"
us: "it's on the roadmap"

customer: "can you add SSO?"
us: "it's on the roadmap"

customer: "can we see the roadmap?"
us: "that's on the roadmap"

our roadmap is a Google Doc titled "stuff_we_might_do_idk.doc"

it hasn't been updated since 2023

we closed $2M ARR this year

turns out "it's on the roadmap" is enterprise software for "leave me alone"

Sellers

What’s more dangerous for sales teams: bad managers or bad AI tools?

A) Bad managers – morale killer
B) Bad AI – data chaos
C) Both – one demotivates, the other misleads
D) Neither – blame the process, not the tools

P.S. - My AI handles 90% of my sales process now—prospecting, follow-ups, closing. Set it up in 90 seconds: https://lnkd.in/eNYQ3DeQ

What’s more dangerous for sales teams: bad managers or bad AI tools?

Sellers

What’s the biggest shift in sales since 2020?

A) Buyers research more than sellers
B) Remote selling is the new normal
C) Champions have more power than AEs
D) Product-led growth changed everything

P.S. - Turns out I've been following up like an IDIOT for 5 years. This 90-second quiz showed me my actual follow-up style (and how to fix it): www.distribute.so/quiz

Sellers

Would you take feedback from an AI “sales coach”?

A) Yes – No bias, just data
B) Maybe – Only if it knows context
C) No – You can’t coach without empathy
D) I already do — ChatGPT’s my therapist

P.S. - My AI handles 90% of my sales process now—prospecting, follow-ups, closing. Set it up in 90 seconds: www.distribute.so/quiz

Real Estate Investor and CEO at MAK Capital | Luxury Storage Developer | 200+ CRE units | Financial Freedom Mentor

I’m Marc Kuhn and in 1994 I started my construction career with my Dad. I started at $1 per hour and got a $1 raise every year as I worked for my dads construction company. 

In 2010, I left my hourly job with $2,500 in my bank account. 

I started my entrepreneurial path and opened MAK Construction, my first business. I’ve grown the construction company to over $25 million a year. We develop commercial projects both 3rd party and investment projects for our investors. 

Since 2018, we have added over 200 units in the Midwest. The benefits of real estate have given me the freedom of time. My goal is to help investors reach financial freedom through real estate. 

Today I own and operate three successful companies that do eight figures a year. 

https://linktr.ee/marckuhn?fbclid=PAAabPuGTp9yBQf1LtvPMccAGv2W9DDPWjJCYvxn3mKnV12VKxsr7s0g8Lc18

2010: MAK Construction: Build and Manage Construction Projects. 
www.makconstructiongf.com

2020: MAK Capital: Let’s passive investors invest in real estate projects beside us! 
Unfollow the herd newsletter: 
www.makcapitalgf.com

2020: CK Agency: Manages Multifamily and Storage properties. 
www.ckagencyllc.com

Marc Kuhn

I dropped out of University of North Dakota with 12 credits left and $2,500 to start MAK Construction.

Now UND is one of our best partners.

Back in 2010, I walked away from a college degree to bet on myself. No diploma. No Plan B. No money.

Just a concrete guy from North Dakota who believed he could build something.

Fast forward 15 years:

→ MAK Construction LLC and MAK Capital are developing projects on the UND campus
→ UND grads are joining our team
→ The same university I left now trusts us to help build its future

And it says a lot about UND.

When most parents think of top schools in the US...North Dakota usually isn't the first place they think.

While many students chases brand-name schools on the coasts, UND just quietly broke its all-time enrollment record: 15,844 students. Up 825 from last year.

President Andy Armacost is expanding programs the state actually needs:

• Top-ranked nursing school in North Dakota
• First university in the U.S. Space Force Partnership Program
• Aviation program with global reputation
• Degrees that lead to jobs—not just debt

And now they’ve earned Carnegie R1 status—putting them in the same research class as Harvard, Stanford, and MIT.

UND isn’t trying to be flashy. They’re just doing the work.

The kind of work that builds a great future workforce with necessity-based jobs that quietly run the country.

We’ve hired UND grads who show up early, solve problems, and outwork the resume chasers. That matters in our business.

