Episode Summary:

At 15 years of service, Bill Hoopes was just five years away from a guaranteed Navy pension. He was a Chief Petty Officer making $90k a year with a clear path to retirement. Then, he did the unthinkable: he handed in his papers and walked away with nothing but his freedom.

In this episode of Dragon’s Gold, Bill joins Justin Mills to discuss the high cost of "golden handcuffs" and the resilience required to rebuild from scratch. From failing his Chief Petty Officer exam six times before finally passing, to navigating bankruptcy and a $50k pay cut as a teacher, Bill’s story is a masterclass in grit. He reveals why "sticking your toe in" is the most dangerous way to take a risk and shares his "60 for Me" framework—a strategic approach to self-care that prevents you from "moving positive in the wrong direction."

Key Takeaways:

• The 7th Try: Why failure is just data until you decide to quit.

• Burning the Boats: How to make high-stakes decisions when comfort is the enemy.

• The "60 for Me" Rule: Why taking one hour a day for yourself is the ultimate productivity hack.

• Breaking Generational Curses: Transforming trauma into a drive for greatness.

What You'll Learn:

• How to build resilience when you fail (again and again).

• The real cost of comfort and "golden handcuffs."

• How to reclaim 60 minutes a day to change your life.

Tools & Weapons:

• The Bible (Corinthians 9.24): Run the race in a way to win.

• Social Media Time Capsules: Using posts to hold your future self accountable.

• The OODA Loop: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act.

• Leading Her Game: Bill’s book on raising high-performing female athletes.

Send us a text

About Gold Dragon Investments:

At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome.

Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth.

Join Us on the Adventure:

• Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com
  
  
• Schedule a Call

How does a top patent attorney, trained in high-stakes litigation, manage to build a career of excellence while making profound choices to prioritize family and faith?

Frank Bernstein joins Justin Mills to share his incredible journey—from surviving the academic pressure cooker of Caltech at age 16 to achieving partnership in a top firm in just five years. This episode is a masterclass in perseverance, humility, and the critical wisdom of knowing what you can (and cannot) control. 

Frank explains how a demanding job led him to deliberately restructure his life to better support his family and how his deepest mentors helped him develop the moral compass necessary to win both in the courtroom and in life.

Key Takeaways:

• The Power of Humility: Why recognizing your limitations is crucial for long-term success, especially among elite professionals.

• The Litigator’s Lesson: The pivotal advice Frank received: to "recognize what you can control, and what you can't control, and act accordingly".

• Choosing Family: How Frank made a significant career move to California to ensure he was not "useless" to his wife on the weekends.

• The Golden Rule: Why Frank believes the Golden Rule applies in 100% of life situations, serving as a powerful guide to finding common ground.

• The Next Quest: His inspiring plan to attend seminary once his professional career concludes.

What you will learn:

• How Frank managed the imposter syndrome of being ranked low among elite performers by embracing humility.

• The life-changing move to California designed specifically to reclaim time with his family.

• The power of introspection and following a moral compass, which Frank believes are essential for a grounded life.

• Why finding common ground is the best strategy in both personal and professional conflicts.

• The advice from a mentor that taught him the strategic advantage of discerning what is controllable versus uncontrollable.

Tools & Weapons:

• Wife & Family Support: Having a spouse who keeps you balanced and "has your back" is cited as the biggest weapon.

• Introspection: The ability to look inside and know yourself, which helps keep you grounded and understand others.

• Mindset of Control: The strategy to "recognize what you can control and what you can't control and act accordingly".

• The Bible & Golden Rule: Used as a moral compass and source of ethics; specifically, Jeremiah 29:11 ("I know the plans I have for you...") and Matthew 7:12 (the Golden Rule, which applies in 100% of situations)

Send us a text

About Gold Dragon Investments:

At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome.

Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth.

Join Us on the Adventure:

• Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com
  
  
• Schedule a Call

David You spent three decades as a Sheriff's Deputy navigating high-stakes environments where he quickly learned that respect must be earned, not demanded. He discovered that the most powerful strategy in law enforcement, leadership, and life is consistently adhering to one core philosophy: being firm but fair.

In this insightful conversation, David shares how this steadfast philosophy became the bedrock of his greatest professional achievement: running a Drug Treatment Court program that achieved a remarkable 95–98% success rate. 

He reveals the mindset that allowed him to lead and create real, lasting impact, emphasizing that true "Dragon's Gold" comes not from chasing accolades, but from simply enjoying the journey and dedicating yourself to doing your job well.

Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why law enforcement is fundamentally about problem solving and helping people that need help.

• The profound impact of the Drug Treatment Court program, which required participants to commit to tangible life-altering changes.

• David's personal philosophy on mastery: focusing on enjoying the work itself rather than seeking awards or compliments.

• The critical need for research and verification (trust and verify) in the age of information, ensuring decisions are educated and based on confirmed facts.

• A vital piece of communication wisdom: stepping away from emails and texts to talk in person or on the phone to avoid misinterpreting tone and emotion.

Key Takeaways:

• The "Firm But Fair" Philosophy: The bedrock of effective leadership is consistently adhering to the philosophy of being firm but fair with everybody.

• The Dragon's Gold Mindset: True professional rewards do not come from chasing awards or accomplishments.

• Problem-Solving as Service: David viewed his three decades in law enforcement primarily as a mission of "problem solving" and "helping people that need help".

• Impact Through Structure: David’s work with the Drug Treatment Court program demonstrated the powerful impact of a structured program.

• Learning from Others: Strategic growth comes from taking advice and experience from multiple mentors, combining "a little bit of everybody's experience, bring it together, and then create your own" strategy.

Tools & Weapons:

• The Research Habit (Trust and Verify): Due to the overwhelming amount of information and misinformation online (fake news), it is critical to "confirm everything".

• The Communication Rule (Get Off the Email): To ensure a deeper and richer experience and avoid misinterpreting tone or emotion.

• The Integrity Shield: When asked a question you don't know the answer to, "don't make stuff up", commit to finding the correct information.

• The "Firm But Fair" Framework: This core strategy helps build respect and allows you to guide yourself through difficult interactions.

Send us a text

About Gold Dragon Investments:

At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome.

Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth.

Join Us on the Adventure:

• Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com
  
  
• Schedule a Call

How do you trade a stable career designing buildings for the high-stakes world of fantasy writing? Graham McNeill, the legendary author of Warhammer 40,000 novels, shares his origin story—which began not with a grand life strategy, but a pivotal choice in a bookstore after encountering The Warlock of Firetop Mountain.

Graham opens up about overcoming the generational belief that a creative career was unattainable and why he had to leave the "expected path" of architecture behind. He shares the invaluable lessons learned from his fellowship of mentors, including the secret to succeeding as a freelancer (reliability and communication), and the practical tools he uses to maintain focus and avoid burnout. This episode is packed with strategic insights for anyone looking to make a massive creative or career leap and seeking long-term mastery.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this adventure:

• Why realizing his architecture career meant "designing toilets" forced him to change everything.

• The profound advice: "Make it exist, then you can make it good," and the discipline required to finish projects.

• How to build the "muscles" of resilience needed to accept constructive criticism as a gift, not a personal attack.

• Why mastering self-discipline and routine as a freelancer is essential to avoid returning to the 9-to-5 grind.

• The hidden, powerful asset that ensures you always get hired again: being the guy people want to work with.

• Graham’s true "Dragon's Gold" that keeps him writing, which has nothing to do with awards or bestsellers.

Tools & Weapons:

• Notepads & Moleskins: Essential for capturing ideas; the physical act of writing aids the "embedding process" of creation.

• Office Routine: Treating the freelance day like an office schedule (8:30 AM to 5:30 PM) to cultivate discipline.

• Timetabling Joy: Scheduling time for non-work passions (like painting miniatures or reading a book) to avoid guilt and recharge creativity.

• Discipline of Finishing: The crucial mindset shift to "Make it exist, then you can make it good" to overcome stagnation.

• Transparency/Communication: Being reliable and communicating clearly if a deadline is at risk to maintain strong relationships as a freelancer.

• Growth Mindset: The resilience required to accept criticism as a gift to improve your skill set immeasurably.

Send us a text

About Gold Dragon Investments:

At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome.

Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth.

Join Us on the Adventure:

• Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com
  
  
• Schedule a Call

What happens when you pour five years into building a successful team and product, only to have the entire studio shut down due to forces beyond your control?

Game designer Patrick Fram (known for X-Defiant and The Division 2) faced this exact "darkest hour," forcing him to reckon with the "golden handcuffs" of a stable role. 

Patrick shares his journey from a young enthusiast who had ideas for games but didn't know where to begin to mastering the highly competitive game creation industry. 

He discusses how he leveraged allies to "power level" his career, fought deep imposter syndrome in AAA environments, and ultimately found creative liberation by founding his own studio, Quintessence Games. 

This episode is an essential guide for any strategist looking to turn a major career setback into their next ultimate quest.

Key Takeaways (Bulleted):

• Why Patrick’s friend gave him the biggest piece of advice: "other humans have already figured out how to do it. So there's no reason we can't".

• The strategic necessity of doing tertiary work and creating relationships to get your foot in the door of a highly competitive industry.

• How overcoming deep imposter syndrome leads to newfound confidence and the ability to mentor younger developers.

• Patrick's wisdom on why a massive studio breakup actually provides the opportunity to form new, stronger alliances across the industry.

• The ultimate legacy: realizing that anyone can learn any skill with discipline and study—you don't have to be a "super genius".

Tools & Weapons:

• Click and Play: Visual software that taught programming logic and mechanics before jumping into code.

• AI Tools: Augment skills, help with syntax, and create self-tutorials to speed up the process.

• Fellowship/Allies: Seek friends and mentors who can help "power level" your skills and knowledge.

• Mindset Shift: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome by validating your skills in high-caliber, real-world projects.

• Discipline & Study: The path to mastering any skill you desire, regardless of natural aptitude.

Send us a text

About Gold Dragon Investments:

At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome.

Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth.

Join Us on the Adventure:

• Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com
  
  
• Schedule a Call

Episode Description:

Joe Slack was stuck in the Corporate Hamster Wheel—burned out from a 17-year career and craving more control and strategy. He realized the escape plan wasn't another promotion, but mastering the game of wealth by putting his passion first.

This strategic conversation dives deep into Joe’s leap of faith, charting his move from a comfortable salary to the unpredictable world of game design. He shares the critical lessons learned from a failed Kickstarter campaign and the "Win or Learn" mindset that enabled his next project, Relics of Raj Vahara, to fund in just four hours.

Here’s what you’ll hear in this strategic session:

• Why trading time for money leads to burnout, and how Joe engineered his exit strategy.

• The critical "Win or Learn" lesson he took from his first unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign.

• How his game, Relics of Raj Vahara, funded in four hours after applying his hard-won knowledge and building strategic buzz.

• The nuance between designing solo games (puzzles) versus multiplayer games, and maximizing your market share.

• Joe’s massive "Next Quest"—a year-long expansion campaign delivered weekly

Tools & Weapons:

• Tabletop Simulator: Essential virtual tool for designing and play testing games online.

• Jamie Stegmeier's Blog/Crowdfunding Book: Provides a wealth of strategic information on game design and successful crowdfunding.

• Board Game Design Lab Podcast: A vital community resource offering great advice and strategies for game design.

• Nandec & Component Studio: Apps that help designers automate processes, iterate faster, and make quick changes to card designs.

• "Win or Learn" Mindset: Reframing failure not as a loss, but as experience points (XP) for continuous advancement.

Send us a text

About Gold Dragon Investments:

At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome.

Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth.

Join Us on the Adventure:

• Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com
  
  
• Schedule a Call

Episode Description:

What happens when you trade a six-figure salary for uncertainty during a market crisis?. Michele Harkov's journey from a high-paying IT role to a top 1.5% ranked realtor reveals the incredible power of intentional decision-making, even when facing massive financial setbacks and personal uncertainty.

Michele shares the pivotal moment she realized she was living life for everyone else, the leap of faith that led her from Chicago to California, and the discipline it took to thrive when her income plummeted to just $12,000 in her first year of real estate. 

She details how the commitment to her family became the engine for her business growth, forcing her to create systems and hire a team to protect her values. This conversation is about finding the silver lining in every challenge and embracing the philosophy that "if it looked easy, I did my job well".

Key Takeaways:

• How a single "why"—the commitment to family—led her to leave a successful six-figure career.

• The unexpected silver lining of financial crisis (and how her husband’s layoff became a blessing for family time).

• The strategy behind building a referral-only business while maintaining work-life balance (and why she doesn't work Saturdays).

• Why "great minds think both": balancing client quality care with high family presence.

• The mindset of a top-tier performer: “Change is inevitable, suffering is an option”.

• The power of viewing success not as money, but as helping people find their "sacred space".

Tools & Weapons:

• Goals by Brian Tracy: The book she rereads every year to define intentional, big dreams and specific action steps.

• Intentionality & Specificity: Be intentional and very specific about your goals; the universe will conspire to bring you all that you want.

• Masterminds & Networking: Surround yourself with people who challenge you and help you learn from others' mistakes.

• Feed Your Soul the Good Stuff: Consciously consume positive content (podcasts, books, Instagram) to maintain motivation.

• Meditation: Helps keep her grounded and centered during overwhelming times.

• Value Clarity: "When your values are clear, your decisions are easy" (a quote cited by Michele).

Send us a text

About Gold Dragon Investments:

At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome.

Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth.

Join Us on the Adventure:

• Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com
  
  
• Schedule a Call

Episode Summary:

Greg Fernando realized he was trading his time for someone else’s dream, and he felt caged in a job that used to be fun. He refused to accept the corporate grind and set out to build a business designed for freedom and focused entirely on results.

