The Lifestyle Investor - Investing, Passive Income, Wealth

In this episode, I’m speaking with Khalil Rafati. Khalil is a high school dropout, convicted felon, and former heroin and crack addict who wound up homeless by the age of 33.

With nowhere to go but up, he decided it was time to get sober — and that’s exactly what he did!

Fast forward to today, Khalil is a bestselling author, speaker, and health and wellness entrepreneur. He is the founder and owner of SunLife Organics, a rapidly growing chain of health food cafés with locations in California, Texas, and Arizona.

In our conversation, you’ll hear Khalil’s unbelievable journey from a homeless junkie, to learning to invest and becoming a millionaire! We talk about overcoming the poverty mindset, the power of surrender, and why billionaire John Paul Dejoria decided to invest $1 million into his business. That and a whole lot more!

Want the Full Show Notes?

To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit JustinDonald.com/37

Free Gifts from Khalil Rafati!

• First juice purchase at Austin Sunlife Organics is on the house! 
• Get a FREE copy of his book, I Forgot to Die, when visiting the Austin location. Limited to the first 25 listeners. 

Listen to the episode to find out how you can take advantage of this deal! 

Get the Lifestyle Investor Book!

To get access to The Lifestyle Investor: The 10 Commandments of Cashflow Investing for Passive Income and Financial Freedom visit JustinDonald.com/book

Rate & Review

If you enjoyed today’s episode of The Lifestyle Investor, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device.

You can also help by providing an honest rating & review. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!

Connect with Justin Donald

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s a common misconception that entrepreneurship has to come at a cost; that in order to make a company valuable, a trade-off must occur. If your business goes up, your personal life must come down — and there’s no other way!  

Well, today’s guest, Mac Lackey, would humbly disagree. 

As an entrepreneur for over 24 years, Mac has started, built and sold six companies — all of which have achieved 7 or 8 figure exits.

What’s more impressive, is that he didn’t do it at the cost of spending less time on his family, his health, or living an exceptional life. As a devoted husband and proud father of two amazing girls, he found a way to do it all. He’s traveled the world, lived abroad, met his idols, had 50 yard line season tickets to his favorite team (FC Barcelona), and never missed a “Donuts with Dad” or a chance to carve a pumpkin with his kids.

Not only has Mac avoided the entrepreneurial grind that we’re taught is inevitable, but he’s developed a repeatable process to start, scale, and sell companies successfully — and is now showing others how they can do the same.

If you want to learn how to maximize the value of your business, build a solid exit strategy, and sell at a premium (without costly trade-offs), you won’t want to miss my conversation with Mac Lackey!

Want the Full Show Notes?

To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit JustinDonald.com/36

Free Gift from Mac Lackey!

Get Mac's FREE report --> The 5 Key Factors a Founder Should Use to Consider IF and WHEN they Sell

Also get a free assessment tool to help you determine your company’s exit readiness!

Visit JustinDonald.com/36 to claim your gift!

Get the Lifestyle Investor Book!

To get access to The Lifestyle Investor: The 10 Commandments of Cashflow Investing for Passive Income and Financial Freedom visit JustinDonald.com/book

Rate & Review

If you enjoyed today’s episode of The Lifestyle Investor, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device.

You can also help by providing an honest rating & review. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!

Connect with Justin Donald

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Money can’t buy you happiness. It may be cliché, but it’s true. 

I’ve met lots of people whose bank accounts are full, yet their lives are completely empty. And no matter what they acquire, it’s never enough and never satisfies. 

Don’t get me wrong… I’m not saying that money is bad or that it can’t help you build a life on your terms. BUT, if you’re struggling to find joy in your life, no amount of money, status, or material possessions will fill that void. 

That’s because true happiness, success, and freedom aren’t external, they come from within.

To help us better understand this idea, I am speaking with Personal Freedom Coach, Preston Smiles. Preston has helped thousands of people around the world to understand & embrace their fears, so they can live the life of their dreams.

He is the founder of The Bridge Experience — a workshop where he and his wife, Alexi take a holistic and innovative approach to personal development. 

He’s also the founder of Extreme Leadership, where he works in service of his mission to empower, inspire, and amplify multi-generational movements of radical love.

