WillPower Podcast

What happens when getting fired turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to you? For Ramon Ray, it was the spark that launched an entrepreneurial journey most people only dream about.

Ramon spent years working a stable job at the United Nations, juggling two young kids and a growing family — until he was let go for being too entrepreneurial. Instead of seeing it as a setback, he took it as a sign. Since then, he's built five businesses, successfully sold three of them, authored five books (including his latest, The Celebrity CEO), and become a go-to voice for small business owners looking to grow without losing themselves in the process.

In this episode, Ramon joins us to talk about what it really takes to build a business from scratch — the mindset shifts, the hard lessons, and the proven strategies that separate businesses that survive from those that thrive. We dig into how he balances aggressive growth with actually enjoying life, why simplicity beats complexity when it comes to strategy, and what he's learned from being featured in outlets like Forbes and hosting his own show, The Rundown with Ramon, on the USA Today Network.

Whether you're just starting out or already deep in the entrepreneurial grind, Ramon's insights on consistency, team-building, and giving back will leave you with practical takeaways you can apply right away.

Tune in for a conversation packed with real talk, hard-won wisdom, and the kind of encouragement every founder needs to hear.

Connect with Ramon Ray: ramonray.com | @ramonray

Get your copy of Rick Segal's book, The Heart of It here: https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/business-and-finance/entrepreneurship/the-heart-of-it/

Read Rick Segal’s blog: https://impactinvestorsegal.com/blog

What if you could skip the property altogether and buy the debt instead? In this episode, we sit down with Scott Carson — known throughout the industry as "The Note Guy" — to unpack the world of mortgage note investing.

Scott has spent years teaching investors how to buy distressed and performing notes directly from banks, effectively stepping into the bank's shoes. Instead of managing tenants, toilets, and turnover, note investors earn income when a borrower pays — or create profit by restructuring the loan when they don't.

We dig into how note investing actually works, the difference between performing and non-performing notes, how to source deals directly from lenders, and why Scott believes this is one of the most misunderstood asset classes in real estate. Whether you're a seasoned operator looking to diversify or a newer investor curious about creative paths into the space, this conversation opens up a side of real estate most people never think to explore.

Get your copy of Rick Segal's book, The Heart of It here: https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/business-and-finance/entrepreneurship/the-heart-of-it/

Read Rick Segal’s blog: https://impactinvestorsegal.com/blog

What do commanding a nuclear submarine and building lasting wealth have in common? More than you'd think. In this episode, Rick and I sit down with Gary Pinkerton — a Navy veteran who spent over 30 years as a nuclear submarine officer, including commanding the USS TUCSON, before pivoting into a second career as a Wealth Strategist.

Gary opens up about the wake-up call that changed his financial trajectory: losing half his wealth during the 2010 recession. That experience sent him down a path of studying financial strategy in depth, eventually leading him to The Perpetual Wealth Strategy — an approach he now uses to help entrepreneurs, business owners, and real estate investors build certainty and confidence into their financial decisions.

We talk about what it's like transitioning from a highly structured military career to entrepreneurship, why so many capable people hesitate to make bold financial moves, and how Gary helps clients get past the fear of "insufficient capital" to actually take action. Whether you're a real estate investor looking to leverage your portfolio, a business owner trying to protect what you've built, or just someone who wants to make smarter financial moves, Gary's perspective — equal parts disciplined submarine officer and empathetic advisor — is one you'll want to hear.

Get your copy of Rick Segal's book, The Heart of It here: https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/business-and-finance/entrepreneurship/the-heart-of-it/

Read Rick Segal’s blog: https://impactinvestorsegal.com/blog

What if you could buy and sell real estate without ever walking into a bank? Chris Prefontaine, Chairman and Founder of Smart Real Estate Coach® and 4x best-selling author, has built an entire movement around exactly that. A 3-time Inc. 5000 honoree and former Forbes Business Council Member, Chris has guided his community to hundreds of successful creative finance transactions across North America — and he's breaking it all down on today's episode. We dig into subject-to deals, lease options, owner financing, and why the "terms business" might be the most underrated edge in real estate right now. If you've been waiting on rates to drop before making your next move, this episode will change how you think about the game.

Get your copy of Rick Segal's book, The Heart of It here: https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/business-and-finance/entrepreneurship/the-heart-of-it/

Read Rick Segal’s blog: https://impactinvestorsegal.com/blog

What happens when a technology leader who's helped scale a therapy organization from 70 to 180 clinicians decides to build the tool he always wished existed? You get Ambiki — and you get Kevin Dias.

Kevin is the founder of Ambiki, an EMR and practice management platform built specifically for pediatric speech, occupational, and physical therapy practices. Before launching Ambiki, Kevin served as CTO at Sidekick Therapy Partners, where he played a pivotal role in growing the organization from 70 to 180 clinicians in just three years. He knows firsthand what it takes to scale a therapy business — the operational chaos, the tech gaps, and the very real cost of using tools that were never designed with pediatric clinicians in mind.

In this episode, co-host Rick Segal joins the conversation as Kevin pulls back the curtain on why he built Ambiki from the ground up, what makes pediatric therapy practices uniquely complex to run, and how the right technology can free clinicians to focus on what matters most — their patients. We also get into what it's like to build a U.S.-focused healthcare startup while living in Japan, the lessons he carries from his days as a CTO, and his vision for where pediatric therapy technology is headed.

Whether you're a clinic owner, a therapist, or just someone fascinated by the intersection of healthcare and technology — this episode is packed with insight.

Get your copy of Rick Segal's book, The Heart of It here: https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/business-and-finance/entrepreneurship/the-heart-of-it/

Read Rick Segal’s blog: https://impactinvestorsegal.com/blog

What does it take for a high-achieving executive to step off the traditional path, relocate to Spain, and build a life of true freedom — without sacrificing success? Billy Keels has done exactly that, and he's made it his mission to help other ambitious C-Level leaders do the same.

Billy is a national bestselling author, the host of the top 1% globally ranked podcast Going Long, and an executive-level coach who works with driven leaders ready to grow beyond the boardroom. With a background in corporate leadership and real estate investing, Billy brings a rare combination of real-world experience and strategic clarity to every conversation.

In this episode, we dig into what it really means to lead at the highest level — not just professionally, but in life. Billy shares how he helps C-Suite executives break through the invisible ceilings they've unknowingly built, why so many high performers are quietly unfulfilled, and the mindset shifts that change everything. Plus, we talk real estate, building wealth with intention, and what life looks like when you design it from the outside in — from sunny Spain.

If you're ambitious, driven, and ready for more, this one's for you.

Get your copy of Rick Segal's book, The Heart of It here: https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/business-and-finance/entrepreneurship/the-heart-of-it/

Read Rick Segal’s blog: https://impactinvestorsegal.com/blog

Jon Ostenson has seen both sides of the business world — 15 years climbing the corporate ladder, including a VP of Sales role at Carter's overseeing $350M in revenue, and then a full pivot into franchising. Now, as Founder of FranBridge Consulting and a top 1% franchise consultant in the US, Jon spends 90% of his time helping everyday people discover the freedom and wealth that come with owning the right business. In this episode, we dig into how to evaluate franchise opportunities, what most people get wrong before buying in, and why non-food franchises might be your best-kept secret.

Download his book 'Non-Food Franchising' here:

https://franbridgeconsulting.com/#contact

Get your copy of Rick Segal's book, The Heart of It here: https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/business-and-finance/entrepreneurship/the-heart-of-it/

Read Rick Segal’s blog: https://impactinvestorsegal.com/blog

What do running ultramarathons and scaling a $283 million real estate portfolio have in common? Everything — if you're Jason Yarusi. This week, host Rick Segal joins the show as we sit down with the founder of Yarusi Holdings, a man who has built and exited a construction company, restaurants, a brewery, and now over 2,500 apartment units since 2017. Jason doesn't just talk about discipline and resilience — he lives it daily. We dig into his journey from hands-on builder to private fund manager, what it really takes to scale multifamily at this level, and why the mindset that gets you through mile 50 of an ultramarathon is the same one that closes deals.

WLPWR Podcast Website: willpowerpodcast.org

Get your copy of Rick Segal's book, The Heart of It here: https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/business-and-finance/entrepreneurship/the-heart-of-it/

Read Rick Segal’s blog: https://impactinvestorsegal.com/blog

Ken Gee — Founder and Managing Member of KRI Partners — traces a remarkable career journey that took him from running Cessna flight schools in Northeast Ohio to closing over $2 billion in real estate transactions. With stops at a regional bank, Deloitte's M&A practice, and the front lines of multifamily investing, Ken breaks down what 26+ years in the trenches has taught him about capital, risk, and building lasting wealth through real estate.

WLPWR Podcast Website: willpowerpodcast.org

Get your copy of Rick Segal's book, The Heart of It here: https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/business-and-finance/entrepreneurship/the-heart-of-it/

Read Rick Segal’s blog: https://impactinvestorsegal.com/blog

Welcome back to the show. Today's guest is someone who has spent decades making an unforgettable mark on both the big screen and daytime television. You know him as the intimidating Mike Barnes — the villain who squared off against Daniel LaRusso in Karate Kid Part III — a role he beat out over 2,000 other hopefuls to land. He then reprised that iconic character in Netflix's smash hit Cobra Kai. But his career didn't stop there. For years, he's been a fan favorite on one of the most-watched daytime dramas in the world, The Bold and the Beautiful, as the complicated, charismatic Deacon Sharpe. On top of all that, he's an Emmy Award-winning producer, a published author, a stand-up comedian, and a martial artist. Sean Kanan is truly one of a kind, and I am so glad to have him here today. Sean, welcome to the show!

WLPWR Podcast Website: willpowerpodcast.org

Get your copy of Rick Segal's book, The Heart of It here: https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/business-and-finance/entrepreneurship/the-heart-of-it/

Read Rick Segal’s blog: https://impactinvestorsegal.com/blog