Success Story with Scott D. Clary

➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com ➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory Ben Reinberg is the founder and CEO of Alliance Consolidated Group of Companies, LLC, a commercial real estate investor, mentor, author, podcaster, and philanthropist. Starting his career as a principal owner at just 23 years old — bypassing the traditional broker route — Reinberg built his empire from the ground up with grit and determination. Over more than 30 years, he has grown Alliance into a $500 million portfolio spanning medical office, industrial, and multifamily properties, managing billions in transactions and achieving a historical 28% IRR for investors. Beyond real estate, Reinberg is the host of the I Own It podcast, where he shares insights on business, personal development, fitness, and mindset with entrepreneurs and investors around the world. ➡️ Show Links https://www.instagram.com/therealbenreinberg/  https://x.com/realbenreinberg  https://www.linkedin.com/in/benreinberg  ➡️ Podcast Sponsors Hubspot - https://hubspot.com/   Huel - https://huel.com/scott (Code: scott) The Demand Decoded Podcast - https://www.blendb2b.com/demand-decoded  NetSuite - https://netsuite.com/scottclary/  Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary Framer - https://framer.com/design (Code: SuccessStory) LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/success Wix - https://wix.com/  NorthWest Registered Agent - https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/paidsuccess  BELAY - https://belaysolutions.com (Text ‘scott’ at 55123) Gusto - https://gusto.com/successstory  Lennar - https://www.lennar.com/  ➡️ Talking Points 00:00 – Intro 01:30 – Finding His Path in Real Estate 09:50 – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 13:58 – The Communication Mistake Entrepreneurs Make 21:48 – The Hardest Lesson He Learned 24:56 – Sponsor Break 27:30 – Where Beginners Should Invest 37:56 – Mastering Emotional Control 41:49 – Key CRE Insights to Know 47:25 – The Most Painful Lesson 55:48 – Sponsor Break 57:38 – Reading the Economic Signals 1:02:20 – The Belief That Changed Everything 1:04:24 – What Not to Sacrifice for Success 1:08:47 – Designing Life for Family 1:17:51 – The Lesson He’d Pass to His Kids

➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com ➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory Bill Gurley is a prominent American venture capitalist born in 1966 in Dickinson, Texas, who spent more than two decades as a general partner at Benchmark, the influential Silicon Valley firm he joined in 1999. Before moving into venture capital, he worked as a design engineer at Compaq and spent four years as a top-ranked Wall Street research analyst. At Benchmark, Gurley became known for backing transformative companies including Uber, GrubHub, OpenTable, Zillow, and Stitch Fix, with his early $12 million investment in Uber becoming one of the most celebrated bets in venture capital history. A sharp and often contrarian voice in Silicon Valley, he has long warned against unsustainable startup valuations and has been a vocal advocate for direct listings as an alternative to traditional IPOs. He also writes a widely-read blog called Above the Crowd, and stepped back from day-to-day venture activities around 2020, though he continues to serve on the boards of several portfolio companies. ➡️ Show Links https://www.instagram.com/bgurley/  https://x.com/bgurley/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/billgurley/  ➡️ Podcast Sponsors Hubspot - https://hubspot.com/   Huel - https://huel.com/scott (Code: scott) The Demand Decoded Podcast - https://www.blendb2b.com/demand-decoded  NetSuite - https://netsuite.com/scottclary/  Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary Framer - https://framer.com/design (Code: SuccessStory) LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/success Wix - https://wix.com/  NorthWest Registered Agent - https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/paidsuccess  BELAY - https://belaysolutions.com (Text ‘scott’ at 55123) Gusto - https://gusto.com/successstory  Lennar - https://www.lennar.com/  ➡️ Talking Points 00:00 – Intro 01:29 – From Elite VC to Writing a Different Kind of Book 06:08 – The Career Crossroads Moment 12:57 – The Education Pressure Trap 15:09 – The Pivot That Changed Everything 17:41 – Why Great Employees Become Great Founders 19:39 – Reinventing Your Career Path 22:21 – Sponsor Break 25:03 – The Power of Healthy Obsession 26:53 – What Pulled Him Into Venture Capital 33:39 – The Hidden Patterns Behind Great Career Pivots 42:25 – Sponsor Break 44:15 – Did He Copy the Greats? 51:08 – Loving What You Do Matters More Than You Think 52:42 – The Root of Career Regret 56:30 – Stop Learning, Start Declining 1:00:36 – The Careers AI Will Replace 1:04:43 – The True Measure of Fulfillment

