David Steele embodies the spirit of the parallel entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of OneWealth Advisors, an independent registered investment advisory firm managing well over $1B in assets. In parallel, he is Executive Chairman of a restaurant group with 300 employees and also owns multiple yoga studios. In this conversation with Scott Pollack, David reflects on the grit it took to cold-call 500 prospects a day in his early years; the discipline of systems and financial prudence; and the principle that people simply want to feel loved and valued. He shares candidly about his ongoing battle with self-limiting beliefs, and why systematic behavior is the foundation of sustainable entrepreneurship.

4. Show Notes

• [00:34] Show intro with Scott Pollack
• [02:06] Guest introduction: David Steele, founder/CEO of OneWealth Advisors ($1B+ AUM), restaurateur, and yoga studio owner
• [02:51] Starting out as a dishwasher → transition to Wall Street → first restaurant success
• [05:14] Balancing finance and hospitality; the “parallel entrepreneur”
• [07:20] Discovering his leadership role as nurturer, strategist, and coach
• [08:34] Entrepreneurial superpower: building shared ownership of culture and strategy
• [13:07] Biggest struggle: overcoming self-limiting beliefs
• [18:34] Universal principle: people want to feel loved and valued
• [23:50] Why systematic, disciplined behavior beats “hockey stick” fantasies
• [25:42] Cold-calling 500 dials a day: early sales discipline
• [27:05] Quick-fire entrepreneur hacks
  • Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People (Amazon link)
  • Tool/App: Calendar
  • Habit: Exercise (90–120 minutes daily)
  • Advice: “If you’re not in the service of others, you won’t be happy.” (from his mother)
• [33:10] Closing reflections on venture capital, founder struggles, and staying grounded
• [33:34] Show outro