Path to Progress with Paul Heintzman and John Ackerman

Jenna Denard, Owner and Travel Agent at Travelwell Company, joins us to discuss how you can use a travel agent to plan your perfect vacation. Some questions Jenna answered in this episode:

• What does a travel agent at Travelwell Company provide for travelers? 
• What questions do you need to ask your travel agent?
• When should you contact Travelwell Company or another travel agent to plan a trip?
• How did Jenna get into the travel industry?
• Why did Jenna start Travelwell Company? 
• How can a travel agent save travelers money vs. booking on their own? 
• When was the tipping point that Travelwell Company began to grow faster?
• How long has Jenna been in the industry and when did she start her business? 
• How does Travelwell Company get most of its clients? 
• How does Travelwell Company educate its clients?
• What are tips for travelers while they're booking and when they're in destination?
• What are common mistakes travelers make at their destination?
• How do online travel sites and reviews impact travel agents? 
• What should travelers look for when choosing a travel agent?
• What are the popular destinations right now? 
• What are Jenna's favorite destinations to visit? 
• Which destinations are the most budget friendly?
• How can you save money while at your destination?
• Should you do an all-inclusive for your food and drink?
• What do you need to know before reaching out to Travelwell Company?
• How much do travel agents cost? 

Last call:

• What advice would your 60-year-old self give you today?
  • Hustle harder earlier.
  • Just do it and don't be scared.
• What advice would you give to a new entrepreneur?
  • Quit work and put all your resources towards your business.
• What is the best thing you spent money on in the last six months?
  • Airpods.
• What's your favorite thing to drink?
  • Two Margaritas

Notes:

• Purchase your Drunken Money Swag!!!

Enjoyed this episode? Feel free to contact Jenna Denard on Facebook or Instagram, or email her at [email protected]. Also, check out our episode on how to Crush Your Wedding. Have any topics you want to be covered or amazing people you’d like us to interview? Let us know! You can email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin. Please be sure to subscribe to our weekly mailing list at drunkenmoney.com/subscribe.

Major Robertson, Founder and CEO of Major Holdings, joins us to discuss how he buys online businesses and how he has quickly built a Private Equity Fund.  Some questions Major Robertson answered in this episode:

• What did Major Robertson's college experience look like?
• When did you realize that college was not the right path for you?
• How did you teach yourself to code in high school?
• What was it about working in the corporate world that you didn't like?
• What was the first side job you had when you were working your corporate job?
• What was the point when you realized you should quit your corporate job?
• How did you think of the idea for your first business and how did it grow?
• Did you create your website from scratch or did you create it off of an existing website?
• What did creating your website and business look like?
• How did you overcome competition in the field?
• How did your business grow to where it is today?
• Why did your mindset shift from a lifestyle company to wanting to grow your business? 
• What made you want to buy a second company and what was it?
• What made you want to grow your company to the size of where it is?
• What do you look for in a business to purchase?
• Where does Major Robertson find businesses to buy?
• Why are people selling their businesses?
• What does a business that you are not interested in buying look like?
• How do you hire your employees and what does managing look like for you?
• What does your interview process look like, how did you know they were a right fit for the company?
• What is the atmosphere in the office and how has it evolved?
• Is it stressful working in such close proximity to your employees?
• What's the dress code look like at Major Holdings?
• What are the commonalities in growing these companies?
• Is it difficult for your content creator to write content for multiple different industries?
• How has the city of Louisville helped or hindered the growth of Major Holdings?
• What advice would you give to those who think they are not able to build a start-up company in Louisville?
• Have you had a business you regret purchasing?
• Is there anything specific you look for when purchasing a company?
• What have been some of the lows in the business?
• Are there any companies or people you are modeling yourself of your company after?
• Are you planning to stick with online businesses?
• Where do you go to help fund your business purchases?
• What would you say to someone who is unhappy with their current path?

Last call:

• What advice would your 60-year-old self give you today?
  • Finish projects that you start.
• What advice would you give to a new entrepreneur?
  • You don't have to be an inventor to create something new.
  • Find something that's positive revenue and make it better.
• What is a book/documentary/podcast you would recommend?
  • BiggerPockets Podcast
  • Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
• What is the best thing you spent money on in the last six months?
  • Noise cancelling headphones
• What's your favorite thing to drink?
  • Rosé Bubbles Fruited Ale

Notes:

• It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work
• Kentucky Small Business Tax Credit
• Story Louisville
• Louisville Open Coffee Club
• Empire Flippers
• Flippa
• Purchase your Drunken Money Swag!!!

Enjoyed this episode? Feel free to contact Major Robertson at [email protected]. Also, check out our episode with Sisun Lee of Morning Recovery. Have any topics you want to be covered or amazing people you’d like us to interview? Let us know! You can email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin. Please be sure to subscribe to our weekly mailing list at drunkenmoney.com/subscribe.

Rachel Richards, author of the best selling book Money Honey: A Simple 7-Step Guide For Getting Your Financial $hit Together, shares how anybody can earn enough passive income to retire in their twenties. Some questions answered in this episode:

• What has the last year looked like for you, and what has happened to allow you to quit your job?
• How long did it take for you to be able to retire from when you first got serious about passive income?
• What made you want to get into rental real estate and what was your first step?
• How do you find a good rental property?
• How has having your real estate license benefited you in purchasing a rental property?
• What is passive income and what kinds of forms can it take?
• When writing your book, how did you find people to help you with publishing?
• What have you learned from publishing your first book, is there anything you would've done differently?
• How far are you in writing your second book?
• Can you break down the category of ad/e-commerce passive income?
• Who are some people involved in your second book?
• What is dropshipping?
• How has interviewing others and having them contribute to your second book changed it from the first?
• How do you find a good property manager?
• What are the basics of portfolio income?
• If you were given a million dollars, which passive income stream would you invest in first?
• What are the next few steps for finishing your book?
• How can people connect with you online?
• What are the benefits of a credit freeze?

Last call:

• What advice would your 60-year-old self give you today?
  • I'm still trying to figure that out, but protect your identity with credit freezes and invest at a younger age.
• What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start earning passive income?
  • Consider time versus money, what is going to be easier to spend.
• What is a book/documentary/podcast you would recommend?
  • Millionaire Fastlane by M.J. DeMarco
• What is the best thing you spent money on in the last six months?
  • Travel
• What's your favorite thing to drink?
  • Double Oaked Woodford Reserve

Enjoyed this episode? Check out our previous episode with Money Honey. Have any topics you want to be covered or amazing people you’d like us to interview? Let us know! You can email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin. Please be sure to subscribe to our weekly mailing list at drunkenmoney.com/subscribe.

Adam Watson, co-founder of Against the Grain Brewery, tells us how Against the Grain has built a global brand based in Louisville, KY. 

Some questions answered in this episode:

• Why is your beer put into a four pack with tall cans?
• How did Against the Grain get started?
• What lead you to becoming a brewer?
• What was the process of opening your own brewery?
• What was the climate of the beer industry when you started?
• Why is the beer industry more communal than others?
• Why did you choose not only to be a brewery, but a restaurant as well?
• How do you use your background in law to not only improve your brewery but to help other breweries in the community?
• What are some big issues with Kentucky and National beer laws?
• What are the benefits of being a microbrewery?
• How has Bo & Luke helped you grow as a company?
• What can the public expect from Against the Grain the the next year or two?
• Have there been any big turning points in the company?
• What would you say to a young person who wants to start a brewery?
• How do you develop a new beer?
• Where do you get ideas for new beers?
•  How do you judge a beer when you drink it?
• What is the future of beer?
• What is your next goal?
• What was your goal when you started in 2011?

Last call:

• What advice would your 60-year-old self give you today?
  • Take a vacation
• What advice would you give to somebody who wants to be an entrepreneur?
  • Give all the fucks, care about everything
• What is a book/documentary/podcast you would recommend?
  • On the Upside with Adam Watson
  • Making sense with Sam Harris
• What is the best thing you spent money on in the last six months?
  • Tool tickets
• What's your favorite thing to drink?
  • Lagavulin Scotch

Enjoyed this episode? Check out our episode with Ken Grossman, Founder & CEO of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Have any topics you want to be covered or amazing people you’d like us to interview? Let us know! You can email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin. Please be sure to subscribe to our weekly mailing list at drunkenmoney.com/subscribe.

JOHN RONAYNE, THE OWNER OF BREWGRASS HOMEBREW SUPPLY, IS BACK TO DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR OF STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS BEGIN TO FADE. 

Some questions answered in this episode:

• What does the day to day look like almost 5 years into the business? 
• What does Brewgrass Homebrew Supply look like today vs. when you opened? 
• When do you decide to add a new product and invest in the business?
• What are the struggles once the honeymoon phase is over? 
• How do you prevent burnout? 
• How do you keep learning and growing? 
• Why did you get involved in the community? 
• What do the "wins" look like today? 
• How do you interact with customers on social media and YouTube? 
• What are the keys to staying in business over the last 5 years? 
• What would you purchase if you had $1 million to spend in the business? 
• How do you find new beers? 
• What's the next trend in beer?
• How do you balance work and your personal life? 
• Do you have any regrets? 
• Has starting a business been worth it?  

LAST CALL:

• What advice would your 60-year-old self give you today?
  • Learn time management skills. 
• What advice would you give to somebody who wants to be an entrepreneur?
  • Do it now. 
• What is a book/documentary/podcast you would recommend?
  • Trojan War: The Podcast
  • Odyssey: The Podcast
• What is the best thing you spent money on in the last six months?
  • Hiring good people. 
• What's your favorite thing to drink?
  • Collaboration with False Idol Brewing

NOTES:

• Madtree: PsycHOPathy
• Against the Grain: A Beer
• New Belgium: Mural
• Boy Meets Wort
• Spike Brewing
• White Labs
• Simon Sinek: Finite vs. Infinite
• BORED AT BOARDS
• Twang Beer Salt
• Sierra Nevada with Ken Grossman, Founder & CEO of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (#67)

Enjoyed this episode? Check out our other episodes with John Ronayne, MILLENNIAL BUSINESS: FOLLOW YOUR PASSION WITH JOHN RONAYNE and HOW TO HOMEBREW & MORE WITH JOHN RONAYNE! Also, be sure to check out Brewgrass Homebrew Supply. Have any topics you want to be covered or amazing people you’d like us to interview? Let us know! You can email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin. Please be sure to subscribe to our weekly mailing list at drunkenmoney.com/subscribe.

Clay Gardner, a co-founder of Titan, joins us to share how anyone can invest like a hedge-fund investor. 

Some questions answered in this episode:

• How did you teach yourself investment strategies and how to build the company? 
• How did you develop the current model and what was the first year like? 
• How did you meet your co-founders? 
• How does Titan determine their clients' investments?
• Does every investor have the same investments or are they customized? 
• Why do the portfolios consist of exactly 20 stocks? 
• What tips do you give to millennials to encourage them to invest long-term?
• What methods does Titan use to educate their investors? 
• What does your typical day look like?
• What factors influenced your decision to leave your job and found Titan?  
• How did Titan grow and what were some of the major turning points?
• What was the process of being accepted into Y Combinator and what did you learn?
• Why did you return to New York instead of staying in Silicon Valley or moving to another city? 
• What mistakes did you make launching Titan and what would you do differently? 
• What is the future of Titan?

Last call:

• What advice would your 60-year-old self give you today?
  • Think exponentially and bet bigger
• What is the best advice you have received on entrepreneurship?
  • Don't sit in a room and think of business ideas, think of problems and find the solution. 
• What is a book/documentary/podcast you would recommend?
  • Invest Like the Best podcast
• What is the best thing you spent money on in the last six months?
  • Airpods
• What's your favorite thing to drink?
  • Old Fashioned
  • Bulleit Bourbon

Notes:

• A Randon Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing
• The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to check out Titan online and on the App Store. Also, check out our episode with Jon Stein, CEO of Betterment. Have any topics you want to be covered or amazing people you’d like us to interview? Let us know! You can email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin. Please be sure to subscribe to our weekly mailing list at drunkenmoney.com/subscribe.

The band Wilderado is made up, as their About Us would suggest on their website: "Four Dudes." Those four dudes are Maxim Helmerich (vocals, guitar), Tyler Wimpee (guitar, vocals), Colton Dearing (percussion, keys, vocals) and Justin Kila (drums). While touring with Mt. Joy, I was lucky enough to catch them while they were in Louisville for a few beers and a quick podcast. 

After a few beers, we delved into these questions to truly understand what makes a band:

• How did you meet?
• When did you start playing music?
• How do you write new songs?
• What's a day in the life of a touring band?
• How do you stay healthy on the road?
• How will you know you've made it as a band?
• How do you avoid burnout?
• What advice do you have for aspiring bands?
• What's the next big thing for the band?

SPOILER ALERT: their biggest piece of advice: don't give up. Words for life. John and I tell ourselves that every day. 

Last call questions:

• What's the best thing you've spent money on the last six months?
  • Tyler: 2010 Jeep Wrangler
  • Colton: 1964 Hofner Red Guitar
  • Max: Plane tickets to see my wife
• What's the best long-form piece of information you've digested?
  • Colton: The First of the Dark Tower Series (Gunslinger)
  • Max: Stephen King's On Writing or Alan Watt's The Wisdom of Insecurity
  • Tyler: Harry Potter
• What advice would your 60 year old self give you today?
  • Max: stop worrying about the future
  • Tyler: don't try to invest in too many things
  • Colton: don't wear such tight pants............
• What's your favorite drink?
  • Colton: BEER
  • Tyler: BEER (or Negronis)
  • Max: Casa Dragones

S/O to Sam Adams and MB Roland for providing some great drinks for the episode!

Have any topics you want covered or amazing people you'd like for us to interview? Let us know! You can email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Please be sure to subscribe to our weekly mailing list at www.drunkenmoney.com.

Ken Grossman, founder & CEO of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., joins us to share how he built one of the largest breweries in America. 

Questions answered in this episode:

• How long does it take to go from concept to bottle when brewing a new beer? 
• How did you get started in brewing? 
• How did you make your own brewing equipment when you started?
• How did you get funding when you first started?
• What was the goal when you started?
• What were the biggest keys to early growth?
• Did you have steady growth or were there any particular events that caused a spike in growth? 
• What makes a good distribution partner in the brewing industry? 
• What advice do you have to somebody starting a craft brewery today? 
• How have you continued to grow as you have gotten bigger? 
• Why did you open the additional North Carolina brewery? 
• How did you maintain business knowledge without a business background? 
• What motivates you to grow and keeps you passionate since you've reached the top of the industry? 
• How has the Camp Fire impacted your company and what are you doing to help? 

You can find a list of participating brewers selling Resilience IPA by clicking this link. 

Last call:

• What advice would you give to your 25-year-old self?
  • Giving up is not an option. It will be the hardest thing you ever do but it will be worth it. 
• What additional advice would you give to an entrepreneur or somebody starting a brewery?
  • Pick something you are passionate about and committed to.
• What is a book/documentary/podcast you would recommend?
  • A book about Ernest Shackleton
• What is the best thing you spent money on in the last six months?
  • A new tent and sleeping bag for his wife. 
• What's your favorite thing to drink?
  • Celebration IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 

Enjoyed this episode? We both recommend touring the new Sierra Nevada brewery in Mills River, North Carolina. Also, be sure to pick up a 6 pack of Celebration IPA. Have any topics you want to be covered or amazing people you’d like us to interview? Let us know! You can email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin. Please be sure to subscribe to our weekly mailing list at drunkenmoney.com/subscribe.

