In this episode of the What It Takes Podcast, we sit down with Abe Breuer, CEO of John To Go—a self-made entrepreneur who built a multi-million-dollar empire in an essential but often overlooked industry and achieved a successful private equity exit.

Abe breaks down his 20-year journey from selling his first computer company as a teenager to scaling a portable sanitation business into a $50M national leader. He shares the unfiltered reality of entrepreneurship: the partner who quit during the first brutal winter, near-death cash flow moments, and the unconventional employee strategy that turned a secretary into a $280k-a-year partner.

This conversation is a masterclass in resilience, operational scaling, and leadership mindset. Whether you’re starting a service business, struggling to scale, or curious about exits and life after selling, this episode delivers hard-earned lessons you won’t find in textbooks.

💡 In This Episode, We Cover:

◼️ How Abe built his first company at 16 and sold it for $25k◼️ The “walk between the drops” philosophy learned from his parents◼️ Scaling revenue to $50M without losing control◼️ The partner who walked away—and the brother who stayed to build a legacy◼️ Managing ADHD as a superpower using pen, paper, and ruthless systems◼️ Why Abe never gives raises—and the bonus system that creates extreme loyalty◼️ The New Yorker article that changed everything and attracted private equity◼️ The harsh reality of scaling too fast and running out of cash◼️ Selling the business: identity loss, regret, and what comes next◼️ His current venture in the challenging world of assisted living (ALFs)

⏱️ Chapters:

0:00 Intro – Meeting in the Shul & the Founder of John To Go10:11 Early Hustle – Selling a Computer Company at 1616:11 First Major Bet – Buying a 24-Unit Building with $400k20:20 The Birth of John To Go – A Partner, a Stick Shift Truck & the First Winter23:02 The Pivot – Bringing His Brother in as the Right Partner32:20 Scaling Secrets – From $400k to $50M in Revenue39:45 The New Yorker Call That Changed Everything

57:32 The $280k Employee – A Bonus System That Creates Partners1:04:14 Life After the Exit – Identity, Travel & Starting Over1:07:37 Final Advice – Would He Do It All Again?

🔗 Connect with Abe BreuerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breuerabe/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abe-breuer-a339725/

🔗 Connect with Tuli KrausX (Twitter): https://x.com/TuliKrausInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird.recruiting/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuli-kraus/

Sponsored by Blackbird Recruiting. Tired of sorting through unqualified résumés? Blackbird Recruiting helps you hire top talent—so you can focus on growing your business.Visit blackbirdrecruiting.com to learn more.

In this episode of the What It Takes Podcast, we sit down with Hershy Goldstein, CEO and Co-Founder of FRIDAY—a SaaS founder who went from unemployment to building a thriving tech startup serving over 1,200 customers.

Hershy breaks down his journey from leaving a secure career to bootstrapping and scaling a profitable, remote-first business. He shares the unfiltered reality of entrepreneurship: the moments he almost shut everything down, the pressure of scaling fast, and the leadership decisions that come with being the one in charge.

This conversation is a masterclass in career decisions, startup growth, and building a sustainable business. Whether you’re considering leaving a corporate job, building a startup, or leading a remote team, this episode delivers insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

💡 In This Episode, We Cover:

◼️ How Hershy turned unemployment into a SaaS startup success story ◼️ The pivotal moment that almost ended the company ◼️ Scaling to 1,200 customers without investors or venture capital ◼️ Building a fully remote team across multiple states ◼️ Recognizing when to leave a secure career to pursue entrepreneurship ◼️ Handling founder burnout and mental pressure while growing a company ◼️ How to identify, retain, and lead high-performing employees ◼️ Lessons from the accidental product pivots that saved the business ◼️ Hershy’s non-negotiable advice for first-time founders

⏱️ Chapters:

0:00 Intro - The $250k Question

11:54 The Breakthrough: Conquering Imposter Syndrome at Fingercheck

19:24 The 9-Year Grind: From Support to Manager to $250k

22:30 The Coaching Epiphany: Discovering a Hidden Superpower

37:19 The Final Straw: Why I Quit My Cushy Job

42:09 The Wilderness: Depression, COVID, and Consulting

54:10 Startup Nightmare: The Week Our Bank Vanished

1:02:55 Founder Truths: Surrender, Hiring, & The Fear of Content

1:20:38 Final Advice: Should You Leave Your Safe Job?

