Podcast appearances and mentions of athena group

In this episode of 10x Your Team, Camden and Otis are joined by Grace Gavin of Know Honesty to explore the profound impact of honesty and openness in leadership and team dynamics. Grace delves into the importance of clear communication and how small misunderstandings can escalate into significant issues. She shares insights from her work with over 60 organizations and 300 leaders, emphasizing the need for openness—listening without reservation—and how it fosters trust and collaboration. The conversation covers practical strategies for fostering honesty in the workplace, the challenges of overcoming fake personas, and the benefits of creating a culture where everyone feels heard and valued. Tune in to learn how to transform your team's communication and build a more cohesive, productive environment.More About Grace:Grace is an open and honest expert, helping leaders simplify their communication and eliminate the divides that exist within organizations. As co-founder of Know Honesty, she guides people toward becoming masterful communicators day in and day out. Having experienced the transformative power of openness and honesty, Grace is on a mission to help others create that same freedom in their own lives. Grace brings her heartfelt approach to every event, workshop, and interaction. She believes deeply that every human being brings a unique perspective to the world and that we all deserve to be heard and respected. With humble roots, having grown up on a dairy farm and now working with all levels of leadership, Grace has a special ability to ask the right questions to help audiences go deeper and uncover what's blocking them from creating real communication.Chapters:0:02 - Intro2:10 - Openness & Honesty 10:13 - Measuring Honesty  13:16 - Fake You 16:22 - Athena Group 22:30 - Don't Fake It 30:36 - Honest Business & Leadership36:40 - Loving Honestly 40:45 - Be Weird  45:00 -End#10xyourstaff #10xyourteam #leadership #leadershipskills #leadershipcoach #uniqueperspective #mission #workshop #interaction #realcommunication #leadershiptraining #lifelonglearning #businesspodcast #businesspodcaststolistento #businessgrowthpodcast #entrepreneurpodcast #entrepreneurship #businessdevelopment #businessgrowth #veteranpodcast #veteran #greenberet #specialforces #otismcgregor #camdenmcgregor #rugby #coach #coaching #otismcgregortedtalk #consultant #executivecoach #insidetheentrepreneurmind #insidethebusinessmindGrace Gavinhttps://www.youtube.com/@knowhonestyhttps://www.facebook.com/knowhonestyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-vandenbrink/https://www.instagram.com/knowhonesty/

Mario Nawfal talks NFTs, Metaverse & Crypto! He is the Founder of the Athena Group of Companies which is a business conglomerate of 15+ companies that operates in 65+ countries, Founder of IBC Group, a partner at International Blackchain Legal, Co-Founder & CEO of NFT Technologies & much more! Check it out! - https://youtu.be/NiqXWo0nFKc - Key Discussion Points: NFTs, Metaverse & CryptoWhat triggers someones Entrepreneurial Journey?Dumbed down explanation of NFTs & MetaverseWhy the Metaverse is extremely lucrative What is the evolution of Metatvers?What an NFT really is? Future of CryptoWhat is the alternative to quitting?Being diagnosed with a Pituitary Adenomas TumorStarted dancing because of the movie Scent Of A Woman -  Help Support The Show - Buy Me A Coffee - Thank you in advance! - Quick shoutout to our sponsors for this show: Tranquil Turtle Massage (Tell them I sent you for $25 off) Tigatu (use code "TopRatedMMA" for 10% off) INTERESTED IN BEING A SPONSOR OF OUR SHOW? DM ME FOR MORE INFO. - Be sure to FOLLOW Mario Nawfal - Instagram Twitter LinkedIn YouTube TikTok Website Be sure to FOLLOW NFT Tech - Twitter LinkedIn Medium Website Be sure to FOLLOW Athena Group Of Companies - Website Thanks for watching! Check out another playlist on my channel: The Erik Allen Show Podcasts Featuring Erik Allen Voice Over Work  Product Reviews Fun   - FREE Resources to help you

Today we are joined by Mario Nawfal, the Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate of 15+ companies that operates in more than 40 countries. He is most notably a Co-Founder and the CEO of NFT Technologies, a portfolio company soon listing on a stock market in Canada under the ticker "NFT". He joins the show today to talk about his bootstrapping of multiple million-dollar enterprises, his passion for people-building systems, and the power of getting uncomfortable. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3n9OEdF

Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries. Mario started his first business with $300 in the bank selling blenders door to doo but through unconventional marketing techniques, efficient logistical systems, and a team of global contractors, he propelled Froothie to $1m in year one and over $10m in year two, all bootstrapped. Since then Mario launched multiple ventures into the millions, all bootstrapped, including an events business, a FinTech consulting firm, a marketing agency, multiple ecom businesses, he's a partner at a law firm and the founder of a VC fund. In 2020, Mario decided to begin documenting his journey and helping other entrepreneurs at no cost, all while traveling the world pursuing his hobby dancing Bachata. The journey & the hustle continue…

Mario Nawfal is the founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate of over 15 companies that operates in over 40 countries. He started his first business with $300 in the bank, selling blenders door-to door which led to Froothie Australia. Mario propelled Froothie to $1m in year one and over $10m in year two. Since then Mario launched multiple ventures into the millions, all bootstrapped while surviving a massive scam, various black swan events, and all the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. His most notable achievement is his position as the co-founder and CEO of NFT Technologies, portfolio companies soon to be listed on the stock market in Canada under the ticker NFT. NFT Tech will play a major role in growing the NFT and metaverse spaces! You don't want to miss this episode! In this episode, you'll learn: What blockchain, web 3.0, and NFTs are and the big mistakes people make when trying to understand them The definition of metaverse and why it's an exciting space for entrepreneurs How to get involved in investing in NFTs and metaverse Plus, so much more!! Resources: https://www.nfttech.com/ (https://www.nfttech.com/) https://www.nfttech.com/ ( )https://marionawfal.com/ (https://marionawfal.com/)  Don't forget...  We only spread our message when you share this knowledge with others that need it, so if you enjoy this episode, please share it on your social and tag @zanderfryer, and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and give us a 5-star rating, so you don't miss any other great episodes. And for all our SYDLIC fans out there! If you've gotten any value from this podcast, don't forget to go to http://www.sydlicbook.com (www.sydlicbook.com) to grab your copy of Sh*t You Don't Learn in College Book! We're giving away bonus training and programs if you go to the website, or you can also go to Amazon to grab it there. For more info on Zander and Sh*t You Don't Learn In College, go to:  http://www.zanderfryer.com (www.zanderfryer.com)

Are you a small business confused about all the to-dos of the metaverse and how to get ahead in 2022? Listen to this interview with NFTech Founder Mario Nawfal. Mario Nawfal is the Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate of 15+ companies that operates in more than 40 countries. Mario started his first business with $300 in the bank selling blenders door to door which led to Froothie Australia Through unconventional marketing techniques, efficient logistical systems, and a team of global contractors, he propelled Froothie to $1m in year one and over $10m in year two, all bootstrapped. Since then Mario launched multiple ventures into the millions, all bootstrapped, including an events business, a FinTech consulting firm, a marketing agency, and multiple ecom businesses all while surviving a massive scam, various black swan events, and all the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. He continues to launch new companies, is a partner at a law firm, and the founder of a VC fund. In 2020, Mario decided to begin documenting his journey and helping other entrepreneurs at no cost, all while traveling the world pursuing his hobby dancing Bachata. He also launched the world's largest growth hacking agency, WeAreGrowthHackers.com, and became a partner at NorthEquities.com. In 2021, Mario stepped up as CEO of NFT Technologies, one of the first companies focusing on NFTs going public, and have the ticker symbol NFT reserved in North America. They are backed by leading personalities in the crypto and business world as well as celebrities and thought leaders. Marios links: https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal https://www.instagram.com/marionawfal My links: ttps://www.instagram.com/elevate_babe/ https://www.instagram.com/antoniakmoore/ https://twitter.com/babeelevate https://twitter.com/AntoniaKMoore elevatebabe.com Antoniakmoore.com https://linktr.ee/ElevateBabe elevatemusicbusiness.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/elevate-babe/message

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I'll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Mario Nawfal, founder of NFT Technologies.  Mario may not have the “Midas touch” but he's certainly discovered some of the secrets of growing successful businesses. He started out selling blenders by knocking on doors in 2012. There he honed his skills in how to effectively walk potential customers through a sales funnel, from getting their attention, having them try the product, then selling it. His company hit seven figures in the first year, and grew exponentially from there. He believes one of the keys to success is timing. That doesn't mean everything he's tried has been a phenomenal success; he's had some failures too. Four years after launching his first business, Mario started GoGlobal, the precursor to what is now the Athena Group, a consulting services group that helps companies scale and grow.  Mario's latest venture, NFT Technologies, is now getting ready to go public, the first of its kind to do so. NFT invests in and creates businesses in the metaverse space that specialize in cryptocurrency and NFTs (non-fungible tokens). The metaverse, he explains, is an alternate digital reality space, with huge potential for growth. The metaverse now is what the internet was to the 1990s. Mario sees huge potential in this space over the long term.  Now, let's get better together. Actionable Insights Mario advises trying a lot of different things until you find what works.  Good timing is one of the most critical predictors of success. Mario relies a lot on studies and evidence - the facts - when he's making decisions; this type of research can also help figuring out what might be timely.  When asking for advice, look for people who are self-aware and humble. Mario explains that someone who is self-aware knows the limits of what they know; someone who is humble will acknowledge when they're wrong.  Links to Explore Further Mario Nawfal on LInkedIn NFT Technologies Athena Group Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mario began his journey with $300 in the bank. Unconventional marketing techniques, efficient logistical systems and a team of global contractors propelled Froothie to $1m in year one and over $10m in year 2, all bootstrapped. Mario Nawfal is the Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate of 15+ companies that operates in more than 40 countries and as a serial entrepreneur & investor, Mario states...Do good...Do it consistently...Be Patient. Invest in this episode with Mario Nawfal. Find out more at https://marionawfal.com/.

Mario Nawfal is the Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries. He's a unique individual; unlike anyone I've ever interviewed before on this podcast. And that appealed to me for several reasons. I'm often asked for best practices around networking - one is to set aside time to meet people who aren't like you. The world is changing and a historical bias for deep technical expertise is being replaced with a preference for agility, adaptability & resilience. Engaging with people like Mario helps add context to a changing world. He has an incredible story. In 2012, with $300 in the bank, he was selling blenders door-to-door. By deploying unconventional marketing techniques, efficient logistical systems and a team of global contractors, he propelled Froothie to $1m in year one and over $10m in year 2 - all bootstrapped. In 2013 & 2014 he formed Optimum Appliances & launched brands such as HX, Vie, FX, Prestige Home Appliances to satisfy the demand for high-end kitchen appliances. Optimum went on to achieve global brand status. In 2016 he founded the business scaling incubator - GoGlobal. In 2017  - he established International Blockchain Consulting; quickly becoming an industry authority in the rapidly growing blockchain and Crypto space. In 2018 he established a VC Fund, Accounting & Law Firms. His latest venture, Zense, was launched in 2019, to provide entrepreneurs with the insight to launch successful businesses on a limited budget. He's documenting that journey; adding storytelling to an already long list of accomplishments. And over the course of our nearly hour-long conversation, we chatted about his origin story. Mario gave some tremendous context on his journey, including a few lessons learned along the way, that you won't want to miss. We pivoted to growth hacking; Mario shared some of his best practices for a space that increasingly is being defined by a lack of rules; a willingness to challenge the status quo. We talked Clubhouse, entrepreneurship, and impact investing. We had a great discussion and I hope you enjoy it. Mario NawfalMario Nawfal, the Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate of 15+ companies that operates in more than 40 countries. Mario started his first business with $300 in the bank selling blenders door to door which led to Froothie Australia.LinkedInWebsiteThinking Inside the BoxConstraints drive innovation. Each week we'll tackle the most complex issues related to work & culture.LinkedInInstagramTwitterWebsiteApple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyStitcherPocket CastMatt BurnsMatt Burns is an award-winning executive, social entrepreneur and speaker. He believes in the power of community, simplicity & technology.LinkedInTwitter

