Podcasts about step it up academy

Welcome back to the Step It Up Entrepreneur Podcast! I'm your host, Tomas Keenan, and today we have another amazing episode lined up for you. Podcasting is one of my favorite things to do, and this month marks a significant milestone for us – five years and over 240 episodes of bringing you valuable content each week. In today's episode, I'll share insights from my current on-site work here in Austin. I'm helping a fantastic client in the structural steel fabrication industry streamline their business. This hands-on approach is something I developed out of necessity a few years ago, and it's been a game-changer for my clients. By spending a couple of days on-site, I get to see firsthand what's working and what needs improvement, helping businesses implement effective systems and processes quickly. If you're interested in learning more about how we can help your business through our on-site assessments or coaching services, don't hesitate to contact me. Text me directly at 516-790-6931, and let's start a conversation about how Step It Up Academy can help you achieve your goals. Thank you for tuning in, and if you enjoy the show, please leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. We've been ranking in several countries, and I'm proud to share that we're in the top 1.5% of podcasts globally. Your support makes this possible, and I appreciate each and every one of you. Now, let's dive into today's episode! Find more about Tomas https://www.stepitupacademy.com/ or his socials! Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and Youtube. https://www.facebook.com/tom.keenan.988   https://www.instagram.com/theintegratorcoach/   https://www.tiktok.com/@theintegratorcoach  https://www.youtube.com/@SIUAPodcast      

Welcome to the Step It Up Entrepreneur Podcast! I'm your host, Tomas Keenan, and in today's solo episode, I'm excited to share with you some invaluable insights and experiences from my own entrepreneurial journey. Join me as I dive into the importance of continual growth and the power of diversifying income streams. From hosting monthly Zoom calls for Step It Up Academy clients to discussing strategies for adding value to existing businesses, we'll explore a wide range of topics aimed at helping entrepreneurs thrive in today's dynamic landscape. I'll take you through my personal progression path, from humble beginnings as a car audio installer to founding a successful service-based business focused on GPS tracking installations. Along the way, we'll discuss the significance of learning, evolving skill sets, and the transformative impact of seeking guidance from mentors and coaches. So, whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out on your journey, buckle up and get ready to step it up with me on the Step It Up Entrepreneur Podcast! Find more about Tomas https://www.stepitupacademy.com/ or his socials! Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and Youtube. https://www.facebook.com/tom.keenan.988  https://www.instagram.com/theintegratorcoach/  https://www.tiktok.com/@theintegratorcoach https://www.youtube.com/@SIUAPodcast    Join SIUA Start-Up Community: From foundational support to expert guidance, unlock the tools for small business success. Sign up now! https://offers.stepitupacademy.com/startup-community  

Welcome to the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, where we dive deep into the journeys of visionary minds shaping the business landscape. I'm your host, Tomas Keenan, and today we embark on a profound exploration into the delicate balance between personal aspirations and professional ambitions. Join me as I recount my transformative journey, starting with a pivotal trip to Nashville for the Mobile Electronics Association's Knowledgefest event. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the business world, I found myself confronted with the undeniable truth: the importance of harmonizing personal life with entrepreneurial pursuits. With new found clarity, I set out to revolutionize the systems at Step It Up Academy, harnessing the power of automation and cutting-edge tools like ChatGPT. Through strategic restructuring and a relentless commitment to efficiency, I uncovered the key to scaling my business while reclaiming precious time for the ones I love. Join me on this illuminating journey as we uncover the symbiotic relationship between personal values and entrepreneurial success. Together, let's redefine what it means to thrive in both business and life.   Find more about Tomas https://www.stepitupacademy.com/ or his socials! Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok. https://www.facebook.com/tom.keenan.988  https://www.instagram.com/theintegratorcoach/  https://www.tiktok.com/@theintegratorcoach   

Tomas Keenan is the Founder of "Step It Up Academy" and who is on a mission to help others succeed in business with Interim COO services.Here's where to find more:https://www.stepitupacademy.comhttps://www.tomaskeenan.comhttps://connectwithtomas.comhttps://www.facebook.com/tom.keenan.988https://www.instagram.com/theintegratorcoachhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tomas-keenanhttps://events.stepitupacademy.com/siua-live-3879___________________________________________________________Welcome to The Unforget Yourself Show where we use the power of woo and the proof of science to help you identify your blind spots, and get over your own bullshit so that you can do the fucking thing you ACTUALLY want to do!We're Mark and Katie, the founders of Unforget Yourself and the creators of the Unforget Yourself System and on this podcast, we're here to share REAL conversations about what goes on inside the heart and minds of those brave and crazy enough to start their own business. From the accidental entrepreneur to the laser-focused CEO, we find out how they got to where they are today, not by hearing the go-to story of their success, but talking about how we all have our own BS to deal with and it's through facing ourselves that we find a way to do the fucking thing.Along the way, we hope to show you that YOU are the most important asset in your business (and your life - duh!). Being a business owner is tough! With vulnerability and humor, we get to the real story behind their success and show you that you're not alone._____________________Find all our links to all the things like the socials, how to work with us and how to apply to be on the podcast here: https://linktr.ee/unforgetyourself

Join us this week as we talk with Tomas Keenan, author, podcast host and founder of Step It Up Academy. Tomas talks about how and why you self-sabotage your business and how to bring balance back to your life. He and Dave discuss working on the business and how systematizing your business can bring in more money and give you more freedom.

In this solo episode, I'm bringing important updates on both my personal life and Step It Up. There have been significant developments, and many positive things are on the horizon. From discussing my surgery to selling a house and moving, this episode is packed with updates you won't want to miss. Tune in! If you're considering applying to Step It Up Academy, RIGHT NOW is the time! Our quarterly meetup will be November 9th and 10th, 2023. We've got two action-packed days planned for the attendees. You won't want to miss it! Get all your Step It Up merch, including the new G3 shirts, HERE!   

Title: Ep 186 Building a Strong, Profitable Foundation for Your Business with Tomas Keenan  Tomas Keenan's journey is a testament to transformation, shifting from a custom car audio installer to a visionary CEO. Co-founding a pioneering GPS Tracking and Dashboard Camera installation company, he propelled it to a remarkable 7-figure enterprise. Expanding his horizons, Tomas transitioned into a high-impact business and success coach, guiding industry leaders and ambitious entrepreneurs. Relocating from bustling NYC to dynamic Dallas, Tomas fully embraced his latest venture, the Step It Up Academy. Armed with profound insights, he empowers entrepreneurs to surmount challenges using his wealth of knowledge.  Tomas's journey garnered recognition in esteemed industry publications like Forbes, Mobile Electronics Magazine, and more. A sought-after public speaker, he captivates audiences, sharing his experiences as a 2X bestselling author and the host of the Step It Up Entrepreneur Podcast. At the heart of Tomas's success is incremental progress, a philosophy he ardently embraces. Each step, regardless of scale, is pivotal—a perspective he generously shares with his audience.  In this episode, you will learn the following:  ●        Gain valuable knowledge on how to establish a strong foundation for the success of your business endeavors. ●        Develop a comprehensive understanding of how effectively managing operations and finances can set the stage for business expansion. ●        Discover the strategies for effectively identifying and targeting the ideal customer base by leveraging the power of psychographics. ●        Understand the essential role of a COO or integrator in the growth and progress of a company. ●        Utilize your innate abilities to drive the growth of your business.  Links:  Website: http://www.stepitupaca demy.com                 http://www.tomaskeenan.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tom.keenan.988https://www.facebook.com/tomaskeenan.tcihttps://www.facebook.com/groups/577321710763781 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theintegratorcoach YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/tomaskeenan   Hi, I'm the Profit Answer Man Rocky Lalvani! I help small business owners simplify their financial reports to make more informed business decisions with fewer hassles. We utilize the Profit First system created by Mike Michalowicz Our Q&A call on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 1 pm Eastern: https://bit.ly/PFcall Sign up to be notified when the next cohort of the Profit First Experience Course is available! Schedule your free, no-obligation intro call: https://bookme.name/rockyl/lite/intro-appointment-15-minutes Check out our website: http://profitcomesfirst.com/ Questions: questions@profitanswerman.com Email: rocky@profitcomesfirst.com Relay Bank (affiliate link) - https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=profitcomesfirst  Profit Answer Man Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitanswerman/ My podcast about living a richer more meaningful life: http://richersoul.com/ Profit First Toolkit: click here to sign up This episode is part of the SMB Podcast Network. Find other great interviews from around the internet just like this one at https://www.SMBPodcastNetwork.com Music provided by Junan from Junan Podcast Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs. #profitfirst

In this captivating episode, we bring you the intriguing journey of Thomas Keenan, a man who may look like he's from Texas, but his roots trace back to Long Island, New York. Thomas is a fascinating guest with a unique transformation story that we're excited to share. Thomas, once renowned for his custom car audio installation expertise, evolved into a CEO after co-founding a leading GPS tracking and dash camera installation company. His transition from hands-on technician to a high-level business coach for successful entrepreneurs is a tale of profound change. Thomas relocated from New York City to Texas, where he established the Step It Up Academy, gaining recognition in prestigious publications like Forbes. Join us as Thomas Keenan, a two-time best-selling author, sought-after public speaker, and host of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, opens up about his journey. He'll discuss his experiences as a skilled technician, a significant career shift, and the crucial lessons he learned along the way. Discover how his initial focus on technical prowess shifted to mastering the unglamorous but vital aspects of business, such as marketing, sales, financials, and legalities. Thomas Keenan's story is a compelling narrative of transformation, growth, and business acumen, perfect for anyone seeking inspiration on their entrepreneurial path. Website URL:: https://www.stepitupacademy.com/ Social Media Links/Handles: : https://connectwithtomas.com/

In this episode, we're joined by a long-time friend of mine and Step It Up Academy, Scott Reib, widely recognized as America's Legal Coach. With over two decades of legal experience, Scott's mission is to help business owners, entrepreneurs, coaches, and service providers "shatterproof" their businesses and find success in the professional world. We had a great conversation, covering everything from understanding your clients to having contractors vs. employees. Listen now!

