#15: Alexis & Jason Drees

Grant Baldwin describes himself as a “normal dude” who has earned millions delivering 500+ paid speaking engagements around the world. He founded The Speaker Lab to teach what he’s learned about communication and connection – two of the most critical skills to advance your career or grow your business.

In this episode, Grant talks about his journey from burned out youth pastor to well-paid keynote speaker and shares practical tips you can use to become a more effective storyteller, marketer, and leader today.

Grant also talks about:
- How to command a room even if you’re not a confident speaker
- Exactly how to plan a “best man” speech or any other type of talk
- The two questions every audience needs you to answer
- How he’d improve Brandon’s “bathroom mirror” story
- Why he invests most of his money back into his own business
- How he ensures his kids don’t grow up spoiled
- His family’s approach to charitable giving
- Getting his pilot’s license

Books Mentioned:
- 48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller
- The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
- 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy

Connect with [Grant: 

Book: The Successful Speaker: Five Steps for Booking Gigs, Getting Paid, and Building Your Platform 

https://www.amazon.com/Successful-Speaker-Booking-Building-Platform/dp/0801094089

The Speaker Lab Podcast https://thespeakerlab.com/podcast/

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

Website: https://grantbaldwin.com/

Connect with us!

Website: https://abetterlife.com/

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

https://www.instagram.com/beardybrandon

Grant’s charitable cause (100% of ad revenue goes here):
- The Make-A-Wish Foundation https://wish.org/

Show Sponsor:
- Podcast Pointman, the podcast agency that produces this very show and a handful of other Top-1% podcasts. Watch the podcast growth masterclass here: https://www.podcastpointman.com

Interested in building wealth without losing your soul? Join the BetterLife Tribe here: https://join.abetterlife.com/tribe

Brian Tibbs is a real estate investor, former missionary, and author whose book “The HACKER Method” reveals how he built a multimillion dollar net worth while making minimum wage overseas. 

In this episode, Brian spells out exactly how he achieved financial freedom with limited income, and makes the case that anyone can (but most won’t) do the same if they follow the steps he teaches here.

He also talks about:
- Living modestly while planting churches overseas
- How to save half your income no matter how little you make
- His short-term rental strategy and where he buys
- His 50-40-10 budget
- Building wealth as a person of faith
- Giving away 10% of your income
- Treating yourself with rewards for hard work

Books Mentioned:
- 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell
- The Bible, specifically Matthew 25, Parable of The Talents
- The HACKER Method: The Unexpected Investor's Guide to Building Wealth (Even On Limited Income) 

Connect with Brian: 

Buy The HACKER Method https://www.amazon.com/HACKER-Method-Unexpected-Investors-Building/dp/1962074129

Website: TheUnexpectedInvestor.com

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

TikTok: @unexpectedinvestor

Brian’s charitable cause (100% of ad revenue goes here):
- Hushabye Nursery, a nursery caring for newborn babies exposed to opioids during pregnancy https://www.hushabyenursery.org/

Show Sponsor: 

Podcast Pointman, the full-service podcast agency that produces this show. Watch the free masterclass, 5 Ways to Grow Your Show, here.

John Cooper is the lead singer and founding member of Skillet, one of the best-selling Christian rock groups of all time. He’s also a podcaster and author whose latest book is called “Wimpy, Weak, and Woke: How Truth Can Save America from Utopian Destruction.”

John sits down with Brandon to talk about the band’s rise; raising a family while touring the world with his band; how he defines wokeness and why he feels compelled to speak out against it now; and his alternate vision for a brighter future.

