In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Journey, Jason Gabrielli and Michael Pallozzi break down the first two stages of the Built Wealth Ladder—Rung 1 and Rung 2. Designed specifically for trades and home service business owners, this framework helps simplify the transition from running a business to building real, lasting personal wealth.

They explore what it means to operate at Rung 1, where everything is reinvested into the business and survival is the primary goal. Then, they explain how to progress to Rung 2—where profitability begins to create opportunities for wealth-building outside the business.

Along the way, they discuss common financial blind spots, the importance of true profit, and how to start making intentional decisions with your money to support both your lifestyle and long-term goals.

● Why reaching “Rung 1” is a major accomplishment for any business owner.

● How to properly define and create true profit in your business.

● Why most trades business owners struggle with personal financial planning.

● How to start building wealth outside of your business at Rung 2.

● [00:01:33] What Rung 1 looks like and why most business owners start here focused on survival and reinvestment.

● [00:02:20] Why simply generating income doesn’t mean your business is profitable.

● [00:03:30] The common financial blind spots for trades and home service business owners.

● [00:05:10] How the Profit First methodology helps business owners create real profit.

● [00:06:07] The role of advisors and consultants in helping business owners grow beyond Rung 1.

● [00:09:59] What signals that you’re ready to move from Rung 1 to Rung 2.

● [00:10:30] How much profit you should aim for before starting to build wealth outside the business.

● [00:12:11] Where to allocate profits first, including lifestyle, taxes, and investments.

● [00:14:17] Why retirement plans like 401(k)s are a powerful starting point for wealth-building.

● [00:16:46] The risks of overcomplicating wealth by investing in multiple businesses or real estate.

● [00:20:07] Why education and intentional decision-making are critical at Rung 2.

1. Building a profitable business is just the first step—real wealth begins when you intentionally take money out of the business and put it to work elsewhere.
2. Understanding what true profit is and consistently setting it aside creates the foundation for long-term financial success.
3. Simple, intentional investment strategies often outperform more complex approaches that demand additional time, energy, and risk.

Connect with Michael Pallozzi: pallozzi@hfmadvisors.com | LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Gabrieli: jgabrieli@hfmadvisors.com | LinkedIn

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)

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Welcome back to the Entrepreneur’s Journey. In this episode, Michael Pallozzi sits down with Brian Tustin, owner of First Rate Movers, to discuss his path from the hospitality industry to purchasing and growing a moving company. Brian shares how his experience managing restaurants, retail spaces, and co-working environments prepared him for entrepreneurship, even though he ultimately stepped into a completely different industry.

Brian explains how he discovered the opportunity to buy a business through BizBuySell, the lessons he learned during the first year of ownership, and how focusing on people and culture helped him build trust with his team. The conversation also explores hiring the right employees, building systems that allow a company to grow, and why reputation and transparency are critical in an industry where trust matters. Brian also reflects on the importance of vulnerability in leadership and how being open about challenges can strengthen relationships within a team and community.

● Why buying an existing business can be a powerful entry point into entrepreneurship.

● How focusing on character and personality helps build stronger teams.

● Why systems and processes are essential for growth and freedom as a business owner.

● How vulnerability and transparency can strengthen leadership and team trust.

● [00:01:13] Brian’s background in hospitality and how his early career shaped his approach to leadership and service.

● [00:04:44] Discovering the opportunity to buy a moving company through BizBuySell and deciding to take the leap into ownership.

● [00:07:57] How Brian built trust with existing employees during the transition to new ownership.

● [00:10:56] Why moving companies rely heavily on word-of-mouth and repeat customers more than many people realize.

● [00:13:48] The challenges within the moving industry and why transparency is critical to building a strong reputation.

● [00:15:45] How Brian hires and develops great team members by focusing on character before skills.

● [00:19:39] The importance of building systems and processes that allow business owners to delegate and grow.

● [00:23:11] Why vulnerability and openness can strengthen leadership and relationships within a business.

3 Things To Remember

1. Buying an existing business can provide a faster path into entrepreneurship while allowing you to build on an established foundation.

2. Hiring the right people based on character, attitude, and culture fit can make a significant difference in the success of a service-based business.

3. Strong systems, processes, and open communication allow businesses to grow while creating healthier teams and stronger leadership.

Connect with Michael Pallozzi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpallozzihfm/

First Rate Movers: https://firstratede.com/

Like what you’ve heard…

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Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠)

Welcome back to the Entrepreneur’s Journey. In this episode, Jason Gabrieli sits down with Greg Wilnau to discuss entrepreneurship, marketing, and how technology—especially AI—is changing the way businesses operate. Greg shares his journey from copywriting into building a marketing team and the lessons he learned about avoiding burnout and removing himself as the bottleneck in his business. The conversation also examines how entrepreneurs can build companies that operate independently of them, why developing entrepreneurial thinking is becoming increasingly important, and how emerging technologies may reshape work in the future.

Tune into this episode to also learn:

● Why building a team is essential to prevent becoming the bottleneck in your business.

● How AI is changing marketing and why human intuition still matters.

● Why building a business that can run without you improves both value and quality of life.

● Why entrepreneurial thinking may become one of the most valuable skills in the future.

What we discussed

● [00:04:00] Greg’s background in copywriting and how conversion-focused marketing shaped his early career.

● [00:09:30] The shift from doing everything yourself to building a team that can support business growth.

● [00:14:40] The risk of burnout when a business depends entirely on the founder.

● [00:19:23] Why businesses should be built to operate independently of the owner.

● [00:20:56] The mindset shift required to move from technician to entrepreneur and leader.

● [00:22:43] The uncertainty surrounding AI and technology and how it may shape the future of work.

● [00:23:13] Greg’s vision for building a high-touch marketing firm while automation handles lower-level tasks.

● [00:25:20] Why entrepreneurial thinking will become increasingly valuable in a world of automation.

3 Things To Remember

A business that depends entirely on the founder limits growth and increases the risk of burnout.

Building systems and teams that allow the business to operate independently creates a stronger and more valuable company.

As technology and AI advance, entrepreneurial thinking and creative problem solving will become increasingly important skills.

Connect with Jason Gabrieli: jgabrieli@hfmadvisors.com | LinkedIn

Connect with Greg Wilnau: LinkedIn

Like what you’ve heard…

Subscribe to our BuiltWealth™ Newsletter HERE

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠)