💡If you like how I think about business, technology, and systems on Fueled By Progress, you can find the best way to work with me or learn more at https://markszymanski.co/startThis is a conversation with Josh Hall about building and selling his web design agency, transitioning to courses and community, the identity shifts that come with entrepreneurial evolution, and why being present for family is the real endgame.🔗 Connect with Josh Hall:Web Designer Pro: https://webdesignerpro.com/Personal Website: https://joshhall.co/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshhallco/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshhallco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshhallco/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JoshHallco🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:Website: https://markszymanski.coFacebook: https://mjs.link/FBInstagram: https://mjs.link/IGLinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LIX: https://mjs.link/XYouTube: https://mjs.link/YTAbout the show:Fueled By Progress is a long-form conversation series with builders, operators, and thinkers exploring business, technology, and what it actually takes to build a meaningful life in a modern world.If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪Host --- Mark SzymanskiProduction --- Nathaniel DeHaven (https://elevatedmultimedia.com)Chapters:0:00 Cold Open0:40 Mark's Intro5:29 Welcome and the Freedom of Working From Home6:18 Topics Preview: Family, Business, and Community8:07 Josh's Origin Story: Cabinet Maker to Web Designer10:50 How the Band Translated to Business13:05 The Evolution of Web Design Over 15 Years16:05 Why Websites Became the Digital Hub19:38 The Rise of DIYers and Visual Builders24:04 Web Designers as Digital Strategists25:38 Selling the Agency and Going Full-Time Teaching27:06 What It Means to Be a Community Builder at Heart30:56 The Learn Build Teach Model37:55 Knowing When You're Meant for More Than Service Work43:18 Delayed Gratification and Passion Projects49:48 What Gets You Here Won't Get You There53:11 The Trajectory from Courses to Community59:57 Moving from Lifetime Access to Membership1:03:12 Staying Relevant After Leaving the Trenches1:09:57 Identity Shifts as You Evolve1:15:22 Content Strategy Going Forward1:21:08 Delegating and Building Mini-Coaches1:25:43 AI and the Future of Web Design1:34:36 How Web Designers Should Use AI1:40:08 Why Family Matters More Than the Business1:44:41 Wherever You Are, Be There1:48:03 Structuring Work Around Family1:54:53 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Josh

💡If you like how I think about business, technology, and systems on Fueled By Progress, you can find the best way to work with me or learn more at https://markszymanski.co/startA candid conversation with Kia Ghasem about building an AI automation agency at 25 years old, why most AI solutions fail to deliver ROI, the trap of YouTube-dependent lead generation, and how he's pivoting from content creation back to product and service.🔗 Connect with Kia Ghasem:Website: https://kamexa.ai/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kia-ghasemX: https://x.com/KiaxGhasemYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KiaGhasem🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:Website: https://markszymanski.coFacebook: https://mjs.link/FBInstagram: https://mjs.link/IGLinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LIX: https://mjs.link/XYouTube: https://mjs.link/YTAbout the show:Fueled By Progress is a long-form conversation series with builders, operators, and thinkers exploring business, technology, and what it actually takes to build a meaningful life in a modern world.If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪Host --- Mark SzymanskiProduction --- Nathaniel DeHaven (https://elevatedmultimedia.com)Chapters:0:00 Intro0:28 Welcome and Kia's Background1:06 How Mark Found Kia on YouTube2:00 Kia's Origin Story - Computer Science to AI3:45 Getting Started in the AI Agency Space5:05 The Hard Truth About Early AI Sales6:42 Finding Solutions That Actually Bring ROI8:00 When Will AI Agents Actually Work9:01 Mark's Journey from WordPress to AI10:41 Working with Overwhelmed Business Owners13:00 Systems Thinking vs AI Hype14:06 Personal Branding and The Ecosystem Breakdown16:26 Building Unintentionally - YouTube, School, Agency19:07 Why Kia Chose Agency Over Content Creation20:00 The YouTube Lead Gen Problem23:02 DIY, DWY, DFY Ladder Explained24:18 Moving Toward Product26:06 The Gap - From Uni to Agency27:55 The 5AM Epiphany That Started Everything28:02 Did Entrepreneurship Come Naturally31:49 Social Media and The Comparison Trap33:33 Content Consumption Strategy36:01 Does YouTube Still Power the Agency39:40 Scaling Without Being the Content Guy41:40 Self-Awareness in Business43:44 Problem Solving Over Sales45:03 Team Structure - Staying Lean46:52 Niching Into Marketing Agencies49:01 Dealing with Unqualified Leads52:02 N8N, Code, and Service Delivery Breakdown57:58 When to Use No-Code vs Custom Software1:00:03 The 35-Interview Audit Lesson1:04:01 Three Interviews Is All You Need1:07:01 Building Community in the AI Space1:12:03 Will We Go Back to Anonymous Internet1:15:53 The Future of Content - Live Streaming1:17:46 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Kia

💡If you like how I think about business, technology, and systems on Fueled By Progress, you can find the best way to work with me or learn more at https://markszymanski.co/startJulian Galluzzo shares how dropping out of school at 13, building agencies, and embracing AI-driven development reshaped his career — and why speed, curiosity, and progress matter more than credentials.🔗 Connect with Julian Galluzzo:Website: https://juliangalluzzo.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-galluzzo-610379173X: https://x.com/galluzzo_julianYouTube: https://youtube.com/@galluzzojulian🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:Website: https://markszymanski.coFacebook: https://mjs.link/FBInstagram: https://mjs.link/IGLinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LIX: https://mjs.link/XYouTube: https://mjs.link/YTAbout the show:Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward.If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪Host --- Mark Szymanski: https://markszymanski.co/linksVideo/Audio Production --- Nathaniel DeHaven: https://elevatedmultimedia.comChapters:0:00 Introducing Julian Galluzzo4:03 From Freelancing to Running a 40-Person Agency8:35 Why Speed Beats Perfection13:48 How One Client Turned Into an Agency17:23 When Building Turns Into Managing Everything22:06 Leaving the Agency to Reclaim the Craft24:54 Getting Fired and Accidentally Stealing an Agency28:40 Joining Memberstack and Finding the Right Environment33:21 Webflow vs WordPress From a Builder’s Perspective41:14 Why WordPress Isn’t Outdated49:00 The Moment AI Changed Everything53:10 Building Real Apps With Claude and Gemini59:02 Training AI to Design Better Than Humans1:04:28 Why Knowing the Stack Still Matters1:10:56 Is Vibe Coding Legit or Dangerous1:18:53 Engineering Thinking vs Knowing Syntax1:24:24 Do You Actually Want to Be the Boss1:28:44 Would He Recommend Dropping Out of School1:35:02 What Julian Is Actually Optimizing For1:38:21 Where to Follow Julian’s Work

💡If you like how I think about business, technology, and systems on Fueled By Progress, you can find the best way to work with me or learn more at https://markszymanski.co/startStephanie Hudson shares her journey from freelance web developer to FocusWP founder, including how surviving a coma taught her the critical importance of business continuity planning that most solopreneurs completely ignore.🔗 Connect with Stephanie Hudson:Website: https://focuswp.coFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.hudsonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/left-brainX: https://x.com/stepherrifficYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FocusWP🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:Website: https://markszymanski.coFacebook: https://mjs.link/FBInstagram: https://mjs.link/IGLinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LIX: https://mjs.link/XYouTube: https://mjs.link/YTAbout the show:Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward.If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪Host --- Mark Szymanski: https://markszymanski.co/linksVideo/Audio Production --- Nathaniel DeHaven: https://elevatedmultimedia.comChapters:0:00 – Introducing Stephanie Hudson2:25 – Growing Up in the 'Burgh (High School Colors & Sports Culture)6:55 – Stephanie's Journey: From Pittsburgh to LA to North Carolina10:50 – Discovering the WordPress Community13:34 – The Hidden Ecosystem Behind WordPress18:55 – How Focus on Your Biz Facebook Group Started22:24 – Early Web Days: Dial-Up, Dreamweaver & Tables29:19 – Meeting Tom & Starting Focus WP36:41 – The Visionary vs. Integrator Problem (Rocket Fuel)42:08 – Freelancer Struggles & Imposter Syndrome48:43 – The Niche Discussion: Service vs. Audience54:58 – Niching Into a Service (Not Just an Industry)1:04:50 – The Coma Story: Getting "Hit by a Bus" for Real1:09:22 – What Is a Continuity Plan?1:14:37 – Password Managers & 2FA: Critical Single Points of Failure1:23:38 – Pittsburgh Pride: Heinz Ketchup & Ranch Culture1:29:00 – Mark's Content Strategy & Daily Videos Discussion1:39:38 – Stephanie's Community Platform Dilemma (Facebook vs. Fluent)1:49:30 – Body Doubling & ADHD Co-Working Ideas1:56:57 – The 3D Glasses Website & Accessibility Controversy2:02:25 – Agency Safety Net: The New Course & Service

