The Hunt for Incredible

What if the only thing standing between you and your dream life is a lie you keep telling yourself? When Courtney Johnson got laid off, she finally stopped building personal brands for everyone else and went all-in on her own—landing a book deal with Penguin Random House and 500K+ followers in record time.What You'll Learn:Why opportunities go to the loudest, not the most qualified—and how to leverage that truthThe childhood programming keeping you from posting consistently (and how to override it)The "pottery class principle" that separates content creators who win from those who quitWhy paying for your peers accelerates success faster than any strategy"If you're going to complain about something, go create it yourself. The market rewards creators." — Courtney JohnsonReady to stop lying to yourself about what's possible? Press play and discover the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

What if you could buy a hotel without spending a penny of your own money? That's exactly what one investor in Gideon's community did—and in this solo episode, Gideon breaks down the exact strategies that make deals like this possible.The four questions that unlock seller motivation and turn "no" into creative deal structuresWhy asking for seller financing upfront kills your credibility—and how to position it as a benefit insteadMaster lease agreements: the "most beautiful and least utilized" method for building massive equity with minimal capitalHow Gideon stacked three financing methods on one hotel deal to slash his cash requirement"You're not trying to solve the problem of just getting to close—you're trying to solve the seller's problem post-close."Whether you're eyeing your first commercial deal or looking to stretch your capital further, this episode hands you the playbook. Listen now and start structuring deals that actually pencil.

What if the path to 250 rental units didn't require outside investors, fancy strategies, or lucky breaks—just years of living on $20 a day while driving Uber at night? Luke Carl built a real estate empire the hard way, and he's brutally honest about every punch to the face along the way.The "dumb luck" transition: Luke didn't strategically target short-term rentals—he simply couldn't afford Nashville anymore and pivoted to the next town over where overnight rentals were the normWhy NOW is the buying window: Interest rates are dropping but property prices haven't caught up yet, creating a rare moment of increased purchasing power before values riseThe 14-unit cleaner threshold: To keep quality housekeepers loyal and full-time, you need approximately 14 properties feeding one crew—anything less and you're competing with InstacartTax loophole for W-2 earners: Short-term rentals allow material participation + bonus depreciation even with a day job—impossible in any other asset class"We were literally living on $20 a day for several years to throw money in the pot for the next down payment."- Luke CarlDiscover how Luke scaled to 250 units while keeping operations lean with just three team members—and why he says the best time to buy beach houses is right now.Check out Luke on his socials and website: Instagram: @lukecashflowcarlWebsite: https://theshorttermshop.com/

Hotel investor Gideon Spencer sat down with Terry Knight to share the raw story behind his boutique hotel empire—including the four-month period when his wife became bedridden, his mom got cancer, and his dad faced heart failure. They dove deep into how that crisis forced Gideon to abandon his tech career and go straight for commercial real estate with zero experience.In this conversation with Terry, Gideon reveals:The "Mentor Flywheel" strategy that let to the first hotel partnership without any real estate backgroundHow Gideon negotiated my first deal from $8.5M down to $6M by understanding seller motivationsThe exact automation systems running 150+ hotel units at 95% efficiencyWhy Baby Boomers retiring creates a 2-year window for acquiring hotels at massive discountsThe counterintuitive approach to evaluating hotels with zero financial records"You don't have to know anything. You literally just need to sell a vision to somebody who knows that thing." - Gideon SpencerTerry Knight hosts a top entrepreneurship podcast featuring 8- and 9-figure earners sharing their wealth-building strategies. Listen to the full conversation about pivoting from tech to hotels, automating operations, and why selling massive visions is easier than small ones.

Hotel investor Gideon Spencer joins Bronson Hill on the Mailbox Money Show for a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what really happens when you go all-in on commercial real estate—while your entire life is falling apart.Most real-estate conversations glamorize the deal. But for Gideon, buying his first boutique hotel wasn’t a business play—it was survival. With his wife bedridden, both parents fighting for their lives, and no safety net, he was forced to compress years of growth into months. What followed was a total identity shift, a crash course in high-leverage rooms, and the mindset transformation that turned an overwhelmed operator into a boutique-hotel owner in record time.Gideon and Bronson dismantle the myths around “passive” real estate and reveal the mindset frameworks that create real wealth—not just bigger assets.The High-Concentration Strategy: Why small curated rooms outperform massive conferences—and how they 10x your deal flowThe Mortality Moment: How nearly losing his entire family forced Gideon into commercial real estate overnightThe Boutique Hotel Advantage: Why this asset class is the next major wave after self-storage and multifamilyThe Identity Reconstruction Process: How Gideon uses “I Am” statements to delete self-limiting beliefs instantlyThe Zero-to-Hotel Path: How he bought a hotel without knowing a single hotel owner beforehand“Buying a $20M hotel only sounds crazy until you hang out with people who think that’s normal.” — Gideon Spencer

