AI Apprentice Program

Dennis Yu on November 18, 2025

Imagine your young adult becoming the person who actually makes phones ring for real local businesses using AI, proven marketing systems, and hands-on apprenticeship.

This is learn-by-doing, directly with Dennis Yu and Jack Wendt, inside a community of 400+ motivated young adults building real skills, real experience, and real income.

Why this program exists

Local service businesses (plumbers, landscapers, roofers, dentists, HVAC, contractors ) are drowning in agencies that overcharge and underdeliver.

We train young adults to become the opposite.

Your young adult becomes the AI-powered marketing operator who:

  • Makes the phone ring.
  • Ranks businesses on Google.
  • Creates videos that convert.
  • Uses AI agents to scale execution.
  • Runs Dollar-a-Day ads.
  • Fixes bad SEO and exposes fake agencies.
  • Drives measurable revenue for a real client (often your business).

They don’t graduate because a calendar year passed.
They graduate when they can prove they can drive real leads at an acceptable cost per result.

See if you qualify (15-minute Zoom call)

Success stories

Dozens of professionals (from young apprentices to established business leaders) have sharpened their marketing skills and launched new opportunities through mentorship and collaboration with Dennis and Jack.

Ethan Van De Hey

Went from a stuck marketing role to leading campaigns at Infinity Exteriors.

After mentorship from Dennis, he mastered Dollar-a-Day ads and storytelling frameworks that now generate measurable ROI for a multimillion-dollar construction company.

Dylan Haugen

Former high-school athlete turned content creator and host of the Dunk Talk Podcast.

Under Dennis’s guidance, Dylan transformed his already extensive library of viral content (amassing over 100 million organic views) into a structured personal brand with real authority.

He learned how to make his online presence visible on Google through his personal brand website, articles, and structured data, ultimately earning his own Knowledge Panel.

This shift turned his reach into lasting digital credibility.

Marko Sipilä

Started with BlitzMetrics as a teen and built a seven-figure agency by applying Dennis’s mentorship framework.

He’s now mentoring other young marketers around the world.

David Carroll

Agency owner who credits Dennis for his growth in digital marketing and strategy execution, applying the same processes that power Fortune 500 campaigns.

In 5 years, David Carroll has led his innovative print marketing company Dope Marketing to be evaluated at $100 million.

Heather Dopson

Industry leader and keynote speaker who collaborates with Dennis Yu on mentorship and professional development programs, embodying the “learn-do-teach” philosophy.

Caleb Guilliams

Founder of BetterWealth and long-time mentee of Dennis.

His storytelling-driven approach to financial education reflects the systems Dennis helped pioneer.

Natalie Ferreyra

From social media consultant to leading roles at Snap Inc. and now Netflix, Natalie’s career showcases how mastering core marketing frameworks and consistent execution can open doors to global opportunities.

Taylor James

Owner of Dumpster Dogs in Austin, TX.

Taylor was paying an SEO company $750 a month for “optimization” that delivered zero measurable results until he learned how to do it right through mentorship from Dennis.

In just a few weeks, he learned to spot fake SEO tactics, take control of his own analytics, and build true authority the right way by creating authentic one-minute videos, writing helpful blog posts, and connecting with other local businesses.

Brennan Agranoff

Six years ago, Brennan was stitching socks by hand in his parents’ garage.

Today he’s built a seven-figure sock brand, a logistics company, and a software platform while becoming one of the clearest examples of what happens when you combine grit with systems.

We’ve put him on stages across the country to teach how the Content Factory works in real life: hiring and training VAs, building scalable SOPs, and applying the 9 Triangles to grow from “kid with an idea” to a multi-business operator.

Brennan shows young entrepreneurs exactly what’s possible when you follow the framework and put in the reps.

 

What your young adult will actually do

All apprentices work on a live client project.

If they’re doing this for your business, perfect.
If they’re joining solo, we assign them a client.

During the first 90 days they:

Produce

— Capture authentic, short-form videos (15–60 sec) using just their phone.
— Coach business owners on what to say and how to say it.

Process

— Edit in Descript or CapCut.
— Subtitle, trim, format.
— Follow the SOPs step-by-step using AI agents.

Post

— Upload across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and website.
— Use correct titles, descriptions, hashtags, schema markup.
— Fix broken websites and analytics setups.

Promote

— Boost top-performing content using Dollar-a-Day.
— Set up retargeting.
— Improve Google entity authority.
— Optimize Google Business Profiles.
— Run Google, Meta, and LSA campaigns.

Measure

— Track calls through CallRail, ServiceTitan, or similar.
— Submit weekly MAA (metrics, analysis, and action) reports.
— Identify what’s working and what’s not.
— Present findings clearly and confidently.

This system is the same framework we used with Nike, Adidas, Red Bull, Quiznos, The Golden State Warriors, Rosetta Stone, Johns Hopkins University, and thousands of local service businesses.

How the program works

Weekly live coaching

Every Thursday at 2 PM Pacific.
You bring real problems, we solve them live.

Hands-on implementation

Not homework.
Real campaigns.
Real budgets.
Real phone calls.

Weekly reports

Every apprentice submits a weekly MAA report.
Even if they’re traveling.
Even if it takes 3 minutes.

Active AI tools & agents

Each student gets access to our internal AI agents that we burn $15–20k/month maintaining in credits and tooling.

Your young adult learns to be the manager of these agents, the true skill of next-gen marketing.

Community & accountability

Inside the private Facebook group, students help each other, solve problems, and collaborate 24/7.

This is a group of A-players who compete, push each other, and level up.

Who this is for

Young adults who:

  • Want real skills and real-world results.
  • Can follow checklists.
  • Can communicate clearly on video.
  • Are humble, hungry, and willing to put in the reps.
  • Want a portfolio of work they can show to any employer.

Parents & business owners who want:

  • A capable young adult running their marketing.
  • Authentic content instead of agency BS.
  • More phone calls and better visibility.
  • A system that has already worked for hundreds of local businesses.

You must be:

  • Based in the United States.
  • Working with (or willing to work with) a Local Service Ads category business.
  • Willing to put in at least 5 hours per week.
  • Not afraid of learning new tools.
  • A decent human being who doesn’t complain, whine, or ask for refunds every time life gets hard.

If you’re an excuse-maker, a complainer, or someone who needs hand-holding, don’t join.

Who this is not for

  • People outside the U.S.
  • People running e-commerce, SaaS, or crypto projects.
  • People who want “motivation” instead of execution.
  • People terrified of video.
  • People not willing to submit weekly reports.
  • People who want babysitting.
  • People who want to “try it for a week.”
  • People who don’t want to give back or help others.

We’re building a culture of execution, accountability, and mentorship.
If that scares you, this isn’t for you.

Program cost

$7,500 for the full year.

You’re investing in weekly coaching, AI tools, SOP library (hundreds of checklists), full Content Factory pipeline, over 140 courses (constantly updated), access to our AI agent system, a real client project, accountability and mentorship, a community of peers, and a year of guided execution.

Before joining, we require a quick call to make sure it’s a mutual fit.

Book a 15-minute qualification call

If we’ve already spoken and agreed you’re a fit:

Make a payment

If you’re all-in, committed, and willing to show up each week, you will win here.

If you’re looking for shortcuts, passive courses, or easy buttons, this isn’t for you.

We’re here to build the next generation of marketers who can run real businesses, manage AI agents, and drive measurable outcomes.

If that fires you up, welcome home.

 

 

How Jack Wendt & Dylan Haugen Coach Young Adults to Build Authority Through AI and Google’s Knowledge Graph

Dennis Yu on November 16, 2025

When Jack Wendt and I spoke at DigiMarCon Las Vegas 2025, our goal wasn’t just to teach marketing systems — it was to show how young adults can learn to build digital authority using AI, Google’s Knowledge Graph, and structured personal branding systems.

Through High Rise Influence and our coaching package, High Rise Academy, we’ve been training students to take these same tools and frameworks and apply them to real-world clients — often their parents’ or sponsors’ local service businesses. The results have been powerful: students gain tangible experience, and business owners get measurable growth in visibility, reputation, and authority.

The Topic Wheel: Coaching People to See Their Story

We opened our session with the Topic Wheel, a framework originally developed by Dennis Yu to help individuals map their expertise and professional network.

In the middle sits your name. Around it are your six core topics — the key areas you want to be recognized for. What makes this framework so valuable is the connections it reveals. Each topic branches to people you’ve collaborated with — mentors, clients, and peers.

For example, Jack shared how his first mentor, Caleb Williams, founder of BetterWealth, helped him discover his purpose and eventually introduced him to Dennis Yu. That one connection led to a chain of opportunities that shaped both of our paths — and that’s what we coach our students to recognize: authority grows through relationships built on shared content and collaboration.

When our students map their own Topic Wheels, they begin to understand how their interests, work, and connections form a digital fingerprint that Google can see — one that can be built into lasting authority.