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hershey-goldstein/Website: https://fridayapp.com/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/TuliKrausInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird.recruiting/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuli-kraus/

Sponsored by Blackbird RecruitingTired of sorting through unqualified résumés? Blackbird Recruiting helps you hire top talent—so you can focus on growing your business.Visit blackbirdrecruiting.com to learn more.

In this episode of the What It Takes Podcast, we sit down with Avi Singer, Founder and CEO of Showd.me - a leader who hacked the corporate ladder from day one and later built a multi-million-dollar SaaS company without raising a single dollar of venture capital.

Avi breaks down his journey from a $65k entry-level role at DoubleClick (later acquired by Google) to bootstrapping and scaling a profitable, remote-first business. He shares the unfiltered reality of entrepreneurship: the moments he nearly quit, the pressure of making payroll, and the tough leadership decisions that come with being the one in charge.

This conversation is a masterclass in strategic career planning, sustainable company building, and rejecting Silicon Valley hype in favor of real, durable success. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, building a startup, or trying to lead a team that actually cares, this episode delivers insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

💡 In This Episode, We Cover:

◼️ How Avi leveraged an Ivy League degree to land his first $65k job◼️ Adopting a “future VP” mindset from day one in corporate life◼️ Why he tells 99% of people not to start a tech startup◼️ The accidental pivot from a “nice-to-have” to a true “must-have” product◼️ Building a 50-person remote team across 13 states—with no office◼️ The hardest CEO skill: knowing when to walk away from easy money◼️ How to identify, promote, and retain rockstar employees—and when to let go◼️ The servant-leadership philosophy that creates real loyalty◼️ Navigating founder identity crises and near burnout◼️ Why most software companies fail—and how to avoid the same traps◼️ Avi’s non-negotiable advice for first-time founders

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 From Columbia to Corporate: Hacking the $65k Start

11:45 The Terminal Degree: Planning Your Career Like a Chess Game

14:27 Why I Left a $250k+ VP Job to Start From Scratch

21:42 The Pivot That Saved the Business

30:12 Hiring (and Firing) for a Team That Runs Without You

34:50 Building a Remote Culture That Actually Works

53:48 The Vacation Test: How to Know You’re a Good Leader

1:03:03 From Unicorn Dreams to Building a Real Business

🔗 Connect with Avi Singer

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avisinger/Website: https://www.showd.me/

🔗 Connect with Tuli KrausX (Twitter): https://x.com/TuliKrausInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird.recruiting/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuli-kraus/

Sponsored by Blackbird Recruiting. Tired of sorting through unqualified résumés? Blackbird Recruiting helps you hire top talent—so you can focus on growing your business. Visit blackbirdrecruiting.com to learn more.

In this powerful episode of the What It Takes Podcast, we sit down with Sam Shvarzblat, a contractor and entrepreneur who has lived both realities—being the boss and walking away from being the boss. Sam built a construction company from scratch in his early 20s, scaled it to multiple large projects, battled cash-flow pressure, burnout, family expectations, and eventually made the toughest decision an entrepreneur can make: closing his own company.

This conversation is brutally honest. Sam opens up about the identity crisis founders face, the ego tied to “being your own boss,” how cash flow really works behind the scenes in construction, and why moving his family to a new community changed everything. Whether you're an entrepreneur, contractor, or someone who’s ever wondered if stepping away is failure or growth—this episode will hit home.

This is a raw masterclass in humility, rebuilding, and what it really takes to balance business, family, faith, and your own well-being.

💡 In This Episode, We Discuss:

◼️ Sam’s early journey into construction and why he skipped working for others ◼️ The harsh truth about being a young business owner in the trades ◼️ Why most contractors struggle with cash flow—and how to fix it ◼️ The “friends & family discount” myth ◼️ The realities of managing 10+ simultaneous construction projects ◼️ Burnout, identity, and the moment Sam knew he had to step away ◼️ Moving from Lakewood to Monsey: lifestyle, community, and values ◼️ Economic slowdown, stalled projects, and clients pulling deposits ◼️ What it feels like to shut down your own company ◼️ How Sam rebuilt his life, career, and sense of direction ◼️ What every new entrepreneur should understand before starting

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 When the Dream of Being Your Own Boss Starts to Crack

2:19 Why I Refused to Become a Copy-Paste Contractor

6:19 Friends, Family & the Truth About ‘Discount Work’

7:06 Why Friends Should Pay MORE—Not Less

8:26 At My Peak: Running 10 Projects with a Tiny Team

10:25 The Cash-Flow Trap That Destroys Most Contractors

13:10 The Question I Never Wanted to Answer: Why I Closed My Company

16:46 The Commute That Broke Me: 4:30 AM Drives & Endless Inspections

17:55 When Clients Pump the Brakes & the Economy Turns on You

26:56 The Identity Shift of Going from a Boss to an Employee

34:49 Being an Employee vs Doing Your Own Thing

37:35 The Biggest Lessons I’ve Learned in These Chapters of My Life

🔗 Connect with Sam Shvarzblat: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samshvarzblat/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samshvarz/

🔗 Connect with Tuli Kraus: X (Twitter): https://x.com/TuliKraus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird.recruiting/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuli-kraus/

This episode is sponsored by Blackbird Recruiting. Tired of sifting through unqualified résumés? Let Blackbird Recruiting find you top talent so you can focus on growing your business. Visit blackbirdrecruiting.com to learn more.

In this insightful episode of the What It Takes podcast, we sit down with Morris Isaacson, the Chief Marketing Officer of Empeon, whose career spans more than two decades across brand strategy, digital marketing, and high-growth tech leadership. Morris has led marketing for iconic global brands like Polaroid, played a key role in a $1.1B IPO, and built data-driven marketing engines inside fast-scaling organizations.

He breaks down the real evolution of modern marketing—from the creativity-first “Mad Men” era to the analytics, attribution, and performance-driven landscape companies operate in today. This episode is packed with career lessons, leadership insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at how top CMOs build brands that grow revenue, teams, and long-term impact.

This is a masterclass in building a valuable career, leading high-performance teams, and staying ahead in one of the fastest-changing industries in the world.

💡 In This Episode, We Discuss:

◼️ Morris’s unconventional start: From psychology major to entertainment marketing◼️ Why marketing has shifted from art to science◼️ How to prove your value and win budget from data-driven CFOs◼️ The Polaroid comeback: Rebranding a nostalgic icon◼️ How to build a marketing team from zero◼️ The real ROI of trade shows — and how to execute them right◼️ Aligning sales and marketing for accurate pipeline data◼️ Career compensation: When your salary finally reflects your value◼️ What Morris looks for when hiring modern marketing talent◼️ The one skill that will make you irreplaceable today◼️ Final advice: Why doing what you love leads to a fulfilling career

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Podcast Purpose1:11 Guest Introduction: Morris Isaacson, CMO of Empeon2:18 The Unforgettable First Job Interview5:27 Early Career: From IDT to Yeshiva University9:21 The Polaroid Turnaround Story11:29 Building & Managing Marketing Teams16:35 The Evolution of Marketing: Data vs. Creativity19:08 Mastering Trade Shows & Proving ROI32:20 Career Advice: Compensation, Mistakes, and Hiring40:01 Final Thoughts: The 22-Year Career Reflection

🔗 Connect with Morris Isaacson: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/misaacson/

🔗 Connect with Tuli Kraus: X (Twitter): https://x.com/TuliKraus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird.recruiting/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuli-kraus/

This episode is sponsored by Blackbird Recruiting. Tired of sifting through unqualified résumés? Let Blackbird Recruiting find you top talent so you can focus on building your business. Visit blackbirdrecruiting.com to learn more.

How does faith rewire your entire career? In this powerful episode of the What It Takes podcast, we sit down with Mrs. Esther Bergman, the CFO of Chai Lifeline, who oversees a massive $45 million budget dedicated to helping families with critically ill children.

Esther takes us on her incredible journey from a Spanish-speaking immigrant taking a job as a store greeter to becoming the financial leader of one of the most impactful non-profits. She pulls back the curtain on her unique philosophy that you don't work for your boss—you work for God—and shares how this mindset opened doors no résumé ever could. She reveals how a prayer for fish in Costa Rica was directly answered, the time she saved a $100M organization from collapse, and why she schedules her “depression” for 5 AM.

This is a raw, inspiring, and deeply spiritual conversation about the power of showing up, the true meaning of money, and how to lead with compassion—even when you have to let someone go.

💡 In This Episode, We Discuss:

◼️ Esther’s journey from Costa Rica to CFO without a finance degree

◼️ The Costa Rica “Fish Market Miracle” and talking to God in everyday life

◼️ Her grandmother’s powerful lesson: “Money is like fire”

◼️ The brutal cash flow crisis that threatened to shut down a $100M organization

◼️ How to transition from an individual contributor to a leader who builds other leaders

◼️ The art of firing someone with kindness and a prayer for their future

◼️ Why being multi-talented can be a curse for your career

◼️ The $15 million secret behind Chai Lifeline’s volunteer force

◼️ How to make a lateral career move that sets you up for long-term success

◼️ Her advice for anyone wanting to build a meaningful career in finance or non-profit

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Meet Esther Bergman: The CFO Who Works for God

1:04 The Costa Rica Fish Market Miracle

7:50 Immigrant Story: First Job as a Store Greeter in Brooklyn

10:53 The Kleinfeld Bridal Breakthrough

22:56 Switching from Customer Service to Finance

34:51 How to Fire Someone with Compassion

38:25 The $45M Budget of Chai Lifeline & The $15M Secret

43:02 The Crisis: A $100M Organization Frozen by Fraud

44:37 The Brilliant Idea That Saved the Company

50:50 Final Advice: How to Build a Career with Purpose

🔗 Connect with Esther Bergman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-bergman-87579117/

🔗 Connect with Tuli Kraus

X (Twitter): https://x.com/TuliKraus

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird.recruiting/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuli-kraus/

This episode is sponsored by Blackbird Recruiting. Tired of sifting through unqualified resumes? Let Blackbird Recruiting find you top talent so you can focus on building your business. Visit blackbirdrecruiting.com to learn more.

The Brutal Truth About Being A Creative Director | How a Borough Park Kid Landed HBO, Polaroid, and Brother ft. Sam Ash

How data and storytelling can build a career? In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, we sit down with Sam Ash (not the music store!), a marketing powerhouse and the unconventional creative mind behind iconic campaigns for HBO, Brother, Polaroid, and countless brands in the frum world.

Sam takes us on a hilarious and insightful journey from his Borough Park Yeshiva days to the top of the advertising world, pulling back the curtain on how he launched the Brother P-Touch, made Paint fascinating, and why he never wears the same "professional" face twice. He shares profound lessons on faith, family, and why today's consumers don't want to think, they want to feel.

This is a raw, funny, and deeply authentic conversation about the power of a great idea, the importance of knowing your "why," and what Jewish marketing is missing.

💡 In This Episode, We Discuss:

◼️ Sam’s journey from a Yeshiva kid in Borough Park to a sought-after creative director

◼️ The hilarious story of launching the Brother P-Touch and the "aha" moment that created a new product category

◼️ His philosophy that you're not selling the drill, you're selling the hole! Why benefits always beat features

◼️ The challenge of balancing a demanding creative career with family life and faith

◼️ Why the frum community is the last great bastion of print advertising and how to use it effectively

◼️ His unexpected encounter with John Ratzenberger (Cliff from "Cheers") and the life lesson about money and family

◼️ How to "niche yourself" to break into a creative career

◼️ The problem with AI, SEO, and why they can't replace true talent and insight

◼️ What most Jewish marketing is missing and the agencies that are getting it right

◼️ His advice for business owners on how to choose the right creative agency

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Meet Sam Ash: The Unconventional Creative

3:09 From Borough Park to Big Brands: A Yeshiva Kid's Origin Story

5:07 The Brother P-Touch Launch: Selling the Hole, Not the Drill

22:45 Faith in the Workplace: Wearing a Kippah in Corporate America

27:16 The John Ratzenberger Story: A $150,000 Lesson on Priorities

35:48 How to Break Into a Creative Career: Niche Yourself

41:29 The State of Jewish Marketing: The Last Bastion of Print

43:10 Sam's Final Advice: How to Pick the Right Creative Agency

🔗 Connect with Sam Ash

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samash180/

🔗 Connect with Tuli Kraus

X (Twitter): https://x.com/TuliKraus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbird.recruiting/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuli-kraus/

#WhatItTakesPodcast #Marketing #Advertising #BrandStrategy #CreativeDirector #Entrepreneurship #JewishBusiness #Startup #CareerAdvice

Episode made possible by Blackbird Recruiting. Check em out Blackbirdrecruiting.com

After building a tech business and working with giants like Google and Microsoft, Hillel Fuld SHUT IT ALL DOWN after October 7th. He now commands one of the most powerful pro-Israel voices online, reaching BILLIONS of impressions. In this bombshell conversation, he exposes the uncomfortable truths about Zionism, the open miracles happening in Israel, and why he believes there is "zero justification" for any Jew to live outside their homeland today.

Hillel Fuld is a leading Israeli tech strategist and a powerhouse advocate for Israel, with a massive following across social media platforms.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

◼️ The shocking reason Israel is being "decimated" in the PR war—and what they're doing wrong

◼️ How Zionism is as core to Judaism as Shabbat, and the Gemara that proves it

◼️ The modern-day "gun to your head" argument for why Jews must leave now

◼️ Debunking the biggest Aliyah myths: salaries, language, and quality of life

◼️ Incredible, open miracles from the war that prove divine intervention

◼️ How the Israeli job market really works (it's not about your resume)

◼️ The one thing that still drives him crazy about living in Israel after 30 years

_______________________________________________________________________

00:00 Introduction & Banter

00:31 The Accidental Tech Guru: Hillel's Origin Story

03:10 The Game-Changing Assistant & Business Transformation

04:55 The October 7th Pivot: Shutting Down for Israel

07:48 Why Israel is Losing the PR War

10:25 Defining Zionism & The Core of Jewish Identity

14:24 The Modern-Day "Gun to Your Head" Argument

16:53 Addressing the "I'll Go When Mashiach Comes" Viewpoint

21:54 The "Open Miracles" of the Israel-Hamas War

23:58 A Personal Story of Divine Intervention: The Australian Visa

29:08 Israel as a Practical Paradise: Debunking Aliyah Myths

32:13 How the Israeli Job Market Really Works

41:56 What Actually Drives Him Crazy About Israel

48:35 The Flip Side: The Magic of Israeli Community

51:22 Final Plea: Make a Plan

_______________________________________________________________________

CONNECT WITH HILLEL:

X (Twitter): https://x.com/hilzfuld

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hilzfuld/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HillelFuld/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilzfuld/