Take The Power Back

Take The Power Back - Episode #11

Too many young professionals are being sold a version of success that keeps them comfortable. What they don’t realize is that their idea of safety is doing the exact opposite.

In this episode of Take The Power Back, I sat down with entrepreneur George Zeppos to break down what it actually takes to build unstoppable leadership. From washing dishes on opening night, to building and scaling multiple businesses, this conversation exposes the truth.

Chapters:

0:00:00 - No Limitations

0:00:33 - TTPB

0:01:40 - Who Is George Zeppos?

0:02:46 - The Dodo Bird Technique

0:05:00 - Betting On Yourself

0:07:30 - The Real Grind

0:11:00 - Ownership Mindset

0:16:15 - Systems Win

0:20:15 - Fail Forward

0:23:15 - Finding The Right Room

0:26:00 - Outworking Everyone

0:29:45 - Turning Last Place Around

0:34:30 - Mastering The Details

0:37:45 - Breaking Through Walls

0:41:00 - Building Leaders

0:44:30 - Talent vs Business

0:48:45 - Creating Real Wealth

0:52:00 - Scaling Beyond One Location

0:56:00 - Uncapped Potential

1:01:00 - Choosing Freedom

1:04:30 - Final Thoughts

1:07:34 - Like & Subscribe

Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/

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Get connected and check out Jason’s other content:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jmickool/

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#takethepowerback #FFA #scaling #security #millionaire #restaurantowners

Take The Power Back - Episode #10

Most people don’t fail because they aren’t talented, they fail because they adopt a victim mentality.

In this episode I sit down with Steve Schmitt, a successful financial advisor and entrepreneur, to break down why most young professionals fail. We explore the complications of earning six figures early in life, what it takes to be a successful financial leader, and why "victim mentality" is killing Gen Z's careers.

Steve Schmitt- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-s-40515294/

Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/

Chapters:

0:00:00 – Six Figures In Your Twenties

0:00:57 – Who Is Steve Schmitt?

0:08:40 – Entering Financial Services

0:13:39 – Why Most People Fail

0:18:48 – Overcoming Rejection

0:25:51 – Work Hours And Expectations

0:31:46 – Creating And Scaling A Firm

0:53:14 – Advice to Gen Z

1:08:24 – Like and Subscribe!

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Take The Power Back - Episode #9

Most people think career success comes down to how much effort you put in, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. In the end, corporate America will never reward your hard work.

In this episode of Take The Power Back, I sat down with Mike Vietri, Chief Distribution Officer at Amerilife, to break down what it actually takes to succeed as a leader inside large organizations, and why so many high performers somehow end up fumbling their careers.

Mike Vietri - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-vietri-39176b4a/ 

Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/ 

Chapters:

00:00 - The Systems

00:40 - Who Is Mike Vietri?

03:45 - Building Scale 

07:00 - Corporate Athlete 

10:15 - Communication 

12:54 - Discipline & Systems 

17:04 - Empathy In Leadership 

22:26 - Early Career 

26:40 - Choosing Leadership 

34:00 - Leadership Mistakes 

37:10 - Image & Culture 

40:41 - Take The Power Back

41:25 - Professional Boundaries 

46:59 - Recognition 

52:09 - The Business Model 

55:30 - Founder Mindset 

58:30 - Scaling Through People 

01:01:58 - Staying Focused 

01:04:44 - Leadership Discipline 

01:10:30 - Opportunity Today 

01:13:30 - Final Thoughts 

01:17:08 - Outro

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Get connected and check out Jason’s other content:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jmickool/ 

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jmickool 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jason.mickool 

LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/JasonMickool 

Take The Power Back - Episode #8

Most beginners chase comfort, but experienced, high performers chase growth.

In this episode of Take The Power Back, I sat down with Victoria Raps, Senior Director of Operations at Florida Financial Advisors. We broke down what real career growth actually looks like, and why the “safe path” so many Gen Z professionals are sold is quietly holding them back.

Victoria Raps: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-pena-raps/ 

Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/ 

Chapters:

0:00 - Leadership Tactics

0:47 - Take The Power Back

1:20 - Meet Victoria Ralph 

2:09 - From Intern To Operations Lead 

3:09 - Scaling A Fast-Growth Firm 

4:29 - A Day In Operations 

5:23 - Leadership Styles 

7:10 - Motivation & Growth Systems 

8:40 - Using Norms At Work 

10:55 - Emotional Intelligence 

12:57 - Early Life 

14:02 - College And Internships 

15:01 - First Roles At FFA 

16:49 - Becoming An Executive 

19:55 - Expectations VS Reality 

21:00 - Coaching & Accountability 

22:31 - Almost Quitting 

24:05 - Startup Reality Check 

27:02 - Conflict & Team Tension 

31:06 - Resistance To Change 

33:40 - Scaling The Team 

39:00 - What’s Next 

43:30 - Advice For Young Pros 

45:01 - Pride In the Systems 

47:20 - Earning Titles & Pay 

49:00 - Career Momentum 

50:40 - Becoming More Valuable 

51:30 - Trusting the Process 

52:20 - Final Reflections 

54:09 - Thanks For Watching!

