The GROW GIVE EXPAND Podcast

The GROW GIVE EXPAND Podcast

By Doug MeyersEducation
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The GROW GIVE EXPAND Podcast episodes

  • #020 - Grow Give Expand Podcast 1 Year Anniversary Edition: Bret Macdonald - Round 2 on The Entrepreneurial Journey, Maximizing Opportunities, and Pursuing Greatness

    The Grow Give Expand Podcast celebrates its 1 year anniversary by bringing back the first guest AND still the most played episode of the podcast, Bret Macdonald!


    Before getting into introductions, from the studio directly to you, a sincere thank you for listening to the show. 


    When the podcast started back in March of 2019 with the release of the first interview with Bret, I had no idea what kind of uptake and following the show would capture...

    Now, 12 months later and with 20 long-form interviews completed, I've had the pleasure of sharing with you conversations with exceptional guests including sales superstars, numerous real estate investors, entrepreneurs, former university athletes, clinical counsellors, executive coaches, and more, as well as my own personal monologues and stories from the time spent transitioning from employee to entrepreneur / business owner. A big thank you to all the guests who have taken the time to join me on this show and for openly sharing your stories, experience, and knowledge for all to learn from. 


    It's been an amazing journey and I am grateful for your support, feedback, and continued interested in the show - thank you for listening!


    Now...for introductions..or in this case a re-introduction.


    Bret Macdonald is first and foremost a close friend of mine. A former University level basketball player at the University of British Columbia (OKanagan and Vancouver programs), Bret knows what it's like to chase and achieve athletic excellence. Taking the transferable components of being a high-level athlete on the court, Bret has coached at the NCAA level for Simon Fraser University, and off the court has taken big strides in business on his own entrepreneurial journey.

    Our conversation in this episode is as natural and unplanned as it can be, and really reflects some of the actual kinds of conversation we would have if we were just hanging out (though in this case I get to ask all the questions)! What results is a free-flowing, engaging, and educational chat in which Bret fills us in on the last 12 months of his life with a focus on his involvement in a cannabis start-up business and some of the transitions he's made along the way. 

    In addition to the update, Bret shares his thoughts and perspective for how to handle self-isolation amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic, which has in some way affected us all. As the new normal sets in, Bret highlights:

    - A perspective of gratitude, thankfulness, and appreciation as a habit 

    - Taking advantage of the opportunities available to you RIGHT NOW to learn, develop, and get better

    - Making big decisions, in life and in business, and how to simplify the decision making process


    We conclude with a back-and-forth discussion around improvement based on the life of Kobe Bryant. What would he do if he were here right now - and what can we learn about focus, appreciating the process instead of just the outcomes, and about sacrifice from the life of one of the greatest basketball players to ever live?

    This leads to powerful insights about greatness and super-success. We discuss the pursuit of greatness, and share our closing remarks on why we believe EVERYONE should, at least once in their life, try to pursue greatness in an area of interest to them. The rewards of doing so are immense in terms of character development and better understanding yourself.


    Let's GROW, GIVE, and EXPAND, with this episode's guest: Bret Macdonald


    1 hr 14 min
  • #019 - Graeme Bouvier: Entrepreneurship and Understanding How The Mind Works
    Welcome to another edition of the Grow Give Expand Podcast and in this episode, I am speaking with entrepreneur, business owner, and now business consultant, Graeme Bouvier.
    Graeme is the co-founder of The Bow Group, a trades company specializing in drywall and painting services in the Saskatoon area, and the owner and co-founder of RSLTS Club, a business consulting and personal development company committed to helping entrepreneurs, both operating and aspiring, to grow and scale their businesses. In addition to his businesses, Graeme has tested the methods taught in RSLTS Club to become an in-action real estate investor in the past couple of years.
    In our conversation we discuss the following points related to Graeme’s entrepreneurial journey, his businesses, and the processes of how the mind works:
    - Who is Graeme Bouvier?
    - Setting the foundation for success – from University to Trades to Business
    - The entrepreneurial journey and how Graeme knew he needed to get better as a business owner
    - How entrepreneurship led to personal development and mindset consulting
    - Understanding the importance of asking for help
    - Recognizing pain points to align with those who can offer you and your business help
    - Building systems and processes to manage your life and business
    - Finding a mentor
    - “What you think about is what you become”
    - Testing the mindset training for results in real estate investing
    - Big Goals + Discomfort = GROWTH
    - What it means to “plant the seed and then let nature do its part”
    - Deconstructing setting big goals and why they are a key component of growth
    - What are Graeme’s current big goals?
    - How to lead people who are older and/or more experienced than you by understanding how the mind works
    - The power of visualizing your success and your goals
    - What is RSLTS Club and who is it for?
    - The Grow Give Expand Final 3
    I hope you enjoy this in-depth conversation with one of the most cool, calm, and collected young entrepreneurs I have come to know.
    Let’s grow, give, and expand, with this episode’s guest: Graeme Bouvier
    Connect with Graeme
    Facebook: Graeme Bouvier
    Connect with RSLTS Club
    Facebook: GROW Don’t GRIND – Advanced Scaling Strategies for Biz Owners w/RSLTS Club
    Song for Visualization:
    Ludovico Einaudi - Night
    1 hr 11 min
  • #018 - Alan Cahn: Life, Intentions, Coaching, and Relationships with A Man of Wisdom

    In this episode of The Grow Give Expand Podcast I am joined by evolutionary accelerator and status quo disruptor, Alan Cahn.


    Alan has over 35 years of experience in senior management positions in a global enterprise, being an executive coach, a trainer and a consultant.  He has a demonstrated track record of success coaching leaders to realize breakthrough results, utilizing his unique talent for disruptive/context shifting interactions. Alan brings a commitment to optimizing leadership performance and realizing professional fulfillment to each of his coaching clients. He can be counted on to bring joy to the client and the coaching process!


    Alan holds a Bachelor in Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Social Inquiry.  He  has post-graduate training and expertise in strategic design, business management and practical philosophy. He is also a trained individual and group counsilor. While Alan has deep expertise in business, he is also passionate about serving international non-profits. He gets great joy from helping them realize their missions and elevating the culture of the organization.


    In our conversation, Alan shares his wisdom on a variety of subjects from living an intentional life, to how to be a great coach, to creating fulfilling relationships. Topics include:

    - Who is Alan Cahn?

    - Understanding intention: What is an intention? What is YOUR intention and why must you have one - Alan's preamble for creating your intention

    - Awareness at every moment (are we fulfilling our desired intention, or some other intention, at any given time)

    - What is default mode?

    - The neuroscience behind how we end up establishing default modes

    - "There's a party called life taking place here on Earth. What are you bringing to the party?" A great question for shifting perspective

    - What the result has been in Alan's life of setting an intention

    - How Alan measures his success in regard to living in alignment with his intention

    - How to elegantly disrupt the patterns and identify blind spots (as a coach) in those you are coaching & the 3 things you need to have before coaching someone or offering feedback

    - How to engage in a coaching relationship with others

    - Questions for coaches to ask within the coach / student framework

    - Quantifying your value as a coach or consultant: 3 ways to determine what to ask for in terms of compensation

    - Alan's 6 keys to a fulfilling life

    - Why quiet time to listen inwards is vital for personal & professional growth

    - 10 day silent retreats, meditation, flotation tanks, and ayahuasca

    - How at age 69 Alan stays curious about life and learning at an age when a lot of people start slowing down / winding back the gears

    - Refiring vs. Retiring

    - Are you a consumer or a creator?

    - Relationships: defining what works personally based on the way we are designed / principals for being a good partner

    - How to have a conversation with a partner about choosing to improve the quality of your relationship

    - Developing depth in relationships in a world where people seem to always be looking for the next best thing

    - Understanding the "seasons of life"

    - How to position yourself when working with, or developing relationships with, high value / high performing individuals

    - The Grow Give Expand Final 3


    A truly wide-ranging episode packed with great insights from one of the wisest souls I have had the pleasure of getting to know.


