Action Academy | Build Wealth. Buy Assets. Leave Corporate.

Zach Babischkin went from corporate sales and startup logistics to opening a boutique gym franchise in Nashville -- four days after his second child was born. In this episode, he and Brian break down the full acquisition journey: franchise discovery, a year of delays, and what it actually takes to go from W-2 to business owner.

We cover:

• Why they chose a franchise over buying an existing business
• How leasing agents used their LOIs against them
• Surviving a government shutdown, Trump tariffs, and a Nashville ice storm in one deal
• What Brian looks for before backing an operator
• Why 92% of business partners have a bad operating agreement
• The difference between franchise pros and the cons nobody warns you about
• How to build a partnership agreement that holds up when things get hard
• Why Brian tells every 21-year-old to go get a job first
• Balancing a newborn, a new business, and a marriage at the same time

Give this video a watch for a full breakdown: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cviipnGtDWI&feature=youtu.be

If you are serious about building a life on your terms and want to surround yourself with people who are actually doing it, go to: 
https://actionacademy.com?el=action_academy_podcast

Want To Build $10-30k+ / mnth of cashflow you OWN? Inside our community Action Academy [w/ over 700 members & $428M in deals done in 2025 alone ] we help high performers escape corporate America through buying small businesses and commercial real estate. Click this link to book a one-on-one discovery call with our membership director and become the next success story on our podcast!

Follow Me As I Travel & Build:
IG @brianluebben
ActionAcademy.com

$428M reflects aggregate member-reported acquisition value during 2025, not earnings or cash flow. Action Academy provides education and community, not legal, tax, financial, or investment advice.

Most entrepreneurs don’t own a business. Their business owns them.

In this episode, Brian breaks down the exact systems, frameworks, and operational changes he implemented to prepare Action Academy to run without him for 8 weeks while traveling through Europe. 

He covers:

• The 8 systems every scalable business needs
• KPI scorecards and accountability frameworks
• How to stop being the “chief problem solver”
• Building leaders instead of employees
• SOPs, AI agents, and operational leverage
• Founder detachment and letting go of control
• Why freedom and control cannot coexist

If you want a business that can grow without your constant presence, this episode is for you.

Curious as to how we’ve bought multiple businesses and built millions in equity? Give this video a watch for a full breakdown: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cviipnGtDWI&feature=youtu.be

If you are serious about building a life on your terms and want to surround yourself with people who are actually doing it, go to: 

https://actionacademy.com?el=action_academy_podcast

Want To Build $10-30k+ / mnth of cashflow you OWN? Inside our community Action Academy [w/ over 700 members & $428M in deals done in 2025 alone ] we help high performers escape corporate America through buying small businesses and commercial real estate. Click this link to book a one-on-one discovery call with our membership director and become the next success story on our podcast!

Follow Me As I Travel & Build:
IG @brianluebben
ActionAcademy.com

$428M reflects aggregate member-reported acquisition value during 2025, not earnings or cash flow. Action Academy provides education and community, not legal, tax, financial, or investment advice.

Cody Berman reached financial freedom at 25 while spending just $24K a year. During that same stretch, his income doubled three years in a row from $96K to over $1M.

In this episode, Cody breaks down the simple but powerful math behind his journey: 11 rental units producing $3,700/month in cash flow, a digital products business generating $10K/month, and $500K invested in the stock market by his mid-20s.

We cover:
Why margin matters more than what you invest in
Percentage-based spending and why dollar amounts can be misleading
How to get aligned with your spouse on financial freedom
The 4 types of side hustles and which ones actually scale
Monthly money meetings and annual life reviews
Why increasing income beats obsessing over tax loopholes
How Cody unlearned the scarcity mindset after becoming financially free

Cody also shares lessons from his new book, Retire by 30.

Get the book: www.retireby30book.com

Check out our first episode together where we break down Cody's digital products business:
https://youtu.be/1uJFGuGQ3Bc?si=I-fsVM1km3vYeT2e

Follow Cody:
Instagram: @CodyDBerman

Curious as to how we’ve bought multiple businesses and built millions in equity? Give this video a watch for a full breakdown: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cviipnGtDWI&feature=youtu.be

If you are serious about building a life on your terms and want to surround yourself with people who are actually doing it, go to: 

https://actionacademy.com?el=action_academy_podcast

Want To Build $10-30k+ / mnth of cashflow you OWN? Inside our community Action Academy [w/ over 700 members & $428M in deals done in 2025 alone ] we help high performers escape corporate America through buying small businesses and commercial real estate. Click this link to book a one-on-one discovery call with our membership director and become the next success story on our podcast!

Follow Me As I Travel & Build:
IG @brianluebben
ActionAcademy.com

$428M reflects aggregate member-reported acquisition value during 2025, not earnings or cash flow. Action Academy provides education and community, not legal, tax, financial, or investment advice.