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory   In this "Lessons" episode, Atif Rafiq, a former executive at Amazon, McDonald’s, and Volvo, breaks down a powerful framework for making better decisions and driving meaningful progress inside organizations. He explores the 13 “superpowers” behind great decision-making, revealing how structured exploration, thoughtful alignment, and disciplined execution lead to clearer thinking, stronger collaboration, and better outcomes. Atif also shares practical strategies for breaking down silos, asking better questions, and building decision processes that scale across teams and companies of all sizes. ➡️ Show Links https://successstorypodcast.com   YouTube: https://youtu.be/lY5R3AI6ISo  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/atif-rafiq-executive-leader-ceo-advisor-keynote-speaker/id1484783544  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Y01CxqQg5NL2g7upi7oP9  ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory   In this "Lessons" episode, Seth Godin, 20x bestselling author, challenges outdated leadership models and explains why many teams feel disengaged at work. He explores how purpose-driven cultures, meaningful work, and treating employees as human beings—not resources—unlock creativity, innovation, and stronger performance. Seth shares powerful real-world examples to show how vision, respect, and emotional enrollment lead to better outcomes for both people and organizations. Ultimately, he reveals why modern leaders must move beyond rigid hierarchies to build teams that truly care and thrive. ➡️ Show Links https://successstorypodcast.com   YouTube: https://youtu.be/z1QJNak9LW0  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seth-godin-entrepreneur-speaker-and-best-selling/id1484783544  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WRMisJKBbPQZYKvgi8Vi8  ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com ➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory Charlie "Rocket" Jabaley was managing Grammy-winning artists, including helping launch the career of 2 Chainz, and running one of Atlanta's most powerful hip-hop empires when his life quietly fell apart. Behind the success, he was battling depression, binge eating, and a brain tumor. Facing the possibility of death at over 300 pounds, he walked away from everything and decided to become an athlete. In 12 months, he lost 125 pounds, ran 5 marathons, completed an Ironman, and reversed the growth of his brain tumor. Nike put him in their iconic "Dream Crazy" Super Bowl campaign. Now he runs the Dream Machine Foundation, which has raised over $5 million making other people's wildest dreams come true. Charlie Rocket didn't just survive his story. He turned it into a movement. ➡️ Show Links https://www.instagram.com/charlie/  https://www.youtube.com/@charlierocketofficial/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliejabaley/  ➡️ Podcast Sponsors Hubspot - https://hubspot.com/   Huel - https://huel.com/scott (Code: scott) The Demand Decoded Podcast - https://www.blendb2b.com/demand-decoded  NetSuite - https://netsuite.com/scottclary/  Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary Framer - https://framer.com/design (Code: SuccessStory) LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/success Wix - https://wix.com/  NorthWest Registered Agent - https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/paidsuccess  BELAY - https://belaysolutions.com (Text ‘scott’ at 55123) Gusto - https://gusto.com/successstory  Lennar - https://www.lennar.com/  ➡️ Talking Points 00:00 – Intro 01:22 – Who is Charlie Rocket? 03:21 – The Mindset That Changed Everything 12:02 – Why “Being Realistic” Is a Trap 28:26 – Sponsor Break 31:09 – The Wildest Dream That Came True 41:28 – From Wish to Reality 52:34 – The Dream-Building Blueprint 1:00:15 – Sponsor Break 1:02:05 – Rewiring Your Mind for Success 1:06:25 – Breaking the Victim Mentality 1:15:54 – What’s Next for Charlie Rocket 1:17:05 – The One Lesson That Changed His Life

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory   In this "Lessons" episode, Steven Kotler, author of 13 books and peak performance expert, dives into the science of achieving anything by exploring the role of flow in cognitive and physical performance. He explains how motivation, learning, creativity, and flow work together to elevate performance and protect long-term brain health. Steven shares insights on how expertise and wisdom can stave off cognitive decline, enhance mental resilience, and amplify learning throughout life. He also reveals how entering flow states not only turbocharges skill development but supports peak performance well into later years. ➡️ Show Links https://successstorypodcast.com   YouTube: https://youtu.be/1GCnH8wMzWI  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/steven-kotler-best-selling-author-executive-director/id1484783544  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2bQwaMbRGxMoDZ6JonevHi  ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory   In this "Lessons" episode, Elena Cardone, co-founder of Cardone Mortgage, shares her strategies for building both marriage and money together. She dives into how high-performing partnerships create lasting personal and professional success, offering insights on trust, clarity, and accountability in relationships. Elena also explores how women can overcome imposter syndrome, access critical resources, and leverage their personal power to grow influence, elevate families, and scale impact. Through her experience with 10X Ladies, she provides a roadmap for empowering women to design their lives, strengthen relationships, and achieve success on multiple levels. ➡️ Show Links https://successstorypodcast.com   YouTube: https://youtu.be/7llgVmwazTY  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elena-cardone-author-businesswoman-speaker-building/id1484783544  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6oqIsapIkABXYEiEv4UOR1  ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com ➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory Marc Brackett is a research psychologist and the founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, where he focuses on the science of emotions and their impact on learning, decision-making, relationships, and mental health. He is a Professor in the Child Study Center at Yale University and has dedicated his career to developing evidence-based approaches for teaching emotional intelligence in schools and organizations. Brackett is the creator of RULER, a systemic approach to social and emotional learning that has been adopted by thousands of schools worldwide, and is the author of the book "Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive." His work emphasizes the importance of recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating emotions as essential skills for well-being and success. ➡️ Show Links https://www.instagram.com/marc.brackett/  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRA3Ffn23Cl8W4xyev6EGIw  https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmarcbrackett/  ➡️ Podcast Sponsors Hubspot - https://hubspot.com/   Huel - https://huel.com/scott (Code: scott) The Demand Decoded Podcast - https://www.blendb2b.com/demand-decoded  NetSuite - https://netsuite.com/scottclary/  Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary Framer - https://framer.com/design (Code: SuccessStory) LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/success Wix - https://wix.com/  NorthWest Registered Agent - https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/paidsuccess  BELAY - https://belaysolutions.com (Text ‘scott’ at 55123) Gusto - https://gusto.com/successstory  Lennar - https://www.lennar.com/  ➡️ Talking Points 00:00 – Intro 01:29 – What Emotional Intelligence Really Means 11:31 – Where Emotional Learning Begins 16:06 – Training Better Emotional Responses 19:51 – Emotions vs Being Emotional 23:37 – Why We Mislabel Our Emotions 33:51 – The Ideal Emotional Education System 37:14 – Sponsor Break 39:56 – How Adults Can Build Emotional Intelligence 51:10 – The Most Powerful Emotional Skill 53:23 – Why Emotions Confuse Us 58:12 – The Emotional Regulation Budget 1:03:46 – Sponsor Break 1:05:36 – Life With an Empty Emotional Tank 1:13:39 – Why We Suppress How We Feel 1:20:51 – Why Emotional Education Matters Now 1:28:26 – Marc’s Most Surprising Discovery 1:30:56 – One Lesson for His Younger Self

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory   In this "Lessons" episode, Paul Hutchinson, producer of Sound of Freedom and a mission-driven entrepreneur, shares how integrity, empathy, and abundance thinking shaped his journey from building multibillion-dollar businesses to leading life-saving child rescue missions. He breaks down how aligning incentives creates true win-win outcomes for investors, employees, and customers, while showing why deep customer empathy leads to better decisions and stronger long-term results. Paul also explains how operating from creativity rather than competition unlocks sustainable growth and meaningful impact. Through powerful stories and real-world examples, he reveals the mindset and strategies behind building businesses that generate both profit and purpose. ➡️ Show Links https://successstorypodcast.com   YouTube: https://youtu.be/p5DQRoIohx4  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-hutchinson-co-founder-of-bridge-investment/id1484783544  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5aGyYpgSnkqEr2rgr9x9et  ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory   In this "Lessons" episode, Thomas Vozzo, former ARAMARK CEO, shares why he walked away from a $140M corporate career to lead with mission, purpose, and impact. He breaks down how disciplined business fundamentals, principled leadership, and human-centered decision-making can transform nonprofits and social enterprises into sustainable, high-performing organizations. Thomas also reveals how blending for-profit strategies with mission-driven goals creates scalable revenue, stronger culture, and long-term results. Through real-world examples and personal leadership lessons, he offers a powerful blueprint for building organizations that change lives while staying financially resilient. ➡️ Show Links https://successstorypodcast.com   YouTube: https://youtu.be/rrPlylNDOQ0  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thomas-vozzo-ceo-at-homeboy-industries-a-radical/id1484783544  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2QKKpXAoTavZF58PYUkSCB  ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com ➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory Dan Peña is a Mexican-American businessman who turned $820 into a $450 million publicly traded energy company — Great Western Resources — in just 8 years, during one of the worst oil market collapses in history. He started on Wall Street at Bear Stearns, landed $50 million in US government contracts in his first year of business with nothing but a phone and a fax machine, and later purchased the 15th-century Guthrie Castle in Scotland, where he still lives and runs his business empire. Known as "The Trillion Dollar Man," Peña claims his mentees have collectively generated over $1 trillion in equity and value through his Quantum Leap Advantage (QLA) methodology, which he's taught since 1993.  ➡️ Show Links https://www.instagram.com/danspena/ https://x.com/danspena  https://www.youtube.com/@trilliondollarman  ➡️ Podcast Sponsors Hubspot - https://hubspot.com/   Huel - https://huel.com/scott (Code: scott) The Demand Decoded Podcast - https://www.blendb2b.com/demand-decoded  NetSuite - https://netsuite.com/scottclary/  Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary Framer - https://framer.com/design (Code: SuccessStory) LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/success Wix - https://wix.com/  NorthWest Registered Agent - https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/paidsuccess BELAY - https://belaysolutions.com (Text ‘scott’ at 55123) Gusto - https://gusto.com/successstory  Lennar - https://www.lennar.com/  ➡️ Talking Points 00:00 – Intro 01:24 – How a $60K Bet Became a $450M Empire in 99 Days 08:00 – Why Modern Generations Avoid Hard Work 17:40 – The Real Reason Religion Is Fading in the West 19:42 – Why Most People Never Figure Out Money 22:08 – Adapt Fast or Get Left Behind 31:02 – The Biggest Mistakes People Make in Life 33:58 – How Social Media and AI Are Rewiring Young Minds 37:12 – Sponsor Break 39:54 – The Core Traits of Unstoppable Success 51:10 – Is Work-Life Balance a Lie for High Performers? 59:14 – Why Modern Men Have Lost Their Edge 1:09:17 – Raw Advice for Young Entrepreneurs 1:15:32 – Sponsor Break 1:17:21 – Why Buying Revenue Beats Building It 1:21:21 – How Your Environment Programs Your Destiny 1:27:13 – Living a Life With Zero Regrets

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory   In this "Lessons" episode, Ilya Fedorovich, Vlog Squad member and entrepreneur, shares how he rebuilt from zero by shifting from survival-driven hustle to scalable, purpose-led business building. He breaks down the realities of growing a service-based company, why trades businesses struggle to scale, and what pushed him toward launching high-growth product ventures instead. Ilya also dives into the motivations behind building his fitness brand and pizza concept, revealing how personal passion, clean product standards, and brand influence shape smarter market entry. Along the way, he unpacks the core frameworks behind launching high-quality consumer products, leveraging audience-driven marketing, and creating businesses designed for long-term growth. ➡️ Show Links https://successstorypodcast.com   YouTube: https://youtu.be/JIl9XZDh6YA  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ilya-fedorovich-founder-and-ceo-of-xeela/id1484783544  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0r4cyMW2zKO5xdYZPnolFi  ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory   In this "Lessons" episode, Hala Taha, CEO of YAP Media, breaks down how she built a $5M company from scratch by mastering organic growth, content strategy, and platform-specific algorithms. She explains why LinkedIn is one of the most powerful yet overlooked platforms for monetization, how to design content that stops the scroll, and what truly drives virality across social media. Hala also shares her proven frameworks for turning attention into sustainable revenue, building authority, and structuring high-impact 360-degree brand deals. Throughout the conversation, she offers practical insights for creators, entrepreneurs, and business owners looking to grow smarter, faster, and more strategically. ➡️ Show Links https://successstorypodcast.com   YouTube: https://youtu.be/g4sSCg_mKjI  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hala-taha-podcast-host-entrepreneur-speaker-building/id1484783544  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1j1FjeEIErwTYULidY4lMf  ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com ➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory Dr. Eric Cole is a cybersecurity expert, entrepreneur, and bestselling author with over three decades of experience