We also build for the school, support the football team, and see them as one of our best long-term partners.

Everybody wins when a local institution like UND plays the long game with local businesses.

Sometimes coming full circle isn’t about going back to finish what you started.
It’s about building something strong enough that the place you left wants you back at the table.

We’re proud to help UND expand its campus while it invests in real careers, real programs, and real people.

Go Fighting Hawks!

What schools in your area are doing the unsexy but important work of preparing students for actual jobs?

Marc Kuhn

CEO @ MAK Capital | CRE Developer | Guiding You to Wealth with Passive Investments in Luxury Storage & Multifamily Real Estate

I burned out building a $30M construction company.

But without my wife...I would've stayed stuck at $1M.

In my 20s, I thought grinding 100-hour weeks made me successful.

I hit $250K in income and felt like a failure because I was drowning in a business I didn’t know how to run.

I was good at construction.
Terrible at running a company.

Chelsie brought what I didn’t have:

→ Organization where I had chaos
→ Strategy where I had hustle
→ Structure where I had gut feel
→ Brand clarity where I had zero clue

She runs our EOS meetings. Keeps the team aligned. Takes my messy ideas and turns them into actual systems that scale.

She’s the reason I get to focus on what I do best—growing MAK Construction and MAK Capital.

Here’s what nobody tells you about building a business with your spouse:

It’s not about finding someone who thinks like you.
It’s about finding someone who balances you.

I see the vision. She maps the path.
I chase the deal. She helps the team deliver.
I go fast. She makes sure we go smart.

The best business decision I ever made wasn’t a real estate deal. It was marrying someone who made me better without trying to change me.

We’ve got 3 kids, multiple companies doing $30M+ a year, a 50+ person team, and $60M real estate portfolio.

None of it works without systems. And none of those systems exist without Chelsie Kuhn.

If you’re building solo, you’re capping your growth.

Every entrepreneur I know who scaled past $10M?

They didn’t just grind harder. They found someone—partner, co-founder, spouse—who filled their gaps.

Your job isn’t to do it all. Your job is to do your part and find people who crush the rest.

What’s the best partnership decision you’ve made in your business or career?

Marc Kuhn

We skipped the 529 plan for our 3 kids' college.

Bought an 8-plex they'll own in 10 years instead.

I've written about it before on LinkedIn and Substack, so here's a fun update.

In 2021, we bought a small, low-income 8-unit property in a rural North Dakota town near us. 

Nothing fancy. Nothing shiny.

Just solid cash flow and a lesson in ownership.

• Bought it in 2021 for $450,000.
• Spits off ~20% a year cash flow.
• Kids used birthday money and loan from Mom & Dad.
• Over 10 years, it’ll return $300,000+.

They've owned it for a few years with our help, and have already been paying Mom and Dad back with cash flow.

By the time they need the money, the equity and cash flow will be more than enough for them to:

• Go to college
• Start a business
• Buy a decent car
• Hopefully not blow it on Legos or Sephora

Right now they’re 5, 10, and 11.

They get the cash flow, see the checks, help "manage" the property, and learn the ownership game early.

I’ll help them learn so hopefully they can financially support themselves and learn to invest and make money by 18.

Not because I’m harsh...because I want them to be capable and prepared for the real world.

I love Kevin O’Leary’s mindset:

“My kids don’t get my money. 
They get my lessons.”

Here's the best part.

When we talked about the latest distribution, they were excited about junk food and toys…

Then my oldest asked “Can we buy more of these?”

That’s the whole game right there.

• Teach 'em young. 
• Let them own something. 
• Show them what it means to earn.

My job isn’t to carry them after 18.

It’s to make sure they’re strong enough to carry themselves.

What are you doing today that your kids will thank you for in 10 years?

--

P.S. I broke down this 8-plex purchase for parents who want to do something similar.

Check out the guide: https://lnkd.in/g-qJ3X-N

JSESSIONID

li_at

Talks about #investing, #realestate, #construction, #personalfinance, and #apartmentinvesting

$500 dinners that generate an extra $5M revenue.

Luke owns hotels. I build luxury storage.

