In episode 42 of The VICI Code, Joe Dunaway interviews Marko Bizjak, Founder of Marvix Digital & Creator of the Marvix Growth Engine™, as he explores everything from the “prisoner” realization that traps talented entrepreneurs, to creating pipeline command centers that turn every inquiry into a tracked opportunity, and building company culture through discipline, relationships, and faith. 

Tune in to learn actionable strategies for buying back your time, scaling what matters, and building a business that serves your life! 

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:02] The "prisoner" realization—why most business owners get stuck

[00:03:00] Marko Bizjak’s breakthrough: systems over manual chaos

[00:04:23] The mindset shift: Moving from technician to leader

[00:05:41] Tracking every lead—financial impact of governed systems

[00:06:53] Social proof and the review magnet system

[00:08:40] Buying back your time—family and freedom stories

[00:11:41] Overcoming mindset blockers and embracing tech

[00:15:08] Discipline, daily routines, and leading by example

[00:17:23] Building personal and business fitness

[00:21:20] The mission driving Marko Bizjak and his passion for trades

[00:24:02] Key takeaways and how to connect with Marko Bizjak 

QUOTES

• "It's a vicious cycle that keeps repeating—until you build a system that allows you to buy back your time." – Marko Bizjak
• "Websites are not a system, but they’re your biggest opportunity to build system-driven intake and communication." – Joe Dunaway
• "When you lead by example, the energy is different. The people around you rise to another level, too." – Marko Bizjak

SOCIAL MEDIA

Joe Dunaway

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoedunaway/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-dunaway 

Marko Bizjak

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/markob777/ 

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/markobizjak/

WEBSITE

VICI Finance: https://www.vicifinance.com/

Marvix Digital: https://marvixdigital.com/   

 In episode 41 of The VICI Code, Joe Dunaway interviews Mark Mendez, Founder of JIT Delivers It (Just In Time), as they dive deep into the journey of an entrepreneur who shares their experiences of failure, growth, and the lessons learned along the way.

Tune in for raw, honest insights about faith, family, and the relentless pursuit of victory in business.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:25] Slow, gradual climb to success.

[00:05:21] Hiring friends in business.

[00:10:51] Fitness journey and mental clarity.

[00:15:02] Martial arts passion and experiences.

[00:18:40] Wrestling's impact on life skills.

[00:22:01] Transactional versus relational mindset.

[00:27:06] Parenting through example and habits.

[00:28:42] Empathy in everyday interactions.

[00:32:31] Faith fuels the fight.

QUOTES

• "We're all so wrapped up in our own world that we don't recognize other people who are in need." -Mark Mendez
• The company that gets you your first million, you may not be in it, but you should be learning everything you can from that business that you're in now." -Joe Dunaway

==========================

Less supplements. More consistency.

AG1 every day.

SHOP HERE:

https://click-myl.ink/2p8hck3h

==========================

SOCIAL MEDIA

Joe Dunaway

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoedunaway/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-dunaway 

Mark Mendez

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark.floorpro/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mendez-a182018/  

WEBSITE

VICI Finance: https://www.vicifinance.com/

JIT Delivers It: https://www.jitdeliversit.com/about

In episode 40 of The VICI Code, Joe Dunaway interviews Brian Stewart, Founder of Leadology and BMP Tuning, as he shares his battle-tested wisdom on eliminating chaos during the scaling phase and how he has successfully scaled a brand from $900 million to over $2 billion in sales.

Tune in as we uncover the architecture of growth and learn how to navigate the chaos that often hinders scaling businesses.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:30] Systems vs. Hustle in Business.

[00:05:04] Lack of consistency in business.

[00:10:18] Bulking and leaning in marketing.

[00:11:58] AI for business growth.

[00:18:28] Family fitness and leading by example.

[00:21:10] Fitness as personal presentation.

[00:24:43] Family and work-life balance.

[00:29:17] Teaching responsibility through chores.

[00:31:34] Teaching kids financial responsibility.

[00:36:15] Faith in business alignment.

[00:39:37] Family commitment to faith.

[00:44:22] Forgiveness and self-kindness.

