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Use AI to Build the Draft, Not Replace the Thinking
AI can speed research, outlining, drafting, and repurposing, but the founder’s judgment creates the point of view.
I developed my Diagnose.Align.Scale framework to help founders uncover what is really holding back growth, align the business around the correct priorities and scale with more clarity, discipline and momentum.
You can learn through experience, or you can borrow mine.
I’ve built and exited four companies. I’ve had wins, faceplants, and hard-earned lessons you won’t find in a YouTube video or a business book.
You don’t need more information, you need a partner who’s been where you’re going, can see the moves ahead, and help you avoid the landmines.
That’s what I do. I don’t coach from theory. I coach from scars and systems that work.
Age 27: My First Startup and My First Hard Lesson
The business model was solid. The market was real. I built a specialty food retail store and full service catering business called The Fabulous Food Store.
My leadership and process management? Not so much.
I wasn’t delegating well. I was reacting instead of leading.
The team didn’t have clarity, and I didn’t have a system.
I’m not a quitter, but after three years I realized this:
it wasn’t the idea that was broken, it was how I was running it. It was me that was broken.
So I sold the business and went to grad school.
Not for the diploma on the wall, but to learn how to think differently about leadership, about systems, about strategy, finance, and operations.
That failure became the foundation for success. The best growth coach teaches good ideas die without good leadership and structure.
Learning to Scale in the Real World
Next, I joined a specialty food retail chain when they had just two stores.
I made a small investment, rolled up my sleeves, and helped grow it to 12 locations, including two acquisitions.
That’s where I learned how to:
Turn operations into scalable systems
Use numbers, not hope, to make decisions
Grow without losing the soul of the brand
After that company sold, I founded The Daily Markets in Washington, DC. A chain of grab-and-go meal stores and one of the first food retail websites on the internet.
A supermarket chain acquired us, and that “early internet experiment” became their shop-at-home delivery platform.
Those years taught me how to build businesses that are scalable and acquirable, not just “open for business.” That is the guidance you want from a growth coach.
Launching a Global Skincare Brand from Scratch
Then came Raw Essentials, which I co-founded with supermodel and wellness advocate Carol Alt.
We launched on shopping channels internationally, learning in real time how to:
Tell a compelling product story in seconds
Convert attention into purchases at scale
Build a brand that feels premium and approachable
From there, we expanded into major retailers like Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Walgreens, Shoppers Drug Mart, and more.
Different industry, same game:
understand the customer, nail the story, and build a brand that earns shelf space, and stays there.
Next, I teamed up with the second-largest razor manufacturer in the world to launch a shaving brand called Ultimate Shave.
We scaled quickly in a crowded category by refusing to play it safe.
To break through the clutter, I pulled a stunt with MLB pitcher Brian Wilson. The kind of move that makes people stop scrolling, lean in, and say, “Who are these guys?”
From there, I founded CrunchGrowth. And for the last 14 years, my team and I have been helping brands do exactly that:
scale smart, punch above their weight, and stand out in noisy markets.
Along the way, I’ve:
Written three best-selling books on marketing, branding, and growth
Launched a TV show where I interview entrepreneurs about scaling, systems, and strategy
In other words: I’ve spent decades in the trenches so founders don’t have to guess.
You’ve heard the highlight reel. Now let’s talk about the strikeouts.
I tried my hand in fashion. Total flop.
That business was way outside my sphere of knowledge and influence.
I can barely dress myself, let alone other people.
We created a hair regrowth brand called Folicell. Great name, great product… and I still couldn’t scale it. We just did not understand that market well enough.
Then came a powdered supplement line. protein, greens, the works.
We launched in February 2020.
Two words: COVID happened. It never had a chance.
So no, it’s not all rosy.
But here’s how I see it:
The best baseball hitters’ bat .330.
By that standard, I’m batting .400
and every miss made me a smarter, more dangerous operator. And I am not afraid of failure or trying.
That’s the version of me you get as a growth coach.
I’m not a “theory” coach.
I’m a builder who has:
Founders and CEO’s work with me because they don’t want fluff. They want a successful framework to:
If you’re an entrepreneur who wants to go from “we’re surviving” to “we’re scaling”, this is where we start.
The leap from seven to eight figures breaks most businesses. Not because the market isn’t there, but because the operating model wasn’t built for it. The Vector 100 Method is a proven three-stage framework – Diagnose, Align, Scale – designed specifically for founders who are ready to engineer that jump, not hope for it.
People choose Phil Masiello as their growth coach because he’s a 4x exit founder and 3x best-selling author who’s spent over two decades building, scaling, and exiting successful brands.
As the founder of CrunchGrowth Revenue Acceleration Agency and host of Crunching Your Growth podcast and TV show on e360tv, Phil has driven impressive growth across industries like food, beauty, fashion, and personal care. He helps founders and startups overcome growth plateaus, optimize e-commerce and multi-channel marketing strategies, and forge authentic customer connections that lead to profitable, lasting success.
With real-world experience from launching disruptive ventures like 800razors.com and Raw Essentials, Phil provides practical, proven guidance to turn entrepreneurial struggles into sustainable results.
Schedule a complimentary discovery call below.
Proven expertise in building and growing brands
Proven processes that have helped brands scale
I've dedicated over 10,000 hours to coaching individuals on their journey to success.
Serving Clients worldwide with flexible online coaching sessions.
Phil has a profound ability to transform struggling businesses into success stories and propel growing companies to new heights. Based on our experiences, Phil helped propel our multi-brand product strategy and chart our success.
Phil's help in launching my brand from an idea to reality was invaluable. He is so smart and knowledgeable and can see the pitfalls to avoid.
Unlock your potential with a complimentary 15-minute consultation. This session offers you the chance to discuss your goals, explore personalized coaching strategies, and determine the best path forward. Start your journey to success with expert guidance and a clear plan tailored to your needs.
AI can speed research, outlining, drafting, and repurposing, but the founder’s judgment creates the point of view.
Great brands combine psychology, strategy, creativity, and execution in a way that keeps business interesting.
Failure can teach, but founders must convert lessons into better judgment and action.
Philip Masiello is one of the founders of CrunchGrowth Revenue Acceleration Agency, one of the fastest-growing marketing agencies in the nation.
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