In episode 8 of Built Without Permission, Matthew Mak interviews Alisha Esmail, Founder of Latch AI, as she shares how she navigated business pivots, overcame setbacks—including losing vital support and enduring rocky partnerships—and found new strength through elite networking and the right partners.

Tune in to level up your approach, spark new ideas, and start building—without waiting for permission!

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:05] The No-Permission Mindset: Meet Alisha Esmail
[00:01:29] From International Development to Coffee Entrepreneurship
[00:03:15] Road Coffee’s Impact: Direct Supply Chains & Microloans
[00:04:08] Navigating Fear, Setbacks, and Getting Fired
[00:07:32] The Power of Community Versus Family Support
[00:09:40] The Reality Behind “Overnight Success”
[00:11:00] The Importance of Elite Mentorship and Sequencing
[00:12:07] Lessons from Tough Partnerships and Rediscovering Vision
[00:15:14] Why Business Owners Don’t Talk About Hard Things
[00:17:44] Alisha’s Advice: Start with the “Cupcake Version”
[00:21:19] Skydiving as a Metaphor for Business
[00:24:42] What “Built Without Permission” Really Means
[00:26:47] Confronting Your Own Limitations and Taking Massive Action
[00:28:16] Building AI Solutions from the Ground Up

QUOTES

• "Everything else will work itself out, but it's our responsibility to always take that first step in anything we want to pursue." – Alisha Esmail
• "The only thing that really holds us back in life is ourselves." – Alisha Esmail
• "If you're waiting for permission, you're already behind. The life you're building starts with the decisions you make today." – Matthew Mac

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Matthew Mak

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattmak.builds/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.ozoriomak

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mak-715bb825/

J and J Equipment Rental

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandjequipmentrental/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JJ-Equipment-Rental/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/j-j-equipment-rental

Alisha Esmail

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alishaesmail/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisha-esmail/

In episode 7 of Built Without Permission, Matthew Mak interviews David Hori, an elite business acquirer and coach, as we discover his powerful transformation from a secure, corporate legal and tech career to taking the ultimate entrepreneurial leap: betting on himself and building companies that reflect his personal vision and values.

Tune in to learn from elite performers who don’t just talk about it—they execute, they mentor, and they redefine what’s possible when you take control of your own exit blueprint.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:00] Building Without Permission: Host and Guest Introductions
[00:03:56] David Hori’s Journey: From Corporate to Serial Startup Exits
[00:05:19] Making the Leap: Risk, Fear, and Family Considerations
[00:08:15] The Value of Mentorship, Books, and Peer Relationships
[00:10:35] What It Really Takes to Start and Scale a Business
[00:13:38] Learning from Failure and Turning Regret into Growth
[00:17:40] Strategic Acquisitions: Sectors, Criteria, and Processes
[00:23:49] Buy and Hold vs. Flipping: Long-Term Vision
[00:26:07] Building the Right Team: Hiring EAs, Admin, and Key Roles
[00:29:28] Leveraging AI and Systems for Business Scale
[00:32:18] Built Without Permission: Action, Ownership, and Execution
[00:34:40] Where to Connect with David Hori

QUOTES

• "The only reason we look behind us is to learn from—we win, or we learn." – David Hori
• "We are going to win because we move faster than everybody else. When they think in terms of weeks and months, we're thinking in terms of minutes and hours." – David Hori
• "If you're waiting for permission, you're already behind. The life you're building starts with the decisions you make today." – Matthew Mak

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Matthew Mak

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattmak.builds/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.ozoriomak

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mak-715bb825/

J and J Equipment Rental

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandjequipmentrental/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JJ-Equipment-Rental/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/j-j-equipment-rental

David Hori

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedavidhori/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedavidhori/

In episode 6 of Built Without Permission, Matthew Mak interviews Mauricio Perez, founder of Northside Contracting Corporation, as they discuss strategies for overcoming self-doubt, the value of hard-won experience, and why the most powerful successes often happen behind the scenes.

Tune in to learn how to turn every challenge into a stepping stone, nurture your team, and start making your own blueprint—no permission required.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:05] Introducing Mauricio Perez’s story and background

[00:02:07] The sacrifices entrepreneurs make and the challenges of leadership

[00:04:58] Success behind the scenes, social media vs. reality

[00:07:12] Expanding outside Ontario: Edmonton, Calgary, and beyond

[00:12:34] Biggest early lessons and growing pains

[00:16:02] The moment Mauricio chose entrepreneurship

[00:18:18] How Northside Contracting was born

[00:25:06] Company culture and redefining team relationships

[00:27:28] “Built Without Permission” and making your own rules

QUOTES

• "I feel like all of my lessons, the reasons I've gotten to where I've gotten today, are because of expensive mistakes and not giving up when things got tough." – Mauricio Perez
• "It's all part of the journey; there’s no handbook to do this. You have to do it your own way." – Mauricio Perez
• "The life you're building starts with the decisions you make today. So stop thinking and start moving." – Matthew Mac

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Matthew Mak

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattmak.builds/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.ozoriomak

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mak-715bb825/

J and J Equipment Rental

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandjequipmentrental/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JJ-Equipment-Rental/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/j-j-equipment-rental

Mauricio Perez

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricio-perez-495a3b17b/

Northside Contracting Corporation

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northsidecontracting_/

Website: http://northsidecontracting.ca/testimonials/

In episode 4 of Built Without Permission, Matthew Mak interviews Antone Harb, a powerhouse contractor and entrepreneur, about how he leverages mentorship, networks, and relentless goal-setting to fuel personal transformation and expansion—while constantly improving relationships, communication, and accountability with both employees and clients.

