How to Build $500M in Developments with Heart and Purpose w/ Dima Itskovich (Ep. 80)

Are you a real estate developer or simply someone interested in seeing how a co-living residence can enrich your social life while making living costs more affordable? Meet Robert Barnard. He's a co-founder of Toboggan Flats based in Canada, which delivers affordable, purpose-built co-living by transforming vacant office spaces into modern shared housing for young professionals—right in the downtown areas where they want to live, work, and play.What you may find most insightful from our deep conversation are the following:How co-living works to help make housing more affordable and reduce loneliness in Canada.How top co-living places from across the globe are building tenant experiences with their design, amenities, and unique programming.His 24-hour rule on how to get over a major setback with grief and then resilience.How young adults can make the best of their formative years to redefine what feeling stable really means before they can follow their entrepreneurial dreams or start a family.Get present and get ready to transport yourself back in time as we kick the episode off with a defining story in Rob’s life.Flow through distractions and get precious work done with our community: https://centered.app/g/grind-less-flow-more-group?from=grindlessflowmore Find the links to resources mentioned on our website: https://grindlessflowmore.com/Follow Grind Less Flow More and its community:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grindlessflowmore/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grind-less-flow-more/

Are you passionate about real estate or the art of creation? Meet Dima Itskovich — a visionary developer and philanthropist based on Vancouver Island. Over his career, Dima has been involved in more than $500 million worth of development projects under Axiom Bosa and his own ventures.What you might find most valuable from our deep conversation includes the following: Tracing your family roots — especially when they stem from hardship — can fuel your courage and generosity.Stepping out on your own after learning from industry leaders can redefine your purpose and independence.Leading a development project (or any investor-backed initiative) with a clear sense of purpose creates alignment, trust, and lasting impact.Get present and get ready to transport yourself back in time as we kick the episode off with a defining story in Dima’s life.Flow through distractions and get precious work done with our community: https://centered.app/g/grind-less-flow-more-group?from=grindlessflowmore Find the links to resources mentioned on our website: https://grindlessflowmore.com/Follow Grind Less Flow More and its community:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grindlessflowmore/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grind-less-flow-more/

Do you find yourself torn between the fear of debt and the belief that it could actually fuel your growth? Meet Baharak Beikoghli, the Owner of wellness co-working spot, Werklab Inc. Baharak has worked in the wellness space for years and now is integrating holistic wellness into our day to day work lives.What you might find most valuable from our deep conversation includes the following: How to build courage as a young mom when it feels like life is falling apart.Why reframing debt as a leveraged tool instead of a liability is crucial especially if you want to buy a business like she did.How a business that leverages community can be your secret weapon to learn quickly and meet inspiring people - without relying on networking events. Get present and get ready to transport yourself back in time as we kick the episode off with a defining story in Baharak’s life.Flow through distractions and get precious work done with our community: https://centered.app/g/grind-less-flow-more-group?from=grindlessflowmore Find the links to resources mentioned on our website: https://grindlessflowmore.com/Follow Grind Less Flow More and its community:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grindlessflowmore/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grind-less-flow-more/

Are you a leader quietly carrying more than you let on, with burnout creeping in, loneliness draining you, and a fear it might cost you your health and future success? Meet Cole Nakatani, a social entrepreneur, educator, and certified professional coach. Cole has worked with leaders and organizations across the spectrum: from scrappy startup founders to senior executives, from social enterprises to public institutions. He helps people remember they’re not machines, and guides them back to their unique human gifts and deeper wells of energy. In fact, he was the coach who helped me grind less and flow more. That shift gave our team the clarity and capacity to create the very podcast you’re listening to now.What you might find most valuable from our deep conversation includes the following: How to recognize when burnout is creeping up on you before you feel trappedHow Cole (and you) can navigate mental health challenges while building a businessThe art of pausing during the day to stay focused and energizedWhy energy management is more important than time managementHow the power of community and deeper relationships with the right people can serve as guardrails to keep you healthy, happy, and courageous enough to infuse social good into your life and workGet present and get ready to transport yourself back in time as we kick the episode off with a defining story in Cole’s life.Flow through distractions and get precious work done with our community: https://centered.app/g/grind-less-flow-more-group?from=grindlessflowmore Find the links to resources mentioned on our website: https://grindlessflowmore.com/Follow Grind Less Flow More and its community:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grindlessflowmore/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grind-less-flow-more/

As a leader, are you feeling like your childhood trauma is affecting how you show up to your stakeholders and the most important people in your life? Meet Chad McFarlin. He is a business consultant, coach, and entrepreneur who’s led award-winning projects for global brands like Nintendo and Electronic Arts, helped telecom giants like TELUS and Bell launch innovative products, and supported companies in scaling to hundreds of millions in revenue.What you may find most insightful from our deep talk are the following:How sometimes your biggest successes can backfire if you don’t credit and appreciate others honestly.Why you should be extra aware of what you complain about and what you tend to avoid.How to get into the growing trend of men’s work and how it can help you level up.How to build courage and resilience with daily practice.Get present and get ready to transport yourself back in time as we kick the episode off with a defining story in Chad’s life.Flow through distractions and get precious work done with our community: https://centered.app/g/grind-less-flow-more-group?from=grindlessflowmore Find the links to resources mentioned on our website: https://grindlessflowmore.com/Follow Grind Less Flow More and its community:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grindlessflowmore/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grind-less-flow-more/

