Alexi Cortopassi

Hard Truth About Coaches - with Mike Claudio - EP 268

The coaching industry sometimes gets a bad rap due to the fake coaches out there, but that is because a lot of coaches are chasing money and not actual impact. So many of them are targeting the wrong audience and can’t deliver the guidance and results that their targeted audience is looking for. Maybe they have the answers to a certain problem but are placing their offer in front of the wrong people, overcharging, and then not delivering. With the industry having a low barrier to entry, there are going to be people out there not operating ethically. This in turn makes them look like a fraud. Operating in ethics and integrity is what separates great coaches from the rest.

In this episode, Tony talks to fellow business coach Mike Claudio all about how to find the right coach for you. Mike Claudio is a husband, father, entrepreneur, speaker, and author who focuses on making an impact with every conversation he has. He is the owner of WinRate consulting, a business coaching and consulting company focused on the construction industry, and the founder of A Champions Shoes, which is a nonprofit with a mission to foster confidence in children by providing new, name-brand shoes to kids all over the country. He is also the host of The Big Stud Podcast, and author of #TooStrong: How to Win Fast and Win Often in a World Full of Obstacles.

Mike and Tony are both coaches that do not shy away from the honest and hard truth of what it takes to build a successful business. Mike has coached over 300 companies successfully by operating with a “help first” mentality and emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and accountability. Tune in to learn the truth about the coaching industry.

Key highlights:

• Why people don't get big results from a $1000 course
• Lack of self-awareness is what costs and wastes so much time and money
• How Tony and Mike attract the right people into their coaching programs
• How the most effective leaders operate
• Why the coaching industry gets a bad rap at times
• Mike’s turning point of when he decided to coach other people in their businesses
• What makes a great coach?
• You don't have to have the "normal" business hours of everyone else
• Tony’s morning routine and why he doesn't work out in the morning
• Tony’s advice for structuring your day the way that is best for you
•  Mike explains why coaching costs what it does: It's not about what it costs now, but where you want to be in 12 months
• How to find the right coach for you

Connect with Mike Claudio:
Website: MikeClaudio.com
Instagram: @winrateconsulting
Listen to the Big Stud podcast

Connect with Tony:
Instagram: @365driven
Facebook
LinkedIn

by Alexi Cortopassi

Odd People and Awareness - with Kyree Oliver - EP 267

We have all heard the advice, “fake it until you make it”, but there are issues with this mentality because it comes off unauthentic, which in turn makes it difficult for you to get respect. Making genuine connections, building rapport, and being self-aware, is going to take you much further toward your goals. In this episode, Kyree Oliver emphasizes the importance of being authentic in a world full of people being fake.

Kyree Oliver is a former Division-1 football player and current digital marketer/men's coach. He attributes most of his success in business to his ability to understand and empathize with almost anybody in almost any position. This has lead to $100 million in revenue generated from Facebook ads as well as thousands of lives changed through his coaching and speaking. With his interest in human psychology and ability to be very self-aware, he helps other men to settle their souls.

There is much less stress in being who you really are instead of trying to fake your way into certain groups that you think might aid in your success. You won't get the respect of the people you want respect from, because they will know you aren’t being authentic. In this episode, Kyree and Tony talk about the importance of doing the inner work to love and know yourself and create authentic content that will foster rapport and attract genuine connections.

Key highlights:

• How Kyree got interested in human psychology
• How Kyree helps men with their masculinity and finding their soul
• How to tell if a man is full of BS by looking at their wife when they're talking
• The value of earning your way into rooms with influential people vs. paying to spend time around them
• Tony and Kyree’s thoughts on unethical coaches
• The problem with the “fake it until you make it” mentality
• Don’t burn your integrity for your business
• How to create authentic content
• Tony and Kyree’s social media engagement strategy
• Dealing with negative comments online
• Knowing if you should join a group or not
• Becoming self-aware and doing internal work to actually love yourself
• Find out how people view you

Connect with Kyree Oliver:
Instagram: @kyree
Facebook: Kyree Oliver

Connect with Tony:
Instagram: @365driven
Facebook
LinkedIn

by Alexi Cortopassi

Why Your Brand Sucks - with David Brier - EP 266

Social media is a very useful tool for attracting your ideal audience and networking, but so many entrepreneurs aren’t using it in the right way and leveraging its power for good. Today’s guest is here to tell us everything we are doing wrong with social media.

David Brier has been called a “mad genius” by the incredible Claude Silver of VaynerMedia, “brilliant with branding” by Shark Tank’s Daymond John, and “a branding genius” by Grant Cardone. David is the recipient of over 330 international awards in design and branding, and he is also the author of the “branding bible,” his #1 Amazon bestselling book, “BRAND INTERVENTION, 33 Steps to Transform the Brand You Have Into the Brand You Need.”

In this episode, David is candid about his thoughts regarding current social media trends, why you should stop being an echo chamber of someone else, and why so many entrepreneurs are focusing on the wrong metrics. David and Tony share how to build authentic relationships and build a network, and why you should stop giving your energy to people on social media that aren’t paying attention to you. With so much noise out there on social media, in this episode, you will get the truth about how you should be using it to build your brand and legacy.

Key highlights:

• Why David believes people don’t need to be motivated
• David’s thoughts on current social media trends
• How not to become an echo chamber of someone else on social media
• The difference between fame and legacy and why so many entrepreneurs are focusing on the wrong metrics
• Why you should put positive energy out there and acknowledge people’s positive efforts
• How Tony built online businesses just by answering people’s questions
• Why you should stop giving energy to people that aren’t paying attention to you
• If you want to connect with someone you look up to, build relationship capital first, and don’t ask for something first
• Who is doing things right on social media and what are they doing?
• Why you should be focusing on making reels
• What leveraging really means

Connect with David:
Website: risingabovethenoise.com
Instagram: @risingabovethenoise
Twitter: @davidbrier
LinkedIn: David Brier
David's book: Brand Intervention: 33 Steps to Transform the Brand You Have into the Brand You Need

Connect with Tony:
Instagram: @365driven
Facebook
LinkedIn

by Alexi Cortopassi

Become Your True Self - with Mike Fallat - EP 264

You may have heard before that being an entrepreneur is a constant journey of self-development and self-discovery, and you might feel like you are still on that path to discovering what aligns with your true identity. Being yourself and projecting your unique personality and talents to the world, will attract colleagues, collaborators, and customers that are also aligned with your mission. In this episode, Tony talks to Mike Fallat about their transformations through the last couple of years and becoming more aligned with their true values and identity.

Mike Fallat is the owner of Dreamstarters Publishing & The Million Dollar Book Agency, and he helps entrepreneurs get their books published and show them how to use their books as a gateway to revenue streams.

In this episode, Mike and Tony share advice about listening to your instinct regarding people you should be connecting with and spending energy on, how to appear more confident when connecting with others, and how to guard your schedule to avoid a constant feeling of overwhelm and a never-ending to-do list. Mike also dives into what writing a book can do for your social proof. Tune in to hear more!

Key highlights:

• People that keep moving forward are what inspire people
• Are you choosing your wardrobe trying to impress other people?
•  On your entrepreneurial journey, you might start out not knowing yourself
• Tony’s advice to appear more confident and trusting when connecting with others
• Mike’s advice for connecting with people and being memorable
• Mike becoming his true self
• The shift that happened in 2020
• Getting over the hurdle of being an outcast
• Listening to your instinct regarding other people’s energy and being able to make quick decisions in your business
• Making moves after attending an event or mastermind
• How will you guard your time?
• Tips for getting started with writing your book
• How to manage your energy and get your day started the way that works for you
• Overcoming imposter syndrome
• How writing a book will help you reach your audience
• The social proof you get from writing a book

Quote from the episode: 

“Your income is directly tied to how well you articulate your solutions.”

Episode resources:

Book: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Book: Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill

Book: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Connect with Mike:
Inner Circle podcast
Instagram: @milliondollarbookpro
Facebook: Million Dollar Book Pro
Website: dreamstarterspublishing.com
Website: milliondollarbookpro.com
TikTok: @milliondollarbookpro

Connect with Tony:
Instagram: @365driven
Facebook
LinkedIn

by Alexi Cortopassi

Real Success Isn't About Money - with Wylie McGraw - EP 262

With the constant bombardment of advice on how to be successful whether it’s a video on social media, a new book, or a seminar, it can be challenging to figure out what success actually means to you. You might hear that success requires doing whatever it takes, no matter how you feel about it, but today's guest is here to provide a very different perspective on success and what it means to live a truly fulfilled life.

Wylie McGraw is a performance accelerator and he helps leaders of fortune 500 companies and other organizations to enhance their leadership and avoid burnout.

In this episode, Wylie explains how you can harness your fear and turn it into something you can use instead of letting it control you and hold you back from doing things that will force you to grow and showcase your unique talents. Wylie also shares his definition of success, and it has nothing to do with money. He works with highly successful people that are miserable because they have built their success on the backs of unresolved stress, and never took the time to take a deep dive into themselves to figure out what really matters to them. You won’t regret not making more money, but you will regret not becoming the best version of yourself. Tune in to hear the truth about what real success looks like.

