A More Complete Beast

Ever wondered what it takes to make it in the world of digital entrepreneurship? Well, look no further, as we get the inside scoop from Immanuel Joy, a digital entrepreneur who's been there, done that, and lived to tell the tale. Immanuel opens up about his experiences navigating startup accelerator programs and venture capital, using Y Combinator as a case study. He shares intriguing insights into the world of asymmetric betting, the art of refining pitches, and the value of networking in securing investments.

The conversation takes an interesting turn as we venture into the underbelly of the Latin American banking systems. Immanuel's company, Relampago, is at the forefront of bridging the divide between traditional banking and app banking. As we hear about his experiences in Colombia and the disparities in banking access, particularly for the underprivileged and gig workers, we delve into the potential of smart contracts and peer-to-peer loans as game-changers in the banking landscape.

But the conversation doesn't stop there. We traverse the contours of Immanuel's personal journey and the influence of his family's immigration from India due to religious violence. As he shares his experiences living in Brazil and the stark contrasts he witnessed in living conditions in different countries, we engage in a thought-provoking discussion about international influence, cultural differences, and the challenges in implementing the American model abroad. So, gear up for an enlightening conversation that promises to leave you with a wealth of knowledge on digital entrepreneurship, international banking, and the fascinating intersection of culture and finance.

Ever pondered over what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur without a college degree? Our special guest, Mallory Scalise, is a living testament to that possibility. Dropping out of college and venturing into the photography world may not sound like the conventional road to success, but Mallory’s journey and achievements paint a different picture. Not only did she rake in six figures in her first year of photography, but she also redefines the essence of boudoir photography, transforming it into a medium for empowering women. 

The core of this episode revolves around Mallory’s unique approach to boudoir photography, where she leverages her experience as a doula and working with physical therapists to provide a safe and empowering space for her clients. She walks us through how she coaches her clients - helping them embrace vulnerability and rediscover their self-image. But the learning doesn't stop there; Mallory's insights extend to the realm of goal-setting and visualization. She opens up about how these practices have driven her focus and motivation, shedding light on the importance of tuning into our internal voices and intuition when making business decisions. 

We wind up this insightful discussion with Mallory detailing the boudoir photography experience and how potential clients can book a session with her. Whether you're curious about the inner workings of boudoir photography, looking for nuggets of entrepreneurial wisdom, or both, this episode has got you covered. So, buckle up for an enriching conversation filled with fresh perspectives on boudoir photography, success against odds, and the power of self-belief and hard work.

Is success really an illusion? Join me as I share my personal insights on this intriguing question, drawing from examples from popular singing shows like 'The Voice' and everyday life situations. I delve into the deceiving nature of self-perception and its impact on our perception of success. Tune in to understand why it's important to surround yourself with objective individuals who can help identify and analyze your blind spots. You'll hear anecdotes from my interactions with successful business tycoons and professional athletes, underscoring the value of surrounding yourself with winners. 

Further, I'll dissect personal decisions and share the thought processes behind them to highlight the importance of objective analysis in critical life scenarios. This episode isn't just about success - it's about the journey towards achieving it and understanding the elements of luck and self-perception involved. Be prepared for a frank exploration of these topics and much more! Remember, success is not just about where you are but also about how you got there. So, brace yourself for an enlightening conversation that will challenge your perception of success and the journey to achieving it.

Are you ready to embark on an enlightening journey through the world of entrepreneurship and insurance? Buckle up as Nick Tropiano, a seasoned insurance entrepreneur, walks us through his journey from starting his own business to selling it to a global force. Nick's decision to tread the path of independence, pitting him against insurance behemoths like State Farm and GEICO, is a story packed with invaluable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

Nick vividly recounts his trials and triumphs, from the inception of his business with just 4,000 dollars in revenue to a phenomenal top line and eventual sale to the largest private insurance firm on the planet. He opens up about his experiences with the Iroquois Group, a vital partnership that allowed his business to build connections with larger insurance companies. Crucial to any business, Nick emphasizes the role of data in decision-making, the importance of a powerhouse team, and how ego can often cloud judgment. Listen closely as he shares the ins and outs of creating a business model that benefits customers with recurring payments - a strategy that brought success to his doorstep.

Insurance is a game every adult plays, yet many neglect the importance of understanding policy changes and maintaining a healthy relationship with their insurance agent. Nick stresses the necessity of regular insurance policy reviews and outlines the potential pitfalls when this is overlooked. He also offers a comprehensive overview of insurance considerations for varying income levels and the myriad life insurance options available. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone willing to navigate the complex landscape of insurance. Whether you're a small business owner, contemplating starting a business, or just someone keen on understanding your insurance better, this episode promises to empower you with knowledge. Tune in now!

I've done episodes where we've talked to real estate investors, contractors, and agents, but this is the first episode where we talk about BEING an agent. 

I've always been curious about what separates the agents who make some serious coin, from the agents who never break through and make the money they want. 

Today we sit down with my real estate agent, Dan Howell, who was able to very quickly scale his real estate business from 0 to over 50,000,000 in sales in the past several years. 

Dan did this through committing to real estate like you would any other job. He was able to hire people to take non-value-add tasks off his plate, and he used strategic partnerships to take his business from 0, to where it is today. 

Of course we talk about the real estate market in general towards the end of the podcast. We pull out our crystal ball and make some predictions on where the real estate market will be in the next 18 months. 

If you liked the podcast, don't forget to leave a 5 star review, and share this podcast with all of your real estate agent friends who might be interested in scaling their business, and making more money. 

This went down a road I didn't anticipate but it was a great conversation. 

John McCormick is the owner of Foresight Renovations. His website directly reads "At Foresight Renovations, we understand that you are looking to increase the functionality and value of your property investment in the Pittsburgh region." Naturally, as a property investor and homeowner I wanted to talk to him about increasing the ROI on my property business. This is what I learned; 

 Adding bathrooms will have an 80% ROI on an appraisal. Adding a kitchen will have a 120% ROI on an appraisal.  This makes me want to turn my wet bar in the basement into a small kitchen if I ever need an appraisal. John also shared that 3 bedroom 2 bath is worth more than a 2 bedroom 2 bath even with the same square footage. This makes sense to me since so many people work from home, many people want to use that spare bedroom as an office. 

I started to vent a little bit about how often contractors and tradesman rip people off. As a property investor, I've dealt with this far too often. John then shares why he thinks these tradesman act the way they do, and it comes down to a lack of purpose. This is where the conversation really started to take off. 

We touch on Christianity, grand narratives, and objective truth. This one was deep. If you like the conversation, don't forget to share this episode and leave us a 5 star review. 

Today we sit down with real estate agent, real estate investor, and gym owner, Chris Ellson. Chris and I have a ton of overlap in our lives so this was a fun conversation.

We start off by taking a 50,000 foot view on finances. We both agree that the culture surrounding personal finances leaves young people in a type of indentured servitude. Think about it - you go to school, get into 6 figures of debt. Then you buy a car. You don't just buy any car; you buy a car so people know you have a decent job - this propels you into more debt. Then you have to find a place to live. Living in a small one bedroom apartment is a non-starter (who wants to live like they're still in college?), so you rent a place in the Southside flats for $1500 mo/. Before you know it, you're a slave to your expenses. Your 20's are spent keeping up with your debt obligations instead of living lean and aggregating skills. You've effectively pigeonholed yourself to a life of keeping up with debt collectors instead of building something meaningful. 

Chris and I are unsure how to solve the indentured servitude structure of the college educated person, but we both agree it starts with living below your means. Do not allow your liabilities to butt up against your pay. Eat dirt for a decade, build your cashflow, and then start to have some abundance in our life. Honestly, that's what I've done through my entire 20s and that's what I'm still doing today. I bought a used 2018 truck, an iPhone SE and a house I could afford. This gives me the space to pay my bills, build my business, invest 6 figures a year into the market and build a real estate portfolio. I never would have been able to do this had I not lived extremely lean in my 20s. 