16 months ago, Zack Metcalf was listening to the Action Academy podcast while working in pharmaceutical sales and buying one rental property a year.

Today, he’s developing boutique micro resorts, partnering on a 240-acre hospitality project in New York, and speaking on stages alongside entrepreneurs he once looked up to.

In this episode, Zack breaks down:

• Why he outgrew traditional rental investing
• The power of getting in bigger rooms
• How masterminds accelerated his growth
• Lessons from losing $25K on a failed deal
• The mindset shift from employee to developer
• Why alignment matters more than money

This episode is about betting on yourself, thinking bigger, and taking action before you feel ready.

Curious as to how we’ve bought multiple businesses and built millions in equity? Give this video a watch for a full breakdown: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cviipnGtDWI&feature=youtu.be

If you are serious about building a life on your terms and want to surround yourself with people who are actually doing it, go to: 

https://actionacademy.com?el=action_academy_podcast

Want To Build $10-30k+ / mnth of cashflow you OWN? Inside our community Action Academy [w/ over 700 members & $428M in deals done in 2025 alone ] we help high performers escape corporate America through buying small businesses and commercial real estate. Click this link to book a one-on-one discovery call with our membership director and become the next success story on our podcast!

Follow Me As I Travel & Build:
IG @brianluebben
ActionAcademy.com

$428M reflects aggregate member-reported acquisition value during 2025, not earnings or cash flow. Action Academy provides education and community, not legal, tax, financial, or investment advice.

Over the last 5 years, Brian Luebben spent $889,000 on personal development across coaches, courses, masterminds, events, and agencies… and this episode breaks down exactly what happened because of it.

From putting a $5K mastermind on a credit card to building a multi-million dollar business, Brian shares the real ROI behind the investments that changed his life, along with the ones that completely flopped.

In this episode:

• How one $5K event led to millions in revenue
• Why Brian spent 45% of his income on self-development at one point
• The mindset shift that helped him leave corporate America
• The masterminds and coaches that produced the biggest ROI
• The courses and agencies that were complete failures
• How Action Academy was built from relationships and proximity
• Why events became the highest ROI investment category

This is one of the most transparent breakdowns Brian has ever shared on money, mentorship, business growth, and investing in yourself.

If you’ve ever wondered whether masterminds, coaching, or personal development are actually worth it… this episode is for you.

Curious as to how we’ve bought multiple businesses and built millions in equity? Give this video a watch for a full breakdown: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cviipnGtDWI&feature=youtu.be

If you are serious about building a life on your terms and want to surround yourself with people who are actually doing it, go to: 

https://actionacademy.com?el=action_academy_podcast

Want To Build $10-30k+ / mnth of cashflow you OWN? Inside our community Action Academy [w/ over 700 members & $428M in deals done in 2025 alone ] we help high performers escape corporate America through buying small businesses and commercial real estate. Click this link to book a one-on-one discovery call with our membership director and become the next success story on our podcast!

Follow Me As I Travel & Build:
IG @brianluebben
ActionAcademy.com

$428M reflects aggregate member-reported acquisition value during 2025, not earnings or cash flow. Action Academy provides education and community, not legal, tax, financial, or investment advice.

Justin and Ashley Eaton built a 4-store laundromat portfolio in just 2.5 years after realizing rental properties weren’t producing the cash flow they wanted.

In this episode, they break down:

• Why they shifted from real estate to laundromats
• Buying “zombie mats” for as little as $25K
• Turning one store into $32K/month gross revenue
• How they automated operations and built systems
• The truth about “passive income”
• Raising capital after proving the model themselves

This is one of the best conversations we’ve had on buying boring businesses, operating well, and scaling the right way.

Follow Justin & Ashley:
@justin__eaton
@ashgriff_

Curious as to how we’ve bought multiple businesses and built millions in equity? Give this video a watch for a full breakdown: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cviipnGtDWI&feature=youtu.be

If you are serious about building a life on your terms and want to surround yourself with people who are actually doing it, go to: 

https://actionacademy.com?el=action_academy_podcast

Want To Build $10-30k+ / mnth of cashflow you OWN? Inside our community Action Academy [w/ over 700 members & $428M in deals done in 2025 alone ] we help high performers escape corporate America through buying small businesses and commercial real estate. Click this link to book a one-on-one discovery call with our membership director and become the next success story on our podcast!

Follow Me As I Travel & Build:
IG @brianluebben
ActionAcademy.com

$428M reflects aggregate member-reported acquisition value during 2025, not earnings or cash flow. Action Academy provides education and community, not legal, tax, financial, or investment advice.

What does it really take to leave your W2 and build a life on your terms?

In this episode, Brian sits down with Andrew Bennett to break down his journey from a stable corporate job to owning multiple businesses with his wife.

Andrew shares why his first attempt at leaving his job failed, what changed the second time, and how a combination of pressure, vision, and environment finally pushed him to make the decision.

They also walk through the deal that changed everything. A 12,000 sq ft building acquired with seller financing that is now being turned into a health and wellness center and café, something Andrew and his wife had talked about for years. 

This episode covers:

•  Leaving your W2 and why timing is never perfect 
•  Turning pressure and uncertainty into action 
•  Why environment and proximity matter more than information 
•  How Andrew structured his first major deal 
•  The mindset shift from saving money to building wealth 

The biggest takeaway:

Taking action changes everything.

Curious as to how we’ve bought multiple businesses and built millions in equity? Give this video a watch for a full breakdown: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cviipnGtDWI&feature=youtu.be

If you are serious about building a life on your terms and want to surround yourself with people who are actually doing it, go to: 

https://actionacademy.com?el=action_academy_podcast

Want To Build $10-30k+ / mnth of cashflow you OWN? Inside our community Action Academy [w/ over 700 members & $428M in deals done in 2025 alone ] we help high performers escape corporate America through buying small businesses and commercial real estate. Click this link to book a one-on-one discovery call with our membership director and become the next success story on our podcast!

Follow Me As I Travel & Build:
IG @brianluebben
ActionAcademy.com

$428M reflects aggregate member-reported acquisition value during 2025, not earnings or cash flow. Action Academy provides education and community, not legal, tax, financial, or investment advice.

Want To Build $10-30k+ / mnth of cashflow you OWN? Inside our community Action Academy [w/ over 700 members & $428M in deals done in 2025 alone ] we help high performers escape corporate America through buying small businesses and commercial real estate. Click this link to book a one-on-one discovery call with our membership director and become the next success story on our podcast!

Follow Me As I Travel & Build:
IG @brianluebben
ActionAcademy.com

$428M reflects aggregate member-reported acquisition value during 2025, not earnings or cash flow. Action Academy provides education and community, not legal, tax, financial, or investment advice.

If you’ve ever wondered how people raise millions of dollars to fund deals, this episode breaks it down step by step. Brian sits down with capital raising expert Adit Shah to unpack exactly how everyday professionals can go from small deals to raising serious money and scaling into commercial real estate and business acquisitions.

They dive into the mindset shifts required to raise capital, why most people struggle to get started, and how to position yourself as the bridge between investors and opportunities. From structuring your pitch to building trust, assembling the right team, and avoiding the biggest mistakes that kill deals, this episode is a tactical blueprint for anyone looking to raise their first $1M and beyond.

You’ll also hear real stories of people inside Action Academy who have successfully raised millions, plus the hard truths about investor responsibility, communication, and what it actually takes to steward other people’s money at a high level. Whether you are trying to break out of corporate, scale your portfolio, or deploy capital more effectively, this episode will change how you think about money, leverage, and opportunity.

Curious as to how we’ve bought multiple businesses and built millions in equity? Give this video a watch for a full breakdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cviipnGtDWI&feature=youtu.be

And if you’re serious about replacing your 9–5 income with cash flow you actually own and control, go to https://actionacademy.com?el=action_academy_podcast

Want To Build $10-30k+ / mnth of cashflow you OWN? Inside our community Action Academy [w/ over 700 members & $428M in deals done in 2025 alone ] we help high performers escape corporate America through buying small businesses and commercial real estate. Click this link to book a one-on-one discovery call with our membership director and become the next success story on our podcast!

Follow Me As I Travel & Build:
IG @brianluebben
ActionAcademy.com

$428M reflects aggregate member-reported acquisition value during 2025, not earnings or cash flow. Action Academy provides education and community, not legal, tax, financial, or investment advice.

This episode is a masterclass in what it really looks like to build wealth while navigating real life. Aaron and Andrea share how they went from dual W2 incomes and a growing rental portfolio to raising $2.8M and developing a $13.4M residential assisted living project, all while raising three young kids and completely reinventing their financial future.

They break down the exact moment they realized their current path would not get them where they wanted to go, why they walked away from “safe” strategies, and how they found an asset class that aligned with both their financial goals and personal mission. From building the right team and finding mentors to navigating a complex capital raise and overcoming major setbacks, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to operate at a higher level.

If you have been thinking about making a bigger move, whether that is buying a business, scaling beyond rentals, or stepping into ownership, this episode will challenge how you think about risk, growth, and what is truly possible when you commit to a long-term vision.

And if you’re serious about replacing your 9–5 income with cash flow you actually own and control, go to https://actionacademy.com?el=action_academy_podcast

Want To Build $10-30k+ / mnth of cashflow you OWN? Inside our community Action Academy [w/ over 700 members & $428M in deals done in 2025 alone ] we help high performers escape corporate America through buying small businesses and commercial real estate. Click this link to book a one-on-one discovery call with our membership director and become the next success story on our podcast!

Follow Me As I Travel & Build:
IG @brianluebben
ActionAcademy.com

$428M reflects aggregate member-reported acquisition value during 2025, not earnings or cash flow. Action Academy provides education and community, not legal, tax, financial, or investment advice.