The Journey (with Leo Young)

Episodes

• 
  How to Get Into Commercial Real Estate: Pharmacist to $50M AUM (w/ Tanh Truong) [TJP Ep57] 24.10.2026 47m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Tahn Truong, a PharmD turned commercial real estate investor with over 250,000 square feet of retail, office, and industrial across the US, and author of Value Over Volume. He started as a pharmacist, went into residential real estate to put his money to work, and eventually sold everything to go all in on commercial after finding a mentor who changed the trajectory of his career.Tahn runs a lean operation managing over 200 tenants and $50M in AUM with himself, his partner Ash Patel, and one and a half other people. He buys value add commercial assets, optimizes them, and exits in three to five years. His thesis is simple: find good deals, add value the right way, and never let volume distract you from what actually matters.This episode is part commercial real estate masterclass, part partnership cautionary tale, and part blueprint for building wealth without a big team.👉 What you’ll learn:🏪 Why retail, office, and industrial are easier to manage than residential💊 From pharmacist to commercial real estate investor with $50M AUM🤝 Hard lessons on partnerships: trust but verify and get everything on paper🏗️ Outlots, ground leases, and how to unlock hidden value in a strip mall🏙️ How to work with city officials to get tax incentives and expedited permits📋 Gross leases vs. triple net leases and how to optimize your lease types💰 Why knowledge and network are the only two things you need to start over📈 The debt fund, two deals a year, and a vision to change how commercial real estate transacts// Timestamps //00:00 Introduction00:33 Biggest lesson: trust but verify in partnerships01:53 From pharmacist to residential to commercial real estate03:44 How he found and earned the trust of mentor and partner Ash Patel07:50 How to vet partners and structure equity splits13:41 The real why behind getting into real estate: freedom not money15:57 Breaking into commercial with no experience18:00 First deal: a five million dollar strip mall and learning everything hands on20:36 Working with municipalities for tax incentives and expedited permits25:21 Why office is his current opportunity at twenty to thirty cents on the dollar32:11 Value add levers: rents, vacancies, and lease type optimization34:12 Outlots and ground leases: how one coffee shop could add $1.2M to a center36:44 Running $50M AUM lean with under three people43:40 The only two things you need to start over: knowledge and network45:41 Next ten years: debt fund, more deals, and a vision to change how commercial transacts🤝 Connect with Tahn TruongInstagram: instagram.com/pro_tanhWebsite: investbeyondmultifamily.comprotonprofits.com 👋 Connect with Leolinkedin.com/in/leo-younginstagram.com/leoyoungrealestateInvest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice.  All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateInvesting #ValueAdd #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #TahnTruong #RetailRealEstate #OfficeRealEstate #IndustrialRealEstate #Syndication #WealthBuilding #Entrepreneurship #ValueOverVolume #TripleNet
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  VC Money vs Bootstrapping: How He Hit 90% Margins Without Investors (w/ Kira Shishkin) [TJP Ep56] 17.10.2026 43m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Kira Shishkin, CEO of Informed.now and a four-time founder who has built in book publishing, crypto infrastructure, and consumer tech. At 13, he survived a car crash in Ukraine that wiped his memory. What followed were years of disorientation, and everything he has built since comes back to what he learned rebuilding his own attention.Informed.now delivers the world's news in five bullets a day by text. No ads. No bias. No clickbait. Just facts. It is bootstrapped, profitable, and built specifically so it never has to answer to anyone but the reader.This episode covers idea validation, the myth of VC money, how to build a lean team on campaign-based hiring, and why your attention is the only asset that truly matters.👉 What you'll learn:🧠 How a car crash at 13 became the foundation of a media company📰 Why news incentives are broken and how Informed.now is reversing them🔁 The spiral method for validating an idea from friends to strangers to scale💸 Why most entrepreneurs raise VC money for the wrong reasons📋 Campaign-based hiring: how to build and shrink a team with full transparency🎯 Force ranking your priorities and why number one is the only one that counts🌍 How to find great talent across the world without chasing the same zip code// Timestamps //00:00 Introduction00:31 Biggest lesson of the past year: forced prioritization02:14 Background: Ukrainian Israeli American immigrant and four-time founder02:34 The car crash at 13, losing memory, and how it shaped Informed.now04:09 Why news incentives have broken and what it costs the reader06:58 The personal thread that put a chip on his shoulder to fix media08:52 How to know if an idea is worth building10:00 The spiral method: validating from friends to strangers to surveys at scale13:28 Building an international team without chasing a single zip code15:26 Campaign-based hiring and why not every role should be permanent19:50 How to onboard fast with looms and living playbooks24:11 Lessons from four companies: publishing, crypto, marketplaces, and media28:36 Why marketplace businesses continue to be the most powerful model31:57 How to know when it is time to move on34:20 Why Informed.now is bootstrapped and why that was a deliberate choice35:17 The VC propaganda myth and when it actually makes sense to raise money38:48 Venture debt vs. equity and why more founders should consider it39:48 How to build financial models with scenarios and testable assumptions43:06 Final message: your attention is your superpower, wield it like a sword🤝 Connect with Kira ShishkinRead his bio: https://informed.now/kiraWebsite: https://informed.now👋 Connect with Leo linkedin.com/in/leo-younginstagram.com/leoyoungrealestateInvest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Entrepreneurship #MediaStartup #NewsWithoutNoise #Bootstrapped #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #KiraShishkin #Informed #StartupLife #IdeaValidation #VentureCapital #RemoteTeam #Prioritization #AttentionEconomy
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  Building a Business for 21 Years, Selling It, and Starting Again (w/ Viktor Popovics) [TJP Ep55] 10.10.2026 42m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Viktor Popovic, co-founder and president of Avendo, a FinTech that makes card processors compete for your business on every single transaction. Before that, he spent 21 years building Ultimate Washer from a startup into a national e-commerce and Amazon brand that he sold in 2024.Viktor arrived in the US as a refugee from the former Yugoslavia with no money, no network, and no language. He got an aviation degree right after 9/11 grounded the industry, stumbled into e-commerce in 2002 before most people knew what that was, and spent two decades grinding, pivoting, and rebuilding every time the market moved.This episode covers what it really takes to build something over a long horizon, let go of control, and start again from scratch after the exit.👉 What you'll learn:🌍 Coming to the US as a refugee and building from absolute zero🛒 Starting an e-commerce business in 2002 when no one believed you could sell equipment online📉 Losing all search traffic overnight and pivoting to Amazon💳 Why payment processing is broken and how Avendo is fixing it🤝 How to delegate without losing control of the outcomes⚙️ The SOP standard that makes any task trainable by anyone🧠 What life after a 21-year exit actually feels like and how to prepare for it// Timestamps //00:00 Introduction00:33 Why 70% of the plan changed in year one02:26 From refugee to e-commerce founder05:09 Losing Google traffic and pivoting to Amazon05:57 The problem that sparked Avendo07:42 How real-time processor competition works12:56 Validating the idea with business owners15:59 Building a neutral monetization model17:59 Running a lean, remote team21:22 Learning to delegate and stop being the bottleneck25:02 SOPs and the multiple-options framework28:07 How AI lets a small team compete29:52 Where Viktor spends his time now31:40 How a refugee past shaped his drive34:06 Betting big when everything was on the line36:49 Selling Ultimate Washer at the peak38:40 Life after the exit40:40 How to connect with Viktor41:19 Changing his mind on remote work 🤝 Connect with Viktor PopovicWebsite: avendo.techLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/viktor-popovic-b8a6b416/  👋 Connect with Leolinkedin.com/in/leo-younginstagram.com/leoyoungrealestateInvest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Entrepreneurship #Ecommerce #Fintech #PaymentProcessing #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #ViktorPopovic #Avendo #AmazonSeller #Refugee #BusinessExit #Delegation #StartupLife #ScalingABusiness
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  From Negative Net Worth to Location Freedom: Building Businesses That Run Without You (w/ Adrienne Green) [TJP Ep54] 03.10.2026 46m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Adrienne Green, founder of Workergenics and Investaway, who went from negative net worth and a high school math teaching career to building two remote companies, selling a real estate agent team, and traveling the world full time with her husband and three kids. She is calling in from Lima, Peru.She did not stumble into this life. She designed it through five-year vision mapping, monthly family finance meetings, and a relentless focus on putting the right systems and people in place so her time would never be the bottleneck.This episode is part operations masterclass, part life design blueprint, and part honest conversation about what it actually takes to build a business that runs without you.👉 What you'll learn: 🌎 How she designed a location-independent life and pulled it off with three young kids 📊 The three financial statements every family should be running quarterly 🤖 How 50 transactions in six months changed her entire view on virtual assistants 🌏 Hiring, vetting, and retaining VAs from the Philippines the right way 💸 How to structure bonuses and compensation so your team actually stays 🧹 Why building lean systems in thin margins makes you more profitable when you scale 🎯 The one mindset shift that turned every expense into a question about ROI// Timestamps //00:00 From Negative Net Worth to Entrepreneurial Success04:53 The Journey to Location Freedom10:53 Building a Virtual Assistant Business15:03 Navigating the Challenges of Hiring VAs23:16 Developing Mid to High-Level Talent24:09 Navigating Team Dynamics and Cultural Challenges26:48 Finding the Right Fit: The Bus Analogy28:55 Extreme Ownership in Leadership33:25 Budgeting for Talent: ROI Considerations37:30 Compensation Structures and Incentives40:34 Training and Development for Virtual Assistants43:26 Lessons Learned: Ramping Up with Virtual Teams44:54 Connecting with Adrienne Green: Opportunities for Collaboration👇 From Adrienne: If you feel like you don't have enough time or freedom, start here.📋 Free Time + Freedom Starter Pack: letsgo.adriennegreen.com/timefreedomstarter 🤝 Connect with Adrienne Green Website: adriennegreen.com Workergenix: workergenix.com Instagram: instagram.com/arealgreen YouTube: youtube.com/@ARealGreen LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/arealgreen Facebook: facebook.com/ARealGreen123 Podcast: The Freedom Blueprint on Spotify and Apple Podcasts👋 Connect with Leo linkedin.com/in/leo-young instagram.com/leoyoungrealestate Invest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call 👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Entrepreneurship #VirtualAssistants #LocationIndependent #RemoteWork #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #AdrienneGreen #Workergenics #Investaway #RealEstateInvesting #LifeDesign #WorkLifeBalance #FamilyFinance #ScalingABusiness
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  His Playbook to Retire at 43 Starting From $115k in Debt (w/ Daniel Rogers) [TJP Ep53] 26.09.2026 44m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Daniel Rodgers, a two-time Google Manager of the Year who retired at 43 after starting his career with over $100,000 in student loan debt and $15,000 in credit card debt. His book Escape the Clock won the 2025 American Writing Award for Best Personal Finance Book.Daniel did not stumble into financial independence. He built a program, tracked every decision in a spreadsheet, and ran it for 20 years until the math said he was done. No guru framework. No lottery ticket. Just a system that he now gives away for free.This episode is a masterclass in how ordinary people escape ordinary outcomes.👉 What you'll learn:📊 How a spreadsheet built in debt became a retirement program at 43💳 The financial landmines hitting Gen Z harder than any generation before🏠 Buy vs. rent: how to make the right call based on your actual numbers🧠 Why hitting a retirement number is not enough without cash flow📉 Withdrawal strategy vs. cash flow strategy: the hybrid that actually works⏰ The golden handcuffs moment: a hospital visit that finally made him quit🔄 Why paying off your mortgage early is not always the right move📚 The two books on money psychology that changed how he thinks// Timestamps //00:00 Introduction to Financial Independence03:41 The Journey to Financial Freedom08:01 Pivotal Moments in Career and Life14:09 Navigating Housing Decisions19:25 Redefining the American Dream24:01 The Psychology of Financial Independence31:02 Building a Balanced Financial Portfolio37:14 Lightning Round: Insights and Reflections👇 From Daniel: Everything you need to start building your program is in one place.🔗 Free planner, newsletter, book, and time with Dan: escapetheclock.com 🤝 Connect with Daniel Rodgershttp://www.escapetheclock.com/subscribe 👋 Connect with Leo linkedin.com/in/leo-young instagram.com/leoyoungrealestate Invest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#PersonalFinance #EarlyRetirement #FinancialIndependence #FIRE #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #DanielRodgers #EscapeTheClock #WealthBuilding #MoneyMindset #RetirementPlanning #CashFlow #Google #DebtFree
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  From Zero Clients to $300M: Lessons Building a Law Firm From Scratch (w/ Parag Amin) [TJP Ep52] 23.09.2026 42m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Parag Amin, trial attorney, founder of one of Southern California's most decorated litigation firms, and Amazon bestselling author of The Entrepreneur's Legal Playbook. He has saved and recovered over $300 million for his clients, been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for 10 consecutive years, and received the LA Times Legal Visionary Award for 2026.He built all of it from his bedroom in a townhouse, with no clients, no office, and no backup plan.This episode covers what it actually takes to survive your worst season as a founder, why the legal wrapper around your business matters more than most owners realize, and why the story behind the book starts with his father.👉 What you'll learn:⏱️ The 30,000 days framework and why time is the only asset that matters📄 Practicing law from a townhouse bedroom and scaling to 14 staff🦠 Losing money every month during COVID and choosing to stay anyway⚖️ Contingency vs. hourly cases and how the wrong mix almost killed the firm🧠 Why better questions get better results in law and in business📖 The story behind The Entrepreneur's Legal Playbook and why his father is the reason it exists🔍 Arbitration clauses: when to fight them and when to let it go💡 The one belief he wishes he had challenged much earlier in life// Timestamps //00:00 Introduction00:31 Why you only get 30,000 days02:21 From document review to starting a law firm05:51 Learning to litigate when someone's throwing bricks at you08:44 What makes a top trial attorney10:40 Raising kids while running a business13:31 The COVID crisis and deciding whether to quit17:49 The turnaround plan and rebalancing the client mix22:42 Personal brand and systems as growth drivers25:25 His father's story and why he wrote the book28:03 Key lessons from The Entrepreneur's Legal Playbook31:45 When to settle vs. go to trial36:17 Lightning round40:10 What his father thinks of what he's built41:03 How to connect with Parag👇 From Parag: If you are a business owner who wants to protect what you are building, start here.📖 The Entrepreneur's Legal Playbook: Navigating the Pitfalls That Can Destroy Your Business: available on Amazon🤝 Connect with Parag AminInstagram: @paragaminesq Linkedin: Parag L. AminYoutube: Parag L. AminWebsite: www.paragaminesq.com 👋 Connect with Leolinkedin.com/in/leo-younginstagram.com/leoyoungrealestateInvest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call 👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Entrepreneurship #LegalAdvice #TrialAttorney #BusinessOwner #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #ParagAmin #EntrepreneursLegalPlaybook #Litigation #COVID #Resilience #PersonalBrand #SmallBusiness #Founders
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  How Everyday Investors Can Access US Real Estate Through Private Equity (w/ August Biniaz) [TJP Ep51] 12.09.2026 43m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with August Biniaz, co-founder and CIO of CPI Capital, a cross-border private equity firm that has closed over $225 million in multifamily and build-to-rent assets across the US Sun Belt. Their mandate from day one: give Canadians access to US real estate through their retirement accounts, something almost no one else had figured out how to do.August grew up in Iran, where real estate was the only hedge against hyperinflation. He got his license in his twenties, did fix and flips, built custom homes, ran a construction company, and eventually realized the ceiling was too low. Private equity had no ceiling. So he built one.This episode is part deal structure deep dive, part cross-border investing masterclass, and part founder story about betting on a market nobody else was serving.👉 What you'll learn:🏗️ From fix and flips to custom homes to a $225M private equity firm🇨🇦 Why Canadians are underserved when it comes to US real estate exposure🏦 How CPI structured a cross-border fund that files US taxes on behalf of Canadian investors📊 Multifamily vs. build-to-rent: risk profiles, return targets, and when each makes sense🤝 How he found his co-founders including why his wife became the best investor relations person in the room💡 The Alex Hormozi framework that convinced him to stop home building and go bigger📉 Why rent control in Canada is bad for consumers not just investors🎯 The one thing he would do differently: stop chasing shiny objects sooner// Timestamps //00:00 Navigating the Turbulent Real Estate Landscape03:42 The Emotional Side of Investing06:48 The Evolution of CPI Capital11:52 Understanding the Multifamily Market20:27 Cross-Border Investment Challenges28:04 Comparing Canadian and US Real Estate36:17 The Development vs. Value-Add Debate41:00 Lessons Learned and Future Focus🤝 Connect with August BiniazWebsite: cpicapital.comlinkedin.com/in/augustbiniazinstagram.com/cpicapitalx.com/CPI_Capitalyoutube.com/@realestateinvestingdemystified  👋 Connect with Leolinkedin.com/in/leo-younginstagram.com/leoyoungrealestateInvest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#RealEstateInvesting #PrivateEquity #Multifamily #BuildToRent #CrossBorderInvesting #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #AugustBiniaz #CPICapital #CanadianInvestors #PassiveInvesting #Syndication #SunBelt #WealthBuilding
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  How His Company Grew From $3.5M to $30M in 2 Years (w/ Damon Flowers) [TJP Ep50] 05.09.2026 44m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Damon Flowers, serial entrepreneur, founder of Modern Operators, and a 22 year student of business who scaled an e-commerce company from $3.5 million to $30 million in two years, built a training company from zero to $12 million, and spent the same two decades studying why founders keep getting in their own way.His conclusion: the chaos most founders experience on the outside is almost always rooted in something unresolved on the inside. And the businesses that win are the ones that stop outsourcing their core to a stack of disconnected tools and start building an operational engine that runs without the owner in the room.This episode goes deep on what modern operations actually means and why growth is the last thing you should be focused on.👉 What you'll learn: ⚙️ The five stages of business and why growth is stage five not stage one 🧠 Why founders are the biggest bottleneck in their own company 🤖 How to deploy agentic AI across your entire team not just yourself 🗂️ What a company OS is and why Notion plus good structure changes everything 📊 The difference between systematizing for scale and systematizing for exit 🚢 The crew and the boat: the ownership culture framework that actually sticks 🔁 Why most businesses are not set up for growth before they try to grow 💡 What Damon changed his mind on after 20 years of building// Timestamps //00:00 Introduction to Agentic AI and Business Transformation02:58 The Evolution of Business Operations05:28 The Five Stages of Business Growth11:16 Building a Solid Foundation for Growth16:56 Leveraging AI in Business Operations22:28 Creating a Culture of Ownership and Empowerment27:43 Mindset Shifts for Business Owners33:34 The Importance of Organizational Structure39:11 Final Thoughts and Advice for Entrepreneurs👇 From Damon: If you're a founder in the $2M to $30M range and stuck in the day-to-day, reach out directly.💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/damonflowers 💼 LinkedIn (Mark): linkedin.com/in/mark-malian 📺 YouTube: How to Build a Company That Runs Without You: youtube.com/watch?v=7iCPDcIsyeU💬 Community: reddit.com/r/ModernOperators 🌐 Newsletter: modernoperators.com/archive 👋 Connect with Leo linkedin.com/in/leo-younginstagram.com/leoyoungrealestateInvest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call 👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Entrepreneurship #Operations #ModernOperators #AIForBusiness #SystemsThinking #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #DamonFlowers #ScalingABusiness #CompanyOS #AgenticAI #FounderMindset #BusinessSystems #Delegation
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  How to Build a Business That Runs Without You, from a Top Leadership Consultant and Author (w/ Liz Weber) [TJP Ep49] 29.08.2026 44m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Liz Weber, a leadership consultant with over 30 years of experience, author of more than 10 books, and one of fewer than 100 people in the country holding both a Certified Speaking Professional and Certified Management Consultant designation. She is ranked in the top 30 global gurus on leadership alongside John Maxwell and Simon Sinek.Her take: most leadership problems are not complicated. They are just misdiagnosed.Liz works with business owners, C-suite executives, and boards of directors on strategic planning, org structure, and talent development. In this episode she gets specific about what is actually breaking down inside growing companies and what to do about it.👉 What you'll learn: 🧠 Why helping your team too often trains them to stop thinking for themselves 📋 The delegation and decision ladder that tells everyone what they own 🗂️ How to use vision, mission, and values as management tools not just wall decor 📣 The one question that forces accountability without confrontation 🔁 Why most leaders implement before they track and how that derails growth 👥 How to have the necessary conversations without dreading them 📐 How to structure an org chart before you have the headcount to fill it 🎯 The 12 month challenge that will change how your business runs// Timestamps //00:00 Navigating Overwhelm in Leadership10:06 The Journey to Consulting and Leadership22:11 The Fundamentals of Business Success22:57 Navigating Leadership Challenges27:52 Implementing Effective Business Structures32:25 Delegation and Accountability in Leadership36:10 Setting Expectations and Performance Management42:54 Future-Proofing Your Business Leadership🤝 Connect with Liz WeberWebsite: www.WBSLLC.com linkedin.com/in/lizwebercmc/ 👋 Connect with Leo  linkedin.com/in/leo-younginstagram.com/leoyoungrealestate Invest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call 👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #TeamBuilding #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #LizWeber #StrategicPlanning #Delegation #CompanyCulture #Accountability #SmallBusiness #ScalingUp #ManagementConsulting
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  How this Former Pro-Baseball Player Built and Sold His $800m Financial Advisory Practice to His Employees (w/ Jack Oujo) [TJP Ep 48] 22.08.2026 44m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Jack Oujo, CPA, CFP, and founder of one of the nation's largest tax-focused wealth management firms. He spent eight years as a professional baseball umpire, reached Triple-A, and was named the top umpiring prospect in the minor leagues. The MLB said no. He had a pregnant wife, no money, and had to start over from scratch.What followed was a career most advisors would not believe is possible: an $800 million practice built entirely on referrals, never a single paid client, 15 employees, and an exit to two people he mentored from within.This episode is about reinvention, trust, and what it actually takes to build something that outlasts you.👉 What you'll learn: ⚾ Eight years in the minor leagues, a pregnant wife, and a release that changed everything 📚 CPA, CFP, master's in taxation, and two kids, all done in three and a half years while working full time 🤝 How to build an $800 million practice without spending a dollar on marketing 💼 Why combining accounting and wealth management was an open field nobody else wanted 👥 Hiring for character over credentials and building a culture people refuse to leave 📋 The quantified bonus system that made performance self-policing 🚪 Firing the bottom tier of clients and what happened next 📖 Too Smart to Be an Umpire: the book that connects all the dots//Timestamps//00:00 The Journey of Jack Ojo: From Umpire to Entrepreneur02:59 Lessons in Business Transition and Exit Strategies05:50 The Importance of Mentorship and Seeking Help08:35 Building a Wealth Management Firm: Insights and Strategies11:33 Creating Trust and Client Relationships in Business14:27 The Art of Umpiring: Skills and Lessons Learned17:20 The Bonds of Sports: Community and Connection22:46 The Power of Networking23:26 Transitioning Careers: From Baseball to Wealth Management24:33 Building a Boutique Firm: Client Selection and Culture26:02 Employee Development and Company Culture28:05 Transparency in Business: Sharing Numbers with Employees29:41 Best Business Decisions: Slow Growth and Staffing32:08 Hiring the Right People: Character Over Credentials34:46 Creating a Positive Work Environment35:39 Attracting Talent: The Role of Referrals37:59 Focusing on Growth: Systems and Planning40:49 Reflections on Business Decisions and Personal Growth42:34 The Journey of Writing: Lessons from 'Too Smart to Be an Umpire'🤝 Connect with Jack Oujo https://toosmarttobeanumpire.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-oujo-cpa-cfp-ms-tax-97906810/ 👋 Connect with Leo linkedin.com/in/leo-young instagram.com/leoyoungrealestate Invest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Entrepreneurship #WealthManagement #Baseball #Reinvention #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #JackOujo #TaxPlanning #BusinessExit #Referrals #CompanyCulture #SmallBusiness #FinancialAdvisor #TooSmartToBeAnUmpire
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  How He Built a 3,000+ Car Rental Company and Turned Down Venture Capital (w/ Rei Vardi) [TJP Ep47] 15.08.2026 42m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Rei Vardi, founder of Eon, a national EV sharing platform with over 3,000 vehicles in 50 cities across the US. He started with one Tesla outside a college dorm, survived COVID with $500 in his bank account, slept in a van outside Silicon Valley pitching investors, watched two co-founders walk out at the worst possible moments, and never took a single dollar from venture capital.He almost lost the business five times in eight years. He built it anyway.This episode is about judgment, resilience, and what it actually takes to build something real without a safety net.👉 What you'll learn: 🚗 Starting a national EV platform with one Tesla and no money 🏕️ Sleeping in a van in Silicon Valley to chase a term sheet 💸 Surviving COVID with $500 in the bank 🤝 Two co-founders who walked at the worst possible moments and what he did next 🚫 Why walking away from VC funding was the best decision he never planned 📈 Zero ads, zero funding, and 3,000 vehicles: how SEO and word of mouth built the fleet 🧠 Why good judgment is worth more than productive output at any level 🛠️ What it looks like to build an operations business the right way from day one// Timestamps //00:00 The Journey of Ray Vardi: From Dorm Room to National EV Platform04:14 The Importance of Decision-Making in Leadership08:49 From College to Entrepreneurship: The Birth of Eon17:09 Overcoming Challenges: The Struggles of Building a Business20:16 Facing Adversity: The Entrepreneurial Journey24:43 The Art of Asking for Help27:57 Valuing Your Business: Lessons Learned32:37 Scaling Challenges in the Mobility Industry36:18 Embracing Failure as a Path to Success38:10 Finding Joy in the Entrepreneurial Process38:58 Future Vision: Building a Frictionless Experience👇 From Rei: Try it the next time you travel.📲 Download the Eon Rides app: eonrides.com🤝 Connect with Rei Vardi https://www.linkedin.com/in/reivardi/https://www.linkedin.com/company/eonrides/https://www.eonrides.com/👋 Connect with Leo linkedin.com/in/leo-young instagram.com/leoyoungrealestate Invest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Entrepreneurship #Startups #EVSharing #Tesla #BootstrappedFounder #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #ReiVardi #Eon #NoVC #Resilience #Founder #BuildingWithoutFunding #StartupLife
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  How to Build a High Value Network (Including Family Offices & Pro Athletes) From Scratch (w/ David Homan) [TJP Ep46] 08.08.2026 45m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with David Homan, a USA Today bestselling author, classical composer, and super connector who rebuilt a major arts institution after Bernie Madoff wiped it out, incubated a film company inside Ray Dalio's family office, and built a global network of over 2,500 connectors spanning family offices, philanthropists, and some of the most private capital circles on earth.He does not collect contacts. He engineers the right introduction at the right moment. And he has been doing it for 25 years across philanthropy, film, real estate, and now tech.This episode is about the system behind trust, why most high achievers are playing relationships completely wrong, and how someone from a middle-class background in Florida ends up in the most exclusive rooms in the world.👉 What you'll learn: 🤝 Why the best networker in the room is rarely the one you notice 🌐 How to build a network of networks without a single cold pitch 🎯 The impact ask: how to make an ask people actually want to say yes to 🧠 Curiosity and vulnerability as the two founding principles of trust 📖 What Ray Dalio taught him about ownership and taking radical responsibility 🎹 How lending a vacuum cleaner led to a ballet at the Joyce Theater in New York 📞 The one call that will bring more opportunity than the last two years of hustle//Timestamps//00:00 Building a Network of Trust02:57 The Power of Community and Support05:34 The Art of Connection08:33 Types of Connectors11:32 Navigating Hierarchies and Cultures14:19 The Generosity Principle in Networking17:05 Inverting the Networking Approach20:38 The Importance of Genuine Connection23:45 Curiosity and Vulnerability in Networking27:53 Building Relationships Without Hierarchy29:29 Lessons from Working with Ray Dalio33:09 Teaching Intentional Relationships37:03 The Balance of Logic and Abundance38:46 Making the Impact Ask41:30 Legacy Beyond Financial Success44:11 The Power of Gratitude👇 From David: If you want to build relationships that actually open doors, start here.🔗 orchestratedconnecting.com🤝 Connect with David Homan Website: orchestratedconnecting.comlinkedin.com/in/davidrhomaninstagram.com/the_connection_orchestrator👋 Connect with Leo linkedin.com/in/leo-young instagram.com/leoyoungrealestate Invest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Networking #Relationships #SuperConnector #TrustBuilding #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #DavidHoman #FamilyOffice #Philanthropy #Leadership #RayDalio #CommunityBuilding #WealthBuilding #Entrepreneurship
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  How a Pilot Bought Real Estate in 8 Countries and Retired Early (w/ Dr. Axel Meierhoefer) [TJP Ep45) 01.08.2026 43m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Dr. Axel Meierhoefer, a German Air Force fighter pilot turned international real estate investor with properties spanning eight countries and a consulting practice built around helping high earners reach their time freedom point.Axel flew ECR Tornados and F-111s, did test flying for the German Air Force, and ended up in the US on an exchange program that turned into a permanent life. When he started investing, nothing in Santa Barbara penciled. So he looked further, discovered turnkey investing before it had a name, and built a portfolio across the US, Spain, Panama, Belize, and beyond. His philosophy: the best deals are the ones nobody is fighting over.This one is as much about mastery and discipline as it is about real estate.👉 What you'll learn: ✈️ Flying fighter jets at 7.8 Gs and what that teaches you about risk 🏠 Why Santa Barbara not penciling forced him to invest smarter 🌎 How he built a portfolio across eight countries without overcomplicating it 🔑 The turnkey investing framework he uses with every client 🌱 Cacao farms in Belize, coffee in Panama, and the right brain case for impact investing 🤝 How to vet a turnkey operator in one meeting question 📊 Why performance comes before location every single time 🎯 The only two groups he works with and why// Timestamps //00:00 From Fighter Pilot to Real Estate Investor02:45 Lessons Learned in Investing05:49 The Journey of a Fighter Pilot08:35 Translating Military Discipline to Business11:37 Navigating the Real Estate Market14:29 Diversification in Investments17:22 Innovating Through Necessity20:12 Global Investment Strategies23:29 Navigating Immigration and Investment Security26:04 The Duality of Investment: Profit and Social Impact29:12 Building Communities: The Role of Housing in Investment33:55 Finding the Right Partners in Real Estate38:45 Long-Term Vision: Planning for Future Investments👇 Free Resource (from Axel): If you want a clear path to your time freedom point, start here.📋 Free 90 Day Growth Plan: https://cutt.ly/ptcQd1y2🤝 Connect with Dr. Axel Meierhoeferyoutube.com/@idealwealthgrowerx.com/idealgrower👋 Connect with Leo linkedin.com/in/leo-younginstagram.com/leoyoungrealestate Invest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Entrepreneurship #RealEstateInvesting #TurnkeyInvesting #InternationalInvesting #FighterPilot #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #AxelMeierhoefer #TimeFreedom #PassiveInvesting #GlobalPortfolio #ImpactInvesting #WealthBuilding
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  How a Pianist Went from Broke to an 8 Figure Online Business (w/ Robert Roth) [TJP Ep44] 25.07.2026 31m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Robert Roth, a Miami-based entrepreneur born in Austria who has never held a job in his life. At 17 he landed his first software contract. In his twenties he taught himself boogie-woogie piano by ear and performed at the biggest festival in the world for that niche. Today he builds, mentors, and takes ownership stakes in six and seven figure businesses while running his business from cruise ships between rock and roll performances.He has been through broke years, fished for food on a Caribbean island with $20 to his name, and came out the other side with multiple companies, a clear philosophy on passion and business, and a life most people would not believe is real.This one is different.👉 What you'll learn: 🎹 Teaching yourself piano by ear and turning it into an international career 🚫 Making the decision at 16 to never have a job and sticking to it 🎣 Surviving on $20 and a fishing rod on a Caribbean island 💻 Building location-independent businesses before it was a trend 🌟 Why following your passion works but only if you do it right 📈 The shiny object trap that kills business momentum 🤝 How deep networking became his biggest business driver 🧭 Going slow to go fast: the mindset shift from his thirties to now// Timestamps // 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Biggest lesson of the past year: networking as a daily practice 02:52 How real-time market feedback changes everything 03:32 Born in Austria, never employed, first contract at 17 05:51 The two-week job at 16 that made him decide never again 07:25 Broke years, a Caribbean island, and fishing for food 09:53 Getting finances in order and how it changed everything 12:25 How he figured out what he was built for 14:09 Building a life with intention, not just a business 14:53 How piano found him in his early twenties 16:03 Teaching himself boogie-woogie by ear and making it a career 17:38 Running his business from cruise ships with his wife 19:05 The solar company, agencies, and how mentoring ties it all together 20:04 Finding the right marketing channel before doing anything else 20:58 His role as a strategic partner and what he actually brings 22:22 The one thing he helps every CEO with: staying on track 23:57 Shiny object syndrome and why it kills momentum 24:32 How to become genuinely valuable to the marketplace 26:41 Why follow your passion works when done right 27:25 The Passion Millionaire Circle and Mastermind 29:03 One belief most entrepreneurs disagree with him on 30:02 The mindset shift from his thirties: stop risking it all🤝 Connect with Robert Roth https://rockandrollyourdreams.com/podcast/https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-roth-entrepreneur/https://www.instagram.com/rockandrollyourdreams/https://www.youtube.com/@rockandrollyourdreams 👋 Connect with Leo linkedin.com/in/leo-young instagram.com/leoyoungrealestate Invest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Entrepreneurship #PassionBusiness #LocationIndependent #Networking #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #RobertRoth #Mindset #BusinessMentoring #SixFigure #SevenFigure #RockAndRoll #FollowYourPassion #BusinessGrowth
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  Why He Built a $1 Billion Dollar Wealth Management Firm and Walked Away (w/ Eric Brotman) [TJP Ep43]  18.07.2026 43m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Eric Brotman, chairman and chief growth officer of Brotman Consulting Group. Eric built a wealth management firm from zero to over $1 billion in assets under management (AUM), served on a $70 billion state pension board, and voluntarily stepped down as CEO while his firm was actively growing.Eric breaks down how he built a sustainable, collaborative "unicorn" firm by replacing the traditional commission-based model with an all-salaried team and a clear path to equity. He shares the psychology behind successful business transitions, why human behavior is the ultimate differentiator in wealth building, and what he learned about leadership while acting as "Switzerland" on a major government board.If you want to learn how to scale an organization that is designed to outlive you, this episode delivers.👉 Highlights you will learn in this episode:💸 Building a wealth management firm from zero to $1B+ AUM 🛡️ Why selling equity to your employees is your best defensive strategy ❌ The "eat what you kill" agency model vs. building a collaborative ensemble 🎓 Creating a five-year apprenticeship track with an all-salaried advisory team 🧠 Why financial planning is a human psychology job, not a math job 🏛️ Lessons learned from managing a $70B pension board as "Switzerland" 📈 Capitalizing on the historic buyer's market for aging financial practices baton Passing the baton to a superstar successor when you hit your peak//Timestamps//00:00 Building a Legacy: Eric Brotman's Journey02:52 Creating a Sustainable Business Model05:38 Innovative Employee Ownership and Incentives08:25 The Importance of Culture in Financial Advisory11:24 Navigating Career Transitions and Identity14:15 The Human Element in Financial Planning17:04 Financial Literacy and Its Challenges20:04 Insights from the Maryland Pension Fund Board23:26 Navigating Politics and Governance27:47 Lessons from Government Experience33:38 Strategic Growth and Mergers38:56 The Future of Financial Advisory41:09 Final Thoughts and Wisdom🤝 Connect with Eric Brotman https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebrotman/https://www.facebook.com/DontRetireGraduate/ Book: https://noboringbooks.com/books/dont-retire-graduate-2/  Visit: https://brotmanmedia.com/  👋 Connect with Leohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-younghttps://www.instagram.com/leoyoungrealestateInvest with us: https://tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 Support the ShowIf this episode brought you value, please follow, rate, and share the podcast so more people can discover conversations like this.⚠️ DisclaimerThis podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Always consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Entrepreneurship #WealthManagement #BusinessTransition #SuccessionPlanning #Leadership #FinancialLiteracy #EnsemblePractice #CorporateCulture #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #EricBrotman #BrotmanConsulting #Don'tRetireGraduate #ScalingABusiness
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  Conversations to Have With Your Spouse If You Want to Build Generational Wealth (w/ Travis Parry) [TJP Ep42] 11.07.2026 39m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Dr. Travis Parry, PhD in family relations, founder of Balance Growth Inc., and author of the number one bestseller Marry and Grow Rich. He has coached thousands of entrepreneurs across all 50 states on one core argument: your spouse is either your greatest business asset or your greatest liability. Most people never consciously choose which.Travis breaks down the psychology of money, why most wealthy families lose it by the third generation, and what it actually takes to build a legacy that outlasts you. This one goes deeper than most.👉 What you'll learn: 🧠 Why your mind is your greatest business tool 💍 How your spouse's money psychology can make or break your wealth 💸 The four money scripts that quietly run your financial life 📉 Why the third generation loses what the first generation built 🏦 What a family bank is and how to use it to pass on more than money 🎯 Values, goals, and priorities: the framework for a lasting legacy 👨‍👩‍👧 How to coach your kids on money without raising entitled adults// Timestamps // 00:00 Introduction 00:33 Biggest lesson of the past year: the mind is your greatest tool 01:53 Travis's background from paper routes to financial psychology 04:28 Why money is behavioral and deeply subconscious 06:45 The four money scripts and where they come from 09:02 Money avoidance, money worship, and the abundance mindset 11:18 Real couple case study: divorce papers on the counter 13:38 When net worth becomes self-worth 15:41 How to rewire your money psychology 16:49 What legacy really means beyond the financial 18:03 The Millionaire Next Door and the immigrant generation pattern 19:47 The third generation trap: legacy vs. entitlement 21:25 Rockefellers vs. Vanderbilts and the lesson in between 21:43 Values, goals, and priorities: the framework for a balanced life 24:34 How couples align on money using a Venn diagram approach 25:56 Teaching children values without brainwashing them 27:48 Coaching your kids vs. being their friend 29:12 How to build a legacy that lasts for generations 31:07 Teaching logic and critical thinking at home 33:51 Why kids come to parents when there is real connection 35:09 The family bank: a structure for multi-generational wealth 37:58 How to connect with Travis and grab the book👇 Get the Book (from Travis): If you want to build wealth and a legacy with your spouse on the same page, start here.📖 Marry and Grow Rich: www.marryandgrowrichbook.com🤝 Connect with Dr. Travis Parry Website: travisparry.com  linkedin.com/in/travisparry/ 👋 Connect with Leo linkedin.com/in/leo-young  instagram.com/leoyoungrealestate  Invest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call 👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Entrepreneurship #MoneyPsychology #LegacyPlanning #MarriageAndMoney #FamilyWealth #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #TravisParry #MarryAndGrowRich #GenerationalWealth #FamilyBank #MindsetMatters #WealthBuilding
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  How She Built a 17-Unit Franchise with ZERO Business Experience (w/ Alisa Sparks) [TJP Ep41] 04.07.2026 37m

  In this episode of The Journey, Leo sits down with Alisa Sparks, founder of Linden Creek, who went from managing multimillion dollar military budgets for the Navy and Marine Corps to building a 17-location home staging franchise with proprietary software, a feature in Architectural Digest, and a business that runs without her.She had no design degree, no sales experience, and a garage as her office. What she had was a military mindset, a creative itch, and the discipline to build systems in an industry that swore it couldn't be done.If you want to understand what it really looks like to build something that outlasts you, this episode delivers.👉 What you'll learn: 🪖 From military finance contractor to home staging founder with no design degree 🏠 How staging a house she renovated sparked the entire business idea 📋 Building SOPs and systems in an industry that had none 🤝 How she attracts and keeps A players by being brutally honest about culture 🔄 Franchising an idea she originally said no to ⏱️ The weekly time audit that changed how she runs her business 🧠 Working on the business vs. in it and how to know the difference 🎓 The best ROI she ever got: coaching that cost thousands and made hundreds of thousands// Timestamps // 00:00 Introduction 00:53 Biggest lesson of the past year: building a team of A players 01:44 How to attract A players and what culture fit really looks like 04:37 Transitioning from military contractor to entrepreneur 07:55 Building the business as a single mom and hiring out of necessity 09:32 The moment she realized her company ran without her 10:42 How franchising happened and why she almost said no 12:18 Building a network of business owners who get it 14:53 Why founders are the biggest bottleneck to their own growth 15:54 How she learns new skills including sales, HR, and AI 17:52 Delegating step by step and why a 300-page SOP is not enough 21:19 Running a franchise where you have never met your employees 22:17 How her military background shaped her systems-first approach 24:53 Common mistakes she coaches franchise owners through 27:38 The weekly time audit and how she optimizes her 24 hours 29:49 Working on vs. in the business and when to do both 31:06 Hiring before you are ready and using payroll as pressure 33:49 The hardest thing to delegate: charisma and customer care 36:11 One belief she had at 30 that she has since changed 37:07 Best investment with the highest unexpected ROI🤝 Connect with Alisa Sparks Website: Website: www.linden-creek.comInstagram: @lindencreek_LinkedIn (Company): www.linkedin.com/company/linden-creekLinkedIn (Alisa Sparks): www.linkedin.com/in/alisasparkslc/www.youtube.com/@LindenCreek 👋 Connect with Leo linkedin.com/in/leo-young instagram.com/leoyoungrealestate Invest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Entrepreneurship #Franchising #HomeStaging #BusinessSystems #WomenInBusiness #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #AlisaSparks #LindenCreek #ScalingABusiness #MilitaryVeteran #Delegation #APlayers
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  How He Made His Dry Cleaning Business Profitable and What He Invested in After He Sold (w/ Ian Noble) [TJP Ep40] 27.06.2026 37m

  What does it take to scale a blue collar family business to fourteen locations, survive an overnight 38% revenue collapse, and execute a seven figure exit?In this episode of The Journey Pod, host Leo Young sits down with Ian Noble, founder of Run Steady Investments. Ian shares how he took over his family dry cleaning business in his mid twenties, navigated the pandemic by relying on disciplined cash reserves, and successfully exited before transitioning into private lending and mobile home park investing.If you are an entrepreneur looking to transition from operator to capital allocator, protect your downside through cash reserves, or invest passively in real estate, this conversation provides a practical masterclass.In this episode, Ian talks about:How he thinks about vetting partners, and why he always invests his own money first before bringing anyone else inWhat it actually took to survive COVID with 95 employees on payrollWhy he wishes he had let go of control sooner, and what holding on too long cost himHow his background as an operator changes the way he evaluates deals as an investorWhy mobile home parks make sense for business owners who want real estate exposure without the landlord headachesIan is the kind of investor who built something real before he started allocating capital, and it shows in how he thinks about risk.If you're a business owner sitting on cash and wondering what to do with it, or you're trying to build something worth selling someday, this conversation is worth your time.// Timestamps // 00:00 Introduction 00:53 Biggest lesson of the past year: partnerships 01:21 How he vets partners and why he invests in them first 03:03 Playing investor before fund manager 05:03 Buying out his father and starting from the bottom 07:10 The daily reserve habit that survived COVID 09:30 Pivoting through COVID: delivery, wash & fold, restoration 12:56 Modernizing a legacy business from day one 14:19 Reviews, systems, and tripling profitability 17:27 Working in vs. on the business 19:16 AI and the future of small business 22:27 The emotional decision to sell 23:46 Removing himself as the bottleneck before the exit 25:48 Building a real estate portfolio while running a 90-person company 28:32 Why mobile home parks fit his post-exit philosophy 31:16 Helping business owners embrace passive investing 33:20 Debunking the mobile home park stigma 36:44 How to connect with Ian + free cheat sheet 38:03 Best advice he ignored too long👇 Free Resource for Business Owners Curious About Passive Investing (from Ian):If you have ever wondered what it actually looks like to invest passively in real estate, I put together a cheat sheet that walks you through the whole process. What to expect, what to look for, and what a good deal looks like from the inside.📋 Grab it here: https://go.runsteadyinvestments.com/the-journey-podcast🤝 Connect with Ian Noble www.runsteadyinvestments.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/iannoble1/https://www.instagram.com/ian_invests👋 Connect with Leo linkedin.com/in/leo-young instagram.com/leoyoungrealestate Invest with us: tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 If this episode brought you value, follow, rate, and share.⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.
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  Scaling a Hardware Startup and Thinking Like an Entrepreneur (w/ Sam Berman) [TJP Ep39] 20.06.2026 44m

  Sam Berman looked at a 4,000 year old industry built on wooden crates and decided to burn it down.In 2014, he founded Lark, a modular reusable crating and logistics platform, in California with no safety net, no co-founder yet, and no blueprint. When California made it too hard to build physical products, he moved to Tennessee, found a mechanical engineer from Vanderbilt, and started over. Today, Lark holds a patent in modular reusable crating systems and works with some of the largest companies in the world, including AI firms, aerospace companies, and hyperscalers.Along the way, Sam navigated personal loss, isolation, and every trial that comes with building something that has never existed before. He wrote about the psychology of surviving it in his book, The Militant Mind.In this episode, Sam gets into:Why changing an industry isn't just about a better product, it's about overcoming thousands of years of legacy thinkingHow he thinks about trust as the single most important factor in building a teamThe difference between disruption and destruction, and why he only believes in one of themWhat it takes to stay mentally sharp when everything is working against youWhy the least sexy companies are often the ones that quietly do the bestSam is the kind of founder who dropped out of college, lectured at universities anyway, and built a company that Fortune 500s call when they need a problem solved fast.If you're building something the world hasn't seen before, or you're trying to figure out how to keep going when the odds are stacked against you, this one is worth your time.// Timestamps //00:00 Introduction to Sam Berman04:00 Background, dropping out of college, and starting Lark08:00 What to look for in co-founders and team members13:00 When to hire and how to stay lean on purpose16:00 How to attract and retain people without a big name20:00 The bottleneck of credibility and how partnerships solve it25:00 How the first email to Google defined Lark's entire market29:00 Cold outreach at scale and how to get the big guys to respond32:00 The Militant Mind and what the book is really about37:00 Persistence vs. recklessness and how to know the difference41:00 What Sam believed at 30 that he no longer believes43:00 Disruption is dead and why creative destruction is the real game46:00 How to connect with Sam and get your hands on the book🤝 Connect with Sam Bermanwww.larc.cohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelberman/👋 Connect with LeoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-youngInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/leoyoungrealestateInvest with us: https://tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 Support the ShowIf this episode brought you value, please follow, rate, and share the podcast so more people can discover conversations like this.⚠️ DisclaimerThis podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Always consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Entrepreneurship #Founder #StartupLife #Innovation #BusinessGrowth #MilitantMind #LogisticsTech #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #SamBerman #CreativeDestruction #BuildingCompanies #MindsetMatters #Bootstrapped
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  He Went Bankrupt Then Built a $35M Company (w/ Mike Chaput) [TJP Ep38] 13.06.2026 1h 1m

  How do you survive a total business bankruptcy in your twenties and go on to build a 35 million dollar company with over one hundred and forty employees?In this episode of The Journey Pod, host Leo Young sits down with Mike Chaput, founder and CEO of Insight. Mike shares the hard lessons from buying his first company at twenty-four with no management experience, navigating the dot-com crash, and rebuilding from square one into a ten-time Inc. 5000 organization.If you are leading a team, navigating near death moments in business, or looking to build a high performance culture that actually scales, this conversation delivers an honest look at what it really takes.You'll hear:How buying a failing company at 24 became his MBA in real lifeWhy the dot-com crash was just one of many near-death moments for the businessThe neuroscience framework he uses to understand leadership and human behaviorHow he thinks about managing underperformers without destroying team cultureWhy great leadership is the difference between a mediocre organization and one where everyone reaches their potentialWhat he's building now with his podcast and the book he's writing on leadership principlesMike is the kind of operator who reads obsessively, shares what he's learned, and genuinely believes better leaders make better companies and better lives.If you've ever had to rebuild something from scratch, or you're leading a team and want a real conversation about what that actually takes, this episode is worth your time.// Timestamps //00:00 Introduction to Mike Chaput02:00 Buying a company at 24 with no experience12:00 The first skill every founder must develop: sales16:00 When PCS Networks collapsed, the reality of bankruptcy at 2820:00 How Insight was born from the ashes24:00 Why the bankruptcy system exists to reward risk-takers32:00 Scaling from survival mode to a $35M company36:00 Vision, values, and what most CEOs get wrong42:00 Predator vs. prey mindset and high-performance teams50:00 The First Principles podcast and what Mike is building next01:01 What Mike wants to change about how the world leads🤝 Connect with Mike ChaputWebsite:  https://www.endsight.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchaput/https://www.instagram.com/thechaputperspective/ 👋 Connect with Leohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-younghttps://www.instagram.com/leoyoungrealestateInvest with us: https://tidycal.com/leoyoungrealestate/investor-alignment-call👍 Support the ShowIf this episode brought you value, please follow, rate, and share the podcast so more people can discover conversations like this.⚠️ DisclaimerThis podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or tax advice. All investments carry risk. Always consult licensed professionals before making investment decisions.#Entrepreneurship #Founder #Bankruptcy #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #StartupLife #SalesStrategy #CompanyCulture #TheJourneyPodcast #LeoYoung #MikeChaput #FirstPrinciples #ScalingABusiness #MindsetMatters