We also talk about business. The grind of starting a business is something you can't understand until you do it. When you look back on it, the memories are blurry because you spend so much time getting it off the ground the days blend together. What's cool is that if you can build a small business, you have the skills necessary to build a real estate portfolio. 

This is where we start to really dig into real estate. This second half of the conversation is something I know people need to hear in this tight marketplace. We talk about finding off-market deals in this market where supply is so low. Chris has used wholesalers, direct mail marketing, and even Facebook messages to find off market deals to build his real estate portfolio. If you're a real estate investor, or even someone who just wants to buy a house, this portion is for you. 

As always, share this podcast and leave us a 5 star review.

Today we sit down with my good friend and chiropractor, Anthony Petrarca. From receiving treatment when he was an athlete, to watching his dad grow his chiropractic business, Anthony has been around chiropractic care his entire life.

We start off the interview by examining the most common injuries in the fitness space. We examine what causes them, how to treat them, and how to avoid them in the future. 

First, the disclaimer - while Anthony is a doctor of chiropractic care, he's giving general guidelines for injuries in the gym. If you injure yourself in the gym, you should seek medical attention. 

The first area of injury we examine is the lower back. If you squat, deadlift, and row, you've probably aggravated this at some point in your lifting career. Common injuries to this area include muscle strain, disc injury, and SI ligament sprain. Treatment will vary depending on the issue, but keeping your form tight and examining your medical history will go a long way to avoiding this type of injury in the future. 

Another issue that many fitness enthusiasts deal with is a shoulder injury. This could be your pec, bicep, or the rotator cuff. We get off on a bit of a tangent with the barbell bench press on this section. Spoiler, you don't have to barbell bench press.  

Lastly we look at elbow pain. This is near and dear to my heart because I injured my elbow several years ago and it hasn't been the same since. I can say with confidence that when I get consistent treatment, it feels much better. 

When you're analyzing what's causing your pain in the gym, analyze load, range of motion, and velocity. If the load is causing the issue, you might be trying to do too much too fast. If the range of motion is causing the issue, you might be trying too hard to mimic a technique that works for someone else, but obviously not you. If the speed of the movement is causing the pain, lighten it up and slow it down. 

Share this episode with every lifter you know, and don't forget to leave us a 5 star review. 

 

Today we sit down with Maria Fagan, founder and former CEO of RQM+. RQM+ is the largest Medtech regulatory consulting business in the world. RQM+ specializes in bringing medical device and in vitro diagnostic tools from conception to commercialization.  This means cutting through the red tape and making sure the device is compliant in all the countries it's going to be sold. This involves a plethora of industry experience as well as a team of over 600 people capable of high performance. 

We parse through the details on how Maria was able to grow her business from an idea discussed between her and her  two business partners to being the industry leading company that it is today. 

There are 4 pillars that Maria uses to  grow a massive business. Outside of that, a "go-giver" culture and an uncompromising commitment to her businesses' core values has allowed her to attract top talent and service her clients best. 

This is a great story on how a business grows, scales, and is eventually sold. If you have dreams of growing an industry leading business, you don't want to miss this one. 

As we continue to grow on our audio platforms, it's important that we (the hosts), introduce ourselves. Today we sit down with co-host Zach and learn more about what brought him to the fitness industry. 

Zach grew up like a lot of American children today - overweight. After starting wrestling Zach started to watch his body change. He went from wrestling heavyweight in high school to wrestling 149lbs as a scholarship recipient. 

Wrestling taught Zach the importance of discipline, hard word, and doing the right thing when nobody is watching. This allowed him to finish a degree in business and eventually get his MBA. Although he has choice words for college in general, the experience taught him what NOT to do if he wanted to live a life he could be proud of. 

Some of the most important lessons can't be learned in a classroom, they're learned through experience. Zach reflects on the importance of "winning the day" to accomplish audacious goals. 

After leaving the fitness industry for 7 months, he noticed he started to fall back into old patterns - escapism and unhealthy habits. He had a conversation with a coworker that downplayed the importance of excellence and this prompted him to make a change. 

After some soul searching, Zach decided to jump back into the fitness industry and help grow Wallace Fitness Center and this podcast - A More Complete Beast.