The Content Factory: Turning Coaching Into Action

Once you’ve mapped your expertise, the next step is turning your real-world experience into structured, shareable content. That’s where the Content Factory comes in — the four-stage system we teach inside High Rise Academy:

  1. Produce — Capture what’s already happening: interviews, team meetings, client calls, or training sessions.
  2. Process — Use AI tools like Descript to clean up audio, remove filler words, and transcribe content automatically.
  3. Post — Repurpose that material into videos, blogs, or short-form posts for multiple platforms.
  4. Promote — Test which content performs best with strategies like the Dollar-a-Day ad method and scale from there.

We tell every student: the hardest step is just pressing record. Once content exists, the rest can be automated with the right tools and structure.

For example, we had students film five-minute clips interviewing a family business owner. They used Descript to edit the footage, exported it for YouTube and Facebook, and then generated blog posts using a custom GPT trained on our writing standards. Within a week, those small businesses had content outperforming their competitors — all while our students learned real skills that transfer to any career in marketing or media.

The Google Knowledge Graph: Understanding Digital Trust

We then demonstrated how Google’s Knowledge Graph is the backbone of modern authority. Every recognized person, business, or brand is assigned a Knowledge Graph MID — a digital ID number used by Google to verify who you are and what you’re known for.

We pulled mine up live — Dylan Haugen, trust score 259 — and explained what it means: Google has enough consistent data from multiple verified sources to confidently associate me with my work, media mentions, and social content.

We use this same concept in coaching. For our students, the Knowledge Graph becomes a tangible way to measure progress. As they help real clients organize websites, link social accounts, and publish consistent content, they see those clients’ digital trust scores grow — and sometimes even reach the point where Google generates a Knowledge Panel (the “blue checkmark” of search).

This transforms abstract lessons about SEO and branding into real, measurable outcomes — and it gives young professionals a way to prove they can deliver results.

AI Tools in Coaching: From Learning to Application

During our talk, Jack showed the audience how we use Descript and Custom GPTs in our workflow. Using just a YouTube link, Descript imported the video, transcribed it automatically, and with a few clicks, removed filler words, shortened pauses, and improved audio quality.

From there, we took that transcript into our in-house writing assistant, Jennifer, a custom GPT designed for the High Rise content process. We demonstrated how to refine AI output — removing emojis, bullet lists, and generic phrasing to create content that sounds professional, human, and true to the speaker’s voice.

This hands-on process is exactly what we coach. AI should not replace creativity — it should amplify it. Our students learn to collaborate with AI, giving clear direction and improving the work it produces. That’s what separates automation from craftsmanship.

Mentorship in Action: Learning by Doing

A major part of our mission at HiRISE Influence is mentorship through real work. Inside High Rise Academy, students don’t just learn from lessons — they gain experience by implementing these systems for actual businesses.

Students get matched with real clients — local service businesses that need help building their personal brands. The students create and manage content using AI systems, measure Google authority scores, and apply everything we teach in a live environment.

This structure bridges generations: business owners share experience and trust; students bring digital fluency and energy. Together, they produce meaningful work that benefits both sides — and both learn in the process.

The Future of Coaching: From Training to Implementation

At High Rise Influence, everything we do is built around the Learn–Do–Teach model. We don’t just teach theory — we coach young adults to implement what they learn through hands-on mentorship.

That’s why our collaboration with Local Service Spotlight and their Spotlight Core program is so powerful. While Spotlight Core provides affordable personal brand websites and authority-building systems for business owners, it also gives our students a live environment to apply their training.

Inside High Rise Academy, our students use these same frameworks — the Content Factory, the Topic Wheel, and Knowledge Graph optimization — to help real businesses grow. They gain skills, build portfolios, and see the real-world impact of what they’ve learned.

That’s what makes our coaching unique: it’s not about memorizing concepts, but mastering them through execution and mentorship.

How Coaching Young Adults Through the Knowledge Graph Builds Real Careers

Speaking alongside Jack at DigiMarCon Las Vegas 2025 was an incredible opportunity to share what we’ve been building through HiRISE Influence and High Rise Academy. It proved that with the right structure, coaching, and mindset, anyone — whether a business owner or a student — can become a trusted authority online.

Authority isn’t claimed. It’s built, demonstrated, and reinforced through content, collaboration, and consistency. And our mission at HiRISE Influence is to help the next generation learn how to build it for themselves — and teach others to do the same.