But the lesson I learned applies to every business owner who wants to build something that lasts…

We were scouting our next luxury storage development, when I met Luke, an entrepreneur who owns and operates luxury hotels in South Dakota and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Most people eat at 5-star restaurants for the food.
Luke eats at them to build better businesses.

We went to one of his favorite Scottsdale restaurants, The Italiano.

✅ Valet is complimentary.
✅ The server knew his name and favorite wine.
✅ My cocktail came branded with the restaurant’s name on the orange peel.

The place was buzzing. 
Packed. Polished. Precise.

I asked Luke why he does this.

“If I want to deliver a 5-star experience in my hotels, I need to study it everywhere I go. What can I borrow, adapt, or improve?”

Hard to beat an entrepreneur who's a student of his craft and thinks like Luke.

Most people are looking for shortcuts.
The best entrepreneurs obsess over details.

That mindset is why his guests come back — and why his brand will still be thriving 20 years from now.

Great businesses don’t guess what excellence looks like. They study it, steal it, and systematize it.

Whether you’re building hotels, storage facilities, or any other business…

The fastest way to stand out is to raise the standard when everyone else is lowering the price.

Do you know an entrepreneur like Luke?

In my 20s, I traded time for money.

In my 30s, I’m trading money for health.

Running multiple companies and having a family taught me something important in 2024:

My most important investment isn’t in real estate.
It’s in my body, health, and energy.

When I’m healthy, I make better decisions. I lead better. I show up better.

I have more energy—for my team, my investors, and my family.

In 2025, I made a commitment:
Invest $10,000–$20,000 per year into my health.

Here’s my plan for how I'll invest:

• Bloodwork: $300
• Genetic testing: $600
• High-quality supplements: $1,500
• Peptides: $5,000–$10,000
• Gym memberships and trainers: $3,000+

Some people think it’s excessive.
But for me, it’s a non-negotiable.

When your body is optimized, your business follows.

If you’re in a leadership role—CEO, investor, operator—this is a category worth over-investing in.

Are you investing in your health and energy in 2025?

I was stuck for 5 years in my business in my 20s.

The change that 10X'd my success?

I was trying to figure everything out alone.

The shift happened when I found operators who’d already solved the problems I was facing:

Guys running $10M+ construction companies who showed me their systems.

Investors doing deals I thought were impossible with my capital.

Entrepreneurs who’d scaled past the bottleneck I was trapped in.

Turns out, the fastest way to build wealth isn’t working harder in isolation. It’s learning from people who are 5 steps ahead of you.

That’s what today’s live Q&A event is about.

You’re not just getting my playbook for going from chaos to $30M in revenue.

You’re getting the frameworks, mistakes, and shortcuts I learned from being around the right people.

We go live in 3 hours. Still time to join.

11 AM CST | 12 PM EST

$25 for advice and community from entrepreneurs who've been where you are today.

This is your chance to get unstuck in 2026 instead of grinding and staying in the same place for another 5 years.

Last call to join: 

https://lnkd.in/gKGtHzhD

See you at 11 am CST!

10 years ago, I thought this life was impossible.

Let me paint a picture of 27-year-old Marc:

Just had my second kid.
Running a concrete business that was barely holding together.
Working 100-hour weeks because I didn’t know how to delegate.
Drinking a gallon of coffee and 4–5 Monsters a day just to survive.

Then one bad pour almost ended everything.

A $30K concrete project cracked. The client threatened to sue. We didn’t have the cash reserves to fix it and stay afloat.

I remember lying awake at 3am thinking:
“This is it. I’m going to lose everything.”

The business was fragile because I was fragile.
I was the bottleneck.
If I wasn’t on-site, nothing happened.

Fast forward to today at 37:

3 kids who actually see their dad.
A construction company doing $30M+ annually.
A $60M real estate portfolio.
A team of 50 that runs the business without me.

The difference wasn’t working harder.
It was learning the systems, strategies, and mindset shifts that compound wealth instead of burning you out.

I’m hosting a live Q&A this Wednesday to walk you through exactly how I made that shift.

