Welcome back to The Paul Morris Podcast, brought to you by Entrepreneur Media. In this episode, I sit down with Mikey Taylor to talk about what happens after the spotlight fades — and why planning for the end while you’re still at the peak changes everything. We get into grit versus talent, turning income into assets, using leverage intelligently, and why real wealth is about optionality, not ego. Mikey shares how he transitioned from professional skateboarding to building and exiting a major brand, and now running a private equity real estate platform — all by thinking long term. If you’re building something today, this conversation will challenge you to think beyond the next win and start designing your second act.

*Mikey Taylor*Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/mikeytaylorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeytaylor/

*Connect with Paul*Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulmarkmorris/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itspaulmarkmorrisYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@paulmorrispodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulmarkmorris

*Presented by Entrepreneur Media & Money News Network*Entrepreneur Media: https://www.entrepreneur.com/podcastsMoney News Network: https://www.moneynewsnetwork.com

Timestamps00:00:00 Meet Mikey Taylor: From X Games Favorite to Life Lessons

00:00:51 Starting at 12: Obsession, Coordination, and Earning Every Trick

00:02:48 Grit vs. Natural Talent: Why Some Gifted Kids Stall Out

00:04:07 Skateboarding Paychecks & the Reality of Post-Career Work

00:05:08 Skater Mindset in Business: Seeing What Others Miss + Marketing Genius

00:11:21 Sponsorship Money Is Fragile: Turning Income Into Assets

00:15:12 Profit First & Pay Yourself First: Building Margin (and Avoiding Tax Pain)

00:22:43 St. Archer Story: Finding the Blue Ocean and Selling to MillerCoors

00:34:18 Risk vs. Reward: Why Real Estate Feels Safer Than Operating Businesses

00:36:41 Leverage Debate: Dave Ramsey, Good Debt vs. Bad Debt

00:37:58 How Leverage Actually Works: Cushions, Rate Risk & Tenants Paying the Note

00:41:07 Is Your Home an Asset? Primary Residence vs. Investment Property

00:43:57 From Pro Skater to Real Estate: The Gateway Into Self-Storage & Building a Platform

00:46:23 Private Equity Explained: Syndications, Funds, LPs & How the Model Makes Money

00:50:22 SoCal Development Strategy: Undersupplied Markets, Deal Size Sweet Spot & Entitlements

00:57:42 Financial Freedom Framework + Getting Started (and the Fire Round Finale)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices