Shows / Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
The raw truth behind the highlight reel. Real founders on how they actually built, scaled and sold their businesses — the layoff, the first dollar, the first hire, the month it nearly fell apart. I'm David DiNardo. Laid off from a hospital job, I went all in on Envolta, a cloud accounting firm, grew it to 45 people across Canada and sold it ten years later. Now I'm building Taxifi, an AI ledger for small businesses, in public. New episodes weekly: founder interviews plus solo deep-dives on AI…
Episodes
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Craig Gauthier: Every Rule You Follow Is Optional
Craig Gauthier has worked in 33 countries, spent five years as a professor, walked out of a hospital job where everyone was counting down to a pension, and now…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
James Nguyen: How I Raised $25M With Zero VCs
James Nguyen was my banker at RBC. Now he runs Quantropi, a quantum security company in Ottawa that raised over $25 million US with no VCs. Just angels. Just…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
How to Sell Any Service: My Exact Sales Process in Under 10 Minutes
Two calls. On the first one you shut up and listen. On the second one you give three prices, never one. That's the whole system — and it closed nearly every…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Brian Claire: He Built a Payroll App Prototype in 10 Minutes
Brian Claire runs Blueprint Accounting, a seven-person firm in Ottawa, and got tired of payroll tools built for one business at a time. He summarized a Slack…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Result as a Service: How I’m Building Taxifi to Be AI Native
A Taxifi update I haven’t done in months. We moved to monthly bookkeeping clients, built an AI chat that answers any question about your books in real time…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Sergey Poltev: Your AI Is Only as Secure as Your Password
Sergey Poltev grew up studying cybersecurity in Russia and built his career on the other side of it, keeping small businesses safe from hackers. He runs a…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
The 4-Question Meeting I Stole From the Military
My team at Taxifi just ran our first After Action Review, a military practice for breaking down what happened so the next one goes better. Four questions, one…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Christine Song: Founders Are Lonelier Than Anyone Admits
Christine Song spent 20 years in HR, the last 10 as the right hand to startup founders. She worked every weekend, answered Slack in the Disney World line…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
A Year of Cringe Solo Videos Just Landed Me a Client in 15 Minutes
I couldn't watch a full episode of my own solo videos for the first 50. This morning a client signed up for bookkeeping, accounting and tax on a monthly…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Alex Lawson: Food Bank Kid to 17 Employees to the Mayor's Race
Alex Lawson: Ottawa Has 42 Cops on Duty for a Million People — Same as 1995 He grew up on the food bank in Heron Gate. Now he runs a framing company with 17…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
I'm 38. Here's Exactly How I Became Successful in 10 Minutes
I'm 38, and in under ten minutes I'm going to tell you exactly how I got here. No theory. Just the sequence. → Rule 1: surround yourself with the people you…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Antonios Assaad: Pro Soccer, a Five-Year Ban, and the Week That Rewired My Life
Ten years chasing pro football across three continents. A five-year ban at 15. A contract offer from the Prince of Abu Dhabi. Then one phone call, and Antonios…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Stop Hiring Employees. Here's Why I Only Hire Contractors Now
Employees or contractors? With AI models dropping monthly, it's no longer a payroll question — it's a speed question. In this solo episode I lay out exactly…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Graham Barlow & Shauna Tragnam: Distribution Is the Only Moat Left
"AI-powered" on your website now means the same thing as "internet-powered." I changed my own site copy before we finished recording. Graeme Barlow and Shawna…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Gustavo Sanchez: 40% of Your Revenue Is Going to Voicemail
The email that booked this interview was written by AI. It was the most human outreach I'd had all month. That's Booked in one story — and Gustavo has the…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Throw Out Your Business Model: The 20/60/20 Rule for 2026
Every business model built before 2020 is being repriced right now. Most owners haven't noticed yet — and the gap is where the opportunity is. Three strategies…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Hugues: He Ran a Law Firm. Then Built a $3M-Per-Location Swim School Empire.
He spent 20 years as a business lawyer, flew to Australia for a client who then backed out, and kept the idea for himself. Ten years later he opened Kids Can…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
If I Lost Everything Today: My Exact First 90 Days
Laid off at 24. Financially free with an eight-figure net worth by 34. If I lost all of it tomorrow, here's exactly what I'd do in my first 90 days — and it…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Martin DeSouza: 1.7 Million Views in 30 Days — The Science of Going Viral
He spent 10 years building everybody else's personal brands — then in December he finally clicked post himself. Three videos later: 852K, 1.7M, and 156K views…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Jean-Luc Boissoneault: He Trained Billionaires. Then Built a Yurt to Meditate 3 Hours a Day.
