Blueprints Podcast

DISC Personality Profiles: The Blueprint for Better Leadership & Communication

In this episode, Isabelle and Michael break down a tool that’s transformed how they lead, hire, and connect — both in business and life: the DISC personality profile.
From sales to project design to everyday relationships, understanding personality types can help you communicate more clearly, resolve conflict more easily, and build stronger teams.
Whether you’re building a team, managing a project, or just trying to get through a tough conversation, this episode offers a simple but powerful blueprint to improve your interactions and decision-making.

3 Remodels Michiganders Never Regret

In this episode of The Blueprints Podcast, Isabelle and Michael dive into three home remodeling projects that Michigan homeowners absolutely love — and never regret.
From cozy three- and four-season rooms to mosquito-free screened porches and fully customized decks and patios, these projects transform how families live, gather, and enjoy Michigan’s beautiful summers.
Whether you're planning your next project or just dreaming, this episode is full of practical insight and inspiration.

Why Your Business Needs You to Take a Break

In this episode, Isabelle sits down with Michael to talk about something every entrepreneur wrestles with: how to actually take a vacation—and come back better for it.
Michael shares the honest ups and downs of learning to unplug, and how a time management system helped him break the cycle of burnout. You’ll hear about the concepts of Free Days, Focus Days, and Buffer Days, and how these simple ideas have reshaped the way he plans time off and growth inside his business. It’s not just about resting—it's about creating space to lead better, think clearer, and build a stronger team.
Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just getting started, this conversation offers a blueprint worth following.

What a Remodeler Can Teach a Room Full of Marketers

In this episode, Isabelle and Michael reflect on their recent experience speaking at Impact Live, a national marketing conference. They share how their company’s journey with content marketing began, what led them to work with the team at Impact, and how that partnership helped transform their approach to video, blogging, SEO, and leadership.
Isabelle and Michael also discuss the challenge of building a consistent marketing strategy in a design-build business and how their presentation resonated with an audience of marketers from a wide range of industries.
Whether you’re a business owner, marketing leader, or just curious about what it’s like to present at a national conference, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a marketing engine from the ground up.

How to Take a Clarity Break (And Why You Need One)

In this episode of Blueprints, Isabelle and Michael explore a deceptively simple tool that has been instrumental in both their personal and professional growth: the Clarity Break.
The Clarity Break is more than a productivity hack—it's a way to reclaim your mind, reset your focus, and realign with what truly matters. Michael shares how taking intentional time away from the noise of daily demands—whether it's an hour, a day, or a weekend retreat—has helped him process challenges, gain insight, and prevent burnout. Isabelle adds her own reflections on how these breaks have brought renewed inspiration and reminded her of her true priorities.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of your next step, this episode offers a practical, life-giving strategy to help you pause, reflect, and move forward with clarity.

Innovating Your Career Path Post-Graduation

In this episode of Blueprints, Michael sits down with Isabelle for a candid and inspiring conversation about career paths, purpose, and growing into leadership. As the Director of Marketing at Custom Built, Isabelle shares how she went from running a summer baking camp in high school to leading the marketing department of a thriving design-build firm—all without a traditional college degree.
Isabelle reflects on how growing up as the oldest of eight shaped her leadership style, and how her early interest in business and people led to a journey filled with unexpected turns. From early navigating life transitions during COVID, to turning a summer job into a full-time career, Isabelle’s story is one of initiative, resilience, and intentional growth. She shares how she taught herself marketing, took ownership of tools like HubSpot, and stepped into leadership in a male-dominated industry—all while continuing to invest in personal development, mentorship, and learning by doing.
Whether you're a student, a recent graduate, or someone rethinking your next career move, this episode is a powerful reminder that the path to success isn’t always linear—and that with the right mindset, you can create a meaningful impact no matter where you start.

Stop Feeling Shame: The Gap v. Gain Mindset

In this episode of The Blueprints Podcast, Isabelle and Michael dive into a transformational mindset tool every entrepreneur and growth-minded person needs: The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. They explore how this simple but powerful concept can help you shift out of fear, shame, and comparison—and into gratitude, peace, and forward momentum.
Michael shares how he first encountered the Gap and Gain during his entrepreneurial journey, and how it changed the way he measured progress—by looking at how far he'd come instead of how far he still had to go. Isabelle reflects on her own experiences stepping into a leadership role in marketing, and how applying this mindset helped her stay grounded and focused during steep learning curves.
Whether you're building a business, growing a career, or just trying to stay sane in a world of constant expectations, this episode offers a practical blueprint for reclaiming joy and clarity on your journey.

Cullen Menke's Transformative Story on Impacting Lives Overseas

In this powerful episode of The Blueprint Podcast, host Michael Flory sits down with Cullen Menke — a teacher, humanitarian, and personal friend — to unpack a story of transformation, purpose, and global impact. Cullen opens up about his challenging childhood, his struggles with addiction and shame, and the turning point that led him to pursue a life of mentorship and service.
From teaching Roma children in impoverished villages to building a youth center and coffee shop in the heart of Eastern Europe, Cullen’s story is raw, redemptive, and deeply inspiring.
Whether you’re in a season of searching or looking to be reminded of the power of second chances, this episode will challenge and encourage you.

The Blueprints They Don’t Teach You in School

In this episode of The Blueprints Podcast, Isabelle and Michael dive into the real, raw journey of growing alongside the business you're building. From ditching traditional schooling for a self-guided education to embracing entrepreneurial "seizures," they explore how personal development and business development are tightly linked.
Michael shares his early story—how a gut feeling (and a late-night infomercial) launched his first real estate deal and eventually led to founding a design-build company. They unpack the difference between schooling and education, and why mindset, leadership, and ownership are critical as your business grows.
Whether you’re just starting out or trying to level up, this episode is packed with encouragement and lessons from the trenches.

What is the Blueprints Podcast?

Before you can build anything—whether it’s a house, a business, or a better life—you need a blueprint. In this very first episode, you’ll meet your hosts Michael Flory and Isabelle Braeutigam, the father-daughter duo behind Custom Built Design & Remodeling, and the voices behind Blueprints.
Michael opens up about the tragic event that changed his life at just 10 years old, the long road of healing that followed, and how that journey shaped the way he leads his business, his family, and now this podcast. Together, Michael and Isabelle share the heart behind Blueprints—why they started it, who it’s for, and what they hope you take away from every episode.
This is more than a podcast about entrepreneurship or self-development. It’s about redemption, growth, and the belief that you can rebuild from anything—with the right plan.