What drives a 41-year-old husband, father of three, and CSO of a $300M brand to willingly get punched in the face—on purpose?

In this raw and riveting episode of Live Life by Design, Jeff Mendez sits down with Dan Gardner, Chief Sales Officer of Bucked Up, to unpack his decision to enter a professional bare knuckle boxing match. From the blood, stitches, and mental battles to the business lessons and parenting insights, Dan shares why this fight wasn’t about victory in the ring—but triumph over complacency.

This one’s about showing up for your goals, leading by example, and becoming your best self—even when it hurts.

This episode is a masterclass in mindset, legacy, and leading with action.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Dan’s fight aftermath

01:30 - Why bare knuckle boxing at 41?

06:24 - Training, diet, and mental prep

10:22 - Doers vs critics mindset

14:12 - Bucked Up’s $300M growth story

23:14 - Will Dan fight again?

29:15 - Mental battles & defining moments

34:04 - Becoming a better father and leader

38:26 - Sales mindset & hospital bed closing story

44:12 - Final advice on excuses & legacy

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In this must-hear episode of Live Life by Design, Jeff Mendez sits down with entrepreneur JD Beck to unpack a story of radical reinvention. From pursuing a career in psychology to building a $360 million solar company out of a shed, JD's journey is a testament to grit, vision, and choosing growth over comfort.

He opens up about betting on himself, the power of process, and the deep “why” that drives it all—his family. This is a blueprint for anyone ready to pivot, push, and build something lasting.

Key Moments:

00:58 – The Fork in the Road

08:12 – First Big Risk

15:00 – Building from Scratch

24:13 – $360M Valuation

33:05 – Family & Balance

49:19 – Final Advice

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In this episode of Live Life by Design, Jeff Mendez sits down with Brad Mortensen, the founder of RepCard, to talk about what it really takes to build something meaningful — in business and at home.

From humble beginnings in door-to-door sales to creating a software tool used by thousands of reps across the country, Brad shares the wins, the failures, and the mindset shifts that made it all possible. More than just a startup story, this conversation dives into entrepreneurship, marriage, fatherhood, and how to create true alignment between work and family.

If you're chasing success and trying to stay grounded at the same time — don’t miss this one.

👉 In this episode:

Building RepCard from scratch without outside funding

The hustle behind door-to-door sales

Creating harmony between family and business

Sales tech that builds culture (not just revenue)

The power of daily execution

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Brad’s background, family life, and early sales roots

04:15 – Starting RepCard and what the boomerang logo really means

06:00 – Door-to-door sales to solar to software: the entrepreneurial path

09:30 – Bootstrapping RepCard and believing in the vision

13:00 – What RepCard actually does and how it helps sales reps win

17:00 – Gamifying sales with team competitions and incentives

21:00 – Running event registration at major industry conferences

26:00 – Finding balance: time, family, and setting boundaries

30:00 – The "sacred 20 minutes" and leaving your phone in the car

36:00 – Communication, overcommunication, and alignment in marriage

41:00 – Final advice: success isn’t complicated — it’s daily execution

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In this episode of Live Life by Design, Jeff Mendez sits down with his longtime friend, Nick Hansen, to discuss the importance of living life with intention. They dive deep into prioritizing family, navigating career growth, and finding fulfillment beyond social media. Nick shares powerful insights on leadership, resilience, and how past struggles shape our ability to help others. Whether you're in business, personal development, or just seeking inspiration, this episode is packed with wisdom on designing a meaningful life.

00:07 – Introduction

00:10 – Catching Up

00:27 – Balancing Work & Family

01:19 – The Ego Trap in Business

03:25 – Quitting Social Media

04:44 – Recruiting & Leadership in Business

06:59 – Lessons from Sales & Growth

08:31 – Shared History & Hustle

10:50 – Why Grit Matters

15:15 – Business Growth & Investments

18:05 – Defining True Leadership

20:35 – Reflection & Spirituality

23:42 – Guiding Principles for Life & Business

29:57 – Final Thoughts

31:40 – Closing Remarks

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In this episode of Live Life by Design, Jeff Mendez sits down with Kenny Cox, a seasoned leader with 19 years at Vivint, to discuss his journey in sales, leadership, and personal growth. Kenny shares insights on health and discipline, the evolution of direct sales, and how to balance family life with a high-pressure career. From the power of resilience to the importance of building a strong community, this conversation is packed with wisdom for anyone striving to design their ideal life.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Jeff welcomes Kenny Cox and reflects on their long history.

