Blueprints Podcast

In this episode, Isabelle and her dad, Michael, take a trip back to the early days of Custom Built Design & Remodeling — when marketing was more grit than gloss, and logo design was a game-changing investment. From lawn signs and home show booths to building trust through authentic conversations, they share the foundational lessons that helped transform a one-man operation into a professional,...

In this episode of The Blueprints Podcast, Isabelle and Michael share the powerful framework that’s helped them simplify life and build sustainable momentum in both business and family. Recorded live at the beautiful Hidden Grove in Williamston, Michigan, they explore a personal tool they both use called L.I.F.E. Targets — a system centered around Legacy, Influence, Fitness, and Enterprise. Michae...

In this episode of The Blueprints Podcast, Isabelle and Michael tackle one of the most overlooked — but absolutely crucial — parts of building your business: getting your legal foundations right. Michael shares the lessons he’s learned over 25 years of starting, growing, and navigating the ups and downs of running a construction business — from the early days of flipping houses without a builder’s...

In this episode of The Blueprints Podcast, Isabelle and Michael unpack the differences between being a solopreneur and an entrepreneur — and how to know which path might be right for you. Michael shares candid stories from his early days juggling job sites, late nights, and part-time house flipping, to building a growing team and thriving design-build business. From winters with zero cash flow to...

In this inspiring episode of The Blueprints Podcast, Isabelle and Michael take you back to the early days of Michael’s entrepreneurial journey — from late-night infomercials to house-flipping with zero experience — and unpack how leaning into natural gifts like risk-taking, quick-start energy, and relationship-building helped spark the business that would become Custom Built. They discuss the powe...

In this episode, Isabelle and Michael break down a tool that’s transformed how they lead, hire, and connect — both in business and life: the DISC personality profile. From sales to project design to everyday relationships, understanding personality types can help you communicate more clearly, resolve conflict more easily, and build stronger teams. Whether you’re building a team, managing a project...

In this episode of The Blueprints Podcast, Isabelle and Michael dive into three home remodeling projects that Michigan homeowners absolutely love — and never regret. From cozy three- and four-season rooms to mosquito-free screened porches and fully customized decks and patios, these projects transform how families live, gather, and enjoy Michigan’s beautiful summers. Whether you're planning your n...

In this episode, Isabelle sits down with Michael to talk about something every entrepreneur wrestles with: how to actually take a vacation—and come back better for it. Michael shares the honest ups and downs of learning to unplug, and how a time management system helped him break the cycle of burnout. You’ll hear about the concepts of Free Days, Focus Days, and Buffer Days, and how these simple id...

In this episode, Isabelle and Michael reflect on their recent experience speaking at Impact Live, a national marketing conference. They share how their company’s journey with content marketing began, what led them to work with the team at Impact, and how that partnership helped transform their approach to video, blogging, SEO, and leadership. Isabelle and Michael also discuss the challenge of buil...

In this episode of Blueprints, Isabelle and Michael explore a deceptively simple tool that has been instrumental in both their personal and professional growth: the Clarity Break. The Clarity Break is more than a productivity hack—it's a way to reclaim your mind, reset your focus, and realign with what truly matters. Michael shares how taking intentional time away from the noise of daily demands—w...

In this episode of Blueprints, Michael sits down with Isabelle for a candid and inspiring conversation about career paths, purpose, and growing into leadership. As the Director of Marketing at Custom Built, Isabelle shares how she went from running a summer baking camp in high school to leading the marketing department of a thriving design-build firm—all without a traditional college degree. Isabe...

In this episode of The Blueprints Podcast , Isabelle and Michael dive into a transformational mindset tool every entrepreneur and growth-minded person needs: The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. They explore how this simple but powerful concept can help you shift out of fear, shame, and comparison—and into gratitude, peace, and forward momentum. Michael shares how he first...

In this powerful episode of The Blueprint Podcast , host Michael Flory sits down with Cullen Menke — a teacher, humanitarian, and personal friend — to unpack a story of transformation, purpose, and global impact. Cullen opens up about his challenging childhood, his struggles with addiction and shame, and the turning point that led him to pursue a life of mentorship and service. From teaching Roma...

In this episode of The Blueprints Podcast , Isabelle and Michael dive into the real, raw journey of growing alongside the business you're building. From ditching traditional schooling for a self-guided education to embracing entrepreneurial "seizures," they explore how personal development and business development are tightly linked. Michael shares his early story—how a gut feeling (and a late-nig...

Before you can build anything—whether it’s a house, a business, or a better life—you need a blueprint. In this very first episode, you’ll meet your hosts Michael Flory and Isabelle Braeutigam, the father-daughter duo behind Custom Built Design & Remodeling, and the voices behind Blueprints . Michael opens up about the tragic event that changed his life at just 10 years old, the long road of he...