In this episode of Built to Last, Colby and Levi sit down with Afan Chowdhury, an entrepreneur, marketer, and the founder of Notionhive, a digital agency based in Bangladesh. Afan shares his unique journey from Bangladesh to North America, explaining how he navigated business culture shifts between countries and industries.

Afan’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, Afan’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. Afan’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 Afan

• Afan’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

• Afan’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 Afan 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 Afan approaches tough conversations with clients and partners.
• Balancing honesty with diplomacy.

49:00 | The Future of Business and AI

• Afan’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 Afan’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

• Afan’s vision for his business and the new markets he’s exploring.

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 evolved
• Reflections 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 Marina
• Lessons on grit, offshoring, burnout, moving countries, and perspective
• Acknowledging the emotional and practical weight behind entrepreneurial decisions
  
  

11:30 – The Power of Real Conversations

• Levi and Colby share how meaningful dialogue shaped them
• Thoughts on small talk fatigue and the value of depth
• Diversity 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 change
• Defining the real value behind services like tech adoption, websites, and process work
• Finding 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 debt
• Stories of small but impactful shifts in collaboration, onboarding, and structure
• How 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 matter
• Building environments where people can take time off without fear
• Creating 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 forward
• Inviting stories from listeners—especially the ones that aren’t often heard

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.