Podcast Summary: "SHOVING SH*T: The Entrepreneur's Messy Path to Success with Mike & Kass Lazerow"

Episode Details:

• Title: SHOVING SH*T: The Entrepreneur's Messy Path to Success with Mike & Kass Lazerow
• Release Date: June 3, 2025
• Host: Ryan Alford
• Guests: Mike & Kass Lazerow
• Podcast: Right About Now with Ryan Alford, The Radcast Network

1. Introduction and Background

In this episode of Right About Now with Ryan Alford, host Ryan Alford welcomes entrepreneurs and authors Mike and Kass Lazerow to discuss their book, Shoveling Sht: The Entrepreneur's Messy Path to Success*. Ryan sets the stage by highlighting the real, unfiltered insights that Mike and Kass bring from their extensive entrepreneurial journey.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Alford [01:00]: "We need to talk about shoveling some sh*t, that's what we do on this show."
• Cass Lazaro [02:27]: "We've been working together for 28 years, starting from when we were just dating."

2. The Journey of Golf.com and Buddy Media

Mike and Kass delve into their entrepreneurial beginnings, starting with Golf.com—which began as Golf Serve due to limited URL availability—and evolving into Buddy Media, a leading social media marketing platform. Their narrative captures both triumph and adversity, particularly during the dot-com crash.

Notable Quotes:

• Cass Lazaro [02:27]: "We started Golf Serve and then acquired Golf.com from NBC for $289,000."
• Mike Lazaro [05:01]: "It was a different world back then, with Yahoo indexing the web."

3. Navigating Success and Failure

The couple shares their experience with Buddy Media's growth and eventual sale to Salesforce in 2012. They candidly discuss the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, including the impact of the 2000 market crash on their Golf.com venture.

Notable Quotes:

• Mike Lazaro [05:46]: "Golf.com was both a colossal failure and an epic success."
• Cass Lazaro [07:41]: "We had one kid, health insurance, zero income, and no money."

4. Lessons in Fundraising and Investment: The "Go Gauge"

Mike introduces their investment philosophy through the "Go Gauge," a six-question framework they use to evaluate potential investments. This approach emphasizes product uniqueness, target customers, distribution strategies, and sound financial models.

Notable Quotes:

• Mike Lazaro [13:16]: "We put together what we call the go gauge. It's a very simple six questions."
• Ryan Alford [16:02]: "It sounds practical, but with a blend of intuition and belief."

5. Leadership Philosophy: Shoveling First

A central theme of the episode is the concept of "shoveling first," where leaders lead by example, taking on the hardest tasks to inspire and motivate their teams. Mike and Cass stress the importance of transparency, empathy, and decisive action in leadership.

Notable Quotes:

• Cass Lazaro [18:46]: "Leaders shovel first. You have to show up every day and lead by example."
• Mike Lazaro [20:35]: "Your job is to be the boss, not the buddy. You're a benevolent dictator."

6. The Impact of COVID and Changing Workforce Dynamics

The guests discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed workplace expectations and employee behavior. They observe a shift towards less resilience and more dependency among newer generations, attributing some of this to factors like helicopter parenting.

Notable Quotes:

• Cass Lazaro [24:07]: "Covid really did impact a lot of people and changed how they work."
• Ryan Alford [21:25]: "There's this sort of coddling. It's a fucking job, you know."

7. Personal Reflections on Leadership and Team Building

Ryan opens up about his own leadership challenges, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and leveraging team members' strengths. Mike and Cass echo these sentiments, highlighting the value of complementary skill sets and mutual trust among co-founders.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Alford [28:17]: "My mine became more self-awareness as a leader."
• Cass Lazaro [31:26]: "We were using their strengths and fitting them into the puzzle pieces of a great team."

8. Legacy and Future Aspirations

Mike and Kass reflect on their motivations beyond business success. Kass expresses a desire to eradicate cancer and empower entrepreneurs, while Mike identifies as a capitalist driven by the love of business and the entrepreneurial game.

Notable Quotes:

• Cass Lazaro [34:02]: "I would love for there to be no more cancer and to touch as many entrepreneurs as we can."
• Mike Lazaro [35:32]: "We want to keep doing what we like to do and take care of our health."

9. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Ryan praising the Lazerows' book as a masterclass in entrepreneurship, emphasizing its practical advice and real-world applicability. Mike and Kass encourage listeners to visit their website, shovelingshit.com, to purchase the book and access additional resources.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Alford [37:00]: "It is the masterclass in being an entrepreneur and doing it the right way."
• Cass Lazaro [36:28]: "They go to shovelingshit.com and they'll see it there."

Final Thoughts:

In "SHOVING SH*T," Mike and Kass Lazerow offer a raw and honest exploration of the entrepreneurial journey, blending personal anecdotes with actionable business strategies. Their emphasis on leadership, resilience, and authentic team-building provides valuable insights for both seasoned entrepreneurs and those just starting out. The episode underscores the messy, unpredictable nature of business success and the importance of steadfast leadership in navigating its challenges.

Where to Find More:

• Book: Shoveling Sh*t
• Podcast Episodes and Highlights: ryanisright.com