Early 21st-century global economic decline
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I started in the family manufacturing company in 1978 after being encouraged by my parents. Shortly after starting I began a formal, two years, machinist apprenticeship. I worked on the manual machines in the factory for about six years when my father tasked me with implementing CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machinery in our company. It was highly successful. For the next decade, I worked and managed the operations of the family business and segued into administrative roles; Procurement, Quoting, HR, Business Development, Sales, Marketing and PR. I literally learned the family business from the back door to the front door. After years of encouraging my father to create a business succession plan, we did, and in 2004 I became President and sole shareholder. Running a small business is challenging as we wear a lot of hats in our day to day. I kept pushing through those roadblocks; recessions, employees, customers, vendors and more and in 2007 we had our most profitable year. But as we all know the Great Recession came along – it hit us in the 4th quarter of 2008 – and we had to layoff 60% of our workforce. It was not pleasant and it was gut-wrenching to one by one tell my veteran employees, who I cared about there was no work for them. I vowed I would never let that happen again so made a decision to start working on the business rather than in it. I reached out to our long-term manufacturing association – the TMA and started learning about marketing and networking. It was out of my comfort zone but knew if I pushed myself the rewards would come and they did. I was encouraged to join committees, peer groups and attend industry-specific networking events around Chicago. I met like-minded people that ironically all shared the same pains and stories of my decades in the business. I became friends with these peers and created a small, personal Board of Directors with them, people that I could trust and could ask anything. It was and still is one of the most rewarding experiences in my business career. I found I had an innate ability and passion for marketing and suddenly found myself mingling with these professionals too. We would share our frustrations, successes and technologies with each other which helped me grow my personal and business brand – which I found out are together as one. As my networking evolved, I was asked to join the exclusive TMA Board of Directors and in my third year was voted by my peers to move into the executive chairs, culminating into Chairman, the highest Board level position. I was humbled and accepted. Through this networking platform, I was presented with an opportunity to be interviewed on a local Chicago AM radio station and share my marketing savvy and wisdom with their audience about how I was using social media to brand my manufacturing company – nobody was doing it at that time. Also at my interview was Jason Zenger, the President of Zenger's Industrial Supply. My company was a premier vendor who was buying industrial cutting tools from his business for years. We had never met but knew of each other. Jason was there to add to the discussion about what he was doing differently as a third-generation business owner at his company. We hit it off. Shortly after our interview aired he called me to ask if I had heard of or listened to podcasts. I said yes, I knew of that media but was not actively listening. Jason said, “I think we have a deep knowledge of our industry, we are not competitors, are highly connected to the community, have a commanding presence and no one relevant in our industry was in that space.” Suddenly a light bulb in my head went off – that a-ha moment – I had felt that feeling when I started using social. I wanted to be the trailblazer and this seemed like a fairly low-risk proposition. I agreed. The only caveat was I would only do it if it was well structured, thought out and quality was the overwhelming key. We planned for a year doing research on the average American commute, joined online podcast communities to learn tips on what other successful podcasters were doing, hired professional voice talent and sound editors and at the onset of 2015 released our first show. It was immediately well-received and in two weeks we were on the iTunes New & Noteworthy List of Podcasts. A few major trade publications did some articles on us and of course, we used our social media savvy to target our audience. We were on our way. What we didn't realize is that although our mission was to equip and inspire manufacturing leaders, with the hope that we could garner some thought leadership and interest in our respective manufacturing companies, major brands that sold to our audience started to notice us and inquired about advertising on our show. We were excited but didn't know how to react. This was strictly a grassroots project and neither of us knew much about this space. Of course, we accepted and the rest is history. We are new an income-producing, bona fide brand, that is known among our community and we have lucrative contracts with some of the largest players in our industry. The next step. We are definitely busy people, me running my manufacturing company, conducting interviews and shows with Jason and to retain the level of networking that helped me grow into what I am today. It's not easy but as my father always used to tell me: “Jim, if it was easy, everybody would be doing it”. He couldn't be more right.
What happens when you give employees 25% of your company? Discover how Sleep Train soared 800%—and changed 1,600 lives in 4 years. Ever wondered if true ownership could transform a business? In this episode, Mark Kinsley sits down with Dale Carlsen, legendary founder of Sleep Train, who reveals how a daring decision—handing 25% ownership to employees—sparked an 800% surge in company value and created life-changing wealth for team members. If you're a retailer, entrepreneur, or sleep industry pro who's ever struggled with building a lasting culture, retaining talent, or finding your “why,” you'll want to hear Dale's inside stories. From the emotional moment managers learned they were the new owners, to the delivery driver who bought his mom a house in Mexico, Dale shares the secrets behind Sleep Train's explosive growth and heart-centered mission. We also dig into why focusing on just one charity (Ticket to Dream) not only helped thousands of foster kids—but became a powerful business filter, driving loyalty and brand love. Industry experts, iconic ad campaigns, and the power of social good—all in one episode.Curious about how media personalities like Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern unknowingly helped revolutionize mattress marketing? Or why Dale refused to cut advertising, even when banks demanded it? The answers might surprise you.Timestamps:- 00:45 – The surprising origin of Sleep Train's 25% employee ownership- 03:18 – How $117M changed employees' lives (real stories inside)- 06:00 – The emotional “mirror moment” that redefined company culture- 09:20 – From delivery driver to “owner”: Employee impact stories- 13:06 – Why Ticket to Dream became the only charity—and how it fueled business growth- 19:58 – The heartbreaking stats about foster kids (and what Sleep Train did differently)- 28:55 – How doing good drove Sleep Train's brand loyalty and retention- 37:44 – The jingle, the whistle, and the marketing moves no one saw coming- 46:31 – When everything almost collapsed: Lessons from the Great Recession- 56:47 – What Dale learned about trust, betrayal, and vendor relationshipsConnect with The FAM Podcast:
Despite its long-held place in history as the lynchpin of America's recovery from the Great Depression, what if the New Deal did more to hinder the country's recovery than help it? George Selgin is a professor emeritus of economics at the University of Georgia and former director of the Center on Monetary and Financial Alternatives at the Cato Institute. His books like, False Dawn: The New Deal and the Promise of Recovery and Floored!: How a Misguided Fed Experiment Deepened and Prolonged the Great Recession, examine macroeconomic theories through the lens of key moments in monetary history. In this conversation, Greg and George dive deep into the inner workings of The Great Depression, covering the biggest misconceptions surrounding the New Deal's role in ending the crisis, why many of President Roosevelt's policies were counterproductive, and how pre-existing, international factors impacted the U.S.'s recovery.*unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:The myth of New Deal wisdom47:17: The thing that people have to remember when they are inclined to think, oh, you know, we need to look back at the New Deal and all the wonderful things they did to end the Depression. They knew so much, you know, they had all these experiments. No. We know a lot more about how to fight recessions and depressions than they did because we know that fiscal and monetary stimulus are our best hopes. And those were two things that the Roosevelt administration did not put much, if any, emphasis upon. And that, of course, just hearing that should give a lot of people second thoughts about how helpful the New Deal was. They did a lot of stuff, but they did not do the main thing we rely on now. The main things, they did not promote monetary stimulus, and they did not promote fiscal stimulus except somewhat, reluctantly.Keynes vs. the New Dealers59:39: I certainly believe that if Keynes's advice had been followed instead of what the New Dealers did, that the Depression would have ended much sooner than it did in the United States. The downside of "bold experimentation"35:56: Roosevelt made two statements that were probably the least, the two main unambiguous things he said, one of which turned out to be a very accurate description of what his administration would end up doing. And the other one of which would be a very inaccurate statement. This is all in the course of the campaign. The accurate statement was when he said that his administration planned to go about addressing the Depression through bold experimentation. And that is absolutely true. There was a lot of trial and error. And the problem is, as I say in my book, you know, the problem with bold experiments is they often fail.On war clouds and gold flows45:41: What keeps gold flowing in for the rest of the decade, and more and more of it as time goes on, is Hitler's rise to power and the, the gatherings war clouds that eventually have many, many Europeans thinking, I do not think this is place, this place is safe for our gold. And as long as they could, taking it and shipping it to the United States, where now after the suspension of the gold standard and the devaluation, the treasury alone is buying all the gold.Show Links:Recommended Resources:John Maynard KeynesFranklin D. RooseveltHerbert Hoover Henry Ford Alexander J. Field James Bradford DeLong Guest Profile:Faculty Profile at University of Georgia Professional Profile at the Cato InstituteProfessional Profile on LinkedInProfile on XGuest Work:False Dawn: The New Deal and the Promise of Recovery, 1933–1947 Floored!: How a Misguided Fed Experiment Deepened and Prolonged the Great RecessionMoney: Free and Unfree Less Than Zero: The Case for a Falling Price Level in a Growing EconomyThe Menace of Fiscal QE Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Send us a textAlpha Coffee co-founder and retired Army lieutenant colonel Carl Churchill joins Joe for a candid conversation on leadership, resilience, and what it really takes to build something that lasts after the uniform comes off.After serving more than two decades in the Army, Carl found himself facing an unexpected second career shaped not by careful planning, but by crisis. In the wake of the Great Recession, he and his wife Lori cashed out their savings and took an all-in leap to build Alpha Coffee from their basement—navigating years of uncertainty, near-misses, and hard-earned lessons before the business finally found its footing. Drawing on his military background, Stoic philosophy, and a refusal to quit, Carl shares how discipline, culture, and clarity of purpose carried him through nearly a decade of struggle.In this conversation, Joe and Carl explore what leadership looks like when there's no rank to hide behind: how military lessons translate into entrepreneurship, why culture matters more than strategy, and how leaders must adapt their style as contexts and generations change. Along the way, they reflect on stress, perspective, boundaries, and the quiet confidence that comes from having faced truly hard things before.In this episode, Joe and Carl also explore:Tips for making great coffeeWhy Carl chose to walk away from promotion to keep leading people, not staffsWhat “burning the boats” looks like when your family and future are on the lineHow military hardship inoculates leaders against stress and uncertaintyWhy culture—not strategy—is the true differentiator between great and failing teamsLeading younger generations without abandoning standards or expectationsThe challenge of setting boundaries when you genuinely love your workWhether you're navigating life after military service, building something from scratch, or leading people through uncertainty, this episode offers a grounded reminder that the habits forged in discipline, humility, and persistence still matter—long after the mission changes.A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it's banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind.
Thursday on the News Hour, the Senate rejects proposed plans to address a spike in health care premiums under the Affordable Care Act, Ukraine pushes for security guarantees against Russia as international pressure to accept the peace plan grows and economists warn of major risks created by private credit that could pose as large a threat as the housing market did before the Great Recession. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
The Trump administration is reconfiguring a government watchdog that grew out of the Great Recession. The Financial Stability Oversight Council watches out for risks to the financial system to prevent the future need for government bailouts. Now, the Treasury Secretary says the watchdog will focus on boosting economic growth and easing regulations that he says impose “undue burdens." Plus, we follow the money from Machu Picchu and examine the appetite for "extended range" EVs.
The Trump administration is reconfiguring a government watchdog that grew out of the Great Recession. The Financial Stability Oversight Council watches out for risks to the financial system to prevent the future need for government bailouts. Now, the Treasury Secretary says the watchdog will focus on boosting economic growth and easing regulations that he says impose “undue burdens." Plus, we follow the money from Machu Picchu and examine the appetite for "extended range" EVs.
In this Swift Chat conversation, Marie Swift speaks with renowned industry commentator and author Bob Veres to explore his sweeping new book, "A Behind the Scenes History of Financial Planning and the Profession: My 45-Year Journey as an Insider." Veres shares how he went from knowing almost nothing about financial planning in the early 1980s to chronicling the evolution of the profession from sales-driven roots to a true fiduciary calling, including vivid stories from the early IAFP days, the rise of NAPFA, and the ongoing tug-of-war between product pushers and client-centric planners. The conversation traces the profession's major inflection points, the collapse of limited partnerships, the tech wreck, the Great Recession, and the COVID pandemic, and how each crisis exposed weaknesses, tested advisor–client relationships, and ultimately elevated the value of real planning over pure asset management. Veres also offers candid views on regulatory capture, the SEC's treatment of fee-only advisors, and why higher, self-imposed standards remain the true engine of professionalism and public trust in advice. He reveals the "secret formula" he has observed among the most enduringly successful advisors: a willingness to think, read, and continuously adapt early to new realities, from fee-only models to modern planning standards and emerging technologies, rather than waiting until change becomes a threat. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or newer to financial planning, this conversation delivers a rich mix of history, hard truths, and hopeful direction for anyone who cares about where the profession has been and where it needs to go next. Get the book and learn more about Bob Veres at www.BobVeres.com.
“You are what you repeatedly do.” Start the New Year strong. Join my FREE 3 session Tiny Habits program. Register here _________________________ What’s your most important project in 2026? Future You. Don’t wing it. Design it. Learn more here. _________________________ What happens when a financial columnist and CFP® professional suddenly becomes her mother’s caregiver? Beth Pinsker discovered that her expertise couldn’t prepare her for the relentless tenacity required to navigate Medicare mazes, fight for proper care, and manage the details of her mother’s financial life. In My Mother’s Money , a comprehensive practical and detailed resource, she shares the street-smart lessons that only come from boots-on-the-ground caregiving experience. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why financial caregiving requires perseverance to advocate effectively for your loved ones The critical difference between big-picture finances and knowing the granular details that matter How Medicare decisions made at age 65 can create enormous consequences for caregivers years later Why humanizing your loved one to healthcare providers changes the quality of care they recei Why “stuff” is such a complicated issue and how to prepare your own estate realistically _________________________ Bio Beth Pinsker is a financial-planning columnist at MarketWatch and has been a Certified Financial Planner™ since 2018. She won a SABEW Best in Business award in 2023 for commentary for a series of columns about caring for her mother. She turned those into a book, “My Mother’s Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving” (Crown Currency, November 2025). Beth was previously the launch Money Editor for Buy Side from WSJ, providing advice and service on anything having to do with how people handle their money. Prior to that, she was a personal finance columnist and editor at Reuters for eight years. She covered all aspects of financial planning and decision-making, such as retirement strategies, selecting employee benefits, and saving money. In 2018, she was part of a team that won a Front Page award for Live Online Video from the Newswomen’s Club of New York. Beth worked at Fidelity during the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, where she was an Editorial Director handling coverage of taxes and wealth strategies. She also was the editor of Walletpop.com, a personal finance website owned by AOL that launched in 2008 in the midst of the Great Recession and focused on frugality, budgeting and finding the best deals. Beth spent the first part of her career as a film critic and entertainment business reporter, writing for many publications, such as Entertainment Weekly, The Dallas Morning News, The Independent Film & Video Monthly, Variety and the New York Times. She had brief stints at “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and was an intern for “Late Night with David Letterman.” Beth has a B.A. in English from Harvard University. She is the mother of two humans and one dog and lives in Brooklyn. ______________________ For More on Beth Pinsker My Mother’s Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving Website MarketWatch columns ______________________ Podcast Conversations You May Like Is Your House in Order? – Adam Zuckerman What Matters Most – Diane Button ______________________ I'm Just Asking for a Friend Retirement brings so many tough questions. Share your question to be answered in an upcoming retirement podcast episode. Click here to leave a voice message or send me an email at joec@retirementwisdom.com _____________________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You'll get smarter about the investment decisions you'll make about the most important asset you'll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren't quite done yet, discover what's next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn't just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Joe has earned Master's degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia University. In addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 1.6 million downloads. Business Insider recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He's the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy. _______________________ Wise Quotes On Becoming a Financial Caregiver “I think what really matters when you’re trying to be a financial caregiver is that you pay attention to the details. Some people, most people in fact, never have the conversation with anybody that they’re caring for, their parents, aunt, uncle, whatever. Nobody knows how much money anybody has. Nobody knows what they’re spending their money on. Everybody keeps that information private. But even if you do step into the conversation, like my Mom and I stepped into it a little bit – big picture stuff. Can you afford two houses? No, we’re going to sell one. So you can’t have a summer place anymore kind of thing. When should Dad stop driving? Big picture stuff. But nobody ever gets down to the little stuff that you have to do when you fully take over for somebody. Like when I had to step in and take care of my Mom’s bills, it got down to such nitty gritty like, do you pay your electric bill on an automated schedule? Or how do you pay it otherwise? Do you mail in a check? Like nobody talks about that kind of stuff. But that is absolutely essential when you are a financial caregiver.” On Advocacy “One of the biggest things I did with my Mom and any care setting she was in was try to humanize her for the caregivers. They needed to see her as a person who was functional. Now, because they all they saw was a little frail old lady who was out of it most of the time, they just assumed she had cognitive decline or dementia and they weren’t trying to get her back to any sort of baseline. And so what I did was primarily showed them like, Oh, isn’t this funny? I saw this video I took two weeks ago on my phone of my Mom playing Scrabble with us. You know my Mom was fine. And then she wasn’t and they just thought that she was always like she was in the hospital. And so to fight for services and fight for what you what you need out of them with an with a person who’s sick and aging is to constantly humanize them so that people in the medical industry want to help them.” On What To Do First “You need to make sure that you have the proper documents to help somebody. We are all legal adults and nobody can help us with certain things unless they have the proper authorization. That’s a durable power of attorney, a healthcare proxy and some kind of will or trust for after the person dies plus beneficiary designations. You need to secure the person’s phone because so much today is run, through our phones and if you don’t have the passcode, you’re going to hit a brick wall of no – and the brick wall of no is unmovable. So you need to secure that phone. You need two factor authentication. You need to know what banking apps, and you need to just know what’s in a person’s phone. Those are the two main important things. But the last thing is even more consequential. You need to know what the person wants. Their wishes matter. Having a conversation about what they want and what you’re able to do is absolutely essential both for your mental health, your wellbeing and for how much money you can spend on any particular thing. You just have to know what page everybody’s on.”
Welcome to Season 7! As we are now a quarter of the way through the 21st century, like Bill Murray in Tootsie, Paul and Corey are asking, "What happened?" This season we are looking at the trends, genres, styles, and more that make up cinema of the past 25 years. This week, Corey reacquainted us with Nepo baby libertarian Jason Reitman's sensitive and insightful examination (I'm being sarcastic, folks.) of the Great Recession... Up in the Air (2009). Like so much of the Obama administration, it seems like this project exists to put a smiling face (quite literally in this case) on the evils of neoliberalism, and this middlebrow slop fits right in with films like school privatization propaganda Waiting for Superman (2010) or torture apologia like Zero Dark Thirty (2012). As Corey says to Paul, "You REALLY hate this movie," and as you can tell by this synopsis, I do. Ultimately, the cast is very charming and talented, and maybe that is enough for a viewer.
Send us a textOn this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Linda Ta Yonemoto, financial literacy advocate and educator, about helping first-generation women build wealth, gain confidence, and create financial legacies.
Brandi and Andrea from Sterling Federal Bank join Andy and Jenny in this episode of the Grow Clinton Podcast. Sterling Federal Bank - Member F.D.I.C.These two banking professionals provide updates on their upcoming podcast series, community events, holiday cheer, and their spring Charity Challenge. Sterling Federal Bank has been serving families through banking in Northwest Illinois (and, more recently, Northeast Iowa) since 1885. There were just 38 states when Sterling Federal Bank was born; Grover Cleveland was President of the United States; and the bank's hometown of Sterling, IL, was only about 50 years old.The financial institution started out as Whiteside County Building & Loan Association with a small office in the old Galt Hotel on Locust and East Fourth in Sterling when we were chartered on November 9, 1885. Today, after a lot of history and a name change, Sterling Federal Bank is a $450 million institution with 9 convenient locations.Many people call Sterling Federal a conservative bank. The team likes that description. Sterling Federal Bank has been here through two World Wars, the Great Depression of the 1930s, and the Great Recession of 2008-10. They know how to weather the economic storms—and how to help their customers do the same!For more information and to set up an account, please visit Sterling Federal Bank online at https://www.sterlingfederal.com/.Grow Clinton is a proud 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization committed to fostering community, driving economic development, and promoting tourism in Clinton, Iowa.Subscribe to the Grow Clinton Podcast at the following locations:Grow Clinton WebsiteApple MusicSpotifyAmazon MusicBuzzsproutOvercastYouTubeFollow the Grow Clinton Podcast on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/GrowClintonPodcast. Our mission? To ignite business growth, strengthen community ties, and advocate for the sustainable economic success of the Greater Clinton Region.Want to promote your business or upcoming event? Connect with Grow Clinton at (563) 242-5702 or visit our website at www.GrowClinton.com.Have an idea for a podcast guest? Send us a message!
Don't let anyone sugarcoat the GOP underperformance in the Tennessee special election. I offer deep and broad analysis of how last night's results fit into a clear pattern of the GOP bleeding suburban voters in a way that will result in an electoral slaughter next year. However, there is a silver lining of a red firewall to avoid a complete wipeout, but that will require Trump to change his economic message. One thing he must do is put forward a plan to reverse the hemorrhaging of American jobs. We're joined today by Amanda Goodall, a labor market expert, who offers an in-depth analysis of why this has been the worst job market for college graduates and how she fears this is a permanent dynamic. Unlike during the Great Recession, there are so many roles being abolished. She explains how the collapse of small businesses and the rise of major corporate monopolies have allowed companies to succeed without critical talent. She believes this is much deeper than simply AI eliminating jobs. We also discuss the continued trend of outsourcing and how Trump's decision not to cancel the H-1B program is indefensible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Amanda Cruise and Ash Patel interview Scott Lurie, a Milwaukee-based investor, developer, lender, and syndicator who has scaled from single-family flips to $700M+ in AUM. Scott explains how discipline, conservative leverage, and a long-term mindset helped him not only survive but aggressively buy through the Great Recession—including a 410-unit acquisition for $9K per door. He shares why he focuses on value-add industrial and multifamily development today, how he underwrites and syndicates vacant industrial buildings, and why transparency and investor trust are more important than ever in 2025. Scott also breaks down his syndication philosophy, the pitfalls created by “cowboy” operators, and his belief that real estate success comes from 20 years of consistent, disciplined work. Scott LurieCurrent role: Founder, F Street Group; Founder, The Hard Money Co.Based in: Milwaukee, WisconsinSay hi to them at: https://fstreet.com/ | https://thehardmoneyco.com/ | LinkedIn Start earning passive income today at gsprei.com/bestever Alternative Fund IV is closing soon and SMK is giving Best Ever listeners exclusive access to their Founders' Shares, typically offered only to early investors. Visit smkcap.com/bec to learn more and download the full fund summary. Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/ Join the Best Ever Community The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It's free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria. Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at www.bestevercommunity.com Podcast production done by Outlier Audio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Join host Justin Forman for a milestone conversation with Bill Yeargin, CEO of Correct Craft, as they celebrate the company's 100th anniversary. From refusing bribes that led to bankruptcy, to refusing to work Sundays during WWII, to growing from a $39 million company facing the Great Recession to surpassing $1 billion—this is a masterclass in values-driven leadership that stands the test of time.Bill shares the dramatic "God moments" that convinced him to become the fifth CEO in five years at a broken company, and how a controversial service trip to Mexico became the turning point that saved the culture. Discover why Correct Craft sends employees around the world on company-funded mission trips, how they navigate tough stewardship decisions while maintaining strong faith values, and what it takes to build for the next hundred years.Key Topics:The WWII story: Building 420 boats in 23 days without working SundaysSpending 20 years of profits to repay legally discharged bankruptcy debtsTwo unmistakable "God signs" that led Bill to Orlando: a house sale and a tutor's callWhy the Mexico service trip (that everyone opposed) saved the companyGrowing from $39M to over $1 billion through culture and strategic planningThe Culture Pyramid: Building Boats to the Glory of God, Making Life BetterBalancing stewardship excellence with faith values in difficult decisionsGlobal expansion to 70 countries—including surprising markets like NamibiaVertical and horizontal acquisition strategy without outside capitalMaking decisions for the next 25 years, not just short-term winsNotable Quotes:"I believe we're alive today as a company because of that first trip." - Bill Yeargin"We're not just trying to help the people that we're going to serve, we're trying to help our own team too. We've seen so many lives change on our own team over the years." - Bill Yeargin"You don't make it a hundred years by being over on God's side. You gotta do the things we're supposed to do. Trust God, honor him. Let him bless us." - Bill Yeargin
In this episode of The First Day from The Fundraising School, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D., is joined by the philanthropic powerhouse himself, Gene Tempel, Ed.D., Dean Emeritus and founding father of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Together, they dive headfirst into a question that keeps many nonprofit leaders up at night: “Is this a bad time to launch a capital campaign?” The answer? Well, let's just say it's complicated, but not impossible. Gene reminds us that before we start counting pledges, we've got to answer the most basic question: What's the compelling case for support? It's not about shinier buildings or more vans, it's about fulfilling the mission and addressing urgent needs in society. Now, if you're waiting for a perfect economy, spoiler alert: you'll be waiting a long time. From the energy crisis to the Great Recession to COVID, Gene's seen it all, and fundraisers kept fundraising. Instead of running from uncertainty, nonprofits should focus on preparation. That means digging into the test for readiness, planning like it's a chess game (hello, “what-if” scenarios), and launching feasibility studies that give donors the mic. Because, as Gene points out, “not everyone is affected the same way” in tough times. Some donors are doing just fine and may even be more ready to give than you think. Gene takes us inside the anatomy of a capital campaign and zeroes in on the often-forgotten “middle of the gift range chart,” the fundraising Bermuda Triangle. We know our biggest donors. We love our annual givers. But what about those $2,000 donors who could be cultivated into $25,000 champions? “That's where it breaks down,” Gene says. Building systems to engage mid-level donors isn't just smart, it's essential. It's also okay to fail the readiness test, pause a campaign, or renegotiate pledge timelines. Flexibility is not a weakness. It's leadership. Gene offers some pop-culture perspective: as Billy Joel once sang, “We didn't start the fire,” and neither did you. History is full of crises, but capital campaigns still thrive. “If you have a compelling case, urgency, internal readiness, and donor validation,” Gene says, “then go forward.” And if things go sideways? Adjust, adapt, and keep your eyes on the mission. Because fundraising isn't just about money, it's about movement. And thanks to legends like Dr. Tempel, this movement's got a playbook for every season.
With the holidays around the corner, many Wisconsinites are purchasing a Christmas tree. But fewer trees are being grown. Statewide, Christmas tree harvests have dipped 60% in the last 20 years. This rate of decline in Wisconsin is about double the national average. Possible reasons include the popularity of artificial trees, a dip in production after the Great Recession, and weather-related setbacks. Steven Potter is a freelance reporter for Milwaukee Magazine. In this month's issue, he wrote about how Wisconsin's Christmas tree suppliers are adjusting. He spoke with Lake Effect's Sam Woods.
In the world of entrepreneurship, they say success takes 10 years and a lot of grit. For Van Carlson, Founder & CEO of SRA 831(b) Admin, it took 18 years to become the largest manager of self-insured 831(b) plans—a true testament to niche mastery and resilience.Van's journey was forged in fire: the 2008 Great Recession hit his commercial clients hard, forcing him to completely reinvent his approach to business risk. Out of that challenge, he built a company that re-engineered how small businesses protect their wealth and operations.If you're a high-growth founder looking to shield your company from economic turbulence and utilize advanced tax-advantaged strategies, this episode is essential listening.In this episode, Van breaks down:The 2008 Pivot: How a massive economic downturn forced him to rethink his entire business model, leading to the creation of SRA and the 18-year path to industry dominance.The Tax Advantage CEO: The powerful, often overlooked 831(b) strategy that allows small businesses to self-insure tax-deferred dollars, creating a financial fortress against economic dips, natural disasters, and unforeseen events.Becoming the Industry Leader: The specific market positioning, strategy, and dedication required to become the largest manager in a highly specialized financial niche.Navigating Headwinds: How Van helps clients tackle modern market challenges like increased tariffs and regulatory red tape by empowering them with self-insurance tools.Tune in to discover the strategic risk management that high-level entrepreneurs use to maintain market advantage and long-term financial security.Support the showRemember to subscribe for free to stay current with entrepreneur conversations. Want the episode freebie or have a question for our guest or Vincent? Interested in becoming a guest or show partner? Email us.This Episode is Brought to You By: Coming Alive Podcast Production: www.comingalivepodcastproduction.com Music Credits: Copyright Free Music from Adventure by MusicbyAden.
Laurie McCarty sits down with DwellSafe's Janet Engel, an occupational therapist and aging in place specialist, to explore what it really takes to make a home safer, more comfortable, and better suited for long-term living. From home safety assessments to fall prevention strategies and simple senior home modifications, Janet shares practical insights that help homeowners stay independent longer.Laurie also breaks down the recent spike in “help with mortgage” searches, what the data truly means, and how today's housing landscape compares to the Great Recession, offering a clear and steady look at the real estate market.Topics: aging in place, home safety assessment, senior home modifications, DwellSafe, occupational therapy, fall prevention, independent living, home accessibility, real estate market update.
In this episode, we spotlight Eric D. Stone — a leader whose passion for business shaped a remarkable 26-year journey at Enterprise Holdings, where he rose to become one of the most celebrated Regional Vice Presidents in the company's history.Eric's strength lies in his ability to build, ignite, and elevate high-performance cultures. His leadership guided teams through defining moments — from 9/11 and the Great Recession to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Great Resignation — always with adaptability, integrity, and a deep understanding of people.
pWotD Episode 3122: Lawrence Summers Welcome to popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 232,594 views on Tuesday, 18 November 2025 our article of the day is Lawrence Summers.Lawrence Henry "Larry" Summers (born November 30, 1954) is an American economist most famous for serving as United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001 and as the director of the National Economic Council from 2009 to 2010. He also served as president of Harvard University from 2001 to 2006, where he is the Charles W. Eliot University Professor and director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School.Summers became a professor of economics at Harvard University in 1983. He left Harvard in 1991, working as the Chief Economist of the World Bank from 1991 to 1993. In 1993, Summers was appointed Under Secretary for International Affairs of the United States Department of the Treasury under President Bill Clinton's administration. In 1995, he was promoted to Deputy Secretary of the Treasury under his long-time political mentor Robert Rubin. In 1999, he succeeded Rubin as Secretary of the Treasury. While working for the Clinton administration, Summers played a leading role in the American response to the 1994 economic crisis in Mexico, the 1997 Asian financial crisis, and the 1998 Russian financial crisis. He was also influential in the Harvard Institute for International Development and American-advised privatization of the economies of the post-Soviet states, and in the deregulation of the U. S. financial system, including the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act.Following the end of Clinton's term, Summers served as the 27th president of Harvard University from 2001 to 2006. Summers resigned as Harvard's president in the wake of a no-confidence vote by Harvard faculty, which resulted in large part from Summers's conflict with Cornel West, financial conflict of interest questions regarding his relationship with Andrei Shleifer, and a 2005 speech in which he offered three reasons for the under-representation of women in science and engineering, including the possibility that there exists a "different availability of aptitude at the high end", in addition to patterns of discrimination and socialization.After his departure from Harvard, Summers worked as a managing partner at the hedge fund D. E. Shaw & Co. Summers rejoined public service during the Obama administration, serving as the Director of the White House United States National Economic Council for President Barack Obama from January 2009 until November 2010, where he emerged as a key economic decision-maker in the Obama administration's response to the Great Recession. In November 2023, Summers joined the board of directors of artificial intelligence organization OpenAI.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:57 UTC on Wednesday, 19 November 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Lawrence Summers on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Joey.
The episode features brothers Billy and Tommy Hall of Halls Chophouse, sharing how their late father's “service before self” philosophy, honed in luxury hotels, became the backbone of a family-run steakhouse that launched in 2009 on a rough stretch of King Street in Charleston during the Great Recession and slowly grew into a 10-restaurant hospitality group across the Southeast. They talk about treating every guest like they're walking into their home: handshakes and hugs at the door, learning names and stories, grabbing Dr Peppers and pizzas from other businesses if that's what it takes, writing stacks of handwritten thank-you notes every night, and viewing each shift as a “battle” to change someone's day for the better. Along the way they dive into hiring for attitude over polish, leading by example on the floor, managing through brutal beef prices while protecting quality via long-term relationships with suppliers, balancing a 24/7 business with family life, and the deep gratitude they feel for guests who choose to spend their hard-earned money in a place that strives to make them feel seen, known, and validated.Key Takeaways Hospitality is in their DNA.Billy and Tommy grew up as “hotel brats,” moving 23 times while their dad ran iconic properties; service before self wasn't a training module, it was simply how their family lived. Halls started in the worst of times and places.The first Halls Chophouse opened in 2008–2009 on a then-boarded-up stretch of King Street during a severe economic downturn, and early nights saw as few as 17 guests. It's a true family business.Mom, dad, brothers, sister, and even grandma were all in the building at the start; their mother still works brunches and decorates for holidays, and Tommy's kids now grow up in the restaurants. Growth has been deliberate and values-driven.What started as one steakhouse has grown into 10 concepts, including Rita's Seaside Grill on Folly Beach, Halls locations in Greenville, Columbia, Somerville, Nashville, and a seafood concept, Halls Catch, all built around the same hospitality standards. They treat every day like game day.Drawing on Tommy's sports background, they see restaurant service as a daily battle; “you're only as good as your last steak,” and winning with guests (sales) fixes a lot of other problems. They hire for heart, not just skills.The focus is on good people with great attitudes and energy, then giving them freedom to be human and connect instead of reciting scripts; managers are expected to model that behavior. Old-school touches still win in a digital world.Handshakes, eye contact, remembering names, personally walking guests to the restroom, and sending 70+ handwritten thank-you notes a night are non-negotiables that make guests feel truly valued. “Yes” is the default answer.If a kid wants pizza or a guest wants Dr Pepper, they'll go down the street or across the way to get it; they refuse to hide behind “we don't have that” when a little extra effort can delight someone. They manage headwinds by doubling down on experience.Even as beef prices surge and costs climb, they stay committed to top-tier product through long relationships with suppliers like Allen Brothers, and make up for higher prices by delivering unforgettable service. They see guests as family and the journey as a marathon.To their regulars who visit multiple times a week and to first-timers alike, their message is simple: thank you, tell us when we fall short, and know we're in this for the long haul, not a quick hit.
In this episode of The Story of a Brand, I sit down with Christopher Wu, Co-founder & CEO of Paper Culture, a company that has quietly—and consistently—been redefining what sustainable, beautifully designed paper products can look like. From day one, Paper Culture has stood at the intersection of modern design and deep environmental responsibility, long before sustainability became a cultural talking point. What moved me most was hearing the origin story: four founders, a six-page website, no automation, and the sheer grit it took to hand-typeset every order until two or three in the morning—all fueled by a mission they believed in. Throughout our conversation, Christopher shares the early chaos, the lessons learned from starting during the Great Recession, and the unwavering North Star that kept the brand alive for 17 years. We talk about the power of design, why sustainability should never require a sacrifice in quality, and how physical products—like holiday cards, photo books, and personalized gifts—remain meaningful in an increasingly digital world. Paper Culture doesn't just sell cards; they sell connection, joy, and a chance to make a small but real impact on the planet. Key Moments From the Episode * The gratitude moment that started it all: Christopher remembers friends and family working late into the night during their first holiday season—unpaid—simply because they believed in the mission and wanted to help. * Starting during the 2008 recession: With a wedding, a new home, a baby on the way, and no venture funding, the team built a fully bootstrapped brand by embracing long-term horizons and reduced competition. * Where design meets sustainability: Paper Culture was born from the idea that consumers shouldn't have to choose—great design and climate-friendly choices can and should coexist. * Their mission as a true North Star: After 17 years, fighting climate change continues to be the company's guiding objective, driving everything from materials to processes to planting over a million trees. * The lasting power of physical products: Even in a digital world, a holiday card or personalized gift still stands out—and reconnects people in a way screens can't. Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to the episode. If you love brands grounded in mission, craftsmanship, and real human connection, you're going to enjoy this conversation. Christopher's story is a reminder that business longevity comes from purpose, not hype—and that even the smallest choices we make as consumers can leave a meaningful imprint on the planet. Tune in and discover the world of Paper Culture. For more on Paper Culture, visit: https://www.paperculture.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. Plus, don't forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify. Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today's Sponsors: Color More Lines: https://www.colormorelines.com/get-started Color More Lines is a team of ex-Amazonians and e-commerce operators who help brands grow faster on Amazon and Walmart. With a performance-based pricing model and flexible contracts, they've generated triple-digit year-over-year growth for established sellers doing over $5 million in annual revenue. Use code "STORY OF A BRAND" and receive a complimentary market opportunity assessment of your e-commerce brand and marketplace positioning.