He also talks about: 
- His personal religious journey in the wake of his mother passing away from cancer
- Learning to treat his music career like a business 
- How he and his wife divide responsibilities and stay in their lanes
- Why he warns Christian families not to send their kids to public school
- The Marxist origins of Critical Race Theory (CRT) 
- The Black Lives Matter riots in his hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Woke ideology infiltrating Chrstian church leadership
- Why he believes more people than ever will be born again as Christians in 2024

Books Mentioned:
- The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
- The Unshakeable Kingdom and the Unchanging Person by E. Stanley Jones
- A Conflict of Visions by Thomas Sowell
- Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Connect with John:
- Buy his book the only place it’s available: https://johnlcooper.com/
- Hawk and Hatchet beard products
- His weekly podcast, Cooper Stuff

John’s charitable cause (100% of ad revenue donated here)
- Samaritan’s Purse, which provides disaster relief and humanitarian aid to people in physical need

Show Sponsor
- Podcast Pointman, the podcast agency that produces this show. Watch the free masterclass, 5 Ways to Grow Your Show, here

Scott Harrison is the founder of charity: water, one of the world’s most impactful and highly-rated charities. 

In this episode, you’ll learn how Scott walked away from his “degenerate” life as a nightclub promoter; how volunteering on a hospital ship inspired him to launch a charity despite having no money and no experience; and the life and business lessons he’s learned while raising nearly $1 billion without any government involvement.

Scott also talks about:
- His “Prodigal Son” journey away from faith and virtue and back
- How and why he finally walked away from a superficial life of drugs, gambling, “bottles and models” 
- His life-changing experience on a hospital ship in Liberia
- Advice for taking a daunting challenge, step-by-step
- Why access to clean water is ultimately a money problem
- Bringing storytelling and Nike-inspired marketing principles to the world of charity
- What he’s learned about hiring, delegating, and leading teams
- Why he still doesn’t think big enough at times

Connect with Scott:
- His Instagram
- His book, Thirst: A Story of Redemption, Compassion, and a Mission to Bring Clean Water to the World

Scott’s charitable cause:
- Donate directly to charity: water here
- The Spring membership
- 100% of net proceeds from Scott’s book go to charity: water projects around the world

Interested in building wealth without losing your soul? Join the BetterLife Tribe here

Bob and Linda Lotich are authors and personal finance teachers whose work has reached 15 million people over 15+ years.

In this episode, they tell the story of rebuilding their own "financial house of cards" in their 20s, how simplicity helps you build wealth, talking about money with your spouse, spenders vs. savers in marriages, and how they became the go-to financial voice for Christians worldwide.

They also talk about:
- What the Bible really says about money
- Their #1 tip for avoiding "money marriage fights"
- Their approach to debt and why they paid off their mortgage
- How you can feel wealthier without earning any more money
- How "giving til it hurts" actually leads to more abundance
- Compounding your money vs. giving it away throughout your life
- Increasing your income in nontraditional ways
- What they've learned from almost 20 years of making money online

Books Mentioned:
- Smith Wigglesworth: The Secret of His Power by Albert Hibbert
- The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath by Mark Buchanan
- The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
- Die with Zero by Bill Perkins
- Simple Money, Rich Life by Bob Lotich

Bob and Linda's Charitable Cause:
- Hope International, a Christian non-profit organization that teaches entrepreneurship and micro-lending in poverty-stricken areas

Connect with Bob and Linda
- Their website, https://seedtime.com/
- Instagram
- Their book: Simple Money, Rich Life

Sponsor: Whitestone Coaching with Peter Awad. Peter's built multiple 7-figure companies and will help you grow your business without sacrificing your freedom and relationships.

Noah Kagan is an entrepreneur, Youtube creator, and author whose company, AppSumo, does $80M+ in annual revenue.

In this episode, Noah explains the framework behind his new book, "Million Dollar Weekend" and walks you through the process of launching 7-figure business in 48 hours. 

He even puts Brandon to the test, challenging him to produce a business idea on the spot and call up a potential investor live on air.

