I introduce listeners to my good buddies because they’re studs. My guest on the podcast today is Michael D’Albor. In this discussion, I learned things about my longtime friend that I didn’t know. Consequently, my respect for him has only grown.

A deeply personal chat, Michael talks about the moment he found out his wife was a lesbian after 13 years together (7 years married). He also shares what it was like going through an unexpected and tough divorce.

We discuss the split-second of lifelessness that forever changed Michael’s life. He tells me how later that day, doctors told him there was a 98% chance his daughter wouldn’t develop the mental capacity of a little girl beyond 3 years old. He’s now a single father of a special needs child and shares a day-in-the-life.

Michael & I became fast friends as baseball teammates at Nicholls State University. When his playing career was over, he earned an MBA and went into commercial banking. We talk about his career, finances, love and money. Also, what he’s learned traveling to places most Americans will never get to see.

Other topics we cover:

• Perception of time when traveling

• Comparing Asheville, NC & Salzburg, Austria

• Bradley’s attempt to run track in college

• Whether Michael can beat Bradley D in a race

• His unexpected divorce

• Finding out what his wife was doing behind his back

• Sexual curiosity: men vs. women

• Doing everything he could to save his marriage

• Personal growth through divorce

Michael’s Education & Career:

• How Michael paid for college

• The scholarship Michael received

• His love/hate relationship with sales & finance

• What he would tell a younger brother who was considering an MBA

• 6 years in consumer lending

• His income in 2008-2009

• A talk he gave recently to his alma mater

• Importance of budgeting & managing credit

• NFL players’ financial stress

• Checking email while on a vacation

• Career goals

His Daughter Jolie:

• Michael’s profound love for his daughter (his Lil’ Doo-Bop)

• Specifics of Jolie’s condition

• Raising a special needs child

• Doctors warned of the severity of mental challenges

• Setting up a will & trust for her

• His ex-wife’s new bride joining “Team Jolie”

Mental Toughness:

• How divorce and raising a special needs child aided his mental toughness

• Whether Michael wants more kids

• What most drives you now?

• Are you excited to get out of bed every morning?

• His favorite quote is from 2006 Rocky Balboa movie

Finances:

• How he invests his money

• Are you a budgeter?

• Living on less than what he earns

• Investing in travel – expanded his horizons

Fun Questions:

• If someone dropped a million dollars in your lap, what would you do with it?

• Do you have a favorite book?

• Do you have a favorite quote?

• If you could go to the moon tomorrow and it would only cost $20K, but you had to be gone for six months, would you go?

• Question for Brad: What are the top three notes in your phone?

• Is there a travel experience that you learned the most from?

• What are you most grateful for?