Lupine Skelly, Retail Research Leader at Deloitte, joins Phillip and Alicia to dissect the stark reality behind this year's holiday shopping forecast. Consumer spending is projected to drop by 10%, and economic pessimism has reached its highest level since the Great Recession. As a result, retailers are facing a season where communicating value is key. This conversation explores the enduring vitality of Black Friday, the quiet revolution of private label brands, and how cultural rituals, AI integration, and brand loyalty are being fundamentally rewired. The Data Doesn't LieKey Takeaways:Shoppers expect to spend $1,595 this season as economic concerns peak57% expect the economy to weaken, the most pessimistic outlook recorded since 1997Black Friday remains vital despite two decades of obituaries24% of budgets are spent by October due to the Prime Day effectPrivate label gains ground as brand loyalty fundamentally shiftsKey Quotes:[00:02:10.14] Lupine Skelly: "57% of people are saying they expect the economy to weaken in the year ahead, and that's the highest we've seen since we started tracking that question in 1997. To put that in context, 2008 was probably the next highest at 54%—that was around the Great Recession. So [there's] a lot of uncertainty out there."[00:04:42.72] Lupine Skelly: "I feel like people have been trying to kill off Black Friday for 20 years. Is Black Friday dead? It's not dead."[00:13:17.91] Lupine Skelly: "In our study, 42% of consumers are saying they're going to use gen AI to find the perfect gift. And even more are saying they're going to use it to find the best deals."[00:25:49.24] Lupine Skelly: "Retail is always battling for share of wallet, but I think we're at a very different time period. Gaming, gambling—there's some big juggernauts taking what might have been the money you used to go to the mall years ago."Associated Links:Dig deeper into Deloitte data and insights hereCheck out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future CommerceHave any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Thomas Nitzsche is a financial educator, media spokesperson, and Vice President of Media and Brand at Money Management International — the largest nonprofit credit counseling agency in the U.S. After facing his own financial struggles during the Great Recession, Thomas turned his hardship into purpose, helping thousands of Americans overcome debt, rebuild their credit, and regain control of their financial lives. On this episode we talk about: Thomas' journey from a small Illinois farm to becoming a national voice for financial literacy The emotional toll of debt and why financial shame keeps people stuck How to choose between debt management and debt settlement programs The biggest money mistakes people make when trying to get out of debt What Thomas learned after cashing out his 401(k) — and what he'd do differently today Top 3 Takeaways You can't budget your way out of shame. Financial freedom starts with removing the emotional barriers around money. Debt management isn't failure — it's strategy. Knowing your options can save you thousands in interest and fees. Financial health takes time. Getting out of debt is a process, not an overnight success story. Notable Quotes “You didn't get into debt overnight — you're not going to get out of it overnight.” “Hope is not a financial plan.” “Money doesn't define your worth — but understanding it can define your future.” Connect with Thomas Nitzsche: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaspnitzsche Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chris Lynch is the Co-founder and CEO of Everyday California, a La Jolla, California-based ocean adventure and lifestyle brand offering ocean adventures along with eco-friendly gear and apparel. Under Chris' leadership, Everyday California has grown from a small kayak shop into a multilocation business employing up to 100 people in peak season. The brand's apparel is sold in nearly 200 stores, including all major California airports, and featured as the top-rated experience on Airbnb in San Diego. Chris, who holds a degree in international economics from San Diego State University, founded the company during the Great Recession after a stint studying acting in Hollywood. In this episode…Starting a business on the beach might sound like a dream, but what happens when you actually make it work? Imagine turning a pickup truck, a few old wetsuits, and a grandmother's iPad into a thriving adventure brand that captures the spirit of California. How do you build something that feels authentic, sustainable, and resilient?For Chris Lynch, the answer came from seeing opportunity where others saw risk. He believes the secret to growth lies in blending passion with practicality. During the Great Recession, Chris took a failing kayak permit and transformed it into a full-fledged ocean adventure and lifestyle brand rooted in community, sustainability, and experience. From refining the fit of board shorts for over a year to scaling from one location to multiple along the coast, he emphasizes doing things the right way — even if it takes longer. His approach proves that staying committed to quality, adaptability, and financial discipline can turn a simple idea into a lasting California icon.In this episode of Truth About Social Ads, host Jason Smith is joined by Chris Lynch, Co-founder and CEO of Everyday California, to discuss how he built and scaled an experiential adventure and lifestyle brand from the ground up. They explore the early days of launching with just a kayak permit, how Everyday California balances seasonality with e-commerce growth, and why quality and storytelling drive the success of their apparel line.
In his 20's, working an office job he hated, Tom woke up in the middle of the night with a wild idea: why not take people on bike trips? No playbook. No investors. Just a sense that he could make a living doing what he loved. His first trip? Four guests riding through Death Valley, pitching their own tents. From there, Backroads scaled to hotels, while weathering a bike burglary, a van rollover in the desert, 9/11, the Great Recession, and a pandemic that brought tourism to a halt. Today, Backroads runs 5,000+ trips a year in 60+ countries.This is a masterclass in savvy cash flow, scrupulous quality control, and dogged iteration. If you care about travel, brand, or building a services business at scale—listen to this.What you'll learn:How a 5,000 mile solo bike trip laid the groundwork for Backroads The first guided trip in Death Valley: four people, high winds, 50 miles/day How to get your stolen bikes back: confront the thief yourself The “collect early, pay late” flywheel that powered growth without investorsHow Backroads survived 9/11, 2008, and COVID—and what changed after each shockAvoiding the Instagram trap and delivering peak, uncrowded experiencesTImestamps:7:24 – Tom's epiphany and the eight pages of notes that started Backroads10:15 – From cubicle to road bike: the solo trip that shaped the company's DNA12:46 – Trip #1: Making mistakes in Death Valley—and learning fast24:47 – Tom's DIY recovery operation after a warehouse burglary29:21 – Cash without capital: spend your deposits, pay hotels later 30:55 – The Nevada rollover: walking out of the ER…and running the next trips40:06 – Recovering after 9/11 and the financial crisis—and rebuilding the company's value prop45:46 – Post-COVID surge, and avoiding the tyranny of the travel selfie This episode was produced by Casey Herman with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by Neva Grant. Our audio engineers were Patrick Murray and Jimmy Keeley.Follow How I Built This:Instagram → @howibuiltthisX → @HowIBuiltThisFacebook → How I Built ThisFollow Guy Raz:Instagram → @guy.razYoutube → guy_razX → @guyrazSubstack → guyraz.substack.comWebsite → guyraz.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Send us a textRetailers plan the lightest holiday hiring since the Great Recession, but spending is still projected to top $1T.We dig into:Why demand smoothing and e-comm shift cut seasonal rolesHow “slower” in-store flow can increase basket sizeWhat segmentation and channels mean for labor needsWhy tariff headlines often overstate price impactActionable takeaways for leaders on staffing, ops, and margin protection.Chapters00:30 Holiday Season Retail Trends06:12 E-commerce Impact on Retail Hiring11:51 Customer Experience and Retail Staffing18:42 Understanding Consumer Spending DynamicsConnect With Management Consulted Schedule free 15min consultation with the MC Team. Watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube! Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and industry insights! Join an upcoming live event - case interviews demos, expert panels, and more. Email us (team@managementconsulted.com) with questions or feedback.
Soderbergh's second film for Mark Cuban's Magnolia Pictures was THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE, a largely improvised look at life on the cusp of the Great Recession starring adult film megastar Sasha Grey. We're joined by an anonymous writer and sex worker to talk about one of Soderbergh's less-appreciated great films, sex work as work, Grey's legacy, depictions of intimacy, and Power Wash Simulator for the Nintendo Switch. Really great episode, we hope you enjoy! Further Reading: Playing The Whore: The Work of Sex Work by Melissa Gira Grant "The Teenager & The Porn Star" by Dave Gardetta "Exploitation Under Capitalism" by Mary Mother of God "Whorearchy 101" by Jack Parker Soderbergh interview by Ben Walters Steven Soderbergh: Interviews, ed. Anthony Kaufman Further Viewing: RED DESERT (Antonioni, 1964) KLUTE (Pakula, 1971) CRIES AND WHISPERS (Bergman, 1972) FULL FRONTAL (Soderbergh, 2002) BUBBLE (Soderbergh, 2005) FASHIONISTAS SAFADO: THE CHALLENGE (Stagliano, 2006) MAGIC MIKE (Soderbergh, 2012) ANORA (Baker, 2024) Follow Pod Casty For Me: https://www.podcastyforme.com/ https://twitter.com/podcastyforme https://www.instagram.com/podcastyforme/ https://www.youtube.com/@podcastyforme Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PodCastyForMe Artwork by Jeremy Allison: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyallisonart
Stephanie Miller discusses the GOP following their disappointing election performance. She's not just laughing at them, though—she's analyzing their full-blown post-defeat meltdown and figuring out what their frantic finger-pointing means for the rest of us. Looking at the economy, Stephanie draws some alarming, must-know parallels to the 2008 Great Recession, breaking down the recent surge in high-profile layoffs and what it signals for your bottom line. She also tackles President Trump's frankly bananas attempts to deflect blame after the election, putting his recent economic denialism under the comedy-driven microscope it deserves. With guests political strategist Mike Nellis and the hilarious comedian Dana Goldberg!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Global Investors: Foreign Investing In US Real Estate with Charles Carillo