What happens when you achieve one of the biggest exits in Canadian DTC history—only to feel completely lost afterward? Meet Aaron Spivak, a 29-year-old Canadian serial entrepreneur, former elite hockey player, public speaker, and startup advisor, who co-founded Revitasize at 18 years old, and the founder of The Founders Club. What you might find most inspiring from our conversation today are the following:  The definition of the three layers of networking and why the third—often overlooked—is the most crucial for building deep, lasting relationships.How to strengthen self-integrity by planning your day the night before to build confidence and momentum.Why sharing credit with your team empowers them to take on more responsibility willingly, rather than with resistance.How to lead and live from a full cup—creating space to serve others without burnout, and embracing a mindset of giving back and paying it forward.Flow through distractions and get precious work done with our community: https://centered.app/g/grind-less-flow-more-group?from=grindlessflowmore Find the links to resources mentioned on our website: https://grindlessflowmore.com/Follow Grind Less Flow More and its community:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grindlessflowmore/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grind-less-flow-more/

In this special 75th episode, host Paul Davidescu shares a visionary take on work-life integration—how to design a life where wellness, productivity, and social connection flow naturally. Plus, insights from Jordan Tait and Chris Blachut on how they crafted their ideal rhythms for sustainable success.What you might find most inspiring from this episode are the following:  The myth of "work-life balance" vs. the power of work-life integrationA step-by-step walkthrough of a "magical Monday", designed for joy, connection, and effectivenessThe role of community and environment in reducing stress and increasing flowHow your daily rhythms can make peak performance feel human and joyfulWisdom from guests Jordan Tait and Chris Blachut on living life intentionallyA look into Flow Spaces—living environments engineered for well-being and productivityFlow through distractions and get precious work done with our community: https://centered.app/g/grind-less-flow-more-group?from=grindlessflowmore Find the links to resources mentioned on our website: https://grindlessflowmore.com/Follow Grind Less Flow More and its community:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grindlessflowmore/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grind-less-flow-more/

Are you chasing success, but feeling like you’re losing yourself along the way? Meet Samer Karam a prominent Lebanese entrepreneur, investor, and activist known for his pivotal role in shaping Lebanon’s startup ecosystem and promoting innovation across the World. What you might find most inspiring from our conversation today are the following:  How to Define your non-negotiables before the world tests them How to turning down an unethical opportunity might cost you comfort in the short term, but it builds long-term alignment, clarity, and inner peaceThe rise of powerful tools like DeepSeek means anyone can build and solve—but only if they’re equipped with critical thinking and curiosityThe role of the CTO is no longer a barrier and how with the right AI skills, founders can prototype and build without deep technical know-how Flow through distractions and get precious work done with our community: https://centered.app/g/grind-less-flow-more-group?from=grindlessflowmore Find the links to resources mentioned on our website: https://grindlessflowmore.com/Follow Grind Less Flow More and its community:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grindlessflowmore/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grind-less-flow-more/

Are you ignoring that inner voice telling you to make a big change? Meet Tom Lancaster, a leadership coach, adventurer, and former filmmaker who has spent 25 years pushing the limits of human potential. What you might find most inspiring from our conversation today are the following:  How ignoring your inner voice for years can keep you stuck and how listening to it can change everything.Why confidence isn’t the prerequisite for action, but the result of one bold moment of courage. How exposure to Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA) in nature strengthens leadership skills. The importance of releasing fear-driven habits, limiting beliefs, and societal expectations to create real transformation.Get present, and get ready to transport yourself back in time as we kick the episode off with a recent “moment of truth” story in Tom's life.Tom’s recommendations:Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe DispenzaVUCA, an acronym for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and AmbiguityFlow through distractions and get precious work done with our community: https://centered.app/g/grind-less-flow-more-group?from=grindlessflowmore Find the links to resources mentioned on our website: https://grindlessflowmore.com/Follow Grind Less Flow More and its community:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grindlessflowmore/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grind-less-flow-more

Have you ever wondered what it takes to build something that lasts, not just in profit, but in purpose? Meet Tom Shepansky. He's the co-founder of the world-renowned marketing agency, Rethink. In today's episode, we'll dive into the pivotal lessons he learned running this company for over a quarter century: How to effectively embrace shared leadership with your co-founders. Leveraging company values as guiding principles to navigate challenges and drive success. The importance of empowering your team as future co-founders through a structured equity model. The role of a belief framework in driving alignment, innovation, and resilience in your business.Get present, and get ready to transport yourself back in time as we kick the episode off with a recent “moment of truth” story in Tom's life.Tom’s recommendations: Berkman Method - which measures various personality traits to provide insights on how they might interact in a team setting. Let My People Go Surfing – by Yvon ChouinardFlow through distractions and get precious work done with our community: https://centered.app/g/grind-less-flow-more-group?from=grindlessflowmore Find the links to resources mentioned on our website: https://grindlessflowmore.com/Follow Grind Less Flow More and its community:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grindlessflowmore/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grind-less-flow-more/