In today’s conversation, Preston and I talk about his incredibly synchronistic experiences, how intuition can shape your reality (if you’re willing to listen), and the secret to creating a limitless life of joy & freedom.

Want the Full Show Notes?

To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit JustinDonald.com/35

Free Gift from Preston Smiles!

Get FREE access to Preston's Signature Training and Guide - Create Your Life By Design, Not by Default.

Visit JustinDonald.com/35 to claim your gift!

Get the Lifestyle Investor Book!

To get access to The Lifestyle Investor: The 10 Commandments of Cashflow Investing for Passive Income and Financial Freedom visit JustinDonald.com/book

Rate & Review

If you enjoyed today’s episode of The Lifestyle Investor, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device.

You can also help by providing an honest rating & review. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!

Connect with Justin Donald

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When I started a family, I made a very intentional decision that I wasn’t going to trade time for money. I knew I wanted to show up at every game, recital, and important activity for my daughter, so I decided I was going to build a life that would give me and my family lifestyle freedom — and that’s exactly what I did!

But, just because I created that freedom, it didn’t mean that I was automatically an amazing husband and father. 

In fact, for someone who’s always been a high achieving, hard working, competitive natured person, working on my business oftentimes felt more natural than working on my family.

As entrepreneurs and investors, we’re so used to planning, setting, and achieving big goals for our businesses. We track progress, hit targets, hold meetings, and more... 

But why aren’t we taught to put that same level of energy into planning for our families — and shouldn't that be a top priority?

With Father’s Day just around the corner, I wanted to talk more about the importance of relationships, family, and showing up for the people who matter the most. Afterall, what’s the point of creating freedom if you have nobody to spend that freedom with? 

There’s no one more suited for this special episode than my longtime friend, Jon Vroman. Jon is a husband, father and the Founder of Front Row Dads — a brotherhood created for “family men with businesses, not businessmen with families.” 

Jon originally started this group, not because he felt like he was crushing it as a Dad and a husband, but because he felt like he was getting crushed — and this group of likeminded men, rooted in trust and transparency, became the answer.  

In today’s conversation, Jon and I talk about the revelation he had in his thirties that helped him realign his priorities and truly put family first. You’ll learn all about the powerful work Front Row Dads is doing, and how to build a business around your life–not a life that revolves around your business. 

So, If you align with the idea of being a family man with a business, and not a businessman with a family, you definitely won’t want to miss this episode!

Want the Full Show Notes?

To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit JustinDonald.com/34

Free Gift from Jon Vroman!

Get a FREE digital version of Jon Vroman's book, The Front Row Factor: Transform Your Life with The Art of Moment Making

Visit JustinDonald.com/34 to claim your gift!

Get the Lifestyle Investor Book!

To get access to The Lifestyle Investor: The 10 Commandments of Cashflow Investing for Passive Income and Financial Freedom visit JustinDonald.com/book

Rate & Review

If you enjoyed today’s episode of The Lifestyle Investor, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device.

You can also help by providing an honest rating & review. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!

Connect with Justin Donald

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When I quit my job years ago, a lot of people thought I was crazy for doing it.

But why? Was it because I had checked off all the "right" boxes; or because I was making good money and could make even more if I had stayed?

From the moment we’re born, we’re told how to look, how to feel, and who to be. We’re taught to do things a certain way and to follow a certain path. But if we’re not careful, it can prevent us from living in alignment with our true values.

For me, the goal was NOT to make more money, the goal was to buy my time back...

So, quitting my job was the right decision. And of course, the money followed, but if I had listened to what everyone else had told me to do, I would never have achieved the lifestyle freedom that I have today. This is an important lesson that leads to today’s discussion with my friend Cal Callahan.

Cal is the owner of Unlearn Ventures, which is an investment fund and incubator for forward-thinking projects. He’s also the host of The Great Unlearn — a podcast that empowers people to question everything they think they know about life.

Whether it’s spirituality, health, relationships, or fitness, Cal’s superpower is to help others unpack and unlearn preconceived ideas and beliefs, so they can build a better, truer version of themselves.

So, instead of discussing a specific asset class or investing strategies, today's episode is all about questioning our beliefs. Cal will challenge you to think differently, open your mind, find joy, and approach life with insatiable curiosity — a valuable asset for anyone who wants to live life on their terms, not someone else's!

Want the Full Show Notes?

To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit JustinDonald.com/33

Free Gifts

• Digital Report--> Unlearned: 5 Suggestions to Cut the BS, Unlock Your Best Self, and Find Your True Path.
• 50% discount on Botanic Tonics plant based Feel Free Wellness Tonic

To claim your offer, visit JustinDonald.com/33 for all the details.

Get the Lifestyle Investor Book!

To get access to The Lifestyle Investor: The 10 Commandments of Cashflow Investing for Passive Income and Financial Freedom visit JustinDonald.com/book

Rate & Review

If you enjoyed today’s episode of The Lifestyle Investor, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device.

You can also help by providing an honest rating & review. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!

Connect with Justin Donald

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, I’m talking to Robert Glazer. Robert is the founder and CEO of Acceleration Partners — a $20 million business that has won over 30 awards for its company culture. The company employs over 200 people worldwide, and despite being fully remote, is recognized as a best place to work by Inc, Fortune, Forbes, Entrepreneur, the Boston Globe and Glassdoor.  

He’s also ranked as the #2 small-business CEO in America by Glassdoor, hosts his own podcast, is a bestselling author, and his Friday Forward newsletter reaches over 200,000 readers each week.

On top of all that, he’s just released a new book, How to Thrive in the Virtual Workplace — a leadership book for any entrepreneur who wants to build a world-class virtual company. 

In this episode, you’ll learn what it takes to build and scale a fully-remote team, the major mistakes to avoid, and why doubling down on core values is key to long-term business success.

Want the Full Show Notes?

To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit JustinDonald.com/32

Get the Lifestyle Investor Book!

To get access to The Lifestyle Investor: The 10 Commandments of Cashflow Investing for Passive Income and Financial Freedom visit JustinDonald.com/book

Rate & Review

If you enjoyed today’s episode of The Lifestyle Investor, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device.

You can also help by providing an honest rating & review. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!

Connect with Justin Donald

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, I’m speaking with my friend Craig Kessler. Craig is the COO of a multimillion dollar company, Topgolf, which is one of the fastest growing sports and entertainment companies in the world with over 60 venues across the US and nearly 20,000 associates. 

Before he joined Topgolf, Craig cultivated extensive experience in the world of private equity, which helped him prepare to serve as one of the youngest C-suite executives in the country.

Craig’s also just released The Dad Advice Project — a book of real-life stories and advice written by more than forty dads from all walks of life. It’s a powerful behind the scenes look at raising a family and being a great father.

Today, Craig and I dive into a bunch of topics, including the risk/return of private equity investing, the power of culture, mentorship, work/life integration, The Dad Advice Project, and how to think about building your legacy!

Want the Full Show Notes?

To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit JustinDonald.com/31

Get the Lifestyle Investor Book!

To get access to The Lifestyle Investor: The 10 Commandments of Cashflow Investing for Passive Income and Financial Freedom visit JustinDonald.com/book

Rate & Review

If you enjoyed today’s episode of The Lifestyle Investor, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device.

You can also help by providing an honest rating & review. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!

Connect with Justin Donald

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, I’m speaking with my good friend John Ruhlin. John is a master networker, keynote speaker, sales and marketing expert, and entrepreneur who has built an entire business around the art of gift giving.

It all began when he created the Corporate Gift Program at Cutco - which he still owns to this day - and now he’s creating gift packages for some of the largest companies and pro sports teams in the world!

His book Giftology, has ignited a movement that is helping other businesses level up their gifting game and increase their bottom line. For over a decade, the Giftology System has been helping privately owned businesses and billion dollar companies get to new levels of success with it’s proven process.

In this episode, we’re talking all about the art of gift giving and the profound impact it can have on both your personal and professional life. You’ll learn how bad gifts damage relationships, and how good ones can cut through noise and leave lasting, positive impressions — not just with friends and family, but with partners, clients, prospects, and more!

If you want to learn how gifting can win hearts and become your best marketing tool, don’t miss my conversation with John Ruhlin!

Want the Full Show Notes?

To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit JustinDonald.com/30

Get the Lifestyle Investor Book!

To get access to The Lifestyle Investor: The 10 Commandments of Cashflow Investing for Passive Income and Financial Freedom visit JustinDonald.com/book

Rate & Review

If you enjoyed today’s episode of The Lifestyle Investor, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device.

You can also help by providing an honest rating & review. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!

Connect with Justin Donald

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, I’m talking to Frank Rolfe — the godfather of mobile home park investing. 

Frank has been an investor in mobile home parks for almost three decades, and has owned and operated hundreds of mobile home parks during that time. He is currently ranked, with his partner Dave Reynolds, as the 5th largest mobile home park owner in the U.S., with a portfolio valued at over $500 million. 

He is also the co-owner of Mobile Home University, which teaches people the exact steps to successfully evaluate, purchase, repair, rent, and sell mobile homes. 

In today’s conversation, you’ll learn how Frank accidentally broke into the world of mobile home park investing, his approach to analyzing deals, and why now (more than ever), mobile home parks present incredible opportunities for lifestyle investors. 

Key Takeaways with Frank Rolfe

• How Frank started his career with a beat-up trailer park that was losing money on the wrong side of Dallas – and how he sold it for a $1 million profit!
• Why so many mom and pop operators lose money on their mobile home parks–and why almost every one of these losses can be turned into income with minimal effort.
• The pros and cons of CMBS lending.
• What Frank is doing to protect himself from rampant inflation and potential economic downturns.
• How the mobile home park industry may consolidate as private equity enters–and what makes it different from multi-family apartments.
• Why the modern mobile home park doesn’t look anything like the stereotypes created in the media.
• How mobile home parks thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Want the Full Show Notes?

To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit JustinDonald.com/29

Get the Lifestyle Investor Book!

To get access to The Lifestyle Investor: The 10 Commandments of Cashflow Investing for Passive Income and Financial Freedom visit JustinDonald.com/book

Rate & Review

If you enjoyed today’s episode of The Lifestyle Investor, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device.

You can also help by providing an honest rating & review. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!

Connect with Justin Donald

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, I’m talking with Michael Blank — the leading authority on apartment building investing in the United States. 

Through his investment company, Nighthawk Equity, he controls over $90 million in performing multifamily assets and has raised over $21 million. 

In addition to his own investing activities, his unique training programs have helped his students purchase over 7,600 units valued at over $337 million.

He's also the author of the best-selling book, Financial Freedom With Real Estate Investing and host of the popular Apartment Building Investing podcast.

Not only has Michael dedicated his life to showing people how to achieve financial freedom through real estate, but he believes anyone can do it within a 3-5 year period, regardless of experience or capital. 

In this conversation, Michael shares his incredible story of nearly losing everything before winning in the world of real estate investing. You’ll also learn all about multifamily apartments, the power of real estate syndications, finding and assessing off-market deals, and so much more. 

If you want to create passive income with real estate so you can live a life of significance and purpose, this episode is for you!

Key Takeaways with Michael Blank

• Why financial freedom almost always leads people back to serving others.
• How Michael quit his job without notice to pursue a life of financial freedom and the mistakes he made along the way.
• How real estate investing in syndication allows buyers to purchase relatively safe assets with a minimum of risk.
• Why Michael has the same problems with stock market investing that I do–and why it’s so easy to think you’re earning back more than you actually are.
• How private equity investing, alongside real estate deductions, make it possible to achieve pure profit.
• The value of building relationships with brokers instead of chasing publicly listed deals.
• How real estate investing lowers the barrier to entry for so many entrepreneurs.
• What Michael is doing to build a legacy.

Want the Full Show Notes?

To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit JustinDonald.com/28

Get the Lifestyle Investor Book!

To get access to The Lifestyle Investor: The 10 Commandments of Cashflow Investing for Passive Income and Financial Freedom visit JustinDonald.com/book

Rate & Review

If you enjoyed today’s episode of The Lifestyle Investor, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device.

You can also help by providing an honest rating & review. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!

Connect with Justin Donald

• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.