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Get connected and check out Jason’s other content:

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LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/JasonMickool

Take The Power Back - Episode #8

Most people don’t fail because they aren’t talented, they fail because their expectations are wrong.

In this episode I sit down with wealth advisor and entrepreneur Chandler Durham to break down what actually separates the people who succeed from those who quit early.

From building a career in financial services, to turning a practice into a business, this conversation is a masterclass for Gen Z and young professionals who want more than a “safe” career.

Chandler Dutram: https://www.instagram.com/chandler_dutram

Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro

0:53 - Who Is Chandler Dutram?

3:15 - Growing Up In Florida

7:08 - Choosing One's Own Path

9:29 - First Job Search

11:51 - Imposter Syndrome & Early Confidence

14:09 - Horatio Office Culture

17:19 - STEM Meetings

19:36 - Entrepreneurial Wants

21:25 - Handling Rejection

25:45 - Why Some People Don't Make It

26:28 - Pre-COVID vs Post-COVID

27:46 - Take the Power Back

28:23 - Moving Into Leadership

30:17 - Managing People

32:11 - Going Independent

34:08 - Building His Own Brand

35:43 - Working Remotely From New York

40:04 - Why Talented People Fail

42:38 - “Success Is A Bowl Of Spaghetti”

45:28 - Comfort vs Long-Term Reward

47:40 - Financial Advisory Business

50:15 - Choosing The Path Forward

53:01 - Building Lifelong Friendships

54:12 - Final Advice For Gen Z

56:40 - Outro

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Get connected and check out Jason’s other content:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jmickool/

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LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/JasonMickool 

Take The Power Back - Episode #6

In this episode of Take The Power Back, I sat down with former Green Beret and entrepreneur Patrick Laughlin to break down what elite performance really looks like in the military, in business, and in life.

Patrick shares what it actually takes to survive Special Forces selection, why most people fail long before they hit their physical limits, and how those same principles apply directly to entrepreneurship.

Patrick Laughlin: https://www.instagram.com/conquer_custom/

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro

1:13 - Who is Patrick Laughlin?

3:08 - Gen Z and Technology

4:32 - Custom Car Shop

6:36 - Preparing to Leave the Military

8:27 - Special Forces Mindset

10:51 - Early Life and Military School

12:56 - Impact of 9/11

16:09 - Green Beret Training

19:25 - The 3% Mentality

22:11 - Grit Beats Talent

27:34 - Leadership and Expertise

28:22 - Becoming an Expert

33:18 - Side Hustles While Serving

46:53 - Rejecting Corporate Life

49:11 - Owning the Hard Parts

53:30 - Passion Over Paychecks

58:10 - Freedom and Responsibility

59:30 - Risk and Consequences

1:01:07 - Advice for Gen Z

1:06:27 - Outro

Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/

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Get connected and check out Jason’s other content:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jmickool/

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LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/JasonMickool 

Take The Power Back - Episode #5

In today’s episode of Take The Power Back, Jason sits down with Rena, the founder of Event Lab and the creative force behind some of Tampa’s biggest, most iconic events.

Her story is raw, real, and exactly what entrepreneurs need to hear. She dropped out of college, became the “worst bartender ever,” beat cancer, walked away from a cushy job, and built a high-end event company from absolutely nothing.

Rena Wiser: https://www.instagram.com/the1queenreen/

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

00:58 - Who Is Rena?

03:54 - Discovering The Love For Events

04:22 - Starting Event Lab

06:13 - Leaving Stability

08:50 - First Client

12:35 - Staying Organized

14:45 - Pulling It Off

16:17 - Managing The Process

17:17 - Building From Vision Boards

19:44 - Building Relationships

20:53 - Take The Power Back

21:38 - Building Out Their Vision

25:15 - Busy Season

28:00 - Advice For Those Starting Out

30:48 - Looking Backwards

31:56 - Where Do You Start?

34:50 - Where Did You Get Your Confidence

36:42 - What's Next?