    Let's Grow, Give, and Expand, with this episode's guest: Alan Cahn 


    Connect with Alan:

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-cahn-b6b04911


    1 hr 21 min
  • #017 - Nick Findler: An Introduction to Small-Cap Investing and Lessons in Entrepreneurship
    Welcome to a new decade of the Grow Give Expand Podcast. In this episode I am speaking with a long-time connection, fellow entrepreneur and investor, Nick Findler.
    For the past 5 years, Nick has been situated at the intersection of building businesses, angel investing, raising capital, and helping small cap companies tell their story. He has since started a couple of his own ventures, including candle apparel which is working on bringing heated clothing to the market, beginning with their heated gloves, and Edge Investments, an investment/education company focused on the world of small, high growth, publicly traded stocks – also known as small-cap investing, whose aim is to provide quality information and knowledge for investors seeking to learn more about the world of small-cap investing.
    After introductions, our conversation effectively covers two areas. For the first half we dive in to Nick’s background in the business world and how he got started in business, entrepreneurship, and specifically, the venture capital and small-cap investing space. Nick shares his knowledge on small-cap investing, who it is suitable for, and why people should be looking at these kinds of investments, while providing some education on how people can get started.
    For the second half of our conversation we discuss both business and life, everything from tips for becoming great at networking, advice for new entrepreneurs or business owners looking to raise money to fund their businesses, key things to consider and set up before taking the leap to entrepreneurship, and a number of strategies for improving self-awareness and mindfulness.
    Let’s grow, give, and expand, with this episode’s guest: Nick Findler
    Show Notes:
    00:32 – Intro: Who is Nick Findler?
    06:33 – How Nick got started in business, entrepreneurship, and investing, highlighting the impact of having a few key mentors to learn from in the beginning and for continued growth
    08:59 – Discussion of Edge Investments – a small-cap investing education company – helping bridge the gap for millennials to get into small-cap investing
    11:40 – What is small-cap investing, who is it suitable for, and why should people be looking at these kinds of investments?
    13:58 – Nick’s suggested distribution for investors wanting to get started in small-cap investing
    15:24 – Suggestions for how to identify opportunity and establish trends for potential future success of a small-cap investment
    16:40 – Some small-cap industries currently warranting a deeper look
    18:50 – A quick primer on contrarian investing
    20:50 – Strategies and insights for when, and how, to exit (sell) an investment
    24:58 – What a typical day looks like for people in the venture capital world
    28:30 – What Nick’s typical day looks like: reviewing the day’s activities the night before, studying successful people, and structuring time to develop his businesses
    31:00 – Two key themes for being a great networker & building relationship
    32:58 – Advice for new entrepreneurs or business owners looking to raise money to fund their business
    38:15 – What betting on himself did for Nick’s mentality, self-awareness, business habits, and lifestyle
    41:25 – The key things that allowed Nick to take the leap from having a job to going after his entrepreneurial ventures
    46:00 – Strategies for reframing your perspective around business losses and failures
    46:45 – Systematizing time for mind resets and self-awareness / mindfulness practices
    50:30 – Discussion around practices for improving self-awareness and using trusted sources to help identify personal blind spots
    54:52 – The Grow Give Expand Final 3 Questions
    59:23 – The “one-degree shift” approach to goal setting for moving in the general direction of where you want to go
    Links to resources and topics touched on during the show:
    - Eric Termuende – One Degree Shift (Podcast)
    - How 1% Improvement Led to Olympic Golds for the British Cycling Program
    1 hr 6 min
  • #016 - Zeb & Colleen Tsikira, The Tsikiras: Real Estate Investor Mini-Series - EPISODE 006
    Welcome to another edition of The Real Estate Investor Mini-Series on The Grow Give Expand Podcast. In this episode I am speaking with Zeb and Colleen Tsikira, otherwise known as The Tsikiras!
    The Tsikiras decided back in 2014 to grab the bull by the horns, move to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, and create the lifestyle of their choosing by making a living through real estate investing. Since that time they have effectively built a real estate investment portfolio that includes investments in Yellowknife and Edmonton, as well as in the United States in Arizona and Ohio. They are now property millionaires and entrepreneurs that stick by the method of investing where returns are best, and have begun to help others through education and empowerment to become financially free as well.
    In our conversation, The Tsikiras share their story and experiences which include:
    - How they got started in real estate investing
    - What drew them to move to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories to pursue careers and the start of their real estate investment portfolio
    - How they were able to retire themselves from traditional jobs in only one-and-a-half years
    - Explaining their “why”, and reiterating the importance of having a strong why for getting into real estate investing
    - Discussion around the real estate market and local economy in Yellowknife, NWT
    - How to create a real estate investment focused team of service providers in places where resources are limited
    - How they broke through the barriers in their investing careers by joining a real estate investing community and getting connected with like-minded people
    - How to enter into new real estate investment markets while minimizing risks, building relationships, and completing due diligence
    - What The Tsikiras do to go the extra mile in terms of due diligence before making an investment
    - What generating success in real estate has meant and led to in terms of the quality of their lifestyle
    - What they do to foster and fortify a quality mindset
    - 3 things they recommend every aspiring investor do to get started in real estate
    - And a number of amazing tips, strategies, skills, and perspectives for running and growing a real estate investing business
    You are going to learn an incredible amount from The Tsikiras – these two are the real deal! Full of passion, energy, and excitement, it was a pleasure having them on the show.
    Get your pen and paper out for some extensive note taking as these experienced real estate investors share their story, wisdom, and experiences for all to improve.
    Let’s grow, give, and expand, with this episode’s guests: Zeb and Colleen Tsikira
    Want to connect with The Tsikiras? Find them online and on social media!
    Website: www.thetsikiras.com
    Learn how to invest with The Tsikiras: www.16weekinvestor.com
    Instagram: @thetsikiras www.instagram.com/thetsikiras
    Facebook: The Tsikiras www.facebook.com/thetsikiras
    YouTube: The Tsikiras www.youtube.com/c/TheTsikiras
    Suggested resources mentioned on the show:
    - Income Property – TV show on HGTV
    - The Cash-Flow Game – Board game for improving financial intelligence
    - Keyspire – Real Estate Investment Community
    1 hr 1 min
  • #015 - Nadiya Manji: TedX Speaker, Author, and Alignment Consultant on Energy & Connection
    Welcome friends, followers, and first-time listeners alike, this is The Grow Give Expand Podcast and on this edition I am joined by the lovely Nadiya Manji.
    Nadiya has an incredible background, from growing up in Pakistan with her entrepreneurial parents, to living and working in Kenya, to now residing and operating her business and consultancy in Calgary, Alberta.
    Nadiya is a TEDx speaker, author, and alignment consultant. She is also certified in NLP, a Certified Hypnotherapist, and a Corporate Quantum Change Process Practitioner. Her extensive background in physiology and biochemistry makes her a leading authority in human communication, influence, and persuasion at the quantum level. For over a decade, Nadiya studied extensively with leading practitioners in three continents to decode quantum energy and how it effects alignment. Nadiya is a sought-out expert in energy, intuition and communication, bringing together the four areas of mind, soul, thoughts, and feelings, and their imminent effects on performance.
    She has spoken on many stages including for TEDx in Calgary where her talk, Aligned Living, discusses the idea of work-life balance and explores her belief of prioritizing alignment over balance.
    Out of her TEDx experience she discovered that she wanted to share her story in greater detail by authoring a book. Searching For Balance, What A Near-Death Experience Taught Me About The Secret Formula For Life And Business, is currently available on Amazon (link at the bottom) with an updated second edition due to be released in 2020.
    Our conversation touches many corners, but as a theme centers around energy and connection. Topics we discuss include:
    - What is energy and what are the 4 categories of energy?
    - The importance of asking why in the context of “why does something matter in our life?”
    - Making sense of the esoteric world for logically minded people
    - Nadiya’s consistent theme of “fitting-in” and how this has helped her stand out
