MyFinJourney

Most high-income earners give 37% of their paycheck to the government. But there's a perfectly legal short-term rental tax loophole that can save you $50,000 to $200,000 a year — and Taylor Jones has used it to acquire 431 Airbnbs.

In this episode of MyFinJourney, Mustafa Ladha sits down with Taylor Jones, Founder of STR Search — the data-driven Airbnb acquisition firm helping high-income professionals build cash flow, slash their tax bill, and create generational wealth through short-term rental real estate.

This is the most tactical, no-fluff conversation on Airbnb investing you'll find. Whether you're a W-2 tech worker, doctor, attorney, or business owner — this episode shows you exactly how the wealthy use Airbnbs to legally avoid taxes and build wealth on autopilot.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 — Introduction

01:06 — From COVID layoff to 431 Airbnbs — Taylor's origin story

04:00 — The $82K cabin that started everything

05:30 — Revenue > Doors: the counter-intuitive scaling strategy

06:28 — How to finance an Airbnb: vacation loans, conventional, DSCR

09:00 — Buying remote: video walkthroughs and the 4-point inspection

14:00 — The best Airbnb markets in America (2026 update)

17:00 — Why 3.1 nights is the magic stay length

20:00 — How to dominate Airbnb's algorithm with photos & staging

23:30 — Why $6,000 for a photographer is worth every penny

27:00 — The emotional triggers that 10x your nightly rate

30:00 — The Short-Term Rental Tax Loophole explained ($200K savings)

33:30 — Why bachelorette markets (Nashville, Scottsdale) are gold mines

41:00 — The 3-pillar business: Data, Construction, Operations

46:00 — A-B testing amenities: pickleball, saunas, movie theaters

48:30 — How STR Search's white-glove service works

What you'll learn:

→ How to save $50K-$200K on taxes using the STR loophole

→ Why one $250K/yr Airbnb beats five $100K/yr Airbnbs

→ How to underwrite, finance, and acquire an Airbnb remotely

→ The 4 inspection points that matter most (roof, HVAC, electrical, plumbing)

→ Why photography is the #1 ROI move in short-term rentals

→ How to design for the data (and not for your own taste)

→ The 1031 exchange strategy to trade up Airbnbs tax-free

→ Why high-income earners are flocking to short-term rentals

If you're a high-income earner tired of giving 37% to the IRS — this episode is your blueprint.

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🔗 Connect with Taylor Jones: linkedin.com/in/taylor-jones-38997154

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🎙️ Subscribe to MyFinJourney → https://www.youtube.com/@myfinjourney

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5UmpEcn

🔗 FOLLOW Mustafa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafa-ladha/

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Episode Chapters:

00:00 Intro — Airbnb investing, tax strategy & wealth building

01:06 From COVID layoff to 431 Airbnbs — Taylor's story

03:00 The Tuesday night that hooked him on short-term rentals

04:00 The $82K cabin that started a real estate empire

05:30 ⭐ Revenue > Doors: the wealth scaling secret

06:28 Vacation home loans, DSCR & how to finance an Airbnb

09:00 How to buy an Airbnb remotely (without flying out)

10:30 The 4-point inspection — roof, HVAC, electrical, plumbing

13:00 Why a flooded basement didn't stop Taylor's first Airbnb

14:00 The best Airbnb markets in America (2026 update)

15:30 Why proximity to a metro = built-in demand

17:00 The magic of the 3.1 night booking average

19:00 How Airbnb's algorithm actually decides who wins

20:00 Photos are EVERYTHING — the $6K photographer secret

22:30 Staging models — the next evolution of Airbnb listings

25:00 The 30-day free promotion every new Airbnb gets

27:00 Why people pay $700/night for unique stays

30:00 ⭐ The Short-Term Rental Tax Loophole explained

31:30 How to save $50K-$200K in taxes year one

33:30 Bachelorette markets: Nashville, Scottsdale gold rush

36:00 The bunk bed slide that makes parents click "Book"

38:00 Yurts, geodomes & A-frames — why unique wins

41:00 The 3 pillars: Data, Construction, Operations

43:00 Why you should buy ugly distressed properties

46:00 Pickleball courts, saunas & A-B testing amenities

48:00 The 80% data, 20% art rule of Airbnb investing

49:30 How STR Search's white-glove service works

51:00 How to connect with Taylor Jones

Most people fail at business — but 90% of franchise owners are still in business after 5 years. Why? Because they follow a proven system instead of guessing.