In this powerful episode, Greg shares the tactical moves he made to launch Merge Appraisal in a tough market. We dive deep into why relentless execution and a commitment to customer service—doing what others won't (like 5 a.m. inspections)—was the critical strategy for landing big accounts. Greg opens up about the "feast or famine" reality of early entrepreneurship, why focusing on results over effort is the key to getting a bigger piece of the pie, and how his vision for Merge Appraisal is his personal Dragon's Gold: a game he is mastering one inspection at a time.

Key Takeaways You’ll Hear:

• Why you must apply your strategy to results, not just effort or niceness (and how this scales).

• How a shameless, relentless approach to calling and emailing major accounts landed their biggest clients.

• The critical shift from feeling "caged up" in a job to building a dream that runs on your schedule.

• How focusing on fast turnaround time acts as the currency for scaling a service business quickly.

• The true meaning of building a "Simply the Best" legacy that honors your reputation through integrity.

Tools & Weapons:

• Dragon Mindset: Having to be a "dragon" (strong and powerful) to tackle difficult tasks, like early mornings.

• Make Your Own Luck: The philosophical reminder that luck is made, not waited for.

• Relentless Pursuit: The shameless commitment to pounding the phones until you get a call.

• The Eagle Analogy: Flying higher (ascent) instead of sinking to petty moments (crows).

Send us a text

About Gold Dragon Investments:

At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome.

Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth.

Join Us on the Adventure:

• Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com
  
  
• Schedule a Call

Episode Description

Every episode on Dragon’s Gold leads to the ultimate question of legacy: the profound message we leave behind when the quest is complete.

In this special compilation, join us for a Tour of the Hall of Heroes, where we distill the most powerful, profound, and non-negotiable truths shared by world-class entrepreneurs. We examine the core mandates—principles of persistence, courage, and impact—that our guests have etched into their metaphorical statues. Anchor yourself in this comprehensive mindset, refuse to turn that switch off, and discover the simple, universal wisdom required to secure your greatness. This is the Dragon's Code for intentional effort and lasting success.

Key Takeaways:

• The ultimate two-word manifesto that encompasses tenacity and perseverance: "Don't quit".

• Why perseverance is supported by simple universal wisdom, encapsulated in the mandate: "Quitters never win and winners never quit".

• The non-negotiable truth: Heroes are forged in moments of pain, built on faith, and defined by a resolute refusal to give up.

• How the true measure of the gold you amass is measured by the ripples you create and the relational legacy that strengthens everyone who crosses your path.

• The courage required to live your life on your own terms—walking upstream against convention.

Send us a text

About Gold Dragon Investments:

At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome.

Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth.

Join Us on the Adventure:

• Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com
  
  
• Schedule a Call

Episode Summary:

For years, John Ottman worked 60–70 hour weeks, grinding just to keep the doors open on his San Francisco bar, Holy Water.

After 8 incredibly slow years, John had every reason to quit, but his belief, passion, and grit kept him pushing through the hard times, including the crushing financial stress of the pandemic shutdown. 

John shares his fascinating origin story, how he used the power of relationship and pattern recognition to gain ownership, and why he chose to stick through the difficulty until the patterns in his business changed. Today, he enjoys the "Dragon’s Gold" of time freedom and leveraging a high-caliber team.

Key Takeaways:

• How pattern recognition allowed John to secure a minority partnership and become an owner.

• Why John credits his ability to survive 8 slow years to pure grit and having "no other option" (the Burn the Boats mindset).

• The critical shift that allowed Holy Water to finally thrive after years of being in a "sleepy neighborhood".

• How finding allies in the industry during the 2020 shutdown helped him overcome his darkest moment.

• Why finding a high-caliber staff is the ultimate "Dragon’s Gold" for time freedom and flexibility.

What You'll Learn:

• How to utilize relationship power to create new ownership opportunities.

• Why tenacity and grit are non-negotiable for lasting success.

• The strategy John used to overcome his darkest financial moment during the shutdown by seeking connection.

• How a high-caliber staff becomes the ultimate mechanism for an owner to gain freedom.

Tools & Weapons:

• Pattern Recognition: Noticing themes in organizational structure to position yourself for opportunities.

• Burn the Boats Mindset: Going "all in" because quitting was not an option, fueling perseverance.

• The Power of Network: Viewing people as the biggest resource; relying on allies and experts to solve problems.

• Observant Learning: Picking up small, actionable "tricks" from tradesmen to save time and money (e.g., maintenance hacks).

Send us a text

About Gold Dragon Investments:

At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome.

Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth.

Join Us on the Adventure:

• Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com
  
  
• Schedule a Call