Ten Businesses in Ten Years: The Vision That Launched a Legacy with Klay Hafeez | Ep 81

Scaling the Gap

In this episode of Scaling the Gap, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with Klay Hafeez, a former oil and gas engineer turned multi-franchise owner, for a powerful conversation about identity, risk, grit, and building a legacy from scratch.

Klay’s journey is anything but ordinary. He grew up in a culture where entrepreneurship wasn’t the norm, but he persevered; writing “10 in 10” on a piece of paper, and building toward it. After ditching the security of a corporate career, he went all-in on his vision, starting with a plastic folding table and one hire (who didn’t last long). Today, Klay oversees a thriving portfolio of home service brands, a team of nearly 30, and a family-run business that is redefining what’s possible when passion meets purpose.

This episode is a heart-forward roadmap to legacy-building, complete with emotional turning points, lessons in leadership, and the surprising power of “just doing it.”

Key Takeaways

• Why owning your time often means betting on yourself
• The hidden power of written goals (and Klay’s famous “10 in 10” mantra)
• How to lead by empowering others and not controlling them
• What it really takes to scale from 1 to 30+ team members
• The emotional weight of payroll and responsibility
• Why building a business with your family can be your ultimate legacy

In This Episode

• [00:00] Introduction to Klay Hafeez
• [04:56] Mr. Handyman: His first franchise move
• [06:04] Becoming a franchise community leader
• [09:30] Growth into multiple franchises (Bath Tune-Up, AirServe, Kitchen Tune-Up)
• [12:28] The birth of the “10 in 10” goal
• [14:09] The weight of payroll and leadership
• [17:48] Unexpected joys: family involvement and team building
• [24:50] Defining success
• [30:58] Where to find and follow Klay

Notable Quotes

• [02:19] “I realized I was building someone else’s legacy. I wanted ownership, control, my own time, my future.” — Klay Hafeez
• [07:01] “If you come to me with a question, I can’t give you a straight answer. I have to give you the why.” — Klay Hafeez
• [12:38] “I wrote ‘10 in 10’ on a piece of paper. No one knew what it meant, but I did. Ten businesses in ten years. That was the goal.” — Klay Hafeez
• [14:20] “Payroll goes beyond numbers. Families rely on me. That’s a heavy load.” — Klay Hafeez
• [27:27] “Success equals self-actualization + empowering others + a high-flyer community + deep trust + unlocking care in others.” — Madeleine MacRae
• [28:42] “I have a poster in my office: ‘Building a community where everyone belongs.’ That’s what I live.” — Klay Hafeez

Our Guest

Klay Hafeez is a former engineer turned serial entrepreneur and proud owner of four (and counting) home service franchise brands. With roots in Calgary and dreams bigger than most dared to dream, Klay built his business empire from scratch, driven by a belief in legacy, leadership, and community. Today, he’s not just building businesses, he’s building a future where everyone around him belongs.

Resources and Links

Klay Hafeez

• Website - https://www.mrhandyman.ca/west-calgary/
• LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/klayhafeez

Madeleine MacRae

• Website - https://mmmacrae.com/making-changes-training-motivating/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/macraemadeleine
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/madeleine.macrae/
• Book – The Tenacious Pursuit of Peace: Where to Go When Success Isn’t Enough