Travis Makes Money

Travis and Eric sit down for a candid conversation about how beginners should actually get started in real estate—without overthinking strategy or blindly trusting gurus. Drawing on Travis’s own “real estate dabbler” experience and recent insights from billion‑dollar multifamily operator Veena Jetti, they break down mindset, risk, education, and why doing a small, imperfect first deal usually beats sitting on the sidelines.

On this episode we talk about:

Why there’s so much conflicting advice on “where to start” (house hack, flip, small multifamily, or go straight to big apartments)

Veena Jetti’s perspective on skipping single‑family and going directly into multifamily—and when that’s realistic versus paralyzing

Creative ways to get into deals without being the one writing the big check, from finding and structuring deals to partnering and earning equity

The risks of trusting operators you don’t understand, the importance of knowing how the deal makes money, and why “just give it to the expert” can backfire

How Airbnb shifted from easy arbitrage to a hospitality business, and why hotels and experiential short‑term rentals may now have the edge

Top 3 Takeaways

The best “first strategy” is the one you will actually execute; do a real deal—any reasonable, understandable deal—rather than spending years trying to pick the perfect niche.

Never invest in a deal you can’t clearly explain, especially when you’re handing money to an operator; understand how value is created, where it can break, and what your actual risk is.

Real estate is a business, not a magic passive ATM: whether it’s multifamily, flips, or Airbnb, expect real work, real learning, and some paid tuition in the form of mistakes along the way.

Notable Quotes

"If you sit on the sidelines trying to decide your strategy for five years, you’re losing money and time—go do something."

"Don’t assume that because someone knows more than you, they know everything; if you can’t explain how the deal makes money, you shouldn’t be wiring money into it."

"Airbnb today is closer to running a hotel than owning a rental—it’s hospitality, not a set‑and‑forget investment.

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Travis sits down with actor‑turned‑entrepreneur Ryan Rottman, cofounder of AthleteAgent.com, an IMDb‑style database for the sports world. From training as a business major and actor at Texas Tech to navigating constant rejection in Hollywood, Ryan shares how thick skin, relationships, and a love of sports led him to build the most extensive searchable sports database online, alongside partners like Aaron Rodgers and Nate Robb.

On this episode we talk about:

How Ryan’s early trading and acting work out of college built the financial runway and mindset he needed to pursue creative projects

What acting teaches about rejection, resilience, and treating yourself as a business—and how those lessons transfer directly into startups and fundraising

The origin story of AthleteAgent.com, modeled after IMDb but built to centralize athlete data, representation info, and off‑field opportunities

Why most athletes beyond the top 1% are massively under‑monetized, and how better visibility can unlock endorsements, podcast bookings, investments, and partnerships

The realities of building a tech platform from scratch—finding dev teams, talking to 100+ investors, and expanding from 10 sports toward a global, 50+ sport footprint

Top 3 Takeaways

Acting and entrepreneurship share the same core skill: moving from “no” to “no” without losing enthusiasm, while treating every experience as training for the next opportunity.

Athletes are brands, and most are dramatically under‑leveraged off the field; centralized, accurate data and contact info unlocks deals for the other 99%, not just superstars.

Long‑term success often comes from repurposing skills and networks—Ryan used his IMDb experience, sports relationships, and business training to spot an obvious gap and fill it with AthleteAgent.com.

Notable Quotes

"As an actor, you are your own business—rejection is daily, and your job is to keep showing up until the right role hits."

"IMDb changed my acting career because people could actually find my reps; I realized nothing like that existed for athletes."

"We didn’t build AthleteAgent for the top 1%—we built it so the other 99% can finally be found, booked, and paid."

Connect with Ryan Rottman:

Website (AthleteAgent): athleteagent.com

Instagram: @ryanrottman

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Travis catches up with his old friend Todd Lamb, founder of Pure Life Organics, a wellness brand that has generated over $100 million in gross revenue through direct response and DTC e‑commerce. Coming from nearly 20 years in policing—including K‑9, undercover surveillance, and leading a tactical team—Todd shares how a backyard “redneck margarita maker” on eBay pulled him into the online world, and how he navigated the evolution from info products and VSLs to a durable, compliant brand with repeat buyers and lean operations.​

On this episode we talk about:

Todd’s path from young dad to military, commercial diving, policing, and eventually leading a SWAT (tactical) team before retiring into entrepreneurship​

The first spark: building a DIY margarita machine, selling the plans on eBay in 2003, and realizing the internet could be a real business engine​

Launching fitness and jiu-jitsu funnels, the breakout success of Alpha and flat-belly tea, and the shift from all-affiliate direct response to owning the traffic and the brand​

The difference between direct response and e‑commerce—emotional VSLs versus longer-tail, brand-led journeys—and what that means for refunds, customer quality, and compliance​

Why Todd transitioned early into e‑com, how affiliate abuse blew up his domain reputation, and what it took to rebuild as a white-glove, exit-ready brand run lean by a small, trusted team​

Top 3 Takeaways

A “safe” career and lack of entrepreneurial pedigree do not disqualify you; Todd built a nine-figure track record starting as a young dad in the military and then a career cop who experimented online in his spare time.​

Direct response can scale fast, but it comes with higher refunds, compliance risk, volatile affiliate traffic, and brand damage; shifting to thoughtful e‑commerce with strong customer experience creates long-term value and optionality for exit.​

Building lean with people you trust, focusing on LTV, repeat customers, and careful email practices turns a cash-flow machine into an asset that works whether or not you ever decide to sell.​

Notable Quotes

"No house with a swimming pool is complete without a margarita maker—and that little eBay experiment made me realize what was possible online."

"Direct response is like turning a stranger into a buyer in one emotional shot; e‑com is a longer, more elegant and thoughtful journey."

"We stopped emailing for everyone else’s offers; we only promote our own products because we want our customers to trust that when we show up, it’s actually for their benefit."

Connect with Todd Lamb:

Website (Brand): https://purelifeorganics.com/

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

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Travis sits down with blockchain VC and founder Harvey Liu, a China-born computer science grad turned global investor who has backed and built in crypto since the early 2010s. Harvey shares how early bets on Apple, Google, Tesla, and Bitcoin shaped his philosophy, why he now builds long-term in his own exchange, and how everyday investors can navigate crypto volatility with less emotion and more strategy.

On this episode we talk about:

Harvey’s journey from gaming-obsessed kid in China to computer scientist, MBA, and venture capitalist in Beijing’s early crypto scene

Early wins and regrets: buying Apple, Google, Tesla, and Bitcoin early—and selling far too soon

Core lessons about long-term thinking, missing “basic financial knowledge,” and why he builds for durability instead of quick flips

Why he’s still bullish on Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and government money-printing, despite current bearish price action

Practical strategies like dollar-cost averaging, avoiding over-leverage, and how AI, CBDCs, and stablecoins may shape crypto’s future

Top 3 Takeaways

Spotting disruptive tech early is powerful, but without deep understanding and a long-term framework, it’s easy to sell too soon and miss the biggest upside.

In a highly leveraged, volatile market like crypto, simple principles—no over-leverage, clear profit targets, and dollar-cost averaging—matter more than chasing the perfect entry.

Bitcoin increasingly functions as “digital gold” and a hedge against inflation and fiat debasement, while stablecoins and CBDCs show how blockchain rails will power everyday money movement in the future.

Notable Quotes

"Taking profit at your set goals is never wrong—you don’t go bankrupt by taking profit, you go bankrupt by over-leveraging."

"Bitcoin started as a gamble when nobody understood it, but with institutions in the game it has become a long-term hedge against inflation and money printing."

"In volatile markets, DCA and risk control beat trying to time the top or bottom—especially if you believe the asset will be here in 10 or 20 years."

Connect with Harvey Liu:

X: https://x.com/harveylevex

levex.com

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On this episode, Travis and producer Eric riff on the labels entrepreneurs use—CEO, founder, business owner, freelancer—and why most of that title‑drama is more about ego than impact. They dig into the real difference between owning a business and just owning your job, what it means to be a “wantrepreneur” versus an entrepreneur, and how to finally pull the trigger on the business you keep talking about starting.

On this episode we talk about:

  Why Travis doesn’t care what people call themselves—CEO, founder, entrepreneur—and why titles rarely matter if you’re doing the work

  The practical difference between owning a true business and simply owning a job that can’t run without you

  How privilege and status games show up when people mock small business owners for using “big” titles

  The idea of the “wantrepreneur” (someone who only reads, talks, and dreams about business but never starts)

  How to set a deadline, ship something, and stop waiting for the mythical “perfect time” to launch

Top 3 Takeaways

1.  Titles are mostly a distraction; what matters is whether the business can operate, produce value, and cash flow with or without you.
2.  If your business completely depends on you to function, you don’t yet own a business—you own a job, and you’re still trading time for money.
3.  If you know you want to be in business, set a clear launch date for a specific offer and execute; every month you delay is costing you time, money, and momentum.

Notable Quotes

  "Call yourself whatever you want—just do the work required to actually fill that role in the business."

  "If your business can’t run without you, you don’t really own a business; you just own your job."

  "You’ve got to be a wantrepreneur for a minute to think it through, but once you know this is your path, every month you don’t act is just another month you’re falling behind."

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Dr. Michael Housman is the founder and CEO of AI-ccelerator and the author of Future Proof: Transform Your Business with AI or Get Left Behind, where he helps organizations harness artificial intelligence to make better, faster, and less biased decisions. With a PhD in Applied Economics and Managerial Science from Wharton and an A.B. from Harvard, he has spent over 15 years architecting AI platforms across hiring, fraud detection, customer communications, and real estate lending—all while translating complex AI concepts into practical playbooks for business leaders. His work has been featured in major outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and The Atlantic, making him a rare blend of deep technical expertise and real-world business impact.​

On this episode we talk about:

Why traditional hiring processes are riddled with bias, how data-driven models outperform “gut feel,” and surprising predictors of performance like browser choice and employment history patterns.​

How business owners can start using AI today to buy back time, automate repetitive work, personalize outreach at scale, and treat AI as a strategic thought partner instead of just a better search box.​

The core ideas behind Future Proof—why most AI content is too technical, how Michael translates it for non-technical leaders, and why ignoring AI now is like refusing to build a website or adopt social media 10–15 years ago.​​

How AI-ccelerator uses live keynotes and hands-on workshops to help teams build real outputs—like pitch decks and go-to-market plans—in 90 minutes instead of weeks.​

Where AI is headed next, how it will disrupt agencies and creative work, and why founders should imagine how a brand-new “AI-native” competitor would rebuild their business model from scratch.​

Top 3 Takeaways

AI isn’t just a tool for writing emails or posts; used correctly, it becomes a data-driven board member that helps you make sharper strategic decisions and challenge your own thinking.​

Companies that delay AI adoption risk being blindsided by AI-native competitors who use automation, synthetic data, and smarter decision systems to deliver better results at lower cost.​

The biggest barrier is not the technology but people—getting teams to experiment, build literacy, and embed AI into workflows so it actually drives revenue and efficiency.​

Notable Quotes

“Algorithms, when designed correctly, don’t care where you went to school or who you play squash with—they care whether you’re actually the right fit for the job.”​

“Most leaders are using AI like a fancy spell-checker for emails when they should be treating it like a strategic thought partner sitting at the boardroom table.”​

“If you were starting your business from scratch today as an AI-native company, you’d design it completely differently—and that imaginary competitor is exactly who’s coming for your lunch.”​

Connect with Dr. Michael Housman:

Website: https://michaelhousman.com​

AI-ccelerator (consulting & education): https://ai-ccelerator.com​

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In this episode, Travis and producer Eric break down how to think about pricing across products and services so you stop guessing, undercharging, or racing competitors to the bottom. They walk through how to find a healthy price point, when to go premium instead of cheap, and why your rates should reflect the value and outcomes you deliver—not how long the work takes.

On this episode we talk about:

Why “charge what you’re worth” is useless advice without understanding perceived value, buyer outcomes, and your actual close rate.

How to think about pricing physical products, when to follow the market, and when to intentionally position yourself as the premium option.

Using close-rate percentages as a feedback loop to know when you’re underpriced, fairly priced, or simply bad at sales and positioning.

Why hourly billing traps service providers and creatives, and how to shift into offer-based, results-based pricing instead.

The importance of early testing, discounted beta clients, and iterating your prices up as demand and proof-of-results increase.

Top 3 Takeaways

Stop tying your prices to hours and start tying them to outcomes; clients pay for a result, not your calendar time.

Use your sales close rate as a live diagnostic: very high close rates usually mean you’re underpriced, not “amazing at sales.”

Early on, treat your pricing as a test—get paying clients, prove the result, then ratchet prices up until you encounter meaningful resistance.

Notable Quotes

“There’s no prize for being the second-cheapest option, but there is a real advantage to being the most expensive with a better offer.”

“It doesn’t matter if it takes you 30 minutes or three months—the value is the value, and the client is paying for the result.”

“Selling your time by the hour lets people rent you; selling offers and outcomes is what eventually buys your time freedom.”

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Filmmaker and tech founder Drew Schettler shares how he went from a strictly ministerial college path and church media work to running a production company and building Atlas, a modern all‑in‑one workspace for filmmakers. He talks about learning business the hard way as a creative, navigating burnout and feast‑or‑famine freelance cycles, and then spending seven months using AI and no‑code tools to ship a real SaaS product for his own industry.

On this episode we talk about:

  Growing up in a ministry “bubble” and how Drew slowly leaned into photography and filmmaking

  Building a freelance video business serving churches, nonprofits, and commercial clients

  Discovering AI/no‑code app tools and deciding to build Atlas for filmmakers

  Product–market fit, MVPs, and iterating based on user feedback instead of over‑polishing

  Why creators need to think like entrepreneurs and how to escape the freelance hamster wheel

Top 3 Takeaways

1.  Creatives who want to go full‑time have to think in systems, margins, and client outcomes—not just in terms of making beautiful work.
2.  You do not need a massive dev team to validate a software idea; a scrappy, AI‑assisted MVP is enough to start selling and get real feedback.
3.  The most sustainable path is often using your high‑ticket services as a cash‑flow engine while you build scalable products that can eventually overtake client work.

Notable Quotes

  "You have to lead with how you’re solving the client’s problem, not just how good your video looks."

  "If everyone has the cheat codes with AI, it stops being cheating—it’s just who executes better and faster."

  "Most creatives are trying to impress other creatives instead of building something that actually moves the needle for a client."

Connect with Drew Schettler:

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Travis and producer Eric break down the real skills behind meaningful networking, from first impressions and handshakes to group text intros and double opt-ins. They explore how to treat “networking” like making real friends, why bad introductions can damage trust, and how to thoughtfully connect people in a way that actually adds value. This episode is a tactical, relatable guide to becoming someone others are genuinely glad to meet and be introduced to.

On this episode we talk about:

Why basic body language, eye contact, and a simple “Hi, I’m Travis” beat over-rehearsed pitches when you meet someone new.

How to navigate handshakes, daps, and hugs without creating awkward moments (or accidental crotch-hand sandwiches).

Why networking events feel sleazy when you treat them like in‑person cold calling and how to shift into genuine curiosity and friendship-building.

The right way to stay in touch—why business cards usually suck, and why Instagram or phone numbers are better for real follow‑up.

How to make introductions the right way using “double opt‑in” intros, proper context, and thoughtful framing so both people feel respected and excited.

Top 3 Takeaways

Great first impressions are mostly about energy, body language, and making people feel good—not delivering the perfect elevator pitch.

Treat networking like making friends: ask genuine questions, listen closely, look for common ground, and resist the urge to immediately pitch or sell.

Introductions are powerful value-adds only when you get consent from both sides and frame the connection with context that makes each person look like the best version of themselves.

Notable Quotes

“People won’t remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel after meeting you.”

“Going to events and treating every human like a prospect is the fastest way to make sure nobody actually wants to talk to you.”

“Always get the double opt‑in on intros—otherwise you’re not adding value, you’re just creating awkward obligations for your friends.”

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🚀 Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.

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🎁 Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis

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Jimmy Rex is a top-producing former real estate agent who closed over 400 transactions in his final year in the business and built a portfolio of more than 50 investment properties. He now runs “We Are The They,” a men’s mastermind and leadership group focused on helping high-performing entrepreneurs build better lives, not just bigger businesses, through experiences, coaching, and community. Jimmy is known for his relentless work ethic, his willingness to say what others won’t, and his ability to both make money and put it to work through disciplined investing.​

On this episode we talk about:

Growing up broke, getting the entrepreneurial itch early, and how selling lemonade and T‑shirts as a kid shaped Jimmy’s sales mindset.​

Using a Mormon mission and door‑to‑door meat sales as “the world’s greatest sales training program” and how that translated into real estate success.​

The exact prospecting systems, scripts, and daily routines that took Jimmy from a few closings to 60–98 homes per year and 400+ annual transactions with his team.​

Why most agents and entrepreneurs hide in “creative avoidance,” how to fall in love with boring consistency, and why a ruthless 3‑hour daily prospecting block changes everything.​

Lessons from losing big in private deals, why Jimmy now favors index funds and real estate over chasing “sexy” investments, and how he’d rebuild from zero in 2–3 years through sales.​

Top 3 Takeaways

Boring, consistent effort beats talent; a simple plan executed every day—like 3 hours of focused prospecting—will outperform almost everyone who won’t do the work.​

Sales is the most portable money-making skill; if you can sell and you’re willing to outwork others, you can rebuild your life in any market or industry.​

For most people, slow and steady investing in real estate and broad index funds will outperform gambling on private deals, meme coins, or “hot” opportunities driven by FOMO.​

Notable Quotes

“Successful people have merely learned to do the things that unsuccessful people don’t want to do.”​

“Fall in love with the monotonous routine; the grind itself has to be the win, not just the outcome.”​

“If you’re not making at least 200 grand a year, your best investment isn’t the stock market—it’s your own skills and your network.”​

Connect with Jimmy Rex:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmyrex​

Twitter/X: https://x.com/JimmyRex​

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrjimmyrex​​

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