In this episode of the CEO Podcast, we sit down with Bill Smith, the founder and CEO of Landing, the leading network for flexible lease apartments. Bill shares his incredible journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family to dropping out of high school at 16, starting multiple businesses, and eventually founding Landing.<br /><br />Bill discusses the challenges and triumphs he faced while building his companies, including the pivotal moments at Shipt and Landing. He also delves into the importance of unit economics, the impact of AI on business operations, and the significance of maintaining a consistent customer experience.<br /><br />Timestamps:<br />00:00 - Introduction<br />00:16 - Bill's entrepreneurial journey<br />01:16 - Founding Landing and the inspiration behind it<br />02:04 - The tech and business community in Birmingham<br />03:30 - Lessons from Shipt applied to Landing<br />04:46 - The impact of COVID-19 on Landing's business model<br />06:12 - Target market and consumer needs<br />07:13 - A day in the life of a CEO<br />08:46 - The role of AI in business operations<br />10:44 - Reading recommendations<br />11:22 - Recruiting and maintaining company culture<br />14:34 - Competitors and market positioning<br />17:22 - Funding the business and building relationships<br />20:10 - Market outlook and economic cycles<br />22:19 - Thoughts on the AI bubble<br />24:29 - Ensuring consistency in customer experience<br />26:19 - The importance of giving and receiving chances<br />