In this episode of MyFinJourney, Mustafa Ladha sits down with Laura Rolfe, CEO of Mint Franchise Consultants, who helps aspiring entrepreneurs evaluate franchise opportunities with clarity and confidence. After 25 years in nonprofit and being laid off during COVID, Laura built her own franchise consulting business — and now helps clients buy everything from $200K home services franchises to billion-dollar multi-brand empires.

This is the most honest conversation about franchising you'll hear — no hype, no "retire by 30 with a laundromat" garbage. Just real frameworks, real numbers, and real warnings.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 — Introduction

01:04 — Laura's family of entrepreneurs & the Coors distributorship story

03:21 — The hidden truth about franchise ownership (work hard, but freedom)

07:08 — The 90% stat that changes everything about franchising

08:50 — The 3 qualities every successful franchise owner needs

13:00 — What a franchise consultant ACTUALLY does (and why it's free)

17:00 — How franchise consultants are like real estate agents

20:00 — Why AI is changing the franchise game (and what to use)

23:05 — The 8-12 week discovery process explained

25:21 — How to fund your franchise (SBA, ROBS, self-funding)

27:34 — The 3 types of franchises you can buy (resale strategy)

30:00 — How to scale from 1 location to a multi-territory empire

32:30 — The "inch wide, mile deep" approach to franchising

What you'll learn:

→ Why franchising is recession-resistant AND inflation-resistant

→ The Federal Trade Commission rules every buyer must know (FDD documents)

→ Why social media "franchise gurus" are lying to you

→ How to spot a high-performing franchise vs. an underperforming one

→ The right way to fund your franchise (including using your 401k tax-free)

→ How to stack franchises and sell to the same customer multiple times

→ Why some people sign in 21 days and others wait 2 years

If you're tired of your 9-to-5, scared of AI taking your job, or just curious about owning a business with a proven blueprint — this episode is your starting line.

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🔗 Connect with Laura Rolfe:

Website: MintFranchiseConsultants.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laura-rolfe

Free initial consultation available

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🎙️ Subscribe to MyFinJourney → https://www.youtube.com/@myfinjourney

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5UmpEcn

🔗 FOLLOW Mustafa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafa-ladha/

At 52, Ken Sher was told by his boss: "You will never live up to my expectations." A few months later, he was out of a job, with two kids in college and one in high school. What he did next built him a thriving executive coaching business — and a leadership framework now used by CEOs across the country.

In this episode of MyFinJourney, Mustafa Ladha sits down with Ken Sher — Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker, and creator of the TRUST Success Model. After 25 years at Johnson & Johnson and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ken now coaches everyone from new managers to Fortune 500 CEOs on what most leaders get wrong about trust, communication, and team performance.

This conversation is brutally honest about job loss, career transitions, building wealth through multiple income streams, and why the smartest leaders in the world all have one thing in common: a coach.

Time Stamps:

00:00 — Introduction

01:06 — "You will never live up to my expectations" — Ken's career-defining moment

03:05 — What coaching actually is (it's not what you think)

06:27 — Ken's TRUST framework explained

09:00 — Why vulnerability is your unfair advantage as a leader

17:15 — The painful lesson Ken's kids learned when he got laid off

20:33 — Why every employee needs multiple streams of income

25:46 — How to write a resume that gets you hired (the STARS method)

29:08 — The #1 mistake busy executives make every single day

33:30 — When to recommend therapy to your top performers

What you'll learn:

→ The TRUST framework: Transparency, Results, Understanding, Simplicity, Teams

→ Why showing vulnerability ACTUALLY makes you a stronger leader

→ The 3 things every executive must do to grow (most ignore them)

→ How to position yourself for ANY job using the STARS method

→ Why "time to think" is the most overlooked CEO habit

→ The painful financial wake-up call that taught Ken's family more than any lecture

→ Why authentic ≠ weak — and how to use both as leverage

Whether you're a manager, executive, entrepreneur, or someone navigating a career transition — this episode gives you the practical blueprint nobody teaches in MBA school.

