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He’s a MULTIBILLIONAIRE 🤯 I interviewed pharmaceutical billionaire Robert Duggan in Miami and I asked him how he got RICH! I asked Bob Duggan if money buys happiness and the secret to becoming a billionaire since he didn’t come from money! I also asked him the greatest piece of advice he received and the lowest point in his life. Lastly, I asked him the best advice he’d give the younger generation. #wealth #entrepreneur #financialfreedom #motivation
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Success is often presented as highlight reels but the reality is built in the moments no one sees. In this conversation, James Dumoulin, Co-founder of the School of Hard Knocks, shares what he’s learned from interviewing thousands of top performers, and what separates those who succeed from those who don’t. A candid look at discipline, pressure, and the work required to build something that actually lasts.
This was filmed at our annual flagship Global Conference in Silicon Valley. Check out upcoming events near you and get involved with your local chapter at https://www.startupgrind.com.
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Startup Grind Conference - returning April 2027. More at https://www.startupgrind.com/conference/
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I interviewed the LEGEND Matthew McConaughey 🤯 in Austin, Texas! I asked @MatthewMcConaughey the greatest piece of advice he received throughout his career and how he went from a “rom com” celebrity to one of the most respected drama actors alive. I also asked him who his “Hero” is today, ten years after his famous Oscar winning speech. Lastly, I asked him the best advice he’d give the younger generation. #wealth #entrepreneur #financialfreedom #motivation
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Have you ever wondered how celebrities really make their money? In this video, we head to Hollywood to interview Mark Wahlberg, Ryan Garcia, and Tristan Thompson to uncover how they turned fame into generational wealth.
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The $670 MILLION MAN 🤯 this video is sponsored by @bizee I interviewed a nine figure entrepreneur in Dallas, Texas and I asked him how he got RICH! I asked him what he learned from the military and what it was like being in combat. He also told me the best industry people should be getting into in today’s world. Lastly, I asked him if he is happy today and the importance of faith. #wealth #entrepreneur #financialfreedom #bizeepartner
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Karlton Dennis is one of the most inspiring and strategic entrepreneurs you’ll ever hear about. After turning down a promising path in professional sports, Karlton jumped into the business world from zero, working as a personal trainer and wine salesman. Determined to break through, he taught himself tax strategy and discovered the fastest legal path to building wealth.
Today, Karlton runs one of the top tax firms in the country, has helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs scale and protect their income, and legally pays zero dollars in taxes. He’s now a sought-after CEO, mentor, and educator who teaches people how to master money and escape the tax trap.
In this podcast, Karlton shares his early career struggles, the turning points that changed everything, and the exact systems that helped him build a multi-million dollar empire — lessons anyone can use to grow in business, mindset, and legacy.
Karlton Dennis
Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/karltondennis
Youtube: @karltondennis
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The Russian BILLIONAIRE 🤯 I interviewed the $5 Billion man Ratmir Timashev in New York City and I asked him how he got RICH! I asked him about the economy of the Soviet Union and why he believes in capitalism today. I also asked him how he got into software and sold his company for $5 Billion. Lastly, I asked him the one trait all billionaires share. #wealth #entrepreneur #financialfreedom #motivation
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We went to Lagos, Nigeria to interview some of the wealthiest entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders in Africa. We asked them about the most amount of money they’ve made in a year, how they built their companies, and their best career and life advice. We interviewed people across industries like technology, real estate, finance, banking, oil and gas, and private equity. We have a ton of amazing content from around the world on the way, so make sure you stay tuned for more coming soon!
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The Ferrari BILLIONAIRE 🤯 this video is sponsored by @bizee I interviewed a Billionaire entrepreneur Milton Todd Ault III in Las Vegas and I asked him how he got RICH! He was -13 million in DEBT at one point in his life so I asked him how he got out of that hole and his advice to someone at rock bottom. Since he owns 16 businesses today I asked him how important it is to structure your company properly. Lastly, I asked him if he is happy today, after becoming a billionaire. #wealth #entrepreneur #financialfreedom #bizeepartner
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David Stout grew up on a ranch in Michigan, heating his family’s home with firewood and learning early that hard work was not optional.
In college, he built a web services company generating more than $750,000 a year. But instead of staying comfortable, he dropped out and chased a problem almost nobody understood.
With a $400 loan from his grandfather and one shared computer, David and his co-founder began building artificial intelligence that could run directly on personal devices.
Investors rejected them. Silicon Valley questioned the market. Some believed serious AI innovation could not come from Michigan.
David kept building. Today, webAI is valued at $2.5 billion, employs around 200 people, and is developing technology designed to let individuals own their intelligence instead of renting it from Big Tech.
This is a conversation about rejection, execution, leadership, faith, the future of AI, and what it takes to build something the world does not understand yet.
00:00 Intro
01:53 Growing Up on a Michigan Farm and Discovering Technology
05:56 Building a Web Services Business in College
09:32 Partnership with Ethan and the Origins of On-Device AI
15:13 Committing to Local AI Despite Investor Skepticism
19:29 Proving the Technology and Raising Early Capital
25:34 Why Specialized AI Models May Create More Value
30:12 Owning Personal Intelligence and Building AI Expertise
38:04 AI Risks, Decentralized Ownership, and Leadership
42:10 Recruiting Top Talent, Mentorship, and Faith
49:56 WebAI’s Consumer Product and the Austin Headquarters
56:16 Practical AI Adoption and the Risks of Data Centers
63:04 Faith, Legacy, and Closing Reflections
Find David Stout here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidpaulstout/
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After interviewing more than 30 billionaires, I decided it was time to flip the script. As the Co-Founder of the School of Hard Knocks, I spent years uncovering how the world’s most successful people built their empires. Now, I'm sharing the biggest lessons I've learned from sitting across the table with billionaires — the habits, philosophies, and mindset shifts that redefine what success really means, and how you can apply them to succeed.
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We went to Miami, Florida to interview some of the youngest female millionaires! From real estate investors and content creators to founders building six and seven figure businesses, we asked them how they got rich, how much they’ve made, and their best advice for the next generation of women entrepreneurs.
We have a ton of amazing content on the way, so make sure you stay tuned for more soon!
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- Hard Knocks Women
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They were making over $1,000 a day… comfortable, safe, predictable.
Then they walked away from all of it.
No backup plan. No investors. Just a gut feeling, a bad-tasting idea, and $90,000 on the line. They maxed out credit cards, sold their cars, and built a product that people didn’t even understand at first.
Rejection. Confusion. Embarrassment.
But they kept going.
From a kitchen experiment to farmers markets… from being broke in Texas heat to landing Whole Foods in weeks… to a viral moment that changed everything.
Four years later, they built one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the world.
Then they sold it for $2,000,000,000.
This is the real story behind what it takes to win — the risk, the chaos, the ego checks, and the truth no one tells about success.
00:00 Intro
03:44 Starting Poppi and Going All In
07:28 Early Validation and Whole Foods Breakthrough
10:16 Raising Capital and Shark Tank
12:49 Marriage and Building a Business Together
16:32 Rapid Growth and TikTok Strategy
19:39 Team Building, Hiring, and Culture Lessons
22:23 Rebranding and Listening to Consumers
27:14 Ego, Leadership, and Founder Growth
30:08 Entrepreneurship Reality and Hard Times
31:12 Embarrassment, Confidence, and Mindset
34:46 Scaling Challenges and Hiring Strategy
38:41 Team Loyalty, Equity, and Culture
40:22 Influencers, Celebrities, and Brand Strategy
46:58 Balance, Family, and Redefining Success
Find Allison & Austin here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonellsworth/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephenellsworth_/
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He knew at 4 years old he’d never work for anyone.
What followed wasn’t success, it was failure, pressure, and near collapse.He poured his life savings into a business that didn’t work…Watched money disappear…And stood face-to-face with bailiffs ready to shut it all down.
£10,000 saved him—but it wasn’t luck that changed everything.It was a decision. A pivot. A model that finally worked.
From losing £50K a month… to scaling across 10 countries…To building a company that sold for £4.1 billion.
This is the raw truth about entrepreneurship! Not innovation, but execution.Not ideas, but survival.
And the mindset it takes to turn failure into a legacy.
00:00 Intro
00:45 Early Life and First Entrepreneurial Ventures
10:00 Failed Plumbing Business and Key Pivot to Insurance Model
18:00 Scaling HomeServe and Nine Steps to Building a Billion-Pound Business
27:21 Branding, Hedgehog Strategy, and Final Advice for Entrepreneurs
Find Richard Harpin here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richard_harpin/
Buy his book here! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-....Billion-Nine-Steps-H
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Thanks to Bizee for sponsoring today’s video. #ad I’ve been using their platform for years to start my LLC and continue to gain valuable support from their service. Start your business with confidence today: https://bizee.com
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We went to Miami to ask real moguls how they actually got rich. From Jordan Belfort to billionaire John Ruiz inside his $175M Gables Estates mansion, this video breaks down money, mindset, and the moves that changed everything. Plus, an entrepreneur who exited for over $100M shares what it really takes to win. We have a ton of amazing content on the way so make sure you stay tuned for more content soon!
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Have you ever wondered how Silicon Valley’s richest tech entrepreneurs actually got rich? In this video, we attend one of the world’s largest tech conferences to interview billionaire founders and investors about how they built their wealth, the companies that changed their lives, and their advice for the next generation.
From building AI companies and selling Twitch for nearly $1 billion to investing in the world’s biggest startups and owning the Sacramento Kings, these conversations reveal the truth about innovation, risk, relationships, and what it really takes to build a billion-dollar tech empire.
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Ken McElroy didn’t start as a billionaire real estate mogul.
He started as a property manager, cleaning units, painting walls, and watching someone else’s bank account grow.
One day, sitting across from an owner he’d just made rich, he realized he was on the wrong side of the desk.
That moment turned a W2 mindset into a $2 billion real estate empire.
In this episode, Ken breaks down how he went from managing apartments to owning over 10,000 units, why he thinks a “safe job” is actually the riskiest move, and how he uses billboards, debt, and tax strategy to pull millions out of his assets—tax free.
He talks about the real risk of bad people, bad partners, and bad managers,
the painful road to 300 employees and 90-minute workweeks, and why his definition of success is as simple as a text from his son.
This is not a hype story.
This is a blueprint: cash flow over capital gains, environment over ego, and legacy over income.
