Road to 100

Adam Witty is the founder and CEO of Advantage Media and Forbes Books, two companies that help entrepreneurs establish themselves as thought leaders in their fields. As a guest on the "Road to 100" podcast with Cody and Pasha, Witty shared his experience of founding Advantage Media and forming a strategic partnership with Forbes that resulted in Forbes Books along with how entrepreneurs can grow their business with authority media.

Witty's philosophy of "authority media" emphasizes impact over ego and encourages entrepreneurs to focus on providing value and teaching their audience, rather than just trying to sell something. He believes that choosing to be a servant and a teacher to help others is more practical and powerful than just trying to make a sale. The podcast also delved into topics such as authenticity when presenting, managing the attitude of ambitious entrepreneurs, and creating one's own economy.

As a forward-thinking entrepreneur, Witty discussed the future of publishing companies and information providers with artificial intelligence technology. He explored the possibilities of how AI could revolutionize the publishing industry and make it easier for authors to reach their target audience.

Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation:

[00:50] From part-time employee to building the biggest business media brand in the world: The publishing journey of Adam Witty
Adam Witty started in printing, learning book creation. He founded his own publishing company, serving managers. Securing contracts at an event spurred him to start his own venture. Witty invests in properties, startups, and healthcare technology. He proposed book publishing to Forbes, resulting in a strategic partnership and Forbes Books.

[10:40] Authority media and how to develop value by teaching your audience by Adam Witty

Witty advises entrepreneurs to be thought leaders and educators, emphasizing impact over ego. Sharing unique experiences and passion builds authority. Adam encourages entrepreneurs to teach instead of sell, fostering authenticity and trust. Teaching without expecting sales enhances our message's reception.

[19:30] Building Authority in Your Field: The Power of Personal Experience and Sharing your Story

Adam believes people undervalue themselves, comparing to others and feeling inferior. Sharing personal stories is valuable. Ambitious entrepreneurs prioritize growth. Becoming an authority takes time and effort, surpassing advertising. Create and control your own media platform across various mediums.

[28:20] Creating your own economy: Focus on your value and not on external factors or macro environment

Adam advises entrepreneurs to focus on their own economy, unaffected by external factors. Create value, believe in your work, and avoid excessive concern. Pasha emphasizes a problem-solving mindset, not playing the victim. Build a strong business independent of external forces.

[27:00] Artificial intelligence and the opportunity for creative entrepreneurs:

Adam highlights AI, like ChatGPT, as a valuable tool for creative entrepreneurs in publishing. AI is a facilitator, not a threat, assisting ethical content creation without plagiarism. AI enhances creativity and art, benefiting the creative and original without compromising quality.

Check out this interview with Gabriel Hamel, a successful real estate investor who has built an incredible real estate empire from scratch with no investors and achieved financial freedom at 27. He prioritizes family and relationships, hires third-party administrators to manage most of his properties, and only has one employee across a massive portfolio of properties. In this interview, Gabriel shares his journey as an entrepreneur and offers valuable insights into achieving work-life balance and financial independence. Whether you're starting as an entrepreneur or looking to take your career and personal life to the next level, you won't want to miss Gabriel's inspiring stories and practical advice.

Episode Highlights:

[01:05] From Wrestling to Real Estate: Gabriel Hamel's Unique Path to Investment Success 

Successful real estate investor Gabriel Hamel shares his insights and experience. With an entrepreneurial spirit, he discovered his inclination towards disciplines like wrestling and military training, which aligned better with his personality than a conventional job. Inspired by "Rich Dad Poor Dad," Gabriel ventured into real estate investing in 2005. He believes in calculated risks and a balanced offensive and defensive approach to investment decisions.

[07:40] Maximizing ROI with Creative Financing: Gabriel Hamel's Advice
Gabriel attained financial freedom through real estate investments, exceeding expenses. He actively builds relationships and engages in conversations for deals. Focusing on high-return areas like mobile home parks and commercial complexes, he emphasizes diverse financial options for property sellers. Creativity combined with a supportive bank leads to bigger deals and goal fulfillment.

[18:20] Working Smarter, Not Harder: Gabriel Hamel's ApproachLifestyle Design

Gabriel delegates property management to focus on the bigger picture. Financial freedom grants time freedom, but many in real estate work even harder. He emphasizes understanding personal motivations and aligning goals with the desired lifestyle.

[22:30] The importance of Clarity in Real Estate: why is it important to remember why you started in Real Estate
Gabriel advises intentional and strategic approaches in real estate to prevent excessive work. Taking calculated risks and prioritizing goals is key. Effective communication, delegation, and intentional imbalance contribute to success.

[27:00] Intentional Imbalance, focus on what you need
Gabriel values intentional imbalance, prioritizing different aspects of life as needed. Initially focused on financial freedom, he now emphasizes family. Open communication and understanding strengthen his relationship with his wife. They adapt priorities between business, family, and personal development, emphasizing intentionality and consistency.

[34:50] Long-Term Health and Fitness for Entrepreneurs

Motivation and habits are crucial for quitting alcohol and staying healthy, according to Gabriel, Pasha, and Cody. Gabriel emphasizes the importance of a clear reason for maintaining long-term healthy habits, while Cody's 45-day challenge demonstrates personal motivation. Consistent habits, prioritizing healthy eating and regular training, are key for long-term health and fitness. Entrepreneurs must prioritize physical health as it affects all aspects of life.

Interested in leaving your W2 for the world of entrepreneurship and investing? insightful interview with Mehdi Khachani. Mehdi shares his journey from a high-level executive in a W2 to a successful real estate investor and entrepreneur, offering valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship and investing. Discover how Mehdi achieved financial freedom and work-life balance by taking calculated risks, building successful teams, and designing the life he wanted. With inspiring stories and practical advice, this interview is a must-watch for anyone looking to take their career and personal life to the next level. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn from Mehdi's wisdom and experience!

Episode Highlights:

[01:20] Mehdi Khachani: From W2 Executive to Successful Real Estate Investor

Discover the secrets behind Kevin Mills, a large real estate agent in the world, as he shares his strategies with Cody and Pasha. Learn how he created a database of over 80,000 contacts by talking to almost 100 people a day, building strong relationships and delivering valuable content. With a genuine personality and a vision for growth, Kevin emphasizes the importance of prioritizing relationships with people who contribute to our lives. Gain insight on how to do this systematically and intentionally while balancing even the busiest routines. Join the conversation among entrepreneurs and find a human touch to ambition and aspiration for growth.

Episode Highlights:

In this episode of the Road to 100 Podcast, Cody and Pasha talk with Brian Beers about buying and scaling a family-franchised auto repair business into an enterprise with +30 locations and generating $40 million in sales per year. Brian Beers is a successful entrepreneur who is on a mission to teach people how to create freedom and build wealth by owning franchises. In today's episode, he shares a lot more about his path, experiences, and wisdom for those who want to learn more about this business model.Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation:

Episode Highlights:

[01:15] Growing a Franchise family business with Brian Beers

At 35 years old, Brian Beers operates 30 automotive repair franchises and generates $40 million in sales per year. It all started as a family business with his dad and his uncle in the 1970s, with just six locations. Brian joined the business after college in 2010, and even though he knew nothing about cars, he started learning a lot about the business. After earning experience, in 2016, he and his brother got a bank loan and bought 2 locations that they owned 50/50, and after that, it's all been about growing, acquiring, and opening new locations.

[09:42:23] Delegating/replacing yourself

Fire yourself as fast as possible; there are 8 billion people on the planet, and there are a lot more people who are better at whatever you are doing than you are, so just get yourself out of the way to scale and get human capital on that task.

[17:35:12] What separates a good franchise from a bad franchise? 

There are 3,000 franchises in the US, which means that 250 new ones open every year. That's why choosing the right one to invest in becomes a common challenge that comes to mind for those who start this journey. Running a franchise business model requires special focus on the vision, development, training, support, marketing, and selling. It's a pretty special business model, so in order to identify which franchises are good options, it's important to network, learn from people with experience, and always question if the franchise you are interested in is growing its support in parallel with the new locations opened.

[30:53:23] Franchises as an asset allocation? 

The main concern you should have if you want to purely see it as an investment is that if you are going to invest in a franchise without an operator, it simply won't work out. Don't forget that a lot of these businesses are highly dependent on the average, which is why Brian's recommendation is to get someone as a franchisee instead of doing it all on your own. That way, you can be more focused on funding that person and at the same time scaling the whole franchise business with your vision.

Resources Mentioned:

https://www.brianbeers.com/

One of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs have on their Road to 100 is that they have to face uncertainty all the time. Waking up each morning with new problems to solve, but with the necessary energy and motivation to make things really work is truly admirable. Today our hosts dig deep into the mindset of a successful entrepreneur that has grown a large business, but still has a great lifestyle focused on health, family, and happiness. 