• Wednesday, November 26 at 11 AM CST
• $25 to join for $100,000+ of advice if you act on it

Most people will spend 2026 the same way I spent 2014—grinding harder, not smarter.
A few will figure out how to scale, build equity, and actually enjoy the life they’re working for.

I’ll share the exact frameworks that took me from chaos to $30M in revenue—and how you can apply them to your business or real estate portfolio in 2026.

Your questions.
Real answers.
No BS.

2026 can be your breakthrough year…or another year of “I’ll figure it out later.”

DM me "scale" if you want an invite to tomorrow's live event.

In 1989, Brian Scudamore spotted a beat-up junk truck while sitting in a McDonald's drive-thru.

That moment sparked his empire.

Here's what Scudamore did next:

→ Took $700 in savings 
→ Bought a used pickup truck 
→ Started "The Rubbish Boys" 
→ Painted the truck himself 
→ Created a simple tagline: "We'll stash your trash in a flash!"

While his surgeon father wasn't thrilled...

Brian dropped out of college to go all-in.

His secret weapon?

Making an "ugly" business look professional:

→ Clean trucks
→ Sharp uniforms
→ On-time service
→ Fanatical customer focus

In 1994, he made the hardest call, firing his entire staff to rebuild with people who shared his vision.

And today?

His company 1-800-GOT-JUNK is estimated to be around $600 million in annual revenue. 

The lesson is simple:

Sometimes the "ugliest" businesses create the biggest opportunities.

You just have to be willing to think differently.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 "𝘂𝗴𝗹𝘆" 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁?


♻️ Repost to share this story with others.
👷 Follow me Marc Kuhn for more.

Having a $5,000,000 net worth won’t save you if you have ZERO monthly cash flow.

I've coached a few people from LinkedIn, most of them in their 20s.

They all want the same thing:

• Financial freedom
• Quit their soul-sucking 9-5 job
• Buy back their time with investments

First I ask them "What is financial freedom to you?"

And they're usually focused on the wrong metric.

"I want a $5,000,000 net worth."

That's great. 

But net worth won't:

• Pay your monthly bills
• Replace your 9-5 job salary
• Allow you to use money for Time Freedom

Cash flow is the answer. 

And most of my coaching students are surprised when we break down the math.

You don't need a $5M net worth to be free.

Most people would be happy and comfortable with $10,000-$20,000 in monthly cash flow from assets.

Which takes less time than an 8-figure net worth.

For financial freedom, monthly cash flow is a better metric than net worth 365 days a year.

Agree or disagree?

At 30, I said Yes to every real estate deal I could.

At 36, I say No to 15-20+ deals a month.

Grew MAK Construction to $30M revenue saying Yes.
Grew MAK Capital to a $60M portfolio saying Yes.

Yes to building houses.
Yes to the random real estate deal.
Yes to anything that would pay the bills.

That’s how most people start: Hustle Mode

But what gets you from $0 to $10M won’t get you to $100M.

At some point, saying yes becomes a liability.

You say yes to too many things, and suddenly:

You’re busy, but not growing.
You’re working harder, but not wealthier.
You’re stuck in the weeds, missing the bigger picture.

In 2025, I’m saying No more than ever.

• No to building 10 homes (eats time, doesn’t scale)
• No to chasing small deals and shiny objects
• No to being everywhere, for everyone

Instead, I’m doubling down on:

→ Luxury storage developments in markets we love
→ Large multifamily projects, strategic acquisitions
→ Scaling what’s working—without spreading thin

Saying No to 10 small projects so I can say Yes to the 1- 2 large opportunities that move the needle.

Great things are built by doing less, better.

Are you in the Yes phase of your career? 
Or are you in the "less is more" season?

--
♻️ Repost if you're saying No more in 2025

📌 Join 5,200+ investors getting real estate, business, and wealth-building insights in my weekly Saturday newsletter: marckuhn.substack.com

As a luxury storage developer, my business model is based on Alex Hormozi's advice: "Sell to the rich." 
 
Money is abundant (if you know where to look).
 
I've learned this as a contractor, developer, and investor with wealthy mentors. 
 
Capital is abundant and looking for a place to allocate to high ROI deals. 
 
This is why we build "luxury" storage and condos. 
 
