The Sweaty Startup

Hosted by Nick Huber

Business Entrepreneurship

Website RSS feed Facebook

Episodes

494

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

Want to build a successful business? Packed with the principles, strategies, and methods used to grow successful companies, The Sweaty Startup will help you make your vision a reality. Hosted by successful entrepreneur Nick Huber. Short, to the point and no fluff.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 15, 202620 min

Why A Players Leave and How Great Leaders Actually Build Teams

In this episode, I break down how I think about hiring A players, why I move quickly on low performers, and how I build teams that can operate without me. I talk about why most leaders overcomplicate things, how slow decisions and poor standards drive great people away, and why focusing on simple, proven execution is what actually wins in business. Grow your business: https://sweatystartup.com/events Book: https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X Newsletter: https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter My Companies: Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com Self storage – https://boltstorage.com RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com Paid ads – https://adrhino.com SEO – https://boldseo.com Insurance – https://titanrisk.com Pest control – https://spidexx.com Sell a business: http://nickhuber.com/sell Buy a business: https://www.nickhuber.com/buy Invest with me: http://nickhuber.com/invest Social Profiles: X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup Podcasts: The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81 Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal: https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

June 6, 202619 min

Why Confidence Comes From Doing Hard Things Not Thinking About Them

Chris and I talked about where real confidence comes from and why you cannot fake it. I shared how doing hard things builds confidence, why networking only works after you create real value, and how most people get this backwards. We also got into leadership, why you cannot delegate too early, and my honest thoughts on AI and where it actually adds value in business today. Grow your business: https://sweatystartup.com/events Book: https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X Newsletter: https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter My Companies: Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com Self storage – https://boltstorage.com RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com Paid ads – https://adrhino.com SEO – https://boldseo.com Insurance – https://titanrisk.com Pest control – https://spidexx.com Sell a business: http://nickhuber.com/sell Buy a business: https://www.nickhuber.com/buy Invest with me: http://nickhuber.com/invest Social Profiles: X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup Podcasts: The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81 Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal: https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

May 28, 202621 min

Why Taking Action Beats Networking and Overthinking in Business

Ryan and I talked about what actually separates people who build successful businesses from those who stay stuck thinking about it. We got into the mindset that drives real entrepreneurs, why urgency and action matter more than perfect planning, and how most people misunderstand networking. I shared the lesson a mentor taught me early in my career about sales being at the center of everything in business and in life. We also discussed how real opportunities come from doing the work first, building real skills, and creating value that makes people want to work with you. The conversation also touches on leadership, hiring great people in the wild, and why surrounding yourself with people who are winning is one of the fastest ways to grow. Grow your business: https://sweatystartup.com/events Book: https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X Newsletter: https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter My Companies: Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com Self storage – https://boltstorage.com RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com Paid ads – https://adrhino.com SEO – https://boldseo.com Insurance – https://titanrisk.com Pest control – https://spidexx.com Sell a business: http://nickhuber.com/sell Buy a business: https://www.nickhuber.com/buy Invest with me: http://nickhuber.com/invest Social Profiles: X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup Podcasts: The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81 Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal: https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

May 19, 202623 min

Why Sales and Simple Service Businesses Still Win in Entrepreneurship

Austin and I talked about what entrepreneurship actually looks like when you start from nothing. I shared how my first business began by simply trading my time for money and why learning sales is the foundation of building any company. We discussed the early hustle behind Storage Squad, including chalk marketing on college campuses and hiring great people in unexpected places, along with the moment founders need to start delegating so they can focus on growth. We also got into leadership, decision making, and why removing low performers is critical to building strong teams, along with how global hiring has become one of the biggest advantages across the companies I run today. Grow your business: https://sweatystartup.com/events Book: https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X Newsletter: https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter My Companies: Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com Self storage – https://boltstorage.com RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com Paid ads – https://adrhino.com SEO – https://boldseo.com Insurance – https://titanrisk.com Pest control – https://spidexx.com Sell a business: http://nickhuber.com/sell Buy a business: https://www.nickhuber.com/buy Invest with me: http://nickhuber.com/invest Social Profiles: X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup Podcasts: The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81 Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal: https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

May 10, 202622 min

Building Through Chaos: Raising Capital, Buying Somewhere, and Betting on Global Talent

In this episode with Peter, I break down what really happened behind the scenes after buying Somewhere and scaling Bolt Storage through one of the most chaotic real estate markets in years. We talk about the pressure that comes with raising outside capital, why discipline in underwriting saved us when rates doubled, and how slowing down in storage led me to double down on building a global talent machine. I share the hard lessons from rebranding, losing SEO overnight, restructuring an entire leadership team, and rebuilding the company around South African executives and performance driven systems. We also dive into why sales talent is the most expensive leverage in America and how building worldwide teams has become my biggest operational edge. Grow your business: https://sweatystartup.com/events Book: https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X Newsletter: https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter My Companies: Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com Self storage – https://boltstorage.com RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com Paid ads – https://adrhino.com SEO – https://boldseo.com Insurance – https://titanrisk.com Pest control – https://spidexx.com Sell a business: http://nickhuber.com/sell Buy a business: https://www.nickhuber.com/buy Invest with me: http://nickhuber.com/invest Social Profiles: X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup Podcasts: The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81 Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal: https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