In this episode, Pasha and Cody talk with Adrian Accay. Adrian is an entrepreneur, business owner and real estate investor that is really crushing it on all levels. In this episode our hosts talk with him about growing a pharmacy business with many locations throughout the city of Philadelphia, maintaining the right entrepreneurial mindset, how to be more productive, taking care of a family and many other important topics that we know will help anyone (entrepreneur or not) to live a happier and healthier life.

Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation:

Episode Highlights:

[04:24] How Adrian grew a pharmacy retail business

Adrian grew his business from a single location that he built out with his own two hands with the help of his father and family into a huge regional powerhouse with several 340B federal contracts. His story of building his empire from nothing is truly inspiring. 

[08:23] If you build it, they will come 

An entrepreneur’s superpower is: ACTION.. Don't forget to always deliver more than what's expected by your customers because the gap between what's expected and what you finally deliver to them is where you can find an opportunity to provide real value and start building customer loyalty. 

[19:21] If you don't enjoy the journey of building then you won't ever be happy

In order to keep yourself motivated during the process of building a business from scratch you have to be able to enjoy the process and journey of building – not only the end goal.  Every time you achieve a goal, there will just be another one so you have to be able to enjoy the journey. Also entrepreneurs need to learn to celebrate their small wins. Generally as entrepreneurs we’re highly driven and are always pushing to improve so we can forget to celebrate the small wins each day. 

[25:20] Imposter syndrome and building your second business

Many times when entrepreneurs begin their own businesses they experience impostor syndrome and they underestimate themselves and their capability of solving bigger/new problems that involve unexplored skills. This is a common feeling among all entrepreneurs regardless of how much they’ve achieved. It’s powerful to know that others experience this same feeling. We also dig into building your second business after building your first one.

Resources Mentioned:

The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness

The Power of One More: The Ultimate Guide to Happiness and Success 

BestSelf Icebreaker Deck

Growth thinking: think, design, growth hack - a design approaching to growth hacking

GRIT: THE POWER of PASSION and PERSEVERANCE

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It

Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business

What the Heck Is EOS?: A Complete Guide for Employees in Companies Running on EOS

Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business

Cody and Pasha discuss the vulnerabilities in the banking system, the recent bank runs, and the consequences for the economy.

In this episode, they discuss the complexities of rising interest rates, and the challenges of an increasingly indebted nation. But more importantly, given that no one can control external forces, Pasha and Cody discuss investor temperament, remaining rational in the face of fear, and how to capitalize on distress and volatility. 

Tune in as they share valuable advice on safeguarding your investments and thriving in a turbulent financial climate.

Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation:

Episode Highlights:

[01:35] Bank Collapses and Financial Landscape

Cody and Pasha examine recent bank collapses, their effects on the financial landscape, and the impact of rising interest rates on banks' balance sheets. They discuss whether these banks are outliers or representatives of standard practices. They also go over the consequences of Federal Reserve bailouts.

[18:23] Rising Interest Rates and Debt Challenges

The topic turns to the possibility of the U.S. facing challenges similar to Japan's. Increasing interest rates cause significant issues. As countries become more indebted, handling high-interest rates becomes harder. Rapidly rising interest rates further complicate market adjustments.

[37:53] Emotional Management and Investment Strategies

Routines and reflection help with managing emotions and making informed decisions. Stay calm, rational, and focused despite negative news or external events. Blocking out negativity without ignoring reality prevents fear and greed from becoming the main drivers of your decision-making.

[41:13] Seizing Opportunities in Uncertainty

In uncertain times, opportunities arise. The hosts promote a “conservatively aggressive” approach: utilizing real estate resources, raising funds, and identifying market prospects. They’re optimistic about the real estate market until 2024 and seek “spot distress” situations.

[55:20] Market Expectations and Focus

The conversation concludes by acknowledging that the current market differs from the 2006-2008 financial crisis, but good opportunities still exist. They emphasize maintaining the right mindset, executing business plans, and avoiding distractions. Instead of relying on hope, they advise making data-driven decisions and considering potential setbacks.

Resources Mentioned:

Fed Funds Futures

The Wall Street Journal: Commercial Property Debt Creates More Bank Worries

Pasha and Cody sit down with friend and Internet marketing extraordinaire, Talor Zamir. Talor has had great successes in short sales, internet entrepreneurship, and business endeavors, but a big health scare made him reexamine his priorities. Now, he’s passionate about developing his health journey and helping others do the same, all while making time for his wonderful family. Check out his conversation with Pasha and Cody.

Here are some takeaways from today’s conversation:

Episode Highlights:

[03:35] You Are What You Eat

Talor talks about his health scare and how reshifting his priorities has made him feel the best he’s ever felt. As he researched how to get better, he really wanted to focus on the source of the problem, which was inflammation. In all the information he discovered, he found that inflammation is the root cause of what makes people feel terrible. After changing his diet and being mindful about what he puts in his body, he was able to heal.

[10:00] Taking Time to Think

Talor made a lot of pivots in life and in his career. From working on Wall Street to short sales to product launching to  Internet marketing, he’s worn a lot of hats in his life and been successful at almost all of them. This is because he takes time to prioritize his thoughts and wants. Every morning Monday-Friday, he spends 30-60 minutes thinking about his life and goals over coffee to make sure he’s going in the direction he wants.

[27:05] Distilling Down What You Really Want

His many successes opened up lots of opportunities, but in the end he always needed to ask himself, “Is this what I really want?” Owning his own marketing agency could be great, but wouldn’t allow him the freedom he wanted. To make money and still have some freedom to be a family man, he needed to get creative and get honest with himself.

There’s no better way to experience gratitude for our wonderful opportunities in this country than to learn from immigrants who came to this country, built a life and a business, and fulfilled the American Dream.

In today’s episode, Pasha and Cody talk with real estate investor Claude Condo about his inspiring story and the difficult steps he took to build a massively successful life after coming to America with literally $100 in his pocket. From buying pharmacies to investing in medical triple net real estate , Claude has been crushing it and is one of the most charitable businessmen and investors we’ve interviewed. In today’s conversation, Pasha, Cody, and Claude  dive deep into perseverance against all odds and spreading the results to those who need it most after you’ve made it. .

Here are some takeaways from today’s conversation:

Episode Highlights:

[03:05] Challenging Beginnings

Claude chats about Rwanda’s current circumstances and how his organization offers hope for kids who have it rough. He also shares about his experience growing up in Rwanda and the neighboring Republic of the Congo. The death and destruction the country experienced pushed Claude to go to school and become a pharmacist. His career brought him to the United States where the rest is history.

[19:10] Dark Times in America

Upon arriving in America, a big misunderstanding left Claude in solitary confinement for weeks. The solitude was extremely difficult and tested his strength and his faith. Finally, after going before an American judge, Claude was absolved and given full legal rights to remain in the States.

[32:31] Opportunities Arise

Despite being a qualified pharmacist, Claude was doing a backbreaking job to make ends meet. A coworker who knew some of his story gave him the means to make a better future for himself with his valuable skills. After hundreds of calls, he finally had the chance to prove himself, eventually learning how to run his own pharmacy.

Imagine working for years to have an exit and then taking nearly all of your proceeds and doubling down on your next venture.

In today’s episode, Pasha and Cody talk with Tom Breitling about his experience building a massive business and then parlaying that exit into purchasing the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas. Though he and his business partner, Tom Poster had no experience owning casinos and faced a lot of red tape from all directions, they still took a leap of faith and placed a huge bet on themselves. From there, they became the youngest (and most successful) casino owners and operators in the state of Nevada. In this episode we talk about Tom’s massive wins and losses on his entrepreneurial path.

Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation:

Episode Highlights:

[13:45] Don’t Hesitate to Bet on Yourself

Breitling and Poster started their success with a previous business venture in technology, but jumping into hotels and casinos was a whole new ballgame. They faced a lot of challenges along the way and had to be fully invested in their vision and in themselves in order to be successful. They had to impress the banks, the sellers, the patrons, and the whole industry that they had what it takes to take the casino to the next level.

[19:28] Buffer the Cash Flow

When Breitling and Poster bought the hotel and casino, they needed to come up with ways to improve cash flow. First, they gradually increased the room rates over a two-year period. Then, they started booking some quality entertainment and focusing heavily on the younger crowds. This increased the number of visitors and also increased awareness. Thinking outside the box is what will set your commercial property up for success.

[32:31] Entrepreneurial Failures Are Not the End

After betting on the hotel, Breitling made a bet on another company that ultimately failed. The experience was extremely hard on him, but didn’t deter his entrepreneurial spirit. The failed venture taught him the importance of taking risks, of surrounding himself with knowledgeable people, and to believe in well-researched visions of success.

Resources Mentioned:

Double or Nothing: How Two Friends Risked It All to Buy One of Las Vegas' Legendary Casinos