    - The most common things that high-performing business executives and entrepreneurs are struggling with and what needs to be done to correct these struggles
    - The “pair of socks” analogy for personal and professional life
    - The importance of environment as a defining factor in creating success
    - Discussion on work-life balance and why Nadiya believes you need to prioritize your commitments, sacrifices, and compromises (this is shared further in her TEDx talk, link at the bottom)
    - The difference between ignorance versus being aware of negative energy, and making the choice for how to deal with it
    - The critical need for choosing to positively manage, handle, and respond to stress and anxiety
    - The importance of intentionality in everything you do and why self-awareness is the key to growth
    We also spend time learning about the coaching relationship with Nadiya, in which she pulls back the curtain on what the initial consultation looks like by identifying which areas in a person’s life are most important to them and assessing self-awareness. Let’s grow, give, and expand, with this episode’s guest: Nadiya Manji
    Links to items mentioned in the show:
    Searching For Balance: What A Near-Death Experience Taught Me About The Secret Formula For Success In Life And Business:
    https://www.amazon.com/Searching-Balance-near-death-experience-business-ebook/dp/B07QMZTBY8
    Nadiya’s TEDx Talk – Aligned Living: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT5vYSYe6Ik
    Follow Nadiya on Facebook @rewireyourlifebynadiyamanji
    www.nadiyamanji.com
    1 hr 18 min
  • #014 - Kelly Caldwell, Elevated Wealth Creations: Real Estate Investor Mini-Series - EPISODE 005
    Welcome to another edition of the real estate investor mini-series here on The Grow Give Expand Podcast. In this episode I am speaking with the founder, creator, and co-owner of Elevated Wealth Creations, Kelly Caldwell. Kelly is a real estate investor, a mom, a wife, and a writer, who aspires to inspire others to gain the courage to follow their dreams, even when the going gets tough, through the telling of her story of overcoming some incredible personal obstacles.
    Kelly began her journey investing in real estate as a part-time “side hustle” in 2012 and by 2019 had acquired enough real estate to “retire” from her 9-5 and turn her real estate passion into her full-time career. She is a big believer that you have to work harder on yourself than you do on your business and is a huge advocate of personal development.
    Over the last 4 years, Kelly has personally done over 20 real estate transactions and collectively between her and her business partner now owns over 35 doors.
    As a real estate investor her primary focus is currently on conversions of single family dwellings into legal duplexes using the BRRRR method (Buy, Reno, Rent, Refinance, Repeat). Her aim is to acquire suitable properties to maximize returns for her investors.
    In our conversation, Kelly and I dive into the details of her story in which she overcame the drastic changes that took place in her family life throughout her teenage years and into early adulthood. Using this as ground zero for the motivation and inspiration to never have to experience such hardships again, Kelly describes, as other guests on the podcast have similarly stated, the importance of having a strong why for getting into real estate investing. From there we get into details, strategies, and tactics of her real estate investing activities, in which you’ll learn:
    · The ins-and-outs of the BRRRR method (Buy, Reno, Rent, Refinance, Repeat)
    · How to mitigate the risks of the BRRRR method
    · How to find off-market properties for below market value
    · What Kelly asks for from her capital partner investors
    · The lifestyle results of establishing a sustainable, cash-flowing real estate investment portfolio using the BRRRR method
    · The importance of not just getting educated, but actually USING the education received to achieve results
    · Why the best teacher is experience and how to learn from mistakes and failures
    · …And much more!
    It was a pleasure speaking with and learning from Kelly in this conversation. I am certain you will not only pick up a number of real estate investing gems through her knowledge and insights, but will also be incredibly inspired by the details and outcomes of her powerful, personal story.
    Let’s GROW, GIVE, and EXPAND, with this episode’s guest: Kelly Caldwell.
    If you want to connect with Kelly and find out more about her investing activities you can do so by visiting www.elevatedwealthcreations.com, or by following her company on Facebook and Instagram @elevatedwealthcreations.
    www.elevatedwealthcreations.com
    Instagram @elevatedwealthcreations
    Facebook @elevatedwealthcreations
    55 min
  • #013 - The Investor Couple Mel & Dave Dupuis: Real Estate Investor Mini-Series - EPISODE 004