Welcome to the "Secrets of #Fail," a new pod storm series hosted by Matt Brown. In this series of 2023, Matt dives deep into the world of failures and lessons learned along the way from high-net-worth individuals.  Join Matt as he dives into the world of failures and lessons.Series: Secret of #FailFrom humble beginnings to a lengthy career as a custom car audio installer, Tomas Keenan is a prime example of technician turned CEO. After co-founding an industry-leading GPS Tracking and Dashboard Camera installation company and growing it to a 7-figure business, Tomas moved into the coaching space as a high-level business and success coach for other industry leaders and business owners.Tomas' success as an elite business coach led him to move his family from NYC to Dallas, Texas, to focus full-time on his newest company, Step It Up Academy. He understands the roadblocks that entrepreneurs face, and possesses an innate ability to help you overcome them with his extensive body of knowledge. Simply put: he knows how to get results! He works with Entrepreneurs who refuse to be average and are crushing 7+ figures in business. His expertise and vast experience have repeatedly put him on the pages of top industry magazines. He has been featured in Forbes, Mobile Electronics Magazine, CE Outlook, CEO Blog Nation, Fit Small Business, The Startup Growth, The Goodmen Project, several Blogs, and countless podcasts. Get an interview on the Matt Brown Show: www.mattbrownshow.comSupport the show

Tomas Keenan is best known for his humble beginnings and lengthy career as a custom car audio installer. He is the epitome of a technician turned COO. After co-founding an industry-leading GPS Tracking and Dashboard Camera installation company and growing it to a 7-figure business, Tomas moved into the coaching space as a high-level business and success coach for other industry leaders and business owners. Tomas works with Entrepreneurs who refuse to be average and are crushing 7+ figures in business. His success as an elite business coach led him to move his family from NYC to Dallas, Texas, to focus full-time on his newest company, Step It Up Academy. His expertise and vast experience have repeatedly put him on the top industry magazines' pages. He has been featured in Forbes, Mobile Electronics Magazine, CE Outlook, CEO Blog Nation, Fit Small Business, The Startup Growth, The Goodmen Project, and several Blogs, in addition to countless podcasts. Tomas is also a sought-after public speaker, 2X bestselling author, and Step It Up Entrepreneur Podcast host. He has interviewed industry leaders, influencers, high-level business and success coaches, business owners, and entrepreneurs who are impacting their communities and the world at large. He states the key to his success is making progress every day, regardless of how small it may be. "Small Steps Forward Daily" - Tomas Keenan -

A Rare Repeat Co-Host, Tomas Keenan Returns! Tomas Keenan is best known for his humble beginnings and lengthy career as a custom car audio installer. He is the epitome of a technician turned COO. After co-founding an industry-leading GPS Tracking and Dashboard Camera installation company and growing it to a 7-figure business, Tomas moved into the coaching space as a high-level business and success coach for other industry leaders and business owners. Tomas works with Entrepreneurs who refuse to be average and are crushing 7+ figures in business. His success as an elite business coach led him to move his family from NYC to Dallas, Texas, to focus full-time on his newest company, Step It Up Academy. Quote: Small Steps Forward Daily ~ Tomas Keenan His expertise and vast experience have repeatedly put him on the top industry magazines' pages. He has been featured in Forbes, Mobile Electronics Magazine, CE Outlook, CEO Blog Nation, Fit Small Business, The Startup Growth, The Goodmen Project, and several Blogs, in addition to countless podcasts. Tomas is also a sought-after public speaker, 2X bestselling author, and Step It Up Entrepreneur Podcast host. He has interviewed industry leaders, influencers, high-level business and success coaches, business owners, and entrepreneurs who are impacting their communities and the world at large. He states the key to his success is making progress every day, regardless of how small it may be. "Small Steps Forward Daily" ~ Toms Keenan Today's Top 3 Takeaways: What or who is an Integrator. Having the balls to embrace and become a Visionary. Health + Energy + Mindset = Success. Today's Guest & Resource Links: https://www.stepitupacademy.com/ https://www.tomaskeenan.com/ https://www.instagram.com/theintegratorcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/tom.keenan.988 https://www.tiktok.com/@theintegratorcoach Our Mentioned Influencers: Our first podcast together, episode 285: UnFuck Your Business Edit https://livethefuel.com/episodes/285-unfuck-your-business/ Book: The Buddha And The Badass by Vishen Lakhiani Timestamped Show Notes: 00:30 - Introduction 05:00 - I got a couple of buddies of mine that just get shit done. I move hard and fast. These guys are like 10x. That's one of the things I look forward to and look for when I'm interacting with people. Looking at people, asking what are they doing, how are they operating, how are they getting it done? And what can I steal from them and implement into my life so I can make some of that reality for me. 15:30 - It also helps improve the positivity that comes into your own world. We all have a choice as far as what we can input into our brains, right? We choose what we can read, we choose what we watch on TV, if we watch TV at all. One of the big shifts for me, was actually making the conscious decision to turn things off like the news. Turn things off like the news and all of a sudden, my mindset is better. I'm not a grumpy fuck all the time. 24:00 - I'm reading this book right now, The Buddha And The Badass by Vishen Lakhiani, this guy owns...

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Tomas Keenan. An accomplished business coach and the founder of Step It Up Academy. Tomas shares his experience co-founding a GPS Tracking and Dashboard Camera installation company to growing to a 7-figure business before transitioning to coaching other successful business owners and entrepreneurs. Tomas discusses the importance of daily progress. He shares his move to Dallas Texas to focus on his newest venture, Step it Up Academy. As a bestselling author, public speaker, and host of the Step It Up Entrepreneur Podcast, Tomas provides invaluable insights into scaling a business to 7+ figures and unleashing the inner entrepeneur within. Join us for an inspiring conversation with Tomas as we delve deeper into his journey to success and learn more about his achievements.To Contact Tomas : Step It Up AcademyTomas Keenan (@theintegratorcoach) • Instagram photos and videos(1) Tomas Keenan | FacebookTomas Keenan (@theintegratorcoach) | TikTokTo Contact Joseph-LinkedInTwitterThe Lavahot PodcastLavahot Marketing Agency | Ocean Pines Maryland (golavahot.com)

The Integrator Coach has his integrator on the call! In this episode, we are joined by Step It Up Academy's newest addition, Brianne Adams. Listen in on how to choose who to have at your right hand and how to keep your feelings out of that process.   Bri shares how she got to where she is today and the many ups and downs along the way. Career changes, grief, identity crisis, injuries, and more, Bri has overcome it all and her story is not one you'll want to miss!   Get Your Tickets Now!

Tomas Keenan is a prime example of a technician turned CEO. He has moved into the coaching space as a high-level business and success coach.He is the founder of Step It Up Academy. He knows what it takes to build a successful business. He tells it like it is and he's exactly the kind of mentor to take client businesses to the next level.Tomas understands the challenges and obstacles that entrepreneurs face on a daily basis, and he has the unique ability to help clients overcome them.Ask The Experts Atlanta is broadcast live Wednesdays at 10AM ET.Ask The Experts Atlanta TV Show is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com).Ask The Experts Atlanta Radio Show is broadcast on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com).Ask The Experts Atlanta Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.

Today we have another great episode lined up for you. He and I have been connected online for over 2 years, and I have absolutely paid attention to everything he's said since. I've read his book and implemented many things. I've listened to a ton of his podcast episodes, and gained valuable insights. My guest today is Tomas Kennan.Tomas Keenan is best known for his humble beginnings and lengthy career as a custom car audio installer. He is the epitome of a technician turned COO. After co-founding an industry-leading GPS Tracking and Dashboard Camera installation company and growing it to a 7-figure business, Tomas moved into the coaching space as a high-level business and success coach for other industry leaders and business owners. Tomas works with Entrepreneurs who refuse to be average and are crushing 7+ figures in business. His success as an elite business coach led him to move his family from NYC to Dallas, Texas, to focus full-time on his newest company, Step It Up Academy. His expertise and vast experience have repeatedly put him on the top industry magazines' pages. He has been featured in Forbes, Mobile Electronics Magazine, CE Outlook, CEO Blog Nation, Fit Small Business, The Startup Growth, The Goodmen Project, and several Blogs, in addition to countless podcasts. Tomas is also a sought-after public speaker, 2X bestselling author, and Step It Up Entrepreneur Podcast host. He has interviewed industry leaders, influencers, high-level business and success coaches, business owners, and entrepreneurs who are impacting their communities and the world at large. He states the key to his success is making progress every day, regardless of how small it may be. 

Tomas Keenan, author of Unf*ck Your Business, host of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, and head coach at Step It Up Academy, is back on to share what he's been up to since his first appearance. If you'd like to hear more of Tomas's backstory, make sure to check out his last interview on Underdog Empowerment HERE. It's been almost 2 years since Tomas has been on the show, and in just the last year so much has happened. There was some good, some bad, and some ugly, but Tomas was able to find the silver lining in most of it.   In September of 2020 Tomas had moved to Dallas, TX to start Step It Up Academy. Just 30 days in, he was recruited to work at a local coaching mastermind in operations. He ended up doing this for two years, all the while paying $800/ month on software licenses for his coaching business that he had yet to launch. Almost canceling a couple times, Tomas is glad he didn't because in July of this year he left the company he had been working for. With everything still in place for Step It Up Academy, Tomas was able to hit the ground running.   In the midst of all of that, Tomas found himself in Dallas in December of 2021 to give a speech at a Mobile Electronics Association event. The whole family was in attendance as Tomas likes to show his kids what he does for a living. The morning after a successful event, Tomas rolled over to spoon his wife and noticed a lump in her breast. He encouraged her to get it checked out and they went on their way. In February of 2022, Tomas is speaking at the same event, this time in Vegas, when he gets a text from his wife that they need to talk. Not speaking to him the way she usually does, Tomas immediately knew something was wrong. When they spoke, Tomas's wife told him that she had been diagnosed with two types of breast cancer. By May she had a double mastectomy, and by June she was starting chemo for prevention.   Launching a new business in the middle of all of that wasn't what Tomas had envisioned, but he's found his family is right where they need to be. As his wife finishes up radiation and starts on her recovery, Tomas is more focused than ever on his family. He's found that kids don't actually need a lot of time from you, they just need quality time. For all the parents that they need to take the kids to Disneyland to make an impression, Tomas suggests just being present in the everyday moments. Curling up together to watch a show, or throwing the football for 15 minutes, can make all the difference in a kids day.    He has that time to spend with his family because he's very intentional and strict with his routine. He's also freed up a lot of his attention by not having to be in control of everything when it comes to business. He's gotten very good at eliminating, automating, and delegating. If it really doesn't serve a purpose and is just busy work, eliminate it. If it's something you could do well once and then automate, by all means do that. If it's something someone else can do, give up the reins. If that last one scares you, try the do it, document it, delegate it model. Do it yourself, exactly how you want it done, document that process, and then delegate it to someone that can follow directions.   If you've enjoyed listening to Tomas and would like to hear more of what he has to say, check him out at the Alpha Dog Pound Live event. Tomas is the newest speaker to be added to the lineup, and one you won't want to miss. Make sure you reserve your spot ASAP before ticket prices rise, at UnderdogEmpowerment.com/Events. What You'll Learn: What you should do when you're emotionally charged. What your kids need from you, and what they don't. How to know what to eliminate, automate, and delegate. Why everyone needs to be good at marketing.   Favorite Quote: “I'm not scared of the work, but why do something 2-3 times if you don't have to.” -Tomas Keenan   Connect with Tomas: UnF*ck Your Business LinkedIn Instagram How to Get Involved: Get podcasting help here. For more on how to grow your business, check out this episode.  If you enjoyed this episode, head over and visit us on Apple Podcasts - leave a review and let us know what you thought! Your feedback keeps us going. Thanks for helping us spread the word!

Joining Benny on episode 46 is Tomas Keenan. Tomas is best known for his humble beginnings and lengthy career as a custom car audio installer. He is the epitome of a technician turned CEO. After co-founding Top Class Installations, an industry-leading GPS Tracking and Dashboard Camera installation provider, and growing it to a 7-figure business, Tomas moved into the coaching space as a high-level business and success coach for other industry leaders and business owners. Tomas works with Entrepreneurs who refuse to be average and are crushing 7+ figures in business. His success as an elite business coach led him to move his family from NYC to Dallas, Texas, to focus full-time on his newest company, Step It Up Academy. His expertise and vast experience have put him on the pages of the top industry magazines time and time again. He has been featured in Forbes, Mobile Electronics Magazine, CE Outlook, CEO Blog Nation, Fit Small Business, The Startup Growth, The Goodmen Project, and several Blogs in addition to countless podcasts. Tomas is also a sought-after public speaker, 2X bestselling author, and the host of Step It Up Entrepreneur Podcast. He has interviewed industry leaders, influencers, high-level business and success coaches, business owners, and entrepreneurs who are impacting their communities and the world at large. He states the key to his success is making progress every day, regardless of how small it may be. Listen in as Benny asks Tomas about his origin stories and how he got to where he is today. Connect with Tomas at: https://www.stepitupacademy.com/ https://www.tomaskeenan.com/

Before Step It Up Academy could evolve into an elite business and coaching company, Tomas Keenan needed to step it up himself - personally and professionally. He took a hard look at himself, and then made needed changes in his life by putting into action the words he lives by - Small Steps Forward Daily. He's a hot commodity now, as a public speaker, author, podcast host and guest and in many other circles. But he's no overnight sensation. The founder of Step It Up Academy, who helps industry leaders and business owners who refuse to be average build 7+ figure business, has built a life for himself and his family with serious staying power and limitless room for substantial growth and greater success. I learned a ton from him in only less than an hour. If you're focused on a better business, better life or both, you will too. So sit back, relax and of course... ENJOY! Want to learn more about or connect with Tomas? Head to https://www.stepitupacademy.com/, https://www.facebook.com/tom.keenan.988, https://www.instagram.com/theintegratorcoach/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@theintegratorcoach --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/victor-fernandes46/message

Step It Up Academy LIVE - Episode 152 I'm coming to you from a crappy hotel room in Cleveland, Ohio this week to talk a bit about the Step It Up Academy LIVE event, coming to Dallas, Texas November 1st & 2nd. Last call for sales is coming up soon, but we may sell out first.  Step It Up Academy Live Was Created For You! It will supercharge your business in every way. This is the place where your passion, ideas, and goals transform into action. It's where you gain great clarity on the next steps that will help you create the business, life, and wealth you deserve! Step It Up Academy Live is THE place where business owners and CEOs learn how to lead with strength, leave a lasting legacy, and achieve extraordinary growth & profitability. We provide the blueprint to success, you just have to grab it. You will leave ready to tackle any challenges your business may face today…and in the future. Discount Code for 20% off: STEPITUPLIVE20  Get your tickets: stepituplive.com Fractional COO Services: I am now available for fractional COO services! Getting your house in order is more important than ever. Find out more about me at tomaskeenan.com.  Buy Your Step It Up Live Ticket: stepituplive.com. Join My Facebook Group: Integrator Talk With Business Pros Leave any questions you may have in the reviews on Apple. Small steps forward daily, friends!

Just about anyone can give advice to another person. For that, advice from a  person that has experienced adversity, grit, failure, and perseverance should be the one qualified to guide others so they don't make the same mistakes.   Tomas Keenan is the Founder of Step It Up Academy,  Fractional COO, Husband, and Father. Along with that Tomas is also a Best-Selling Author of UnF*ck Your Business. Tomas carries many roles but his main goal is to provide educational information through his podcast: Step It Up Entrepreneur, and the services he provides businesses so they can adjust the inefficiencies in their model.         Tomas and Jeff both address why you need to have a system in place for your business such as a CEO, COO, HR, and other employee resources. Tomas speaks about his experience being in Service Based Business for over 20 years. Tomas talks about his upbringings and why he is dialed in as an Integrator who isn't afraid of becoming versatile.        What You'll Learn: How being involved in team sports molded Tomas mindset on grit and hardwork The difference of becoming a visionary & an integrator  Why finding your “yes” person is key to your business Why Tomas loves working with service based businesses  The process Tomas does for his clients during the audit process Tomas goals for the future The best Investment you can make for yourself   Favorite Quote:  “The skill set that I learned in that time frame- working with a lot of Coaches, working with a lot of Businesses, a lot of Mentorship really helped me develop into the person I am today & I now am able to take those skill sets and deliver them to my Customers, my Clients in a way that it's pretty much broken down into complexities of Businesses.” -Tomas Keenan         Connect With Tomas: Instagram Amazon Website How To Get Involved: Addicted to Winning connects listeners through stories that prove why mindset matters. Jeff Brekken was working a 60-hour week on his family's farm by the time he was 10. When he wasn't helping with the harvest, he was at the hockey rink. Jeff's early life experiences taught him he needs to be either all-in or all-out.In 2000 he started a single-family home construction business and by 2008 he was looking for the next big thing. Jeff founded the Blue SKy Benefit Solutions & Rise Above HR/ Recruiting on top of a lifelong passion for helping people. Through this show, Jeff will take that passion one step further. If you enjoyed this episode, head over and visit us on Apple Podcasts - leave a review and let us know what you thought! Your feedback keeps us going. Thanks for helping.   

Tomas Keenan is arguably one of our most respected guests to date. he is a powerhouse in the coaching industry and has devoted his life to helping people succeed through business. Join Tomas and Kyle Slaymaker as we take a look at what to expect when hiring a REAL coach and why the best of coaches don't work with just anyone!

  How do you determine whether moving forward with your business idea during shaky economic times is wise? And what can you do to ensure that this new business is set up for success?   When Alex Cantaboni started his pest control business in 2009, he heard from his share of naysayers on the heels of the recession. Not only was the timing called into questioning, but Alex was also entering an exceedingly competitive market. In Texas, there are hundreds of these companies, all warding off Texas-sized pests. But a few things set Alex's operation apart and, 12 years and 32 employees later, have made it into the success it is today.    On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Alex talk about his journey from working 90-hour weeks for others to owning his company, how he's transforming the way fumigation as a career path is seen (“I want it to be a respectable industry”), and the impact core values have had on his turnover rate.   What You'll Learn:   Why never offering discount services has been one of Alex's keys to success The hiring trick that's saved him “hundreds and hundreds of hours” Why he does a quarterly review of his customers — and ultimately chooses to “fire” some And much more! Favorite Quote:   “Firing customers is one of the most liberating things you can do… when you get rid of a**hole customers, the morale of your team increases, and you can take that effort and energy and put it into the right people.”     Alex Cantaboni Connect with Alex: LinkedIn Facebook   How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

Some people think that it takes 10 years to get massive things accomplished.  Technology and the compressed learning curve of human beings has made that easier than ever before in the history of mankind. Back in 2018, Ryan Stewman launched the very first Million Dollar Mastermind, a collective gathering of Sales Pros, CEOs, Entrepreneurs, and Investors who have assembled to learn about what it means to win in life and business. Today, Tom shares a little about when he attended his first Million Dollar Mastermind. He talks about what it is and how he has leveraged it into creating optimal opportunities for connecting, engaging, and making lifelong connections. Tom talks about why it's important to leverage travel days as a break.  He talks about compression socks and why it's important to wear them when you attend multi-day events and the benefits to help lessen fatigue and any pain you may have in your back.  Tom highlights the importance of following the dress code for optimal comfort while setting yourself up for success in connecting with people you're interested in connecting with. Tom shares a little about “conference junkie syndrome” and how to avoid it yourself.  What You'll Learn: The top tips for making the most of in-person masterminds  When Tomas attended his first Million Dollar Mastermind What he learned from the event, and how he got the most value Why implementing what you learned immediately is more impactful than waiting until you get home to the the comfort you're used to Leveraging the high you get from going to a live event in a foreign city where you have new experiences, and learn new information you can use in your life and business. What taking action actually looks like once you've attended one of these events.  How you can find the 3 most important things you've learned from the event to ensure success Why getting the itinerary ahead of time is great so you can plan who you're going to go see and schedule in-person meetings at the event.  Paper business cards, why they're useless, and how you can prevent people from being forgetable What an NFC chip can do to change the game for connecting to potential prospects The 3 things that get saved when you share your contact card Why it's important to build  form where you can connect with someone  How much Tom actually weighs and a quick tip he has for staying fresh and bouncy Why spending money and attending an event is not enough to solve your problems. (Tom shares the secret most people don't know when attending live events)    How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.     

This is a replay of Episode 81 of the Step It Up Entrepreneur Podcast featuring Zack Hughes, and since our initial meeting and episode, he's joined us as one of our Apex Elite Coaches working with successful 7 and 8 figure CEOs and business owners navigate the testy waters of leadership in life and business at this time in human history.  It's one of my favorite episodes because of what Zack shares in here that can help you in every aspect of your life.  Do you want to learn real discipline? Listen to a soldier. And not just any soldier - if you want the secrets to ultimate teamwork, dedication, and resilience, you've got to seek out the best of the best. Zack Hughes is a former Green Beret Special Forces soldier who became the COO of Elite Meet and co-founder of Operators Association following a career-ending injury in Afghanistan. Now, Zack puts his exceptional discipline and focus towards motivating, educating, and supporting other veterans and new Special Operators on the rise.    On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Zack dive deep into the unique dynamic that exists in a Green Beret Special Forces team and the values that that experience instilled in Zack, how a series of injuries ended Zack's military career and the shift that followed, and the trials, errors, and wins of Zack's growing experience in social media strategy. Listen in for an interview unlike any other with a warrior who brings a whole new mindset to the world of business.    What You'll Learn:   What an airdrop of supplies in Afghanistan looks like, both to the soldiers stationed there and the local community How Zack balances the “all for the team” mindset he experienced in Special Forces with the more individual mindset of an entrepreneur, and why each is useful in its own ways Why Zack now feels a responsibility to mentor and improve both the existing and the up-and-coming Special Forces community even after his military service has ended - and what he's doing about it And much more! Favorite Quote:   “The rooms that you're in play a huge part in who you are and what you do. And this room, this building, these people, Special Operations rooms, those people selection rooms...getting in the room with the same like-minded individuals - you can't put a number on that. It changes everything.”   Zack Hughes     Connect with Zack:   Instagram   Facebook   LinkedIn   YouTube   TikTok    Elite Meet   Operators Association How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.   

Each and everyone of us has our own path.  Some paths are wide, paved, and go in a straight line.  Others are jagged, butted up against the side of a ridged mountain, and leave only room for your feet to walk.  Many people have walked the various paths on this planet, but the same path does not belong to everyone.  You are on your own journey.  There is no right or wrong, but lessons learned along the way that belong to each individual. You must gain the experience through making mistakes, knowing success, and eventually becoming wise. But it doesn't stop there. Along your journey, you'll be called to help others even when you don't have much to give except your hands, your heart, and your work ethic. Today's guest has walked a million miles and survived things most people wouldn't. Today, he shares his story.  Dustin Johnson, Personal Coach, is a dynamic and focused human being.  He's a best-selling author of the book, “Strength Through Struggle.” He's a personal trainer and a nutrition savant. There aren't many roaming the planet with close to 0% body fat, but Dustin is one of them. His main focus is to help others along their paths easily while avoiding the pratfalls of the human condition.  Today, Tom and Dustin dive in and talk about his background in being a husband of close to 13 years, fitness and nutrition coach, and how he just came in from off the road living in a bus. Tom shares how he and Dustin met and one invitation that struck up a friendship. Dustin talks about how he met his wife and they were both living miserably in marriage, running wild and with motorcycle groups. One day, Dustin and his wife Tonya decided to get their lives together.  Dustin shares how he decided to get clean and sober, and his first conversation with a psychologist that made him realize the true significance of his life.  He talks about doing the work starting with his health and getting his life back on track by simply using anything he had around him. Dustin reveals one of the most powerful transformations that happened to him in the last 2 years that changed his life.    What You'll Learn: The early wild days of Dustin Johnson  What happens to most people when they take 6,000 mgs of prescription pills Why accountability is so important  Who Pastor Keith is and what Warrior Night is A powerful message Dustin received in a room full of 400 men he didn't know that sent shivers down his spine Tom and Dustin share why it's important to pay attention to the signs that prompt you to reach out to someone The challenges of doing the 75Hard program and an experience Tom had that helped him One powerful business lesson that makes it easy for people to buy from you The power of charity, saying yes, and the abundance that comes from giving from your heart What it's like to live a minimalist lifestyle and how it removes every single obstacle in your way to success Why Tom said getting rid of drinking was the easiest part of doing 75Hard. One message from Steve Weatherford that struck up a conversation that would impact a major decision Dustin would make in his life by simply giving a testimonial Tom drops a highly recommended book everyone should read How to connect with Dustin on Social Media  Favorite Quote:  “You stop right where you're supposed to stop. How many times have you woke up in the middle of the night thinking about someone? That's not a coincidence. The first thing you do in the morning is you reach out to that person and check on them. We all want to be checked on. It doesn't matter how much you make be it $5/hr, $500, $5,000, $500,000, or $5 million…..Ultimately at the end of the day, people just want to know that someone cares.” -Dustin Johnson    Connect With Dustin:  Facebook Instagram Connect On LinkTree    How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.     

If you're a nosy bastard and like to be on the “inside” of what happens in successful movement, you're in for a real treat.  If you feel like you're in a place where you don't belong. A marriage where you've become a cuckold.  A business partnership that is selfishly one-sided……….you're in the right place to take a quick peek of what a life you only daydream about resembles.  Today, Tom, has Drewbie Wilson back on the show. He's the VP of Break Free Academy, Founder of the Crushing the Day Podcast and author of the Crushing the Day, and affectionately labled as the “Meme Lord,” closing over $2 million dollars in sales by simply using memes.   Today, Tom and Drewbie make some time to catch up for an “entrepreneurial booty call,” shedding some insight in what's been happening over the last year or so. They discuss the power of being surrounded by people who stand up, show up, and jump in no matter what is required of them, no questions asked.  Drewbie shares about why he and his family decided to invite a new furry friend into their household.  He talks candidly about the difference between renting a home and the reason why buying a home has become more impactful for him because of the freedom it brings.  Tom and Drewbie talk about the easiest way to get tickets to the most highly-anticipated and sold out event, Million Dollar Mastermind. They talk about David Goggins, and how to meet him.  Tom and Drewbie briefly talk about how to eradicate your life of toxicity and negative people and why you shouldn't care once you remove them.   What You'll Learn: One way you can make your way to the highly-coveted Million Dollar Mastermind when tickets have already been sold out What it means to have reliable people in your circle when you need it Something up and coming entrepreneurs need to have in their personal and professional lives How to create specific roles in your business starting with core values and using them to attract the right people into your life  What happens to most people when you dial in your core values How understanding the nuances of repetition in work best qualifies you as someone who can stand up in any business at any time  Drewbie shares how he got a new dog and what type Who got into a new home and the comparison between ownership and how it correlates to freedom  Why it's important to set a baseline in your life and how to build off of it How to create your own stage to speak on Something huge coming that will make it easier for you to host your very own event Apex style; the template is revealed Favorite Quote:  “It all looks easy from the outside,but when you get behind the curtains, it's a big ugly mess.”  Drewbie “Meme Lord” Wilson  How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.     

