What Makes Young Professionals Like Dylan Haugen Succeed — And Why Most Don’t

When I first met Dylan Haugen, he was a 17-year-old student who somehow managed to balance school, dunk training, client work, and real business responsibilities — all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Most people at that age are still figuring out how to manage their homework, but Dylan was already managing clients, editing podcasts, creating content, and mentoring others in the High Rise Academy.

Over time, I’ve seen hundreds of young adults try to build digital marketing careers. Some thrive, others fade. The difference isn’t raw intelligence or talent — it’s execution and communication. Dylan proves that success comes down to a few fundamental habits.

1. Action Beats Overwhelm

When people join the High Rise Academy, they’re faced with dozens of tools, emails, and systems. Some freeze under the pressure; others dive in. Dylan’s first lesson was to take action — even if it’s messy. He doesn’t let a full inbox sit for weeks or overthink small details. He moves, adapts, and communicates.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about not letting small tasks pile up until they become impossible. That simple discipline is what separates the professionals from the dreamers.

2. Time Management Is Everything

Dylan’s schedule isn’t forgiving — he’s in school from 8 to 3:30, trains daily for dunk contests, and still finds hours each day to deliver for clients. When I asked him how he does it, he said something simple: “There’s downtime everywhere. You just have to stop wasting it.”

Whether it’s 15 minutes between classes or an hour after dinner, Dylan uses those windows to move projects forward. That’s what real remote work looks like — not clocking in for a shift, but owning outcomes and using your time wisely.

3. Communication Creates Freedom

Remote work only works when people communicate. If Dylan’s traveling for a dunk contest or on a family trip, he doesn’t disappear — he lets his team know in advance, asks someone to cover tasks, and ensures the project stays on track.

That’s a skill most adults struggle with. But it’s the foundation of leadership: taking ownership and respecting others’ time.

4. From Hourly Work to Ownership

Dylan’s path in the High Rise Academy followed a clear progression. He started with hourly work, proved he could deliver consistently, then began managing others, leading projects, and now co-founding Local Service Spotlight with other graduates.

This is how real entrepreneurs are built — not through a single “big break,” but through structured progression: learning the basics, proving reliability, and earning ownership.

Why Dylan Haugen’s Work Ethic Sets a Standard for Young Professionals

There’s no shortage of young people who say they want to start a business. But very few understand what it actually takes: organization, communication, consistency, and initiative. Dylan embodies that.

If you’re a student or young professional who wants to build real skills — not just consume motivational content — the High Rise Academy is where you start. You’ll learn to manage projects, communicate with clients, and use AI tools that real businesses depend on.

Ready to build a career that actually matters?
Join the next cohort of High Rise Academy and start learning the skills that helped Dylan turn his education into real-world impact.

AI Apprentice Onboarding Checklist

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.

Announcing ‘The Complete Guide to Pest Control SEO’ – Grow Your Pest-Control Business Today

In this video, author Danny Leibrandt introduces his new book, “The Complete Guide to Pest Control SEO”. If you run or market a pest-control business and want to generate more leads, this video explains why SEO is essential and how this guide can help.

Danny Leibrandt is the founder of Pest Control SEO, a digital marketing agency for pest control companies, and co‑founder of Pest Partner. He also hosts the Local Marketing Secrets and Pest Control Legends podcasts, where he interviews industry experts and shares actionable local marketing advice. Known for his high‑energy speaking style at conferences like DigiMarCon, Danny aims to inspire others with his “Don’t know? just go.” approach.

His book, The Complete Guide to Pest Control SEO, spans over 280 pages and serves as a step‑by‑step playbook for pest‑control businesses looking to dominate local search. It explains how to optimise your website, set up call tracking and analytics, and make the most of your Google Business Profile. The guide walks you through keyword research, review generation, backlink acquisition and content planning, while warning about common pitfalls like broken tracking or thin content. With practical examples and checklists, the book offers DIY, hybrid and full‑service options so readers can choose the approach that fits their goals.

If you’re a young adult or the parent of one, consider joining High Rise Academy to learn marketing skills that actually get results.

Want a complete local marketing strategy? Read our local service marketing strategy guide to see how we help contractors and local businesses dominate their market.

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

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

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.

Train a Young Adult to Be a AI Apprentice Marketing Expert | Franchise Partner Program

Unlock the full potential of your franchise’s marketing by training a young adult—your son, daughter or a team member—to become a dedicated digital marketing and AI-powered social media expert. In this video, Dennis Yu and Jack Wendt explain how a one-year program equips them with the tools and strategies to manage the Content Factory process for your local service business.

This program includes:

  • Weekly Office Hours and coaching
  • Full access to all training materials
  • Hands-on support with analytics, ads, and websites
  • A community of peers and mentors

The curriculum is built on proven methods used by major brands like Red Bull and Nike and thousands of local service businesses. Think of it as trade school for digital marketing—tailored specifically for your franchise.

If you’re ready to give a young adult the opportunity to grow into your business’s marketing champion, watch the video and learn how to enroll them today.

Learn more about the 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.

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

Want to see what franchise-level marketing looks like? Check out how we help Pure Green franchise owners become local celebrity brands using the same AI-powered content systems we teach in the program.

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

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

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

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.

Who the High Rise Academy Is NOT For — And What It Takes to Succeed

The Short Answer

High Rise Academy is designed for people who take action. Success comes from following the Metrics → Analysis → Action (MAA) process every week. Apprentices who do the work, communicate clearly, and follow through on assignments build measurable results and real skills.

Dennis Yu emphasized during the conversation that the Academy only works for those willing to “do the thing.” As he explained, people who collect metrics but never implement improvements are “getting paid to do nothing.”

The Foundation: Taking Consistent Action

Many projects fail because people spend too much time reporting and not enough time executing. Every week should include progress—new videos published, ads launched, or landing pages improved.

Our process relies on three steps:

  • Metrics: Track specific numbers tied to your work, such as video performance metrics or ad performance.
  • Analysis: Identify what changed and why.
  • Action: Implement the next improvement before the next report.

Jack Wendt mentioned how some participants kept producing the same weekly reports without changing a thing. He shared that those projects “looked busy on paper but delivered no new client results.” This reinforced the Academy’s focus on action, not appearance.

Dylan Haugen added that every weekly status report feeds the coaching process. “The more action they take,” he said, “the more feedback we can provide.” When students actually produce videos, launch ads, or adjust campaigns, coaches have data to work with and can give sharper guidance.

Communicating Effectively

Remote work depends on timely, organized communication. Team members are encouraged to apply the Do / Delegate / Delete framework:

  • Do the next task from your checklist.
  • Delegate when you hit a roadblock and need support.
  • Delete low-value items that don’t advance the goal.

Jack recalled several examples where simple communication lapses caused unnecessary delays—someone waited days to ask a question instead of flagging it early. “If they’d just said something, we could’ve solved it in five minutes,” he said. Clear updates keep everyone aligned and prevent small issues from slowing progress.

Skills that Support Success

Participants who think clearly, express ideas in writing, and approach problems logically tend to perform well. The program rewards those who take ownership of their work, stay organized, and use available tools to keep improving.

Dennis highlighted that being able to reason through tasks with AI tools or team members is key to growth. “Young adults who can talk through a problem and provide context always do well,” he said. This ability to explain intent and process mirrors how top performers handle real client projects.

Follow-Through Makes the Difference

Age and credentials matter less than reliability. Students as young as fourteen have produced outstanding results through consistent follow-through.

Dennis shared one story about a 14-year-old student who completed every assignment on time, produced content weekly, and analyzed results without prompting. That consistency led to measurable growth and personal confidence. In contrast, he mentioned older participants who “have to ask a question every single time” or constantly make excuses—and they rarely advance.

To stay on track:

  • Dedicate at least one hour per day to assignments.
  • Complete and submit a weekly status report summarizing what you shipped, what you learned, and what comes next.
  • Plan around vacations or other priorities so deadlines are met.

The goal is steady progress, not perfection.

What Success Looks Like Week to Week

Each week, successful participants:

  • Publish new work such as a video, ad, or content update.
  • Record clear performance metrics and note what improved.
  • Decide on the next concrete action to take.
  • Review targeted feedback from mentors and apply it immediately.

Dylan described one student who launched a short-form video campaign and then tracked its performance in the weekly report. “They took the feedback, adjusted the titles and tags, and doubled their watch time in a week,” he said. That’s the type of learning loop the program aims to build.

This cycle—action, reflection, improvement—builds measurable skill and momentum.

How to Prepare and Self-Assess

  1. Identify specific actions you can take this week.
  2. Choose one checklist and complete the first task today.
  3. Start your weekly status report document now and update it as you complete work.
  4. Set up a simple metric tracking sheet for your projects.
  5. Reserve your hour-a-day block on your calendar for the next two weeks.

These steps help you form the habits that lead to success inside the program.

High Rise Academy Works Only for Those Willing to Do the Work

High Rise Academy rewards people who act consistently, communicate clearly, and keep improving. Those habits matter more than background or prior experience. The more you build, measure, and refine, the more meaningful results you’ll achieve.

Dennis concluded the discussion by reminding parents and students that this program requires genuine interest. “We’re not here to babysit,” he said. “If they have that drive—whether it’s basketball, content creation, or entrepreneurship—they’ll thrive. If they don’t, they’ll struggle.”