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🔗 Connect with Ken Sher:

Email: [email protected]

Website: ShercCoaching.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kensher

Free TRUST Model Guide: Email Ken directly to receive it

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🎙️ Subscribe to MyFinJourney → https://www.youtube.com/@myfinjourney

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5UmpEcn

🔗 FOLLOW Mustafa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafa-ladha/

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Episode Chapters:

00:00 Intro — leadership, trust & building real wealth

01:06 ⭐ "You will never live up to my expectations"

02:03 From J&J to building a coaching empire

03:05 What coaching actually is (most people get it wrong)

04:24 When a coach becomes destructive

06:27 The TRUST framework explained

09:00 Why leaders refuse to ask for help (and what it costs)

11:05 The product launch story — vulnerability that paid off

13:03 When transparency is a weapon vs. a weakness

14:27 The 3 things every top executive does daily

17:15 ⭐ Getting laid off at 52 — the brutal teaching moment

20:05 Why your "stable" job is actually not stable

20:33 Multiple streams of income — the new survival skill

21:39 Why traditional education isn't enough anymore

23:09 The hidden ways top performers actually learn

24:03 How to stay relevant when AI takes your job

25:46 The STARS method — resume writing that gets you hired

28:24 The "so what" trick that separates winners

29:08 ⭐ Why busy executives never grow

30:31 The morning ritual every CEO swears by

31:35 How to actually use "thinking time" (it's structured)

33:30 When to send your top performer to therapy

36:07 Authentic vs. vulnerable — the leadership distinction

37:46 How to connect with Ken Sher

38:44 Closing thoughts

Most people chase strategy, tactics, and shiny objects — but the real reason they never build wealth is something deeper.

In this episode of MyFinJourney, Mustafa Ladha sits down with Christopher Salem — Business Acceleration Strategist, Executive Mentor, and Founder of Sustainable Success Coaching & Consulting. Chris has been featured on ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, and helps leaders and entrepreneurs grow revenue by mastering the 3 things most businesses underestimate: emotional intelligence, communication, and value proposition clarity.

This conversation goes places most business podcasts won't. Chris opens up about 12 years of hidden addiction, growing up in a dysfunctional home, and the moment his dying father said something that rewired his entire identity — and ultimately built his wealth and his life.

What you'll learn:

→ Why your childhood is silently capping your bank account

→ The difference between "being" and "becoming" — and why most people skip step one

→ The shiny object problem destroying entrepreneurs' wealth

→ Why "I'll be happy when I make X dollars" is a trap

→ How to take calculated risks instead of playing it safe

→ The 4 pillars of success: Foundation, Preparation, Execution, Measurement

→ Why transparency is a strength, not a weakness, in leadership

→ "Give without expectation, receive without resistance" — the rule that changed everything

Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, sales professional, or someone trying to break a cycle inherited from your family — this episode gives you the inner work blueprint nobody talks about.

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Connect with Christopher Salem: linkedin.com/in/christophersalem

Subscribe to MyFinJourney → https://www.youtube.com/@myfinjourney

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5UmpEcn

🔗 FOLLOW Mustafa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafa-ladha/

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction — emotional intelligence, leadership & wealth

01:25 Chris's journey through the school of hard knocks

03:01 Growing up in a dysfunctional home & seeking validation

04:30 12 years of hidden addiction — the recovering passive-aggressive

06:00 The life-changing moment — Chris's father's final words

08:00 The transformation — 12-step recovery, meditation & rewiring the mind

09:18 Why share your weakness as a leader? The case for vulnerability

10:30 How to know your audience — logic vs. emotion-driven listeners

12:12 Why most business books lie to you about the journey

15:00 Without challenges there are no opportunities — the real success path

16:49 Before vs. after 31 — Chris's financial mindset shift

18:30 The shiny object problem destroying entrepreneurs' wealth

20:00 Expectations vs. intentions — why fear lives in past and future

20:57 Diversification vs. focus — Chris's reconciled view

22:30 How to take calculated risks (instead of playing it safe)

24:15 The over-saver problem — why delayed gratification can hurt you

25:30 The transition from saving to investing — logic + emotion

26:30 The 8 pillars of wellness — and why money is just one

28:00 Why high-S personalities struggle with wealth-building

29:08 Speak to yourself in certainty — the universe responds in frequency

30:14 How to know what to work on — start with self-awareness

31:30 Self-limiting beliefs from childhood that cap your income

32:30 How to rewire your thinking — meditation, journaling & routine

34:00 The culture trap — breaking patterns your family passed to you

35:23 The American hustle — why slowing down builds more wealth

35:50 The 4 pillars: Foundation, Preparation, Execution, Measurement

37:00 How Zappos built a billion-dollar culture (and what to copy)

38:00 Why most people look outside themselves for wealth (and lose)

39:30 Give without expectation. Receive without resistance.

40:27 How to connect with Christopher Salem

41:15 Closing — clarity, communication & doing the inner work

💡 If this episode made you stop and reflect on the inner work behind real wealth — share it with someone who needs the reminder.

💬 Drop a comment: What's ONE self-limiting belief from your childhood that's still affecting your money or career today?

⭐ Enjoying MyFinJourney? Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 30 seconds and helps more people find us.

What if your "useless" skill is actually the one that pays your dreams?

In this episode of MyFinJourney, Mustafa Ladha sits down with Doug Weissman, Senior Travel Writer & Content Marketer at Zicasso, who turned a "starving artist" path into a global career writing about travel, building luxury itineraries, and crafting stories that drive trust and conversion for one of the most respected names in personalized travel.

Doug has traveled to over 30 countries, written 9 novels, lived in Italy, road-tripped through Scotland, gotten turned away at the Egyptian border, and built a life where storytelling, freedom, and family all live together. This conversation is for anyone who's ever felt their passion isn't a "real career" — and wants proof that it can be.

What you'll learn:

→ Why storytelling is the most underrated wealth-building skill of the next decade

→ How Doug stacked 5 jobs during COVID while everyone else panicked

→ The "passports over classrooms" parenting trend changing how families travel

→ Why ChatGPT can't replace a travel specialist — and what that teaches us about value

→ How the wealthy actually plan trips (it's NOT what you see on Instagram)

→ The Saudi Prince vs. Bill Gates yacht story — and what it reveals about emotional buying

→ Why personal branding on LinkedIn still wins in 2026

→ How "not knowing what you don't know" is silently capping your income

Whether you're an entrepreneur, content creator, real estate investor, or someone designing a life with more freedom — this episode connects travel, storytelling, money, and identity in a way you've never heard before.

Connect with Doug Weissman: linkedin.com/in/douglas-weissman

Subscribe to MyFinJourney → https://www.youtube.com/@myfinjourney

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5UmpEcn

🔗 FOLLOW Mustafa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafa-ladha/

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction — storytelling, travel, and freedom

01:04 What Doug's life actually looks like (it's more boring than you think)

02:00 Catching the travel bug — study abroad in Italy

02:50 Graduating into a recession & traveling the world instead

03:45 Falling into travel writing through a Craigslist ad

04:46 $2,500 for a year in Florence — the financial hack most students miss

06:04 13 countries in one year — Doug's most underrated destination

07:30 Why Slovenia changed his perspective on travel forever

10:46 What did your conservative parents say? — Doug's real answer

13:14 The shift in global perception of American travelers

15:42 Driving stick shift in the UK — a navigator's nightmare

19:30 Why "storytelling" feels like a fake job (until it isn't)