in the industry. His career has advanced from starting as a professional hacker for the CIA to becoming a commissioner on cybersecurity for the Obama administration. He has served as chief technology officer at McAfee and chief scientist at Lockheed Martin Corporation, and his accomplishments have earned him an induction into the Information Security Hall of Fame. Cole is the founder and CEO of Secure Anchor Consulting and has authored multiple books on cybersecurity, with his latest work, Cyber Crisis, debuting as a bestseller. He holds a doctorate in information technology from Pace University and multiple degrees in computer science from New York Institute of Technology, and he is a sought-after keynote speaker who advises Fortune 500 companies and world leaders on cybersecurity strategy. ➡️ Show Links https://www.instagram.com/drericcole/ https://x.com/drericcole/ https://www.youtube.com/c/DrEricCole/  ➡️ Podcast Sponsors Hubspot - https://hubspot.com/   Huel - https://huel.com/scott (Code: scott) The Ross Simmonds Show - https://podcasts.apple.com/kz/podcast/the-ross-simmonds-show/id1653650073  NetSuite - https://netsuite.com/scottclary/  Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary Framer - https://framer.com/design (Code: SuccessStory) LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/success Wix - https://wix.com/  NorthWest Registered Agent - https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/paidsuccess BELAY - https://belaysolutions.com (Text ‘scott’ at 55123) Gusto - https://gusto.com/successstory  Lennar - https://www.lennar.com/  ➡️ Talking Points 00:00 – Intro 01:24 – The End of Passwords 09:58 – Can Humans Be Trained Out of Being Hacked 14:12 – How Phishing Really Works 21:07 – How Vulnerable Is the Average Person 26:09 – Why Convenience Always Beats Security 29:34 – Simple Cybersecurity Rules Everyone Should Follow 34:17 – Why the World Needs Global Cyber Laws 47:13 – Sponsor Break 49:44 – Hacking a Nuclear Reactor in 37 Seconds 57:41 – Why Deepfakes Are a Real Threat 1:07:40 – What a Real Cyber War Could Look Like 1:15:39 – How We Can Defend Against Cyber Threats 1:23:38 – Lessons from Working with the Gates Foundation 1:28:16 – Sponsor Break 1:30:10 – Can the US Win the Cyber War 1:33:39 – Why AI Without Safeguards Is Dangerous 1:45:52 – The One Lesson Eric Would Teach His Kids 1:48:51 – Lessons Learned from Powerful People 1:53:18 – Eric’s Mission Today

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory   In this "Lessons" episode, Ariana Pareja, a three-time serial entrepreneur, shares hard-earned insights from building, scaling, and exiting multiple companies while navigating the realities of funding, ownership, and control. She breaks down how to evaluate the real reasons behind selling a business, prepare strategically for an exit, and choose the right path between bootstrapping and raising capital. Ariana also unpacks the hidden tradeoffs of venture capital, revealing how funding decisions shape long-term freedom, fulfillment, and entrepreneurial success. ➡️ Show Links https://successstorypodcast.com   YouTube: https://youtu.be/gV6ZGsiSxtc  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ariana-pareja-president-co-founder-at-pareja-family/id1484783544  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/69bCNkSN2Oaxz60Ms1eyri  ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory   In this "Lessons" episode, Niyc Pidgeon, award-winning positive psychologist and resilience expert, explores how post-traumatic growth can transform adversity into lasting personal and professional strength. Drawing from both scientific research and her own life experiences, she explains how evidence-based tools help build emotional resilience, clarity under pressure, and sustainable performance. Niyc breaks down practical frameworks for overcoming stress, unlocking motivation, and fostering creative problem-solving, while revealing how resilience-driven mindsets can lead to deeper fulfillment, stronger leadership, and long-term success. ➡️ Show Links https://successstorypodcast.com   YouTube: https://youtu.be/WgTfs09BOU4  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/niyc-pidgeon-founder-of-unstoppable-success/id1484783544  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0wAYKqT4PjWy45WnrBHzUL  ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com ➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory Paul Allen is a serial entrepreneur and technology pioneer who co-founded Ancestry.com in 1997 and served as its first CEO, helping to build the company into the largest for-profit genealogy company in the world before its sale to Blackstone for $4.7 billion. Under his leadership, Ancestry reached profitability before raising any outside capital and developed one of the largest databases of historical records, revolutionizing how people discover their family history. Beyond Ancestry, Allen founded multiple mission-driven technology companies, including MyFamily.com and FamilyLink, which created the viral Facebook