Simon and Morris Faks are 2 of the top DJs in New York. They’ve performed for thousands of people, worked with celebrities like Marshmello and Alesso, and played sets all over the world—from France to Morocco to Italy.

Pitch your business idea today: https://pitch-place.com

Follow Simon and Morris on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/faksproductions

https://instagram.com/djsimonfaks

Check out Yaakov Shwekey on Momentum

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(0:00) Coming up…

(2:40) Who are Simon and Morris Faks?

(3:14) Immigrating to America at age 16

(4:20) "I couldn't read and write"

(5:53) Buying DJ equipment for fun

(8:30) Grinding to establish themselves as the go-to DJs

(10:03) 20-hour days: working full time and DJing on the side

(11:26) Introducing party lighting to their experience

(12:10) Going all-in on DJing

(13:01) Did you have to deal with competetion?

(15:17) Working 72 hours straight

(17:57) Building up a premium brand image

(18:50) Nightmare scenarios: equipment failures, power outages, and explosions

(23:51) Working with Justin Bieber, Marshmello, Alesso, and more celebrities

(25:50) Work-life balance (or lack thereof)

(28:22) Coolest events and destinations (Anguilla, Paris, Rome, Saint-Tropez, Casablanca…)

(29:28) Shipping their own equipment across the world to Anguilla

(30:31) DJing in Game of Thrones, 11 days of 3 parties a day

(31:25) Performing with Alesso in the center of a mountain

(31:48) DJing with Marshmello

(32:29) Do you take requests?

(33:48) The sacrifice DJs need to make: “it’s a hard business.”

(38:47) Bringing on more DJs to expand their operation

(39:31) Getting into music production?

(40:11) Learning the back end / admin work

(41:12) Being honorable in business

(42:38) Why you need a good attitude in the service business

(43:53) Should people follow their passion?

(46:22) What's it like being business partners with your brother?

(48:27) Donating their services to underprivileged families

(50:12) Momentum Moment

(51:29) Closing thoughts

(53:51) Outro

Erwin Dweck is a partner at Milbank LLP, where he leads the firm’s real estate practice and serves on the Global Executive Committee—a select group of just seven partners entrusted with shaping the firm’s strategy and steering its global operations alongside their legal work.

His work reflects not only the practice of law, but the business workings behind a firm with over $2 BILLION in revenue and 2,000 employees.

Book your free Pivot & Prosper strategy call with Jeff Sitt: www.jeffsitt.com
Explore smarter insurance solutions for your real estate portfolio: www.elicohenagency.com

So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport: https://amzn.to/4jjS48r

Our Crowd by Steven Birmingham: https://amzn.to/4kAWU2d

The Grandees by Steven Birmingham: https://amzn.to/4dvoueO

(00:00) Coming up…

(02:16) Who is Erwin Dweck?

(03:33) Erwin’s role at Milbank

(04:36) Leading a $3.9 BILLION deal

(06:19) “I just wanted to be able to pay my bills”

(09:55) Transactional law vs litigation

(12:46) Erwin’s first jobs at big law firms

(15:33) Taking his first entrepreneurial leap

(17:05) Entrepreneurship inside a big law firm

(19:32) Why every successful lawyer needs to be entrepreneurial

(23:02) Being elected to Milbank’s elite Global Executive Committee

(24:32) Why you need work-life IMBALANCE

(29:05) Sponsor - Jeff Sitt Consulting

(30:04) Sponsor - Eli Cohen Insurance Agency

(30:51) Characteristics you need to succeed in big law

(33:40) Traits noticed in A-players

(36:33) The BIGGEST mistake young people make

(39:19) Turning setbacks into billion dollar opportunities

(43:03) Learning how to manage people

(43:43) “I wish I made more time for my family”

(44:59) Why you should NOT follow your passion

(49:38) Observing Shabbat as a lawyer

(52:41) How has faith guided you in business?

(54:21) Why is giving back important to you?

(57:47) The ripple effect of kindness

(59:13) How can young adults network effectively?

(1:00:40) Ask and you shall receive

(1:03:51) Erwin’s all-time favorite books

(1:07:33) Erwin’s favorite podcasts

(1:08:17) Momentum Moment

(1:10:46) Closing thoughts

(1:11:12) Outro

Abie Rosow is the founder of Rosow Elite Performance, a basketball training company which runs clinics in multiple cities and works with thousands of kids every year.

In this episode, he opens up about the struggles of scaling a company that delivers individualized service, what he's learned from his time in business, and the #1 thing you need to succeed.

Discover how The Hedaya Capital Group’s factoring can help power your business’s financials: ⁠https://hedayacapital.com⁠

Check out Ness Mugrabi on Momentum

Melanie Kishk runs Century 21’s top-grossing team in New York. With 20 agents and over $1 billion in volume, Melanie shares her incredible story.

Discover how The Hedaya Capital Group’s factoring can help power your business’s financials: ⁠https://hedayacapital.com⁠

Check out Melanie on the web: ⁠https://www.mkrealtyny.com⁠

Never Split the Difference: ⁠https://amzn.to/3GQNd0Y⁠

How to Win Friends and Influence People: ⁠https://amzn.to/3GO5hZL⁠ 

(0:00) Coming up…

(2:11) Melanie’s accomplishments

(2:52) Was real estate always the goal?

(4:36) The college class that changed Melanie’s life

(8:18) Discovering her passion for sales

(9:59) Starting a barret business at 16

(11:38) Working for her father

(13:24) Early retail work experiences

(16:10) Working for her father after college

(16:56) Be creative

(18:53) Timeless lessons from her father

(20:23) "I got into real estate by accident"

(21:47) Being a real estate agent before the internet

(23:53) ZERO sales after 9 months, while 7 months pregnant

(27:59) Becoming agent of the month on her 1st deal

(29:27) Starting her own real estate company

(30:16) Exploring franchising

(32:10) Growing from 5 to 20 agents

(33:06) Melanie and her team’s accomplishments

(34:08) Adapting to COVID

(35:44) The importance of home ownership

(37:36) Advice to overwhelmed young people

(39:44) Where do you take inspiration from?

(40:56) What people can do TODAY to put themselves ahead

(41:59) Don't quit too early!

(42:38) Never Split the Difference

(44:24) Becoming a community matchmaker

(46:16) When real estate and matchmaking cross paths

(48:35) Turning negative experiences into opportunities to

serve others

(49:32) How to leverage your community while giving back

(50:18) How to Win Friends and Influence People

(52:32) Impactful quotes to live by

(53:42) The importance of faith in business

(54:46) Momentum Moments 

(55:52) Closing thoughts

(58:02) Outro

Adina Eden Mizrahi was 18 when she took $100 and sold her first piece of jewelry. 11 years later, Adina Eden is a multi-million dollar brand, sold in every major department store and worn by millions of people around the world.

Pitch your business idea today: https://pitch-place.com

Ride of a Lifetime by Bog Iger: https://a.co/d/gVIkx9g

Finding Me by Viola Davis: https://a.co/d/dVer28c

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom: https://a.co/d/cj8FzjN

Follow Adina on social media:https://www.instagram.com/adinaeden_https://www.instagram.com/itsadinaeden/https://www.adinaeden.com

Check out Lori Kassin on Momentum: https://open.spotify.com/episode/66Fn233n5uDygTOS7W3Xmj?si=XZ1SKoovSzKUfR9oB5R4lg

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🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries—designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success.

Be sure to subscribe here and on these platforms:

⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Instagram

__

(0:00) Coming up…

(2:57) Where it all began

(4:25) Early motivations to make money

(6:46) Starting Adina’s Jewels at 18

(9:42) Starting with $100

(12:36) Expanding into e-commerce out of her parents’ basement

(15:11) “I wasn’t meant to be a follower”

(17:41) Bringing on her brother Meyer as a partner

(21:23) Expanding into new frontiers with her brother

(24:52) What it’s like running a business in college

(27:49) Hiring her 1st employee and relinquishing control

(31:38) How influencer marketing exploded the business

(33:46) Madison Beer tagging them on Instagram

(36:11) Professionalizing the company

(40:15) Breaking into EVERY major retail chain

(41:26) The email from Nordstrom that changed the game

(45:22) Expanding the team

(47:31) Opening up a physical retail location

(50:04) “You should be failing right now”

(52:26) Growing pains of expanding too quickly

(56:04) Innovate or die

(57:30) Getting listed on Forbes 30 Under 30

(1:02:58) Just start

(1:06:23) The #1 mistake early founders make

(1:09:34) Balancing parenthood and professionalism as a woman

(1:12:56) Why Adina gives back

(1:17:10) Adina’s experience with infertility

(1:19:22) Do you have to choose between doing well and doing good?

(1:20:24) Favorite books

(1:21:49) Worst advice you’ve ever received?

(1:22:39) If you had to start all over again, where would you start?

(1:24:32) Momentum Moment

(1:26:37) Closing thoughts

(1:27:57) Outro

Ness Mugrabi became the youngest certified NFL agent in history, negotiating $100M+ contracts for top players like Demarcus Lawrence — all by the age of 22.

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Preserve your loved one's story forever with a timeless film: lifevaultfilms.com

🎙️ Check out Sol Betesh on Momentum

__

(00:00) Coming up…

(00:14) Who is Ness Mugrabi?

(03:31) Getting into the sports agency business

(06:40) Developing a relationship with manager of the Miami Dolphins

(08:36) Landing a game-changing internship at 16

(08:43) Running a company at 18

(12:53) Did you ever experience impostor syndrome?

(22:28) Gaining invaluable experience as a young intern

(35:26) Find a way, be aggressive

(03:39) How to master networking

(20:08) Some of Ness’s biggest deals ($100M+)

(29:22) Studying sports management in college

(24:20) Doing poorly in school

(26:06) Working 24/6 in a 24/7 industry (keeping Shabbat)

(29:24) Top lessons learned

(14:57) 1st step required to break into sports management

(10:49) Should people “follow their passion?”

(11:30) Work-life balance

(07:32) Consistently improving

(07:37) “Let’s be great”

(12:48) Giving back

(19:43) Inspiring people

(08:04) Momentum Moment

(41:31) Struggling in elementary school and problem with the school system

(43:00) “At least I can say I tried my hardest.”

(43:47) Outro and key takeaways

Gina Abadi, Esq. went from nearly failing out of elementary and high school to running a political campaign in Brooklyn, aiming to earn the votes of 500,000 people.

After winning the race, she became a Justice in the Supreme Court of Kings County.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Gina went from being "the worst student the schools have ever seen" to a prestigious judge
• What it's like to run a political campaign in New York City and why it costs over $300,000
• How Gina proved she could pursue a legal career without sacrificing family life

Enjoy!

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Level up your e-commerce game with BlueSoft Design: http://bluesoftdesign.com

Check out Gitta Kaplan on Momentum: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3pb3WmPYI3go4Il0kI9MXY?si=22a122bf64ef4c99

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🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries—designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success.

Be sure to subscribe here and on these platforms:

⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠

⁠⁠Instagram

__

(0:00) Coming up...

(2:06) Overview of Gina’s journey

(6:50) “I was probably the worst student the school has ever seen”

(8:43) Performance in grade school vs college

(10:27) Thinking she would flunk out of law school

(14:03) Lacking confidence in her school grades

(18:32) From remedial writing to winning the writing award

(20:13) First job after law school

(21:25) The importance of a support system as a working mother

(23:05) Getting bullied in the courtroom

(26:49) Working full-time while raising a growing family

(31:51) Spending $300K on her political campaign

(34:16) The costs of running a campaign in NYC

(38:49) Lessons learned while running for public office

(40:41) How running a campaign taught Gina how to sell

(44:30) Sending her kids to get votes

(46:57) Getting placed in criminal court: “I was crying”

(49:45) What is it like to decide people's sentences?

(53:40) Coaching a high school mock trial team

(1:02:31) Advice for ambitious young women

(1:05:45) How young adults can put themselves ahead

(1:07:31) Should people follow their passion?

(1:10:45) Momentum Moment

(1:12:56) Mentoring students and finding fulfillment

(1:16:17) Outro

Gitta Kaplan, Esq. serves on the Ocean Township, NJ Council, acts as General Counsel at leading apparel company Mamiye Brothers, and juggles it all while raising 3 children.

Pitch your business idea today: https://pitch-place.com

🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries—designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success.

Be sure to subscribe here and on these platforms:

⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Instagram

(00:00) Coming up...

(01:55) The many hats Gitta wears

(04:33) College experience and dealing with anti-Semitism at Columbia

(06:44) Discovering law as a career path

(10:49) Choosing NYU Law School

(12:20) Demanding lifestyle working at a big law firm

(14:18) Sleeping in the office while pregnant

(16:13) Figuring out what she wanted to do with her life

(20:04) Creating systems to balance work and family life

(21:58) Landing her current role at Mamiye Brothers

(25:41) Getting involved in politics

(27:57) "Running for office was a HARROWING experience"

(30:24) How Gitta manages multiple demanding roles and responsibilities

(33:14) Follow your passion? Or choose a lucrative career?

(36:27) The importance of keeping "a foot in the game" even during transitions

(38:02) Getting involved with Hillel Yeshiva and making a difference

(41:49) Gitta's work with PROPEL

(43:41) Key skills observed in successful people

(45:37) Favorite books?

(47:55) Momentum Moment

(50:44) Outro and key takeaways

Get the free 1-page cheat-sheet

In the first Momentum Masterclass, Caroll Dweck Sutton breaks down the top 10 negotiation tips that could help you earn thousands more — from landing a higher starting salary to asking for a raise with confidence.

Caroll Dweck Sutton is the Executive Director at PROPEL Network, an amazing organization empowering women in every step of their careers.

(0:00) Intro

(3:38) Tip #1 - Get comfortable talking about money

(6:17) Tip #2 - Do market research

(7:32) Tip #3 - Know your worth

(8:57) Tip #4 - Negotiate on the initial offer

(10:36) Tip #5 - Let them make the 1st offer

(15:23) Tip #6 - Give a specific number

(18:40) Tip #7 - Don’t sleep on benefits

(23:47) Tip #8 - Get it in writing

(25:12) Tip #9 - Go above and beyond the job description

(28:21) Tip #10 - Make friends in the office

(31:12) Tip #11 - Make yourself invaluable

(32:14) Tip #12 - Write everything down

(36:27) Tip #13 - Open communication with your boss

(38:45) Closing thoughts

(41:24) Outro

Dr. Eli Halabi is an Orthodontist who owns and operates 2 private practices. At age 14 years old, he emigrated from Syria to the United States, speaking not a single word of English.

After many struggles and against all odds, he went on to graduate high school with honors and earn admittance to some of the top medical and dental programs in the country.

In this episode, we discuss :

• The journey of moving from Syria to New York as a teenager and overcoming the struggles of not knowing a word of English
• How sheer determination got Dr. Halabi into the top medical programs in the country
• The business of being a doctor, and what they DON’T teach you in medical school

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Discover how The Hedaya Capital Group's factoring services can help power your business's financials: https://hedayacapital.comCheck out Jack Ovadia, founder of Ovadia Design Group, on Momentum: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4BA6aVaCqSFSx7upWhFj2P?si=ZCjTtbYDTGy4WzV-1pYBXw

🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries—designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success.

Be sure to subscribe here and on these platforms:

⁠YouTube⁠

⁠Instagram

__

(00:00) Coming up...(03:42) Growing up in Damascus:(05:41) Maintaining Jewish values in French Catholic school(07:05) The Jewish experience in Syria(10:02) Challenges of leaving Syria(13:19) Learning English from Pearl Jam and the NY Mets(16:27) Adjusting to American conveniences(19:50) Community support when first arriving to the US(22:24) Adjusting to American conveniences (2)(23:28) Key figures in high school(26:03) Making it through high school and getting placed into honors(29:35) Running for Senior Council(32:14) Taking risks as a young man(34:11) Figuring out what he wanted to do in life(36:49) The UPenn interview(41:07) Struggling to pay for school(44:15) Staying true to your values while advancing professionally(46:30) Walking 8 miles for a high-pressure orthodontics program interview(51:52) Using your unique experiences to connect with people(56:38) Moving back to New York and meeting 2 best friends(59:58) The importance of having experts in your circle(1:00:50) Working as an associate to gain experience(1:03:36) Early grind of starting his own practice(1:09:22) How did you learn to sell?(1:12:46) Key business lessons learned(1:16:44) Learning the business side of medicine(1:20:16) “Personal Finance for Dummies”(1:22:24) Acquiring a practice right before COVID(1:28:00) What drives you to succeed?(1:31:00) Why is giving back important to you?(1:33:55) Momentum Moments(1:37:09) Outro and key takeaways