Find Ken McElroy here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenmcelroyofficial/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KenMcElroy
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Justin Waller is a successful business owner and influencer. Justin walks us through how he started and scaled his construction business, why everyone should move out of their hometown, why you should master one thing, dating advice for entrepreneurs and more. Subscribe and stay tuned for more podcasts coming soon!
Find Justin here:
instagram: https://instagram.com/justinwi....nwaller7?igshid=OGQ5 (@)justinwinwaller)
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Andy Frisella is the founder of 1st Phorm, creator of 75 Hard, and one of the most respected entrepreneurs in the fitness industry.
Before he built a personal portfolio worth over $1 billion, he spent ten years barely surviving in business.
His first store made $7 on opening day, $0 the next day, and only $58,380 total across the first decade.
He worked bars at night, slept in the store, lived on $695 a month, and came within inches of quitting everything to clean carpets.
But Andy’s breakthrough came when he stopped asking, “How do I make money?” and started asking, “How do I solve a real problem for the customer?”
That shift turned a struggling supplement store into one of the most recognized fitness brands in America.
In this episode, Andy breaks down the truth about discipline, why 75 Hard exploded without ads, how to build a brutal company culture, why customer experience beats marketing, and what it actually takes to build something valuable enough to last.
00:00 Intro
05:51 Lessons From His Parents
09:13 The First Ten Years in Business
13:56 Online Entrepreneurship and Long-Term Value
18:45 Customer Experience and the Start of First Phorm
28:05 Product Quality, Value, and Company Culture
34:37 Culture, Relationships, and Staying in St. Louis
43:02 Extreme Standards and Vertical Integration
49:24 Cash Flow, Discipline, and 75 Hard
58:13 Execution, Influencers, and Patriotism
01:04:54 Final Message, Legacy, and Closing
Find Andy Frisella here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyfrisella/
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At 29 years old, he was suddenly forced to take over his father’s company while still figuring out how to lead. Then life hit harder. A devastating divorce… a public construction disaster… and years where the company’s reputation hung by a thread. Instead of hiding, Ben stepped forward and took responsibility. That decision changed everything. Today his company generates $1.5 billion in annual revenue, serves clients that return again and again, and operates with one of the strongest cultures in the construction industry. This episode is a raw masterclass on leadership, crisis, faith, and building a business that lasts.
00:00 Intro
01:12 Ben’s Background in Construction
04:11 Divorce, Faith, and the Allen High School Stadium Crisis
12:39 Taking Over the Company at 29 and Leadership Lessons
20:37 Entrepreneurial Mindset and Learning from Mentors
25:08 Building Relationships, Networking, and Purpose Beyond Wealth
30:34 Leadership Philosophy, Hiring, and Company Core Values
40:15 Faith Journey, Personal Health, and Lifestyle Choices
48:27 Unique Contribution, Parenting, and Teaching the Next Generation
51:45 Final Reflections and Closing Questions
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Jhalesa Seymour started with $67, no entrepreneurial background, and a problem most people were too uncomfortable to talk about.
From a college dorm, she began making feminine hygiene products by hand and giving samples to friends. Within months, customers were fighting online for inventory and 18,000 people were hitting her website at once.
She became a millionaire at 25.
But explosive growth came with brutal lessons. At one point, 20,000 customer orders disappeared after shipment, forcing Jhalesa to drain her reserves, remake every product, and fight to keep the company alive.
She survived it, scaled beyond $20 million a year, and eventually generated $1 million in just 30 minutes.
In this episode, Jhalesa breaks down the mentality, marketing, money management, faith, hiring, and relentless resourcefulness behind building an eight-figure brand without a mentor or traditional business background.
She thought she was selling soap. What she actually built was confidence, community, and a company she believes can become a global billion-dollar brand.
00:00 Intro
01:03 Building a Soap Business From $67
04:28 Creating Products Around Women’s Hygiene Needs
07:18 Entrepreneurial Mindset and Becoming a Millionaire
09:35 Early Sellouts, Rapid Growth, and Learning to Hire
12:31 Networking, Wealthy Friends, and the Power of Proximity
15:42 Handling Copycats and Staying Focused on Innovation
18:26 Aggressive Brand Marketing and Building Organic Trust
21:18 Motherhood, Ambition, and Overcoming Excuses
23:47 Why Comparison and Fear Keep People Broke
25:46 Managing Money and Surviving a Major Shipping Crisis
28:12 Choosing the Right Friends and Environment
30:02 Creating Offers by Speaking Directly to Customer Pain Points
31:39 Faith, Business Decisions, and Trusting God
33:20 Learning Hard Lessons and Recovering From Rock Bottom
35:36 Legacy, Women’s Confidence, and Building More Than a Soap Brand
37:17 Outro
Find Jhalesa Seymour here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhalesa.xo/
Salt.XO: https://www.instagram.com/salt.xo/
Website: https://www.saltxo.com/
Enjoyed this video? Please leave a like and subscribe! - @TheSchoolofHardKnocksPodcast
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He knew at 4 years old he’d never work for anyone.
What followed wasn’t success, it was failure, pressure, and near collapse.He poured his life savings into a business that didn’t work…Watched money disappear…And stood face-to-face with bailiffs ready to shut it all down.
£10,000 saved him—but it wasn’t luck that changed everything.It was a decision. A pivot. A model that finally worked.