QUOTES

• "Fitness is the presentation of you and how you outwardly present yourself before you can speak." -Brian Stewart
• "Be nice. Be kind. Forgiveness. Right. All those things are just so important." -Joe Dunaway
• "Having a higher calling, a higher purpose... doing things not for yourself is really the golden rule." -Joe Dunaway

==========================

Less supplements. More consistency.

AG1 every day.

SHOP HERE:

https://click-myl.ink/2p8hck3h

==========================

SOCIAL MEDIA

Joe Dunaway

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoedunaway/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-dunaway 

Brian Stewart

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_brianjstewart/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianjamesstewart/

WEBSITE

VICI Finance: https://www.vicifinance.com/

In episode 39 of The VICI Code, Joe Dunaway interviews Chris Werner, Founder of Vidar Law & Fractional General Counsel, who shares his insights on transitioning from big law to fractional general counsel, protecting innovative tech companies, and navigating high-stakes litigation.

Tune in as we uncover valuable insights into the architecture of protection and the proactive mindset required in the legal landscape.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:15] Mental stamina during long trials.

[00:04:31] Health and fitness for lawyers.

[00:09:34] M&A exit strategy pitfalls.

[00:15:43] Fractional general counsel benefits.

[00:18:03] Work-life balance in law.

[00:25:28] Guiding founders through uncertainty.

[00:26:34] Regulatory environment in AI.

[00:30:26] Legal support for tech founders.

QUOTES

• "It took a lot of work to get there. Right. We had our fights. We had our issues over the years. And we both committed to doing that, to making it work despite that stuff." -Chris Werner
• "It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission." -Joe Dunaway

==========================

Less supplements. More consistency.

AG1 every day.

SHOP HERE:

https://click-myl.ink/2p8hck3h

==========================

SOCIAL MEDIA

Joe Dunaway

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoedunaway/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-dunaway 

Chris Werner

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/chris_werner/

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriswernerlegalcounsel/

WEBSITE

VICI Finance: https://www.vicifinance.com/

Start-up Generator: https://startupgenerator.biz/

Vidar Law: https://www.vidarlaw.com/  

In episode 38 of The VICI Code, Joe Dunaway interviews Andrea Mladin, Founder of Business Detox & AI Workflow Strategist, who discusses her work helping founders detox their businesses through simpler processes, stronger research, and better use of AI.

Tune in for a powerful conversation that could redefine your approach to entrepreneurship!

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:36] Business detox for startups.

[00:06:02] Pet travel execution challenges.

[00:13:06] Communication bottlenecks in companies.

[00:18:46] Importance of market research.

[00:20:36] Market Research Importance.

[00:29:32] AI in startup investments.

[00:34:17] Founder values and mentoring.

[00:39:18] Surviving a major car accident.

[00:42:21] Goal-setting methodology.

QUOTES

• "Most startups don't fail because they lack capital, but because they lack that business detox." -Joe Dunaway
• "I don't want to be the smartest person in the room. I'm always searching for communities, for mentors that will push me to be better, to learn, give me some new perspective." -Andrea Mladin
• "I believe it is very important to build your company with people who use AI, who know how to use AI." -Andrea Mladin

==========================

Less supplements. More consistency.

AG1 every day.

SHOP HERE:

https://click-myl.ink/2p8hck3h

==========================

SOCIAL MEDIA

Joe Dunaway

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoedunaway/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-dunaway 

Andrea Mladin

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/andreamladin/

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreamladin/ 

WEBSITE

VICI Finance: https://www.vicifinance.com/

Start-up Generator:  https://startupgenerator.biz/

Andrea Mladin:  https://andreamladin.com/

In episode 37 of The VICI Code, Joe Dunaway interviews Jennifer Weber, Founder & Owner of SDG Promotions, Inc., as she explains how clarity, governance, and planning can reduce waste, protect brand consistency, and create better outcomes for multi-location teams.

Tune in for a discussion that connects business systems to leadership, showing how vision and purpose shape organizations' present themselves internally and externally.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:46] Swag problem or process problem?.

[00:03:10] Chaos begins when intention is missing.

[00:06:19] Brand consistency across locations and markets.