20:32 How Doug built a real career out of "starving artist" advice

22:30 Talent stacking — why one skill is never enough

24:23 Why "not knowing what you don't know" is silently costing you years

26:28 The 4-Hour Workweek philosophy & "the new rich" lifestyle

28:43 Family roots vs. global travel — finding the balance

30:30 "Passports over classrooms" — the new parenting trend

32:04 Travel hacking, points, and why most people leave money on the table

34:00 How Doug got a $15K Egypt trip for $3K through work perks

36:50 The hidden micro-transactions silently draining Americans' wealth

39:40 Saudi Prince vs. Bill Gates — emotional buying at its peak

42:00 Why ChatGPT can't plan your trip — the LLM trap exposed

45:24 The hidden hotel under construction & why local experts win

47:50 Real story — how a luxury kids center saved Doug's Portugal trip

50:27 The wealth lesson hiding inside good travel planning

52:16 Where to connect with Doug

52:50 Why Doug bet on LinkedIn in 2020 — and is still winning

54:30 Stacking 5 jobs during COVID — habit stacking in real life

55:30 Why most LinkedIn posts in 2026 are AI slop (and how to stand out)

56:28 Closing — clarity, storytelling, and building a life worth telling

💡 If this episode opened your mind to the kind of life that's actually possible — share it with one person who needs the reminder.

💬 Drop a comment: Where in the world would YOU travel if money and time weren't an issue?

⭐ Enjoying MyFinJourney? Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 30 seconds and helps more people find us.

Most businesses don't fail because of bad strategy. They fail because of bad communication — and most leaders don't even see it happening.

In this episode of MyFinJourney, Mustafa Ladha sits down with Devon Bruce, Founder and CEO of the English Communication Academy, who coined the term "communication debt" — the hidden build-up of misalignment, unclear messages, and quiet assumptions that costs organizations billions every year.

Devon has worked with global healthcare teams, medical institutions, and even collaborated with Stanford Engineering on AI in healthcare education. But what's powerful about this conversation is how she translates high-stakes healthcare communication into lessons every entrepreneur, executive, couple, and parent can apply immediately.

What you'll learn:

→ What "communication debt" is and why it silently kills businesses

→ The real reason people nod in meetings and then email 3 days later asking for clarification

→ Why vague phrases like "ASAP" are the #1 source of workplace chaos

→ How communication debt shows up in marriages, parenting, and money conversations

→ The simple 1-sentence fix every leader should use at the end of every meeting

→ Why single moms, immigrants, and outsiders often build better businesses

→ How Devon grew to 20,000 LinkedIn followers (senior execs+) all organic

→ Why the "traditional rule book" is broken — and what to do instead

If you're an entrepreneur, executive, or investor trying to scale — this is the leverage point you didn't know you were missing.

Connect with Devon Bruce:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devonbruce-eca/

Website: englishcommunicationacademy.com

Subscribe to MyFinJourney → https://www.youtube.com/@myfinjourney

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5UmpEcn

🔗 FOLLOW Mustafa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafa-ladha/

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction — communication as infrastructure, not soft skill

01:23 Devon's journey — from ESL teacher to communication debt expert

03:10 How Devon discovered native speakers struggle too

04:04 What is "communication debt" and why it costs billions

05:15 Real example — how a leadership meeting quietly goes wrong

06:44 Is it a communication gap or a company culture problem?

08:14 Communication is a two-way relationship, not a monologue

09:07 Why healthcare matters — when communication is life or death

09:50 The house analogy — cracks in communication build over time

10:30 Communication blind spots for executives & investors

11:14 Does this apply to couples, parents, and money conversations?

12:33 How to actually stop communication debt from accumulating

13:45 The husband-wife debt example and how to reframe blame

14:55 Why most people don't communicate clearly — ownership & ego

15:55 Clarity vs. micromanagement — where's the line?

17:00 Why "ASAP" is the most dangerous word in business

18:21 The small fix that removes ambiguity instantly

19:44 Presentation mistakes — native vs. non-native speakers

21:00 The power of the pause — why silence is your secret weapon

21:53 Why smart people overload slides and lose the audience

23:25 How Devon gets executive buy-in — "show me your receipts"

25:11 Authenticity — how Devon built social proof from scratch

28:21 From people-pleaser to authentic — the hard inner work

29:41 Why the traditional business rule book is broken

31:04 Being a single mom and building a business your way

32:30 20 years of growth in 3 years — throwing out the playbook

33:10 20,000 LinkedIn followers, all organic — how she did it

33:56 Devon's real definition of success — family over numbers

35:17 How to connect with Devon Bruce

35:49 Closing — communication as compounding leverage

💡 If this episode gave you a new way to think about how you lead, talk, or pitch — share it with one person who needs to hear it.