From losing £50K a month… to scaling across 10 countries…To building a company that sold for £4.1 billion.
This is the raw truth about entrepreneurship! Not innovation, but execution.Not ideas, but survival.
And the mindset it takes to turn failure into a legacy.
00:00 Intro
00:45 Early Life and First Entrepreneurial Ventures
10:00 Failed Plumbing Business and Key Pivot to Insurance Model
18:00 Scaling HomeServe and Nine Steps to Building a Billion-Pound Business
27:21 Branding, Hedgehog Strategy, and Final Advice for Entrepreneurs
Find Richard Harpin here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richard_harpin/
Buy his book here! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-....Billion-Nine-Steps-H
Enjoyed this video? Please leave a like and subscribe! - @TheSchoolofHardKnocksPodcast
Follow our main YouTube channel here: @theschoolofhardknocks
Subscribe to our newsletter: https://schoolofhardknocks.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Check Out Our Merchandise Here: http://shophardknocks.com
Our Equipment and Books We Recommend: https://www.amazon.com/shop/theschoolofhardknocks
Justin Waller is a successful business owner and influencer. Justin walks us through how he started and scaled his construction business, why everyone should move out of their hometown, why you should master one thing, dating advice for entrepreneurs and more. Subscribe and stay tuned for more podcasts coming soon!
Find Justin here:
instagram: https://instagram.com/justinwi....nwaller7?igshid=OGQ5 (@)justinwinwaller)
Enjoyed this video? Please leave a like and subscribe! - Hard Knocks Podcast
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At 35 years old, Mike Wystrach had $15 in his bank account, no home, a failed business, and a $1 million judgment hanging over him.
Ten years later, he had built Freshly into one of the fastest-growing food companies in America and sold it to Nestlé in a deal valued at $1.5 billion.
But the part that matters happened before the exit.
Mike had spent years failing, losing confidence, getting rejected by investors, and questioning whether anything would finally work.
Then he rebuilt the way he thought, became obsessive about execution, and created a company that eventually delivered more than 1 million meals every week with 2,500 employees.
In this episode, Mike breaks down the mindset shift that pulled him out of his lowest point, the Facebook strategy that fueled Freshly’s growth, why founders need the right people around them, and what he learned after selling for more money than he once imagined possible.
00:00 Intro
00:59 Bankruptcy, Failure, and Taking Control of Your Life
06:28 Restaurant Lessons, Finding Your Strengths, and the Freshly Idea
15:18 How Facebook Marketing Drove Freshly’s Growth
19:53 Choosing a Co-Founder and Raising Venture Capital
23:22 Scaling Freshly’s Operations, Competition, and Food Regulation
28:32 COVID-19, Explosive Demand, and the Decision to Sell Freshly
31:50 Wealth, Spending, Real Estate, Private Flying, and Family
37:35 Reinvesting After the Exit, Entrepreneurship, and Education
42:36 Building Petfolk and Applying Lessons from Freshly
49:20 The Best Cities and Networks for Young Entrepreneurs
52:51 Hard Work, Legacy, Family, and Faith
Find Mike Wystrach here:
Website: https://mikewystrach.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikewystrach/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelwystrach/
Check out Mike’s businesses:
Petfolk: https://petfolk.com/
Cutting Horse: https://www.cuttinghorse.com/
Listen to The Advantage:
https://mikewystrach.com/podcast/
https://mikewystrach.com/newsletter/
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Andy Frisella is the founder of 1st Phorm, creator of 75 Hard, and one of the most respected entrepreneurs in the fitness industry.
Before he built a personal portfolio worth over $1 billion, he spent ten years barely surviving in business.
His first store made $7 on opening day, $0 the next day, and only $58,380 total across the first decade.
He worked bars at night, slept in the store, lived on $695 a month, and came within inches of quitting everything to clean carpets.
But Andy’s breakthrough came when he stopped asking, “How do I make money?” and started asking, “How do I solve a real problem for the customer?”
That shift turned a struggling supplement store into one of the most recognized fitness brands in America.
In this episode, Andy breaks down the truth about discipline, why 75 Hard exploded without ads, how to build a brutal company culture, why customer experience beats marketing, and what it actually takes to build something valuable enough to last.
00:00 Intro
05:51 Lessons From His Parents
09:13 The First Ten Years in Business
13:56 Online Entrepreneurship and Long-Term Value
18:45 Customer Experience and the Start of First Phorm
28:05 Product Quality, Value, and Company Culture
34:37 Culture, Relationships, and Staying in St. Louis
43:02 Extreme Standards and Vertical Integration
49:24 Cash Flow, Discipline, and 75 Hard
58:13 Execution, Influencers, and Patriotism
01:04:54 Final Message, Legacy, and Closing
Find Andy Frisella here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyfrisella/
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The Russian BILLIONAIRE 🤯 I interviewed the $5 Billion man Ratmir Timashev in New York City and I asked him how he got RICH! I asked him about the economy of the Soviet Union and why he believes in capitalism today. I also asked him how he got into software and sold his company for $5 Billion. Lastly, I asked him the one trait all billionaires share. #wealth #entrepreneur #financialfreedom #motivation
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Pace Morby is the host of A&E's most popular TV show 'Triple Digit Flip' and one of the most creative real estate investors on the planet! Using dozens of non-traditional strategies called Creative Finance, Pace has acquired 1,000's of doors nationwide and built a portfolio totaling over $450 million in assets. In this podcast Pace talks about his story, how anyone can become successful within real estate, the mindset it takes to win and more.