Maud & Stirling Welch, Owners of Hell or High Water, join us to discuss the process of opening a 1920s speakeasy in Downtown Louisville.

Some questions answered in this episode:

• What gave them the idea to open a speakeasy?
• Did you have any prior experience operating a bar?
• What was the process of planning and opening the bar?
• What attracted Maud & Stirling to the Hell or High Water space?
• What happened to the space that forced the planning process to take 3 years?
• How did you decide on the name Hell or High Water?
• What have been the biggest failures and successes so far?
• Where did you draw inspiration for the space and for the drinks?
• How does the experience at Hell or High Water differ from other bars?
• Why did Maud move back to Louisville from New York City?
• What are the ways the speakeasy is marketed?
• What does your day to day look like at the bar?

Last call:

• What advice would you give to somebody wanting to open a bar?
  • Be aware of the time commitment and that everything in the space could be damaged. - Maud
• What is your definition of success?
  • When Hell or High Water has the reputation for the place in Louisville to get great drinks and spirits and is comparable to anywhere across the country. - Stirling
  • Be a source of positive hospitality in the community. - Maud
• What advice would your 60 year old self give you today?
  • Start a business in the same city you live. - Stirling
  • Have conviction in your vision and make sure it is communicated well. - Maud
• What's the best purchase you've made in the last six months?
  • Engagement ring. - Stirling
  • The books in the bar. - Maud
• What is a book/documentary/podcast you would recommend?
  • The English Patient. - Maud
  • All About Love. - Stirling
  • Marriage, A History. - Stirling
• What's your favorite thing to drink?
  • St. George Gin & Fever-Tree Tonic. - Maud
  • Old Forester Classic 86 Proof. - Stirling

Shoutouts:

• Sleep No More New York
• DJ Glittertitz
• Automated Living LLC
• Galaxie Bar
• Rye on Market
• “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” - Howard Thurman

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to visit Hell or High Water at 112 West Washington St, Louisville, KY 40204, and follow them on Instagram. Have any topics you want to be covered or amazing people you’d like us to interview? Let us know! You can email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin. Please be sure to subscribe to our weekly mailing list at drunkenmoney.com/subscribe.

Jon Stein, Founder and CEO of Betterment, the country's largest robo-advisor with more than $18 billion in assets under management, shares how he built Betterment and why you should join the future of investing.

Some questions answered in this episode:

• How did you get the idea for Betterment?
• Why did Betterment start in 2008 during the last recession?
• How has Betterment grown so quickly?
• What makes Betterment different and separates it from competitors?
• What is Betterment's company culture?
• What drives Betterment's focus?
• Who are the primary Betterment customers?
• Does it get stressful having so much money under management?
• How has being located in New York helped Betterment grow?
• Why does Jon ride his bike to work?
• What are the biggest highs and lows since founding Betterment?
• What do Jon's days look like right now?
• How often does Jon check email and how does he shut out distractions?
• How does Jon judge Betterment's success?
• Why do so many millennials  struggle with long-term saving and how does Betterment help?
• Will Betterment be launching any new products in the near future?
• How many employees currently work at Betterment?
• What advice would you give to an entrepreneur starting out who is hesitant about growing their company?
• What is the best thing you have spent money on in the last six months?
• What additional advice would you give to millennials?

Shoutouts:

• LaCroix
• How I Built This with Jon Stein
• Forbes article with Jon Stein
• Mr. Money Mustache Betterment experiment

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to open a Betterment account (referral link to get 3 months free). Also, check out our podcast with Keith Blakely to learn more about investing and the economy.

Have any topics you want to be covered or amazing people you’d like us to interview? Let us know! You can email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin. Please be sure to subscribe to our weekly mailing list at drunkenmoney.com/subscribe.