Key highlights

• Introduction to Wylie and his background in bull riding
• Wylie’s advice for people that retreat when they are scared
• The only want to grow is to embrace uncomfortable situations and use the power of fear and harness it
• How Wylie defines success
• Wylie’s experience in the military
• Embracing our unique qualities and where our performance is maximized
• Seek environments that challenge you and expose who you are
• We should want to emulate how well someone is living their life not how much they have achieved
• Tony’s thoughts on a popular social media post complaining about being a small business owner
• Tony’s thoughts on Dave Chapelle's most recent special
• No financial milestone will make you happy if you don't address everything else going on inside you
• Failure is in its own way success because it means you’re learning
• The truest value of life is peace and freedom
• Overconsumption of everyone else’s content will lead to stifled feelings

Connect with Wylie:
Website: wileymcgraw.com
Website with exclusive content for podcast listeners: yourperformancevault.com
LinkedIn: Wiley McGraw
Twitter: @wileymcgraw

Connect with Tony:
Instagram: @365driven
Facebook
LinkedIn

by Alexi Cortopassi

Are You a Visionary or Integrator? - with Tomas Keenan - EP 261

Do your strengths lie in creating a vision for your company and always coming up with new ideas, or are you more of the person that makes things happen and keeps everything running smoothly? In this episode, you’ll learn about the differences between being a visionary and an integrator, the strengths and weaknesses of both, and why companies need both to balance each other out. Today’s guest, Tomas Keenan, explains how to know whether you are a visionary or an integrator, and why you need to partner with someone with the opposite skillset.

Tomas Keenan works with Entrepreneurs who refuse to be average and are crushing 7+ figures in business. His expertise and experience have landed him features in Mobile Electronics Magazine, CE Outlook, CEO Blog Nation, Fit Small Business, The Startup Growth, The Goodmen Project, and several blogs and podcasts. Tomas is also a sought-after public speaker, 2X bestselling author, and host of the Step It Up Entrepreneur Podcast. He has interviewed industry leaders, influencers, high-level business and success coaches, business owners, and entrepreneurs who are making a difference in the world. Tomas believes the key to success is making progress every day, no matter how small the feat.

Tomas shares his experience in finding his purpose, and his passion for helping others do the same. His advice involves removing limiting factors from your life to make room for things more aligned with your purpose and how to get your mindset right regarding those difficult decisions that will ultimately lead you on your path to greatness.

Key highlights

• People overlook the skill of observing and asking the right questions
• The world needs fewer people that are looking for a transactional relationship and more who are looking for lifetime relationships
• How to know if you are a visionary or integrator
• Can you be both a visionary and an integrator?
• Should you be business partners with friends?
• The importance of choosing business partners wisely
• What to do if you lose passion for your business
• Tomas’ journey of finding his purpose
• Tony’s journey of finding his purpose
• Tomas’ realization that he wasn’t living his core value
• Letting go of things to make room for more (business partners, companies that don't align with your purpose, or clients that are not ideal)
• People that are still trading time for money struggle to see the value of high-ticket coaching
• The mindset in leaving jobs that aren't serving you
• Books Tomas and Tony recommend

Episode Resources:

Assessment to find out if you are a visionary or integrator: RocketFuelUniversity.com

Books Mentioned:

Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman

Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business by Gino Wickman

Unf*ck Your Business by Tomas Keenan

Startup Legends by Jonathan Fodera and Tomas Keenan

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Mindset by Carol Dweck

The One Thing by Gary Keller

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Connect with Tomas:
Website: TomasKeenan.com
Instagram: @theintegratorcoach
Facebook: Tomas Keenan
TikTok: @theintegratorcoach
LinkedIn: Tomas Keenan

Connect with Tony:
Instagram: @365driven
Facebook
LinkedIn

by Alexi Cortopassi

Recognizing Opportunity and Learning as You Go - with Miguel Garcia - EP260

Sometimes an opportunity might present itself before we feel ready to take action, but we can’t always wait for the perfect time, because we may never feel fully prepared. Today’s guest is an inspiring example of what it looks like to recognize a great opportunity and figure it all out along the way. Miguel Garcia is a first-generation immigrant from Mexico, and a serial entrepreneur for over 20 years.

Miguel has built 8 companies from the ground up and gained valuable experience from exiting some of them for millions of dollars. He has built companies specializing in firearms and tactical gear retail, ammunition manufacturing, telecommunications, construction projects, government contracts, imported food products, consumer health products, manufacturing, and retail. Miguel has also been married for 38 years and is the father of 15 children, so he learned how to balance his businesses while keeping his family as his number one priority. He is a seasoned executive with strategic growth and problem-solving skills, with a great ability to take action.

In this episode, Miguel shares his experience coming to The United States as a high school student who barely knew any English and seeing the opportunities this country had to offer. Miguel learned that you don’t have to know everything to be successful, you just have to be willing to do what it takes to figure it out along the way. Tune in to hear Miguel’s journey into entrepreneurship, his advice when having a business acquired, and how to make sure your family is always your number one focus.

Key highlights

• Introduction to Miguel and his backstory of immigrating to The United States and becoming a business owner
• First-generation immigrants are succeeding at a faster rate because they know the oppression of other countries
• Going from a one-bedroom apartment with 9 people to helping his parents buy their first home
• The benefits that America offers over other countries
• Life after high school, going to college, and getting into the workforce
• Miguel's first experience with entrepreneurship
• Opening his first retail store in May 2006
• Getting into military bases with his store which grew to 30 stores
• People are the key to creating your success
• Pros and cons between storefront business and online business
• Being copied by a competitor
• The mental and emotional aspects of going through an acquisition
• Covering your bases in an acquisition
• Miguel is joining the 365 driven coaches
• Advice for parents that are business owners and building your business around your family
• The significance of having a mentor and investing in yourself

Connect with Miguel:

Connect with Tony:
Instagram: @365driven
Facebook
LinkedIn

by Alexi Cortopassi

Community Building and the Future of Web 3 - with Heather Parady - EP 259

Lately, you might be hearing a lot about NFTs, Web 3, and blockchain technology, but what does that all mean, and how could it affect you or your company? Today’s guest Heather Parady is here to break it all down for us. Heather is the host of the Unconventional Leaders podcast, the viral podcast Web 3 and NFTs for Newbies, and her newest podcast, Community Builders in Web 3. She is also the founder of the Content Lab and helps mission-driven leaders spread their messages through content marketing strategies.

In this episode, Heather starts with a few tips to improve your storytelling for marketing purposes, and then dives right into everything you need to know about NFT’s, blockchain, web 3, and how absolutely essential it is to build a community. She shares what you need to pay attention to right now as a business owner in this fast-moving tech world, and different ways you can facilitate experiences for your community. Tune in to hear more!

Key highlights

• Introduction to Heather
• Trying something new as an entrepreneur, such as acting or improv classes
• The idea of mental freedom
• Why Tony and Heather classify themselves as creatives first, then as entrepreneurs
• Making your storytelling relevant to your audience when marketing
• How Heather's podcast Web 3 and NFTs for Newbies went viral and got 1 million downloads in 8 months
• What is an NFT exactly?
• What is a blockchain?
• The benefits of blockchain for businesses
• The difference between web 1, 2, and 3
• Web 3 is focused on community building
• Thoughts on the Metaverse
• What should you start paying attention to right now as a business owner in this new tech world?
• What are POAPS?
• Why you need a crypto wallet
• Websites you can go to make a wallet
• Audience vs. community
• Different ways you can facilitate experiences for your community

Connect with Heather:

Website: HeatherParady.com
Facebook: Heather Parady
Instagram: @heatherparady
Twitter: @heatherparady
LinkedIn: Heather Parady
YouTube: Heather Parady

Connect with Tony:
Instagram: @365driven
Facebook
LinkedIn

by Alexi Cortopassi

Going From Worrier to Warrior - with Chris Saunders - EP258

Negative experiences from our past can remain in our subconscious and affect us throughout our lives if we do not address and overcome them. Without even being aware of our traumas, we might be held back by them, not reaching our fullest potential, and trying to overcompensate to push away the pain. Today’s guest went through just that.

Chris Saunders is the president of Integrated Communications, which is a field mobility company, and he also leads a Marketing Agency called Yonder Digital. Chris is a member of the Arete Syndicate and he is a successful entrepreneur with a very inspiring story of how he went from someone that was always fearful of uncertainty, to now being one of the strongest people he knows. Chris faced very difficult times recently, as most of us did, but this forced him to face the childhood trauma that he had been trying to push away for so long.

In this episode, Chris shares his story of battling hopelessness and desperation, and knowing when it was time to ask for help. Through a special kind of therapy called EDMR, he was finally able to face his traumas and start to truly live in the present, and finally call the shots in his own life. Everyone deals with adversity, but winners realize it is the past that makes us who we are. Tune in to hear Chris’ story.

Key highlights

• Introduction to Chris
• The childhood trauma Chris endured that made it difficult to connect to his true self
• The massive shift Chris went through after investing in himself through the Arete Syndicate
• How Chris' business was affected in recent times
• Chris’ experience with EMDR therapy
• How the Arete Syndicate saved Chris' life
• Chris' experience with 75 Hard
• Tony’s experience with high functioning depression
• How things happen FOR us, not TO us
• The purpose statement Chris says every day to stay connected to his “why”
• The purpose statement he says with his kids every day
• What’s next for Chris? A safe zone for men

Connect with Chris:
Facebook: Chris Saunders
Business Facebook: Integrated Communications
Instagram: @chrissaunderstheman

Connect with Tony:
Instagram: @365driven
Facebook
LinkedIn

by Alexi Cortopassi