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👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – Ed DeAngelis
Website: https://www.edacontractors.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-deangelis-eda-contractors/
What does it really take to build a successful company and why do so many founders burn out before they get there?
In this episode, Ed DeAngelis, CEO of EDA Contractors, shares the honest truth about entrepreneurship: the grind, the breakdowns, the resilience, and the long, painful journey of building something meaningful. From delivering newspapers at 11, to working construction, to leading a 450-person company, Ed’s story is a masterclass in commitment, balance, and emotional intelligence. 
🔥 What you’ll learn
• Why the first 10 years of business feel like survival mode
• The role resilience plays in every founder’s journey
• How Ed rebuilt his health after hitting a breaking point
• What balance really looks like (and why it’s not constant)
• How to prepare your kids and team for leadership
• Why “humanity as a strategy” drives long-term success
Chapters:
0:00 – Meet Ed & His Paperboy-to-CEO Journey
1:07 – Working 9 Years Before Starting EDA Contractors
3:28 – The Reality of Fear, Survival Mode & Resilience
8:12 – Family, Balance, Mistakes & Leadership Growth
15:04 – Health, Marathon Mindset & Long-Term Wisdom
Website
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