Podcasts about balazs

Welcome to a long-awaited episode of Fratello On Air! Well, at least we're excited to be back. It's been a while, meaning we'll cover some recent news from the watch industry, sneaker landscape, television, and even our personal lives. We look forward to catching up with you!It's been nearly two months since we last published an episode of Fratello On Air. Yes, that's too long, but life has gotten in the way. It's mainly Mike who has had a crazy travel schedule, with just 36 hours spent in the UK in April. Balazs has been at the ready, but just seven weeks ago, he became a father as his daughter was born (on RJ's birthday, no less!). But here we are, with a full hour to catch up and a plan to visit the airwaves regularly.HandgelenkskontrolleWe actually end our show with the Handgelenkskontrolle, but tradition requires it to open our written recap. At the beginning of the show, we cover a multitude of topics. Of course, we mention travel with Mike doing the lion's share of flying. Multiple trips to the United States, a stop in Switzerland for Watches and Wonders 2026, Germany, and Italy have made the flight plan over the last two months. But don't worry, we've been watching television during flights or sleepless newborn nights. From, Euphoria, Succession, and IT: Welcome to Derry are some of the shows we've been viewing. Regarding shoes, Balazs mentioned the Nike Tennis Classic PRM, a sneaker with surfaces inspired by watch straps. Meanwhile, Mike has purchased a lively pair of New Balance 992s for the summer. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing his modern, dark blue 42mm Breitling SuperOcean. Balazs is wearing the watch he had on during his daughter's birth, his beloved Rolex GMT-Master 1675.Catching up on the newsOf course, we discuss the Audemars Piguet × Swatch Royal Pop. While he's not in love with the watch, he feels that it's one of the most significant happenings in watch history. That's a bold take! We also spend time talking about the new and pre-owned watch market in general. Balazs also mentions a recently auctioned Cartier-signed Piaget dual time, which sold for a wild amount of money. Mike's longtime favorite, the Cartier Tank Normale, also makes an appearance. Regarding recent acquisitions, Balazs has a new Grand Seiko waiting for him in the UK. Mike has gone in a very different direction with a vintage Bulova Accutron Spaceview. Despite numerous concerns about the reliability of these pieces, the watch has run perfectly for nearly two months. It even visited Watches and Wonders! This watch prompts a lovely story about Roger Smith, who owns a cantankerous version of the watch.We hope you enjoyed this episode of Fratello On Air. We promise to be back much sooner next time. Thanks for listening and, as always, if you have ideas for future shows, let us know!

Episode 3 | The Invisible Weight of LeadershipThis one's different. And it needed to be said.In this episode, Balazs gets raw and real about something that almost never gets talked about in the entrepreneurship and leadership space — the invisible weight that the builders, the providers, the leaders carry every single day. The weight that's heavy, that's hidden, and that sometimes isn't even visible to themselves.It started with his brother's wedding. Being the best man, carrying the loss of their father, stepping into an emotional experience he didn't fully anticipate — and what that stirred up in him led to a bigger, deeper conversation that he's been sitting with ever since.In this episode, Balazs covers:The "weighted vest" analogy — why you might not even know what you're carrying, and what happens the moment you doThe unspoken contracts we create with ourselves — promises we swear by that nobody else even knows existHow being the one who "always handles it" can quietly disrespect the people you're trying to protectWhy prosperity isn't just about gaining more — it's about being positioned when life hits you between the eyesThe real reason your 'why' might be too small — and how to think bigger before you need toAI, the future, and why showing up as a real human being has never been more important or more valuableWhy helping strangers now is how you save your own people laterThis episode isn't about strategy. It's about truth. It's the kind of conversation that makes you put your phone down, stare at the ceiling, and ask yourself — am I actually ready for what's coming?Whether you're a leader, a parent, a partner, or just someone carrying more than your share right now — this one's for you.If this episode hit you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Leave a review, subscribe, and stay tuned — interviews with 6A and above leaders are coming very soon.

Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: Mystery at Balaton: Unlocking Secrets from the Past Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2026-05-18-07-38-19-hu Story Transcript:Hu: A Balaton partján a víz gyengéden nyaldosta a kavicsos fövenyt.En: On the shores of Balaton, the water gently lapped at the pebbly beach.Hu: A tavaszi szellő illata virágokat hozott a közeli dombokról.En: The scent of the spring breeze brought flowers from the nearby hills.Hu: Balazs, a fiatal, kíváncsi fiú, állt a parton.En: Balazs, the young, curious boy, stood by the shore.Hu: A távolban barátai, Eszter és Katalin, nevetve beszélgettek.En: In the distance, his friends, Eszter and Katalin, were chatting and laughing.Hu: Egy furcsa tárgy vonzotta Balazs figyelmét.En: An unusual object caught Balazs' attention.Hu: Egy doboz volt.En: It was a box.Hu: A víz mosta ki a partra, rejtélyes és zárt.En: The water had washed it ashore, mysterious and sealed.Hu: Balazs közelebb ment.En: Balazs approached it.Hu: A doboz régi volt, fémes csillogással.En: The box was old, with a metallic sheen.Hu: Nem látszott rajta semmilyen zár.En: There was no visible lock.Hu: Balazs megérintette.En: Balazs touched it.Hu: Hideg volt és titokzatos.En: It was cold and mysterious.Hu: "Balazs, mit találtál?" – szólt Eszter, miközben közeledett.En: "Balazs, what did you find?" – called Eszter as she approached.Hu: Katalin követte, kíváncsian tekintve a dobozra.En: Katalin followed, looking curiously at the box.Hu: "Egy rejtélyes doboz" – válaszolta Balazs.En: "A mysterious box," replied Balazs.Hu: "Ki kell derítenünk, mi van benne."En: "We have to find out what's inside."Hu: "Kizárt, hogy kinyissuk" – mondta Katalin kétkedve.En: "It's impossible to open," said Katalin skeptically.Hu: "Nincs rajta zár."En: "There's no lock."Hu: De Balazs nem adta fel.En: But Balazs didn't give up.Hu: Elhatározta, hogy megoldja a rejtélyt.En: He was determined to solve the mystery.Hu: "Meg kell néznünk a környék régi legendáit" – javasolta Balazs.En: "We need to look into the old legends of the area," suggested Balazs.Hu: "Talán találunk valamit."En: "Maybe we'll find something."Hu: Eszter és Katalin beleegyeztek.En: Eszter and Katalin agreed.Hu: Együtt elindultak a közeli könyvtárba.En: Together they headed to the nearby library.Hu: Régi történeteket és helyi legendákat tanulmányoztak, titokzatos tárgyakat és elveszett kulcsokat keresve.En: They studied old stories and local legends, searching for clues about mysterious objects and lost keys.Hu: Napok teltek el, és már majdnem feladták, amikor Eszter rátalált egy régi írásra.En: Days passed, and they had almost given up when Eszter found an old writing.Hu: Egy elfeledett kápolnát említett a közelben.En: It mentioned a forgotten chapel nearby.Hu: "Menjünk oda" – mondta izgatottan.En: "Let's go there," she said excitedly.Hu: A kápolna kicsi és elhagyatott volt.En: The chapel was small and abandoned.Hu: Az idő vasfoga nyomot hagyott rajta.En: Time had left its mark on it.Hu: Balazs minden zegzugot átnézett, amikor meglátta a rozsdás kulcsot egy törött kő alatt.En: Balazs searched every nook and cranny, and then he saw a rusty key under a broken stone.Hu: "Ez az!" – kiáltotta.En: "This is it!" he shouted.Hu: Visszatértek a dobozhoz.En: They returned to the box.Hu: Remegő kézzel illesztette be a kulcsot.En: With trembling hands, he inserted the key.Hu: Meglepően könnyen fordult.En: It turned surprisingly easily.Hu: A doboz kinyílt.En: The box opened.Hu: Belül egy régi családi emléket találtak. Balazs nagyapja képét, aki valaha a Balaton környékén élt.En: Inside, they found an old family keepsake: a picture of Balazs' grandfather, who once lived around Balaton.Hu: Balazs szívét melegség töltötte el.En: Balazs' heart filled with warmth.Hu: Nemcsak a doboz rejtélyét fejtették meg, hanem családjának múltja is feltárult előtte.En: Not only had they solved the mystery of the box, but his family's past also unfolded before him.Hu: Most már biztos volt benne, hogy mindig hallgatnia kell az ösztöneire és megtalálni a saját útját.En: He was now sure that he should always trust his instincts and find his own path.Hu: Barátai örömmel osztoztak sikerében.En: His friends shared in his joy.Hu: A Balaton hullámai újra és újra a parthoz csapódtak, de Balazs már más szemmel nézett a tóra.En: The waves of Balaton crashed against the shore again and again, but Balazs now looked at the lake with different eyes.Hu: Mindhárman tudták, hogy valami különlegeset éltek át együtt.En: All three of them knew they had experienced something special together. Vocabulary Words:gently: gyengédenpebbly: kavicsosscent: illatabreeze: szellőcurious: kíváncsiunusual: furcsacaught: vonzottamysterious: rejtélyesspotted: megláttaskeptically: kétkedvedetermined: elhatároztasuggested: javasoltalegends: legendáitabandoned: elhagyatottsearched: átkutattanook and cranny: zegzugotrusty: rozsdásinserted: beillesztettesurprisingly: meglepőenkeepsake: emléketunfolded: feltárultinstincts: ösztöneirepath: útjátjoy: örömmelcrashed: csapódtakexperienced: éltek átshore: fönvenytseal: zártmetallic sheen: fémes csillogássallocked: zár

In this solo Founder's Journal episode, Balazs gets real about a pattern he caught in himself — one that a lot of high-achievers, planners, and driven parents will recognize immediately. As someone who is deeply goal-driven and always optimizing, he realized he was defaulting to “no” on autopilot with his five-year-old daughter — not because something was wrong, but because it broke his plan.The shift? Two words. Why not. In this episode, Balazs walks through the moment he caught himself, what it revealed about his mindset, and how flipping the default from “no” to “why not” transformed not just his relationship with his kids, but his overall energy, presence, and peace.He also reflects on legacy — the idea that the moments we document, the stories we share, and the conversations we have are being captured forever. And why now is the time to pay attention.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy high-achievers are wired to say “no” — and how to catch it before it costs youThe “Why Not” framework and how to use it daily as a parent, partner, and leaderHow Balazs went from 90% “no” to 90% “yes” — and what changed as a resultThe difference between saying no to the outside world vs. saying yes to what's inside your worldWhy the moments you're in right now are more fleeting than you thinkHow the content we create today becomes a legacy asset for the futureThe “What if it works out better than I thought?” reframe for anyone holding back in business or life“No” is often a reflex, not a real answerIf you're someone who runs on plans, checklists, and optimized outcomes, your default “no” probably has nothing to do with the request itself. It's a reaction to your mental plan being disrupted. Before you answer, pause. Ask: why not?The “Why Not” framework is simple — and powerfulWhen a request comes in — from your kid, your partner, a friend — instead of defaulting to no, ask yourself: why not? If there's no real reason, say yes. Let the moment happen. These are the things that become core memories.Presence is the real flexBeing locked into your to-do list while your five-year-old is trying to have the best day ever with you isn't productivity. It's loss. The most successful version of you knows when to put the plan down.This moment is temporary — so treat it that wayKids grow up. Parents age. Seasons change. The window you're in right now — whatever it looks like — won't be here forever. Balazs shares how recognizing that has made him say yes more, rush less, and actually be present.Memorable Quotes“No is like a kink in the wire. It shuts the thing off. A yes keeps it moving, keeps it flowing.”“I went from 90% no to 90% yes. As you can imagine, that's quite a huge shift.”“Instead of asking ‘what if it doesn't work out' — ask ‘what if it works out way better than I thought?'”“All the outside noise, the distractions — that's a no. But the stuff inside my world is more yes than no.”Connect with BalazsInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/globalprosperityshow/https://www.instagram.com/balazswkardos/Subscribe & leave a review — it means the world and helps the show reach more people who need it

This is the one that started it all over again.After 13 years of building, 550,000+ podcast downloads, 168 episodes, and over $1 billion in collective organizational sales, Balazs W Kardos is back with something new. Something bigger. Something more real.In this debut episode of the Global Prosperity Movement, Balazs pulls back the curtain on why he walked away from the Diamond Life Mentor brand at the height of its success, what prosperity truly means beyond a bank account, and what he believes has separated the people who've won in this business from the ones who walked away too soon.He reads the actual numbers from his Enagic back office live (409,000+ at rank 1A, 634 at 6A, 78+ at 6A2 and above) and makes a declaration: the stories are the proof. And the world is finally going to hear them.This episode is a blueprint for what this show will become, and a mirror for anyone who's ever wondered if staying the course was worth it.Spoiler: it is.Why the Diamond Life Mentor chapter ended... and what it becameBalazs didn't quit. He evolved. He turned 40, and something shifted. The mission didn't fail, it compounded into something he could no longer contain in the old format. He explains exactly what that felt like and why the Global Prosperity Movement is the next, truer expression of the intention he set 13 years ago.What "prosperity" actually meansMost people assume prosperity = money. Balazs breaks down the full picture: time freedom, location freedom, optimal health and vitality, deep family presence, peace, leadership, options, and legacy. If your bank account is full but your life isn't, that's not prosperity. This reframe alone is worth the listen.The real numbersOver 409,000 people at rank 1A. 634 at 6A. 78+ at 6A2 and above. $1 billion in collective organizational sales. He reads them out loud, in real time, because he finally realized: the numbers sound made up unless the stories make them real. That's why this show exists.The compounding curve, and why most people quit right before it kicks inThis isn't about intensity. The people who win are not always the most talented. They're the ones who stayed aligned long enough for the work to compound. Balazs breaks down the invisible compounding happening beneath the surface of your business right now, and why walking away at the wrong moment is the single greatest mistake a builder can make.Why consistency in one strategy beats chasing tacticsThe largest groups in GPM have used the same webinar presentation for nearly 10 years. Same one. Still crushing it. Meanwhile, most people change their entire strategy every 90 days and wonder why nothing sticks. This is one of the most practical and honest observations Balazs shares in the episode.The vision for what this show will becomeThis show will be a global archive of transformation. A tool that teams share with prospects. A library of proof. A connector of people who belong together. Balazs speaks the future into existence, and if you've been around him long enough, you know what that means."This show is not a motivation show. We don't talk about freedom. We document how it's built, how it's been built, and how you can build it too."Tune in today and don't forget to like, share and subscribe so you don't miss any episodes!Follow the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalprosperityshow/

There are moments in life when you recognize that it is time to move forward, even when everything around you seems to be working. It could be growth, impact on people, and lives changed, with awareness that the current chapter has reached its end, just like the Diamond Life Mentor.This podcast has become a space to share ideas, experiences, and lessons in a way that fits into everyday life. People have been able to listen while going about their routines. The intention has always been to provide something meaningful that encourages growth and expands perspective. Through consistent conversations and honest insights, this platform has delivered exactly that.In this episode of Diamond Life Mentor Uncut, Balazs W Kardos shares what it takes to tell a success story that led you to where you are.You will hear key insights on:Closing of the Diamond Life MentorRebranding your businessStarting the Global Prosperity Movement ShowChanges during the Diamond Life Mentor transitioning to the Global Prosperity Movement ShowGuests inside the GPM ShowFour years before the podcast began, Balazs noticed a demand for content that gives deeper guidance around network marketing and a freedom lifestyle. It led to the creation of mentorship programs and the podcast, and to members developing new skills, building confidence, and achieving results in different areas of their lives.As time went on, a shift began to take place, especially since last year, when Balazs had to get Diamond Life Mentor Uncut episodes from his mentorship program to keep the podcast going due to evolving priorities. Now he wants to get back to sharing real stories from real people. The intention is to highlight individuals from different backgrounds who have created meaningful results through their own journeys. These stories from members who have achieved 6A2 and above will show the process behind their success, the challenges they faced, and their overall journey in the GPM community.This transition represents an expansion of the original mission. The purpose remains focused on encouraging action and creating meaningful change. The way that mission is delivered is evolving into something larger and more connected.How can you do that? Focus your time and energy on your business. Strategize your ads and their targeting. Build a structure as you provide solutions to their problems, and train your team members to duplicate you. And when you understand how to communicate this clearly, whether to your team, your audience, or potential partners, you start attracting people who want to be part of that system."This isn't an ending because something didn't work. It's an ending because it did work. It served its purpose, and now there's a whole new level, a whole new vision that has unfolded that is tying things back to the original, larger vision that I had 13 years ago." - Balazs W Kardos

#UHTransformandoOAgora

Does this look familiar? You want to grow a business by squeezing more out of your own schedule. You wake up earlier, sleep later, stack meetings, chase tasks, and push harder every week.That is great, being accountable and putting in your hard work, but your personal capacity has a ceiling. No matter how disciplined or motivated you are, there are only so many hours you can give before your energy drops, your health suffers, and your performance declines.Instead of asking, “How can I do more?” the better question is, “How can I get more done without my team depending on me?” Because once you begin working through people instead of just by yourself, everything changes.In this episode of Diamond Life Mentor Uncut, Balazs W Kardos shares why you are thinking too small about time and money, and that hinders your growth.You will hear key insights on:Making your ad spend a multiplierInvesting time and money in the businessLeveraging building a team for business growthTransforming paid ads into passive incomeMaking earning money ethicalAccording to Balazs, when you have a small group supporting a shared goal, each person contributes a manageable amount of effort every week. On its own, that might not seem like much. But when you combine those contributions, you are no longer operating on your own limited time. As that group grows, so does the total effort going into the business.How can you do that? Focus your time and energy on your business. Strategize your ads and their targeting. Build a structure as you provide solutions to their problems, and train your team members to duplicate you. And when you understand how to communicate this clearly, whether to your team, your audience, or potential partners, you start attracting people who want to be part of that system."So then all of a sudden, we're at 20 people, 30 people, 40 people, 50 people, 100 people, each doing 10 hours, just to keep the math really simple, and eventually you start having 500 hours a week of input into your business, leverage, not through your own time." - Balazs W Kardos

On Sunday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán suffered an election defeat, heralding the end of his 16-year regime that has seen his government come under fire for a variety of claims regarding the illiberal and anti-democratic nature of his leadership. WIth the Tizsa party, led by Péter Magyar winning 138 seats to Orbán's Fidesz's 55, the election signals a rejection of Orbán's platform, which has seen both an authoritarian domestic approach, and Hungary often working in opposition to the EU, in favour of Russia. Host Alex spoke with a Teaching Fellow for the International Office at the University of Otago, Dr Balazs Kiglics, about the election, and what Magyar's victory might mean for Hungary both domestically and internationally.  

You think you need a better script, better timing, or more confidence, but none of that matters if you are only having a few conversations here and there.What you need is a system that is more than just posting randomly or reaching out when you feel like it. You need to create content consistently so people can discover you. You run simple ads and follow up with people. Once you have this in place, it helps you build momentum more easily.In this episode of Diamond Life Mentor Uncut, Balazs W Kardos shares a concept about the 1 in 100 rule in hustling and taking your day off.You will hear key insights on:Doing your lead generation strategicallyFocusing on ideal clientsDoom scrolling vs. intentional scrollingHaving back-to-back calls in a day rather than in a weekBuilding momentum while balancing work, business, and lifestyleBalazs states that lead generation should be sending messages, reconnecting, and creating various opportunities. However, many individuals fail at this by trying to connect with everyone, especially those they look up to in their industry.Instead, engage with those whom you think need what you offer. Follow people who match your profile, and pay attention to what they are saying, what they struggle with, and what they care about. Now you shift from information overload to problem-solving to help others.Lastly, high-ticket network marketing needs speed and results. One of the most powerful things Balazs did when he reached 6A was stacking calls. Rather than spreading a few conversations across the entire week, you compress them into a block of time. You might do 10, 15, or even more calls in a single day. It is intense, but that is exactly why it works, and soon you can automate them as you take your holidays."Because of the repetition of saying the same stuff, asking the same question, handling objections, your confidence, your skill, and your ability to make the sale improve and increase call after call after call." - Balazs W Kardos

Arbitration: Does a federal court that initially exercises jurisdiction and stays a case pending arbitration maintain jurisdiction over a post-arbitration application? - Argued: Mon, 30 Mar 2026 8:42:45 EDT

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss underrated vintage brands that are worth a long look. We've had these types of chats before, but it's always nice to see what we've missed. You'll hear some familiar names today, as well as about some smaller companies that could be new to you.While both of us have a penchant for vintage Rolex, Heuer, and other well-known marques, our love for vintage brands is universal. Whether it's a cool piece from a one-hit wonder or an everyman's watch company that made some seriously good stuff, we're up for it. Today, we'll mention some oft-overlooked opportunities to grab some of that vintage goodness.HandgelenkskontrolleWe begin our show with a discussion about Mike's home state, Florida. Then, we move on to television, where Balazs has been watching Tehran, Hijack, and His & Hers. Meanwhile, Mike has engaged his '90s youth with Love Story. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing his trusty vintage Rolex 5513 Submariner after his latest journey. Mike has been exploring modern watches lately due to the never-ending rain in the UK. This week, he's wearing his Aquastar Benthos H2.Vintage brands worth looking intoThere are fantastic opportunities within the watch hobby to enjoy great pieces at an affordable price. Sure, a vintage Rolex or Patek Philippe is a wonderful thing to own. However, with high prices, scary fakes, and the risk of loss as ever-present concerns, it's worthwhile to look elsewhere. Today, we're focused on vintage brands that don't get much attention but still offer loads of value and satisfaction.We start our discussion with Bulova, a once-mighty Swiss-American brand that's thriving again under Citizen's ownership. Still, aside from a few pricey key chronographs and dive watches from the 60s, this high-volume brand has some gems that are very easy to find and affordable. With in-house movements and enough styles to fill a museum, there's likely something for everyone.Roamer is another brand that receives almost no attention from collectors. This is a shame because the company made some truly high-quality and uniquely designed watches. Signed crystals, monobloc cases, and NSA bracelets are just some of the goodness one can find.Wittnauer is another interesting case. Longines formerly owned the brand, and it is now another entrant in the Citizen stable. Here again, aside from a few select chronographs and an interesting electronic watch, there are oodles of fantastic references available for little money. In particular, see the military or military-inspired pieces.Loads of optionsWe also discuss another Swiss-American brand, Gruen. From the Curvex to later models, there are plenty of great options. Similarly, check out bygone house brands from American jewelry and department stores. Companies such as Baylor (a Zales brand) or Le Gant (from Montgomery Ward) are often great places to find watches from more famous marques, like Heuer.Finally, there's Mido, a brand that used fancy

A case in which the Court will decide whether a federal court that initially exercises jurisdiction and stays a case pending arbitration maintains jurisdiction over a post-arbitration Section 9 or 10 application where jurisdiction would otherwise be lacking.

Jules v. Andre Balazs Properties | 03/30/26 | Docket #: 25-83 25-83 JULES V. ANDRE BALAZS PROPERTIES DECISION BELOW: 2025 WL 1201914 CERT. GRANTED 12/5/2025 QUESTION PRESENTED: Under Sections 9 and 10 of the Federal Arbitration Act, a party may apply to confirm or vacate an arbitration award. But federal courts have limited jurisdiction over Section 9 and 10 applications. In Badgerow v. Walters , 596 U.S. 1, 4, 9-11 (2022), this Court held that a federal court may exercise jurisdiction only if the application establishes diversity or federal-question jurisdiction on its face. A federal court may not exercise jurisdiction merely on the basis that the underlying dispute, save for the arbitration agreement, would have been justiciable in federal court. See id . But what happens when a court initially exercises jurisdiction over the underlying dispute, stays the case pending arbitration, and is later faced with an application to confirm or vacate an arbitration award in the same case? The courts of appeals have sharply divided on the appropriate jurisdictional analysis. Several courts of appeals, including the Second Circuit below, have held that the initial exercise of jurisdiction creates a "jurisdictional anchor" that confers jurisdiction over a subsequent Section 9 or 10 application to confirm or vacate, even if jurisdiction would otherwise be absent. By contrast, the Fourth Circuit has held that a court must establish an independent basis for jurisdiction over a Section 9 or 10 application to confirm or vacate. The question presented is: Whether a federal court that initially exercises jurisdiction and stays a case pending arbitration maintains jurisdiction over a post-arbitration Section 9 or 10 application where jurisdiction would otherwise be lacking. LOWER COURT CASE NUMBER: 23-1253, 23-1283

Overthinking can make you feel like you are doing something useful, yet most of the time, you are not. You tell yourself you need a little more time. A little more clarity. A better plan. But the truth is, the more you think, the less likely you are to act.The people who move forward are not always smarter or more confident. They act faster. They do not sit in that moment of doubt for too long. Are you still going to stay stuck for life?In this episode of Diamond Life Mentor Uncut, Balazs W Kardos shares a mindset strategy to prevent overthinking and take the shots at connecting with and closing your audience.You will hear key insights on:Reasons some men are afraid to make movesDeveloping conversational skillsMaking powerful and genuine connectionsAsking the right questionsBuilding resilience in a high-ticket businessBalazs points out that this is where most people lose. They stay in their head, going back and forth, until doing nothing feels easier.But the people who get results? They do not wait for perfect timing or perfect words. They go for it while it is still uncomfortable.That is the shift. You do not have to wait, especially in this high-ticket industry. Balazs challenges you to catch yourself in that exact moment, the second you think, “I should do this…” and then start to back out. That is your signal."Kick things off with 2026, really pay attention to how many times you want to say something, want to do something, and prevent yourself for whatever reason, some form of fear." - Balazs W Kardos

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we address a listener's question about price transparency in the vintage market. Does it exist, and if not, how should a new collector navigate these murky waters? Listen in as we take a long look at this interesting topic.After last week's episode about what happens when a previously undervalued brand gains attention, we decided to focus on another deep topic. This time, we pick a listener's suggestion and discuss price transparency in the vintage watch marketplace. Thanks to Tachytales for the suggestion, and thankfully, we've got a lot to say!HandgelenkskontrolleWe begin our discussion with discussions about TV shows. The second season of Paradise is a must-watch. Then, we discuss the Oscars and several of the movies featured during the annual award show (yes, we made a mistake about Sinners winning the Best Picture award). Balazs has just returned from a business trip in Miami, and he has plenty to say about the weather, the clothing, and the Miami Heat. While there, he also had the chance to check out the latest Omega Speedmaster Professional "Reverse Panda" in steel. Regarding the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing the Aquastar Benthos H2, a great watch for the rainy weather in London. Balazs brought a trio of watches to Miami and has opted for the one he wore the least. Today, he's donning his Rolex Submariner 5513.Price transparency in the vintage watch marketFor our main topic, we attempt to answer a faithful listener's question about market pricing for vintage watches. Yes, it can be difficult to know what to pay for a given watch when prices are all over the map. The same is true when past sales prices are challenging to find. And what about dealers who seem to charge a lot more than others?First, we understand that some collectors of vintage watches are more comfortable taking risks than others. Still, we advocate research ad nauseam until purchasing feels like less of a gamble. Frankly, we feel that some watches are worth paying a dealer premium for, while others are more apt for finding on a site like eBay or at a local auction. For example, we'd likely refrain from buying an older Rolex or Patek Philippe on a whim.Of course, there are other considerations, such as condition and service history. Some dealers specialize in museum-like new-old-stock pieces, which garner premium prices. Others ensure that all watches have received a full service before sale, a costly feature that isn't insignificant for an older timepiece.We always come back to doing one's homework, but it's not just about the watches. More than ever, we've seen a surge in Instagram-based dealers with dubious credentials. Digging deep to learn about their reputations, the watches they're selling, and even checking if commenters are always the same are sound tactics. In the end, though, there are few absolutes on the pricing of vintage watches. If a watch is honest, in your price range, and desirable, then it's probably a good buy.We hope you enjoy today's show. Feel free to leave us your comments below, and don't hesitate to suggest any additional show topics. Thanks for listening!

Most global technology companies start as tight-knit engineering teams, but only a few manage to scale into organizations of tens of thousands without facing moments that fundamentally reshape how they operate. Growth at that level is about navigating inflection points that test a company's identity, resilience, and ability to adapt. Rapid expansion, unexpected crises, and shifting market forces all play a role, and in today's landscape those pressures are accelerating as AI, geopolitical uncertainty, and enterprise-wide transformation redefine how companies build technology and compete.On this episode of The Reboot Chronicles, we speak with Balazs Fejes, CEO of EPAM Systems, to explore how the company transformed from a small Eastern European engineering shop into a $5.5 billion global leader in digital engineering and consulting. We unpack the leadership lessons that come from scaling through crises, the operational discipline required to build engineering organizations at global scale, and why companies that successfully industrialize AI—not just experiment with it—will define the next decade of enterprise transformation.

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! We're back (sort of) after more travels, and this week, we discuss the fallout that happens once a formerly unloved brand becomes popular. Call it sour grapes or wanting to keep something to oneself, but feel free to listen to our thoughts on the subject. Enjoy the show!I'm sure you know what it's like to be holding a secret. No, I don't mean the salacious kind, but when you know of something good that others are ignoring. Sometimes, it's the best song on a new album that hasn't been released. For this episode, though, we're here to talk about watches. Specifically, we mention the recent attention garnered by a brand that has been dormant to mainstream collectors for the better part of four decades, Movado. We also mention Balazs's favorite, Angelus.HandgelenkskontrolleWe kick off our episode about a cult brand getting popular with some banter. After all, it's been a while since we've spoken. Mike is currently in Canton, Ohio, and had the opportunity to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It's a must-see for anyone who enjoys the game! Then, we turn our attention to the TV shows we've been watching. Paradise, The Night Agent, and Cross are current hits worth streaming. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike brought one watch to Ohio. It's his metallic-black-dial Rolex Datejust 16030 from 1983. He hasn't worn it much over the past five years, but it has performed admirably on the trip. Balazs has even more exciting news. After his recent trip to Japan, he ordered the Ōtsuka Lōtec No.5 Kai, and it just arrived. This is a very different brand and style of watch for him. We can't wait for the review!When a brand you love becomes popularWe spend our time discussing the positives and negatives of when a brand you enjoy suddenly gains more of a mainstream following. Our recent prime example of this is Movado, a company that made some fantastic watches from the 1930s through parts of the 1970s. We discuss how Movado's more complicated vintage models were once popular with collectors during the 1980s, when smaller pieces were all the rage. However, since then, no one cared much until now. Savvy collectors have long appreciated Movado's in-house movements and above-average attention to detail, but this somehow escaped dealer websites until recently.Aside from rising prices, we discuss the other pitfalls of a once-cultish brand becoming more widely known. Balazs keeps our conversation balanced with similar thoughts about his favorite vintage marque, Angelus. Of course, availability has dropped along with the ability to find a diamond in the rough. Plus, we've witnessed a rise in dubiously knowledgeable merchants proclaiming originality on a piece when there are clear issues. Also, for collectors who place a lot of trust in dealers, there's a big difference in the robustness between a watch from the '30s or '40s without shock protection and a more modern '60s chronograph. When problems occur, will people abandon a brand like Movado? In our experience, servicing such older pieces is also more challenging due to parts availability and watchmaker patience. If it sounds like we're bad-mouthing Movado, we're not! Perhaps we're simply concerned about the fallout once the hype subsides.We hope you enjoy today's episode, and we're looking forward to your comments. If you have thoughts on subjects for future shows, please let us know!

To kick off Women's History Month, Jim welcomes Lara Balazs, the Chief Marketing Officer and EVP of Global Marketing at Adobe. A company at the center of creativity, transformation and technology. Founded in 1982, Adobe is a software company that is famous for its creativity, innovation, and strong employee and customer-centric culture. Their purpose is to change the world through personalized digital experiences, and their offerings include the Creative Cloud, Document Cloud, Experience Cloud, and Adobe Express.Lara is an experienced CMO. Before Adobe, Lara was the CMO at Intuit for six years, and oversaw a strong run, tripling revenue during her tenure. Over the course of her career, Lara has worked at Visa, Nike, Amazon, and Gap. At Adobe, Lara is leading the charge to help shape the iconic company into its next era of growth. Just one year into the role, she's already refreshed the company's mission to “empower everyone to create” and is leading one of the most ambitious AI-enabled marketing transformations in the industry.Tune in for a conversation with a leader who believes we are entering the golden age of creativity…—Learn more, request a free pass, and register at iab.com/ccs Promo Code for $150 off ticket prices: CMOPODCCS26—This week's episode is brought to you by IAB.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of the hardest transitions you will ever make is moving from employee to entrepreneur. As an employee, you associate effort with compensation. You complete tasks, you receive a paycheck.In business, you can work intensely for weeks and see little to no financial return at first. When you apply the 80/20 rule, you can spend a significant amount of time on low-impact tasks during the day and still feel productive, but that does not necessarily mean they give results.In this episode of Diamond Life Mentor Uncut, Balazs W Kardos discusses the 80/20 principle in building an organization and how it influences your compensation structure while supporting your team's growth.You will hear powerful insights and motivation around:Being your own bossThe Pareto Principle in businessSetting realistic expectations with your teamBirth of the "trifecta" in GPMApplying GPM's daily method of operationAttracting the right people to work with youAccording to Balazs, reviewing your week will reveal that a portion of your activities actually generate revenue. The same principle applies to people. A few individuals will generate most of the sales, lead most of the calls, and influence the most growth.When you identify who those contributors are, you can invest in them intentionally. Units move numbers. People move networks. If your metrics show strong volume but your number of engaged builders is limited, your leverage is narrower than it appears. So you train them, support them, and help them duplicate. That is how you create momentum to reach your goals."It's the repetition. It's the act of real people, real conversations, and getting very familiar and comfortable with being a consultant who can help people solve their problems. We are really professional problem solvers. " - Balazs W KardosIf you want clarity on where your growth is truly coming from and how to scale it properly, tune in to Episode 160 - DLM Uncut: The 80/20 Truth About Building a Real Organization, available now on all platforms.

CheloniaCast is joined by George Balazs, a global independent sea turtle scientist and former leader of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Marine Turtle Research Program, a position that he held for over 30 years. George is, and has been, a massive force for sea turtles and ocean conservation. This episode covers the conservation science, cultural significance, future outlook, global migration ecology, and personal philosophy surrounding primarily Pacific sea turtles from the perspective of a key contributor to their study and appreciation.   To learn more about George's work, and about sea turtles in general, check out his website (it is a treasure trove of information): https://georgehbalazs.com/   If you want a short, comprehensive, list of articles about sea turtles check out: https://georgehbalazs.com/articles/16-useful-short-papers-on-the-basics-of-sea-turtle-conservation-research/   Learn more about the CheloniaCast Podcast here: https://theturtleroom.org/cheloniacast/   Learn more about the CheloniaCast Podcast Fund here: https://theturtleroom.org/project/cheloniacast-podcast/   Follow the CheloniaCast Podcast on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter @cheloniacast Host and production crew social media - Jason Wills - @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted - @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson - @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang - @americanmamushi / Wyatt Keil - @wyatts_wildlife_photography / Paul Cuneo - @paul_turtle_conservation42 / Alex Mione - @alex.mione / Ethan Hancock - @ethankinosternonlover / Torsten Watkins - @t_0_.e / Drew Millman - @drew.millman

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we hop into our time machine and travel back 10 years to 2016. As we'll see, in some ways, this wasn't so long ago. Yet, in others, it was a different lifetime. Join us as we look back on fonder days.HandgelenkskontrolleIt's been a while since we've recorded, and much of this is down to Mike's travels in Germany. Sadly, on one of the trips, he had a very Balazs-like travel experience involving planes and trains. If he did have a time machine, he'd probably go back and choose to sleep through his alarm that day. We mention an upcoming Sotheby's auction featuring a pair of Michael Jordan's shoes from the Dream Team Barcelona Olympics. Balazs discusses the return of The Night Manager, a show that, coincidentally, has returned after its first season in 2016! For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing an upcoming release, the Nivada Grenchen F77 MKII. Mike was wearing his Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665 "Great White" in Germany and still has it on his wrist.Taking our time machine back to 2016Yes, it's hard to believe that 2016 was 10 years ago! Time flies! In this episode, we're reminiscing about a year that brought some interesting releases and behavior. Specifically, vintage watches were within a boom period. In particular, a Patek Philippe 1518 sold at Phillips for over CHF 11 million! It was hard for us to believe that watches were achieving these sums a decade ago.Many new watches from back then still feel relatively modern, but there's no doubt that larger diameters and chunkier cases were in vogue. The Blancpain Bathyscaphe Blue and Ceramic is a good example of this, but to be fair, the same basic platform is still in the catalog today. Speaking of big and robust watches, Robert-Jan reviewed the Sinn U212, which still looks fresh. If we truly want to feel old, Tudor was already in its second year of offering non-ETA movements. Omega launched a rare box-office stinker with the blue and white CK2998, a piece that has aged quite well.Our time machine continues its journey and finds the wild Hublot Big Bang Berluti, which was available in gold or steel and showed off a leather dial. Seiko, announced a partnership with PADI. This caused a stir, and several of us on the team grabbed one of the new models. TAG Heuer announced a Monza PVD, a retro chronograph with a thick case. However, we save the most significant announcement for last. Rolex, after producing steel Daytona 116500LN models with a steel bezel for over 25 years, introduced pieces with ceramic bezels. Understandably, the excitement was palpable and hit Basel like a hurricane. We remark that these watches have been unavailable since that time!We hope you enjoy today's episode. Share your watch memories from 2016 in the comments below, and let us know if we forgot any momentous pieces.

If you spend your life working hard enough to pay your bills, you are not actually successful. Most people are very good at making sure you get what you need. You can find a way every single month to come up with the money for your rent, your car, and your phone. Even when the month feels tight, you manage to make it happen.Yet is this what you really aim for? You have become accustomed to this life, but you have set your sights too low. You are playing a small game because you are only aiming for what you need to survive.In this Diamond Life Mentor Uncut episode, Balazs W Kardos shares how playing small does not remove the risks but keeps you away from your dreams and the life you want.You will hear powerful insights and motivation around:Pivoting to a better mindset, facing financial strugglesDefining real freedomRealizing how your job prevents you from becoming financially and physically freeDreaming bigger and working harderAchieving financial goals practicallyBalazs mentions that one of your biggest mistakes is waiting until you have the money to start dreaming. You will look at luxury travel websites once your bank account is "full". That is backwards. You have to dream first, then the money fills the gap.Most people have no idea what their dream life actually costs because they only see the fake version on social media. Research the actual costs, and that is what forces you to level up your work.If you want a life that is truly life-changing, you have to stop settling for enough. You need to reverse-engineer your life. Figure out where you want to live, how you want to move, and how you want to serve, just like what Balazs did when he set his mind to this business."So we have to look at this fine line between what we must do and only we can do in different areas of our lives, and then what are all the things we can take off of our plates and make this your goal." - Balazs W KardosIf you are ready to stop playing small and start building the life you actually want, listen to this episode and bridge the gap between where you are and where you deserve to be.Want a Personalized Plan for Business & Life Optimization?Book A FREE Call Connect with Balazs W Kardos:WebsiteFacebookThe Diamond Life CommunityLinkedInYouTubeInstagramThe Diamond Life Mentor Instagram

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss the latest Speedmaster Professional reverse panda. However, this isn't your standard review. We take it all the way back to Speedy Tuesday 1 and rue the passing of the limited-edition models of yore. Fear not, though; it's not all about Speedies.Yes, last week's Speedmaster reverse panda caused quite a stir. In many ways, it feels like Omega's move was easy, but it took until 2026 for it to arrive. Overall, we're happy it did show up, but it made us quite sentimental. There were also some other new releases worth mentioning. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.HandgelenkskontrolleWe kick off the show with a bit of TV talk. Landman, Fallout, and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon are some of the shows we've been enjoying. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing the Ollech & Wajs OW C-1000 Y, a watch that easily survived a cold-weather car wash earlier in the day. Balazs, on the other wrist, is wearing a watch that he just received. It's the Nivada F77 Chrono Mecaquartz, and he's rocking it with a blue dial on a bracelet. At roughly €750, it represents a nice expansion of the F77 lineup.The Speedmaster reverse panda is a lookerWe debate the new Speedmaster reverse panda and remark on how the Moonwatch collection has grown mightily. It also gives us time to reminisce about the 2017 Speedy Tuesday 1, which featured a thematically similar dial design. This evolved into a discussion about the days of Omega's limited-edition Speedmaster Professional models. Dammit, we miss them and hope that the brand brings them back in some form. Another interesting release just dropped in the form of the TAG Heuer Carrera Seafarer Chronograph. We like it and enjoy all the different colors on the dial. Finally, we mention one of the more surprising drops, the Zenith El Primero-powered Tiffany & Co. Tiffany Timer. While we hope it foreshadows a new beginning for the American jeweler's watchmaking future, we're not necessarily in love with this brightly colored model.We hope you enjoy today's episode. As always, if you have ideas for future shows, feel free to let us know!

Powering businesses to accomplish their daily work remains Intuit's central mission, using AI and a network of human experts to accomplish a wide range of business tasks for more than 100 million customers, from closing accounting books, processing payroll to preparing taxes. In this Tech Disruptors podcast episode, Intuit CTO Alex Balazs speaks with Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Niraj Patel about the company's evolution from a provider of desktop products to its latest AI agents. Balazs also touches on its data-scale differentiator, how GenAI is reshaping software and Intuit's future position as a financial-operating system.Tech Disruptors: Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Happy New Year from Fratello On Air! We're back with a new episode, and we're going shopping. Well, maybe. One of us has his eyes on several pieces while the other is taking a wait-and-see approach. Enjoy our 2026 kickoff!Yes, we're back for another year, and it's great to be here! With a new year, we usually make resolutions. However, last year's resolutions didn't go so well. In particular, Mike failed miserably on his plan to sell watches. He was simply too lazy. So instead of making these types of predictions, we've opted to talk about what's on our shopping lists.HandgelenkskontrolleWe kick off our show with a discussion about Kith, which some of you may recall from the controversial TAG Heuer Formula 1 × Kith collaboration in 2024. The brand just opened a new store in London, which is worth visiting if sneakers are of interest. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing his trusty G-Shock GW-B5600-2ER, a watch that seems to give him good luck when traveling. Mike is wearing his Synchron Military, a fun piece from 2021. This segues into a conversation about the Synchron Sealab Ti300M, a new titanium diver with many similarities to the Doxa Sub 300T.Shopping in 2026For 2026, we're taking a more reserved approach to collecting — sort of. Mike has a trio of expensive watches on his radar and will struggle to land any of them. However, he has vowed to stay away from accumulating more lower-priced pieces. Balazs, on the other hand, has less specific desires. He has just ordered a microbrand watch from Japan but is keeping mum on the name until it arrives. A watch that Mike is hot on is the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF 36 in Stone Blue. This probably isn't a surprise, as it comes up now and again on episodes, but make no mistake, the desire is real!Balazs has come close to completing his Angelus collection, but he'd love to add a vintage minute repeater. For the second year in a row, Mike also has a certain vintage watch on his list. The "large" Cartier Tank Normale is still a lustworthy piece, but it's expensive. With its 23mm by 30mm case, this little beauty has real presence but a hefty price tag. Balazs is taking some small steps to fund potential acquisitions by selling a few of his Angelus duplicates, which bodes well for his piggy bank. Finally, while adding another Rolex to the collection wasn't planned, a '60s gilt-dial Rolex Submariner 5513 would be amazing. Our friend Eric Wind of Wind Vintage often finds great examples. There's just something special about the warm font!We hope you enjoy today's episode and look forward to the upcoming year. Let us know what's on your shopping list for 2026 and, while you're at it, what else you'd like to hear about in future installments.

Merry Christmas and welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! We're back with an episode on Christmas Eve, and we're talking about our favorite Seiko watches of all time. That's a tough mission, but like Santa's job of delivering toys to all the children, we're up to the task! Grab some mulled wine, settle in by the fireplace, and enjoy the banter.Folks, we've been on the road for the last few weeks. America, Japan, and Germany are just some of the places we've been. However, we're back just in time for Christmas, and we're excited to talk about one of our favorite brands. Seiko has an impressive history and has made significant contributions to watchmaking. In this episode, we discuss our six favorite Seiko references. It wasn't easy, but we've somehow whittled it down to a handful and a thumb!HandgelenkskontrolleTo kick things off, we return to sneakers. We've been a little disappointed in the Nike and New Balance releases leading up to the holiday season. Balazs brings up a set of Chicago Bulls championship rings that sold at Sotheby's on December 12th for over $400,000. Mike then discusses the Imperial Fabergé Winter Egg that recently sold for $30.2 million at Christie's. It was on preview at Christie's in London before going under the hammer earlier this month. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing his lovely Rolex GMT-Master reference 1675. Mike is still addicted to his Ming 37.11 Odyssey on the Polymesh bracelet.Our favorite Seiko watchesIf you haven't figured it out, Seiko is one of our favorite brands. When reviewing its back catalog, the number of significant references is mind-boggling. There are an incredible number of amazing watches in so many genres. Somehow, we've boiled our list down to six favorites. Some are surprises, and some are not. Still, all are fun and worth mentioning. Our picks are:The 6139-7070, a fantastic reference showcasing Japan's first automatic chronographThe Grand Seiko 44GS, 4420-9000, is one of the most significant designs from the brandA King Seiko 5626-7000, a Hi-Beat legend still available at an amazing priceSeiko's Champion Alpinist J13043, an incredibly distinct model with a stunning dialGrand Seiko's modern collection, one of the most gratifying and well-designed lineups on the market todayThe Seiko 6215-7000, a watch that broke boundaries for the brand and set a design standard that persists to this dayWe hope you enjoy today's episode, and while we expect some controversy from our discussion, we'd love it if you would contribute to the comments section with your favorite Seiko references. Most of all, we wish you a safe and joyous holiday period and thank you for your endless support. We look forward to our next episode!

