Steven Perry’s story is one of grit, reinvention, and making the leap—from commercial fishing in Alaska at 14, to making nearly $1M/year running Fortune 100 teams, then burning the boats to launch his own recruiting firm. As founder of The Well Recruiting Solutions, he now builds revenue-generating teams for advisory firms, aiming to empower 1,000+ clients by 2030.

On this episode we talk about:

Early hustle: commercial fishing in Alaska, learning at 14 the difference between working for a check and owning the business

His first true entrepreneurial venture—sealing driveways, scaling a six-figure business by the end of college, and the lesson he learned when he simply shut it down instead of selling it

Why Steven ultimately turned down a prestigious ROTC scholarship and a Navy career path to pursue entrepreneurship and finance

His entry into financial services, starting as an intern at New York Life, becoming a top-producing advisor, and why being surrounded by high performers forced him to level up

Lessons from sales and financial advising—mastering rejection, discipline, and the numbers game ("Whoever’s willing to be told 'no' the most wins fastest")

How being in the right environment and seeing other people succeed reframed what's possible, pushing him to greater heights

Reaching financial milestones by 30—making $500K/yr, giving away and saving large percentages, but discovering money alone doesn't bring fulfillment or lasting happiness

The personal finance strategy that enabled freedom: maximizing cash value life insurance and variable universal life for tax-free, flexible, and compound growth (plus why he prefers guaranteed accounts over variable for business owners)

Navigating the transition out of a lucrative corporate job: searching for purpose, listening to intuition, and eventually being "pushed" into launching his own firm after a job opportunity disappeared

How The Well Recruiting Solutions emerged from listening, networking, and recognizing a deep need for white-glove recruiting in wealth management; now scaled to nearly 30 employees with a future goal of $1B in revenue

The difference between grinding for someone else and building for yourself—now hiring for his strengths and delegating everything else for maximum impact and fulfillment

Top 3 Takeaways

Ownership > High Salary: Building long-term wealth and fulfillment comes from owning and growing businesses, not just earning a high paycheck.

Skill Stacks Compound: Every job, network, and hard moment (from fishing boats to insurance sales) built the resilience and expertise needed for entrepreneurial success.

Freedom is Designed: Smart moves—like flexible, tax-efficient investments—enable you to take risks, start over, and say yes to your true calling without fear.

Notable Quotes

“I looked up and had a great income, but I didn’t own anything. The day I left was the day there was no more equity, no more income.”

“Whoever’s willing to be embarrassed, to be told no, the most—wins the fastest.”

“If you operate in your gifting all day, you’ll be more profitable and productive. Now, if I don’t want to do something, I can hire someone who does it better and faster.”

Connect with Steven Perry:

Recruiting for advisory/financial services: The Well Recruiting Solutions https://thewell.solutions/

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Larry Puckett is a world-renowned venture capitalist and entrepreneur who’s grown businesses from humble beginnings to multi-million dollar companies in finance, technology, distribution, and now all-natural supplements. Despite starting with very little, Larry’s career arc is one of persistence, reinvention, and finding repeatable success—especially when life (and business) go sideways.

On this episode we talk about:

Growing up with hardworking parents, learning about scarcity, and developing a relentless work ethic cutting lawns and hustling for every dollar

Learning (by necessity) that hard work doesn’t always equal good money—and why working harder for someone else isn’t the long-term answer

Early entrepreneurial setbacks: pouring money into a golf apparel company without building an audience, failing fast, and picking up critical lessons for the next time

The first real business win: starting an industrial lighting company that grew by focusing on client relationships and solving a basic, boring problem better than competitors

Missing the “obvious”—the lesson in seeing (or overlooking) the next big vertical when you’re too close to your own business

Making the leap (twice) from a steady, high-paying job to bet it all on a vision: burning the bridges, sacrificing luxuries, selling personal items, and even delivering groceries to keep the dream alive

The challenge and opportunity of entrepreneurship at 50+—why it’s never too late to dream bigger or set a new example for your kids (and grandkids)

Evolving from MLM to corporate roles, then to launching Theon Global—a debt-free, e-commerce supplement brand that went profitable in its first three days entirely through organic, audience-first marketing

Mistakes in business partnerships, trusting too fast, and learning that doing it yourself (with the right people) is often best

The importance of a mission-driven business: helping people live healthier lives with all-natural, all-organic alternatives

Top 3 Takeaways

You’re Never “Too Late”: Larry relaunched at age 50+—after big wins and major losses—proving age and circumstance are rarely the true barriers to entrepreneurship.

Boring Businesses Can Bring Big Wins: Success doesn’t require inventing the next “hot” thing; doing the basics better than anyone else is a winning formula.

Risk is Required—But Stack the Deck: Burn the bridges if you must, but minimize regret by preparing financially, learning from every setback, and building around proven audiences.

Notable Quotes

“We just stopped cold turkey...but about nine months in, it went from a lot of money to nothing. That’s when we decided: there’s no going back. We’re burning the bridge and selling everything.”

“You only lose if you quit. And the regret of not doing it will always outweigh the risk of trying.”

“Business is about fundamentals: solve real problems, build audiences, create something people need—then serve your customers and your team really, really well.”

Connect with Larry Puckett:

Website & Products: theonglobal.com

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Roger Martin is a seasoned executive, entrepreneur, and co-founder of two national franchise brands—RockBox Fitness and Beam Light Sauna. Over 30 years, he’s built a reputation as a sales and marketing leader, C-level operator, and franchise innovator. Now CEO of RockBox, Roger’s latest venture is Thrive More Autopilot, which helps brick-and-mortar businesses generate leads, nurture prospects, and convert more strangers into paying customers.

On this episode we talk about:

Roger’s early lessons from his first job at Skippers Fish & Chips and why seeing a scarcity mindset sparked his commitment to continual self-development

The evolution from a business/marketing degree to pharmaceutical sales, climbing the ranks in corporate America and eventually shifting to entrepreneurship after losing the “joy in the work”

What it’s really like to go from corporate security to launching your own business—risks, loss of perks, and why fulfillment often trumps traditional success

The founding stories behind RockBox Fitness and Beam Light Sauna: blending fitness, music, and fun to create unique community-focused experiences and franchising them nationally

How lessons from music, martial arts, and management shaped Roger’s business philosophies

What he learned through failure—why losing in business teaches you exponentially more than success, and why you have to keep swinging for the grand slam

The importance of paying experts to accelerate your learning curve (and why you should always hire people who have already achieved what you want)

The “aha” moment driving Thrive More Autopilot: most fitness/wellness businesses stumble not on lead generation, but on actually getting leads through the door, nurturing them, and converting them to customers

Strategies for effective lead gen and sales for brick-and-mortar (and why “working your local network” and in-person community trumps all for many concepts)

How Thrive More Autopilot blends AI, automation, and real human follow-up to help small/medium businesses actually monetize their pipeline, plus mindsets and methods for non-salesy sales success

Top 3 Takeaways

Find—or Build—Work That Gives You Purpose: Corporate success without fulfillment will fizzle; pursue what lights you up, even if it’s a risk.

Real Growth Means Paying (and Learning) for Speed: Hiring legitimate experts—those who have done what you want—can shortcut years of trial and error.

Persistence Outweighs Failure: You’ll still lose plenty, but business only requires one “grand slam” to change your life. Stick with it, keep learning, and never quit.

Notable Quotes

“You always assume the grass is greener… If you don’t have joy in the work, go find something else to do.”

“You only lose if you quit. If you don’t quit, you can’t lose.”

“You learn nothing by winning—every lesson comes from when you fall on your face.”

Connect with Roger Martin:

Website: thrivemore.ai

Franchise: rockboxfitness.com

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Andrew Reichert is the CEO and founder of Birgo Capital, a Pittsburgh-based private equity real estate firm with $330M+ in assets under management and 3,600+ multifamily units. Having raised over $125M from investors, he oversees a team of 100+, is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and podcast host. Andrew embodies the first-generation entrepreneur scaling from small “no money down” deals to leading nine-figure institutional real estate investments.

On this episode we talk about:

Andrew’s beginnings: working restaurant jobs in high school, reading Rich Dad Poor Dad, and buying his first duplex straight out of college—with literally no money, no experience, and no credit

Creative real estate deals before the Great Financial Crisis: stacking first and second mortgages for $20K in cash at closing, and holding through 2008 due to conservative numbers

Growing from “house hacking” to 20 units while working at PNC Bank—then going all in on real estate entrepreneurship

The start of Birgo Capital: launching the first $10M fund (ultimately oversubscribed at $17M) by innovating deal structure and aligning incentives with investors

How he raised capital early: putting his own money in every deal, personally guaranteeing debt, and refusing management fees so all profit came from performance and carried interest

Evolving capital structures as the company grew, with bigger investors seeking more traditional private equity fee models

The “alignment of incentives” philosophy: why reputation, stewardship, and risk-sharing drive trust and investor confidence

Mindset: expecting big outcomes, focusing on stewardship, and building toward $1B in assets under management

Advice for new investors—how the right deal structure, total transparency, and performance alignment become powerful capital-raising tools

Top 3 Takeaways

Alignment of Incentives Raises Capital: Early success in raising millions comes from putting your own money on the line, personally guaranteeing loans, and only getting paid after your investors get paid—a structure that’s impossible to say no to.

From Small Deals to Big Funds: Anyone can start with “no money down”—but scaling to “big money raised” requires obsession with stewardship, track record, and structuring win-win deals for both small and large investors.

Growth Is a Mindset: Expecting and planning for outsize results is key—set big goals, focus on serving your people and your capital, and build with humility and discipline.

Notable Quotes

“Our first deal? No money, no experience, no credit—but I walked away from closing with a $20,000 check.”

“We wouldn’t make a dime unless the investment performed. Investors got paid first, then we participated in the upside. It made the decision a no-brainer for backers.”

“Larger investors want the fees and structure they’re used to. But trust still comes down to alignment and stewardship.”

“I always expected this to get big—our goal is $1B by 2030. For me, it’s about serving more investors and stewarding more assets.”

Connect with Andrew Reichert:

Company: Birgo Capital (birgo.com)

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John Joseph is one of Las Vegas’s top real estate sales executives and instructors, renowned for his leadership, productivity, and high standards. As a former branch manager, he led his office to the nation’s #1 spot and, as a vice president, inspired over 2,000 agents to reach their potential. Now an author, John’s new book, 365 Days of Real Estate Wisdom, delivers actionable strategies for both new and seasoned agents. With decades in the field, John brings hard-won insights into sales, discipline, and professional growth.

On this episode we talk about:

John’s path from the corporate world to real estate and how a “golden parachute” pushed him into a career based on effort and results

The challenges and opportunities facing real estate agents today, including market disruptions and commission changes

How professionalism and consistent service bridge the gap between agents and consumers in a fragmented industry

What separates the top 5% of agents from the rest—and why consistency and mindset trump raw talent

The numbers game: how sales, discipline, and relentless lead generation create outsized results

The importance of coaching, systemization, and following a proven process for new agents

Overcoming distractions in the modern sales world and focusing on high-leverage activities

The story behind 365 Days of Real Estate Wisdom—how John’s daily mindset messages helped take a team from 180th to #1 in the nation

Top 3 Takeaways

Discipline Drives Success: Consistent daily actions—like contacting new leads and aggressive follow-up—are far more important than luck or natural talent.

Sales is a Mindset Game: 90% of sales success comes from attitude, discipline, and the willingness to keep going, especially when it’s hard.

Professionalism Bridges the Gap: In a fragmented industry, the agents who treat their work as a business earn more trust, more clients, and ultimately more money.

Notable Quotes

“In real estate, you get paid commensurate to your effort. Consistency—showing up every day—is what makes the difference.”

“Sales is 90% mindset, 5% skills, and 5% dumb luck.”

“If you can generate just one lead a day, that’s five a week—and real financial freedom is within reach, no matter your starting point.”

Connect with John Joseph:

Website: iSuccessTraining.com

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Sean Tepper is the founder and CEO of Tikr, a software platform empowering everyday people to confidently invest in individual stocks. Before launching Tikr,, Sean mastered a system for generating consistent 15–50% annual returns in the stock market—with some years surpassing 100%. Today, Tikr, serves over 12,000 customers in more than 50 countries, combining technology, smart design, and a value investor’s discipline to help regular investors outperform the S&P.

On this episode we talk about:

Top 3 Takeaways

Notable Quotes

Connect with Sean Tepper:

• • Website & App: ⁠https://www.tikr.com/⁠ (search for TKR on iOS, Android, or web)
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📉 Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.

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Yousef Benhamida is an American inventor, entrepreneur, and investor who built a multi-million dollar business, Humboldt’s Secret Supplies, from his apartment without a degree or external investors. After losing everything, Yousef rebuilt himself through a disciplined mindset and masculine self-leadership. He now dedicates himself to helping men overcome common challenges such as breakups, burnout, and self-doubt with a no-nonsense approach to growth, fitness, life, and business. His book, $1 Million Hot Girls in a Ferrari, shares raw truths about success and attraction.

On this episode we talk about:

Yousef’s first entrepreneurial activities starting in middle school, including buying and selling items on eBay from a young age

How early hustles and lessons shaped his entrepreneurial mindset despite coming from a family with limited financial means

The brutal realities of entrepreneurship: long years of struggle, dealing with difficult people, and the persistence needed to succeed

Developing resilience, pain tolerance, and a mindset that embraces risk and uncertainty as keys to long-term success

Insights from The Hard Thing About Hard Things and how sharing the entrepreneurial struggle helped Yousef keep going

The mission and evolution of Humboldt’s Secret Supplies: creating and manufacturing efficient products for the agriculture space and other industries

The value of relationships and competence over appearances in building trust with high-level business partners

Yousef’s philosophy on managing money: continuously reinvesting, staying hungry, and avoiding complacency

Practical advice for those looking to go from a stable salary to entrepreneurship, emphasizing hard work, saving, and creating scalable businesses

The importance of investing time and effort to build your own brand and business

Fun rapid-fire insights including his love of tennis, admiration for his late father, and preferred methods of consuming information

Top 3 Takeaways

Resilience is Essential: Success requires enduring setbacks, maintaining pain tolerance, and staying willing to push through uncertainty and failure.

Competence Builds Trust: Real competence and knowledge will always open doors and command respect far more than superficial status symbols.

Reinvest to Grow: Continuous reinvestment of earned income fuels growth, sustaining hunger and momentum needed to build wealth.

Notable Quotes

“Entrepreneurship starts with looking up at the ceiling late at night, trying to figure things out because you can’t sleep.”

“The struggle is guaranteed, but success is not.”

“If you’re not constantly broke, you lose a little bit of that hunger.”

“Money only solves your money problems, but it’s easier to solve the rest of your problems if you got some money in the bank.”

Connect with Yousef Benhamida:

Book: https://www.amazon.com/ONE-MILLION-DOLLARS-GIRLS-FERRARI/dp/B0DBFXRBT7

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Walli Miller is a first-generation millionaire, financial coach, and early retiree who left her 9-to-5 before age 40. After a career in public service, Walli reached financial independence and now helps high-achieving, primarily first-generation women build wealth, create financial freedom, and design a life they love. Through her private coaching business, Walli empowers others to rewrite their money stories and achieve what once felt impossible.

On this episode we talk about:

Walli’s first job in New York City through the Summer Youth Program and what it taught her about work and money

Her transition from public service to financial independence, reaching millionaire status, and retiring early—all on a government salary

The generational impact of money mindsets, and why credit, wealth, and financial habits are “hereditary”

The “aha!” moment that changed Walli’s relationship with money and launched her journey to wealth

How she used tax-advantaged accounts, intentional saving, and mindset shifts to build seven figures in her stock portfolio

The importance of automating savings, increasing investments gradually, and eliminating mindless spending

The difference between math and mindset: why 80% of financial success is mental and emotional

Her path from unpaid coaching to a thriving coaching business—helping others, especially women and people of color, break cycles and become work-optional

The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement, and what it looks like to be “work optional”

Top 3 Takeaways

Financial independence is possible without a massive salary—strategic saving, investing, and automation can build real wealth.

Money stories and mindsets inherited from childhood play a huge role in our financial behaviors; changing the narrative is key to breaking cycles.

Achieving “work optional” status isn’t about deprivation—it’s about intentionality, paying your future self first, and living aligned with your values.

Notable Quotes

“I thought wealth was for somebody in a velvet robe, not for federal employees earning $100,000.”

“I realized after years of coaching that about 15% is numbers and 85% is mindset and relationships.”

“Paying your future self first—before you spend on anything else—is the most powerful habit for building freedom.”

Connect with Walli Miller:

Website: financiallythriving.com

https://www.instagram.com/financially_thriving/?hl=en

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Dr. Erin Nance is a board-certified surgeon, multimedia powerhouse, and serial entrepreneur working at the evolving intersection of medicine, media, and technology. Running a thriving hand surgery private practice in New York City, she’s also the founder of Fuel Better Health (the first health-focused social media platform), host of The Medical Detectives podcast (top 0.5% globally), and a top 1% TikTok creator. With a six-figure book deal and television projects in development, Dr. Nance is reshaping how trusted health information is shared and accessed—while challenging the status quo for doctors, patients, and entrepreneurs alike.

On this episode we talk about:

Dr. Nance’s path from family of doctors to launching a solo hand surgery practice in New York City when her initial job offer was rescinded

The surprising decline of entrepreneurial doctors: from most physicians owning their practice to 70% now being hospital or private-equity employed

The hurdles of starting a practice as a new surgeon—upfront costs, lack of business loans, long payment cycles, and the reality of malpractice insurance

Why so few doctors choose entrepreneurship today, and the cost-prohibitive system facing new graduates with high student debt

The shift in healthcare economics—the managed care trade-off, insurance company dominance, and a 30%+ drop in physician reimbursements in 25 years

How out-of-network and direct-pay models put ownership and care control back in the hands of doctors (and patients), and what it takes to build a brand patients will come to on their own

The persistent crisis of medical access, transparency, and patient navigation in the insurance/healthcare system

Dr. Nance’s drive to create platforms (like Fuel Better Health) and high-impact media to combat health misinformation and connect patients with credible resources and each other

Her viral content journey—why millions of people seek out authentic, expert medical stories online, and the urgent threat of unvetted health advice

Top 3 Takeaways

Entrepreneurship in Medicine is Scarce—but Needed: The modern healthcare landscape makes it nearly impossible for most young doctors to start their own practice, but those who do gain freedom, direct patient impact, and unique influence.

Insurance Has Severely Undermined Physician Autonomy: Managed care and fee setting mean less pay for physicians, rushed care for patients, and increasingly complex financial/conflict barriers for all.

Credible Health Content & Communities are Critical: The future of health information is expert-driven digital platforms—empowering patients with trustworthy resources and community, not algorithmic misinformation.

Notable Quotes

“I was only one out of 750 orthopedic surgeons to start their own practice straight out of fellowship.”

“Now, 70% of all physicians are employed by either a hospital system or a private equity group.”

“For physicians over the past 25 years, reimbursement for the same procedure has decreased by 30%.”

“Medical misinformation is probably the most dangerous public health threat we’re facing as a society.”

Connect with Dr. Erin Nance:

TikTok: @littlemisdiagnosed

Practice: NanceMD.com

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James Turk is an executive coach, keynote speaker, and CEO of The Turk Group—a boutique learning and development firm with over 25 years of experience. James designs and delivers leadership, sales, change management, and strategic planning programs for some of the world’s biggest brands, including Spotify, Squarespace, Goldman Sachs, and Equinox. His approach blends a strong foundation in service, life-long learning, and real-world business experience to help leaders become the kind of people others truly want to follow.

On this episode we talk about:

How James made his first dollar (and learned his first ethical lesson!) selling his sister’s belongings—and then launched a legitimate lawn care business as a teenager

The value of learning to hustle early, earning the “extras” in life through work and responsibility

The importance of thoughtful spending—knowing when to invest and when to enjoy spending for its own sake

Why James self-published his book, The Giving Game: Becoming the Leader That Others Want to Follow, and the lessons learned creating a quality product

How being of service and adding value shaped his coaching and leadership development philosophy

The unique art-meets-business history that shaped James’ style, from running a Chicago gallery to acting and performance

His advice to parents and entrepreneurs about instilling hustle, grit, and sound financial values

Building a referral-based business with high-profile clients and why relationships and service are more powerful than marketing budgets

The power of events, comped workshops, and "connector" strategy to maintain long-term business relationships

How B2C and B2B strategies can reinforce each other, and why giving to your network always pays dividends over time

James’ book and free resources for new leaders navigating their first 45 days

Top 3 Takeaways

Service Drives Success: Approach business and leadership as a “giving game,” not just a guessing game—when you focus on adding value, relationships and opportunities follow.

Relationships > Marketing: Doing high-quality work and maintaining great relationships opens doors (and doors within doors). Consistently show up, serve, and keep your word.

Be a Connector, Build Community: Hosting events, sharing knowledge, and connecting others multiplies your value and helps you stay top of mind in your network.

Notable Quotes

“The show is about making more money, but it’s also about building real relationships and adding value—that’s the real long game.”

“Make yourself easy to work with, keep your quality high, and focus on service; good things will follow.”

“Every interaction is an opportunity to build your network and your reputation as someone who gives, not just takes.”

Connect with James Turk:

Website: theturkgroup.com

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