Storage is already recession-resistant. 
 
But the luxury model attracts: 
 
• Higher-end buyers 
• Higher-end investors 
• Higher-end monthly rents 
 
Instead of focusing on: 
 
→ Can you pay rent? 
→ Can you afford our units? 
→ Can you stay with us long-term? 
 
We focus on problems the wealthiest tenants care about with our units. 
 
Do you offer a premium product? 
Do you promise the highest quality? 
Do you give the buyer peace of mind? 
 
Our tenants are online store owners, contractors, and wealthy entrepreneurs. 
 
They aren't worried about month to month. 
They are worried about value. 
 
One of the biggest unlocks you will find as a real estate investor: 
 
Building a network of wealthy buyers. 
 
Have you thought about investing in projects that appeal to the wealthiest 1%? 
 
-- 

P.S. We're launching new luxury storage projects to our exclusive investor list.
 
If you're accredited and want to learn about these opportunities, DM me "storage" to connect.

Barry Sternlicht had ZERO hotel experience when he bought his first failing property in 1991.

But he did something most people wouldn’t.

He ignored the “experts” who said hotels had to be either luxury or budget.

Instead, he spotted what everyone else missed: the middle.

At the time, Four Seasons was charging $500 a night for marble bathrooms. Holiday Inn was racing to the bottom at $89 a night.

Barry asked a better question:

“What if people just want a place that doesn’t suck?”

So he built it.

→ Cool design that didn’t feel corporate.
→ Local vibe instead of chain sterile.
→ Quality without the luxury pretension.

That simple idead turned into W Hotels.

W became Starwood.
Starwood grew to 1,200+ locations.
Marriott bought it for $13 billion.

Today, Barry oversees over $100 billion in real estate.

All because he followed a simple playbook:

→ Find the gap everyone else ignores
→ Build what people actually want
→ Systematize it
→ Scale it

That’s the same reason I’m going all-in on luxury storage.

It’s not flashy. 
It’s not trendy. 
It’s not on CNBC.

But it's simple, repeatable, and prints cash flow.

While everyone’s chasing the next crypto, AI, or whatever “next big thing,” I’m focused on boring businesses with demand.

My customers are contractors, e-comm store owners, local blue collar entrepreneurs.

They’re not impressed by Public Storage’s tiny boxes.

They want clean, secure, premium space...and they’ll pay for it.

And guess what?

There’s almost no competition 'cus everyone’s busy chasing shiny objects.

Here’s what most people get wrong about boring businesses:

They think boring means low upside, but they’re wrong.

• Boring means predictable cash flow.
• Boring means less competition.
• Boring means higher margins.
• Boring builds wealth.

The flashy stuff gets the headlines.
The boring stuff builds the balance sheet.

If you’re serious about building something that lasts, stop following the herd.

Start looking for the gaps no one else sees.

That’s where the real money is hiding.

What outdated industry would you redesign if you had the chance?

--

♻️ Repost if stories like Barry's inspire you
🤝 Reach out if I can be a resource Marc Kuhn

What's the difference between making $10,000 in your 9-5 job and $10,000 from real estate?

$10K paycheck:

• Taxed at 40–50%
• Trades hours for dollars
• Stops when you stop working

$10K from a real estate deal:

• Taxed close to zero with depreciation
• Keeps paying you while you sleep
• Grows equity in a real asset

Most people spend 40 years chasing the paycheck.

But freedom is on the otherside of ownership.

I learned this in my early 20s. Started trading my time pouring concrete, building a construction company.

But the smartest thing I ever did was buy my first office building and lease out the unused space.

"Holy sh*t I didn't know you could do this."

The tax benefits in the first year alone were enough to get me hooked and eventually start MAK Capital in 2020, going all in on multifamily and luxury storage.

Since then, we’ve built and acquired $60M in commercial real estate across the Midwest.

And every time we pay out investors from a property we own...

I’m reminded: 
That $10K from a real estate deal is more than money.

It’s time back with my wife and kids.
It’s leverage for creating generational wealth.
It’s doable to go from $0 to millionaire with time.

Don't get caught in the earn a lot, spend a lot game.

Use a paycheck to buy assets and become an owner. 

