For those seeking to integrate more AI into their business but feel overwhelmed, a call can be scheduled with me here: https://calendly.com/giuseppe-ofw/introductory-call.QUARATA CONSULTING INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/quarataconsulting/CONTACT ME:🔹 quarataconsulting.com🔹 info@quarataconsulting.com---------------------------------------------------------------------Ben Barkley, owner of Digital Dreams , shares his incredible 20-year journey from working a "big boy job" at Dish Network to building an 8-figure commercial AV integration enterprise. Ben details the exact moment his life changed—getting a DUI that led to being fired —and how that "pebble" forced him into entrepreneurship. He discusses the critical pivot from chasing 10,000 residential customers to focusing on high-ticket commercial projects , the struggle (and eventual success) of building recurring revenue , and landing massive clients like Salesforce , Madison Square Garden , and BART.Key Takeaways:1. The life-changing DUI that launched his business.2. Why he pivoted from residential to commercial (and the headaches he left behind).3. The 20-year journey to build an 8-figure business.4. His strategy for building Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) with Verkada.5. How he landed massive projects with Salesforce, MSG, and Penn Station.6. The health scare that forced him to stop expanding nationally.7. The importance of joining groups like Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) to "skip levels".00:00 - Intro: How to Skip Levels in Business 00:37 - Welcome Ben Barkley, Owner of Digital Dreams01:33 - Starting 20 Years Ago at Dish Network03:08 - The DUI That Changed My Entire Life 03:57 - Doubling Pay with a Side Hustle04:42 - The Pivot: Residential vs. Commercial Clients07:28 - Why Residential Customers Were a Nightmare 10:13 - The Different Levels of Commercial AV11:00 - The Search for Recurring Revenue (ARR)16:46 - Hiring Strategy: 1099s vs. W2 Project Managers 20:00 - My Sales Strategy: 0% Marketing, 100% Referrals23:32 - Landing Massive Clients: Salesforce & MSG28:28 - Why I Stopped Expanding (Health Over Hustle) 41:40 - Conclusion: My Most Important Lesson as a "Late Bloomer"Connect with Ben Buckley (Founder of Digital Dreams)https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-buckley-67907750/https://digitaldreams.com/