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 degree 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.