💼 Build the Dream Without Quitting the Day Job
Marshall proves you don’t have to “burn the boats” to build a business. While working in cybersecurity, he runs a real estate portfolio, a mobile detailing company, and now Finstrike—a growing SaaS platform tackling teen financial literacy.

💡 Financial Education for the Next Generation
Finstrike fills the massive gap in teen and parent financial education, teaching real-world skills like savings rates, mindset, and financial agency. No fluff—just practical tools for long-term independence.

⚙️ Automation over Overwhelm
With a laser focus on systems, Marshall has automated his businesses to stay lean and sustainable—allowing him to scale smart, not chaotic. His secret? Bootstrap first, validate fast, and grow with purpose.

🎷 Richmond’s Rising Jazz Hub
Tom Illmensee, founder of Orbital Music Park, is building a world-class jazz venue in Richmond modeled on the intimacy and energy of legendary clubs like Ronnie Scott’s and Blue Note. He’s creating not just shows, but experiences — spaces where musicians and audiences lock into the same moment.

🌱 From Corporate Strategy to Community Sound
After years in UX and product strategy — including roles at Prezi and in Fortune 500 teams — Tom returned to Richmond to blend his startup mindset with his musical roots. He’s applying lean startup methods to physical space, designing a venue around feedback loops, flow states, and human connection.

🎶 A Space Where Music Leads the Way
With Grammy-nominated artists already performing, Orbital is more than a venue — it’s a proving ground for creative community. Tom’s long-term vision includes rehearsal and collaboration spaces, global expansion to solve the “sound-making” space problem, and a new model of listening-based leadership built around silence, presence, and play.

We hope you enjoyed this episode. Like and subscribe to never miss a new episode!

Colin and the But First, Principles team.

Connect with Colin Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-davis-1stprinciples/
Visit the First Principles Coaching website here: http://www.firstprinciplescoaching.com/

Listen to But First, Principles! on these podcast platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lfyftqBqzqQOfv9QgrvZa
Apple Podcasts:
Amazon Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/but-first-principles/id1793156303https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6eb3cb0e-000d-4774-a0df-9cdf8b39089b/but-first-principles

#newseries #newpodcast #principles #challenges #industryinsights #customerfirst #foryoupage #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSuccess #PropertyManagement #StartupLife #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #storytelling #purpose #mediaforchange #valuesdriven #socialimpact #butfirstprinciples
But First, Principles with Colin Davis is a podcast for leaders, entrepreneurs, and curious minds who want to dig deeper into how things really work. Each episode explores a timeless principle or mental model that drives exceptional decision-making, leadership clarity, and strategic thinking. With guests from business, tech, academia, and beyond, Colin helps listeners peel back the noise and return to what really matters: the principles that stand the test of time.

🏗️ Real Estate Media, Rebuilt for the Long Haul

Rob Malan, founder and president of HD Bros, led the company through a tough 2023 — including layoffs and a leadership shift — and came back stronger. In 2024, revenue is already up 20%, with a 25% growth trajectory projected for 2025. The key? Focus, fundamentals, and a single decision-maker model.

🧠 Hard Truths for Business Owners

Rob’s philosophy is simple but sharp: “Cash is king,” and most business bottlenecks start with the owner. He shares the raw lessons behind HD Bros’ turnaround, from dropping consensus paralysis to rebuilding culture around retention and service — not shiny objects.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Build with Friends, Keep the Family

While many warn against mixing business and personal, Rob argues the opposite — with the right groundwork, it can be your superpower. His business and family are deeply intertwined, and he’s playing the long game: not to sell fast, but to build something that outlasts the founders.

We hope you enjoyed this episode. Like and subscribe to never miss a new episode!

Colin and the But First, Principles team.

Connect with Colin Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-davis-1stprinciples/
Visit the First Principles Coaching website here: http://www.firstprinciplescoaching.com/

Listen to But First, Principles! on these podcast platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lfyftqBqzqQOfv9QgrvZa
Apple Podcasts:
Amazon Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/but-first-principles/id1793156303https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6eb3cb0e-000d-4774-a0df-9cdf8b39089b/but-first-principles

#newseries #newpodcast #principles #challenges #industryinsights #customerfirst #foryoupage #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSuccess #PropertyManagement #StartupLife #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #storytelling #purpose #mediaforchange #valuesdriven #socialimpact #butfirstprinciples
But First, Principles with Colin Davis is a podcast for leaders, entrepreneurs, and curious minds who want to dig deeper into how things really work. Each episode explores a timeless principle or mental model that drives exceptional decision-making, leadership clarity, and strategic thinking. With guests from business, tech, academia, and beyond, Colin helps listeners peel back the noise and return to what really matters: the principles that stand the test of time.