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.

Colby and Levi sit down with Gina Mollicone-Long Author, speaker, coach, and founder of the Greatness Group, for an energizing conversation about personal transformation, belief systems, and the real meaning of success.

Gina shares her path from a high-achieving corporate career to launching multiple businesses rooted in systems thinking, personal development, and high-performance leadership. From stories about charging her first client triple her salary to reflections on parenting, family dynamics, and failure, Gina brings humor, honesty, and clarity to every topic8

Whether you’re building a business, navigating change, or simply looking to understand yourself better. This episode is packed with wisdom and practical takeaways.

Ginas Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginamollicone/

00:00 – Welcome
Colby shares how he met Gina and why this conversation needed to happen.

03:00 – Mind Meets Matter
Gina introduces her work and obsession with systems, performance, and transformation.

06:00 – ESP & Engineering
From asking for psychic school at 10 to earning an engineering degree—Gina shares her start.

11:00 – The Leap Out of Corporate
Leaving Molson wasn’t a plan—it was survival. Gina shares what it really felt like to quit.

15:00 – The $300/hr Moment
Why doubling her rate changed everything—and what it taught her about self-worth.

20:00 – People Reflect What You Expect
How your self-perception shapes how others respond to you.

23:00 – Systems > Symptoms
Gina unpacks how systems thinking applies to both business and personal growth.

27:00 – Adversity Unlocks Potential
From immigrant roots to inner resilience—how Gina’s family history shaped her mindset.

32:00 – Building The Greatness Group
A look behind the business: training, team building, coaching, and scalable delivery.

36:00 – Pandemic Pivots
How 2020 forced Gina and her husband to adapt every aspect of their business—and home.

41:00 – Discovering NLP by Accident
The unexpected way she stumbled into NLP—and how it transformed her approach.

45:00 – Updating the Program
Why holding onto outdated beliefs is like running Word 95 on a modern system.

51:00 – Clearing the Mental Clutter
How Gina helps people release limiting beliefs and make room for change.

56:00 – Growing Past Your Circle
What to do when your growth outpaces your environment—especially with family.

1:02:00 – Oxford & Neurotheology
Why she’s going all-in on a PhD—and how it connects science and spirit.

1:07:00 – Breaking Family Patterns
Why families function like systems—and how to shift deep-rooted dynamics.

1:14:00 – When Growth Feels Like Rejection
Levi reflects on how personal growth can be misunderstood by loved ones.

1:19:00 – Letting Go to Grow Up
Why rejection is often needed for independence—whether you’re a kid or a founder.

1:25:00 – The Gift of Failure
Reframing failure as fuel for transformation—not something to avoid.

1:30:00 – You vs. The Wall
A marathon story that unlocked a belief: you can do more than you think.

1:38:00 – The Filter Is the Problem
Why we only see a sliver of reality—and how to take control of your lens.

1:43:00 – Debugging Beliefs
How bad logic and flawed data create limiting beliefs—and how to shift them.

1:49:00 – If You Could Install One Belief…
The belief Gina would help people unlock—and why it’s always personal.

1:57:00 – Toboggan Tracks & Possibility
A metaphor about repetition, ruts, and what it takes to change direction.

2:00:00 – Wrap-Up
A record-breaking conversation closes with reflections

Challenging common leadership mantras with wisdom, wit, and real-world stories.

In this episode of Built to Last, Levi and Colby are joined by leadership expert, award-winning author, and jazz bassist Pierre Battah. What begins as a nostalgic reconnection turns into a candid, insightful exploration of leadership, organizational culture, and the future of work. Pierre shares personal stories from his transition from HR executive to independent consultant and speaker, lessons learned through tough client calls, and his approach to reshaping culture from fear-based to learning-oriented environments.

The conversation dives into the nuances of facilitation, performance psychology, and the evolving employer-employee relationship. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, or emerging leader, this episode offers practical wisdom and plenty of inspiration.

Links and Resources Mentioned
Pierre Battah –https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierrebattah/
Pierre Battah’s website and book https://www.pierrebattah.com/
Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) https://www.canadianspeakers.org/
David Allen – Getting Things Done https://gettingthingsdone.com/


Quotes Worth Sharing
“It’s not about being happy—it’s about being engaged.”
“I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur. I set out to be independent—and then got hooked.”
“Culture isn’t ‘people first.’ It’s results through people.”
“Safety isn’t soft. It’s the foundation for productivity.”
“Not all things that are curious are part of the work.”

Segment Breakdown
07:00 – Changing the Employer-Employee Relationship
Reframing leadership in the age of talent scarcity.
From “you’re lucky to have a job” to “we’re lucky to have you”
Why culture change is harder than culture theory

14:00 – People First? Not Quite.
Why “people first” can be misleading
The importance of balancing empathy with high standards
Creating cultures that are challenging, not coddling

20:00 – Breaking the Culture of Fear
A real-world example of cultural fear at a successful company
Transitioning to a learning culture: the power of debriefs, safe space, and senior-level self-awareness
Why some leaders need to step back for progress to happen

27:00 – When to Walk Away from a Client
Recognizing misalignment, even when you're hired
Ethics and candor in advisory roles
When great work isn’t the right fit

33:00 – Craft of Facilitation & Speaking
Pierre’s journey from comfortable speaker to certified pro
Learning the science behind storytelling, delivery, and adult education
The blend of edutainment and real impact

41:00 – Writing a Book & Building Credibility
The surprising reason Pierre decided to write Humans, Resourced
Behind the scenes of hybrid publishing and distribution
Why a book may not be a business—but it can still build one

61:00 – Advice for Young Professionals
Stop chasing passion—start with what you’re good at
The unexpected journey from engineering to agriculture
Why trying and failing early matters

68:00 – The Future of Work & Leadership
The two biggest trends to watch: AI and patterns in your own business
Importance of white space and strategy time
Why being surrounded by big thinkers matters


75:00 – The Limits of Psychology in Change Work
Behavior change vs. emotional diagnosis
Organizational coaching and habit adoption
The role of incentives in leadership development


83:00 – Levi & Colby Reflect on Resistance
Why meaningful change often starts with organizing your data
The resistance to long-term investment when ROI isn’t immediate
Why “working with” instead of “working at” is a mantra at Iron House