In this episode, Dennis Yu discusses mindset shifts necessary for local service success while climbing in the Dolomites. He shares insights on how to achieve personal and professional growth while scaling up local service businesses.
If you’re a young adult or the parent of one, consider joining High Rise Academy to learn marketing skills that get results: https://highriseinfluence.net/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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Use the table below to assign yourself points in each area. Then total your score to see where you stand.
| Category | Points Range |
|---|---|
| Tool Curiosity | 0–30 |
| Execution Velocity | 0–25 |
| Grit & Follow‑Through | 0–20 |
| Documentation | 0–15 |
| Attitude Toward Change | 0–10 |
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.
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.
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:
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.
If you’re tired of vague “consulting” promises and want a repeatable blueprint for building a service agency that actually scales, this candid conversation is for you.
Dennis Yu and Jack Wendt pull no punches as they share how High‑Rise Influence helps 7‑ and 8‑figure founders earn a Google Knowledge Panel — the digital stamp of legitimacy most gurus can’t deliver. They reveal why clarity and proof matter more than hype, why you must draw a line on who you serve, and how to create an operations playbook that lets you hire and train without reinventing the wheel each time.
Highlights include:
If you’re ready to stop selling air and start delivering results that even Google recognizes, hit play. Then let us know in the comments: what’s the one thing holding your agency back from scaling?
Every time someone tags me in Basecamp, I get two emails for the same message: one for the post, and one for the mention.
Multiply that by dozens of projects, and you’ve just doubled the noise in an inbox that already gets over a thousand emails a day.
I manage 1,000 emails a day. Every unnecessary ping pulls me away from the high-value work that keeps everything moving: strategy, client relationships, training, and developing the next generation of digital leaders.
Tagging me in Basecamp might seem like a quick way to get my attention, but it actually creates friction.
It breaks the system we built to keep communication smooth, focused, and accountable.
If I’m subscribed to a Basecamp thread, I already get the message.
Basecamp is where we document work.
We always practice RACI:
When you tag someone just to make sure they “saw it,” you’re bypassing that structure.
It’s like cutting across traffic because you don’t feel like waiting for the light; it might save a second, but it causes chaos.
We created the Level 1 Guide to make this process easy for new folks and anyone who hasn’t worked in a high-functioning team before. It’s all spelled out, who does what, where updates go, and how to communicate clearly without creating extra noise.
Following these systems is about protecting focus.
Every time you skip the system, you create work for someone else and that ripple effect slows everyone down.
Don’t tag me in Basecamp.
If I need to be looped in, assign the task to the right person and let the process work.
If it’s truly urgent, use the proper channels.
We win by running clean systems, not by shouting louder in the digital hallway.
High Rise Academy is led by three practitioners who train students on real business projects using documented processes and live feedback.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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:
We use Facebook because local service business owners live on Facebook.
If you want clients, you should too.
To get fully connected, knock these out immediately:
— Accept your Basecamp invite. Projects, training, assignments, and your Weekly MAA reports live here.
— Join the ChatGPT business account. Full access to our shared tools and workspace.
— 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.
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:
Two minutes of effort is enough.
It’s about building the habit.
This isn’t a solo sport.
Inside the Office Hours group, you’ll find people:
Reach out. Build relationships.
Many of our best agencies started from connections made here.
You get access to tools that the public doesn’t:
When we teach something publicly, you get the implementation version.
That’s a massive advantage; use it.
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:
Email is where real business happens.
You need to treat it seriously.
We have training on:
Including:
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.)
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.
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:
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.
Colby Joseph Davis’ journey in the trades began when he was still a teenager. Working alongside his father in the plumbing business and later in pool renovation, roofing and painting, he learned the value of craftsmanship, customer service and honesty early on. Those hands‑on experiences across multiple trades would shape his entrepreneurial vision.
In 2013 he founded Davis Painting, and under his leadership the company has become one of Pennsylvania and New Jersey’s fastest‑growing residential and commercial painting firms. Davis Painting is known for its spotless trucks, coordinated uniforms and meticulous job‑site preparation—details Colby insists on because, as he says, “People notice the little things”. By hiring for character as much as skill and instilling pride in every team member, he’s built a brand that stands for excellence in every brushstroke.
Seeing a fragmented home‑services industry ripe for consolidation, Colby launched Indy Capital and its operating arm, Indy Brands. Through Indy Brands, his team acquires, scales and sells top‑performing home‑service companies—including Davis Painting, SUDS Power Washing, Light Your Night and Honest Roofing. He admits he never expected to start his own private‑equity firm, but after spotting a need for honesty, integrity and high‑quality service in the sector he knew it was time.
From apprentice to entrepreneur, Colby Joseph Davis shows what’s possible when vision, craftsmanship and care for people come together.
If you’d like to learn more about Colby Joseph Davis’s approach to leadership, check out our post on his leadership philosophy here: https://dennisyu.com/earning-respect-the-leadership-philosophy-of-colby-joseph-davis/
For more on how he built his painting empire, read this article: https://jackwendt.com/from-paintbrush-to-portfolio-how-colby-joseph-davis-built-a-multi-state-painting-empire-and-beyond/
Discover the launch of Indy Capital and Indy Brands in our previous post: https://highriseinfluence.net/launching-indy-capital-a-new-chapter-for-home-services/