Learn more about the Content Factory framework — the 6-stage system behind everything we do at High Rise Influence.

Related: Work with our Google Knowledge Panel experts

Professors and administrators: see how our University Partnership Program gives your students access to the same frameworks Jack and Dylan use to coach young professionals.

Blueprint for Real Influence: High Rise Influence Podcast from Neuschwanstein Castle

Dennis Yu on November 10, 2025

In our inaugural High Rise Influence podcast, Dennis Yu and Jack Wendt discuss the blueprint for real influence from Neuschwanstein Castle. They explore how genuine accomplishments, relationships and reviews form the foundation of your digital authority.

Hosted by Dennis Yu and Jack Wendt.

In this conversation, Jack Wendt and Dennis Yu share how real influence comes from genuine accomplishments, meaningful relationships, and authentic reviews. They outline a step-by-step blueprint for building influence that includes identifying your target audience, systematizing your content production through a team of virtual architects, and nurturing authentic relationships rather than pushing sales. They emphasize preparing clients with a clear roadmap and setting expectations for long-term growth.

Key takeaways from the episode include:

  • Identify and serve a specific audience that already has proof of expertise to amplify.
  • Systematize influence by building a team of virtual architects to execute your strategy so you can stay focused on client relationships.
  • Build authentic relationships and partnerships instead of relying on aggressive sales; let real results and strategic partnerships speak for themselves.
  • Prepare clients with a clear journey and manage expectations—success is a long-term game that requires consistent effort over time.
  • Focus on authenticity and follow-through to build trust and long-lasting relationships

In this episode, Jack Wendt and Dennis Yu outline a blueprint for building real influence by focusing on genuine accomplishments, meaningful relationships, and credible reviews. They stress that influence isn’t about vanity metrics but about serving a defined audience, creating systems to scale your work, and nurturing authentic connections.

Key takeaways:

  • Identify and serve a specific audience that already has proof of expertise to amplify.
  • Systematize your influence by building a team of Virtual Architects (VAs) who handle content repurposing and amplification, freeing you to focus on strategy and relationships.
  • Build authentic relationships and partnerships instead of relying on aggressive sales; let real results and strategic partnerships speak for themselves.
  • Prepare clients with a clear journey and manage expectations—success is a long-term game that requires consistent effort over time.
  • Focus on authenticity and follow-through to build trust and long-lasting relationships.

If you’re a young adult—or a parent looking to help your teen develop real marketing skills—consider joining High Rise Academy. Our hands-on program teaches you the same systems for building influence and driving results that Dennis and Jack discuss in this podcast. Click here to learn more.

AI Apprentice Onboarding Checklist

Dennis Yu on November 5, 2025

Welcome to the AI Apprentice program, where you’ll learn how to build, automate, and execute real marketing systems using AI the right way.

This checklist is what our Operations team follows every time we onboard a new apprentice.

It ensures each person has access to all the tools, training, and communities they need to succeed from day one.

Step 1: Create the Basecamp Project

Create a new Basecamp project for the apprentice.

Use the naming format:
HRI’s AI Apprentice – [Full Name]

Add:

  • The apprentice.
  • Program manager / mentor.
  • Operations team member for oversight.

Post the welcome article inside Basecamp:
Welcome to the AI Apprentice Program

Note: Steps 1 and 4 above are now automated through our Zapier integration. When a new apprentice purchases the program through Stripe, their Basecamp project is created automatically, the team is added, and the Keap welcome email sequence fires — with no manual steps required. Read How to Automate AI Apprentice Program Onboarding Using Stripe, Zapier, Keap, and Basecamp for the full technical setup guide.

Step 2: Invite to Private Facebook Group

Invite the apprentice to our private community:
Office Hours with Dennis Yu Facebook Group

Encourage them to introduce themselves with a short video or post.

Step 3: Share Live Office Hours Info

Give the apprentice the recurring link to our weekly Office Hours:

  • Every Thursday at 2 PM PST.
  • Format: Live Q&A, real-time audits, and apprentice showcases.

Remind them to come prepared with a progress update.

Step 4: Grant Academy Access

Provide login credentials to the Academy, which includes over 150+ paid courses they get free access to.

Confirm they can log in and navigate the dashboard.

Step 5: Share Level 1 VA Guide

Send the Level 1 VA Guide, which covers:

  • Our Content Factory process.
  • Task structure and documentation standards.
  • How to report daily updates and submit completed work.

Confirm they review it within their first 48 hours.

Step 6: Introduce MAA (Metrics > Analysis > Action)

Each apprentice must complete a weekly MAA every Friday to build real data analysis habits.

Share both reference articles:

Remind them:

Every Friday = MAA time.
Review data, analyze what it means, and suggest next actions.

Step 7: Encourage YouTube Learning

Share Dennis Yu’s YouTube Channel:
Dennis Yu on YouTube

Assign them to watch 3–5 recent videos.

Step 8: Confirm Completion

When all steps are done:

  • Tick each item in the internal tracking sheet.
  • Post a “✅ Onboarding Complete” message in Basecamp.
  • Tag the apprentice.

Done! They’re Officially Onboarded

Once the checklist is completed, the apprentice is now ready to start contributing to real projects, attend Office Hours, and advance through our levels of mastery.

Interested in the AI Apprentice Program? Learn more about High Rise Academy — hands-on AI marketing training with real clients and real results.

Learn more about the Content Factory framework — the 6-stage system behind everything we do at High Rise Influence.

Parents: Prepare Your Teen to Be an AI Apprentice for Your Business with High Rise Academy

Dennis Yu on November 2, 2025

If you run a local service business and want your son or daughter to take over the digital marketing, here’s a practical path—grounded in what actually worked on real projects, not theory. Dennis Yu, Jack Wendt, and Dylan Haugen recently sat down to discuss how parents can help their kids become successful AI apprentices through the High Rise Academy, sharing what’s working, what young adults are learning, and how families can apply these lessons to real businesses.

Why Teens are a Great Fit and how to Test it Fast

During the discussion, Dennis explains why young adults often pick up AI tools faster than seasoned professionals. They tend to reason with AI instead of treating it like a search bar. Jack suggests a simple test for parents: have your teen open voice mode and talk through a problem with the AI for five minutes—then ask it to outline next steps. Speaking out loud encourages richer prompts and better plans. A second quick test, mentioned by Dylan, is to record a simple one-minute video explaining what your business does and who it helps. That short clip becomes raw material for posts, a blog, and even a lightweight ad.

Dennis shares how this exact process helped a cosmetic dentist in Atlanta. The team started with plain, phone-shot videos about smile makeovers, the doctor’s process, and the office itself. Those clips were repurposed into website articles, Google Business Profile updates, Instagram/TikTok posts, and ad variants—a single shoot fueling weeks of distribution. Businesses that follow the properly repurpose videos can multiply their reach without multiplying effort.

Doing, Measuring, and Iterating Weekly

Jack and Dylan emphasize that success comes from consistent action and feedback. Apprentices wire the digital plumbing first—analytics and call tracking—so we can see exactly which videos, pages, and ads move the needle. Every Friday, they submit an MAA (Metrics → Analysis → Action) report, a system Dennis developed to help keep projects data-driven and accountable.

Accountability isn’t lonely: work is organized in Basecamp, and there are live office hours every Thursday at 2 p.m. Pacific where apprentices present campaigns and dashboards for critique. Dylan points out that this structure helps young marketers build confidence. On the dentist project, one weekly MAA revealed a patient-story clip outperforming equipment demos, leading the team to double down on testimonials across blog, reels, and ads.

Learning by Applying, not Just Taking a Course

Dennis and Jack share how this hands-on model grew from a six-week applied module at Johns Hopkins, where students paired with real local businesses—no simulated assignments. The same “learn → do → teach” framework powers the apprenticeship: learn a tactic, implement it on a live account, document it so the next person can repeat it. Dylan mentions that this approach taught him to solve real problems—like when he got stuck swapping a website image, used AI to troubleshoot it, and then documented the process so others could benefit.

What the Work Actually Looks Like

  • Capture: Short, authentic videos from the owner and team (think FAQs you answer daily).
  • Repurpose: Turn one clip into a blog post, a GBP update, two social cuts, and an ad variation—five outputs from one input.
  • Distribute: Publish across site, search, and social.
  • Amplify: Layer Local Services Ads, Google Ads, and Facebook Ads (Dollar a Day) once the content proves itself.
  • Measure: Track calls and form fills back to the specific asset and keyword.
  • Improve: Scale the winners, fix or drop the laggards.

On the dentist account, that flow moved the business from “invisible online” to a steady stream of measurable calls—because Google could finally “see” the same reputation locals already knew.

What Success can Look Like

Dennis recalls Sal Sciorta, from Plumbing Pros in Eastern Pennsylvania, which followed the same framework. Revenue grew from roughly $30–40k/month to nearly triple, and marketing was intentionally dialed down while the team hired to meet demand. Growth became manageable and repeatable, rather than chaotic.

Compensation also evolves with results. Dylan, who began as an apprentice, advanced from $17/hour to $25/hour through performance and client satisfaction—not time on the clock. Along the way, he built lasting professional assets like a personal brand website and Google Knowledge Panel, helping him stand out in search results. These principles mirror what we teach for building your personal brand on Google, where visibility and credibility reinforce one another.

Who Thrives in This Model

Jack notes that strong communication and self-management are key indicators of success. Apprentices who try, measure, and then ask targeted questions grow quickly. Remote teamwork is part of the experience—Dennis and his team span multiple time zones—but the shared MAA process and weekly reviews keep everyone on track.

Why This Beats Influencer Thinking

Dennis often reminds parents that their kids don’t need viral fame to make an impact. Local businesses grow by showing up consistently in maps, search, and social with authentic content. Genuine videos, regular updates, and measurable results build trust faster than follower counts ever could.

He and the team emphasize that success comes from visibility within your community, not popularity online. When your content reflects real stories, honest expertise, and steady improvement, Google and AI tools start recognizing your business as the local authority—helping you win right where it matters most.

Partnering to Build the Next Generation

The conversation between Dennis, Jack, and Dylan shows how this program blends mentorship, accountability, and applied learning. Parents who want to give their kids real-world marketing experience—and see results for their own business in the process—can join forces with High Rise Academy. The program pairs young adults with experts who guide them through real projects, helping them gain confidence, technical skill, and a clear career direction while supporting your local business growth.

AI Apprentice Builder Mindset Scorecard

Dennis Yu on November 2, 2025

Thinking of applying to our $7,500 AI Apprentice program? Before you step into the dojo, run yourself through this scorecard. It’s designed to separate builders from spectators and show you whether you’re ready to thrive in our high-velocity environment.

Portrait of a woman to represent our team in the AI Apprentice program.

Tool Curiosity

  • Ask yourself: what’s a tool or app you recently discovered, and how did you learn it?
  • Good sign: you dove in, broke it, and figured it out by doing.
  • Red flag: you only watched tutorials but never touched it.

Execution Velocity

  • Ask yourself: what’s something you shipped within 48 hours of learning a new tool or concept?
  • Good sign: you value momentum over perfection.
  • Red flag: you research forever and never start.

Grit & Follow‑Through

  • Ask yourself: when you get stuck on a task you’ve never done, what’s your first move?
  • Good sign: you start Googling, ask ChatGPT, and try small iterations until it works.
  • Red flag: you wait for someone to tell you the answer.

Documentation Reflex

  • Ask yourself: how do you keep track of what you learn so others can reuse it?
  • Good sign: you record Looms, maintain a Notion page or write short SOPs.
  • Red flag: you keep it all in your head.

Attitude Toward Change

  • Ask yourself: AI is making some jobs obsolete — how do you feel about that?
  • Good sign: you’re excited and see opportunity in staying ahead.
  • Red flag: you feel threatened or insist AI can’t replace human creativity.

Scoring and Interpretation

Use the table below to assign yourself points in each area. Then total your score to see where you stand.

CategoryPoints Range
Tool Curiosity0–30
Execution Velocity0–25
Grit & Follow‑Through0–20
Documentation0–15
Attitude Toward Change0–10
  • 85–100 points – Builder: you’re ready for our program (think Marko / Danny tier).
  • 60–84 points – Trainable: you have potential; expect a learning curve.
  • Below 60 points – Pass for now: you’ll need more self-drive before you can thrive here.

Use the Builder Mindset Scorecard to Track Apprentice Growth

Age isn’t the issue — mindset is. Younger applicants often adapt faster because they’re used to experimenting with new tools. But anyone with curiosity, humility and the will to tinker can become a builder. Use this scorecard honestly and decide if you’re ready to dive into our AI Apprentice program.

Interested in the AI Apprentice Program? Learn more about High Rise Academy — hands-on AI marketing training with real clients and real results.

Behind the Scenes with Jack Wendt in Las Vegas: Eataly Eats, Paradox Museum & Comedy Nights

Dennis Yu on November 1, 2025

What do you get when you combine a day of grind with a Vegas food crawl? A behind-the-scenes look at how Jack Wendt and I turn a trip into content gold. We started at Eataly on the Strip for authentic Italian bites before diving into the mind-bending optical tricks at the Paradox Museum. Between the attractions we were talking shop about building brands and training our young agency apprentices – because when you love what you do, the line between work and play blurs.

From there, we hopped to a couple of comedy clubs to soak in some laughs and share stories from the trenches. And because no Vegas day is complete without overindulgence, we wrapped up with an all-you-can-eat sushi feast that tested our appetite and our ability to keep a straight face on camera.

Check out the full video above for the unfiltered, whirlwind day in Vegas — then head over to Jack Wendt for more of his adventures. For my insights on marketing, building agencies and making the phone ring for local businesses, visit Dennis Yu. Let us know your favorite Las Vegas spots in the comments — maybe we’ll feature them next time.

For Young Adults Wanting to Fix the Digital Marketing for Their Parents Businesses | Jack and Dennis

Dennis Yu on November 1, 2025

In this video, Jack and Dennis discuss how young adults can help fix the digital marketing for their parents’ businesses. They share practical insights into advertising, content creation, and SEO fundamentals.

If you’re a young adult looking to build real marketing skills and serve local businesses, check out the High Rise Academy program to get hands-on training and mentorship.

Interested in the AI Apprentice Program? Learn more about High Rise Academy — hands-on AI marketing training with real clients and real results.

Meet the Coaches Behind High Rise Academy

Dennis Yu on October 31, 2025

Meet the Coaches

High Rise Academy is led by three practitioners who train students on real business projects using documented processes and live feedback.

Jack Wendt — Founder & CEO, High Rise Influence

Jack started young — at 12–13 he was buying and reselling watches, learning how to negotiate, reinvest profits, and build relationships. That early hustle turned into a passion for entrepreneurship and mentorship. He built High Rise Academy so motivated teens don’t have to guess their way forward or build businesses alone.

“When I was 13, I had to figure it out myself. Now we can give young people a system — and help real businesses along the way.” —Jack Wendt

How Jack mentors

  • Assigns live business tasks: editing vertical videos, writing platform-native captions, basic ad setups.
  • Shows students how to publish once, then distribute across channels without duplicating work, following our cross-posting guide.
  • Models client communication and simple reporting (before/after assets, notes, and next actions).
  • Helps students channel their entrepreneurial energy into real businesses — generating calls, creating content, and directly contributing to client revenue.

Dennis Yu — Former Search Engine Engineer & Co-Creator of the Content Factory

Dennis designs the systems our teams use to execute reliably at scale — checklists, SOPs, and feedback loops rooted in the Content Factory framework. Students don’t watch theory; they ship assets and get reviewed. He also emphasizes E-E-A-T — real people, real places, real work — to make content credible and reusable.

“There’s no age too early to start building a brand or learning how to learn.” —Dennis Yu

How Dennis coaches

  • Weekly reviews with concrete acceptance criteria (naming, thumbnails, captions, repost rules).
  • Layering proof — names, locations, client artifacts — to establish trust via E-E-A-T.
  • Avoiding common VA pitfalls by tying every task to a clear goal, content asset, and target.
  • Works with students from age 17 to 60, proving that the Academy’s structure supports all levels of experience — from teenagers just starting out to adults seeking to sharpen their skills.

Dylan Haugen — Professional Dunker & Creator

Dylan is a professional dunker who performs in contests and live shows while documenting his journey online. His creative background gives him a unique perspective on content and storytelling. After connecting with Dennis and Jack in late December, he discovered how to use the Academy’s structure to transform his passion into professional growth.

“After joining the program, I learned more in a few weeks than I had in years on my own.” —Dylan Haugen

How Dylan teaches

  • Short-form storytelling on real client pages (clear hook, proof, next step).
  • Batch capture and workflow hygiene (shot lists, b-roll banks, caption templates).
  • Practical feedback on pacing, framing, and retention.
  • Works with business owners — from local gyms to personal brands — showing them how consistent storytelling drives measurable results online.

What You’ll See in Practice

  • Live weekly coaching with screen-share reviews and action items.
  • Documented SOPs with examples for each step.
  • Real distribution on business accounts, followed by sensible republishing.
  • Proof built in — faces, places, and outcomes attached to the work.
  • Range of participants from teens to age 60; quality is driven by checklists, not age.
  • Students are paid as they demonstrate competency on production tasks.

Why High Rise Academy Matters

Students learn marketing by doing: edit videos, post on business accounts, and follow checklists until their work meets spec. Parents see consistent habits and professional communication develop over time. Business owners get useful assets instead of vague ideas.

For parents who want to see their teens develop real-world skills, build meaningful relationships, and gain confidence through hands-on experience, High Rise Academy provides a clear path — while also contributing real work for the businesses they support.

If you’d like to learn from mentors like Dennis, Jack, and Dylan, or know a young adult who would thrive in this environment, explore how to get involved with High Rise Academy. It’s a place where curiosity turns into capability, and learning turns into real results.

Learn more about the Content Factory framework — the 6-stage system behind everything we do at High Rise Influence.

Welcome to the AI Apprentice Program

Dennis Yu on October 28, 2025

Congrats, you’ve joined the program.

Now that you’re officially inside, here’s the exact roadmap so you don’t feel lost staring at 140+ courses, 27 tools, and a pile of skills you think you “don’t have yet.” Let’s cut through the noise.

Join the Office Hours Facebook group

By now, you should have an email inviting you to our Office Hours Facebook Group.
If it didn’t arrive, give it a few minutes; it’s on the way.

This group is where everything happens:

  • Weekly Office Hours: Thursdays at 2 PM PST / 5 PM EST.
    We record all sessions, so if you miss one, no meltdown necessary.
  • Ask your questions here (not in the big public group).

We use Facebook because local service business owners live on Facebook.
If you want clients, you should too.

Join all required platforms

To get fully connected, knock these out immediately:

— Accept your Basecamp invite. Projects, training, assignments, and your Weekly MAA reports live here.

— Join the private Office Hours Facebook group. This is your real support channel.

— Subscribe to the Dennis Yu YouTube channel.
Every Thursday at 11 AM EST, I drop the Marketing Mechanic episode.

Welcome to the AI Apprentice Program

Submit your weekly MAA report

Every Friday, by 5 PM Eastern, you’ll submit your MAA report in Basecamp.

It takes 5 minutes.
And here’s the raw truth:

People who submit consistently in the first 3–4 weeks succeed.
People who don’t, never do.

Even if you were sick, traveling, busy, or didn’t get access to a client account, you can always report something:

  • Ran a Local Falcon scan.
  • Watched a training.
  • Improved your LinkedIn.
  • Posted a video.
  • Learned one new skill.
  • Implemented a tool.

Two minutes of effort is enough.
It’s about building the habit.

Connect with other apprentices

This isn’t a solo sport.

Inside the Office Hours group, you’ll find people:

  • In your same city.
  • Working in the same niche (roofing, HVAC, dental, etc.).
  • Developing the same skills you want.
  • At the same stage of learning.

Reach out. Build relationships.
Many of our best agencies started from connections made here.

Use the tools & training we give you

You get access to tools that the public doesn’t:

  • Link Whisper (premium).
  • RankMath Pro.
  • WordPress resources.
  • Internal SOPs.
  • Meeting templates.
  • Project management training.
  • Agency operations training.

When we teach something publicly, you get the implementation version.
That’s a massive advantage; use it.

Manage email like a professional

If you’re a young adult, you probably live on your phone.
Nothing wrong with that, but handle client email on a laptop, not your thumbs.

Install Boomerang for Gmail (free is fine).
It helps you:

  • Track follow-ups.
  • Handle scheduling.
  • Keep your inbox from becoming a crime scene.

Email is where real business happens.
You need to treat it seriously.

Master meeting basics

We have training on:

  • What to do before a meeting.
  • What to do during a meeting.
  • What to do after a meeting.

Including:

  • Always send an agenda upstream.
  • Always record Zoom meetings.
  • Always share action items after.
  • Always update Basecamp with who’s doing what.

If you do this well for your parents’ business or first client, you will get more.
And when you’re reliably executing, we’ll promote you and send an opportunity your way.
(Not because you bought the program, but because you earned it.)

Where not to ask for help

There’s a giant free Facebook group called Digital Marketing with Dennis Yu (44k+ members).

That’s not your support channel.

Your help and team support are inside Office Hours, the private group.

Stay there.

If you’re ever truly stuck

  1. Message Stephanie (stephanie@blitzmetrics.com).
  2. If it’s something only I can solve (rare), you can email me.
  3. You can text me too. Just make sure it’s worth waking me up over.

Your first real assignment: Make a 1-minute video

Record a simple cell-phone introduction and post it in the Office Hours group.

No scripts.
No fancy camera.
No “I need to get ready first.”

Just you, talking for 60 seconds:

  • Who you are.
  • Where you’re from.
  • What you’re working on.
  • What you want to learn.

If we were sitting around a dinner table at a mastermind, you’d introduce yourself.
This is the same thing.

Do it now. Don’t overthink it.