Find Pace Morby here
Pace Morby instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dean....graziosi?igsh=Zjh0am
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PaceMorby
Website: https://pacemorby.com
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He’s a Tech BILLIONAIRE 🤯 he sold his software company “Honey” for over $4 BILLION! I interviewed him in Beverly Hills and I asked him the secret to negotiating with one of the biggest companies in the world! I also asked him the turning point to financial freedom in his life and whether or not money buys happiness. Lastly, I asked him for his best advice to someone trying to become a billionaire in today’s world. #wealth #entrepreneur #financialfreedom #motivation
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Lucy Guo is the youngest self-made female billionaire in the world.
Before Scale AI became a $26 billion force in artificial intelligence, she was a college dropout whose parents thought she had thrown her future away.
But Lucy saw risk differently. She knew college was slowing her down, and she knew the people around her were building the future.
What started as a failed healthcare idea became Scale AI, the company selling the “picks and shovels” behind the AI gold rush.
In this episode, Lucy breaks down why founders must pivot fast, move without permission, hire killers, build around talent density, and use AI before the rest of the world catches up.
00:00 Intro
01:04 Dropping Out and the Teal Fellowship
04:39 Family Reaction and Early Entrepreneurship
07:33 Starting Scale AI and Pivoting Into Data Labeling
10:11 Finding Product-Market Fit and Early Customers
13:24 Asking Forgiveness Instead of Permission
16:07 AI Infrastructure and Y Combinator Advice
18:39 Hiring Talent and Building Early Teams
21:20 Creator Economy Opportunities and AI Tools
24:31 Sponsor Segment and AI Content Creation
26:15 AI Efficiency, Legal Tools, and Vibe Coding
29:19 Work-Life Balance and Daily Routine
32:32 Wealth, Relationships, and Billionaire Mindset
35:01 Building Ambitious Teams and Startup Cities
37:17 AI Creators and the Future of Creator Likeness
38:37 Failure, Investors, and Cap Table Decisions
39:59 College Networks and Advice to Young Entrepreneurs
Find Lucy Guo here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guoforit/
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He was 15 years old when everything collapsed.
His father died… and weeks later, he was homeless.
No money. No guidance. No system to save him.
School had taught him how to get a job, but he couldn’t even get one.
So he made a decision most people never make:
No one is coming. It’s on me.
With just $200 and pure survival instinct, he built his first business.
It failed. Then he built another. And another.
Today, he’s worth hundreds of millions… and has invested in over 80 companies.
But the real story isn’t the money—
It’s the mindset that turned desperation into dominance.
00:00 Intro
05:30 First Business and Entrepreneurial Awakening
12:00 Failure, Lessons, and Team Building
18:30 From Job to Second Business Idea
22:11 Move to Hong Kong and Expanded Mindset
30:00 Business Culture, Identity, and Work Philosophy
38:30 Selling the Company and Loss of Purpose
46:00 Content Creation and Finding a Mission
54:00 Collaboration, Networking, and Value Creation
01:00:00 Education System and Teaching the Next Generation
Find Simon Squibb here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonsquibb/
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Todd Johnson is one of the most inspiring and unshakable entrepreneurs you’ll ever come across. Growing up in deep poverty, Todd spent his childhood feeling hopeless, praying to God for a sign, any sign, that life could get better. At just 14, while working at a packed pizza shop, a stranger approached him and said, “God told me to tell you He loves you.” That moment changed everything.
Fueled by faith, Todd made it his mission to never be broke again. He started with zero dollars, surviving off food stamps, and through pure belief and relentless hustle, he built a massive empire spanning real estate, construction, supplements, and more.
Today, Todd is a serial entrepreneur, mentor, and living proof that faith and focus can take you from rock bottom to the top. His story is packed with lessons on mindset, grit, and building lasting success in any industry.
In this podcast, Todd opens up about his darkest moments, the divine intervention that gave him purpose, and the business mindset that led to his incredible growth. Whether you're stuck, struggling, or scaling, this one will light a fire in you.
Find Todd Johnson here
Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/tjmillionairementor
Youtube: / @tjmillionairementor
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Andy Elliott is the founder and CEO of the fastest-growing sales and leadership training company in the world, The Elliott Group. Training over 600,000 professionals and 11,000+ companies across the globe, Andy is revolutionizing how salespeople influence, persuade, overcome objections, negotiate, close, market, and brand. Before starting The Elliott Group, Andy broke the record in the US for the most money made as a car salesman at $715,000 in one year. On this podcast, Andy breaks down how he got started as an entrepreneur, what sales techniques separated him from the pack, how discipline can shape you as an entrepreneur, and how to become a leader for your family and company. This podcast is full of gems on how anyone can elevate their sales game, and how to develop the discipline it takes to make it to the top.
Find Andy here:
Andy instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offi....cialandyelliott?igsh
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Forbes Riley isn’t a “sales expert.” She’s the Pitch Queen who’s moved over $2.5B in product by making people say two words: tell me more.
But her story didn’t start on TV. It started as the outcast kid with eight years of braces, a broken nose, no money, and a father in the hospital for three years.
Then one moment flipped everything: she learned the real game isn’t explaining… it’s desire.
1,500 products later, she wasn’t selling features—she was staging problems, building curiosity, and closing without begging.
She breaks down the exact structure behind infomercials, webinars, and “instant yes” pitches.
The rule is brutal: people don’t care what you do… they care what you can do for them.
And when life hit hard, she didn’t fold—she turned it into a legacy, teaching 100,000+ people the skill that bought her freedom.
If you’ve been talking too much, getting ignored, and losing the room… this episode fixes that.
00:00 Intro
01:06 Defining the Pitch and Early Career with Body by Jake
08:44 Childhood Struggles and Early Transformation
14:14 College Breakthrough and Acting Career Start
15:40 Taking Action and Transition into Infomercials
21:30 Infomercial Structure and Selling Psychology
26:35 Live Spin Gym Demonstration and Creating Desire
30:03 Applying the Pitch Formula to Any Product or Service
35:41 Avoiding Over-Explaining and Knowing When to Close
39:47 Networking, First Impressions, and Crafting Your Introduction
43:18 Adapting to Change and Building a Digital Business with Her Daughter
51:30 Legacy, Impact, and Helping Launch Kim Kardashian’s Career
Find Forbes Riley here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forbes_riley/
Check out her book: https://pitchsecretsbook.com/a-z
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Tony Cuccio is a true American entrepreneur — a kid from Brooklyn who started with just $200 selling beauty products on Venice Beach and went on to build a global empire worth over $2 billion in sales across 90 countries. Known as the man who revolutionized the nail industry, Tony invented and marketed gel nails in 1981 and turned a small street business into one of the most recognizable beauty brands in the world.
In this episode, Tony reveals the lessons he learned from failing twice before striking gold, why he never took a loan or investor money, and how his Brooklyn grit and vision made him a multimillionaire many times over. He shares his philosophy on sales, mentorship, and why he believes TikTok will be a thousand times bigger than Amazon. From sleeping in cheap hotels to building luxury brands, investing in real estate, and teaching financial literacy, Tony’s story is a masterclass in resilience, risk-taking, and reinvention.
This is the story of a man who built everything from nothing — and never forgot to give back.
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Khalil Rafati is one of the most brutally honest and spiritually grounded entrepreneurs you’ll ever hear from. A former heroin addict who hit rock bottom on the streets of L.A., Khalil once found himself covered in blood, realizing he had become exactly what he feared most. A homeless junkie without hope.
But a moment of divine clarity changed everything. He made a pact with God that if he ever got out, he would become rich. Not for the money, but to honor his mother, who was dying of cancer. What followed was a relentless grind, working day and night, building a smoothie empire from scratch, and eventually generating 34 million dollars a year.
Khalil opens up about childhood abuse, selling himself to fund his addiction, and the spiritual transformation that led him to build SunLife Organics. A brand rooted in purity, healing, and purpose. He shares how faith made him unstoppable. How he gave his mother seven luxurious final years. And why true success always requires deep sacrifice.
In this raw, powerful episode, Khalil reveals how he went from hell to healing. And how God used him as a vessel to create something far greater than himself.
Find Khalil Rafati here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khalilrafati
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We spent a day with billionaire entrepreneur David Green to see how he turned a $600 loan into Hobby Lobby, one of the biggest retail companies in America. From touring the massive Hobby Lobby headquarters and seeing how products are chosen and laid out across more than 1,100 stores, David gives us a BTS look at the principles, faith, and discipline that helped him build a multi-billion dollar empire. He shares how he started making tiny picture frames in his garage, nearly lost the company after borrowing too much money, and eventually grew Hobby Lobby into a business doing nearly $10 billion a year.
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Ken McElroy didn’t start as a billionaire real estate mogul.
He started as a property manager, cleaning units, painting walls, and watching someone else’s bank account grow.
One day, sitting across from an owner he’d just made rich, he realized he was on the wrong side of the desk.
That moment turned a W2 mindset into a $2 billion real estate empire.
In this episode, Ken breaks down how he went from managing apartments to owning over 10,000 units, why he thinks a “safe job” is actually the riskiest move, and how he uses billboards, debt, and tax strategy to pull millions out of his assets—tax free.
He talks about the real risk of bad people, bad partners, and bad managers,
the painful road to 300 employees and 90-minute workweeks, and why his definition of success is as simple as a text from his son.
This is not a hype story.
This is a blueprint: cash flow over capital gains, environment over ego, and legacy over income.
Find Ken McElroy here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenmcelroyofficial/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KenMcElroy
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Omar Soliman started with his mom’s cargo van, a friend, and an idea most people would have laughed at: haul other people’s junk for money.
His first customer handed him $250 - more money than he felt he had ever seen at once - and suddenly the future looked different.
What followed wasn’t overnight success. It was two decades of recession, COVID, hiring mistakes, franchise growing pains, reinvestment, and years of barely paying themselves.
Then came Shark Tank. Omar and his partner were offered $250,000 for 10% of their company - and walked away.
Today, College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving generates roughly $300 million in systemwide annual revenue, after raising minority capital at an approximately $140 million valuation.
In this episode, he breaks down what changes from $0 to $1M, $1M to $10M, and $10M to $100M+, why the wrong people are one of the most expensive mistakes in business, and why resourcefulness will beat resources almost every time.