    The Investor Couple Mel & Dave Dupuis join The Grow Give Expand Podcast for this edition of the ongoing real estate investor mini-series!
    Mel & Dave are proof that as long as you don't let anything stop you, success can be yours. On their way to a real estate investing conference they experienced one of life’s crucible moments as a car accident nearly ended their life. Despite the shock, they continued on to the conference as scheduled and have since taken their portfolio and business to new heights. Now with over 100 rental units to their name and 17+ years of experience in real estate investing, property ownership and management, this self-made couple understands the ins and outs of building a business, and wealth, through real estate.
    In our conversation, Mel & Dave dive into the details of their story and how they came to be known as The Investor Couple. From their early start as individual investors, to their most recent small business of the year award in North Bay, ON, you’ll learn:
    · How Mel & Dave got started investing in real estate
    · How they built their portfolio to over 100 rental units and counting
    · What real estate investing strategies they use to grow their portfolio
    · Where they invest in real estate
    · Why they invest in real estate and what the result of their success has allowed them to do from a lifestyle standpoint
    · The importance of working with coaches and mentors who have walked the path you want to walk
    · The importance of being involved in communities of like-minded peer groups that help you rise and grow
    · How to turn your real estate investing activities into an active business
    In addition to these topics, we discuss the details of their coaching and mentorship programs, as well as their best-selling book, Real Estate Investing Secrets: A No B.S. Guide to Creating Wealth & Freedom.
    Mel & Dave were an absolute pleasure to speak with. They bring a fun and relaxing energy to the show as they share their stories, wisdom, and experience.
    Let’s GROW, GIVE, and EXPAND, with this episode’s guests: The Investor Couple Mel & Dave Dupuis!
    Want to connect with Mel & Dave, or find out more about their coaching and mentorship programs?
    Find Mel & Dave online at:
    https://investorcouplemelanddave.com/
    Instagram @investormeldave
    Facebook @investormeldave
    If you are interested in ordering Mel & Dave’s book, Real Estate Investing Secrets: A No B.S. Guide To Creating Wealth & Freedom, you can purchase it on Amazon by following the link below:
    https://www.amazon.ca/Real-Estate-Investing-Secrets-Creating/dp/1999546407
    1 hr 5 min
  • #012 - Mike Sheret: Real Estate Investor Mini-Series - EPISODE 003
    Mike Sheret is an entrepreneur and real estate Investor from Calgary, AB. As a native of the area, Mike provides his industry aptitude to the communities in Alberta where he serves and invests, and through the course of over a decade, his resourcefulness, expertise, and unwavering drive have earned him a reputation as a sought-after resource in the real estate investing space. After purchasing his first property at the age of 17 and selling it for a substantial profit just two years later, Mike decided to turn his love of flipping properties into his lifelong vocation. Since the outset of his career, he has garnered a number of single-family and multiplex homes in the creation of a multi-million dollar portfolio.
    Currently, Mike serves as the Founder of multiple companies, including the real estate firm Point Properties Inc. and the private lending firm Best Capital Corp., where he and his partner have funded numerous projects and mortgages. He is also a proud part of REIN (Real Estate Investment Network), a prominent real estate investing community comprised of 3000+ members who have collectively transacted 37,000+ properties.
    Outside of flipping, lending, and renovating, Mike enjoys spending quality time with his loved ones. He is also an avid outdoorsman and adventurer who has traveled to over 25 different countries and counting.
    In our conversation, we first discuss the process of how Mike built his real estate investment portfolio, before turning our attention to another form of real estate investing: private lending. We dive into what private lending is, how it works, what to look for, and who may be interested in this type of investing. This leads us into finding out a little bit more about Best Capital Bond, Mike’s private lending firm, which provides private lending options for both investors and borrowers. And yes, a phone rings near the end of this episode, it wasn’t your phone!
    If you want to get in touch with Mike Sheret and the Best Capital Bond, you can check them out here:
    @bestcapitalbond
    www.bestcapitalbond.com
    Thank you for listening.
    Keep GROWING, GIVING, and EXPANDING.
    1 hr 2 min

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