Noah also talks about: 
- Getting fired as the 30th employee of Facebook and missing out on a giant payday... and why that might have been a good thing
- How to build a $1M business in a weekend (Step 1 is NOT ordering business cards)
- The many, many ways to get rich in today's economy
- Riding on private jets and yachts with billionaire strangers... just because he asked
- How to rewire your brain to get comfortable asking for what you want
- How to take on the "Coffee Challenge" and the power of the mantra "Now, Not How"
- Quickly launching a Docusign competitor with none of his own money
- Why Brandon's wooden sunglasses e-com business failed
- Setting unambitious goals for himself and his business
- The routine he started 3 years ago that makes him a much better leader
- Finding the right spouse or partner
- How to choose coaches in various aspects of business and life

Books mentioned:
- Million Dollar Weekend by Noah Kagan
- A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller
- The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron

Connect with Noah:
- MillionDollarWeekend.com
- Noah's Youtube channel
- Twitter
- Instagram
- TikTok

Sponsor: Whitestone Coaching with Peter Awad. Text "BetterLife" (one word) to 55444 to connect with Peter.

Noah's Charitable Cause: Funding the purchase of laptops for an underfunded school on Maui

Join the Tribe:
- https://abetterlife.com/

Diego Corzo is a real estate investor and agent, entrepreneur, and advocate for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children.

In this episode, Diego shares his story of immigrating from Peru at age 9; overcoming a speech disorder; and seeking out successful mentors who helped him become a millionaire through real estate and business before the age of 30.

He also talk about:
- What life was like Peru and in the weeks and months after he arrived in Florida on a tourist visa
- Creating his own scholarship and selling study guides to pay his way through college
- Practical tips for finding and keeping mentors, including the "book report video" trick
- Riding a bike to and from jobs because he couldn't get a driver's license
- Speaking in front of Congress and visiting the White House to discuss DACA legislation
- His thoughts on a path to citizenship for DREAMers who arrived in this country as children
- How he became a successful realtor by apprenticing under a mentor
- How he became the first non-millionaire in Gobundance, the mastermind for "healthy, wealthy, generous men"
- Buying a "2% rule" rental house without immigration papers at age 23
- How he used money partners and "unfair advantages" to buy investment property
- His experience with rent-by-the-room and Airbnb
- Prioritizing experiences over material belongings and the value of organizing unforgettable 1:1 trips with your parents
- His own mastermind, The FI Investors, which talks about not only how to achieve financial independence but what comes next

Books mentioned:
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad
- Think and Grow Rich
- Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell

Diego's Charitable Cause:
- Immigrants Rising, an organization that provides financial, mental health, and career pathing resources to undocumented students

Sponsor: BetterLife Real Estate Funding (REF), which provides Hard Money, DSCR, Conventional, and Portfolio loans specifically tailored to real estate investors' unique needs

Connect with Diego:
- FI Investors' 2024 resources: E-Book, goal-setting worksheet, and more
- @realdiegocorzo on Instagram

Join the Tribe:
- https://abetterlife.com/

Aaron Hale is a former Army bomb disposal tech who, after being severely injured in Afghanistan and losing his sight and hearing, has gone on to run ultramarathons, start a successful confections company, and build a cash-flowing real estate portfolio.

In this episode, you'll hear why Aaron left a cushy gig as a Navy chef to tackle one of the riskiest jobs in the world. He also shares a detailed account of his injury; exactly what it feels like to go blind and deaf; how he travels, cooks, climbs mountains, and leads teams; and the silver linings he's found along the way.

Aaron also talks about:
- What it felt like to be blinded by an improvised explosive device and the immediate aftermath of the blast
- His recovery at Walter Reed, and going from "why did this happen to me" to "why is this happening for me"
- How not consuming TV or social media content has affected his productivity
- The role cooking played in his recovery and founding a successful fudge company
- Running a 135-mile race in Death Valley and kayaking through whitewater rapids while blind
- His first real estate deal, where nothing went according to plan 
- How he BRRRR'd a Short Term Rental
- His advice to his younger self  
- An epic quote that Brandon might steal

Books mentioned:
- The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership
- Man's Search for Meaning
- The Book on Managing Rental Properties by Brandon Turner

Aaron's charitable cause:

Building Homes for Heroes, a 501(c)(3) that builds and modifies homes for gold star families and injured first responders. Aaron was a recipient of their work; see his story here.