00:00 Intro
05:34 Shark Tank, Bootstrapping, Franchising, and Scaling the Brand
11:12 Working on the Business, Building Systems, and Key Business Books
14:33 Education, Hiring for Values, Leadership Roles, and Surviving Downturns
18:12 The Cost of Wrong Hires, Resourcefulness, and the College Hunks Brand
23:47 Delayed Payoffs, Staying Focused, and the Get-Rich-Slow Approach
26:19 Scaling from $1 Million to $100 Million and Choosing Great Franchisees
30:33 Rapid-Fire Business Decisions, Selling the Company, and Omar’s Mother
33:15 Mentorship, Leaving Your Hometown, and Omar’s Legacy
Follow Omar Soliman:
Website: https://omarsoliman.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omarsolimanceo/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-soliman-8119791/
Learn more about College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving:
Website: https://www.collegehunkshaulingjunk.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegehunks/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/compa....ny/college-hunks-hau
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Eddie Maalouf is the founder of Bad Marketing, an agency doing roughly $18 million a year — but at the beginning, he couldn’t convince businesses to let him run their ads for free.
Before building the agency, Eddie became the number-one sales rep by volume across Lifetime Fitness, learning a skill he believes means he can never truly go broke: selling.
He walked away from the safety of a high-paying career path, went to work for his family for $2,000 a month, and helped generate an additional $1 million in profit.
From there, he built his agency from his mom’s house, reinvested aggressively, mastered client acquisition, and eventually landed massive opportunities including working with Yeezy.
Then he took the same mentality into acquisitions — negotiating a struggling restaurant concept from a $1 million asking price down to a $130,000 deal.
Today, he’s rebuilding Scoville, expanding locations, running multiple companies, and still treating every dollar like a resource that needs to produce.
In this episode, Eddie breaks down sales psychology, marketing, hiring, agency margins, negotiation, acquisitions, organic content, and the mistakes that quietly destroy businesses.
00:00 Intro
01:07 Introduction and BAD Marketing’s $18 Million Agency
03:03 Why Most Marketing Agencies Fail and Building Credibility
07:09 Eddie’s Lifetime Fitness Sales System
12:23 Learning Marketing, Mastering Sales, and Leaving His Job
16:01 From 4Media to BAD Marketing
20:35 Landing Major Clients Through Relationships and Content
23:37 Hiring, Delegating, and Replacing Yourself
27:53 Building a More Profitable Marketing Agency
30:35 Buying Scoville Hot Chicken for $130,000
35:16 Fixing Scoville’s Product, Menu, and Profitability
39:23 Push vs. Pull Marketing and Creating Your Own Demand
43:18 Using Money as a Tool for Growth
Find Eddie Maalouf here:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/eddiemaalouf
BAD Marketing: badmarketing.com
Scoville Hot Chicken: scovillechicken.com
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Ronnen Harary helped build one of the most powerful toy empires in the world. He started at 23 with handmade Earth Buddies, selling them on the streets before landing Kmart.
Then came the failures: dead products, empty shelves, missed opportunities, and the billion-dollar mistake of passing on Beyblade.
But that failure became the lesson that built Bakugan.
And Bakugan became the bridge to Paw Patrol.
From toys to TV shows to digital games, Ronnen learned how to turn imagination into global franchises.
His company went from humble beginnings to billions in revenue, with characters that reached kids in over 150 countries.
This is a story about missing, learning, moving fast, killing what does not work, and betting on what feels like magic. Because sometimes the thing that hurts the most becomes the reason you win.
00:00 Intro
02:26 Starting Spin Master and Early Products
05:03 Landing the First Major Kmart Order
09:20 Scaling Production and Building the Early Team
12:24 Testing Toys, Handling Failure, and Moving On
17:58 Passing on Beyblade
19:41 Creating Bakugan from an Inventor’s Idea
24:31 Turning Bakugan into a Global Franchise
30:20 Licensing, Entertainment, and the Disney Model
34:47 Developing Paw Patrol
39:02 Launching Paw Patrol Through Nickelodeon
41:28 International Business and Building Trust Overseas
46:59 Travel, Inspiration, and the Bakery Side Business
49:15 Why Your 20s Are the Best Decade to Start
53:31 The Future of Toys and Offline Play
56:50 What Happens When a Toy Fails
59:27 Legacy, Final Advice, and Closing
Find Ronnen Harary here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noexpnec/
Check out his book!
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.....com/books/789812/no
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I interviewed the LEGEND Kevin O’ Leary 🤯 I asked him how he got RICH and the number one thing that keeps people broke in today’s world! I also asked him whether or not people should give money to family members after they become millionaires and his best dating advice for entrepreneurs. Lastly, I asked him the best advice he’d give the younger generation. #wealth #entrepreneur #financialfreedom #motivation
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#shorts
Learn from the millionaires and billionaires we interview on calls every week. Sign up for our community here: https://www.skool.com/schoolofmentors/about
Kendra Scott is one of the most inspiring entrepreneurs in America — a single mom and college dropout who built a billion-dollar brand from her bedroom. Starting with just $500 and a card table, Kendra turned handmade jewelry into one of the most successful fashion empires in the country, now with over 170 stores and a valuation in the billions.
In this episode, Kendra opens up about how she went from near bankruptcy to building a brand rooted in family, fashion, and philanthropy. She shares how a failed hat business became the foundation for her success, why she refused to sacrifice motherhood for ambition, and how authenticity and grit turned her into a global icon.
From shipping Nordstrom orders out of her kitchen to teaching entrepreneurship at the University of Texas, Kendra’s story is proof that no degree, no investors, and no excuses can’t stop someone with relentless purpose.
This is the real “School of Hard Knocks” — from a woman who built it the hard way.
Find Kendra Scott here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialkendrascott/
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Learn from the millionaires and billionaires we interview on calls every week. Sign up for our community here: https://www.skool.com/schoolofmentors/about
Mike Sherbakov came to America from Russia at five years old, with a family chasing freedom and starting from nothing.
As a child, he slept in a dresser drawer. As a young man, 9/11 pushed him into the Marine Corps.
There, he learned the lesson that shaped everything: when you think you’re done, you’re not even close. After the military, Mike refused a life with a ceiling.
He built his first fitness business, sold companies, made angel investments, and slowly became the kind of investor founders fight to have on their cap table. His portfolio has grown to 130 companies, with outcomes reaching into the billions.
Today, through The Veteran Fund, he backs veteran-led companies building critical technology across defense, space, energy, AI, robotics, and the future of America.
This is a conversation about freedom, discipline, risk, immigration, military grit, venture capital, and why the best founders are usually the ones who refuse to quit.
00:00 Intro
01:13 Immigration, Freedom, and Family Lessons
12:52 Marine Corps Lessons and Entrepreneurship
16:20 Veteran Leadership in Business
20:53 Venture Capital Basics and 100x Returns
32:08 Early Businesses and Becoming an Investor
42:22 First Checks and Investor Mistakes
46:43 Founder Track Records and Strategic Capital
53:09 AI, Software, and Space Investing
56:59 Future Industries and Venture Fund Mechanics
01:13:35 SPVs, Deal Flow, and Fundraising Lessons
01:18:50 Final Principles and Closing
Find Mike Sherbakov here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikesherbakov/
Enjoyed this video? Please leave a like and subscribe! - @TheSchoolofHardKnocksPodcast
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Robert Kiyosaki went from failing in school, and living out of his car… to owning 15,000 rental properties and redefining how the world thinks about money.
In this raw sit-down with the School of Hard Knocks, the Rich Dad, Poor Dad author exposes why traditional education, 401Ks, and “work hard, save money” are the fastest paths to a quietly desperate life.
He breaks down how he uses debt instead of fears it, why cash flow matters more than income, and how one board game has taught more real-world wealth than most business degrees.
Robert opens up about losing everything, getting betrayed, almost costing his dad his house, and the $30M “hard knock” that forced him to rebuild with smarter partners and brutal honesty.
We talk men losing their edge, victim mentality vs responsibility, why most teachers are broke, and what it really takes to stand back up when nobody’s coming to save you.
If you’re stuck in the corporate rat race, scared of debt, or still believing your house is your biggest asset, this episode will punch through your excuses and your comfort zone.
By the end, you’ll know exactly why the rich don’t work for money… and how to start playing the game they’ve been playing all along.
Find Robert Kiyosaki here
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealkiyosaki/
Enjoyed this video? Please leave a like and subscribe! - Hard Knocks Podcast
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Karlton Dennis is one of the most inspiring and strategic entrepreneurs you’ll ever hear about. After turning down a promising path in professional sports, Karlton jumped into the business world from zero, working as a personal trainer and wine salesman. Determined to break through, he taught himself tax strategy and discovered the fastest legal path to building wealth.
Today, Karlton runs one of the top tax firms in the country, has helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs scale and protect their income, and legally pays zero dollars in taxes. He’s now a sought-after CEO, mentor, and educator who teaches people how to master money and escape the tax trap.
In this podcast, Karlton shares his early career struggles, the turning points that changed everything, and the exact systems that helped him build a multi-million dollar empire — lessons anyone can use to grow in business, mindset, and legacy.
Karlton Dennis
Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/karltondennis
Youtube: @karltondennis
Enjoyed this video? Please leave a like and subscribe! - Hard Knocks Podcast
Follow our main YouTube channel here: / @theschoolofhardknocks
Learn from the millionaires and billionaires we interview on calls every week. Sign up for our community here: https://www.skool.com/schoolofmentors/about
Subscribe to our newsletter: https://schoolofhardknocks.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Check Out Our Merchandise Here: http://shophardknocks.com
Our Equipment and Books We Recommend: https://www.amazon.com/shop/theschoolofhardknocks
Want to start a business but not sure what to build? We teamed up with Bizee to create a free AI planner that helps you find business ideas based on your skills, time, and budget, then map out your first 30 days. Get your free AI planner: https://bizee.com/creators/sohk-ai-planner
Join the School of Hard Knocks Community to learn directly from 7, 8, and 9-Figure entrepreneurs every week: https://www.skool.com/school-of-mentors-1850/about
Check out Wade Myers here: @EagleVentureFund
Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://schoolofhardknocks.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Enjoyed The Video? Please Leave a Like and Subscribe! ❤️ - School Of Hard Knocks
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Our Equipment and Books We Recommend: https://www.amazon.com/shop/theschoolofhardknocks
#shorts