May 1, 202613 min

The Cash Flow Game: Playing the Odds in Business and Life

In this conversation with Roohi, I break down why most entrepreneurs are chasing the wrong game. We talk about starting with the end in mind, setting a personal cash flow number, and building boring businesses that actually stack the odds in your favor. I explain why speed is your only real advantage as a founder, how momentum compounds over time, and why making 30K a month in a proven business beats swinging for a billion dollar moonshot most people will never hit. We also dive into confidence, communication, college, and how practicing discomfort early in life builds the muscle you need to win long term. Grow your business: https://sweatystartup.com/events Book: https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X Newsletter: https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter My Companies: Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com Self storage – https://boltstorage.com RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com Paid ads – https://adrhino.com SEO – https://boldseo.com Insurance – https://titanrisk.com Pest control – https://spidexx.com Sell a business: http://nickhuber.com/sell Buy a business: https://www.nickhuber.com/buy Invest with me: http://nickhuber.com/invest Social Profiles: X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup Podcasts: The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81 Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal: https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

April 23, 202622 min

Irrational Confidence, Extreme Ownership and Building Real Leverage

In this episode with Chris and Chris, I talk about overcoming doubt, building irrational confidence, and using fear setting to make hard decisions less scary. We unpack lessons from chaotic early business seasons, anxiety filled moments, and the mindset shift toward extreme ownership that changed everything for me. We also cover leverage through hiring, auditing your time, focusing on sales and marketing, raising resilient kids, and why success means watering every garden in your life not just business. Grow your business: https://sweatystartup.com/events Book: https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X Newsletter: https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter My Companies: Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com Self storage – https://boltstorage.com RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com Paid ads – https://adrhino.com SEO – https://boldseo.com Insurance – https://titanrisk.com Pest control – https://spidexx.com Sell a business: http://nickhuber.com/sell Buy a business: https://www.nickhuber.com/buy Invest with me: http://nickhuber.com/invest Social Profiles: X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup Podcasts: The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81 Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal: https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

April 13, 202616 min

Why Struggle Is the Point

Jamie and I talked about why struggle is not something to avoid but something to embrace. We got into parenting, confidence, health, balance, and why giving yourself permission matters more than waiting for approval. We discussed what a good life actually looks like, how pressure shapes better people, and why playing the long game across generations is more meaningful than chasing status or shortcuts. This episode is about values, responsibility, and becoming someone your kids can be proud of. Grow your business: https://sweatystartup.com/events Book: https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X Newsletter: https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter My Companies: Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com Self storage – https://boltstorage.com RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com Paid ads – https://adrhino.com SEO – https://boldseo.com Insurance – https://titanrisk.com Pest control – https://spidexx.com Sell a business: http://nickhuber.com/sell Buy a business: https://www.nickhuber.com/buy Invest with me: http://nickhuber.com/invest Social Profiles: X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup Podcasts: The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81 Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal: https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

April 4, 202619 min

Why Most Entrepreneurs Burn Out and How to Actually Build a Life You Want

Nick Aufenkamp and I dug into the real reasons most entrepreneurs end up overwhelmed, broke, or miserable. We talked about delegation, generational wealth, and why the "boring" businesses often lead to the most freedom. I shared how I built leverage through international hiring, what I look for when choosing a game worth playing, and why long-term stress and sacrifice only make sense if you're chasing the right outcome. This is one of the most honest conversations I've had about work, family, and building a business that actually improves your life. Grow your business: https://sweatystartup.com/events Book: https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X Newsletter: https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter My Companies: Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com Self storage – https://boltstorage.com RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com Paid ads – https://adrhino.com SEO – https://boldseo.com Insurance – https://titanrisk.com Pest control – https://spidexx.com Sell a business: http://nickhuber.com/sell Buy a business: https://www.nickhuber.com/buy Invest with me: http://nickhuber.com/invest Social Profiles: X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup Podcasts: The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81 Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal: https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03

March 26, 202618 min

How I Built Businesses By Choosing Better Odds And Doing Hard Things

Trevor and I talked through how I build real businesses by choosing better odds instead of chasing hype. I shared how I started from zero, tested demand with simple tactics, and why boring proven ideas beat trying to be the one in a thousand startup. We also covered pricing, firing bad customers, using data over ego, and why business never gets easier, you just get stronger. From building companies to raising kids who can handle discomfort, this episode is about doing hard things and winning because of it. Grow your business: https://sweatystartup.com/events Book: https://www.amazon.com/Sweaty-Startup-Doing-Boring-Things/dp/006338762X Newsletter: https://www.nickhuber.com/newsletter My Companies: Offshore recruiting – https://somewhere.com Cost segregation – https://recostseg.com Self storage – https://boltstorage.com RE development – http://www.boltbuilders.com Brokerage – https://nickhuber.com Paid ads – https://adrhino.com SEO – https://boldseo.com Insurance – https://titanrisk.com Pest control – https://spidexx.com Sell a business: http://nickhuber.com/sell Buy a business: https://www.nickhuber.com/buy Invest with me: http://nickhuber.com/invest Social Profiles: X – https://www.x.com/sweatystartup Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/sweatystartup LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup Podcasts: The Sweaty Startup & The Nick Huber Show https://open.spotify.com/show/7L5zQxijU81xq4SbVYNs81 Free PDF – How to analyze a self-storage deal: https://sweatystartup.ck.page/79046c9b03