Did you know that the difference between someone who makes a big check and someone who builds long-lasting financial freedom is not their skill? It is what we call the money thermostat. And what sets the thermostat is how aligned you are in your finances and financial mindset. Fear comes in the way of your successes and failures that hold you back even further. But with consistency, hard work, leadership, and strategy in your content and how you manage your team members, you get more aligned in your business and have that momentum to keep going to reach your goals.In this Diamond Life Mentor Uncut episode, Balazs W Kardos is back with another Accelerator to share a strategy around your money thermostat and how it keeps you stuck or reaching the ranks.You will hear powerful insights and motivation around:Having alignment and momentum in businessBalancing old and new strategiesHaving a fear of success or failureEncouraging a proactive approach in the communityReverse engineering your money mindsetBalazs relates this to having a part-time job while managing a business. If you quit too soon, before you've mastered your systems and your mindset, you risk backtracking, having to find another job because the pressure was too much. This happens to 90% of people who quit too early. But if you wait until you've mastered your internal thermostat and your external systems, you quit from a place of strength.Then, Balazs recommends focusing on what you can control, staying consistent, and proving to yourself that you are worthy of the success waiting for you."You will only have this short runway opportunity for so long, until you are past it and you go full-time in your business, you quit your job, you start traveling, you start doing all this stuff. And then what happens is your relatability starts to get further and further away from the average person." - Balazs W KardosDo not miss the full episode to start building momentum and alignment as you identify the fear that is preventing you from getting your target income level.Want a Personalized Plan for Business & Life Optimization?Book A FREE Call Connect with Balazs W Kardos:WebsiteFacebookThe Diamond Life CommunityLinkedInYouTubeInstagramThe Diamond Life Mentor Instagram

What if you've reached that level of success and now you've hit the ceiling? That no matter how many doors you knock on or how many calls you make, even if you get three to five sales opportunities every single day, you will eventually run out of time? This limitation occurs because your business depends entirely on you. While you have your team and community in place, maybe it is time for you to spend time teaching others more to master self-duplication. In this Diamond Life Mentor Uncut episode, Balazs W Kardos is back with another Accelerator to discuss his strategy for duplication and how to create repeatable processes, especially when you feel you have tried everything for the team and nothing happens.You will hear powerful insights and motivation around:Improving at teaching othersDuplicating yourself in businessManaging expectations in building a communitySucceeding in personal developmentValuing experience and skill transferWhen you bring a new person onto your team, you must set the expectation correctly because, aside from sales, you are inviting them into a personal development business. Balazs wants you to show them how you work and to help them realize that their mindset, skills from past jobs, and resilience will help them succeed in the future.Lastly, keep teaching and attract individuals who are more skilled, intelligent, and influential than you. Making this change will significantly boost your business."The majority of them did not buy, and I just kept doing them anyway. That's a lot of work. Three to five a day, not including following up, not including prospecting, not including content, not including training my team, just purely opportunities to sell three to five a day, every single day, seven days a week." - Balazs W KardosListen to the full episode now to get the step-by-step framework for building a self-replicating system to keep your community growing and unstoppable.Want a Personalized Plan for Business & Life Optimization?Book A FREE Call Connect with Balazs W Kardos:WebsiteFacebookThe Diamond Life CommunityLinkedInYouTubeInstagramThe Diamond Life Mentor Instagram

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! With Thanksgiving barely in our rearview mirrors, we decide to spend time giving thanks to the watch hobby. In this installment, you'll hear what we love so much about this addiction and why. Settle in for this candid chat.In honor of Thanksgiving, we figure that giving thanks is well overdue. Today, you'll hear a lovable Balazs talk about all the things he enjoys about collecting watches and the industry. Mike chimes in with a few of his thoughts. If you were expecting another list, don't worry; we'll be back soon with more controversy. For now, we're feeling festive, and we hope you enjoy it!HandgelenkskontrolleWe kick off the episode with a chat about television shows. Mike has finally started the legendary British series Foyle's War and is enjoying it immensely. Balazs brings up another long-running classic, Endeavour. There's something special about these types of productions that feels very different from American programs. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing the Panerai he bought in 2002, the 40mm automatic PAM00048 Luminor Marina. Once again, Balazs is sporting his fantastic Rolex Submariner 5513. Yes, folks, larger watches are slowly making their way to our wrists!Giving thanksWe kick off our main topic about giving thanks in a natural spot. The community is where we begin, and while we mention it frequently, both of us feel more grateful than ever before. Wherever we travel, we seem to bump into listeners, watch fans, and genuinely friendly folks who are happy to grab a beer or a bite. You've made us feel welcome everywhere, including online, and it's part of what keeps us so excited about the hobby. Next, we talk about a rather childlike feeling that still drives us to stay involved. Frankly, we love the connection we have with brands and the ability to see models before they're released. It's probably not a surprise, but seeing watches before and after they've gone on sale is still a thrill.Another reason to be thankful is for the general creativity behind watches. Sure, some are better than others, but as vintage collectors, we constantly marvel at the aesthetic solutions found on our little marvels. In particular, our love of chronographs is mainly driven by their designs. The next reason for giving thanks may induce a groan, but we are deeply thankful for Rolex and Seiko. In many ways, these brands couldn't be more different, yet they're oddly very similar too. Most of all, each company deserves a lot of credit for keeping people interested in watches.Our final dose of appreciation relates to our love of microbrands and independents. We rarely talk about micros, but these companies are driving enthusiasm, innovation, value, and showing agility. Indies, on the other hand, are pushing boundaries technically and aesthetically. Plus, most are incredibly friendly, which is a lovely attribute.As always, thank you for listening! If you have any thoughts on future show topics, please feel free to let us know!

Stop making sales calls feel good.As a future mentor, your discovery calls should move past surface-level excitement. That might sound counterintuitive, but if you want to lead someone to change and reach their goals, you cannot start with mainly fantasy.Yes, it provides a little push, but that is not enough to guarantee they will stick with the work.In this Diamond Life Mentor Uncut episode, Balazs W Kardos is back with another Accelerator call to talk about leading transformational sales calls and presentations.You will hear powerful insights and motivation around:How discovery calls failUnderstanding enthusiasm and beliefAdapting to prospects' pain and motivationHandling sales calls using pain pointsImproving discovery callsTo transform others, Balazs wants you to believe in yourself and the business before you transfer them to your leads. You must lead with total confidence. When you talk about this opportunity, your energy needs to scream, "I am completely sold on myself." This means you never, ever discuss failure, refunds, or exit plans. You must believe that if they walk away from this opportunity, they will truly regret it later in life.Now, you take them to a "line in the sand" moment, a point where they realize that being in their comfort zones and having limiting beliefs will not make their retirement plans happen. People assume they will retire just because they turn 65. But if they haven't been investing for years, they are running out of time. The good thing is you are here to help them."That's the gain pleasure conversation, 20% of motivation. Now, rather than that being the case, we want it not to feel good. We want this conversation to hurt. We want it to be honest. We want it to be truthful. We want to ask questions that no one's ever asked before. That makes you a mentor." - Balazs W KardosListen to the full episode now to lead conversations that push people to take action in making their dreams a reality.

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we enter the depths and declare the greatest dive watches of all time. Yes, there are some expected entries, but we also offer a surprise or two. Enjoy the listen!While neither Balazs nor I dive, we've realized that the style of watch used for this activity has probably become the most popular genre. Not so long ago, a dive watch was relegated to casual and sporty environments. Now, these capable pieces, for better or worse, are worn everywhere. So, what made us want to take on a topic like the greatest dive watches? Well, we like to get people talking, so feel free to tell us why you agree or, more likely, disagree with our choices.HandgelenkskontrolleWith increasingly dreary and wet days, we've been enjoying a bit of television. Some interesting shows are on right now, including The Beast In Me, Pluribus, The Task, and The Outsider. We also briefly discuss sneaker news, a topic we haven't mentioned in a while. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is on topic with the new Ollech & Wajs OW C-1000 Y, a release inspired by the original '60s Caribbean. Balazs is wearing his Fratello × Nivada Grenchen Racing Chronograph. Before moving on to our main topic, we take some time to discuss last week's long-awaited release, the new Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean.The greatest dive watches of all timeFor certain, "the greatest dive watches of all time" isn't an easy subject to tackle. There are so many great candidates. From the innovative pieces in the '60s that were actually attempting to solve real-world issues to the wild movement and material updates that came in the later decades, it's a tough topic. Like many of our episodes, we didn't share our picks before recording, so, interestingly, we came up with some common thoughts. We challenged ourselves to choose three models per person, but gave ourselves some leeway due to shared picks. Get your pitchforks, or tridents, ready!It's impossible not to start a list of the greatest dive watches of all time with anything other than the Rolex Submariner. For us, it is the absolute king, bar none. In terms of quality, reliability, and reputation, it's impossible to beat. But there are plenty of other legends. The Seiko Tuna, particularly the original Grandfather Tuna 6159-7010 and the first Golden Tuna 7549-7000, brought innovation and an entirely new design language to the dive watch.Rolex, Omega, Seiko, and more!Omega enters the conversation with one of the most focused, purpose-built divers ever: the mighty PloProf. Yes, this watch is audacious, but it's an incredible piece of equipment that deserves its place on the Mount Olympus of dive watches. Seiko returns to the show with a watch that became a legend for its looks and approachable pricing, the 6309 Turtle.For our last two picks, we chose watches from smaller brands, but you'll have to listen to the episode to find out what they are! As always, thank you for listening to Fratello On Air! If you have any ideas for future show topics, please feel free to let us know.

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we chat about the legendary five-digit Rolex era and how it's probably the greatest collection of modern watches. We discuss why and mention some of our favorite models. Enjoy the show!For many of us, it seems that the five-digit Rolex period was around forever. In fact, the watches debuted in the late 1970s and stayed in production until 2012! That's a long time! Of course, there were tweaks over the 30-plus years, but the watches remain relevant today. We discuss their impact and why owning one can be an endgame move.HandgelenkskontrolleWe kick off our show with a discussion about Mike's recent trip to the United States and his proximity to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Then, we move on to watches. Mike recently spent a lengthy amount of time with the new Ming 37.11 Odyssey, a diver GMT that truly struck his fancy. Yes, he has ordered one. Then, Balazs mentions the new Louis Erard 2340, an attractive take on the integrated-bracelet sports watch. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, both of us are wearing a Ming 22.01 GMT. Mike's Gilt version is on the titanium Ming Universal Bracelet. However, Balazs scores the win with his Kyoto variant on the new titanium Ming Polymesh. It's fabulous!Five-digit RolexFor our main topic, we move on to five-digit Rolex and why it still reigns supreme as the greatest modern collection of watches. These pieces all had one foot in the modern era and one in the vintage period. Slim cases, stamped clasps, and mostly stamped end links are just some of the lovely old-world characteristics. Modern movements finally brought a quick-setting date function and modern frequencies. For those who enjoy aging, aluminum bezels, and the chance to find tritium, these watches tick a lot of boxes. Most importantly, though, these pieces can all be worn daily and should remain usable for decades to come. We also discuss how values are rising again after a post-pandemic drop.It's hard to go wrong with any five-digit Rolex, but each of us shares our favorite three models. Balazs enjoys the Submariner 14060 with tritium markers, an Explorer II 16570 with a polar-white dial, and the watch that brought Rolex into the mainstream, the Submariner Date 16610. As for Mike, he's in love with the flashy Submariner 16618 with blue dial, the ultimate classic Explorer 14270, and the under-the-radar Datejust 16200 or Turn-O-Graph 16264. Really, there's no wrong choice within the entire catalog, but we'd love to hear yours!We hope you enjoy today's episode. As always, thanks for listening, and feel free to share any topics that you'd like us to cover in the future.

Have you ever spoken to someone who wanted to invest in your business but could not afford it? Then you choose to accept that they will get back to you later to look for other leads, because you need to meet your target sales.That is one of the reasons you are not meeting your goals yet. First off, stop making the sale about your commission. Your only job in that moment is to give that person a chance to change their life. So, instead of letting it slide, challenge them.In this Diamond Life Mentor Uncut episode, Balazs W Kardos is back with another Accelerator call to share a sales strategy that teaches leaders how to help prospects in making the right decisions.You will hear powerful insights and motivation around:Advantages and disadvantages of Ukon SigmaSetting expectations and encouragement for the communitySucceeding with Ukon SigmaPivoting rejection to salesPromoting a compassionate service in network marketingWhat Balazs does is that the moment a prospect says they cannot afford the starting cost, he does not accept it. Why? He provides every possible option before letting them walk away from their own potential.By doing that, he lets them know, "Yes, your start might be tough, but people who started just like you are now the biggest leaders in this company." Once they commit, he lends them his belief to be the high-level leaders they are about to become.Next, Balazs wants you to encourage them further by helping them get their first sale within seven days. That first week is when they are most excited and ready to learn. Take advantage of that. You need to teach them to be smart with their first income. Tell them to take the money they make from that first sale and put it right back into the product and training.At the end of the day, your business grows because you are making sure they succeed first."Sometimes I like to test people a little bit of how creative they can get with coming up with the money, because sometimes they just resort to the path of least resistance." - Balazs W KardosListen to the latest episode to start building a team that's committed to winning by never making it about you, but their success from the start. Want a Personalized Plan for Business & Life Optimization?Book A FREE Call Connect with Balazs W Kardos:WebsiteFacebookThe Diamond Life CommunityLinkedInYouTubeInstagramThe Diamond Life Mentor Instagram

Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: Journey to Hope: A Thrilling Quest Through Post-Apocalyptic Woods Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2025-11-08-08-38-20-hu Story Transcript:Hu: Az erdő mélyén, ahol a fák szinte égbe értek, a nap alig szűrődött át a kopár ágakon.En: In the depths of the forest, where the trees almost touched the sky, the sun barely filtered through the barren branches.Hu: Eszter, Balazs és Zoltan meneteltek az avarban.En: Eszter, Balazs, and Zoltan marched through the leaves.Hu: Levélzörgés kísérte minden léptüket, ahogy a világtól elzárt ösvényen haladtak előre.En: The rustling of leaves accompanied their every step as they proceeded along the path cut off from the world.Hu: A poszt-apokaliptikus táj idegen és rémisztő volt.En: The post-apocalyptic landscape was alien and frightening.Hu: Az egykor virágzó Erdélyi erdők most emlékeztették őket egy eltűnt világra.En: The once-flourishing Transylvanian woods now reminded them of a vanished world.Hu: Eszter járt elöl.En: Eszter walked in front.Hu: Ő volt a csapat lelke, bár félelmei közben ott motoszkáltak benne, hogy elveszítheti utolsó szeretteit.En: She was the soul of the team, though fears lingered within her that she might lose her last loved ones.Hu: Társai rábízták az irányítást, de a teher óriási volt.En: Her companions entrusted her with leadership, but the burden was enormous.Hu: Balazs, a mindig logikus és hidegfejű, két lépéssel előre gondolkodott.En: Balazs, always logical and level-headed, thought two steps ahead.Hu: Mindig volt terve, még a legnagyobb zűrzavarban is.En: He always had a plan, even in the greatest chaos.Hu: Zoltan, a csapat bátor, de kissé meggondolatlan tagja, lelkében súlyos titkokat cipelt.En: Zoltan, the brave but somewhat reckless member of the group, carried heavy secrets in his heart.Hu: Néha a múlt hibái utolérték őt, de ezt soha nem bírta megosztani a többiekkel.En: Sometimes the mistakes of the past caught up with him, but he could never share this with the others.Hu: Már két napja gyalogoltak, keresve a szentélyt, amiről a legendák suttogtak.En: They had been walking for two days, searching for the sanctuary whispered of in legends.Hu: A biztonságot, ami talán megmentheti őket.En: The safety that might save them.Hu: Az úton azonban mások is voltak, és nem mindenki barátsággal közelített hozzájuk.En: However, there were others on the road, and not all approached them with friendliness.Hu: A feszültség nőtt, a véleménykülönbségek szembetűnőek lettek.En: The tension grew, and the differences in opinions became noticeable.Hu: - Balazs, az út túl hosszú - mondta Zoltan türelmetlenül.En: - Balazs, the path is too long - said Zoltan impatiently.Hu: - Van egy rövidebb út, amit ismernek a helyiek.En: - There is a shorter route known to the locals.Hu: Ha szerencsénk van, még ma elérhetjük.En: If we're lucky, we can reach it by today.Hu: - Kockázatos - felelte Balazs.En: - It's risky - Balazs replied.Hu: - Jobb, ha biztonságosabb úton megyünk.En: - It's better to go by a safer route.Hu: Eszter figyelt, belül vitázva önmagával.En: Eszter listened, internally debating with herself.Hu: Rázós döntés volt, de a felelősség az övé volt.En: It was a risky decision, but the responsibility was hers.Hu: Mély levegőt vett, majd határozottan így szólt:- Kockáztassunk.En: She took a deep breath, then spoke decisively: - Let's take the risk.Hu: Zoltan útját választom.En: I choose Zoltan's route.Hu: Gyorsan és csendben kell mennünk.En: We need to move quickly and quietly.Hu: Ahogy haladtak a sűrűben, hirtelen egy csoport jelent meg az úton.En: As they proceeded through the thicket, suddenly a group appeared on the path.Hu: Idegenek voltak, fegyverrel és zordan.En: They were strangers, armed and grim.Hu: Az útjukat állták, és nem tűntek barátságosnak.En: They blocked their path and did not seem friendly.Hu: Eszter összeszedte minden bátorságát, előrébb lépett, még mielőtt Balazs megállíthatta volna.En: Eszter gathered all her courage, stepping forward before Balazs could stop her.Hu: - Nem akarunk harcot!En: - We don't want a fight!Hu: - mondta Eszter.En: - said Eszter.Hu: - Csak át akarunk menni.En: - We just want to pass through.Hu: A csoport vezetője figyelmesen nézett rá, majd intett embereinek, hogy engedjék tovább őket.En: The leader of the group looked at her intently, then signaled his people to let them pass.Hu: Feszült pillanat volt, de Eszter hangja megingathatatlan nyugalmával győzte meg őket.En: It was a tense moment, but Eszter's voice withstood them with unshakable calmness.Hu: Ahogy továbbjutottak, a nap lassan nyugodni kezdett.En: As they moved on, the sun slowly began to set.Hu: Az erdő fokozatosan nyugalmat árasztott magából.En: The forest gradually exuded tranquility.Hu: Rövidesen megérkeztek egy tisztásra, ahol a táj változást ígért.En: Shortly they arrived at a clearing where the landscape promised change.Hu: Kezdtek reménykedni, hogy valóban közel járnak a szentélyhez.En: They began to hope that they were truly close to the sanctuary.Hu: Este, a tábortűz mellett pihenve, Eszter csöndesen ült.En: In the evening, sitting by the campfire, Eszter sat quietly.Hu: Balazs és Zoltan mellette beszélgettek, de ő csak az elkövetkező útra gondolt.En: Balazs and Zoltan conversed beside her, but she only thought about the road ahead.Hu: Lehet, hogy újrakezdés vár rájuk.En: Perhaps a new beginning awaited them.Hu: Eszter végre rájött, hogy bármi is történjen, nem szabad félnie.En: Eszter finally realized that whatever happened, she must not be afraid.Hu: A döntéseik késleltetése ellenére megtanulta, hogy bízni kell az intuíciójában.En: Despite the delays in their decisions, she learned to trust her intuition.Hu: Együtt képesek lesznek szembenézni bármivel, ami jön.En: Together they could face anything that comes.Hu: Másnap reggel az erdő újra élettel telt meg.En: The next morning, the forest came alive again.Hu: Az avar zörgésével Eszter, Balazs és Zoltan tudták, hogy a szentély valahol ott van előttük.En: With the rustling of leaves, Eszter, Balazs, and Zoltan knew that the sanctuary was somewhere ahead.Hu: Elérhetetlen már nem tűnt – csak egy karnyújtásnyira.En: It no longer seemed unattainable—just an arm's length away.Hu: Ahogy elindultak, Eszter belül már nem rettegett.En: As they set out, Eszter no longer feared inside.Hu: Már nem volt egyedül a félelmeivel – a bátorsága megszületett.En: She was no longer alone with her fears—her courage was born.Hu: Az erdő talán maradt ugyanaz, de benne a változás megtörtént.En: The forest may have remained the same, but inside her, the change had occurred. Vocabulary Words:depths: mélyénbarren: kopárrustling: levélzörgésaccompanied: kísérteapocalyptic: poszt-apokaliptikusflourishing: virágzóvanished: eltűntentrusted: rábíztákburden: teherlevel-headed: hidegfejűreckless: meggondolatlansanctuary: szentélywhispered: suttogtaktension: feszültséginternally: belüldebating: vitázvathicket: sűrűbengrim: zordanintently: figyelmesenunshakable: megingathatatlantranquility: nyugalmatclearing: tisztásraintuition: intuíciójábanproceeded: haladtakcompanion: társaiburdensome: terhesrisky: kockázatosencountered: találkoztakreminiscent: emlékeztettékforeboding: baljós

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we lay it on the line and predict upcoming watch trends. We take educated guesses about what will be hot and what will likely fade. It's a comprehensive look at everything from materials to sizes and colors. Enjoy the show!It's not easy to see into the future, but many popular styles and fads around us can help predict future watch trends. In this episode, we go into depth about many different details and cast our vote about what is coming next.HandgelenkskontrolleBefore we tackle upcoming watch trends, we spend time on a few entry topics. Many are even related to watches! On our wrists, it's a hodgepodge of picks this week. Mike starts with his G-Shock DW-5000R-1AER, which is a modern reissue of the first model. Balazs classes it up with the Omega Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday Ultraman, a watch released in 2018!The next watch trendsSeeing into the future is indeed nearly impossible. Yet, here we are with our prognostications about future watch trends. We start by talking about sustainability in the watch industry and declare that this is a dying subject. Luxury and sustainability are difficult to pair in the best situations, and watches simply don't seem to have a huge impact. That said, brands like Chopard that use conflict-free gold make sense. We also discuss the gray market and prices. We feel that the former will continue to be a massive dumping ground for slow-moving watches and, consequently, discounts. Regarding price increases, we are split about the likely upcoming behavior from watch companies.Next, we discuss case sizes. We expect a gradual increase to follow the current trend of baggier clothing. However, the watches will need to be thin and wearable. Color-wise, fuchsia and teal are our votes for the next big tones. On the material front, expect titanium to continue its bull run while stainless steel remains the favorite. Two-tone has received a hard push, but we expect it to continue as an outlier.Interestingly, we spent a lot of time discussing personalization and wonder why more brands aren't taking a page from IWC's book and offering it. On the opposite side, we feel that limited editions are dead for most brands unless they're truly captivating. We expect smartwatch investment to die off as the market has basically ceded ownership to Apple. However, the idea of more digital watches sounds plausible.Let us know how you feel about our thoughts on watch trends, and thank you for listening. As always, if you have future show ideas, please let us know!

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss the triumphant return of Seiko to the forefront of value-laden watchmaking. For some, perhaps the massive Japanese company never left. From our perspective, though, 2025 has been a turning point. We feel that the brand has truly listened to its fan base and the market. Listen along to why we feel this way and what else we'd like to see.After what felt like a lengthy period of offering chunky watches with big price tags, it seems that Seiko has made a triumphant return. Reasonably sized watches with prices that have held steady, while others have increased dramatically, are just a couple of our observations. Listen in and see if you agree with the rest of our thoughts on this fan-favorite watch brand.HandgelenkskontrolleWe kick off our episode by celebrating Balazs's return from the Big Apple. There's even a little singing to get everyone in the mood! Then, we recall our recent discussion about the fortunes of several brands in five years. Mike envisions a slim 37mm Panerai dress watch with a manual-winding movement and crown lock. Could it work? Then, screen-related entertainment makes an appearance as we mention A House of Dynamite, Task, and Slow Horses. Finally, Balazs shares his thoughts on the recent watch events in New York City and a disturbing visit to a Rolex boutique in SoHo. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs has been wearing the Ming 57.04 Iris Chronograph and was flashing it around New York. Mike is keeping with the theme and is also sporting a Ming. The watch is currently under embargo, but it is coming out in November. Spoiler alert: it's fantastic!Seiko's triumphant returnIn 2025, we've seen some fantastic releases. The previously mentioned recent announcements resonated with fans. Earlier, watches like the Seiko 5 SRPL91 and SRPL93 "Gene Kranz" or the new Speedtimer models seemed to nail the brief. The market has been asking for smaller, thinner watches with slimmer, better bracelets. Seiko has delivered. Plus, while others continue to raise prices, Seiko has held the line, albeit at higher prices than seven or eight years ago. Still, the watches are competitive, attractive, and desirable. Sure, there's still work to do, especially related to movement accuracy, but we remain hopeful. Overall, it's nice to see one of our favorite marques pulling at our heart and purse strings again! Let us know if you agree with us on the company's triumphant return and what else you'd like to see from Seiko.As always, thanks for listening to the latest episode of Fratello On Air! If you have ideas for future shows, please feel free to let us know.

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we talk about the best-value used watches. Of course, this isn't an exhaustive list but just a sampling of some great pre-owned picks. If you're expecting the usual suspects, prepare to be surprised. Enjoy the show!Yes, we're back with a follow-up to our popular show about currently available watches offering the best value with a look at the used marketplace. Sites such as Chrono24 and eBay present a veritable cornucopia of options, but we've managed to pare it down to six interesting picks. Listen in as we reveal them.HandgelenkskontrolleWe recorded this episode before Balazs's trip to New York City for various watch events. Therefore, you'll need to wait to find out if he had any fun travel experiences! For this installment, Mike is wearing his Ming 37.02 Minimalist, a straightforward watch that can happily be worn in casual and formal settings. Balazs, on the other hand, was rocking an off-the-wall timepiece earlier in the day. On his wrist was a 1999 Ikepod Megapode, a watch designed by Marc Newson.Best-value used watchesFor today's show, we gave ourselves a few rules. First, we didn't want to repeat any of the best-value new watches, even though those candidates are a great deal on the secondary market. We also stayed away from vintage watches because it's hard to compare prices for new and used pieces. Plus, it's also more challenging to find a mint or barely used vintage watch. With that in mind, we did not come together before the episode to share our picks. We were completely unscripted, which makes the choices even more surprising.We mention the Patek Philippe Gondolo 5014. In any form, these watches present a more horologically interesting and often less expensive choice than a similar Cartier Tank. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Date ref. Q4018420 is another killer value for the money. Secondhand Grand Seiko watches are routinely seen as best-value opportunities. We both love the 9S64-powered manual-winding SBGW2xx models, including the 235, 283, 291, and 293. While it's not small, the IWC Portugieser Automatic IW500705 is a killer watch at work or play. Who knew how affordable the 38mm Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is? What a deal! Finally, we mention the late Omega Seamaster Railmaster ref. 220.10.40.20.01.001 from 2017. Feel free to let us know your thoughts about our picks and the best-value used watches you've been considering.We hope you enjoy today's episode. Let us know if you have any topics that you'd like us to cover in the future.

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we try our hand at predicting the fortunes of four key watch brands. These makers all have great pieces in their lineups, yet we wonder if they have more in store to become absolute powerhouses. Or perhaps some of these companies will go in the opposite direction and become smaller with more exclusive offerings. Join us as we ponder the fates of these firms in five years.Admittedly, with a relatively quiet market and turbulent global trade, it's easy to sit back and prescribe improvements for various brands. That's not why we're here today, though. No, instead, we've come together to discuss four well-known names in the industry and how their fortunes may change after five years. That gives each enough time to make sizeable changes, but is that necessary? Let's see!HandgelenkskontrolleOur show kicks off with the usual round of banter. We discuss The Brutalist and House of Guinness. Then, we move to a watch topic and talk about the recently announced Timepiece Concours d'Élégance announced by Phillips in partnership with Vacheron Constantin. While we like the general concept, we are dubious about the sponsorship. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing an interesting new piece from a young brand. The Möels & Co 528 S2 is an usually shaped watch with a manual-winding La Joux-Perret D101 movement. Expect an upcoming hands-on review soon! Balazs shares a watch we haven't brought up in a while. The Fratello × Nivada Grenchen Racing Chronograph was released in mid-2023 and is still a looker!The fortunes of four brands in five yearsFor our main topic, we summon our inner Nostrodamus, discuss four brands, and hypothesize about their futures in five years. We didn't share the companies we selected before recording, so call it a premonition that Panerai was a unanimous first choice. It will be interesting to see how the fortunes of this tool-watch brand change over time. Will big watches make a comeback, and how can Panerai ensure that they reach the same level of desirability seen during the early 2000s?Girard-Perregaux is the next company to make our list. We really like the current lineup, but we find the brand a bit too quiet in its marketing efforts. Frankly, we'd like to see its watches out front and center every so often. Perhaps the recent Laureato Fifty is the start of a new push. Bvlgari is another brand we love. With its Octo Finissimo, the company has created an instantly recognizable classic. However, it's a watch that some of us with small wrists struggle to wear. We'd like to see this watchmaker create one more innovative modern classic that works for everyone. Finally, Jaeger-LeCoultre was always known as the watchmaker's watchmaker. As a result, the marque offered immense value. Now, the watches are certainly nice, but the prices put them in competition with many other brands. How will this play out over the next five years?As always, thank you for listening to Fratello On Air. If you have suggestions for future episodes, please don't hesitate to let us know!

What makes an unstoppable team? Ranks? Goals met? It actually starts with you as a leader and your system to keep everyone motivated and lessen the burnout.In today's Diamond Life Mentor Uncut episode, Balazs W Kardos is back with his community to check in and share leadership strategies that make their momentum inevitable.You will hear powerful insights and motivation around:Having team retreatsUsing team incentivesUnderstanding how rhythm or sequence works in businessOptimizing personal and business livesGiving tangible goals makes people aspire more. That is where team events/retreats become useful.Balazs recommends hosting exclusive in-person events not just as celebrations for yourself, but as motivational platforms for your team. Incentivize it by offering a free event ticket to any new starter who achieves a sales volume during their first two weeks.Next, set deadlines with a twist. While your team knows the month ends on the 30th, you can say that the month ends on the 15th. That is a psychological hack to encourage urgency and let them focus on the first half of the month. So, even if they fall short by a sale or two on the 15th, you reduce stress by having a full two weeks of buffer time to close the month."I'm a big believer in rhythm and sequence, and a lot of the time, people are unaware of these patterns, sequences, rhythms that work really well for you. You have a time to be on and a time to be off in different areas of your life, and once you find that, it typically allows everything to improve, scale, and have more systems. " - Balazs W KardosListen to the latest episode now to learn how to implement systems that make unstoppable communities in reaching goals.Want a Personalized Plan for Business & Life Optimization?Book A FREE Call Connect with Balazs W Kardos:WebsiteFacebookThe Diamond Life CommunityLinkedInYouTubeInstagramThe Diamond Life Mentor Instagram

“In French, we say when it's raining at a wedding, it will be a beautiful marriage leading to a happy life,” says Bank Syz COO, Boris Chave. Reflecting on an announcement made on stage in 2023 alongside EPAM's now-CEO Balazs Fejes during an afternoon storm in Geneva, Chave adds: “I think this rainy event was the beginning of a successful project and a happy partnership between Syz and EPAM.” Swiss banks have a well-known reputation for being protective of customer data, and Bank Syz is no exception. For years, the bank relied on on-prem servers and top-shelf security solutions to protect its customer data. However, the cost of those solutions was rising sharply, which led Chave to wonder if there existed a better solution. “The challenge with our setup was that even though we had these best-in-breed technology solutions, the ongoing investments we needed to make to protect our data just weren't sustainable. I had to ask myself, should we continue down this path with its huge impact on P&L? Not to mention I wasn't comfortable with the complexity of our systems.” Fast forward to June of 2025, and EPAM has just finished helping Bank Syz migrate all its IT infrastructure to cloud-based systems, no small feat. As Fejes points out, “You got new notebooks, new applications, you migrated everything to the cloud. You basically built, de facto, a brand-new bank.” As Chave notes, not only did EPAM help Syz navigate the cloud migration, but we did so with minimal impact on operations. “So many aspects of this project have been a huge success. We delivered on time and on budget without any outages for customers or employees.” The move to the cloud came at a rather fortuitous time. Fejes says: “When you and I met on that stage in 2023, nobody was really talking about AI yet. But now you're probably finding yourself in a very privileged situation because some of your competitors might still need to work on what I would call the foundational elements of their infrastructure, whereas you're in a situation where you can take advantage of the capabilities of the cloud.” Says Chave: “The foundation we have now will give us access to some of the best AI technology without having to make huge investments in infrastructure just to deliver something. We can try out new tools and pivot quickly.” Beyond enabling new and surprising technologies, the move to the cloud also had another major impact on Bank Syz: a reduction in complexity. What was previously 140 applications working together to protect the bank's data has been reduced to seven on the cloud system. “So many people are underestimating the impact of complexity in terms of environment stability and cost. Program simplification is probably one of the best ways to achieve cost-efficient operations,” says Fejes. It might seem counterintuitive that such a complex transformation could result in such simplicity, but that's exactly how this project played out. Now, with the stage set, let's raise the curtain on this episode. Host: Michael Nicholls Engineer: Kyp Pilalas Producer: Scott MacAllister Executive Producer: Ken Gordon

Are you one of those people constantly juggling time between your business, family, and self-care? What if the secret to building a successful business isn't about perfect balance, but about mastering repetition?Being a new parent, for instance, can drastically affect your day-to-day tasks, but the process is the same over and over. You don't need a total overhaul. Focus on tweaking your repeatable systems to manage both your business and personal lives.In today's Diamond Life Mentor Uncut episode, Balazs W Kardos answers a question about balancing business as a parent. You will hear powerful insights and motivation around:Balancing lifestyle and business as a parentLeveraging content creation while spending quality time with the familyImproving lead quality and conversion by prequalifyingShifting mindsetValuing personal time and increasing business efficiencyAs someone with an infant himself, Balazs suggests scheduling the week and documenting it to create content. Instead of going all in on fun and letting your business fall apart, or only working and neglecting your family, you can link the two by adding them to the calendar and then showing your process in managing responsibilities in reels or stories.Another key is knowing who you work with. When you're busy, you can't afford to waste time on people who aren't serious. So, prequalify your leads by setting up an application form that does the job for you. "Everything here is intertwined, but you still can't be working when you're with family, or else they'll feel neglected and ignored, and you're not present. So you still have to find a way to do this fun family activity while you also make content for the business." - Balazs W KardosCatch this episode to learn more about having a system that works for you and your family as you enjoy your freedom lifestyle in network marketing.Want a Personalized Plan for Business & Life Optimization?Book A FREE Call Connect with Balazs W Kardos:WebsiteFacebookThe Diamond Life CommunityLinkedInYouTubeInstagramThe Diamond Life Mentor Instagram

We're back with another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we're tackling a timely subject (no pun intended). With prices up over the last five years, we discuss watches that offer the best value at various price points. Oh, but there's a caveat: the pieces we discuss are actually available. For the benefit of our listeners, our watch talk begins approximately 15 minutes after the start.Two episodes ago, we conversed about the best watches for new collectors. That seemed to resonate with our listeners. This week, we continue down a similar yet different path. Collectively, we've witnessed incessant price hikes in our favorite hobby. It's enough to scare away some fans, but not us! We're out to find the watches that offer the best value in this tough market. Yes, the watches are more expensive than in the past, but we still think each carries its weight. Watches with the best valueOur rules for choosing watches with the best value were simple. The watches must be available to buy at retail today, without waiting lists or markups. Also, resale value wasn't a factor in the selection process. We didn't restrict ourselves to large brands, yet we tended toward brands with in-house movements. Finally, we didn't restrict ourselves to price limits, but we coincidentally huddled around three levels. Below €1,000, €1,000–5,000, and above €5,000 were our criteria.Balazs is always earning extra creditBalazs supposedly got mixed up with the assignment, but perhaps he was looking to outduel Mike again. He chose three winning watches but also gave many honorable mentions. In the lower-cost section, he named the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 Forged Carbon, the Baltic Hermétique, and the Dennison ALD Dual Time. His winner, though, is the Timex Tide-Temp-Compass for just €279. In the middle category, he mentioned the Tudor Pelagos 39, various Albishorn chronographs, and the Grand Seiko SBGR257. His champion is the €1,890 Yema Superman CMM.10 with an in-house automatic movement. Finally, in the high-cost category, the Ming 57.04 Iris and the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Skipper made the list. Balazs's ultimate winner is the €8,800 Omega Speedmaster Professional in white.Mike's picksMike stuck to the supposed brief and named three watches he thought offered the best value. On the affordable side, the €440 Seiko Prospex SRPE93 Turtle is a watch that makes no apologies. It's a simple diver with timeless looks and rock-solid build quality. In the mid-range, the choice is relatively predictable but hard to beat. The €4,150 Tudor Black Bay 58 is a chronometer-certified dive watch that can be dressed up or down. In fact, it's one of the best "only watches" on the planet. For the final category, Mike chose the €10,600 Zenith Chronomaster Original as his favorite piece. The mighty El Primero movement, the A386 case profile, and a legendary dial design make it his favorite luxury automatic chronograph.

You have a business, a team, and you are working hard, but sometimes it feels like it isn't growing as you expect, or maybe your team isn't growing on its own. One common mistake in network marketing is focusing on one strong team. While this can help you hit a goal quickly, it leaves you unbalanced. But there is a wiser approach. In today's Diamond Life Mentor Uncut episode, Balazs W Kardos answers a question in the Accelerator community about the strategic placement of team members and rankings.You will hear powerful insights and motivation around:Maintaining multiple accounts to get the most benefitsTracking volume and salesAdjusting your sales and team placement strategyCommon misconceptions about reaching the 6A rankingIf you have one team that is doing most of the work, you need to help the slower team until your business is more stable. That's how Balazs nurtures new teams, because it creates a more powerful and long-term structure for everyone. Ultimately, your success relies on understanding your sales structure, growth strategy, and implementing a system that is accessible to everyone on your team."So you always have to be aware of your volume and how the percentages split up. At one point, I was 90% one side and 10% on the other side. It was not good. And now my business is about 65-35, much better. But it's because I put all of my energy on the slower leg, slower lane." - Balazs W KardosListen to the full episode to learn how to reach your goals faster through team placement and sales strategy to grow a top-notch active community.Want a Personalized Plan for Business & Life Optimization?Book A FREE Call Connect with Balazs W Kardos:WebsiteFacebookThe Diamond Life CommunityLinkedInYouTubeInstagramThe Diamond Life Mentor Instagram

The network and affiliate marketing industry allows anyone to participate and succeed. You don't need a specific degree or any special qualifications. Someone could join your team with no prior experience in sales, marketing, or leadership. While it provides a chance for everyone, it's also the riskiest part of the business. Because anyone can do it, you have to be ready to work with a wide range of skill levels and dedication. In today's Diamond Life Mentor Uncut episode, Balazs W Kardos answers a question about leadership and duplication, and how you can fix the process. You will hear powerful insights and motivation around:Qualifying leads and setting expectationsCreating a systematic process for lead conversionImplementing a support system for the teamFocusing on improving the application and the duplication of team membersOne of the best ways Balazs prequalifies clients is by asking key questions that help identify those ready to build the way he does. For example, you can ask about their experience in sales or marketing. Instead of celebrating a lack of experience, you can celebrate someone who has a solid background but is looking for a new type of freedom. You can also ask about goals, such as how much money they want to earn in their first month. It helps you identify individuals who have a clear understanding of the work involved.By doing this, you'll start to focus on the number of qualified applications you receive, not just the total number of people who apply. Then, Balazs encourages adding this journey and their success stories to your content to keep attracting the right people."What I want you to think about is that your process is like a franchise system where you're looking at all the variables. Look for the similarities, and try to create a turnkey formula for how you talk to people, what questions you ask, step by step, and prove it by doing that for the next five direct sales. Give it to your team, and you will have duplication happening. It's guaranteed." Balazs W KardosListen to the episode to know who to work with and start to see long-lasting growth in creating a repeatable application and sales process in building your successful team. Want a Personalized Plan for Business & Life Optimization?Book A FREE Call Connect with Balazs W Kardos:WebsiteFacebookThe Diamond Life CommunityLinkedInYouTubeInstagramThe Diamond Life Mentor Instagram

What would your life look like if you went all in for just 12 weeks?It has been two weeks since Balazs W Kardos moved to their new estate, just in time for another exciting GPM Method challenge.If you have participated in the first GPM Method sprint, you know what it was like to commit to a goal and follow through. Balazs and his team have taken what they learned from that experience to make this one even better. In this special episode, Balazs W Kardos officially launches the second GPM 12-week sprint designed to transform your health, business, income, mindset, and consistency.You will hear powerful insights and motivation around:How to finally keep your word to yourselfWhy this Sprint works (and how different it is from anything else)The exact habits, tracking tools, and scoring systemsReal success stories from the community (Naomi + Genevieve)The truth about delayed gratification and self-leadershipPreviously, participants focused on a perfect streak, which could be discouraging. This time, it is about the daily wins. Balazs has structured it to help you focus on winning each day, building momentum, and consistency over time. At the end of the 12 weeks, you will receive a final score based on your habits and sales. The ultimate goal, however, is to help you build lasting habits by the end of it as you continue these practices."So no matter what, I believe that if you participate in this, you will come out a better person on the other side." - Balazs W KardosListen to the latest episode and get ready to start your transformation in 12 weeks and beyond.

When you look at someone at the top of their field, you see success. You know the luxury car, the beautiful home, the big paycheck. But you are only looking at the surface. You do not always see the effort and the real price they pay for what they have.So, no matter your job, if you are trading your time for money, you are missing a big part of the picture. You're putting in effort to close one client or one sale. In this Diamond Life Mentor Uncut episode, Balazs W Kardos lives his life to the fullest and turns his day-to-day activities into endless leads. How does he do that? He shows complete freedom of time, finances, and location, and people are curious about how he achieved his dreams. Now, if you're in network marketing, Balazs wants you to use this opportunity to make your life a sales and marketing tool. When you live with purpose, travel with your family, and are fully present for the moments that matter, people notice. They're watching your freedom. And that is the value of your business."We get misguided by people's financial results and financial success when you have someone who makes less money, but they have more freedom. In my opinion, that's more valuable than someone who has more money and less time, right? But society doesn't value it the same way, because it's harder to quantify, and you can't get the time back." - Balazs W KardosTune into this episode to learn how to have a part of your life turn into your greatest asset as an everyday business. Every conversation is a potential lead, and the experiences you have are your content. Key Diamond Nuggets In This Episode:How can your everyday life bring you everyday leads?How does living your best life attract the ideal target market?How can you leverage the momentum of your first sale to drive long-term success?What makes a masterclass premium?How can you compare your business value to your personal freedom?Want a Personalized Plan for Business & Life Optimization?Book A FREE Call Connect with Balazs W Kardos:WebsiteFacebookThe Diamond Life CommunityLinkedInYouTubeInstagramThe Diamond Life Mentor Instagram

Have you experienced something called "the end of an era?" What was it like to close an enormous chapter in your life that made you transition into making bigger decisions and welcoming more opportunities?If you are a husband, a parent, or a business owner who worked your way to freedom of time, money, and location, you work less and less to focus on your personal growth and family. But then you will realize that as long as you are alive, nothing stops. You will face another initiation in life and take on responsibilities as part of your dream plan.In this new episode, Balazs W Kardos is back to share a life update as they move to a new home. They just sold their current home of eight years, where he got married, started The Diamond Life Mentorship Program, grew the GPM community, and became a father of two. He remembers that he and his wife bought this property when he was still in 6A2-2, so he made sure to work harder to make their beautiful home a reality. Now with over $1 billion in global sales, he feels proud of what he has achieved and the possibilities awaiting him as they live in this new estate.Yes, the price tag was huge, but it was Balazs' conscious choice to bet on a bigger future for his family. Now, he wants you to ask yourself. When was the last time you bet on your future? Do not base it on your current income. Instead, consider where you might experience exponential growth in a few years.Joining a mentorship program can help you step out of your comfort zone and gain clarity. Balazs is offering his mentorship at a special discount until the end of August to help others reach their dreams like he did. "I always find opportunities to think, how can we take things to the next level? How could we get better? How can we improve? How can we add more value back to the community? How can we make your business run more efficiently? What's the next thing?" - Balazs W KardosTune into this episode to discover how closing chapters, making big choices, and betting on yourself help bring time, money, and location to the next level in the future.Key Diamond Nuggets In This Episode:How was Balazs' transition in family dynamics from being a husband to a father of two?How does Balazs balance work and family life?What made Balazs invest in a new home?What are Balazs' plans on personal growth and the Diamond Life Mentorship Program?What challenges did Balazs face in housekeeping and parenting?What does it feel like to live in a dream home?Want a Personalized Plan for Business & Life Optimization?Book A FREE Call Connect with Balazs W Kardos:WebsiteFacebookThe Diamond Life CommunityLinkedInYouTubeInstagramThe Diamond Life Mentor Instagram

Overthinking is the number one enemy when leading effectively and creating powerful content. With all the information and training available within the network marketing business, it's easy to become overwhelmed.But when you start with what comes naturally, the process feels less like a chore and more like an extension of yourself. And that is how you build an authentic brand.In another Diamond Life Mentor Uncut episode, Balazs W Kardos answers a question from his community about analysis paralysis and ad spend strategy. As one of his members enjoys doing ads, he says that it is a perfect way to consistently apply what she knows and work with others who do the same.Instead of trying to be perfect from day one, he wants you to approach ads like a controlled experiment. Start with a small, manageable budget by reinvesting a portion of your sales into the ad spend.Balazs also emphasizes that ads are only as effective as the content and brand they point to. Your goal is to attract people who are a natural fit for you and your business. Define your brand voice and set expectations about your ideal team members so your ads not only show the product you're selling, but also who you are. "You're going to pick a percentage of your commission that you generate from a direct sale that you will reinvest back into your ads. Depending on your financial situation, 10%, 20%, 50%, I would even say 50% would be smart, because you'll scale faster." - Balazs W KardosListen to this episode to focus on your strengths, master the fundamentals of ads, and grow from $300 to $10k through a strategic blueprint.Key Diamond Nuggets In This Episode:How can you prevent analysis paralysis as a leader and content creator?Why are context and personal alignment relevant to running a business?How can you master ads with a strategic ad spend?Why build a team of like-minded individuals?How can you reinvest in ads?What is the role of content and branding in your ad results?Want a Personalized Plan for Business & Life Optimization?Book A FREE Call Connect with Balazs W Kardos:WebsiteFacebookThe Diamond Life CommunityLinkedInYouTubeInstagramThe Diamond Life Mentor Instagram

As an entrepreneur, it's normal to see how money comes and goes into your account. And when the amount becomes larger than usual, it feels strange, maybe even a little scary. That feeling is your "financial thermostat" or your comfort zone in money.Let us say that the number is around $10,000, but when your account dips below that, you panic and work hard to get it back up. When it rises above it, you get nervous and start spending to bring it back down to a "safe" level. You feel like you have to get rid of the extra money, so you don't. This pattern stops you from ever building wealth.In another Diamond Life Mentor Uncut episode, Balazs W Kardos is back with his Blueprint clients to answer a question about investing finances and creating generational wealth. His first tip is to adjust your financial thermostat. You need to get comfortable with a higher number, then invest the rest. Instead of your money just sitting in a bank, get an insurance policy. Transfer your savings into life insurance policies and overpay their premiums.For example, you might put in $40,000 a year. This money grows with interest, uninterrupted. When you need a large sum for something like a home, a car, or even taxes, you borrow against the policy. Your original $40,000 is still in the policy growing, and you use the borrowed money to pay your expenses.Balazs also wants you to be aware of your internet marketing and online advertising numbers. You need to know your cost per lead, cost per sale, return on ad spend (ROAS), and customer lifetime value, even if you're outsourcing to an ad agency.If you spend $3 for each lead and it takes 900 leads to make one sale, your cost per sale amounts to $900. If that sale earns you $6,000, you can see that you have a substantial return on your investment. Additionally, the customer lifetime value, which represents the total revenue generated from an individual customer throughout their journey with your business, should be much higher than your initial commission.Finally, it's important to have accountants who can help you manage your finances as you open up life insurance policies for your children as soon as they are born. By consistently contributing a set amount each year, they can reap the rewards from a very early age. This strategy builds generational wealth. "$20,000 might be your zero, and this is going to feel uncomfortable, but at the same time, it's going to give you peace of mind. That's the reason you want to increase this zero over time, because when an opportunity comes up, you know you'll get some money together." - Balazs W KardosCatch this episode to take control of your money by adjusting your financial thermostat, investing your money strategically, knowing your numbers, and having a professional team with you. Key Diamond Nuggets In This Episode:What are the common financial struggles of successful entrepreneurs when spending money?How can you leverage insurance policies to create generational wealth?What does it mean by a financial thermostat?Why should you learn about return on ad spend, cost per acquisition, cost per lead, and lifetime customer value?What books should you read about earning money?How can you set financial goals and structure wealth?Want a Personalized Plan for Business & Life Optimization?Book A FREE Call Connect with Balazs W Kardos:Website