What happens when a kid from Chicago who started his Cutco career going 1-for-11 decides not to quit, leans on his faith, and turns his last name into the most recognized brand in Cutco? You get Mike Dawid—better known as Cutco Mike—the now titan who has sold over $10M, stacked four (going on five) million-dollar years, and built an empire on social media by leading with joy, generosity, and stories.

In this episode of the No Base Pay Podcast, Mike unpacks the full journey: bombing his first appointments, sticking around long enough to find his rhythm, and turning Facebook into his personal newspaper. He explains how he built a following of raving fans who don’t just buy knives—they root for him like family. Mike also opens up about how faith, family, and fun became his three pillars, and why he believes the “heart score” always shows up in your results.

We dive into his backstory—growing up in the business, learning from legends like John Ruhlin, and realizing that promotion isn’t about gimmicks but about generosity. Mike breaks down how to win in gifting, why consistency beats hacks, and how to make sales feel like a win for the customer every single time. He even shares the money lessons every commission earner needs: set floors and ceilings, automate taxes and investing, and protect yourself with the right insurance before you scale.

From million-dollar years to zero returns, from branding himself “Cutco Mike” to building a faith-first business, this is a masterclass in playing the long game, loving the process, and having way more fun while you sell and build.

🎧 Produced by: Alex Funk (@unlockwithalex on IG)

💥 Sponsored by: Dream Life Academy Mastermind

🔗 DM “PODCAST” to @unlockwithalex on IG for a free 10-min roadmap call to financial/time freedom.

⏱ Chapters

00:00 – Meet Cutco Mike: From 1-for-11 Rookie to $10M Career

04:00 – Early Struggles: Almost Quitting Before Finding His Groove

09:00 – Branding Himself “Cutco Mike” and Owning Social Media

15:00 – Facebook as a Newspaper: Stories, Smiles, and Smart Asks

21:00 – Faith, Family, Fun: The Three Pillars That Drive Everything

27:00 – Learning from John Ruhlin: Generosity, Bigger Rooms, and Legacy

34:00 – Building Raving Fans vs. Just Selling Knives

40:00 – Million-Dollar Years: Systems, Consistency, and Staying Grateful

47:00 – The “Feel Like They Won” Philosophy: Why Returns Don’t Exist

53:00 – Money Moves: Floors & Ceilings, Auto-Investing, and Insurance

1:00:00 – If Social Media Disappeared Tomorrow: What Still Works

1:07:00 – Closing Thoughts: Faith, Joy, and Playing the Long Game