If you've ever watched Breaking Bad, you already understand how a business works. It doesn't matter whether you're cooking meth or designing brands-the principles of running a solid operation are surprisingly similar. Wild, right? But stick with me.

You need two things to build something powerful: a master craftsman and a growth strategist.

In Walter White and Jesse Pinkman's world, one was the brains behind the product-a genius chemist producing a product with 99.1% purity. The other? The street-smart hustler creating distribution, closing deals, and scaling the business beyond a backyard RV.

Now, in the Squidx world? That's exactly how we operate.

The Brains Behind the Design

Saber Ali is the Walter White of design. Clean Ul? His direction. Slick animations and brand consistency? His eye. I might be the one writing this, but if you've seen any of our design work floating across Linkedin or Instagram, just know: it wasn't me pushing pixels. That's Saber and our talented team.
Everything from color theory to layout composition is thought through with intention. The kind of intention that builds not just beautiful interfaces, but functional systems. We believe in the details. Because in design, just like chemistry, it's the small details that create big results.

The Street Operator:

Now, who am I in this picture? I'm the Jesse Pinkman of SquidX.

I build connections. I write posts. I talk to clients. I make sure people actually see what we're building. I'm the reason Squidx doesn't rely on random Upwork gigs or hope-based lead gen.

Instead, we've built sales channels, automated outreach, and strategic content that drives consistent attention. My job isn't to design-my job is to make sure design sells.

Because let's be real: it doesn't matter how pure your product is if nobody knows it exists.

Purity Is Everything:

We didn't grow by blasting 100 DMs a day-we grew by being visible in the right places. Commented on posts. Dropped value. Showed up where our dream clients were already hanging out. That's how the inbound leads started.

Start small. Pick 2-3 founders you admire and actually engage. Add thoughts, ask real questions, be useful. Over time, your name becomes familiar —and that familiarity builds trust.

You don't need to be everywhere. Just be consistent where it matters. Show up, stay helpful, and let people come to you.

Create a Proposal:

Walter and Jesse weren't just winning because they were scrappy. They were winning because their product was pure. It was unmatched in quality. That's what gave them leverage-the ability to charge whatever they wanted, wherever they went.
Same rule applies here in design.

If your work isn't world-class, you're just another name in the Fiverr race to the bottom. But when people see your designs and immediately recognize the standard, the question isn't "how much?" It becomes "when can you start?"

Want to command premium pricing? Then deliver premium work.

It doesn't matter if your branding is blue, pink, or neon yellow. Just make sure it's craveable. The kind of design that makes people go, "who did that?!"

Build a Character That Sells:

Here's what a lot of creatives get wrong: they think branding is just visuals. Nah. Your real brand is your character.
You should be known for your work before you even introduce yourself. When people land on your profile, they should instantly feel who you are and what you stand for. That's not just good branding— that's positioning.

Think of Heisenberg. The name alone was a brand. It carried weight, mystery, and dominance. That's what you want to replicate in business. A persona so strong that the work speaks before you do.

When someone scrolls your feed, it should feel like a visual portfolio and a resume of your thinking. Consistency in content, tone, visuals-all of it adds up.

You Can't Scale Alone:

This is where most people fall short. You can't grow a serious business doing everything yourself.

You can be a killer designer. You can close clients. But at some point, your time maxes out. Your output hits a ceiling. That's when it's time to bring in people. Not just anyone, but people who can take your systems, amplify your work, and help you grow without losing your edge.

Walter and Jesse scaled by building a better operation. Labs. Distributors. Systems.
We do the same at Squidx.

We have systems for delivery, tools for automation, and processes for onboarding. We've hired based on skill and chemistry (pun intended). Because it's not just about more hands; it's about the right hands.

Structure Before Growth:

One of the biggest lessons from Breaking Bad is what happens when you scale without structure. Walter and Jesse had the product. They had the market. But their systems were shaky.

They didn't trust the right people. They didn't build a sustainable org chart. And eventually, the empire crumbled.
Same thing happens in real business.

If you're just chasing more clients without building backend systems, you're setting yourself up to burn out. You need delivery processes, feedback loops, clear communication, and accountability.

At Squidx, we didn't grow fast. We grew right. And that's what matters. Because in the long run, the agency that lasts isn't the one that grows the fastest-it's the one that grows with intention.

Final Thoughts: Play to Win, Not Just to Work:

Business isn't about being busy-it's about playing the game right. Are you building a business or just freelancing with extra steps? Are you building systems or duct-taping operations together?

Walter and Jesse had a simple formula: one makes, one moves. That balance built an empire. But ego, chaos, and lack of structure killed it. Let that be your lesson.

If you want something that lasts—a real business, not just a side hustle-you need clarity on your role, alignment with your partner, and the systems to scale. In this game, just like Breaking Bad, you're either making the moves-or getting moved on.

Stay sharp. Build pure. Be Heisenberg.