“It's an attention economy. Getting people's attention is so tough. But once you have it, monetizing is much easier than people expect.” - Mario Nawfal  Welcome back to Tactical Friday! I welcome back Mario Nawfal to talk about practical strategies he uses and the steps that got him to where he is at in his journey. He's made millions, lost millions, and made millions again, how'd he do it?    Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries, Mario started his first business with $300 in the bank selling blenders door to door. Through unconventional marketing techniques, efficient logistical systems, and a team of global contractors, he propelled Froothie to $1m in year one and over $10m in year two, all bootstrapped. Since then Mario launched multiple ventures into the millions, all bootstrapped, including an events business, a FinTech consulting firm, a marketing agency, and multiple ecom businesses all while surviving a massive scam, various black swan events, and all the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. He continues to launch new companies, is a partner at a law firm, and is the founder of a VC fund. In 2021, Mario decided to begin documenting his journey and helping other entrepreneurs at no cost, all while traveling the world pursuing his hobby dancing Bachata. The journey & the hustle continues with the biggest daily room on Clubhouse and a rapidly growing community of entrepreneurs and business owners   [00:01 - 01:22] Opening Segment If you have a platform and you want to create content that DELIVERS, go over tohttp://knightly.productions/ ( knightly.productions)! Anyone listening can apply these right now [01:23 - 07:23] Ecommerce Tactics      The two pillars of focus with ecommerce LTV - Lifetime Value  AOV- Average Order Value Valuing every single interaction with a customer, cherishing that interaction, treating them like royalty, and trying to get continuity from them, then lifetime value more than average order value will give you a massive edge over competitors The power of free  Instead of spending money on ads, give products for free  How to get away from a scarcity mindset Giving value and protecting value is a balancing act that you need to determine for your business how to handle  How can you think outside the box with monetization [07:24 -15:30] More Fundamental Tips    Realize your limitations as a person  Use a project management tool  Delegate  How to growth hack  Use algorithms to gain momentum and gain an edge on your business Should we bootstrap these tactics or outsource them?  Knowledge is power      [15:31 - 30:25] Closing Segment How to connect with Mario (links below)   Closing words    Key Quote/s:  “Valuing every single interaction with a customer, cherishing that interaction, treating them like royalty, and trying to get continuity from them, then lifetime value more than average order value will give you a massive edge over competitors.” - Mario Nawfal  “When you get people's attention, the value follows. And that's why I'm focusing on putting out everything for free just to get people's attention.” - Mario Nawfal “Realizing your limitations as a human being is important.” - Mario Nawfal   Connect with Mario  Learn more about growth hacking https://wearegrowthhackers.com/ (https://wearegrowthhackers.com/) Visit his websitehttps://www.marionawfal.com/ ( https://www.Marionawfal.com)  Instagram: @marionawfal Twitter: @marionawfal Clubhouse: @marionawfal    Did you love the value that we are putting out in the show? LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue on putting out great content just for you! Share this episode and help someone who wants to expand their...

“When you're so deep into one thing, you can't put small things into perspective anymore. Exiting from being too deep into your business allows you to better deal with hurdles.” - Mario Nawfal Welcome to another week of Tactical Leader! In today's episode, I welcome Mario Nawfal to talk about the incredible businesses and empires he's built, how to deal with setbacks, and staying motivated in spite of failure.  Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries, Mario started his first business with $300 in the bank selling blenders door to door. Through unconventional marketing techniques, efficient logistical systems, and a team of global contractors, he propelled Froothie to $1m in year one and over $10m in year two, all bootstrapped. Since then Mario launched multiple ventures into the millions, all bootstrapped, including an events business, a FinTech consulting firm, a marketing agency, and multiple ecom businesses all while surviving a massive scam, various black swan events, and all the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. He continues to launch new companies, is a partner at a law firm, and is the founder of a VC fund. In 2021, Mario decided to begin documenting his journey and helping other entrepreneurs at no cost, all while traveling the world pursuing his hobby dancing Bachata. The journey & the hustle continues with the biggest daily room on Clubhouse and a rapidly growing community of entrepreneurs and business owners [00:01 - 05:28] Opening Segment If you have a platform and you want to create content that DELIVERS, go over to http://knightly.productions (knightly.productions)! I introduce Mario to the show Mario shares his background and story  Starting his multi-million dollar business out of nothing and creating unconventional marketing techniques, efficient logistical systems, global contractors, etc.  His diverse background, hobbies, and interests  Who you are in business doesn't have to be who you are in real life  In the entrepreneurship space, people develop a slightly different personality to fit the requirements of whatever business you're launching Before listening to advice, first, understand yourself and then understand what it is you're trying to achieve [05:28 - 14:38] Dealing with Our Strengths and Weaknesses       As Mario was developing himself, he would focus on his weaknesses to build the person he is today  Turning weaknesses into strengths  Work-life balance  Using the fun part of work to balance out the stressful aspects How Mario is able to lead in the midst of struggle Undergoing multiple setbacks at once; getting scammed, losing his platform, health issues, personal tragedies  In life, we will all undergo punches. A stoic mindset just makes it a lot easier to take those punches   How to learn to pivot and use setbacks as the next steps [14:39 - 22:48] How Mario Stays Motivated    Momentum and Growth  Keeping everything in perspective When you're so deep into one thing, they can't put themselves into perspective anymore. Exiting from being too deep into your business allows you to better deal with hurdles The success you experience now, is due to your actions in the past Plant those seeds now The more seeds you plant, the ‘luckier' you are  [22:49 - 26:34] Highlights and Lessons Mario Has Learned  One of Mario's early mistakes was not having a mentor  Find a mentor that knows what they're talking about and is self-aware and humble  Learning from your network and connections    [26:35 - 30:25] Closing Segment The legacy that Mario wants to leave behind To die in peace, knowing that the people around him are okay  Closing words  Key Quote/s:  “Who you are in business doesn't have to be the same as who

Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries: www.marionawfal.comMARIO'S STORY TO SUCCESS:2012: Selling blenders door to door leads to Froothie AustraliaMario began his journey with $300 in the bank. Unconventional marketing techniques, efficient logistical systems and a team of global contractors propelled Froothie to $1m in year one and over $10m in year 2, all bootstrapped.2013: Forms Optimum AppliancesMario built the Optimum range of appliances to satisfy the demand for high-end kitchen appliances. Optimum went on to achieve global brand status.2014~: Launches HX, Vie, FX, Prestige Home Appliances and other product linesMario continued his entrepreneurship journey by establishing a range of brands in various niches including personal mobility, fitness and e-cigarettes.2016: Founds business scaling incubator GoGlobalLeveraging the infrastructure and connections developed throughout his entrepreneurship journey, Mario established GoGlobal, an incubator that sits at the heart of what is now a rapidly expanding conglomerate, the Athena Group of Companies.2017: Establishes International Blockchain ConsultingIBC has a network of experts in over 40 countries and has risen in less than a year to become the established industry authority in the rapidly growing blockchain and Crypto space.2018: VC Fund, Law Firm, Accounting & Entering the Cannabis SpaceAfter the success of IBC, Mario launches IBI Ventures (VC Fund), IBA (Blockchain Accounting), IGC (Cannabis & Hemp Consulting) and becomes a partner and equity holder at Blockchain Law Firm IBL.2019: Documenting ZenseMario's focus in 2019 has been to launch and document a new company, Zense, providing entrepreneurs insight in how to launch a successful business with a limited budget.Mario has also expanded his efforts in helping start-ups raise capital through in business IBC.How to reach Mario: www.marionawfal.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-nawfal/Hope you find value in this. If so please provide a 5-star and drop a review. Complimentary Edwards Consulting Session: https://calendly.com/jordan-555/coaching-call