He placed 7th in the world in bodybuilding at 21, trained some of the richest people in Canada, sold his fitness company — then built a yurt in his backyard…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Why I Fired My Marketing Agency and Became a Media Company
I ran an accounting company for 10 years, sold it, and now I'm building an AI accounting firm — and somewhere along the way I realized I'm actually building a…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Fares Elsabbagh: From Subsidized Housing to a $20M Construction Company
He grew up in subsidized housing, hated being told what to do at McDonald's, and figured out at 15 he was "screwed for life" — so he built an eight-figure…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
How I Bought 10 Properties in 10 Years Using My Corporation (Canada)
At 24, I was let go from my corporate job. By 34, I was financially free — and along the way I bought 10 rental properties, one a year for 10 years. This is…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Rebecca Rowe: A Flood Destroyed Her Fashion Business. She Rebuilt in People's Closets
A flood wiped out Rebecca Rowe's clothing brand — a year of stock, her samples, and patterns she'd spent years perfecting. Then her customers started asking a…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Getting Laid Off at 24 Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me
I got laid off at 24 from my "dream job" at the Ottawa Hospital — and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. In this solo episode, I break down the 4…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Is SEO Dead? 30 Years of Marketing Secrets for the AI Era — Steven Lau
Is SEO dead in the age of AI? Steven Lau has been getting businesses found online since 1996 — before Google existed. He won Yahoo's Website of the Week twice…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
3 Reasons It's Easier to Build a Business in Canada Than the U.S.
Three reasons Canadian entrepreneurs have a structural edge over the U.S. — and why almost nobody talks about them: a ~12% small business tax rate, no…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Success vs. Fulfillment: The Founder Conversation Nobody Has — with Sheri Chiprout
You can hit every number and still feel empty. Most founders find that out the hard way. This episode I talk with Sheri Chiprout — the Founder & CEO Confidante…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
The AI App Stack I Use to Build a Business in 2026 (Ranked)
Over 100 AI tools tested. Most cut. In this episode I rank the ones that survived — 1 to 4 — and tell you why ChatGPT lands at the bottom while Claude sits at…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Emilie Wilcox — The Neuroscience of Burnout, Chronic Pain & Rebuilding Capacity
Emilie Wilcox went from management consulting partner to executive coach after burnout and a baffling chronic injury forced her to learn the neuroscience of…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
"Most Business Owners Have No Idea This Is Happening" — The Truth About SEO + AI | Brock Murray, seoplus+
99% of business owners are about to lose their #1 source of customers — and they don't even know it yet. For 20 years, the game was simple: rank on Google, win…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
AI, Creativity & The Future of Work: How to Build Leverage in the AI Era | Nish
AI is changing how we work, build, create, and compete. But the real opportunity is not just learning how to use the tools. It is learning how to think…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
AI Made Personal Brands Essential
AI has made content easier to create, but harder to trust. In this episode, I sit down with Kyle Turk, VP of Marketing at seoplus+ and founder of Meerkat…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Everything You're Too Afraid to Ask About Tax Season | Nadia from Hunt Club Tax
Tax season stresses everyone out — but most people won't admit what they don't know. In this episode I sit down with Nadia from Hunt Club Tax and ask every…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
The Years That Shape Everything | Tiffany Drummond
Some of the most important years in our lives are the ones we barely understand while we are living them. In this episode, I sit down with Tiffany Drummond to…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Alfonso Cuadra: How Personal Brand Built His Real Estate Empire
Most people think personal brand is about visibility. Alfonso Cuadra built his around something far more valuable: trust, authority, and leverage. In this…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
David Ross: How He Built a $500M Video Tech Empire from Canada
David Ross is the CEO of Ross Video a $500M+ revenue company powering live production for the world's biggest broadcasters, stadiums, and studios. We talked…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Trust Before Tech - Taxifi Journey
AI is only as powerful as the trust behind it. This week on the Taxifi journey, I'm breaking down why we're building trust with users first; before layering in…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
The Injury That Started a Company | Shawn Watts of Corfix
What does it take to go from the jobsite to the boardroom? Shawn Watts, founder & CEO of Corfix, shares how decades of hands-on construction experience led him…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
How Pierce Ujjainwalla Built Knak from a Marketer’s Pain Point
In this episode, I sit down with Pierce Ujjainwalla, co-founder and CEO of Knak and founder of Revenue Pulse. After building his career in the marketing…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
From Promoter to Fighter: Ivan Grubisic and Clash of Cartier 2026
Today’s episode is live with Ivan Grubisic a Clash of Cartier promoter and co-main event fighter; as we go behind the scenes of the fourth annual Clash of…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
From Stylist to Business Builder: How Adamo DiNardo Built Hair by Adamo & Co
Adamo DiNardo is the stylist behind Hair by Adamo & Co, an Ottawa area salon focused on healthy hair and professional cutting, styling, and coloring. In this…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Building a 25-Year Ottawa Business: Service, Reviews, and the ePowerd Future | Masood Yarmand
Masood Yarmand is the co-founder of YARMAND, an Ottawa-based outdoor power equipment dealer and service business with 25 years in business. In this episode, we…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Before You Use Taxifi: Upload Your 2024 T1 + Connect Your Bank (Quick Demo) | Build in Public
There are 2 things you need to do before you can get the full Taxifi experience: Have your 2024 tax return (T1) ready so you can upload it and pre-fill your…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
How to Build a High Trust Specialty Practice: Systems, Standards, and Reputation | Dr. Rob Clark
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Rob Clark (@bigbadvet) to talk about the entrepreneurial side of building a specialty practice where the work is high…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
I Got Reviewed by CRA: The Checklist I Use to Kill the Anxiety and Get Through It
Getting a CRA review letter can spike your stress fast. I know the feeling, and in today’s episode I walk through the exact steps I use to stay calm, get…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Co-Parenting Expenses Without the Conflict: Building Simple Split | Nancy Gharib
Co-parenting finances can turn into receipts, screenshots, and text threads that create friction instead of clarity. In this episode, I sit down with Nancy…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
30 Days to Launch: What You Get Day 1 in Taxifi (OCR, AI Categorization, File) | Build in Public
We are officially one month away from launching Taxifi on March 1, 2026 for creators and solopreneurs across Canada. In this episode, I walk through what you…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
AI That Actually Pays Off: ROI, Automation, and What Firms Should Do First | Julian White
AI is everywhere right now, but most professional services firms still struggle to turn it into real results. In this episode, I sit down with Julian White…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Personal Brand = Trust: Community First, Ads Second (My Taxifi Lesson)
In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what I’m learning in real time while building my personal brand alongside Taxifi. Here’s the truth I’m seeing…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Tax Planning Without the Panic: Building Better Systems for Business Owners | Larry Hasson
Larry Hasson is a CPA, CA and Director at McIntyre & Associates Professional Corporation in Ottawa, with a focus on tax planning, reorganizations, and business…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
AI Shipped It in 2 to 4 Hours: My First End-to-End Test as a Tech Founder | Building Taxifi in Public
Today’s episode is a real build in public update from inside Taxifi. I ran our first true end-to-end test, found a bunch of changes that needed to happen, and…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Community Is the Product: How The Fitness Lab Ottawa Builds Loyalty | Adam Bracken
Most people think building a fitness business is about programming better workouts. It’s not. It’s about trust, culture, and showing up when motivation…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
The Founder Marketing Workshop: The Questions That Clarified Taxifi (Build in Public)
If you’re starting a business, you need to get clear on the story, the customer, and the promise. This episode is me doing that in real time for Taxifi. I walk…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
How to Build a Business You Can Actually Sell
Most owners say, “One day I’ll sell my business.” Very few are building something anyone would actually buy. In this episode, I sit down with Markian Pergat…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Nobody Wants a Tax App: 5 Lessons From Building Taxifi in Public
This week’s Taxifi build update came with a few lessons I didn’t expect, and they’re changing how I think about the product. Here are the 5 biggest takeaways…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Cash Flow Clarity: The Fractional CFO Playbook for Founders | Kyle Soutar
Most founders don’t need more spreadsheets — they need someone to translate the numbers into clear decisions. In this episode, I sit down with Kyle Soutar…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Content First, Clients Second: Why Every Founder Is a Media Company in 2025 | Building Taxifi in Public
In 2025, starting a business also means starting a media company. The product is only half the battle. The real challenge is earning attention in a world where…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
Practical AI for Founders: The Questions That Create Real Leverage | Chris Dore
A lot of entrepreneurs are collecting AI tools and still not getting outcomes. In this episode, Chris Dore explains why the real advantage comes from clarity…
- Laid Off To 8 Figures with David DiNardo
I Almost Didn’t Publish This: Building Taxifi In Public (Week 2)
Publishing this episode scared me more than I expected. This is Week 2 of building Taxifi in public, a one-click, judgment-free tax filing app for Canadian…