[00:11:12] Settling the dust with repeatable systems.

[00:16:25] Enterprise stores simplify onboarding and recognition.

[00:20:13] Clarity is the biggest mistake in rollout.

[00:23:25] Parenting with work ethic and clear expectations.

[00:27:32] Faith and family stay first as business scales.

[00:33:22] Agriculture, nurture, and building foundations.

[00:37:10] Health and hydration support leadership clarity.

[00:39:45] Asking the right questions saves money.

[00:41:16] Morning gratitude sets the tone.

QUOTES

• "You're really just throwing money away if there is no purpose or intention behind it." -Jennifer Weber
• "Once they realize there's a process in place that they can follow repeatedly, the panic goes away." -Jennifer Weber
• “It is hard to grow and scale a business and also make sure that my priorities, in my opinion, are straight and correct, and that would always be faith and family first.” -Jennifer Weber

==========================

Less supplements. More consistency.

AG1 every day.

SHOP HERE:

https://click-myl.ink/2p8hck3h

==========================

SOCIAL MEDIA

Joe Dunaway

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoedunaway/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-dunaway 

Jennifer Weber

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/builtbyjennifer/

https://www.instagram.com/sdgpromotions/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-weber-25420444/

WEBSITE

VICI Finance: https://www.vicifinance.com/

SDG Promotions: https://sdgpromo.com/

In episode 36 of The VICI Code, Joe Dunaway interviews Jaben Makings, Founder of Onnix Investments, as he shares how responding quickly and setting expectations can become a real competitive advantage in a market shaped by automation and weak follow-through.

Tune in for a conversation that centers on leadership, accountability, and the shift from trying to be the “cool boss” to creating clear expectations, consequences, and a peer-driven culture.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:38] Revenue growth from $100K to $400K.

[00:03:10] Why being the cool boss backfired.

[00:05:28] Negotiation starts with better questions.

[00:07:00] Speed and communication build trust.

[00:08:49] Deal lost by missing buyer follow-up.

[00:10:10] Interview process screens for fit.

[00:13:04] Quitting drinking changed everything.

[00:17:03] Faith and marriage reshaped his why.

[00:19:24] Burnout requires seasons of rest.

[00:21:01] Do right by everybody, always.

[00:22:54] Scaling requires delegation and systems.

[00:24:14] Faith, family, fitness, finance recap.

QUOTES

• "Show them what winning actually looks like. Show them what the definition of done is." -Jaben Makings
• "The biggest thing investors get wrong ... is not having all the information upfront." -Jaben Makings
• "The four pillars, work on each one of them, keep moving them forward, and keep balance." -Joe Dunaway

==========================

Less supplements. More consistency.

AG1 every day.

SHOP HERE:

https://click-myl.ink/2p8hck3h

==========================

SOCIAL MEDIA

Joe Dunaway

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoedunaway/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-dunaway 

Jaben Makings

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaben.makings/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaben-makings-518876199/  

Zillow: https://www.zillow.com/profile/JabenMakings 

WEBSITE

VICI Finance: https://www.vicifinance.com/

Onnix Investment: https://onnixinvestments.com/

In episode 35 of The VICI Code, Joe Dunaway interviews Kelly Jedele, Founder & CEO of Let Kelly, as she explains how her leadership style empowers women, delivers consistent results, and proves that success is scalable without burning out.

Tune in, get inspired, and start building your victory code!

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:02] Meet Kelly Jedele
[00:02:30] Lessons from Mary Kay: Leadership roots and team-building foundations
[00:03:58] Building a caring, high-retention company culture and team
[00:06:20] Starting with WHY: Uplifting women and empowering choice
[00:07:36] Burnout, systems, and the first steps to freedom for mom-founders
[00:11:05] The delegation dilemma: Why high achievers struggle to let go
[00:13:50] Salsa, running, and finding creative clarity outside the boardroom
[00:20:19] Family, faith, and supporting big dreams in New York City
[00:24:41] Core faith beliefs that fuel the journey

QUOTES

• "I really, really lean into caring for my team and coaching them in a way that inspires them to want to be their best and be loyal to the company." – Kelly Jedele
• "You start with the why, then you work on the how." – Joe Dunaway
• "When I feel that loving nurture in my life as a woman, then I'm allowed to be in my feminine. The magic of who I am and what happens just blossoms." – Kelly Jedele

==========================

Less supplements. More consistency.

AG1 every day.

SHOP HERE:

https://click-myl.ink/2p8hck3h

==========================

SOCIAL MEDIA

Joe Dunaway

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoedunaway/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-dunaway 

Kelly Jedele

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyjedele/?hl=en  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyjedele/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LetKelly

WEBSITE

VICI Finance: https://www.vicifinance.com/

Let Kelly: https://www.letkelly.com/ 

In episode 34 of The VICI Code, Joe Dunaway interviews Tony Hoong, Founder & CEO of The CPA Dude, who shares how listening to clients sparked his leap from the “hamster wheel” of compliance to thinking ahead and implementing AI-powered solutions. 

Tune in now for strategies you can implement today—and set yourself up to keep more of what you earn!

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:02] Unlocking small business stories: From chaos to victory
[00:02:20] The aha moment: Leaving the Big Four for real tax savings
[00:05:36] Why CPAs focus on compliance over strategy
[00:08:13] How AI is transforming the tax industry
[00:12:54] Outgrowing your traditional CPA: Key signs and numbers
[00:15:20] Fitness, discipline, and mental clarity for entrepreneurs
[00:22:56] Family, legacy, and business decisions
[00:27:17] Faith, ethics, and doing right by clients
[00:31:34] How to connect with Tony Hoong and next steps

QUOTES

• "The discipline required to master the tax code definitely carries over into your physical habits—you have to do the work, you have to eat the diet. Same thing for finances." – Tony Hoong
• "Income will always be the same, but how you structure it will change how much you end up paying in taxes—and also know why your CPA should be a strategist." – Joe Dunaway

==========================

Less supplements. More consistency.

AG1 every day.

SHOP HERE:

https://click-myl.ink/2p8hck3h

==========================

SOCIAL MEDIA

Joe Dunaway

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoedunaway/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-dunaway 

Tony Hoong

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thecpadude_/   

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonymhoong/  

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TheCPADude  

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecpadude

https://www.tiktok.com/@thetonyhoong

WEBSITE

VICI Finance: https://www.vicifinance.com/

In episode 33 of The VICI Code, Joe Dunaway interviews Aurelie Couble (PLV), Music Producer, YouTuber, and Music Business Coach, as she shares her journey from a VFX film industry runner to a six-figure music entrepreneur—breaking the “starving artist” stereotype along the way.

Tune in for an episode that will equip you with the stories, systems, and motivation you need to turn passion into production and goals into reality.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:02] Welcome and introduction: From VFX to music entrepreneur
[00:02:10] Aurelie’s VFX grit and work ethic
[00:04:24] Importance of transparency and showing the real journey
[00:07:45] Systems over streams: Building a business with the right audience
[00:10:09] Why social and email outperform going viral
[00:12:02] Teaching creatives to think like business owners
[00:14:11] Monetization mistakes and focusing on what actually works
[00:16:12] Discipline, burnout, and creating sustainable growth
[00:21:45] Embracing change: French roots, moving to Canada, and motivation
[00:25:29] Mission, faith, and purpose-driven leadership
[00:31:44] Key takeaways and closing thoughts

QUOTES

• "It's just about having the right audience of really targeted people that really want to work with you, buy from you, learn from you—whatever it is that you decide to sell." – Aurelie Couble
• "Transparency is the ultimate tool for trust and leadership. Just being honest and authentic will go so far in your leadership qualities." – Joe Dunaway
• "I just want more power to the artists themselves." – Aurelie Couble

==========================

Less supplements. More consistency.

AG1 every day.

SHOP HERE:

https://click-myl.ink/2p8hck3h

==========================

SOCIAL MEDIA

Joe Dunaway

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoedunaway/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-dunaway 

Aurelie Couble

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/musicbyplv/ 

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/aureliecoublecompositor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@musicbyplv 

WEBSITE

VICI Finance: https://www.vicifinance.com/

Music by PLV: https://musicbyplv.com/my-story/