Mario Nawfal, the Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate of 15+ companies that operates in more than 40 countries. Mario started his first business with $300 in the bank selling blenders door to door which led to Froothie Australia Through unconventional marketing techniques, efficient logistical systems, and a team of global contractors, he propelled Froothie to $1m in year one and over $10m in year two, all bootstrapped. Since then Mario launched multiple ventures into the millions, all bootstrapped, including an events business, a FinTech consulting firm, a marketing agency, and multiple ecom businesses all while surviving a massive scam, various black swan events, and all the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. He continues to launch new companies, is a partner at a law firm, and the founder of a VC fund. In 2020, Mario decided to begin documenting his journey and helping other entrepreneurs at no cost, all while traveling the world pursuing his hobby dancing Bachata. He also launched the world's largest growth hacking agency, WeAreGrowthHackers.com, and became a partner at NorthEquities.com. In 2021, Mario stepped up as CEO of NFT Technologies, one of the first companies focusing on NFTs going public, and have the ticker symbol NFT reserved in North America. They are backed by leading personalities in the crypto and business world as well as celebrities and thought leaders.

Mario Nawfal, the Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate of 15+ companies that operates in more than 40 countries.Mario started his first business with $300 in the bank selling blenders door to door which led to Froothie AustraliaThrough unconventional marketing techniques, efficient logistical systems, and a team of global contractors, he propelled Froothie to $1m in year one and over $10m in year two, all bootstrapped. Since then Mario launched multiple ventures into the millions, all bootstrapped, including an events business, a FinTech consulting firm, a marketing agency, and multiple ecom businesses all while surviving a massive scam, various black swan events, and all the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.He continues to launch new companies, is a partner at a law firm, and the founder of a VC fund. In 2020, Mario decided to begin documenting his journey and helping other entrepreneurs at no cost, all while traveling the world pursuing his hobby dancing Bachata. He also launched the world’s largest growth hacking agency, WeAreGrowthHackers.com, and became a partner at NorthEquities.com.In 2021, Mario stepped up as CEO of NFT Technologies, one of the first companies focusing on NFTs going public, and have the ticker symbol NFT reserved in North America. They are backed by leading personalities in the crypto and business world as well as celebrities and thought leaders. Support the show (http://www.allthingstelesales.com)

Founder of the https://athenagroupofcompanies.com/ (Athena Group of Companies), a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries, Mario started his first business with $300 in the bank selling blenders door to door.   In 2020, Mario decided to begin documenting his journey and helping other entrepreneurs at no cost, all while traveling the world pursuing his hobby dancing Bachata. The journey & the hustle continue… See https://omnystudio.com/listener (omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

How do you go from zero to millions? Mario Nawfal started his first business with $300 in the bank selling blenders door to door and then became the Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries. He propelled Froothie to $1M in year one and over $10M in year two. Since then, Mario launched multiple ventures into the millions, all bootstrapped, and all while battling all the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Mario has decided to begin documenting his journey and helping other entrepreneurs at no cost, all while traveling the world pursuing his hobby of dancing Bachata.   This episode is going to be packed with value, so sit back, tune in, and let’s learn some secrets about building your brand, business, and finances from the growth hacker himself. Things you will learn in this episode: [00:01 - 05:33] Opening Segment I introduce today’s guest, Mario Nawfal Growth hacker  Serial entrepreneur and successful business starter Fellow dancer What we’re talking about today Mario gives a bit of background  No one knows what triggers entrepreneurship Entrepreneurial since a long age  Learning about a kid who made his first million at the age of 14 The dream vs. the reality  [05:34 - 11:49] The Art of Influencing People  The important things Mario learned in his early days The importance of copywriting  How to persuade and convince people Mario’s views on courses vs. practice Never paid for courses while learning Learning copy from sales  The key to copy Get them to click Get them to buy/subscribe Influencing people You may be a salesperson without knowing it  Whenever you influence someone  The example of Mario’s Bachata experience [11:50 - 26:42] Growth Hacking; How to Build Your Personal Brand Mario talks about his secret to building a name Growing on Clubhouse  Knowing what to say and what mindset to have Having the right approach to life Getting out of the box of rules  Example of Naveen James Doing things other people won’t do  Working on a mission, not an opinion  Hot waters  Dealing with people’s opinions - ‘it still affects me’ Minimizing risk by having other streams  Dealing with the pressures Having the right people/team around you Have a second avenue  We are designed to care about what people think Get obsessed with Momentum - where are you putting your eggs? Balancing and assessing risk  Having a fallback [26:43 - 34:15] Million Dollar Advice Finding the line of spreading yourself too thin Factoring in age  Be analytical before being emotional Keep testing and then hone in on what catches Be smart about how you learn; smart cuts Mario talks about his work with BitClout How it works: Investing in Human Currency What you can do with it now to be successful with it [34:16 - 42:16] Closing Segment Mario’s advice around investing Give Crypto some attention Don’t overestimate the short game while underestimating the long game Doing what you do without burning out The importance of delegation  Anything that doesn’t involve your brand doesn’t need you Advice around building your platform Go early on a platform that isn’t oversaturated  How to find more of Mario Links below  Final words Tweetable Quotes:  “This is probably my secret sauce in life, is aggressively and intelligently finding smart cuts to achieve something… knowing what to say to influence people, and having a growth hacking approach to it.” - Mario Nawfal “I came in from the outside; I don’t have their limitations because I don’t have their knowledge - knowledge comes with limitations…” - Mario Nawfal (Inspired by Naveen James) “‘It was either this or nothing,’ it sounds so sexy and gives you a drive, yes… but no one makes a movie about the 99.99% of those who did the same thing, had the same

Mario Nawfal is the Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries, and he is our guest in The One Shot Movement Podcast today. Mario Nawfal has founded so many companies, and is currently building his Growth Hacking Agency, and just blew up as one of the biggest influencers in Clubhouse to date, with 50K followers. In this podcast, he shares to us his ups and downs, and why even if he has more lows than ups, is he continuing in the entrepreneurial race. This might be the inspirational journey you've been waiting for if you are currently experiencing some tough times yourself. Listen in to today's episode, and get fired up on your own move in designing and living your dream lifestyle. This is Craig Schulze, your host for The One Shot Movement Podcast.

Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries, Mario started his first business with $300 in the bank selling blenders door to door.Through unconventional marketing techniques, efficient logistical systems, and a team of global contractors, he propelled Froothie to $1m in year one and over $10m in year two, all bootstrapped.Since then Mario launched multiple ventures into the millions, all bootstrapped, including an events business, a FinTech consulting firm, a marketing agency and multiple ecom businesses all while surviving a massive scam, various black swan events, and all the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. He continues to launch new companies, is a partner at a law firm and the founder of a VC fund.In 2021, Mario decided to begin documenting his journey and helping other entrepreneurs at no cost, all while travelling the world pursuing his hobby dancing the Bachata. The journey & the hustle continues with the biggest daily room on Clubhouse and a rapidly growing community of entrepreneurs and business owners.We will also talk about topics such as:- The power of Clubhouse & Twitter spaces.- The power of growth hacking as an under-rated marketing channel- The importance of building a personal brand. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mario Nawfal shares the number 1 element that has lead to his success. Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries, Mario started his first business with $300 in the bank selling blenders door to door. Through unconventional marketing techniques, efficient logistical systems, and a team of global contractors, he propelled Froothie to $1m in year one and over $10m in year two, all bootstrapped. Since then Mario launched multiple ventures into the millions, all bootstrapped, including an events business, a FinTech consulting firm, a marketing agency and multiple ecom businesses all while surviving a massive scam, various black swan events, and all the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. He continues to launch new companies, is a partner at a law firm and the founder of a VC fund. In 2020, Mario decided to begin documenting his journey and helping other entrepreneurs at no cost, all while traveling the world pursuing his hobby dancing Bachata. The journey & the hustle continue… Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by INVIZION: www.nvzntoken.com or www.whitebit.com to purchase the NVZN Token --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theflexcoach/support

Mario Nawfal is Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries. He was also the Founder of Froothie, an e-commerce business that sold premium blenders worldwide. Nowadays, Mario travels the world Latin dancing while leading a large community of entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Mario Nawfal is the Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a synergistic ecosystem that operates a variety of businesses including e-commerce, events, and even a growth hacking agency, in more than 40 countries. He started his first business selling blenders door-to-door with $300 in the bank. In that first year, he brought his blender business to $1 million—and $10 million in the second.  Mario has since launched multiple ventures into the millions, including IBI Ventures, a venture fund that provides value-added strategic capital to capable teams, businesses, and technologies. Mario is also an international speaker. In this episode… As much as getting intellectual property (IP) protection is important, do you know what’s equally just as important? Doing your due diligence—well before it’s time to invest. This is because you need to know if there’s an existing patent registered for your idea already, to avoid getting into any legal trouble. It also helps ensure that the product is worthy of being launched to get proof of concept. Mario Nawfal has been there before. After infringing on another company’s patent, he found himself in a lawsuit. Although his manufacturer, a Chinese company, had given them an indemnity agreement, this was of no use to his business—and they ended up getting sued and suffering 7 figure losses. In this week's episode of the Innovations and Breakthroughs Podcast, Rich Goldstein is joined by Mario Nawfal, the Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, to discuss the importance of doing due diligence before getting IP protection. Mario shares his experience doing door-to-door sales, his strategy for building a growth hacking agency, and his words of wisdom for inventors and entrepreneurs trying to bring their products to market.

What happens when a social media algorithm isn't mature enough to deal with humanity? The invite-only, audio-based social network, Clubhouse, has been connecting billionaires, celebrities, and everyday people since its launch in April 2020. However, the underdeveloped rules and regulations have resulted in mob-style moderation.     Mario Nawfal started his first business with only $300, selling blenders door-to-door, and is now the founder of Athena Group of Companies – a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries. He also ran the largest daily room on Clubhouse until he was blocked from the app after a disagreement with an audience member.   On this episode of The Hidden Falls Media Experience, Mario and Alex hash out the endless stream of Clubhouse drama that eventually led Mario to move his #1 ranked community off the platform entirely. Listen in for an episode that will give you an insider's look at the toxicity of emerging social networks.    What You'll Learn: How Mario's community grew from 13 to an audience of thousands in less than a week What is happening on similar exclusive, audio-only platforms Why Mario blames this fledgling platform's algorithm for his ongoing ban from the app  And much more!   Favorite Quote:   “It's my escape, you know business is tough…Mike Tyson punching you is entrepreneurship”  – Mario Nawfal   Connect with Mario:   marionawfal.com   Instagram   LinkedIn    Wagh   How to Get Involved:   Alex Vonderharr is the founder and CEO of Hidden Falls Media where he merged his background in neuroscience and psychology with his digital marketing experience. Alex has built a brand that helps large and small business owners achieve their goals by increasing brand awareness through natural messaging and research-backed strategies. You can find Alex on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.      If you enjoyed this episode, head over and visit us on Apple Podcasts - leave a review and let us know what you thought! Your feedback keeps us going. Thanks for helping us spread the word!  

