In this honest and practical episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Dave Gulas, co-founder of EZDC 3PL and host of the Beyond Fulfillment podcast, to explore what it really takes to build and scale a business in a demanding, fast-moving industry.

Dave shares how he transitioned from a 20-year career in pharmaceutical sales into launching a third-party logistics company, stepping into an industry he initially underestimated. What followed was not a smooth trajectory, but a rapid education in execution, problem-solving, and learning through mistakes.

Carly and Dave dive into the realities of entrepreneurship that rarely make the highlight reel. From saying yes to the wrong clients and scaling too quickly without systems, to underestimating the importance of visibility and marketing, Dave unpacks the lessons that shaped his growth. He explains how content creation and launching a podcast became unexpected catalysts for building relationships and generating inbound opportunities. Alongside this, he shares the simple but powerful systems, like daily team huddles and a customer-first culture, that helped his company expand, open a second warehouse, and continue scaling sustainably.

This episode is a grounded look at entrepreneurship in action, where progress comes from doing, learning, and refining over time.

Key Themes:

• Action Creates Clarity: Why starting before you feel ready accelerates learning and sharpens decision-making.

• Not Every Opportunity Is Worth Taking: How saying yes to the wrong clients can create unnecessary strain and slow growth.

• Visibility Drives Growth: Why founders must actively build their presence to generate trust, relationships, and inbound opportunities.

Memorable Quotes:

“I believe you really learn best by doing.”
“If I wasn’t visible and out there as a founder, the company would never grow the way we needed it to.”
“Providing value first just worked out in ways that benefited us indirectly.”

About Dave Gulas:
Dave Gulas attended the University of Michigan-Dearborn before building a more than 20-year career in sales and executive roles within the medical and pharmaceutical industries. He is now the co-founder of EZDC 3PL, a third-party logistics company headquartered in Kentucky, providing warehousing, fulfillment, and transportation services to manufacturers and ecommerce businesses.

Since launching in 2022, EZDC 3PL has become known for its personal service, fast response times, and flexibility, helping clients grow by acting as a true extension of their operations. Dave also hosts the Beyond Fulfillment podcast, where he interviews entrepreneurs and shares insights into the realities of building a business.

Connect with Dave Gulas:
https://ezdc3pl.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davegulas/
https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondFulfillmentPodcast

Listen to the Episode

YouTube: https://youtu.be/EMUuLBqo-e4

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7IDd1nB0qVkmiTgRyMDbYr?si=b3eac2eac0b247dc

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/built-through-mistakes-what-it-really-takes-to-grow/id1835497020?i=1000757512462