Building from the Trenches
You’re here because you are a business founder, operator or consultant and want any or all of the following:
A business that runs profitably without your daily presence - You want to take a 2-week vacation without your phone blowing up, knowing revenue keeps flowing and nothing falls apart
Clear systems that scale without chaos - Repeatable processes for operations, sales, and delivery that new team members can follow so growth doesn’t equal more complexity and stress
Strategic clarity on your next high-impact move - Confidence knowing which opportunity to pursue, which distraction to ignore, and how to execute the decision that will unlock their next growth phase
Margin and freedom to think strategically - 10+ hours per week freed up from operations to work ON the business, spotting opportunities, building relationships with investors, or simply having mental space to be creative
A peer network of operators who get it - Connection with other founders at their level who understand the unique challenges of scaling past the first few hundred thousand in revenue and can provide real feedback, not platitudes
Hi, I’m Juan
Over the past 20+ years, I’ve launched a finance startup, navigated the 2008 crisis, built and scaled a real estate and hospitality venture to a $35M exit, and created a business accelerator that’s helped 47 companies grow more than 30% in a year.
I’ve also learned the hard way through two failed partnerships that nearly broke me what it really takes to rebuild with clarity and resilience.
Today, I invest in and advise across business, hospitality, and real estate development, while coaching entrepreneurs and small business owners to find clarity, uncover their best opportunities and design systems that create leverage.
I am hustler, I had been knocked down, and come back up a few times… here are some hard-earned lessons I like to share:
Make small bets and get fast feedback: launch before perfection to learn what really works.
Own every corner of your business: master each role and metric before you delegate.
Find your niche, then dive deep: specialize where you can add unique value.
Invest in relationships that matter: surround yourself with people who challenge you and have your back through every high and low.
Treat AI as a co-pilot, not a magic wand: nail your process first, design systems, then use AI to accelerate it.
Lead with empathy, always: listening closely to customers and teammates reveals the real problems.
Sharpen one process before adding more: a single repeatable system beats many half-built ones.
Subtract to amplify: remove distractions so your core value stands out.
Forge culture by example, not perks: showing up in tough moments builds loyalty more than free lunches.
Reignite your vision with smart questions: ask “What simple change unlocks everything?” when you stall.
Embrace struggle to build resilience: setbacks train your grit and prepare you for what’s next.
Giving creates what you seek: mentor someone in the trenches and you’ll find your own clarity and growth.
I launched this newsletter to cut through the noise and share what actually works in real time.
Here is what to expect:
Every Monday between 7am and 9am you will receive an email with
Prompts, tools and trends that help you grow smarter, scale your business and stay ahead.
The top 5 curated stories of AI for small business from the prior week. These are practical, ready to implement right away
A big idea that you can try every week with AI
Our most popular weekly article
This will help you start your week armed with the right resources that you can implement immediately.
During the week, you will receive one or two articles. The articles cover:
Dimystify complex topics for practical use. (ie: AI is here. Let’s get your business in the game)
A Transformation case study. (ie: What is takes to turn a Bake Shop into a $500M….)
Tactical tools and how to systems. (ie: How to build systems that run your business…)
Trends and emerging patterns (ie: Your next teammate is AI)
My lessons and reflections (ie: The accidental developer)
I read all my comments and love to help answer any questions or receive feedback.
Want to connect with me outside of Substack? You can follow me on Linkedin: Juan Salas-Romer | LinkedIn
Cheers!
PS: Like Build to Thrive newsletter? Have a friend who might benefit from it? Please share!
Want more?
If you’d like full access to all articles (including some that expire after two weeks), unlock exclusive content for paid subscribers, dive into The Vault our growing library of practical tools, tech, and tactics, and get a link to my Calendly for a quick chat consider upgrading to a paid subscription.
Here is me
Here is the real me
Business Accelerator Testimonials
"Before the program, I was overwhelmed, too many priorities, constant second-guessing. Within two sessions, I had a clear roadmap… and the confidence to act on it. This wasn’t just guidance. It was a reset."
Monica G., Creative Agency Founder
During the 90-Day Sprint, we landed two new clients and restructured our core offer. Juan helped us zoom in on what was already working and scale it. I’ve tried other programs. This one actually moved the needle."
David L., Food Distribution Business
"I didn’t expect the peer sessions to be so impactful. Presenting my business to other thoughtful founders and hearing honest, strategic feedback helped me spot blind spots I’d been ignoring for months."
Rachel M., Brewery Owner
"This program helped me stop reacting and start leading. The frameworks were strong, but the real value was the space to step back, think clearly, and walk away with focused next steps after every session."
Andre C., Real Estate Developer
"Running a business is isolating. Being part of a tight-knit group of founders, people who actually listen and push you forward was a game changer. That weekly accountability kept me moving when I would’ve stalled."
Selena T., E-commerce Operator
My hotel turnaround story- Read all about it here