00:28 – Kenny’s 19-year journey at Vivint and what drives him today.

01:36 – Balancing personal health, finances, and raising adult kids.

03:05 – Kenny’s daily routine: Cold plunges, workouts, and disciplined nutrition.

04:50 – The power of tracking calories and staying mentally sharp.

06:04 – Why Kenny has stayed at Vivint for nearly two decades.

07:59 – The importance of innovation and adapting to industry changes.

09:15 – The impact of relationships and mentorship in sales.

10:31 – Building a legacy by training the next generation of leaders.

12:32 – Challenges of corporate politics and navigating company dynamics.

14:22 – Kenny on work-life balance and prioritizing experiences over money.

15:20 – Growing up in a small town and lessons from his upbringing.

17:38 – The influence of his father and his core values of hard work and integrity.

19:02 – Early struggles in entrepreneurship: Selling vacuums and accumulating debt.

24:04 – Transitioning to Vivint and paying off $60,000 in debt in one summer.

27:42 – Learning the ropes in direct sales and the evolution of preseason training.

30:44 – Lessons from navigating the 2009 housing crisis in sales.

33:52 – The birth of preseason sales and its impact on industry success.

36:37 – Kenny’s vision for the next year—growth, resilience, and family goals.

39:15 – Planning dream trips: Scotland, Ireland, and prioritizing family adventures.

42:48 – The power of calendaring and planning experiences in advance.

45:40 – Keeping family close and building a lasting legacy for future generations.

50:02 – Lessons from ancestry and how knowing our history shapes our future.

56:10 – The struggle with phone addiction and maintaining presence with family.

01:06:18 – The dangers of smartphones and social media for kids.

01:14:03 – Kenny’s principles for living life by design—reading, mentorship, and discipline.

01:18:59 – Final takeaways: The importance of taking action, not just consuming content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this inspiring episode of the Live Life by Design Podcast, host Jeff Mendez welcomes Kevin Suess for a deep dive into his journey from Vivint to SunPower, lessons in leadership, and the power of living life intentionally. Kevin shares how gamification transformed the sales industry, how to build lasting culture, and why family and purpose guide his decisions.

📌 Highlights:

Career transitions: Vivint to SunPower

The story behind gamification in sales

Leadership, legacy, and family priorities

Reflecting on life’s most important lessons

Join us for an unforgettable conversation about designing a life filled with purpose and meaning.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome & Introductions: Season 2, Episode 2

00:27 Kevin & Jeff: 25 Years of Friendship

00:53 Kevin’s Career Journey: From Vivint to SunPower

02:28 Kevin on Family Life and Upcoming Wedding

06:14 Meeting Andrea: A Love Story

07:41 Lessons from Life and Taking Bold Steps

09:42 The Origins of Gamification in Sales

11:00 Building Culture with Competitions: From Games to Sports

15:09 Behind the Scenes: Creating the Cup Competition

20:10 The Importance of Leverage and Unity in Sales Teams

28:28 Developing Divisions and Competitions at Apex

36:18 How Competitions Drive Performance and Quality

45:06 Highlighting Legends: Trevor Frank’s Impact

50:25 Why Kevin Chose New SunPower

56:46 Reflecting on Leadership, Loyalty & Purpose

58:24 Kevin's Personal Reflections on Life and Family

01:06:55 Final Thoughts: Living Life with Meaning

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this inspiring episode of the Live Life by Design Podcast, host Jeff Mendez welcomes Kevin Suess for a deep dive into his journey from Vivint to SunPower, lessons in leadership, and the power of living life intentionally. Kevin shares how gamification transformed the sales industry, how to build lasting culture, and why family and purpose guide his decisions.

📌 Highlights:

Career transitions: Vivint to SunPower

The story behind gamification in sales

Leadership, legacy, and family priorities

Reflecting on life’s most important lessons

Join us for an unforgettable conversation about designing a life filled with purpose and meaning.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome & Introductions: Season 2, Episode 2