That's the game.

What was your first “aha” moment that made you realize real estate was the path to real wealth?

--

♻️ Repost if this resonated with you.
📌 Follow me Marc Kuhn for daily content.

Most will spend 2026 overthinking their next move.

A few will actually scale their wealth.

I’m hosting a live Q&A on Wednesday, November 26 at 11 AM CST to help you be in that second group.

What we’ll cover:

→ How I grew my company to $30M in revenue
→ How I built a $60M real estate portfolio
→ The boring strategies that scale wealth
→ Your specific questions answered live

I’ll walk you through the exact strategies, systems, and mindset shifts that took me from pouring concrete at 26 to running an 8-figure business and real estate portfolio.

The mistakes I made so you don’t have to.
The frameworks I wish I had earlier.
The unsexy stuff that actually moves the needle.

It’s $25 to join. 

If you’re serious about scaling your business or real estate portfolio in 2026 without guesswork, this is for you.

Grab your spot:
https://lnkd.in/gKGtHzhD

Wednesday, November 26
11 AM CST | 12 PM EST

Will I see you there?

Most people think investing is complicated.

So they do nothing.

Here's what that looks like:

•Park money in a savings account earning 0.5%
•Watch inflation eat 3-4% of your wealth every year
•Wait for the "perfect moment" that never comes
•Let fear keep you on the sidelines for decades
•Retire with less purchasing power than you started with

Meanwhile, the wealthy do the opposite.

They put their money to work.

They understand:
•Compound interest is the 8th wonder of the world
•Time in the market beats timing the market
•Diversification protects, concentration builds wealth
•Passive income > trading hours for dollars

Here's the truth nobody tells you:

You don't need to be rich to start investing.
You need to start investing to become rich.

The difference between someone who invests $500/month starting at 25 vs. 35?

Over $500,000 by retirement.

That's the cost of waiting.

I'm not saying quit your job tomorrow or bet everything on one asset.

I'm saying:

Start small. Stay consistent. Think long term.
Pick your vehicle. Build your portfolio. Create your freedom.

If you're interested in learning more about luxury storage, DM me "luxury" to join our investor list.

The best time to start was 10 years ago.

The second best time is today.

Agree or disagree?

Multifamily real estate put money in my pocket.

Luxury storage bought my time back.

I’ve built apartments. I still do, and have a ground up development project under construction now.

But when I compare the two, one asset class consistently delivers better margins, less management, and fewer headaches...and it’s not multifamily.

When I first got into development, I followed the crowd into apartments. 

• The numbers penciled. 
• Demand was there. 
• Everyone understood the model.

But I also learned the reality:

• High turnover
• More maintenance calls
• Bigger staff to manage
• Tenant laws that can change overnight

Multifamily development is still a solid business. But it’s a grind.

Then came the Grand Forks project.

The lot didn’t work for apartments, so I tried something different: heated vs. unheated storage units. 

The heated units leased faster, stayed full, and rented for $100 more per month…with only $20 in extra utility cost.

That test turned into my first “luxury storage” facility.

Since then, here’s what I’ve seen:

Operational Advantages of Luxury Storage

→ No toilets, no appliances, no carpet to replace
→ Few people can oversee hundreds of units
→ Longer term tenants—often years, not months
→ B2B customers who want premium units

Investor Outcomes

→ Recession resilience
→ Stable NOI with fewer expense swings
→ Premium rent for premium product
→ Strong risk-adjusted returns

Multifamily has built some of my wealth.

But the "boring" asset class of luxury storage will compound my net worth and buy back my time.

In 2025, we’re developing over 500,000 sq ft of it. And as long as the numbers and demand hold, I’ll keep building more.

What asset class are you betting on that others are sleeping on over the next 5 years?

--

DM me "luxury storage" if you want to learn more about this asset class and connect with the MAK Capital team.

Marc Kuhn

Why do the richest entrepreneurs I know spend 10-20% of their week doing...nothing?

No calls.
No meetings.
No pushing projects over the finish line.

I make a point to surround myself with entrepreneurs who are ahead of me, and I've noticed something about the most successful ones.