💬 Drop a comment: Where do YOU see communication debt piling up — at work, at home, or in your relationships?

⭐ Enjoying MyFinJourney? Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 30 seconds and helps more people find us.

Looking for the best career advice for 2026?

In this powerful episode of MyFin Journey, host Mustafa Ladha interviews Rohit Sood — founder of Venture Life Sciences, former Sorcero executive, strategy consultant, and Rutgers Business School professor who has helped scale 50+ life sciences brands with 6 successful US and European product launches.

Rohit shares the exact career growth strategies, mentorship frameworks, personal finance principles, and networking tactics that took him from a struggling immigrant student earning $24,000 in New York City to building a financially independent life on his own terms.

Whether you're a college student looking for career advice, a young professional searching for mentorship, an MBA grad planning your next move, a freelancer building your personal brand, or an executive thinking about your second act — this interview is packed with actionable career tips, money lessons, and leadership insights you can apply immediately.

🎯 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

✅ How to build a successful career without making money your #1 motivator

✅ The 4 questions every high performer asks before accepting any job

✅ How to find a great mentor (and why most bosses are terrible mentors)

✅ Career change advice: how to pivot industries successfully

✅ The biggest mistake young professionals make in job interviews

✅ How to build wealth through real estate investing as a side income

✅ Why you need a financial advisor — even if you're "good with money"

✅ AI in business 2026: what every professional needs to know

✅ LinkedIn strategy: how to grow your network and personal brand

✅ Networking tips for students and recent graduates

✅ How to ask for what you want in your career (the #1 underrated skill)

⏱️ EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction — Meet Rohit Sood, Biotech Leader & Strategy Consultant

01:25 Rohit's career journey: from computer science to Wall Street to biotech

06:20 How a struggling student became a top MBA performer

08:21 The mindset shift that unlocked his love for learning

10:21 The 4 questions Rohit asks before taking any new role

11:00 Why he never made career decisions based on money

13:16 Theory vs application: what real learning actually looks like

15:30 Teaching MBA students at Rutgers Business School

17:02 How maturity transforms your approach to education and work

18:30 Career advice for college students and recent graduates

20:25 The soft skills nobody teaches young professionals

22:04 How to find a good mentor (and spot a bad one)

25:25 Personal finance: when to hire a professional financial advisor

27:24 The $18,000 day trading mistake that changed everything

28:30 Real estate investing: how Rohit built his property portfolio

30:24 Why Rohit posts on LinkedIn every day

33:10 The job interview hack that actually lands offers

35:49 Why human skills will never be replaced by AI in 2026

37:20 Networking advice for the AI era

39:18 The #1 career skill nobody teaches: how to ask for what you want

40:02 Closing thoughts and how to connect with Rohit

🎤 ABOUT THE GUEST

Rohit Sood is the founder of Venture Life Sciences, a strategic advisory firm helping startups and small companies navigate go-to-market strategy, commercial readiness, digital transformation, and AI readiness. With over 25 years of experience spanning Wall Street, global strategy consulting, biotech commercialization, and AI implementation, Rohit has guided 50+ brands to successful commercialization including 6 major US and European product launches.

He currently teaches at Rutgers Business School, is developing a medical affairs course at Ole Miss School of Pharmacy, and is pursuing his doctorate in oncology operating models at Swiss School of Business Management.

🔗 Connect with Rohit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rsood/

🎙️ ABOUT MYFINJOURNEY

MyFin Journey is a podcast hosted by Mustafa Ladha featuring deep conversations with operators, founders, executives, and industry leaders about career growth, personal finance, entrepreneurship, leadership, and building wealth. New episodes drop weekly.

🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@myfinjourney

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💬 COMMENT your biggest takeaway below

📤 SHARE with someone who needs to hear this

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UmpEcn

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast

What if the thing holding your business back isn't strategy — it's you?

In this episode of MyFinJourney, Mustafa Ladha sits down with Faisal Ensaun, a high performance coach who has worked with over 2,000 individuals — from entrepreneurs and executives to real estate investors and CEOs. Faisal opens up about his own journey through addiction, trauma, and rock bottom, and how that path led him to help some of the highest performers in the world reconnect with clarity, purpose, and real success.

This episode isn't about hustle. It's about alignment — and why without it, no amount of strategy, capital, or ambition will get you where you want to go.

What you'll learn:

→ Why 8 out of 10 business problems are actually personal disconnection problems

→ The real definition of addiction — and why you might be addicted without knowing it

→ How trauma from your past is silently capping your business growth

→ Why generational wealth without values is a trap

→ The 3 things nobody teaches you — knowing yourself, relationships, and money

→ How to build a long-term business with a 3-hour sales cycle and 90%+ referral rate

→ What Faisal is teaching his kids instead of passing on wealth

→ The concept of "parallel culture" and why it matters for your family's future

Whether you're a real estate investor, entrepreneur, or executive — if you've ever felt stuck, plateaued, or quietly misaligned, this conversation is the reset you need.

Connect with Faisal Ensaun:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faisalensaun/

Subscribe to MyFinJourney →

🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/myfinjourney/id1815511353

🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UmpEcnU2Z0UxxDuvenmNx

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my.finjourney

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafa-ladha/

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction — high performance, clarity & alignment

01:16 Faisal's origin story — from addiction to coaching 2,000+ people

03:20 The rock bottom moment — blood, a subway station & a turning point

04:50 Born in Afghanistan, immigrant trauma & surviving in Canada

06:30 How one mentor changed more in 6 months than a decade of struggle

07:17 Was it the blood that triggered the change?

08:59 What it means to be a functioning alcoholic — signs you might miss

10:30 The psychology professor who asked the right question

11:45 Why people drink — the real answer most people deny

13:00 Addiction isn't just alcohol — work, shopping, social media & more

14:07 Lifestyle design — how Faisal engineered his environment to quit

15:30 Social pressure, identity & why people resist your sobriety

17:00 How healing the trauma within ended the addiction naturally

17:51 Is addiction just disconnection? Faisal's powerful reframe

19:41 How often are high performers secretly disconnected?

20:44 8 out of 10 business problems are personal — what that really means

22:33 Why nobody talks about internal alignment in business culture

23:39 The 3 things never taught in school — self, relationships, money

25:30 Maslow's hierarchy, industrial boom & the happiness paradox

27:00 Knowledge compartmentalization — why smart people still feel lost

27:50 What Faisal is teaching his kids instead of generational wealth

29:12 Why generational wealth without values leads to corruption

31:30 Identity, soul & who you are beyond your name and culture

33:00 Homeschooling, travel & building self-aware children

35:13 Do personal values translate into business strategy?

35:47 Long-term relationships as a business model — Faisal's approach

37:30 The 3-hour sales cycle — why Faisal won't rush a client decision

38:08 Instant gratification culture vs. long-term relationship building

39:30 Why most people don't actually need $10 million — the math

41:00 Going slower to get further — 20 years of value in 10 years

42:30 The concept of parallel culture and raising different thinkers

44:36 How to connect with Faisal Ensaun

45:36 Closing — internal alignment is the real wealth strategy

💡 If this episode made you pause and reflect — that's the point. Share it with one person who needs to hear it.

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Most high performers are running at 50% capacity and they have no idea.

In this episode, Michelle J. Howe (CPA, strategy consultant & founder of

Empath Evolution) breaks down why the most driven, successful leaders are

quietly burning out, leaking energy in every direction, and operating far

below their true potential.

If you've ever felt like you're achieving on the outside but something's

off on the inside — this conversation will name exactly what's happening.

🔑 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

✅ Why high achievers are the hardest people to help — and the most in need

✅ The "50% lights" test: are you actually showing up fully in your life?