On this episode of the Coming Clean Podcast, our guest is Mario Nawfal. Mario is the founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries. He started his first business with $300 selling blenders door to door. He loves launching business, bachata, and now Clubhouse, which is where you will find him most waking hours. He’s here on this episode to share who he is, what he’s about, and where he’s going. He’ll also tell us his side of the story on how he got temporarily suspended from Clubhouse. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...Who is Mario and what is the Athena Group? [1:17]How Mario came up with pattern interruption [4:02]Double down on what works but timing is EVERYTHING [5:47]Mario’s struggle to be successful on Clubhouse [8:57]Would Mario do anything differently today to avoid some of the controversies? [16:23]How two people who disagree can still support each other [21:50]Where does Mario see the platform going… what should be next? [28:46]Is the moderator badge one of honor or power? [32:30]How does Mario want to be remembered? [37:04]Resources & People MentionedFarrah GrayJim CollinsBill Gross Ted TalksJT FoxxConnect with Mario NawfalOn Clubhouse Follow on Instagram @MarioNawfal WebsiteOn LinkedinConnect With Peter O. Estevez https://comingcleanpodcast.com Follow on FacebookFollow Coming Clean on InstagramFollow Peter on InstagramSubscribe to Coming Clean on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google PodcastsAudio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Most people create the product they have in mind and then try to build a brand around it, but not Mario Nawfal, the CEO of the Athena Group of Companies. What has led to Mario’s success is his business philosophy of first testing a range of products to see which ones do well, and then to begin building out a brand around a product that is already on the consumer radar and trending. For him, it is all about leveraging the momentum of a popular product or service and getting your timing right. Just take 2020 as an example. Those who have become millionaires by selling PPE and hand sanitizers would have been nowhere the year before. In this episode, Mario talks about his group of e-commerce and agency companies, sharing how the avant-garde growth hack strategies developed by the latter are used to boost the business of the former. And while service-based businesses such as agencies are not easily scalable, Mario shares how they are still getting great value out of these organizations and using them to benefit the group at large. Our guest talks about the lessons he learned from Froothie, one of his early companies, regarding the importance of creating a community, and shares about his collaboration with growth hack specialists Jared Codling and Kyrill Krystallis. Tuning in, listeners will also hear Mario’s views on starting a company from scratch versus acquiring an existing one, and much more!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:21] Before we jump into today’s interview, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Leveling Up Podcast! [00:47] Find out how Mario got started in e-commerce and eventually expanded into B2B.  [01:33] When Mario's entrepreneurial journey started and challenging himself in the agency space.  [02:12] Hear about the extent to which Mario is personally involved in the companies he owns. [03:00] Mario shares some numbers on the growth of his group of companies.  [05:45] The importance of testing and building a brand around a product that is proving to work. [06:43] Overcoming the problem of making money on inexpensive items with a low AOV or LTV.  [07:37] Learn about the innovative growth-hacking services offered by his agencies.   [08:55] How Mario’s agencies can serve his existing e-commerce businesses and vice versa. [09:40] Advice for building a brand around a product in a highly competitive market.  [12:52] The lessons from Froothie about the power of a strong brand and community.  [14:28] Mario shares his perspective on what growth hacking is and the best strategies to use.  [17:38] The genius way that Jared Codling built his community and extensive database.  [19:02] Using Phantombuster as a beginner and where you can find videos for tips and tricks.   [20:38] Building new businesses from scratch versus buying existing e-commerce businesses.  [21:34] A resource for growth hacking tools and the most important one for your health.  [24:14] One of the biggest mistakes you can make as an entrepreneur: neglecting your health.    Resources From The Interview:   Mario Nawfal  Mario Nawfal on LinkedIn Mario Nawfal on Instagram Athena Capital Athena Group of Companies Tiny Capital Andrew Wilkinson on Twitter Warren Buffett Froothie Phantombuster Kylie Jenner on Instagram Kylie Cosmetics Kanye  Bill Gross TED Magento  Marketing School Kyrill Krystallis on LinkedIn Jared Codling  We Are Growth Hackers  Inside Insight Hack Your Agency Top Fucking Secret The Real Yellow Pages Slack FreeStyle Libre Levels Must-read book: The Obstacle is the Way   Leave Some Feedback:   What should I talk about next? Who should I interview? Please let me know on Twitter or in the comments below. Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review here Subscribe to Leveling Up on iTunes Get the non-iTunes RSS Feed   Connect with Eric Siu:    Growth Everywhere Single Grain Eric Siu on Twitter

Join Andrew Lees and Clint McPherson (That Entrepreneur Life) as they sit down with Mario Nawfal and talk about the entrepreneurial spirit. Mario shares how he has been able to start from owning one business to multiple businesses and the mindset he has been in to get to that point. Mario explains the signs when you’re supposed to double down on your decisions. We also touch on work delegation, hiring the right people, and building good systems.By the end of this episode, you will learn to understand how important it is to find a balance between your short-term and long-term goals. Adjustments will be needed along the way for sure, so test different ideas before going all in. Stay tuned, and enjoy the podcast!About Mario Nawfal:Founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries.Mario had embarked upon his entrepreneurial path, with $300 in the bank, selling blenders door to door which led to Froothie Australia.Through unconventional marketing techniques, efficient logistical systems, and a team of global contractors, he propelled Froothie to $1m in year one and over $10m in year two, all bootstrapped.~You can find Mario Nawfal on... Website: https://www.marionawfal.com/homeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-nawfal/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marionawfal/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTWBp-39z6tvz4-LQB-Z_QAYou can find Andrew and Clint on...Website: https://thatentrepreneurlife.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thatentrepreneurlife/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatentrepreneurlifepodcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThatEntreprene1YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFKPkF39Z6r2l9AT4k-tDtgSupport the show (https://thatentrepreneurlife.com/support-the-show)

Scaling Your Business Successfully and Ethically – Mario Nawful pt 2Many of our listeners have their own businesses, are starting their own businesses and are possibly trying to scale their businesses. But often, it is road that is filled with potholes, pitfalls, and dangers that you do not even know exist. It is situations like these that will test your Faith. It will test your willingness to continue. They will test your resolve. My guest today specializes in helping you to succeed through strategic partnerships. Mario Nawfal started off selling blenders door to door with only $300 in his bank account. Today, runs several multi-million dollar companies in a wide variety of industries including e-commerce, consulting and also in the block chain industry. Mario Nawfal is the founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries. He is here today to tell us about how he can help you to succeed, grow and take your business to the next level. What about branding? That is a popular topic today.  You have a podcast for your business. Do you believe businesses should use podcasts to help grow their client base? You tried a concept of “giving away” your product and then following up with the customers and if they liked the product, take payment at that time. How did that work out? Is that something that, perhaps would work in the online world?  Like digital products? Or are you looking only at physical products? You’re on the cusp of building businesses. What do you see at the coming trends that businesses can start preparing for now? Or perhaps a field someone who is looking at starting a business could look at entering?  What one piece of advice can you give someone who is thinking of starting a business or scaling their business? What kind of projects are you working on for your future in business? You shared in one of your video’s I reviewed, “there is no overnight success.”  Mario, I do thank you for your time today. If someone wanted to get in touch with you, to ask a question, apply for your co-CEO offer or possibly to do an interview such as this, how can they do that? How should someone get in touch with you? I will put all of this in the show notes below. But you have a special program where you become the co-CEO of companies and help them to scale up to 10x their current income. Can you explain that program for us? Folks, you have just had an inside look and discussion with one of the most innovative entrepreneurs in business today. And he is offering to help YOU grow your business. Not everyone will qualify, obviously. But it is still something you should check out. If you don’t get the information you will never know, right? Information is power and power will help you to dominate in business.  So click the links down below and get in touch with Mario Nawfal and see how he can help you grow. Mario, once again, thank you for your time and the great information you have provided to us today. That’s all the time we have for today. For Mario Nawfal and myself, this is Pastor Bob reminding you to BE BLESSED IN ALL THAT YOU DO! CONTACT INFORMATION: Website:   https://www.marionawfal.com (https://www.marionawfal.com/) LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-nawfal/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-nawfal/) Google: “Mario Nawfal” and you will see all of his contact information from various sources!