app "We're Related" that attracted over 120 million users. A Brigham Young University graduate who began coding at age twelve, Allen has dedicated his career to leveraging technology to connect people and unlock human potential, currently serving as CEO of Soar.com while remaining a passionate advocate for strengths-based leadership development. ➡️ Show Links https://www.instagram.com/paulallendc/  https://x.com/paulballen/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulballen/  ➡️ Podcast Sponsors Hubspot - https://hubspot.com/   Huel - https://huel.com/scott (Code: scott) ShipStation - https://www.shipstation.com/ (Code: SuccessStory) Square - https://square.com/go/success  SurveyMonkey - https://www.surveymonkey.com/scott  Monarch Money - https://www.monarchmoney.com (Code: Success) NetSuite - https://netsuite.com/scottclary/  Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary ➡️ Talking Points

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory   In this "Lessons" episode, Valerie Fridland, author of Like, Literally, Dude, explores how the language we use every day reveals who we are and shapes how we connect with others. She explains how speech patterns function as tools for building trust, signaling belonging, and forming social bonds, often without us realizing it. The conversation also unpacks why certain language features become stigmatized along lines of gender and class, and how historical power dynamics—especially around women’s voices—have influenced what we consider “good” or “bad” language. Ultimately, Valerie shows how language is not just about communication, but about identity, culture, and social change over time. ➡️ Show Links https://successstorypodcast.com   YouTube: https://youtu.be/BfkjIlAjha4  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/valerie-fridland-professor-sociolinguist-and-author/id1484783544  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7iVUYI1XzbKPYKiS4HAltf  ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory   In this "Lessons" episode, Jager McConnell, CEO of Crunchbase, breaks down the hard realities of monetizing data and turning a free platform into a scalable subscription business. He shares how early monetization helped validate real demand before product perfection, and why owning distribution became one of Crunchbase’s biggest competitive advantages. Jager also dives into the pressure of building under limited runway, the shift away from user-generated data, and how layered data systems and partnerships created a durable moat in an increasingly competitive market. ➡️ Show Links https://successstorypodcast.com   YouTube: https://youtu.be/C9ap3TfKWLA  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jager-mcconnell-ceo-of-crunchbase-innovation/id1484783544  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0nXFdOACurKCEuXBKLbhz0  ➡️ Watch the Podcast on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/scottdclary

➡️ Join 321,000 people who read my free weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.scottdclary.com ➡️ Like The Podcast? Leave A Rating: https://ratethispodcast.com/successstory Eddie Wilson, known as the "King of Exits," has owned over 140 companies and successfully exited more than 100 of them. He's the founder of the Aspire Tour, one of America's largest business mastermind events, and leads Collective Influence, a private equity firm with holdings across multiple industries. Wilson also created the Empire Operating System, a methodology for scaling and exiting companies. Beyond business, his foundation Impact Others feeds and educates nearly 5,000 children daily and supports anti-slavery initiatives globally. ➡️ Show Links https://www.instagram.com/eddiewilsonofficial/  https://x.com/eddie_wilson3/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiewilsonofficial/  ➡️ Podcast Sponsors Hubspot - https://hubspot.com/   Huel - https://huel.com/scott (Code: scott) ShipStation - https://www.shipstation.com/ (Code: SuccessStory) Square - https://square.com/go/success  SurveyMonkey - https://www.surveymonkey.com/scott  Monarch Money - https://www.monarchmoney.com (Code: Success) NetSuite - https://netsuite.com/scottclary/  Indeed - https://indeed.com/clary ➡️ Talking Points 00:00 – Intro 01:29 – Eddie Wilson’s Origin 10:16 – The Mindset That Makes or Breaks Businesses 11:33 – Learning the Art of Acquisition 14:12 – Operator vs Investor: Mastering Both 16:08 – Why Hiring Is Still Hard at the Top 20:18 – The Truth Behind Eddie’s First Exits 22:19 – Why Timing Changes Everything 26:06 – Sponsor Break 28:38 – The Most Overlooked Acquisition Opportunities 32:15 – Building a Real Community 39:18 – Depression After Success 48:05 – Sponsor Break 49:59 – When Success Feels Empty 53:39 – How Self-Work Changed Eddie as a Founder 54:55 – The Loneliness of Winning 57:17 – Eddie’s Frustration With Young Entrepreneurs 1:05:14 – Why Ego Is the Real Enemy 1:10:36 – Eddie’s Next 10-Year Vision 1:11:25 – Advice to His 20-Year-Old Self 1:17:58 – The One Lesson He’d Teach His Kids