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 Fan Mail

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 Fan Mail

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 Fan Mail

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 Fan Mail

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:

Luke Laurie isn't just a master of game mechanics; he's a true Strategic Game Master who found his Dragon's Gold not in a pile of treasure, but in the enduring joy his creations bring to thousands of players worldwide. Join us as the designer of Dwellings of Eldervale and Andromeda's Edge unpacks the mindset required to build a lasting creative legacy while embracing the "grind" of discipline and finding joy in the journey.

Key Takeaways to Level Up Your Mindset:

• The Power of Alliance: Why the "power of relationship" and active collaboration are critical to success in game design, business, and life—proving that winning is better when it's done together.

• Healing the Darkest Hour: Luke shares the emotionally challenging period during his teaching career involving unprecedented school violence, and the perseverance required to push through and affect lasting change.

• Mechanics vs. Theme: How Luke balances the necessary rigor of strong mechanics with the immersive magic of theme in his blockbuster Euro games.

• The Forever Student: Why committing to always learning—and being flexible enough to pivot and adapt to rapid change—is vital for sustained long-term success.

• Designing Freedom: How Luke used discipline and dedication to moonlighting as a designer to eventually achieve his career goal of leaving a profound, positive legacy.

What You Will Learn from This Strategist:

• How to harness the Power of Relationships to forge collaborations that elevate your career.

• Why separating yourself from technology (like going for a bike ride) is vital for maximizing creative perspective.

• The truth about the "grind": finding joy in the disciplined, long-term effort required for mastery.

• Luke's personal definition of "Dragon's Gold" and the legacy he hopes to leave behind in both teaching and design.

• Why the act of simply writing notes (even if you never reread them) is key to moving ideas forward.

Tools & Weapons

• Uniball Pen & Spirals: Fundamental tools for design; the physical act of writing down ideas is key to iteration and processing thoughts, even if the notes are never reviewed.

• Voice Recordings: Used on the phone, often while driving, to rehearse and process ideas without distraction.

• Bike Rides & Long Car Drives: Stepping away from the "busy-ness" of perpetual inputs to allow the brain the freedom to wander and gain new creative perspective.

• Discipline & Perseverance: The secret weapon is loving the "ride uphill" and committing to long-term effort, knowing that patience and chronological time are necessary ingredients for great results.

Send us Fan Mail

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 if the thing you’re most afraid of is the very thing you’re meant to do?

In this episode, Vicki Stephens shares how she went from scared to start to leading a business that’s touched thousands of lives — furry and human alike. Through fear, faith, and a little bit of crazy, she built Vicki’s Little Rascals into a story of courage and community.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why fear is often the sign you’re on the right path
• How confidence comes from action, not before it
• The role of faith and support in taking leaps of faith
• Why being “a little bit crazy” might be your superpower
• How she grew Vicki’s Little Rascals to serve 5,000+ dogs

Tools & Weapons Mentioned

• Resourcefulness & Asking for Help - making an art out of finding help and being willing to ask
• Conferences & Rooms of Like-Minded People - learning from others in similar situations
• Facebook Groups - connecting with peers in her industry and staying updated
• HR, Tax, and Legal Advisors - trusted experts to navigate complex laws and compliance
• Curiosity & Staying Current - talking to people, staying aware of trends, adapting with change
• Profit First - a framework that reminded her everyone has their own zone of genius

Send us Fan Mail

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 do you do when your studio shuts down and your whole life resets?

In this episode, game designer and co-creator of a mobile game that’s earned over $1B in revenue, Matt Zimmitti shares the rise, fall, and reinvention of a career that’s anything but typical. From learning to code at 26 to launching his own studio at 40+, Matt unpacks the failures, friendships, and mindset shifts that shaped him.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why he told his first boss: “I’m going to take your QA job and design my way out of it”
• How one studio collapse became the greatest blessing of his career
• What makes a truly great mentor (and how to be one)
• Why there’s no such thing as a “level cap” in growth
• How he bootstrapped his own indie game studio after 20 years in the industry

Send us Fan Mail

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:

What do you do when you lose everything?

In this powerful episode, Stewart Heath shares the raw truth about building too fast, collapsing too hard, and rising again with a deeper mission. From a $10M portfolio lost in the 2008 crash to a life rebuilt with purpose, this conversation is a masterclass in humility, patience, and legacy.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why he left the CPA path to get “in the game” of real estate
• The 2AM infomercial that changed his life
• How he went from $10M net worth to $5M underwater in 90 days
• Why he gave himself one week to grieve, and then got back up
• How 8 children and a deeper “why” fueled his comeback

Tools & Weapons Mentioned

• Rich Dad Poor Dad - The mindset that started it all
• Traction - Running Harvard Grace Capital with EOS principles
• Who Not How - The go-to delegation guide for visionaries
• The Power of Reserves - “You don’t know what you don’t know”
• Legacy Mindset - Wealth that matures when his kids do

Send us Fan Mail

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

Would you risk everything to save someone you love?

In this powerful episode of Dragon’s Gold: The Magic of Mindset, Josh Ketner shares how his mother’s ALS diagnosis pushed him to defy the system and build something from scratch (outside U.S. borders, approval, and conventional wisdom). It’s a story about stem cells, sure. But more than that, it’s about sacrifice, grit, and going all in when most people play it safe.

Key Takeaways:

• Why he launched a clinic in Mexico instead of waiting for FDA approval
• What betrayal, backlash, and burnout taught him about trust
• The truth about stem cells, regulation, and real results
• How he built Dream Body Clinic while losing friends, money, and sometimes hope
• Why helping his mom changed everything and still drives him today

Tools & Weapons:

• Dream Body Clinic - His stem cell treatment center in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Tony Robbins - For mindset, energy, and entrepreneurial drive
• The Molecule of More - Recommended reading on dopamine and desire
• 10-Year Overnight Success - The real timeline behind "sudden" breakthroughs
• Purpose-Driven Burnout - The cost of staying in the fight for too long

Send us Fan Mail

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:

What if the biggest wins in your life didn’t look like wins at the time?

In this heartfelt episode of Dragon’s Gold: The Magic of Mindset, Mike Naughton walks us through a journey marked by unexpected detours, second chances, and the quiet confidence that comes from choosing happiness, even when everything goes sideways.

Key Takeaways:

• The surprising benefit of dyslexia and why he never saw it as a limitation
• What the Navy taught him about showing up, even after failure
• How a forgotten spelling bee shaped his self-image
• The role of humor in navigating chaos and pressure
• Why chasing happiness isn’t the point, and what to do instead

Tools & Weapons

• Humor Under Pressure — How Mike uses levity to lead and adapt
• Redirection Over Regret — Reframing missed opportunities as better path
• Patience With the Process — Lessons from waiting, not forcing outcomes
• Choose Joy Anyway — A mindset for hard seasons and hidden wins
• Do What’s Next — Staying grounded when plans fall apart

Send us Fan Mail

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