Scaling Your Business Successfully and Ethically – Mario Nawfal pt 1Many of our listeners have their own businesses, are starting their own businesses and are possibly trying to scale their businesses. But often, it is road that is filled with potholes, pitfalls, and dangers that you do not even know exist. It is situations like these that will test your Faith. It will test your willingness to continue. They will test your resolve. My guest today specializes in helping you to succeed through strategic partnerships. Mario Nawfal started off selling blenders door to door with only $300 in his bank account. Today, runs several multi-million dollar companies in a wide variety of industries including e-commerce, consulting and also in the block chain industry. Mario Nawfal is the founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries. He is here today to tell us about how he can help you to succeed, grow and take your business to the next level. Help me welcome to the program, Mario Nawfal. Mario, thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to visit with us today. I do appreciate it. Now, the first question I have for you is to tell us about how you got started down this path. I talked briefly about starting selling door to door. Tell us about those days and how you transitioned into starting what you are doing now. How important is accountability in business?  There is a difference between accountability and responsibility, correct? Not every country is the same. We have listeners all over the world. How can you help people in different cultures succeed in business designed for their culture and not necessarily in a western culture? You talk about building systems and processes. How can someone design their business processes if they are just starting off? Many businesses focus on growing their customer base.  But you help businesses to focus on their existing customer base. You call it a “customer-centric attitude.” Can you explain that to our listeners? What about branding? That is a popular topic today.  If someone wanted to get in touch with you, to ask a question, apply for your co-CEO offer or possibly to do an interview such as this, how can they do that? How should someone get in touch with you? CONTACT INFORMATION:Website:   https://www.marionawfal.com (https://www.marionawfal.com) LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-nawfal/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-nawfal/) Google: “Mario Nawfal” and you will see all of his contact information from various sources!

I sat down with Mario Nawfal. He is the founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries. Mario had embarked upon his entrepreneurial path, with $300 in the bank, selling blenders door to door which led to Froothie Australia . Through unconventional marketing techniques, efficient logistical systems and a team of global contractors, he propelled Froothie to $1m in year one and over $10 million in year two, all bootstrapped. We spoke about how he built up and grew his companies, where he came from and his journey to now. How he was scammed and almost lost everything, where his motivation comes from and much more. This episode is brought to you by Nova Zora Digital. See what Nova Zora Digital can do for your business with digital marketing. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Mario Nawfal is the founder of the Athena Group of Companies, a conglomerate that operates in more than 40 countries. He started in 2012 with $300 in the bank selling blenders door to door and built that into a business (Froothie) that generated $10m in its second year. Next he built global brand status with Optimum Appliances, a brand he created from scratch. Next he established a range of brands in niches such as personal mobility, fitness, and e-cigarettes. In 2016, he started GoGlobal, an incubator that helps businesses scale their product or ecommerce operations to more than 30 countries rapidly and efficiently. In 2017, he established International Blockchain Consulting (IBC), a network of experts in more than 40 countries that rose in less than a year to become an established industry authority in the rapidly growing blockchain and crypto space. After the success of IBC, Mario launched IBI Ventures (a venture capital fund), IBA (blockchain accounting), and IGC (cannabis and hemp business consulting). In 2019, he launched a new company, Zense, to provide entrepreneurs with insight on how to launch a successful business with a limited budget. Currently, he has created the 7Figure Launchpad, the world’s first and only full-access business program.   “That’s when I realized that the person I had trusted to build my business and I was actually in discussion with to become the CEO, because I didn’t want to get too involved in my VC (venture capital) had just walked away and taken clients with him.” Mario Nawfal     Support our sponsor   Today’s episode is sponsored by the Women Building Wealth membership group, the complete proven step-by-step course to guide women from novice to competent investor. To learn more, visit: WomenBuildingWealth.net.       Worst investment ever After e-commerce success, Mario looks at blockchain Back in 2017, Mario’s main enterprise was Froothie, an e-commerce business and an area in which he had expertise. But he was very interested in blockchain technology after looking at it for a while. He had free time, was travelling around Europe and started learning about the industry, mainly by reading to learn as much as he could and building contacts, calling people. With an assistant scheduling calls from morning until night, that’s what he would do day in, day out. One of the people he talked to was a Mr. “M”, with whom Mario started working, and who along with another gentleman, helped him start IBC. Mario knew how to start, build and scale businesses, but had no knowledge about blockchain, was not a developer nor could he write code, so he needed some experts around him. IBC starts well and grows to seven figures in six months While his businesses were doing OK, Froothie took a hit with a legal challenge over a supplier mishap. IBC was his next venture but he had to be careful as he couldn’t put in a lot of money. So he had brought on people working to build the business. It started out well and the experts he had brought on built the company as Mario was learning and pivoting when pebbles started to hit and testing different tactics to ensure they worked. He started doubling down and all this worked well to that point that IBC had scaled to seven figures in less than six months. So everything was going well, but he had forgotten to attend one of his main weaknesses - due diligence. Mario trusted people too easily. ‘Trusted’ colleague earmarked to be CEO ‘disappears’ Everything was going well, the company was going well, the company was scaling despite a few issues over delivery that he had to get involved in, but at the end of 2018, suddenly M. vanished. Initially, he was in hospital for a week and Mario was very worried, and sent messages to him and got everyone to send him wishes for a speedy recovery, and then he just disappeared and Mario had no idea what was happening. Then a payment in large six figures bounced from IBC’s biggest client, and they were unresponsive also. Even though some alarm bells were ringing in the back of his mind, he felt there was no way anything was wrong. Betrayal sinks in But then when M completely disappeared, the facts of the betrayal started to sink in. Mario even sent him forgiving messages: “Don’t worry about what you did. I don’t know what you did. I’ll forgive you, it doesn’t matter man. You know, everyone makes mistakes, chasing money. It’s a game,” but the messages on WhatsApp were being read but ignored. The biggest client was still not responding and other clients M was close to were also concerned. M had been screwing Mario and IBC for a lot longer than they had initially thought. M had also bad-mouthed Mario to everyone he spoke to, including clients, team members and other partners. So that’s when he realized that the person he had trusted to build his business and was in discussion to appoint him CEO had just walked away and taken many clients with him. Hits keep on coming as industry also collapses But the story became even darker. He turned to his team to start taking drastic measures to rebuild after this loss. So they had to cut the company down rapidly. The industry was also going through a rough period and collapsed in the same month. Other businesses laid off more than 90% of their teams, and Mario and his team were ready for that. But they were not ready for a scam that went deeper. While rebuilding, staff discover second ‘snake’ So there they were: seven figures in the red because payments were all meant to come in as one payment, key team members had disappeared, and they didn’t know how much damage was caused. So they started rebuilding. He got his team going again, riling them up, making inquiries as to who they could trust before they started calling customers again. One of his team, a confidante in the process who had been there since the beginning, and who was responsible for scheduling calls to key clients (“Bob”), had been very supportive. He would say: “We’ll do this Mario, forget about the pain you’ve gone through. Forget about M. He’s a snake. Now we’re family. We’re close to each other.” Mario recalled the day he started saying those things. “I’ll be there for you until we get through this. We’ll do it together.” And then Mario started filming himself and started blogging as a response to the scam that was by this time about two months or three months old. ‘Nice guy’ was stealing data with GoPro video The same day Bob was saying nice things, Mario found out that Bob was still funneling data out of the company to M, and that M and Bob had been childhood friends. They were unable to steal in a normal way, because there Mario had put protections in place such as screen recorders and users couldn’t take screenshots nor could they export data via a drive because the company would know. So Bob was wearing a GoPro and working and filming as he was working, and as IBC were about to close clients, none of them were closing and it had been a huge mystery. All the clients that they knew IBC had spoken to and were about to close, Bob was just talking to them and funneling them to the M’s other company. While Mario and his team were trying to recover, they were actually losing more clients. So Mario sacked Bob even as more stories emerged about how deep the damage had been and how many had been misled. Head tumor discovered as legal battle continues In the same month, Mario was diagnosed with tumor, while non-cancerous and not serious, it was in head initially he thought he would need immediate surgery because of associated bleeding. His other company meanwhile was dealing with a legal crisis in which one of the suppliers had breached their agreement due to patent concerns and that was pretty serious also. It was a very tough period but Mario managed to bounce back. IBC is now stronger than ever but it took a very stoic mindset to get through it all. Once the last rotten apple in the company had been removed, and all leaks were patched, IBC started to make money again.     Some lessons The people you hire will make or break you Thorough due diligence must also be applied to hiring people, because hiring is the heart of any business, where an investment bank or a restaurant that needs waiters or chefs. The more due diligence you do, the more likely that luck won’t play a big role because you’ve done the work to make sure you have the right people to build your business. All investors ask about your team They look at the team more than the idea over every time, so again, due diligence in hiring is crucially important.     Andrew’s takeaways When it rains it pours As Mario had so many struggles going at the same time, with one team members’ betrayal and another’s, fighting a lawsuit, and serious health issues, one thing Andrew likes to highlight is that most young people going into the business of being an entrepreneur do not realize that having a business is your complete life. Having a serious physical issue on top of that can throw all plans out the window. So to be an entrepreneur, you’ve got to have endurance and the energy to relentlessly pursue your goals. This is critical especially when unpredictable things happen. “When it rains, it pours and you’ve got to push through it.” Trust can only be built with time There is no way to accelerate the trust between two people except through time. Six common mistakes Collated from the My Worst Investment Ever series, the six main categories of mistakes made by Andrew’s interviewees, starting from the most common, are: Failed to do their own research Failed to properly assess and manage risk Were driven by emotion or flawed thinking Misplaced trust Failed to monitor their investment Invested in a start-up company Andrew identified mistakes No.2 and No.4 No. 2 Failed to properly assess and manage risk Ultimately, it was the risk that affected Mario’s business, not the success. The story of the return actually sounded very good. No. 4 Misplaced trust Mario is not the only one struggling with this. When an investor or a business person is in a situation where they really need a person, and they go ahead and work with them, the trust part is the most difficult.   Actionable advice Keep in mind when there is a lot of money at stake, when you get to that level, if you’re an investor, or you’ve got successful companies, be very careful about the people that are making the decisions with that money, because their incentives may not be aligned with yours. Greed is very powerful and people will come up with stories to justify doing the wrong thing when it comes to money – Greed is a very strong bias.     No. 1 goal for next the 12 months Mario wants to find people to run his various companies, “but the right people”. Mario’s response to this story is not to retreat and be a hermit, and do everything himself because to avoid being scammed again because such things will often happen anyway. They are part of business. Instead, he wants to look logically and find partners through doing proper due diligence and continue to build companies. Right now his focus is on IBC, which is helping businesses to raise capital.     Parting words “Anyone listening to this, you will lose. The way you respond to that loss will determine what happens next.”   You can also check out Andrew’s books   How to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock Market   My Worst Investment Ever   9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them   Transform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 Points  Connect with Mario Nawfal LinkedIn Website (Athena) Website (Personal) Instagram Medium YouTube Email Connect with Andrew Stotz Astotz.com LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube My Worst Investment Ever Podcast  

Mario Nawfal joins me to share his insights about how to not only deal with challenges and adversity, but to succeed in spite of it. Mario is the founder of Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate operating in more than 40 countries. He had bootstrapped his first business at the age of 22, with $300 in his bank account, selling blenders door to door which led to Froothie Australia. He made his first million in year one and 8 figures by year 2. Mario has since then scaled to over 30 countries and launched many other companies, including a consulting business bootstrapped to 7 figures in less than 6 months. Mario has been through extremely difficult black swan events that would break down any entrepreneur and bankrupt a business. He is now bootstrapping another 7-figure business and documenting the entire process from the beginning to allow entrepreneurs full access to all marketing, logistics, product, operational and financial decisions, including both failures and successes. Today's show is sponsored by Audible.com. Audible.com is a leading provider of spoken audio entertainment and information. Listen to audiobooks whenever and wherever you want. Get a free book when you sign up for a 30-day free trial at audibletrial.com/businessgrowth.

Our very special guest today is Mario Nawfal is the founder of Athena Group of Companies, a business conglomerate operating in more than 40 countries. He had bootstrapped his first business at the age of 22, with $300 in his bank account, selling blenders door to door which led to Froothie Australia.

Mario Nawfal started business at age 23, with no money and became a millionaire in 1 year, 10 figures in 2. Launched more businesses and expanded to Fintech consulting, reached 7 figures again in 6 months, also bootstrapped. “the first one is learn from others. Learn from other people's mistakes whether it's a competitor or an incredibly successful business like Amazon and Mr Bezos. You could learn more from a competitor or another industry that is done really well than you can learn from a book. So learn from everything around you, whether it's another entrepreneur in a coworking space that you work out of, or a competitor, or a business that is done well in other industries, podcast - they have got incredible value, listen to the right podcast. Because some of the interviews, some of those success stories you can hear in a podcast they still bring me a lot of value and I get a lot of ideas from them… getting knowledge and taking action would be my recommendation ”…[Listen for More] Click Here for Show Notes To Listen or to Get the Show Notes go to https://wp.me/p6Tf4b-6UJ

www.rockyourlife.net Gina Romero begun the Athena group in Singapore and built it to over 1,000 members in record time. She is on the stages of Linked In and other social media giants and she ran a very successful networking club called Business Rocks. On this call she talks to Mike Handcock about networking and how to become more successful at it.