⚡Want to build a business that actually works? My team at Motive11 can help—websites, systems, and strategy for modern entrepreneurs → https://motive11.comA deep, raw conversation with Spencer Forman about the real state of WordPress, the entrepreneurial mindset, the cycles of reinvention, and how to build a life and business that actually makes sense.🔗 Connect with Spencer Forman:Website: https://spencerforman.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/spenceformanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencerformanLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/spencerformanX: https://x.com/spencerformanYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WPLaunchify🔗 Connect with Mark Szymanski:Website: https://markszymanski.coFacebook: https://mjs.link/FBInstagram: https://mjs.link/IGLinkedIn: https://mjs.link/LIX: https://mjs.link/XYouTube: https://mjs.link/YTAbout the show:Fueled By Progress is a podcast about candid conversations with builders, creators, and curious people—focused on decisions, disciplines, and stories that move us forward.If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been here since episodes recorded in my car—thank you. We’re still just getting warmed up 💪Host --- Mark Szymanski: https://markszymanski.co/linksVideo/Audio Production --- Nathaniel DeHaven: https://elevatedmultimedia.comChapters:0:00 – Introducing Spencer Forman1:56 – Starting the Conversation3:34 – Why Mark Started the Podcast4:12 – Shared Entrepreneurial Energy5:02 – The Three Stages of Life5:43 – Reinvention vs Comfort6:35 – Balancing Money, Ethics, and Happiness7:16 – Comparison Is Poison8:13 – Happiness vs Money Over a Lifetime9:04 – Life Journeys, Setbacks, and Perspective10:11 – Are We in a Human Reality Game?10:36 – Finding Tribe and Identity11:00 – Entrepreneurs as Problem Solvers12:03 – Jumping Between Industries12:34 – Entrepreneurs vs Employees13:35 – Developing the Entrepreneurial Instinct15:02 – Early Stories of Hustle16:03 – The Pattern of Reinvention17:11 – Seeing the Dots in Hindsight18:57 – Why Mark Is Wired This Way20:02 – Documenting Life and Introspection21:03 – Journaling Through Hard Times22:50 – Stoicism and Preparedness24:38 – Looking Back at Hard Seasons26:04 – Why Many Entrepreneurs Start After Crisis28:05 – The Real Goal: Enough, Not Infinite29:04 – The Boat Builder Parable30:02 – Modern Wealth and Power Dynamics31:22 – Escaping the Billion-Dollar Mindset32:33 – What Money Actually Changes33:26 – The Catalyst That Finally Forces Action35:29 – Financial Illusions and True Needs37:04 – Building the Nut First39:49 – When the Rug Gets Pulled Out41:06 – The Monopoly Analogy43:03 – Why the Middle Class Got Squeezed45:06 – Can We Fix It?47:02 – Should Everyone Be an Entrepreneur?48:01 – The World Needs All Roles50:07 – How Boomers Broke the System52:05 – The Coming Reset53:46 – You Can’t Predict the Chaos55:27 – Focus on What You Can Control56:56 – Stop Worrying About What You Can’t Control58:23 – Serenity, Stoicism, Reality1:00:14 – Cause and Effect, Energy, Momentum1:01:32 – WordPress Today: Problems and Potential1:02:37 – What People Truly Need from WordPress1:03:28 – Spencer’s Free-Call Strategy1:04:47 – Mark’s Identity Problem: What Do You Sell?1:05:50 – The Need for a Clear Niche1:07:00 – Mark’s Superpowers: Data, Architecture, Systems1:08:26 – Listening to the Market1:10:00 – Mark’s Cycles of Obsession1:11:09 – No Offers, No Sales Process1:13:00 – You Can’t Sell Everything to Everyone1:15:04 – The Value Ladder Reality Check1:16:11 – Avoiding the Consultant Trap1:18:02 – Reverse-Engineering the $30K Month Goal1:20:06 – Messaging, Offers, and CTAs1:21:40 – Reinventing When the Business Gets Heavy1:23:10 – You Can’t Scale Doing Everything1:25:02 – Productizing and Automating the Craft1:26:21 – Why Mark Hasn’t Been Selling1:28:01 – The Campfire Story of WordPress1:29:59 – Understanding WordPress Lore1:32:00 – The Emotional History of WordPress