Sponsor: BetterLife Tribe, our accountability mastermind dedicated to helping you build wealth without losing your soul

Connect with Aaron:
- Point of Impact Podcast
- Aaron's company, EODFudge
- EOD Fudge TikTok ("Cookin without Lookin")

Scott Donnell is a financial literacy expert and serial entrepreneur who has helped more than 6 million families learn how to earn, spend, save and invest. 

In this episode, Scott shares the exact steps you can take to instill healthy, wealthy money habits in your kids and family. 

He also talks about:
- Why Gen Z is pessimistic about their economic future and skeptical about investing 
- The dangers of “first-generation wealth”
- How he gets his kids to clean up after themselves and help out around the house
- The “quarter system” he uses to reward and discipline his kids without anyone losing their cool
- Leaving your kids “heritage, not inheritance”
- His thoughts on Dave Ramsey and Grant Cardone
- How he founded, bootstrapped and sold a fast-growing school fundraising company
- What kids learn by participating in business fares
- How the GravyStack system replaces chores with paid “gigs” and puts them in charge of expenses
- His religious faith and how it’s intertwined with family
- A hack for keeping rebellious teenagers out of trouble 

Books mentioned:
- Value Creation Kid: The Healthy Struggles Your Children Need to Succeed by Scott Donnell
- Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Justin Whitmel Earley
- Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg
- The Road Less Stupid
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Connect with Scott:
- Instagram
- TikTok
- GravyStack (Use code DINNER30 when you download the app for 30 days free)

Scott’s Charitable Cause:

Gravystack's giving fund providing scholarships for inner-city kids who can't afford the membership.

David Pere is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who's helped tens of thousands of fellow military veterans accelerate their journey to financial freedom through his From Military to Millionaire podcast, books, Facebook group, Youtube channel, events, and War Room mastermind.

In this episode, David talks about transitioning from the military (or any W-2 career for that matter) to business ownership and real estate investing; the importance of connecting with a tribe when taking on a big challenge; and how he's built wealth and freedom on the strength of a middle-class salary.

He also talks about:

- Getting inspired by Rich Dad, Poor Dad as a broke Marine who'd blown his savings on motorcycles, tattoos, and dates

- The camaraderie he felt with his platoon while deployed, and his experience hitting a roadside bomb

- Getting into real estate via house hacking and why he still does it

- His take on the VA loan, "the best primary residence loan on the market"

- His #1 piece of advice for military members who want to set themselves up to build wealth during and after their service

- Why he left the military and how owning a business and real estate helped him make that leap earlier

- What he learned from a long-distance house flip gone bad

- The best and worst real estate deals he's done and what he's learned ("call your attorney before things go off the rails!")

- Getting involved in a 4-year lawsuit over a real estate transaction

- Balancing the Cardone/10X mentality with caution to avoid financial disaster

- His tips for building a personal brand

- Getting past the "BMW" (Below Minimum Wage) phase of starting a business or side hustle

- Carving out quality time with his 7-year-old son and navigating a divorce as a dad and stepdad

- Who you should – and should not – take advice from

David's Charitable Cause:

Heal the Heroes, which hosts healing retreats and experiences for military veterans and first responders working through trauma and the transition to civilian roles

Books Mentioned:

- Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

- The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down by Brandon Turner

- Invest in Debt by Jimmy Napier

- Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt

- 10X is Easier than 2X by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Connect with David: 

- TheBestPodcastGuest.com (really!)

- Instagram

- Military to Millionaire Facebook Group

- Military to Millionaire website