In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae has an honest and inspiring conversation with Andrew Killian, founder and CEO of HomeStead HotLeads, about what it really takes to walk away from a successful career in software engineering and build something of your own.

Andrew opens up about the motivations behind his leap into entrepreneurship, the obstacles he’s faced, and the deeply personal rewards that come from pursuing freedom, fulfillment, and impact. He highlights the role of gratitude in business, especially in the remodeling space, and how being intentional about connecting with female buyers has helped him create a more human, results-driven customer experience.

This episode offers real-world wisdom on starting over, staying agile, and scaling strategically—with heart.

Key Takeaways

• Adapting to changes in a fast-paced environment and learning to anticipate market shifts before they happen.
• Building a vision for your business that balances where you are now with where you want to go.
• Bridging the gap between ideas and action through intentional, consistent execution.
• Turning launch delays or market entry setbacks into opportunities for growth and strategic reflection.
• Using gratitude as a foundation for better client relationships and stronger business culture.
• Understanding emotional buying behavior to create more impactful customer experiences.
• Pursuing freedom and autonomy as core motivators for long-term entrepreneurial success.

• 00:00 - Introduction to Andrew Killian
• 01:55 - Andrew's Entrepreneurial Journey
• 03:09 - The Power of Gratitude in Business
• 04:47 - Making the Leap: Motivations and Challenges
• 09:05 - The Importance of Environment and Free Will
• 16:54 - Niches Make Riches: Tailoring to Female Buyers
• 20:03 - Defining Success and Personal Freedom
• 25:10 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

• [00:03:14] " Thank you is so much more powerful than I'm sorry. It's really leaning into that expression of gratitude, helping to align things to appreciate rather than to point for the failing or to point towards something different." — Madeleine MacRae
• [00:09:45] “ I'm a big believer in always questioning why you believe what you believe.” — Andrew Killian
• [00:19:25] “ if you do what you've always done, you're gonna end up getting less than what you've always gotten.” — Madeleine MacRae
• [00:22:21] " Being able to just control your time is  the most accurate predictor of happiness." — Andrew Killian

Andrew Killian is the founder and CEO of HomeStead HotLeads, a company dedicated to helping home improvement businesses generate high-quality leads through strategic digital marketing. With a background in software engineering, Andrew made the leap into entrepreneurship to pursue greater freedom and impact. He's passionate about gratitude-driven leadership, customer experience, and empowering service-based businesses to thrive through smarter marketing and authentic connection.

Resources and Links

Andrew Killian

• LinkedIn

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram