Welcome to September! Before you know it, the year will be behind us. Don’t let it slip away! Now is the time to finalize all plans to achieve your 2025 goals and start thinking about 2026.
Our best companies and the highest performers we know take the time needed to focus. They ask two simple questions:

• What do you want to achieve? (Be specific!)
• What do you need to do to achieve it? (Keep it to 3-5 items if you can!)

For a deep dive into how we focus, check out the "Sitting and Shoveling" chapter of Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story.

What are you focused on? Let us know. Maybe we can help!

Thanks for reading. And never stop shoveling. An entrepreneur who loves to shovel is unstoppable!


INSIGHT

👀 Perception is Power – To level up, you have to project big.

🧐 Understand Marketing – Savvy marketing minds make sharper founders, so mastering your go-to-market strategy is non-negotiable.

😎 Fake It Until You Make It – Everyone's winging it, so embrace the chaos.


CHEAT CODE: BUILDING UNBREAKABLE CULTURE



While building Buddy Media, we learned that culture isn’t crafted through perks alone. Creating strong culture takes intention and purpose. We wanted our employees to feel a sense of belonging from day one, so we introduced a house system reminiscent of Hogwarts. New hires were sorted into teams, instantly creating a community and fostering camaraderie.

We also believed in celebrating milestones, turning work anniversaries into memorable events. Employees received fun souvenirs like custom bobbleheads and branded luggage, making each anniversary a unique celebration. Halloween was a mandatory festivity, and we made sure to celebrate every birthday with cupcakes, personal notes, and shoutouts, even when our team grew to over 350 people. These gestures made sure that every individual felt seen and valued, fueling loyalty and a sense of belonging.

Giving back was another cornerstone of our culture. Community service became an integral part of who we were, reinforcing our commitment to making a positive impact beyond the office walls. During the holiday season, we introduced a buddy gift exchange, giving each employee $100 to buy a personalized gift for a colleague. The only rule? No gift cards allowed. This encouraged employees to get to know their buddies, fostering deeper connections and understanding.

Ultimately, building a strong culture is about creating moments that people will remember. It’s about crafting experiences that resonate on a personal level, ensuring that every team member feels valued and part of something bigger.

Want to continue learning how to build culture? Follow along on Instagram.

🆘 Access the 49 other cheat codes every entrepreneur needs to know fromShoveling $H!T: A Love Story

🚜 Have you made a hard pivot?Jump into the Founders Farm and share some stories.


KASS & MIKE'S FOUR FAVORITE FINDS

💻 'Vibe coding' reminds us that human oversight and judgment matter, even as AI takes over how we work.

👩‍👧 Meet the women balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, defying the decline in women-led small businesses in the UK.

💻 How small teams can outpace larger competitors with smarter digital systems.

🤖 The AI boom is minting new billionaires, fueling one of the biggest wealth creation waves in history.


AROUND THE FARM

👨‍🌾 Join the next Founders Farm session

⏰ Tuesday, September 16th | 12:00–12:45 PM ET

📍 Click here to add it to your calendar

Got a topic you’d like to discuss?
Email: info@kassandmike.com

📖 Real Leaders profiled us on what it’s like to build companies and a life together — and how our shared values (and a little storytelling) keep us aligned through the chaos.

💵 CNBC shared our story of investing our life savings into a business that ultimately went bankrupt and what that taught us about resilience, risk, and the real cost of chasing big dreams.

🎙️ Kass joined The InvestHER Podcast to share unfiltered insights on co-founding companies and navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.

📚 Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story debuted on the New York Times&USA Todaybestseller lists! We couldn't have done it without the support of this community—the purchases, the shares, showing up to events, writing reviews and more!


FINALLY, WANNA GET INVOLVED?

📖 Get bulk copies for your team.
⏰ Invite us to speak at your event.
🤯 Share your thoughts on social: #FoundersFarm
⏩ Forward this dispatch to 3 entrepreneurs who should be getting it!

Thanks for reading. And, never stop shoveling. An entrepreneur who loves to shovel is unstoppable!

Love,
Kass & Mike