Tune in to learn how to lead with integrity, master your craft, push through uncertainty, and start building your business—no blueprint required!

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:05] From side hustles to blueprints—Matthew’s intro & Antone’s backstory

[00:04:13] The breaking point: Why Antone took the leap and started his business

[00:05:53] Scaling fast: Hitting six figures, leading a 15-person team, and executing under pressure

[00:13:12] Leadership lessons: Treating employees like family and building long-term relationships

[00:20:04] Marketing mishaps, sales strategies, and learning from business setbacks

[00:27:19] The value of mentorship, masterminds, and networking in business

[00:30:30] Actionable advice for new entrepreneurs—passion, planning, and execution

[00:33:13] Built without permission: Defining your journey regardless of what others say

QUOTES

• "Be a hundred percent in and passionate about what you're gonna do. Master it, learn, fail. Don't be afraid to fail and go for it." – Antone Harb
• "When people are telling you you're crazy, it means that you're doing something right." – Matthew Mak
• "Once you find out your passion and you have a plan, it's easy. Everything else just falls into place because you know what you're doing." – Antone Harb

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Matthew Mak

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattmak.builds/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.ozoriomak

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mak-715bb825/

J and J Equipment Rental

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandjequipmentrental/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JJ-Equipment-Rental/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/j-j-equipment-rental

Antone Harb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antonesreno/?hl=en

In episode 3 of Built Without Permission, Matthew Mak interviews Liz Pead, a Textile artist, jacquard loom lover, and landscape painter, as she shares her approach to goal-setting, learning from setbacks, and scaling her operation—moving from hand-woven art to industry-level manufacturing with a 3-meter-wide, fully digital Jacquard loom (worth millions).

Tune in for a powerful conversation on leadership, innovation, and taking bold steps toward your business goals!

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:05] From folding suits to building businesses: Matthew Mac’s journey

[00:01:20] The politics of permits and breaking ground on a textile vision

[00:02:13] Machinery obsession: acquiring spinning mills and Jacquard looms

[00:06:31] The hands-on process: from sheep to finished yarn

[00:08:53] Navigating manufacturing setbacks and industry shifts

[00:10:42] Merging art, craft, and production: leadership in action

[00:12:02] Building teams, hiring, and valuing people

[00:19:38] Rebuilding Canadian wool: purpose and legacy

[00:21:04] Embodied knowledge, mentorship, and tech innovation

[00:23:13] Execution over excuses: the discipline to take action

QUOTES

• "I want to change how we valorize and how we value wool and the wool chain in Canada." – Liz Pead
• "That's what defines the difference between people like yourself and...the rest of the world, is that you do it. You execute it. You don't wait for anyone." – Matthew Mak
• "I'm doing everything very scientifically. The thing I'm most excited about is that I can now quantify and speak intelligently about fibers and communicate that to the industry." – Liz Pead

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Matthew Mak

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattmak.builds/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.ozoriomak

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mak-715bb825/

J and J Equipment Rental

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandjequipmentrental/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JJ-Equipment-Rental/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/j-j-equipment-rental

Liz Pead

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizpead/

In episode 2 of Built Without Permission, Matthew Mak discusses the importance of commitment and vision, detailing how he crafted a life plan in his teenage years that included milestones such as marriage and becoming a parent.

Tune in to hear inspiring stories and insights on what it truly takes to build something from nothing.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:01:44] The power of belief.

[00:06:04] Building without permission.

QUOTES

• "Not wishful thinking, not a daydream, a plan."
• "The ability to envision something and believe it into existence, to build without permission, without a blueprint handed to you, with anyone telling you it's possible, that's what this show is here to pass on."

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Matthew Mak

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattmak.builds/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.ozoriomak

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mak-715bb825/

J and J Equipment Rental

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandjequipmentrental/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JJ-Equipment-Rental/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/j-j-equipment-rental

In this first-ever episode of Built Without Permission, Matthew Mak, co-founder of J & J Equipment Rental, discusses his transition into architecture and his commitment to building a life and career without waiting for the perfect moment—because he believes the right moment is always now.

Tune in for real stories and insights on building your own success without needing permission.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:46] Messy paths to success.

[00:04:22] Start building something of your own.

QUOTES

• "The right moment was always right now."
• "You don't need permission to start building."

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Matthew Mak

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattmak.builds/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.ozoriomak

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mak-715bb825/

J and J Equipment Rental

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandjequipmentrental/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/JJ-Equipment-Rental/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/j-j-equipment-rental

Everyone loves the idea of building a business…

Until it’s time to actually do it.

No one talks about the part where you quit the “safe” thing…

Pick up something completely different…

And figure it out while the bills are still due.

That’s where this show lives.

Built Without Permission isn’t about theory.

It’s not another “10 steps to success” podcast from someone who’s never had to pivot mid-month because reality punched them in the face.

This is for the ones who’ve started over. The ones who’ve been told, “That doesn’t make sense.”

The ones who didn’t wait for a green light… they just went.

Matthew Mak went from folding dress shirts…

To landscaping…
To bussing at night clubs...
To architecture during the day, tow trucking at night…
To build multiple businesses the hard way—
Trial, error, and expensive lessons.

And now he’s pulling back the curtain on what it actually takes.

The decisions.
The pivots.
The moments where you either figure it out… or you don’t eat.

If you’ve got that itch to build something…
But you’re tired of waiting for the “right time”…
Good.

You’re exactly who this is for.

Because the truth is—The people who win?

They didn’t wait for permission.