39:30 - Outro

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Get connected and check out Jason’s other content:

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LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/JasonMickool 

Take The Power Back - Episode #4

Gen Z isn’t struggling to find jobs. They’re being restricted by outdated college career systems that hide entrepreneurial and business opportunities. In this conversation, Jason Mickool and Gino Lavorgna break down how universities filter out the highest-growth paths, force students into “approved” careers, and leave ambitious young people feeling stuck. If you’re hungry, coachable, and ready to build something real, this episode exposes why the system failed you.

Gino Lavorgna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginolavorgna

Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/

Chapters:

0:00 - Teaser

0:34 - Take The Power Back

0:46 - Who is Gino Lavorgana

1:53 - Connecticut to Corporate Life

4:03 - Leaving Corporate for Sales

7:17 - Joining a Startup

9:03 - Startup Challenges

11:29 - Building the Business

15:52 - Developing Leadership

22:02 - Identifying Talent

27:53 - Advice for Gen Z

28:34 - Systems and Time Management

31:54 - What Do You Get From Coaching?

36:37 - Problem-Solving and Leverage Points

38:24 - "Inspect What You Expect"

41:08 - Structure and Skill Demonstration

42:09 - Gino’s Path to Becoming an Advisor

44:03 - Financial Goals

45:25 - What's Next After Fatherhood?

47:20 - University Gatekeeping

48:19 - Fighting for Access

53:08 - Why Do Broken Career Services Hurt Students?

56:09 - Outro

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Get connected and check out Jason’s other content:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jmickool/

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LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/JasonMickool 

Take The Power Back - Episode #3 

At what point do you realize you've gone from having a job to a business? I sat down with Bradley Graham to discuss how he started out, climbed the ranks, and successfully scaled his business to be what it is today.

Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-graham-730a2a78/ 

Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/ 

Chapters:

0:00 - Teaser

0:24 - Take The Power Back

0:34 - Who Is Bradley Graham?

2:28 - What Does Engineering Attention Mean?

4:20 - How Do New Eyes Reach You?

5:35 - How Was Your Childhood?

10:48 - How Did You Scale Your Cleaning Business?

16:24 - How Did Evy Media Start?

18:50 - I've Got A Client, Now What Do I Do?

21:56 - What Takeaways Do You Have From Prior Experience?

23:24 - How Did You Manage Family Life In The Beginning?

24:17 - How Did You Organize Your Business In The Beginning?

22:18 - Why Did You Go Into Leadership?

25:09 - Take The Power Back

26:01 - What Does The Business Growth Process Look Like?

32:08 - How Do You Shift From A Job To A Business?

35:13 - What Is Your Approach Towards Leadership?

39:40 - What Is The Next Chapter For Evy Media?

43:46 - How Does Evy Media Reach The Next Level?

46:03 - What Advice Do You Have For The Next Generation?

48:37 - What Does Evy Media's Startup Culture Look Like?

53:00 - Like and Subscribe

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Get connected and check out Jason’s other content:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jmickool/ 

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Take The Power Back - Episode #2

Watch as I sit down with Justin Barbato to uncover what’s really holding people back from thriving in the financial service world.

We get brutally honest about why most people stay average, and how to fix it. We also break down what it means to be a real professional in this industry, by being someone who builds trust, and doesn’t rely on outdated sales tactics.

Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinbarbato

Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/

Chapters:

0:00 - Teaser

0:30 - Take The Power Back

0:40 - Who Is Justin Barbato?

7:43 - What Have Sports Taught You About Success?

8:44 - What Does Preparation Look Like Today?

9:53 - What Have You Learned About Time Management?

11:31 - How Do You Implement Time Management When Leading People?

14:12 - How Do You Inspire People To Be The Best Version Of Themselves?

16:15 - What Does This Mantra Mean To You?

19:05 - What Was The Quote You Gave Me?

20:12 - How Do You Get Rid Of Good Habits

21:01 - What Advice Do You Have For Those Who Aren't Getting Results?

22:18 - Why Did You Go Into Leadership?

25:23 - What Was Your Turning Point?

26:49 - What Advice Do You Have About Career Choices And Moving Forward?

27:41 - Take The Power Back

29:18 - Who Do You Take Advice From?

31:14 - How Do You Manage People Who Are Bad Influences?

34:00 - How Do You Interpret Feedback?

36:07 - What's Next?

38:23 - What Did He See In You?

40:02 - What Do You Think You'll Make This Year?

44:56 - Why Does It Change Over Time?

46:26 - What Does Mom And Dad Think?

47:54 - What Is Important In Making Right Decisions?

52:25 - Like and Subscribe

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Get connected and check out Jason’s other content:

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LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/JasonMickool