What if your biggest barrier to wealth isn't knowledge or capital—it's your own self-worth? Bronson Hill walked away from his $200k/year medical sales career to become a general partner in $250 million worth of real estate after discovering the shocking pattern among 2,500 millionaires he's personally interviewed.The "wealth worthiness" concept that separates millionaires from everyone else (86% of millionaires are self-made, not inherited)How he raised $15 million while working full-time by stacking 1,000 phone calls in 18 monthsThe counterintuitive farming vs. hunting approach that attracts high-net-worth investorsWhy your morning self-talk literally rewires your cellular response to opportunitiesThe secret room strategy where lonely millionaires pay to solve each other's problems"I walk into a room with the confidence and authority of a king—after saying it for six months, it started manifesting in my life." - Bronson Hill"Once you've done impossible things, you keep creating stuff people said was impossible." - Bronson HillDiscover the exact mindset shifts and tactical strategies that help ordinary people build extraordinary wealth.Check out Bronson Hill at his website and socials!https://bronsonequity.com/@bronsondavidhill

From negative net worth to $30 million in assets in just five years—Adit Shah worked for FREE for an entire year to break into real estate development. This Navy veteran's unconventional path reveals the exact playbook anyone can follow to achieve financial freedom by age 26.Key revelations from this episode:The "100 Email Strategy" that landed him a mentor when 99 developers said no—and why increasing your surface area of luck is everythingWhy making ZERO dollars your first three years is actually the smartest move (and how playing a 20-year game changes everything)The exact steps to take with $0, $10,000, or $50,000 to break into commercial real estate TODAYHow joining the right community took him from one deal per year to $20 million in acquisitions in 9 monthsThe counterintuitive approach to raising $10M+ by focusing on WHO, not HOW"There's no problem in not making any money in your first one to three years. Chuck the idea of making money and focus on acquiring the most experience in the shortest time possible." - Adit ShahListen now to discover the high-leverage mindset shift that separates six-figure earners from millionaire developers.Check out Adit Shah at his Instagram and Website!@housebenderhttps://www.housebender.com/

What does it take to go from living in your parents' basement to building an $80 million real estate empire in just seven years? Ben Kall was plowing snow at 2AM when he had his breaking point—watching the property owner sleep while he froze outside doing the work. That single moment of clarity launched a journey that would transform a broke former D1 football coach into a financial freedom case study.Key Insights:The brutal truth about scaling: Ben and his partner managed a $60 million portfolio with just ONE virtual assistant—pure brute force that nearly broke them before they learned to work through peopleThe mentor flywheel unlocked: How asking two simple questions ("What's your goal?" and "What's your biggest challenge?") turned strangers into business partners on million-dollar dealsWhy it's easier to make $1M than $100K: The "two-mile principle" that forces you to find completely different vehicles when your goal is far enough awayFriends and family to 80 investors: How eight initial investors became 80 through referrals alone—no social media, no ads, just delivering on promises"I was plowing snow at two in the morning and realized the person I'm working for doesn't even know it's snowing. He's getting paid and I'm out here grinding away from my family again. That's when I decided I needed to become an investor." — Ben KallListen now to discover the exact mindset shifts that took Ben from property manager to portfolio owner, and why his first $1.5 million storage deal changed everything.Check out Ben on Instagram!@ben_Kall_www.LegacyInvestmentGroup.comwww.WaukeeStorage.comwww.MN-Storage.com

Ever wondered how some people fly first class for $6 while you're stuck paying thousands? Jack McColl, the "King of Credit," reveals the underground strategies banks don't want you to know—from stacking $150K in 0% interest business funding without tax returns to booking $21,000 business class trips for 150,000 points. This isn't about credit card debt; it's about weaponizing the financial system to build your empire.In this episode, you'll discover:The Chase "loophole" that lets you roll 0% interest credit across credit cardsWhy using points in your bank portal is costing you 10X the value (and the transfer bonus hack that changes everything)How Jack booked a $10,000 Bora Bora overwater villa for 185,000 points instead of a millionThe real reason business owners need 50+ credit cards (and how to manage them without losing your mind)Jack's journey from economy backpacker to owning a private plane—and how you can too"I'm very pro-freedom. If I can help people get access to money so they can scale their business and create the life they want, that's what drives me." - Jack McColl

Hotel investor Gideon Spencer sits down with Brian Luebben on his podcast, Action Academy, for a masterclass on the brutal realities nobody talks about after buying your first business.Most acquisition advice stops at the deal closing—leaving new owners drowning in operations they never planned for. Brian and hospitality investor Gideon Spencer expose the brutal truth: buying the asset is only 33% of the journey.In this no-BS breakdown, they reveal the missing phases that separate passive income dreamers from actual wealth builders—plus the four business pillars that determine whether your acquisition prints money or bleeds it.What You'll Discover:The Gap Strategy - Why cloning competitors keeps you average, and how identifying their biggest weakness captures untapped market share instantlyThe $100K Pre-Product Launch - How Brian generated six figures before creating an LLC, bank account, or even finishing his offer (and why this validates everything)Profit First Reality Check - The cash flow framework that put a million dollars in Brian's pocket after years of "reinvesting" himself brokeThe One-Three-One Framework - How to train employees to solve problems independently instead of making you the bottleneck"We did $100,000 in revenue for Action Academy before I had a bank account, a business, an LLC, or even a product." - Brian Luebben

What if the person holding you back from your dream life is the exact version of yourself you're clinging to? Eric Hinman was drowning in the "work hard, play hard" lifestyle of his twenties—overweight, exhausted, and convinced happiness came from bars and buying nice things. Then one decision to hire a personal trainer unlocked a transformation that led him from 200+ pounds and brain fog to becoming an elite endurance athlete and successful angel investor. In this raw conversation, Eric reveals:The "autopilot method" for building unbreakable habits without relying on motivation (spoiler: it's not willpower)Why the shiny object syndrome of social media success is keeping you from doing what actually works—and the one question that cuts through the noiseThe exact progression from 30-minute gym sessions to qualifying for Kona: how compounding small wins creates extraordinary resultsThe counterintuitive training secret that made him slower before he got faster—and why pushing harder was sabotaging his progress"I recognized that with triathlon, it's just a grunt work sport, similar to business—if you have the right mentors and execute day in and day out, you can take it really far." - Eric Hinman

What if breaking your back was the best thing that ever happened to your business? When Jordan Malara's skiing accident left him bedridden, it forced him to do the one thing holding him back from massive scale: delegate. Fast forward to today—he's turned his time in the army and his short-term rental expertise into a growing boutique hotel portfolio, including one "dumpster fire" property complete with daily police visits, homeless squatters, and weed plants growing in the alleyway.In this high-energy conversation, you'll discover:The creative financing blueprint that let Jordan acquire hotels with just 10-15% down (using SBA loans + seller financing)How he added 20% revenue in 30 days using only dynamic pricing—before even closing on the propertyWhy the biggest hotel deals often look like disasters on the surface (and how to spot hidden gold)The mindset shift that transforms every business obstacle into an exciting puzzle to solveWhy surrounding yourself with the right people matters more than talent, capital, or experience"Life is about who you're becoming through the work—not just the outcome itself." - Jordan Malara

What if the biggest mistake you're making right now is thinking too small? When Adam Goldberg transformed a Sedona bed and breakfast into a million-dollar wedding destination, he discovered something that changed how he views every business decision—and it started with one brutally honest question most entrepreneurs never ask themselves.In this episode:The unconventional SBA strategy that helped Adam acquire prime Sedona real estate before the market exploded 400% (and why his decision NOT to build a restaurant saved his business)Why the "who" matters more than the "what"—Adam's framework for choosing mentors, partners, and deciding which rooms you actually belong in before the spaghetti starts falling out of your mouthThe Stalard Plan revealed: How thinking in 2-500 year timeframes instead of quarterly results completely transforms your approach to wealth, legacy, and what you're actually building"You can't go any faster than one day at a time. But when you look back and six months have passed, the time is gone. So who do you want to be? Where do you want to go? What does it look like at the end of the game?" — Adam Goldberg

What if losing everything was actually the beginning of your greatest success? When Rod Khleif watched $50 million disappear in the 2008 crash, most would have stayed down. Instead, he used five powerful mindset strategies to rebuild an even bigger real estate empire. This conversation reveals the psychology behind both massive failure and extraordinary recovery.What you'll discover:The "burning desire" goal-setting method that turns dreams into non-negotiable outcomesWhy your peer group determines your net worth more than your skills or knowledgeThe gratitude technique Rod used to manifest everything he wanted (including that $50M he lost)How separating your identity from your "vehicle" makes you virtually unstoppableThe counterintuitive reason giving back immediately accelerates wealth building"I wasn't a failure when I lost 50 million dollars. I felt like one for a little bit, but the bottom line is it failed—I didn't fail" - Rod Khleif

What if the fastest way to scale isn't better systems or more capital, but becoming a completely different person? When Colt Moncla took on his first million-dollar roofing job, he had zero idea how to execute it. Today, that "fake it till you make it" mindset has built Cool Roofs into a $20M+ multi-state empire with 70+ sales reps.In this raw conversation, Colt reveals:Why "tour guide leadership" crushes traditional management (and how it created specialists who create specialists)The counterintuitive reason he waited 6 years before getting an office—and how this stewardship mindset accelerated growthHis unique "council of mentors" painting strategy that eliminates emotional business decisionsThe brutal personal shifts required to scale from startup founder to $20M+ CEOWhy thinking time beats hustle culture: his 45-minute "boredom sessions" that unlock breakthrough solutions"I tell people we're a personal development company that just so happens to do roofing. At the end of the day, we're in the people business." - Colt Moncla00:00 The Million Dollar Job with Zero Experience00:51 Introduction: Colt Moncla and Cool Roofs' $20M Journey02:15 What Cool Roofs Does: Personal Development Through Roofing03:29 Building Culture That Enables Scale05:02 Tour Guide vs Travel Agent Leadership Philosophy07:10 Gamification: Bronze to Platinum Ranking System08:55 The Council Painting: Think and Grow Rich Strategy12:16 The Power of Thinking Time and Boredom16:33 Origin Story: From Network Marketing to Door-to-Door19:53 The TPO Roof Deal: "I Have No Idea How to Do This"22:10 Taking Action Before You're Ready: The Neo Matrix Approach25:46 Startup vs Scale: Different Person, Different Challenges27:12 Personal Development Investment: John Maxwell Coaching30:29 Coaching Method: Questions Over Instructions33:48 Delegation Success Story: Full Autonomy and Trust36:07 Systems for Scale: Weekly Meetings and Structure37:55 Protecting CEO Time for Big Things, New Things, Broken Things41:45 People Positioning: The Key to Delegation43:55 "Say Yes, Then Figure It Out" Philosophy44:55 The CFO Advantage: Your Most Important Hire46:38 Key Scaling Questions: Energy, Growth, and Purpose50:56 Finding People Who Love What You Hate54:09 Closing: Baking a Cake and Team Building

What if every limitation holding you back was completely fabricated? In this episode, Daniel Schuler reveals how 7 years of coaching thousands of people taught him that we're only born with 2 fears—everything else is a lie we've learned to believe.In this conversation with identity and emotional intelligence coach Daniel Schuler, you'll discover:Why we're born with only 2 fears and how 100% of your other limitations are fabricated storiesThe difference between who you ARE versus what you DO—and why most people build their identity on the wrong foundationHow to use evidence-based thinking to shatter self-limiting beliefs that have no factual supportThe confession and repentance method for distinguishing between your voice and the voice of truthWhy "fake it till you make it" affirmations keep you trapped in lies—and what to do insteadThe internal compass system: How to align your actions with that quiet voice insideThe transformative question that breaks through any self-imposed limitation: "What's the biggest lie I believe about myself?""You are exactly where your story has gotten you. The circumstance is a one-time occurrence—it's the story that lasts a decade." – Daniel Schuler00:00 Introduction and Daniel's Background02:58 What Is Identity? Breaking Down the Core Concept04:58 Daniel's Personal Identity Through Faith07:12 Gideon's "I Am" Statement Process and Reading Story09:14 Daily Self-Regulation and Asking Specific Questions13:46 The Two Born Fears and Reprogramming Your Story16:04 Taking Accountability: You Built Your Current Reality19:43 Fact vs. Belief and Extreme Ownership23:48 Why "Fake It Till You Make It" Affirmations Fail27:08 Building Affirmations Rooted in Truth and Evidence31:23 Gideon's Community Building Self-Limiting Belief Discovery33:36 The Evidence Test: Being Better Lawyers for Yourself37:36 Internal Compass vs. Prefrontal Cortex Stories39:37 The Spiritual Dimension: Confession and Repentance45:57 Loud Voice vs. Soft Voice: Self-Preservation vs. Truth48:22 Gideon's Three-Part Alignment Model53:32 The Word Reading You: Scripture as Living Communication59:07 Releasing Ego and Questioning Religious Branding1:05:07 Gideon's Homeless Man Dream: "Branding Is Not Your Concern"1:07:48 Self-Preservation vs. Progression Voices1:09:25 How High Performers Identify Hidden Self-Blockers1:15:04 The 60-Year-Old Self Visualization Technique1:17:44 The Ultimate Question: What's the Biggest Lie You Believe?1:19:40 Closing Thoughts

What if a $300 repair could unlock $600,000 in value? Gideon Spencer shares how applying agile tech principles to real estate let him scale from a fourplex to boutique hotels in just two years.In this conversation with Rod Khleif, you’ll discover:How a single plumbing fix turned a $46K annual loss into a $600K value-addThe staff-light, 95% automated model that makes boutique hotels outperform traditional operatorsWhy dynamic pricing alone added ~$250K in asset valueHow Gideon scaled $6.5M of acquisitions with only $20K downThe mentor “flywheel” strategy that landed him five more hotelsWhy boutique hotels hit the perfect sweet spot: too big for the small guys, too small for the institutions“Cast a big enough vision, bring the right mentors on, and everything gets easier.” – Gideon Spencer00:00 Introduction & First $300 to $600K Story00:41 Rod Welcomes Gideon01:19 From Tech to Real Estate: Applying Agile03:15 Why Gideon Left Tech (Family Health Challenges)05:48 Building Wealth for Security & Shifting to Hotels07:32 Cross-Functional Teams and Daily Standups09:10 A/B Testing in Real Estate & Investor Outreach11:27 First Boutique Hotel Deal (24 Units in Solvang)13:39 Differentiation: Outdoor Space, Wine Partnerships, Weddings16:10 Scaling to Six Hotels & Choosing the Right Partners17:38 The Mentor Flywheel: Aligning Incentives for Deals21:16 Tech & Automation in Fourplex and Hotels24:33 Staff-Light Models & Improving the Bottom Line25:42 $300 Fix = $600K in Value (Detailed Breakdown)26:51 Dynamic Pricing Added ~$250K in Value28:04 Raising Capital with Minimal Upfront Cash29:42 Mindset: Solve Problems Instead of Saying “I Can’t”29:52 Outro & Gideon’s Podcast Mention

What happens when you stop playing it safe and start trusting your weirdest instincts? Bridgette and Blue from Funkidiz turned Facebook Marketplace finds into million-dollar differentiation strategies.In this raw conversation, you'll discover:Why the craziest design risks generate the highest returnsThe counterintuitive reason most short-term rental hosts are leaving money on the table by playing it conservativeHow to build a business with your romantic partner without destroying your relationship, along with their game changing approach to handling conflictThe exact mental framework for making gut decisions when everyone thinks you're crazyWhy commercial real estate is the natural progression for creative Airbnb operators - and how to make the leap"You just don't know what your capable of unless you just do it. " - BridgetteChapters00:00 Introduction to Funkidiz and Unique Designs01:39 Creative Risks and Unique Features in Rentals04:39 Authenticity in Branding and Design07:30 The Importance of Partnerships in Business09:38 Navigating Business Dynamics in Relationships12:24 Transitioning to Commercial Real Estate15:52 Innovative Concepts in Unique Stays20:07 Building a Strong Team and Community23:57 The Journey of a Successful First Deal25:35 The Role of Social Media in Business29:42 Finding Balance in Content Creation32:06 Navigating Operational Challenges34:19 Balancing Business and Personal Relationships37:23 The Importance of Coaching and Mentorship39:42 Effective Communication in Relationships43:03 Trusting Your Gut and Taking Risks45:24 Finding Joy in the Journey50:18 Embracing Failure as Part of Growth53:19 The Role of Ego in Personal Growth01:01:05 Questions for Success01:04:57 Podcast Outro.mp4

Benjamin Benomar is a real estate broker who cracked the code on rental income after 6 years as an agent helping 300+ clients. He created a system for tripling property revenue by managing 25 tenants with 99% occupancy.In this conversation, Benjamin reveals:How to turn $2,500 rent into $8,000 monthly revenue by converting single-family homes into co-living spacesThe 9-room transformation strategy that maximizes every square foot without violating occupancy lawsHis 99% occupancy system using Facebook groups and PadSplit to fill rooms in 24-48 hoursThe 100% commission brokerage model that lets agents keep maximum profits while funding co-living dealsWhy he targets the "Benjamin of 15 years ago" - the demographic sweet spot that pays on time and maintains propertiesHis path from 300+ transactions to broker and how real estate sales fund advanced investment strategies[00:00] The Grant Park Deal - Benjamin opens with his $2,500 to $8,000 transformation example from Atlanta[00:59] Meeting Benjamin - Gideon's intro about meeting in Whistler and Benjamin's multilingual background[02:42] What is a Brokerage? - Benjamin explains passing his broker exam and the leverage opportunity in real estate brokerages[04:18] Brokerage Revenue Models - Breaking down commission splits vs. Benjamin's 100% commission model[06:41] What is Co-Living? - Benjamin defines co-living as an advanced investment strategy that maximizes assets[08:21] The $8,000 Revenue Transformation - Complete breakdown of turning single-family rent into co-living cash flow[10:00] Co-Living Regulations - Navigating occupancy limits and why Benjamin bends rules in certain areas[12:11] The Target Demographic - Why Benjamin targets "the Benjamin of 15 years ago" in B and C+ class properties[15:06] Co-Living Buy Box Criteria - Location, size, privacy, parking requirements, and why HOAs are deal-killers[22:40] From Purchase to Move-In Ready - Renovation process, bathroom ratios, and property management setup[26:24] Filling Rooms Fast - PadSplit platform, Facebook groups, and the 24-48 hour occupancy strategy[28:00] Target Metrics - 15% cash-on-cash returns, $1,500 minimum cash flow, and appreciation strategy[30:03] Co-Living Financing - DSCR loans, conventional financing, and why lenders still use traditional rent ratios[31:38] Management Reality - From 1 tenant to 9 tenants and the systems needed to manage 25 tenants efficiently[34:23] Automation Potential - Current Trello systems and future tech opportunities in co-living management[36:02] The Multifamily Vision - Converting apartment complexes and the European co-living model[40:52] Commercial vs. Residential - Why cap rates matter and how co-living valuations are evolving[45:21] Furnished vs. Unfurnished - Strategic choice to increase tenant retention through unfurnished rooms[47:08] The $5,000 Monthly Blueprint - House hacking strategy for military member Josh to hit his cash flow goal[51:04] Dual Leverage Strategy - How 300+ transactions fund co-living investments and time leverage[52:40] Burn the Ships Philosophy - Benjamin's all-in approach to quitting corporate and going full-time real estate

When Navy veteran Calvin Blankenship realized corporate life would never recreate the brotherhood he craved, he made a radical decision that led to one of the most audacious acquisition stories you'll ever hear.In this raw conversation, Calvin reveals:The "reverse psychology" approach to risk that made him go all-in when everyone else stays safeHow he bought a $2 million distillery operation for just $260,000 through a foreclosure deal (and raised $700K total)The partnership strategy that fills your skill gaps without giving up control of your visionWhy he gives away business training for free and still profits massively from every dealHis aggressive plan to acquire 4 businesses per year and hit $100M valuation[00:00] The $260K Distillery Deal - Calvin opens with the shocking details of buying a $2M operation for pennies on the dollar[01:49] From Navy to Corporate Misery - Why Calvin knew he had to create the brotherhood he was missing[03:30] The All-In Moment - The mindset shift that made entrepreneurial risk feel like the safer option[08:20] Reverse Engineering the Dream - How Calvin mapped his vision backwards into an actionable business plan[10:24] Building Vets & Valor - The free training program that creates business operators from military veterans[14:55] The Partnership Playbook - Calvin's strategy for finding complementary skills and aligning incentives[22:11] Deal Hunting Strategy - From BizBuySell to Facebook posts: how Calvin sources acquisition opportunities[28:35] Inside the Distillery Acquisition - Complete financial breakdown: purchase price, capital raise, and projected returns[34:14] Scaling to $100M - Calvin's aggressive plan to acquire 4 businesses per year and transition to private equity[38:21] The Question That Changes Everything - Calvin's philosophy on risk and the worst-case scenario mindset