00:27 Kevin & Jeff: 25 Years of Friendship

00:53 Kevin’s Career Journey: From Vivint to SunPower

02:28 Kevin on Family Life and Upcoming Wedding

06:14 Meeting Andrea: A Love Story

07:41 Lessons from Life and Taking Bold Steps

09:42 The Origins of Gamification in Sales

11:00 Building Culture with Competitions: From Games to Sports

15:09 Behind the Scenes: Creating the Cup Competition

20:10 The Importance of Leverage and Unity in Sales Teams

28:28 Developing Divisions and Competitions at Apex

36:18 How Competitions Drive Performance and Quality

45:06 Highlighting Legends: Trevor Frank’s Impact

50:25 Why Kevin Chose New SunPower

56:46 Reflecting on Leadership, Loyalty & Purpose

58:24 Kevin's Personal Reflections on Life and Family

01:06:55 Final Thoughts: Living Life with Meaning

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this inspiring episode of Live Life by Design, Jeff Mendez welcomes Tin Tin, a former architect turned solar entrepreneur. Tin Tin shares his journey from Puerto Rico to building a thriving door-to-door solar business, his philosophy on accountability as his "Word of the Year" for 2025, and the lessons he's learned in leadership and parenting. From life-changing moments in business masterminds to advice on raising kids with trust and love, this conversation is packed with insights for living life to its fullest.

Topics include:

Why "Accountability" is Tin Tin's guiding principle for 2025.

Lessons learned from transitioning careers at 45.

The power of door-to-door sales in the solar industry.

Parenting advice for building trust and communication with kids.

How to lead by example and inspire your team to success.

Tune in to be inspired, motivated, and ready to design your best life yet!

Timestamps:

0:07 – Welcome to Season 2 and Tin Tin’s introduction.

0:48 – Jeff shares his "Word of the Year" and Tin Tin reveals his: Accountability.

2:15 – Jeff and Tin Tin reminisce about their childhood friendship.

5:03 – Tin Tin discusses splitting time between Florida and Puerto Rico and his solar business.

7:20 – Transitioning from architect to door-to-door solar entrepreneur.

9:54 – Tin Tin's life-changing mastermind experience at Lake Powell.

14:15 – Unique challenges of the Puerto Rican solar market.

19:04 – The mission-driven aspect of solar sales.

30:55 – Tin Tin’s gratitude for his business and his team.

36:24 – Why knocking doors builds invaluable life skills.

46:23 – Leadership tips: Letting your team know it’s hard, leading by example, and helping them feel seen and heard.

52:24 – Balancing business with family priorities.

54:14 – Celebrating life and embracing abundance in 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Live Life by Design, we sit down with Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore to talk about his remarkable journey from the ABA to the NBA, the challenges of growing up in segregated Florida, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Artis shares his thoughts on overcoming adversity, focusing on family, and staying resilient in the face of life’s challenges.

Stay Connected with Jeff: Instagram: instagram.com/jeffreymendez_papi

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@live.life.by.design

Learn more about Studio 168: studio168p.com

🎧 Subscribe to our channel for regular updates and insights into living a life by design!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & welcoming Artis Gilmore

00:19 - Reflecting on the Hall of Fame induction

00:50 - Transitioning from the ABA to the NBA

01:25 - Origin of the slam dunk contest & NBA adoption

03:12 - Reaction to the ABA-NBA merger

03:40 - Joining the Chicago Bulls & ABA experiences

05:31 - Life lessons from growing up in Chipley, Florida

06:55 - Using sports as a unifying force

09:02 - Focusing on family & coping with loss

10:32 - Advice for overcoming adversity

12:08 - Managing the mind during challenges

13:20 - Embracing resilience & staying focused

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us in this enlightening conversation with NFL legend Darryl Green as he shares his life lessons, from a 20-year NFL career to his remarkable parenting approach and community work with today’s youth. Dive into the highlights below:

Timestamps:

0:07 - Welcoming Darryl Green: From Houston to the NFL

0:41 - Reaction to Washington's Team Name Change

1:54 - Darryl’s Legacy: 20 Years with One Team

2:34 - Earning the Title "The Ageless Wonder"

4:16 - The Mental vs. Physical Game in the NFL

6:41 - Darryl’s Start: A Unique Journey to the NFL

9:49 - Reflecting on Humble Beginnings in Houston

12:26 - Iconic Monday Night Game Moment with Tony Dorsett

17:12 - Current Work with Youth and Anti-Vaping Advocacy

25:06 - Parenthood Insights and Passing Down Values

32:09 - How Social Media Affects Parenting Today

36:06 - Creating a Home as a Safe Gathering Place

Stay Connected with Jeff: Instagram: instagram.com/jeffreymendez_papi

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@live.life.by.design

Learn more about Studio 168: studio168p.com

🎧 Subscribe to our channel for regular updates and insights into living a life by design!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.