They block time each week with nowhere to be and nothing urgent to do.

Took me 15 years to figure this out.

I used to fill every hour. If I wasn’t working, I felt behind. Had to be producing. Building. Solving something.

Then I read "The Road Less Stupid" by Keith Cunningham. This simple line hit me the hardest:

“Think. You’ll thank me later.”

That was it. The most valuable work I wasn’t doing—was thinking.

When I started carving out space, I noticed something: My best ideas came in the quiet.

• Walking the woods behind our house
• Sitting on a plane, no Wi-Fi and a notebook
• Reading outside of construction or real estate
• Journaling in the morning before anyone's awake

That’s when the needle-moving ideas show up.

→ A new deal structure.
→ A change to how we onboard PMs.
→ An idea that turned into a new revenue stream.
→ A system that gave me hours of my week back.

None of that came when I was buried in task lists.

It came when I made space to just think.

Now I block time every week with zero agenda, and I protect it like I would an investor meeting.

If you're constantly buried in the day-to-day...try stopping, even if you don't think you can afford to.

Because doing nothing might be the most productive thing you do all week.

Do you block time in your week to "do nothing" and think?

Marc Kuhn

We raised $1.9M for our Fargo Luxury Storage.

Now we're raising $2.5M for the next one...

Many investors are on the sidelines right now.

Afraid to make moves because of:

• Interest rates
• Slowing deal flow
• Uncertainty around an election

Meanwhile, our development team at MAK is looking to do even more storage deals in 2025.
 
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁: 
 
• Our tenants love 
• Our LP investors love 
• Our development company loves 
 
Self-storage is known for being a recession-friendly, cash-flowing asset. 
 
But these aren't your average self-storage. 
 
We've got boats and RVs. 
We've got luxury car owners. 
We've got contractor shop owners. 
We've got Amazon, Shopify biz owners. 
 
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵: 
 
• Two lights, one outlet 
• Garage door and opener 
• Heated and AC controlled 
• 20 by 50 self-storage units 
 
We've tested this in North Dakota and decided to expand across the U.S. 
 
What's our expertise at MAK? 
 
We find the land.
We secure the financing.
We build the storage facilities. 
We find renters and operate them.

Fully vertically integrated.
 
Our LP investors love that.
 
If you want to learn more about this asset class, DM me "Luxury Storage" 
 
I'll share our upcoming projects. 
 
𝙄𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 2025 𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧?

My plan for 8 figures in revenue in 2026:

Build tin cans. 

“Tin cans” is the phrase I use for my self-storage units.

And “luxury storage”?

Those are my tin cans with heat and power. 

At MAK Capital, our 2026 goals are to:

• Do $50 million in revenue.
• Invest in at least 1 deal a quarter.
• Build more projects through MAK Construction. 

And it all starts with tin cans.

I’ve never been one for flashier real estate investments.

I don’t mess with Class A buildings with yoga studios.
I don’t get involved in all-glass office buildings.
I’m not big on the next “It” City.

Now, I don’t expect to get to $50M on my tin cans alone...

But I also don’t expect to do it by changing what works for us and chasing projects outside of our wheelhouse.

So we’ll keep building tin cans in 2026.

Let me know if you want to join us. 


𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 "𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴" 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀? 

- Marc Kuhn 

--

P.S. If you're interested in investing in storage projects, send me a DM saying "storage."

You don’t need a ton of clients to achieve your dreams.

You just need to:

-> 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿𝘀. 

If you focus on transactional clients…
You’re just spinning your wheels.

But if you focus on long-term relationships…
You harness the value of compound interest.

The longer you work with someone, the greater the opportunities to grow together are.

If you genuinely place more emphasis on helping your clients achieve their dreams than you do on getting as much money from them as possible…

You’ll end up with more money than you know what to do with.

I could write a book of “Things I Wish I Knew When I Started” 14 years ago.

But this would be the first chapter.

Help others achieve their dreams.

And watch as you achieve yours. 

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟭 𝗼𝗳 "𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗜 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗜 𝗞𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱"?

--

P.S. If you want to passively invest in real estate (and build a long-term relationship)
 
DM me "storage" to invest with me.

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