Thinking about building passive income through multifamily investing but not sure where to start? In this episode of the Global Investors Podcast, host Charles Carillo sits down with Casey Stratton, a General Partner on more than $200 million worth of real estate assets, to break down exactly how to invest in value-add multifamily apartments the right way. Casey shares his full journey from being laid off during the Great Recession to building a thriving multifamily portfolio and the strategy behind finding, financing, and managing value-add deals. You'll learn how to avoid common syndication mistakes, analyze risk vs. return in development, and spot markets with long-term potential. Key Takeaways: How to evaluate value-add multifamily deals step-by-step. What experienced real estate syndicators look for before investing. How to invest passively in multifamily as a busy professional. Why secondary markets like Eastern Washington can outperform. The truth about development risk vs. return and how to mitigate it. Whether you're an active investor or just getting started, this episode gives you a complete look at how to invest in multifamily syndications with confidence and how partnerships, market selection, and disciplined underwriting can accelerate your path to financial freedom. Learn More About Casey Here: Tamarack - https://tamarackrei.com/ Connect with the Global Investors Show, Charles Carillo and Harborside Partners: ◾ Setup a FREE 30 Minute Strategy Call with Charles: http://ScheduleCharles.com ◾ Learn How To Invest In Real Estate: https://www.SyndicationSuperstars.com/ ◾ FREE Passive Investing Guide: http://www.HSPguide.com ◾ Join Our Weekly Email Newsletter: http://www.HSPsignup.com ◾ Passively Invest in Real Estate: http://www.InvestHSP.com ◾ Global Investors Web Page: http://GlobalInvestorsPodcast.com/
Ever wonder why some businesses thrive during economic chaos while others collapse? Many believe success in the trades comes from luck or endless hustle, but the truth is discipline, systems, and culture determine survival. In this episode of The Better Than Rich Show, host Mike Abramowitz sits down with Tim O'Brien, founder of Tim O'Brien Homes, who shares how launching a homebuilding company during the Great Recession became his greatest advantage. He unpacks how faith-based principles of stewardship, integrity, and servant leadership fueled his growth from zero to $138 million. From building long-term trade partnerships and defining company values to using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) for sustainable scale, O'Brien shows how simplicity, trust, and vision create businesses that last. Timestamps: [00:00] Starting from Zero During a Recession [07:00] Building Brand Awareness with No Budget [11:00] Culture Before Scale [16:00] Hiring and Delegation Lessons [20:00] Communication Cadence and the EOS Revolution [27:00] The Trade Council Blueprint [33:00] Empowering Trades Through Shared Values [43:00] How to Get the Attention of a $138M General Contractor [48:00] Scaling from $25M to $138M [54:00] Simplicity, Sustainability, and Freedom of Time Key Quotes “You can't lead from the valley; you have to get up on the hill to see what's really going on.” “We're in the people business. We just happen to build homes.” “Culture isn't a slogan—it's a system that decides who stays and who leaves.” “Your best trade partners aren't your vendors, they're your collaborators.” “Freedom of time is the ultimate wealth.” Key Takeaways Build culture before chasing growth. Your team and trade partners should co-create values, not receive them top-down.Implement structure early. Meeting cadences and EOS frameworks prevent chaos as you scale. Prioritize long-term relationships. Treat trades and clients as collaborators in your ecosystem. Simplify annually. Audit your systems and processes to eliminate redundancy and complexity before burnout sets in. Links Mentioned Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh: https://www.deliveringhappiness.com/ Traction by Gino Wickman: https://www.eosworldwide.com/traction Tim O'Brien Homes: https://www.timobrienhomes.com Contact Tim: tobrien@tobhomes.com Connect with The Better Than RichWebsite - https://www.betterthanrich.com/Facebook - https://m.facebook.com/betterthanrich/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterthan_rich/Twitter - https://mobile.twitter.com/betterthan_richTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterthanrichYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3xXEb7rKBvkCOdtWd4tj2ALinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterthanrich
Imagination and Strategy in Organizations Michael and Rebecca explored the role of imagination in organizational development, focusing on how it can help teams break free from routine and avoid burnout. Rebecca emphasized the value of developing strategy collaboratively and embedding it into systems so it becomes actionable. Michael shared a personal story about a team exercise that strengthened his relationship with his CEO, showing how facilitation can break down silos and build vulnerability within teams. Proactive Leadership in Volatile Times Rebecca highlighted the importance of facilitated conversations to create shared language and vivid pictures of possible futures. She stressed that leaders must take agency in shaping the future during times of uncertainty. Michael reflected on his leadership experience during the Great Recession, noting how proactive strategies and market exploration were essential. Both agreed that preparation and action are far better than waiting passively for challenges to unfold. Constraints Spark Creative Solutions Rebecca explained how constraints can ignite creativity, comparing children who produce better art with limited supplies to organizations that innovate within boundaries. She pointed out that major failures like the 2008 financial crisis and the 9/11 attacks were tied to a lack of imagination and unpreparedness for unexpected events. Imagination for Effective Planning Michael and Rebecca discussed how imagination can help leaders plan for multiple scenarios, both positive and negative. They emphasized that envisioning different futures calms the nervous system and prepares people for surprises. Michael encouraged leaders to think beyond worst-case scenarios, exploring opportunities for growth and using positive goal-setting to shape desired outcomes. Imagination in Strategic Decision-Making Rebecca emphasized the need to align emotions with rational decision-making and create compelling shared visions that motivate people. She argued that imagination should be treated as a serious, forward-looking tool rather than relying only on traditional approaches that analyze past performance. Imagination not only makes strategy development more effective but also more engaging and enjoyable. Website and Merchandise Rebecca shared details about her work and invited listeners to visit RebeccaSoutherns.com, where they can explore free resources and her "Possibility Packs," merchandise designed to spark imagination. Dr. Rebecca Sutherns – Imagination Strategist for Purpose-Driven Leaders Rebecca Sutherns, Ph.D., is the CEO and Founder of Sage Solutions, where she helps purpose-driven leaders close the gap between what matters most to them and what they actually do. With more than 27 years of global experience as a bestselling author, master facilitator, and coach, Rebecca is known for turning imagination into a strategic advantage. She brings analytical rigor, warm energy, and adaptability to strategy, governance, and decision-making. Her work began with a simple but powerful observation: many leaders stay stuck in past patterns, overlooking new possibilities. She discovered that a “failure of imagination” is often the hidden reason behind team misalignment and even global challenges. Today, she equips Boards and executives to distinguish what is fixed from what is flexible as they shape the future in times of rapid change. Through her ELASTIC framework, Rebecca helps non-profit leaders reimagine their next chapter with creativity and clarity. Whether through strategic planning facilitation or her innovative Possibility Packs, she champions imagination as a learnable skill and a collective practice—helping leaders co-create vivid mental pictures of what's possible and proactively "dent the world."
Ever feel like the more your business grows, the less peace you actually have? Many entrepreneurs chase revenue, automation, and scale—only to realize they've built a machine that runs their life instead of serving it. What if true success isn't about doing more, but about becoming more human in a world obsessed with efficiency? In this episode of The Better Than Rich Show, host Mike Abramowitz interviews Ryan Levesque, best-selling author of Ask and Choose, creator of the Ask Method, and founder of The Digital Contrarian newsletter. Ryan shares his journey from building a $70 million digital business to leaving it behind for a simpler, faith-centered life on a farm in Vermont. He explains how to protect authenticity in the age of AI, craft a “Category of One” brand, and align your business with your family, faith, and values. Timestamps [00:00] Starting Over During the Great Recession [07:00] Building Brand Awareness with No Budget [11:00] Culture Before Scale [16:00] Hiring and Delegation Lessons [20:00] Communication Cadence and the EOS Revolution [27:00] The Trade Council Blueprint [33:00] Empowering Trades Through Shared Values [43:00] How to Get the Attention of a $138M General Contractor [48:00] Scaling from $25M to $138M [54:00] Simplicity, Sustainability, and Freedom of Time Key Quotes “In a world of artificial everything, what if real is the only advantage left?” “You can't scale a hug with your five-year-old.” “AI can automate words, but it can't replicate presence.” “The best things in life don't scale—and that's exactly what makes them sacred.” “Your business should serve your life, not replace it.” Key Takeaways Redefine your metrics of success. Prioritize time, presence, and family over arbitrary business goals. Guard your authentic voice. Let AI support efficiency, not authenticity. Adopt the Three-Part Content Model. Build your “Category of One,” create a consistent content hub, and scale intentionally through repurposing. Embrace the unscalable. True connection, creativity, and faith are built person-to-person—not through automation. Connect with The Better Than RichWebsite - https://www.betterthanrich.com/Facebook - https://m.facebook.com/betterthanrich/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betterthan_rich/Twitter - https://mobile.twitter.com/betterthan_richTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@betterthanrichYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3xXEb7rKBvkCOdtWd4tj2ALinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterthanrich
#654: Fights about money are common, but they're rarely about math. They're about power, shame, vulnerability, and trust. And no amount of data or fancy spreadsheets is going to fix it. What you need is a better system for fairness, more open communication, and a shared ambition. In this candid conversation with Heather and Doug Bonaparte, we explore how two partners rebuilt confidence, handled their six-figure student loans, and designed a rhythm for money talks that actually works. Together they share how early money stories, law school debt, and the Great Recession shaped their dynamic, plus the tools they used to find fairness at home and in their finances Key Takeaways Why 50/50 isn't always fair and how to do it better The small ritual that turned dreaded money talks into something they actually look forward to How borrowing a strategy from the office made household decisions way less stressful The surprising fix for resentment that had nothing to do with chores or budgeting Why tackling six-figure student loans together became a turning point in their relationship The mindset shift that helped them see debt not as a burden but as a shared opportunity Resources and Links Money Together, the book DoMoneyTogether.com, learn more about the book and project The Joint Account, weekly newsletter on joint finances at ReadTheJointAccount.com Fair Play by Eve Rodsky, a framework for dividing household responsibilities Share this episode with a friend, colleagues, and anyone who is part of a couple: https://affordanything.com/episode654 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In today's episode of The Daily Windup, we break down what the latest Federal Reserve Beige Book is really saying — and why it's sending a chilling warning most investors are ignoring. According to the Fed's own field reports, economic activity has “declined slightly” across three-quarters of the U.S., with only a handful of districts showing modest growth. The tone of this Beige Book is weaker than December 2007 — the start of the Great Recession. Even the Fed's internal staff now estimates a 50% chance of recession, while the market continues to price in 0% risk. In short: the data is flashing red, but Wall Street's acting like it's business as usual. Key Takeaways: The Fed's Beige Book reveals that ¾ of the U.S. economy is stagnating or contracting in real time. The report's tone is weaker than the Beige Book from the start of the 2008 crisis. Even the Fed staff pegs recession odds at 50%, yet the market is still pricing in zero risk. Know more about the Bootcamp: https://govcongiants.org/bootcamp Learn more: https://federalhelpcenter.com/ https://govcongiants.org/
This week's episode opens with a layoffs avalanche that could bury a small HR department. Nestlé slashes 16,000 jobs—mostly white-collar, as AI now crunches numbers faster than accountants can say “chocolate river.” Meta cuts 600 from its super-intelligence team (the irony writes itself), Paycom drops 500 engineers (guess the bots finally learned to code), Handshake axes over 100 (pivoting to “AI-centric tech” = fancy talk for “we're toast”), and even programmatic darling Appcast trims 32. The hot acquisition pitch? JobGet should buy Handshake and rebrand it Handjob.com—because nothing screams “career move” like a domain that triggers every corporate filter. The bullshit meter detonates. Facebook resurrects its job board after killing it in 2023—rumor has it Zuck's prepping AR glasses where “Starbucks is hiring” beams directly into your latte-fueled daydreams. X quietly buries its LinkedIn-killer tab (Elon's too busy monetizing outrage). Adzuna unveils a “revolutionary” search that's basically ZipRecruiter's Phil minus the creepy spokesperson—half-baked, no employer-side matching, and it begs for your email like a desperate Tinder bio. Metaview's Chicago billboard (“Who says hiring has to be fair?”) gets flayed: four-second glance, logo smaller than a South Park punchline, and DEI messaging dumber than a rock. Fix? “Effective AI. Giant Logo. Metaview.com.” Done. Stop torching $35M on ego art. Funding fireworks: Findem.ai pockets another $51M, hitting $105M total (Intello 2.0, now with agent spice—same data warehouse, new flavor packet). Deel raises $300M, pushing its war chest to $1.3B at a $17.3B valuation—enough to buy a mid-sized nation and still tip the barista. Armstrong grabs $12M for AI dish-washing robots (Taco Bell's drive-thru is about to ghost human order-takers faster than you can say “Doritos Locos”). Jack & Jill scores $20M for conversational job alerts—talk to your laptop, get emailed Indeed links. Groundbreaking… if it's 2001. Economy's a K-shaped tire fire: Hamburger Helper sales spike 14% (flashbacks to salty 70s trauma: “Dad tried to fix it with more salt—burned my mouth and my will to live”). Freight rates up 20%, subprime auto delinquencies worse than COVID, Great Recession, and dot-com bust combined. White Castle flips fully autonomous in Ohio—farewell, drive-thru jobs; hello, robot flipping your sliders while you doom-scroll in sweatpants. Finale: OpenAI green-lights erotic ChatGPT for verified adults starting December (the internet was literally built on the promise of pixelated nipples—Sam Altman's just cashing the OG check). Age-gating? Cute. Show me a 10-ft wall, I'll show you an 11-ft ladder and a forged ID. They also launch ChatGPT Atlas, an AI browser with a sassy sidebar—because Chrome's 2:38 median tab time and 11.4 open tabs (recruiters: double that, easy) needed a drunk-texting career coach. Google infused Gemini; OpenAI counters by making browsing feel like your browser just joined a group chat.Buckle up—2026 will be wilder than a Meta glasses app that undresses your LinkedIn connections in AR. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Recap of Reckfest02:18 Reflections on MTV's Impact and Evolution04:57 The Changing Landscape of Job Platforms07:36 Layoffs and Industry Shifts10:09 The Future of Recruiting Technology13:08 Meta's Job Platform and Advertising Strategies15:42 Critique of Adzuna's New Search Features18:04 Closing Thoughts and Future Predictions26:35 The Power of AI in Recruiting30:44 Funding Frenzy in the Recruitment Tech Space34:59 The Impact of Automation on Fast Food Jobs42:49 Economic Indicators and Their Implications48:06 The Intersection of AI, Browsers, and Adult Content
CMBS delinquencies are at their highest level since the Great Recession — but what does that really mean for multifamily investors? Jamison Manwaring unpacks the data behind rising commercial distress, explaining how interest rate spikes, construction booms, and tighter lending have collided to create today's challenges — and opportunities. We also break down how new legislation is reshaping real estate, from extended Opportunity Zones and renewed bonus depreciation to why 1031 exchanges and UPREIT structures remain intact. Finally, Jamison offers perspective on why long-term fundamentals for multifamily remain strong and why patient investors could benefit most in this cycle.
Why are so many consumers dining on a deal?This week's episode of the Restaurant Business podcast A Deeper Dive features David Portalatin, SVP and food industry advisor for the data and technology firm Circana.Circana just released a report showing that 29% of consumers are dining on a perceived deal, a historically high percentage. That has also grown over the past couple of years at a rate not seen since the Great Recession.David on the podcast discusses that report and the factors behind consumer budget dining. This is a fascinating conversation. We talk about price increases, the types of deals being run, how that's changed over the past 15 years and how restaurants can adjust to these issues. This is a major issue affecting all restaurant operators today and could continue to impact them over the coming months.
Subscribe now for the full episode and access to all of our Sunday bonuses! Danny and Derek speak with Joshua Braver, assistant professor of law at the University of Wisconsin, about Trump's threat to invoke the Insurrection Act. They discuss the president's power to federalize the National Guard, the Posse Comitatus Act, the limits of judicial deference, Trump's schizophrenic relationship to the law, the weakness of the liberal legal establishment, why the Great Recession didn't produce a New Deal moment, and what it means when the only thing left to restrain the executive is the executive itself.
Corey Damen Jenkins' design career famously started in 2008, when he vowed to knock on 800 doors to find a client in the middle of the Great Recession. On the 779th door, he found one. Since then, client by client, project by project, Jenkins has risen to the top of the industry—he's one of a small handful of designers with a MasterClass, he's on the Elle Decor A-List and the AD100, and his second book, Design Reimagined, just hit shelves. On this episode of the podcast, Jenkins speaks with host Dennis Scully about how the Kips Bay Show House launched his career, why he tries to run his business on what he calls the ‘Mariah Carey principle,' and why he's all in on everything he does. This episode is sponsored by Loloi and Hector FinchLINKSCorey Damen JenkinsDesign ReimaginedDennis ScullyBusiness of Home https://coreydamenjenkins.com/
Today's episode is an excerpt from Jason's Wednesday masterclass podcast focusing on co-living as a real estate investment strategy, featuring an expert named Eric Halverson, focusing particularly on the Phoenix market. Jason explains his previous skepticism and newfound confidence in co-living due to the increasing housing shortage and shrinking average household size in the U.S. They highlight the high returns and affordability solutions that co-living offers, particularly for the "working poor," contrasting the current market with the Great Recession. Eric shares his experience in the Atlanta market, discussing the operational mechanics of converting single-family homes into multi-room rentals with weekly payments, emphasizing the strong demand and the limited supply of suitable properties. They strongly advocate for direct investment in leveraged real estate, illustrating how the asset class outperforms others like the S&P 500 and gold when factoring in leverage and tax benefits. Join Jason's Masterclass! Sign up at JasonHartman.com/Wednesday #CoLiving #RealEstate #Investing #REI #HousingShortage #WorkforceHousing #AffordableHousing #IncomeProperty #CostSegregation #PaperLoss #TaxBenefits #CashFlow #Leverage #ROI #CapRate #Phoenix #Atlanta #IndianapolisMarket #AustinTX #CapeCoralFL #Padsplit #WeeklyRent #Turnkey #WorkingPoor #SingleFamilyHome #HouseholdSize #Demographics #DirectInvestor #Airbnb #JasonHartman #HartmanMedia #GreatRecession #LVP Key Takeaways: 1:27 Travel back in time 5:59 Co-Living: A solution to the housing shortage 11:30 Income property vs. other assets 15:28 The Customer Experience 16:59 The Co-Living Business Model Follow Jason on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM & LINKEDIN Twitter.com/JasonHartmanROI Instagram.com/jasonhartman1/ Linkedin.com/in/jasonhartmaninvestor/ Call our Investment Counselors at: 1-800-HARTMAN (US) or visit: https://www.jasonhartman.com/ Free Class: Easily get up to $250,000 in funding for real estate, business or anything else: http://JasonHartman.com/Fund CYA Protect Your Assets, Save Taxes & Estate Planning: http://JasonHartman.com/Protect Get wholesale real estate deals for investment or build a great business – Free Course: https://www.jasonhartman.com/deals Special Offer from Ron LeGrand: https://JasonHartman.com/Ron Free Mini-Book on Pandemic Investing: https://www.PandemicInvesting.com
The Great Recession changed the way many builders, developers and investors approached financing. As banks tighten their grip, private lenders offer a more competitive and personalized approach. Mark Whitmire, corporate […] The post SRP Lending: Building Principal-to-Principal Relationships appeared first on Atlanta Real Estate Forum.
Read the article here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/how-local-politics-is-ruining-the-american-dream America's housing shortage isn't just a “problem”—it's a disaster. We're already short 5 to 6 million homes, and without major changes, that gap could balloon to 15 million within a decade. In this episode, we'll trace how the Great Recession and decades of restrictive zoning set the stage for today's crisis, explain why local politics keep killing affordable housing projects, and show how lot sizes, setback rules, and “neighborhood character” arguments drive up costs. Finally, we'll explore why state-level reform may be the only path forward if the American Dream is to remain within reach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover how to build a 7-figure business with just 2 employees and transform your life! In this video, I sit down with Graham Cochran, a seasoned entrepreneur and content creator who started his journey during the Great Recession and turned a simple idea into multiple thriving businesses. Are you living The Wealthy Way? Join us as we explore actionable strategies to create a high-profit, low-maintenance business that allows you to work smarter, not harder.Watch full video: https://youtu.be/jlSb2S2x2YgLearn how to invest in real estate with the Cashflow 2.0 System! Your business in a box with 1:1 coaching, motivated seller leads, & softwares. https://www.wealthyinvestor.com/Want to work 1:1 with Ryan Pineda? Apply at ryanpineda.comJoin our FREE community, weekly calls, and bible studies for Christian entrepreneurs and business people. https://tentmakers.us/Want to grow your business and network with elite entrepreneurs on world-class golf courses? Apply now to join Mastermind19 – Ryan Pineda's private golf mastermind for high-level founders and dealmakers. www.mastermind19.com--- About Ryan Pineda: Ryan Pineda has been in the real estate industry since 2010 and has invested in over $100,000,000 of real estate. He has completed over 700 flips and wholesales, and he owns over 650 rental units. As an entrepreneur, he has founded seven different businesses that have generated 7-8 figures of revenue. Ryan has amassed over 2 million followers on social media and has generated over 1 billion views online. Starting as a minor league baseball player making less than $2,000 a month, Ryan is now worth over $100 million. He shares his experiences in building wealth and believes that anyone can change their life with real estate investing. ...
The oldest members of Gen X are facing retirement, and many are feeling unprepared. Traditional pensions disappeared just as Gen X entered the workforce. 401(k)s weren't mainstream until much later. And along the way, they endured the tech bubble, the Great Recession, and a pandemic. No wonder headlines call Gen X “the forgotten generation” and warn of a retirement crisis. In this episode, Jean sits down with author and Yahoo Finance senior columnist Kerry Hannon to talk about her new book with co-author Janna Herron, Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future. Together, they dive into why retirement feels so daunting for Gen X, what makes this generation uniquely scrappy, and how to turn worry into optimism. You'll learn: Why Gen X was dealt such a tough financial hand, and what you can do about it now How debt, student loans, and “lifestyle creep” factor into retirement readiness The HOVER method (Hope, Optimism, Value, Enthusiasm, Resilience) for building a positive money mindset Why downsizing isn't the only answer — and how continuing to work, re-skill, and find purpose can make retirement stronger If more financial confidence sounds good to you, then you might want to try… 4-Week Coaching Program: Identify and understand your spending, build a strategic plan, and take control of your money. 6-Week Pre-Retirement Program: We'll help you prepare financially and emotionally for this exciting milestone.
If there's one thing that separates the truly wealthy from everyone else, it's their relationship with risk. Not blind risk. I'm talking about conviction — the ability to see an opportunity before everyone else does, to lean into it while others are frozen, and to hold through the storm until the payoff is undeniable. The extreme example is Bitcoin. In 2012, when it was trading for less than the price of a cup of coffee, most people laughed it off as internet monopoly money. But a handful of people had conviction. They understood the asymmetric nature of the bet — the downside was capped at the small amount they put in, while the upside was exponential. Those early adopters didn't just make returns; many became billionaires. Of course, most people hadn't even heard of Bitcoin in 2012, so that might not have even been an option for you. So let's take another example that you almost certainly did live through. Real estate after the Great Recession in 2008 was radioactive. Nobody wanted to touch it. Yet those who bought when fear was at its peak ended up riding one of the longest real estate bull markets in U.S. history. Data from the National Association of Realtors shows that home prices more than doubled from 2012 to 2022 in many markets. Imagine the rewards of being on the buy side in 2012. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I believe we are in a similar scenario with real estate right now as we head into a descending rate environment following a real estate bloodbath. Properties are severely discounted, and values are almost certain to go up as rates fall. But you have to see the big picture and not be scared. That's not easy to do when everyone else is. Real estate moguls and business owners are the ones most likely to take their wealth to the next level. Real estate is accessible to you — and so is business ownership. Look at the Forbes billionaire list and you'll see a pattern: nearly 70% of the world's wealthiest people are business founders or owners. They didn't get rich clipping coupons from the S&P 500. They got there by creating or buying businesses that became valuable, saleable assets. The risk was obvious: most startups fail. But the payoff for the ones that succeed dwarfs anything you'll ever get in your brokerage account. Now, the reality is that most high-paid professionals never play in this arena. They're comfortable and don't want to rock the boat. Some call it the “golden handcuffs” — you make enough money to feel comfortable, but that same comfort prevents you from ever taking risk. And you know what? That's totally fine. Just know that doing your 9-to-5 and investing into your 401(k) is not going to create life-changing money. If all you're looking for is life-sustaining money, keep doing what you're doing. But ask yourself this question: What's the life you dream about? If it's the life you already have, then congratulations. If not, are you on a trajectory that even makes it possible to get there? If not, you've got to change course. My guest this week on Wealth Formula Podcast has done a great deal of research on the wealthy and has written a book based on what he has learned.
On this week's episode of Multifamily Mastery, John Casmon interviews David Hrizak. With nearly three decades of experience across asset classes, David shares his evolution from Chicago broker to vertically integrated developer and investor. He recounts the pivotal $4M townhome project during the Great Recession, the sudden loss of his partner, and how relationships with community banks helped him pivot, survive, and ultimately thrive. David explains why he shifted from multifamily to commercial—highlighting the stability of long-term leases, the value of tenant credit, and how to structure triple-net leases that pass expenses through to tenants. He also stresses the importance of asking sponsors about their worst deals, vetting relationships, and learning from experienced partners before diving into commercial real estate. David HrizakCurrent role: Principal, Streamline Asset Management & Streamline DevelopmentBased in: Phoenix, AZ Say hi to them at: https://www.streamlinecapitalgroup.net | Linkedin Try Gusto today at gusto.com/CRE, and get three months free when you run your first payroll. This is a limited time offer, so head over to aspenfunds.us/bestever to download the investor deck—or grab their quick-start guide if you're brand new to oil and gas investing. Visit investwithsunrise.com to learn more about investment opportunities. Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com with code BESTEVER Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at https://www.stamps.com/cre. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Join the Best Ever Community The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It's free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria. Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at www.bestevercommunity.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3292: Chelsea illustrates how even investing at the peak of the Great Recession would have yielded strong long-term gains, especially with dividends reinvested. By showing historical data from past downturns, she highlights that discipline, patience, and consistency in the stock market can transform even the worst-timed investments into substantial wealth. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://smartmoneymamas.com/investing-in-peak-markets/ Quotes to ponder: “In only 1 out of the past 10 recessions, starting in 1948, would you have seen your $10,000 investment lose money over a 10-year period, and only then if you had chosen not to reinvest the dividends.” “The sooner you get your money invested in the market, the more wealth you'll have in the future. Your money works for you, don't let it sit idle!” Episode references: National Bureau of Economic Research: https://www.nber.org Bureau of Economic Analysis: https://www.bea.gov Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Peter Schiff critiques the August jobs report, analyzes the Federal Reserve's actions, and discusses the implications for gold and the U.S. dollar.This episode is sponsored by Lucy. Go to https://lucy.co/gold and use promo code GOLD to get 20% off your first orderIn this episode of The Peter Schiff Show, host Peter Schiff dives deep into critical economic issues affecting the United States, including a thorough analysis of the latest August Jobs Report, which reveals a troubling trend of job losses reminiscent of the Great Recession. He critiques the economic policies of former President Trump, highlighting the stark contrast between the current labor market and its portrayal as robust by the Federal Reserve. Schiff also explores the implications of a potential constitutional ruling on the independence of the Federal Reserve and its impact on inflation and the dollar. Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks01:26 Discussion on the August Jobs Report04:04 Critique of Trump's Economic Policies07:47 Analysis of the Federal Reserve's Actions14:18 Housing Market Concerns26:29 Gold and Silver Market Insights30:57 Bitcoin vs. Gold: A Comparative Analysis31:29 Bitcoin's Performance Over the Years31:49 The Rise of Bitcoin ETFs and Treasury Companies34:00 The Supreme Court and the Federal Reserve35:40 Constitutional Scrutiny of the Federal Reserve37:16 The Independence of the Federal Reserve48:04 Historical Context of Paper Money in the U.S.55:07 The Future of Gold and the U.S. Dollar56:03 Investment Opportunities and Final ThoughtsFollow @peterschiffX: https://twitter.com/peterschiffInstagram: https://instagram.com/peterschiffTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@peterschiffofficialFacebook: https://facebook.com/peterschiffSign up for Peter's most valuable insights at https://schiffsovereign.comSchiff Gold News: https://www.schiffgold.com/newsFree Reports & Market Updates: https://www.europac.comBook Store: https://schiffradio.com/books#FederalReserve #BitcoinVsGold #EconomicAnalysisOur Sponsors:* Check out Boll & Branch: https://boilandbranch.com/SCHIFF* Check out Fast Growing Trees and use my code GOLD for a great deal: https://www.fast-growing-trees.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy