Founder's Table

Drew and Stefan dive into the middle of the funnel—where top leads turn into real trust and revenue. They explain how to nurture prospects without being “salesy,” using value-packed content, CRM systems, automations, and genuine connections to build relationships that close easier. Perfect for business owners stuck assuming “they know what I do.”#middleoffunnel #leadnurturing #salesfunnel #busines...

In this episode of Founders Table, Drew and Stefan pull back the curtain on how Elevate approaches sales in one of the least trusted industries: real estate. They walk through the difference between hustling for a commission check and building a professional, system-driven sales business that actually serves people first. You’ll hear how they use CRMs, pipeline building, and long-term reinvestment...

Fear doesn’t disappear when you become a leader—it just changes shape. In this episode of The Founders Table, Drew and Stefan kick off Season Two by talking honestly about fear in business: fear of failure, money fears, identity fears, and the quiet anxiety that comes with carrying responsibility for a team and a family. They break down how different seasons of life and leadership shift what scare...

Drew and Stefan close out 2025 with a raw year-end recap of their wild ride building Elevate Real Estate Group and Rise Marketing from the ground up. From massive upfront investments and market pivots to stacking marketing wins and hitting six-figure momentum, they break down the real numbers, hard lessons, and breakthroughs that turned chaos into growth. This episode dives deep into what separate...

In this special episode, Drew and Stefan pull back the curtain on a wild year of building Elevate Real Estate Group from the ground up. From the initial vision to the hard pivots, big investments, and late-night what-are-we-doing moments, they candidly walk through the wins, mistakes, and lessons learned launching a brand, hiring a team, and creating a culture built for the long haul. This isn’t j...

With Thanksgiving approaching, Drew Sanford and Stefan Bunch unpack one of the most overlooked—and most impactful—tools for business leaders: gratitude. In this heartfelt episode, they dive into why gratitude isn’t just “feel-good” talk, but a real power move for handling stress, reshaping your team culture, and staying grounded when business life gets chaotic. Hear personal stories about leadersh...

As the year winds down, most businesses start to slow—but that’s where the real winners separate themselves. On this episode of The Founders Table, Drew Sanford and Stefan Bunch dive deep into how to own Q4 and build unstoppable momentum that lasts well into the new year. From assessing your wins and losses to sharpening systems, dialing in your team’s goals, and stacking proven growth strategies,...

This week on The Founders Table, Drew Sanford and Stefan Bunch sit down with CPA Adam Sterling for a candid conversation every business owner needs to hear. If you’re used to wearing every hat—and burning out in the process—this episode is your wake-up call. From startup survival mode to sustainable scaling, the team unpacks when to stop doing it all yourself and start building your business bench...

This week on The Founders Table, Drew and Stefan tackle one of the biggest leadership blind spots: unclear expectations. From spinning in circles as visionary entrepreneurs to building structured systems that actually work, this episode is all about turning chaos into clarity. They break down the step-by-step process of defining your company’s mission, vision, and professional standards—and how th...

In this episode, Drew and Stefan dive into the crucial difference between giving a handout and offering a hand up in business and leadership. They explore how truly empowering your team—by showing them the why and how behind the work—creates ownership, drives growth, and fuels scalability. From building solid systems and clear processes to helping team members own their niches and become leaders t...

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to bet on yourself, build from zero, and still show up for your family—you’ll want to hear this one. Drew and Stefan bring on local legend Aaron Owens for a deep dive into the gritty, honest, and sometimes hilarious side of entrepreneurship. From childhood hustle and wild risks to major wins and honest failures, Aaron opens up about driving growth in b...

On this episode of Founders Table, Drew Sanford and Stefan Bunch dive deep into the real conversations and hard-earned lessons that drive business growth. Whether you’re just launching your dream or scaling an empire, you’ll hear practical stories, honest mistakes, and strategies you can implement right away. This week, the focus is on “the gap”—that critical space between where you are and where...

In this powerful episode, Drew and Stefan tackle one of the most critical challenges for growing business owners: how to scale and expand without compromising the core values and soul of your company. They explore the delicate balance between letting go and maintaining control, and how to keep your guiding North Star clear amid the chaos of growth. Listeners will hear candid conversations about se...

Scaling Beyond Yourself: Building Teams, Growing Faith, and Leading with Vision In this insightful episode, Drew and Stefan reflect on the journey from wearing every hat as a small business owner to building a team that truly scales with you. They revisit powerful concepts like the 80/20 Rule, time management through the Positive/Neutral/Negative framework, and the critical importance of clear vis...

In this episode, Stefan and Drew open up about the real struggles and wins of growing a business and building a team. Whether you’re bringing on your first employee or scaling an established company, they dive deep into the messy reality—family hires, tough conversations, tight budgets, and messy transitions. Drew shares lessons learned from managing teams large and small, and both hosts walk thro...

In this episode, Drew and Stefan tackle a challenge every entrepreneur and real estate agent faces: feeling busy but not productive. They break down how to audit your time using a simple yet powerful framework—dividing your activities into Positive, Neutral, and Negative buckets—and why understanding this split can dramatically shift your results. With real-world stories and practical tips, they a...

In this special bonus episode of Founder’s Table, Drew and Stefan sit down with guest Brendon Illum to unpack what’s really happening in today’s lending world. From shifting mortgage rates to market trends and practical strategies, Brendon brings valuable insights every entrepreneur and real estate professional needs to understand. Whether you’re buying, selling, or advising clients, this conversa...

In this episode of Founder’s Table, Drew and Stefan break down the power of the 80/20 Rule—the principle that 80% of results come from 20% of actions. They explore how entrepreneurs and real estate professionals can apply this mindset to focus on what truly drives growth and cut out the noise. But it doesn’t stop with business. Drew and Stefan dive into how prioritizing the right 20% can help you...