In this episode, we discuss how to build healthy relationships through better communication, trust, emotional intelligence, accountability, and personal growth. Whether it’s marriage, friendships, business partnerships, leadership, or family, strong relationships shape every area of our lives — and poor communication can quietly break them down.

We talk about modern relationships, conflict resolution, connection, leadership within relationships, balancing ambition with personal life, and the habits that create long-term trust and respect. This conversation is focused on building stronger relationships in both life and business while becoming a better communicator, partner, friend, and leader.

If you’re looking for insight on healthy relationships, communication skills, emotional maturity, leadership, self-awareness, and personal development, this episode delivers practical perspective and honest conversation designed to help you grow.

The Success Architect Podcast | Episode 16
Relationships, Communication, Leadership & Growth

Host: @jakelewendal 
Guest: @makenzie.lewendal

Tune in to discover how to elevate your leadership and build lasting legacies.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:37] The law of standards.

[00:05:04] Core values as decision-making tools.

[00:08:25] Building success that lasts.

QUOTES

• "Leadership is about proper relationships and having good relationships with the people we are leading."
• "Take ownership of the fact that you have been tolerating it. And now go change it."

SOCIAL MEDIA

Jake Lewendal

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

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

WEBSITE

Momentum Customs: https://www.momentumcustomsmt.com/ 

Tune in to learn how to embrace ownership and drive positive change in your life!

TIMESTAMPS

[00:01:23] Law of Ownership.

[00:04:34] Ownership and leadership clarity.

QUOTES

• "Ownership is the responsibility for outcomes, not excuses."
• "We don't know what we don't know."

SOCIAL MEDIA

Jake Lewendal

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

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

WEBSITE

Momentum Customs: https://www.momentumcustomsmt.com/ 

Tune in for insights on success, personal growth, and innovation in construction technology.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:01:40] Career transition from policy to tech.

[00:06:06] Marketing psychology and growth.

[00:10:29] Work-life balance in startups.

[00:14:14] Remote work and lifestyle change.

[00:19:59] AI-driven estimating software.

[00:22:54] AI innovation in construction.

[00:24:41] Embracing technology in construction.

[00:30:14] Balancing work and motherhood.

[00:33:09] Doing it all vs. having it all.

[00:37:01] Success and how we feel.

QUOTES

•  "I think bringing your whole self to work is actually a really healthy way to have people realize that we're humans. We're not robots." -Lisa Walthers
•  "A leader is someone who makes the hard decisions and has the tough conversations." -Lisa Walthers
• "Happiness is a feeling, it's not a destination." -Lisa Walthers

SOCIAL MEDIA

Jake Lewendal

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

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

Lisa Walthers

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-walthers/ 

WEBSITE

Momentum Customs: https://www.momentumcustomsmt.com/ 

Tune in for an episode filled with practical wisdom for professionals striving to lead well at work while staying present at home.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:30] Involving kids in recreation.

[00:03:42] Leadership's impact on team quality.

[00:10:11] Wild West of construction work.

[00:12:24] Leadership and learning in construction.

[00:15:36] Employee turnover challenges in business.

[00:22:10] Persistence and personal growth.

[00:24:37] Pride in work quality.

[00:28:01] Sustainability in construction careers.

[00:30:11] Transitioning from profit to quality.

[00:36:10] Transitioning from trades to management.

[00:40:57] Empathy in construction communication.

[00:42:32] Balancing accountability and empathy.

[00:45:26] Leadership and accountability in communication.

[00:51:45] Building a strong company culture.

[00:54:07] Success in personal life.

QUOTES

• "If you can start kids young, you have a little bit of time to work with them, and then it sets up and it's kind of baked." -Peter Tranel
• "One of the biggest things is communication. You have to talk to people differently, and tone is a really big one." -Peter Tranel

SOCIAL MEDIA

Jake Lewendal

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

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

WEBSITE

Momentum Customs: https://www.momentumcustomsmt.com/ 

Tune in as Jake leads you to redefine your own blueprint for achievement!

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:03] Welcome to The Success Architect, and today's big question

[00:01:42] Jake's definition of success: creating with people you love

[00:03:08] The shift from chasing the future to living in the present

[00:04:03] Money as a tool, not the destination

[00:05:06] The true equation for success: people + what you create together

[00:06:16] Building the right culture in business

[00:07:35] Never retire from creation and contribution

[00:08:37] Why this podcast exists and the power of intentional success

[00:09:49] Reflection: Who's walking the journey with you?

QUOTES

• "Success to me is building a life where I get to keep creating with the people I love for as long as I'm alive."
• "Money doesn't define success in my world, but it does remove friction from achieving it."
• "If the people around you are the proof of your success, what story are you telling right now?"

SOCIAL MEDIA

Jake Lewendal

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

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

WEBSITE

Momentum Customs: https://www.momentumcustomsmt.com/ 

Tune in to how the shift from doing the work to coordinating the work changed the way he thinks about schedules, communication, and accountability.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:41] Jake introduces Billy Templeton at Momentum Customs.

[00:02:59] Billy shares family life and personal routines.

[00:04:23] Early construction work and learning by doing.

[00:05:25] Tile training and learning the right way.

[00:06:19] Market crash pushes a move into supervision.

[00:07:05] Estimating shifts him to the big picture.

[00:08:27] Doing it right the first time in tile.

[00:09:42] Building confidence with subcontractors.

[00:11:21] Communication becomes intentional and expanded.

[00:14:26] Asking better questions to move projects forward.

[00:16:45] Ownership and accountability as non-negotiables.

[00:19:09] Learning to trust, delegate, and let go.

QUOTES

• “The good job was, let's get it done quickly. Let's make sure we don't have callbacks, which means let's do it the correct way.” -Billy Templeton
• “Remember what you say you're gonna do and do your very best to do it.” -Billy Templeton
• “Work-wise, the reason that I get out of bed nine times out of ten is the accountability I feel towards people I work with.” -Billy Templeton

SOCIAL MEDIA

Jake Lewendal

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

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

WEBSITE

Momentum Customs: https://www.momentumcustomsmt.com/ 

Tune in to learn the secrets behind building a culture that empowers small teams, fosters genuine connections, and leads to measurable success—even as you scale.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:03] Meet your host and guest: Welcome, Jake Lewendahl and Paul Peterson.

[00:03:29] Paul’s background: From Wisconsin roots to Momentum Customs.

[00:07:35] Lessons from construction: Hard work, mentorship, and integration.

[00:21:05] Balancing passion and career: Hunting, outdoors, and building culture.

[00:33:37] Company growth and culture: Scaling teams while staying authentic.

[00:40:25] Avoiding burnout: Empowerment and relationships over numbers.

[00:47:54] Success redefined: Real freedom, family values, and personal passion.

QUOTES

• "Timing helps no matter what situation you're in in life when you're seeking to be successful, but hard work is always going to make the difference." – Paul Peterson
• "It's way too easy to burn people out by not actually caring about the people." – Jake Lewendal
• "I think happy people make productive people—and ultimately that drives your bottom line." – Paul Peterson

SOCIAL MEDIA

Jake Lewendal

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

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

Paul Peterson

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

WEBSITE

Momentum Customs: https://www.momentumcustomsmt.com/ 

Tune in for an honest and inspiring conversation that goes beyond business—it's all about building a foundation for lasting success together!

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:03] Building legacies: Jake & Makenzie’s journey from family business breakup to unified partnership

[00:02:02] The income competition and its impact on entrepreneurship and relationship dynamics

[00:10:55] Masculine vs. feminine energy for business and home success

[00:13:21] Navigating roles: Visionary vs. detail-oriented partnerships

[00:17:46] Holistic success: Active partnership, communication, and intentional leadership

[00:21:22] No-expectations mindset—how to shift energy and spark growth

[00:28:45] The power of counseling, unified front, and maintaining the spark

[00:30:29] Summing up: One mission, one path

QUOTES

• "Unification takes time—sometimes years—but it’s always worth it." – Jake Lewandal
• "Sit in your shit as long as you need, but I’m gonna do me. The competition has now been set." – Makenzie Lewendal
• "Active partnership versus silent expectations is the biggest thing couples can do in building a business." – Jake Lewandal

SOCIAL MEDIA

Jake Lewendal

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

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

Mackenzie Lewendal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makenzie.lewendal/ 

WEBSITE

Momentum Customs: https://www.momentumcustomsmt.com/ 

Tune in for insights on resilience, family dynamics, and the path to success after adversity.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:06] Emotional strain of family business.

[00:04:01] Trust and loyalty in relationships.

[00:10:04] Family business communication strategies.

[00:12:47] Life expectations vs. reality.

[00:18:26] Identity tied to career success.

[00:22:04] Identity beyond career definition.

QUOTES

• "I always knew what I wanted when I was younger was never to let money be something that could control me." -Makenzie Lewendal
• "You get in when you're really young, and so you don't often get into a family business after you've had years of experience under your belt." -Makenzie Lewendal

SOCIAL MEDIA

Jake Lewendal

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

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

Mackenzie Lewendal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makenzie.lewendal/ 

WEBSITE

Momentum Customs: https://www.momentumcustomsmt.com/ 

Tune in to learn how to approach family businesses with a mindset geared towards success, even amidst difficulties.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:46] Family business challenges explained.

[00:06:25] Family business conflicts resolution.

[00:11:15] Family business challenges and solutions.

[00:12:41] Non-negotiable communication rules.

[00:16:39] Family dynamics in business.

[00:20:55] Rebuilding confidence after failure.

QUOTES

• "Even if it's not easy, it can be simple, and it can be done."
• "Losing the business wasn't the end. It was the beginning of who I actually became."
• "Love and family matter a hell of a lot more than a couple of dollars."

SOCIAL MEDIA

Jake Lewendal

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

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

Tune in for some practical blueprints for growth. This is where to start. 

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:03] Welcome to The Success Architect & Laying the Foundation

[00:01:32] Why This Show Exists: Growth, Community, and Real Change

[00:03:00] From Burnout to Breakthrough: Jake Lewandal’s Personal Transformation

[00:06:46] Defining Success: Mastery vs. Money

[00:09:33] Income, Impact, and the True Role of Money

[00:11:12] Habits, Structure, and Sustainable Growth

[00:12:04] Closing: Success Isn’t Luck—It’s Architecture

QUOTES

• "In order to get what you want, the universe requires you to become the person who can receive it." 
• "Real success isn't built on hype or luck. It's built on discipline, clarity, and consistency."
• "The real change comes when you start focusing on the things outside of the business. You start focusing on you." 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Jake Lewendal

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

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

I’m Jake Lewendal, a custom home builder, husband, father, and coach. I’ve learned that success isn’t something you stumble into—it’s something you architect. 

On this podcast, we’re talking to entrepreneurs who are done playing small. We’ll break down the systems, mindset shifts, and habits that turn chaos into cash flow and burnout into balance. 

But here’s the twist: this isn’t just about business. We’ll also dive into fitness, wealth building, and the mental toughness required to perform at your peak—on the job site and in life. 

Whether you’re a builder, an entrepreneur, or someone designing your next chapter, this show will give you the tools and the blueprint to build success that actually lasts. 

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about what you build.

It’s about who you become while building it.