✅ How saying YES to too many things quietly depletes your energy and focus

✅ The morning smile test — the simplest way to self-diagnose burnout

✅ Why it took Michelle 4 years to fix what could've taken 1 (and what that costs YOU)

✅ How to identify your blind spots before they cost you years of your life

✅ The surprising link between emotional intelligence and personal finances

✅ How to deal with the negative, grumpy person in your life (without losing yourself)

✅ Why "if it's not a HELL YES, it's a no" is the most underrated life rule

Episode Chapters

00:00 — Welcome & Michelle's introduction

01:13 — From structured high achiever to inner conflict: Michelle's story

04:46 — Why accounting felt too transactional — the pivot to emotional intelligence

07:20 — How having kids completely changes how you show up at work

08:38 — Pre vs. post-COVID: what changed for high performers

09:47 — The ideal client profile: who needs this kind of work

12:41 — The 4-year journey that could've been 1 (the cost of no mentor)

15:27 — The mirror moment: "Who is Michelle?" and finding your blind spots

17:34 — Why saying YES to everything is silently destroying your focus

18:34 — The illusion that you can do it all — and where it really comes from

20:39 — Type A vs. Type B: practical ways to slow down and be more present

21:07 — The morning smile test: a brutally honest self-diagnosis tool

23:07 — How to handle the chronically negative person in your life

26:15 — The #1 obstacle to getting help (and why most people never take it)

26:36 — Emotional intelligence + personal finances: the unexpected connection

30:04 — How to connect with Michelle & work with her

🔗 CONNECT WITH MICHELLE J. HOWE

🌐 Website: https://www.empathevolution.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellejhowe/

📲 FOLLOW MyFinJourney

🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/myfinjourney/id1815511353

🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UmpEcnU2Z0UxxDuvenmNx

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my.finjourney

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafa-ladha/

❤️ ENJOYED THIS EPISODE?

If this episode gave you something to think about, please:

👍 Hit the LIKE button

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Most people think giving is simply writing a check, to feel good. But what if there's a smarter, more strategic way to make your wealth create real, lasting change?

In this episode of MyFinJourney, host Mustafa Ladha sits down with Dilnaz Waraich, President of the WF Fund, a philanthropic leader with decades of experience in strategic giving, interfaith engagement, and community building. Dilnaz breaks down how to turn charitable dollars into a long-term capital strategy — and why most high-net-worth donors are doing it wrong.

→ The difference between reactive giving and strategic philanthropy

→ What "catalytic funding" means and why it multiplies your impact

→ Why you should almost never start a new nonprofit (and what to do instead)

→ How giving circles work — and why women do them better than anyone

→ The power dynamic between funders and grantees nobody talks about

→ How Dilnaz's immigrant upbringing shaped her approach to wealth allocation

→ Trust-based philanthropy and its 6 core principles

→ How to allocate giving into 3 buckets: immediate need, long-term change, gray areas

Whether you're a first-time donor, a high-net-worth investor, or running a family fund — this episode will change how you think about the legacy side of your wealth.

00:00 Introduction — wealth, giving & legacy

00:46 Dilnaz's origin story — immigrating from India to Chicago

02:45 Growing up as a brown immigrant in Chicago public schools

04:50 What is philanthropy? It starts at the kitchen table

07:05 The WF Fund — catalytic funding explained

08:30 The 3 buckets of giving: human services, civic engagement, religious pluralism

15:25 Personal loss — her mother's passing and family philanthropy

17:00 Khadija — the 1,400-year-old role model for Muslim women in wealth

20:12 Financial literacy gaps for women and minority communities

21:45 The funder/grantee power dynamic nobody talks about

25:00 Capital allocation strategy — third, third, third framework

27:50 How to reach WF Fund if you're a nonprofit or chaplain

31:23 Financial confidence as a Muslim American woman

33:16 Fear, immigrant mentality, and standing up to authority

37:07 1.8 million nonprofits — why you shouldn't start another one

39:35 How to launch a giving circle (WhatsApp group → Signal)

41:43 Final advice — "you are just enough, act now"

Connect with Dilnaz Waraich:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dilnaz-waraich-559a72ba/

Connect with Mustafa Ladha

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafa-ladha/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@my.finjourney

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UmpEcnU2Z0UxxDuvenmNx

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/myfinjourney/id1815511353

💡 If this episode shifted how you think about your money and your legacy — share it with one person who needs to hear it.

💬 Drop a comment: What's ONE cause you'd fund if money wasn't an issue?

⭐Enjoying the show? Leave a 5-star review — it takes 30 seconds and helps more people find us.