Right now, Tom has been working on some new episodes to roll out to you and finalizing the details of one of the biggest events he's ever been a part of throwing in his life and career to date. If you haven't gotten your tickets, Million Dollar Mastermind is just around the corner June 3rd-5th in Frisco Texas.  Be sure to get a ticket and get your ass there.  It's 3 days of mic-dropping impactful mindset, business strategies and tactics from some of the biggest thought leaders and influencers in life in business like:  Ed Mylett Ryan Stewman  Sean Whalen Eric Thomas Antonio Swad Tom Brady (Yes, the GOAT) and grammy award winning entertainment.  RSVP here---> MDM2022 New episodes are coming soon. For now, enjoy this power-packed throwback to episode 65 where Ramon Casaus breaks culture down beyond the numbers. “Everyone wants to be a boss until it's time to do boss shit,” says host Tomas Keenan. This week, Ramon Casaus and Tomas have the scoop on doing boss shit—and doing it well.    Ramon Casaus is the founder and CEO of ROC Real Estate Partners. Ramon is also a partner with Strategic Insurance Group and the host of The ROCSTAR Alliance.   In this episode of Step It Up Entrepreneur, Ramon Casaus and host Tomas Keenan dig into vision mapping, team culture, and of course, the hot topic of the moment, the new social network for entrepreneurs: Clubhouse. Listen in to pick up actionable strategies for elevating your business.    What You'll Learn: Strategies for visioning and manifesting your end game goals What tactics Ramon uses to keep his team organized and motivated How to let go of team members who are weighing the team down  Favorite Quote: “It's that mental edge on your shoulder knowing that you've already been through some shit and ain't nothing gonna knock you off now. And when we have every single person or organization dialed in like that, collectively, that energy—that's what I love about culture. You can't fake it, you can't buy it. You can't just create it one day, you can't steal somebody else's. It's 100% organic.” —Ramon Casaus   Connect With Ramon: Find Ramon on Instagram and at Clubhouse.   How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.     

If you were to look back into your past, you would find a place where you have spoken things out loud that came to fruition.  Things you're currently doing today.  People you currently have in your life.  Opportunities that came from a simple thought, backed by hard work, consistency, and endless dedication to succeed.   Tom recorded this episode back in September of 2020 while he was still working in the GPS tracking space.  Back then, he was living in New York.  Back then, he was trying to figure out a way to improve upon what I was already doing.  It was isolating at times, and there were many moments he just wanted to shut it all down and start over again.  He had created something that owned me.  The pressure.  Stress.  A Business that required his focus and attention.  Thoughts of being trapped in something that no longer served him.  One realization came to him that propelled him to invest in a coach and later a mastermind that would go on to change his life dramatically.    It all started with Tom deciding to go all-in on himself and invest in the one person he needed to trust and count on the whole time……..himself.  Favorite Quote: “For the first time in my life, I was putting myself first above my business. That sounds fucked up, but I am a firm believer that you need to take care of yourself before anybody else. It's like being on an airplane.  If shit hits the fan and the mask pops out, you need to put your mask on first before you put your kids' mask on first. Once you have your mask on and have good oxygen flowing, you'll be able to help everyone else.” -Tomas Keenan     How to Get Involved  From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

Rule number one in life:  There are no rules.  There are no metrics that say you have to spend 20 years to build an empire before you can claim success.  If you understand energy, and time, you'll know that the more action you take, the more work you do towards your specified goals, the more experience you have.  This leads to more opportunities that naturally come to you.  When it comes to getting shit done and the rewards that come with it, the most important things to pair like a fine wine are repetitions, hard work, and consistency.   Taylor Feamster, Co-Owner of the Strata Group, community leader, proud mother, and happy wife and business partner of Chris Feamster.  She's launching her podcast in the coming weeks focused on talking love and business featuring guests from all walks of life.  Tom and Taylor jump right into the episode talking about the beginning of her journey just 10 months ago into Apex.  She shares how she took it hard when she realized she needed to replace herself, stripping her identity from the position, the team, and the company she built.  Taylor shares how she didn't truly realize the value of who she was in her marriage and as a business partner to her husband, Chris until he pointed it out.  Tom shares some growing pains in marriage, business, and one moment when he looked up from his phone to see his wife with her face buried in her hands, in tears.  Taylor talks about breaking through personal barriers our egos create and highlight why it's the solution to being able to truly focus on continuing to pursue her passions.  They have a candid discussion about parenting and how being stir crazy is a real thing when it comes to being a “stay at home” parent. Taylor shares a little about her podcast soon to be released in the coming weeks. She's not even 30 and has managed to rip a hole in everything conventional from parenting, being married, being a business owner, and finding ones true path to becoming an elite leader in order to change more lives.    What You'll Learn:  What it's like being an entrepreneur being married to an entrepreneur  How Taylor and her husband Chris had to figure out how to work and live as married people The discovery of the perfect dynamic in being the integrator to her husband's visionary role and how it affected their relationship The hard pill Taylor had to swallow as they were growing the business How Taylor was able to find fulfillment in her role daily which led to her leaving her position The challenges associated with ego that prevent many businesses from growing  Why replacing yourself is one of the most important things you can do to remove bottlenecks in your company  Taylor shares the importance of connecting the dots for fellow entrepreneurs by creating networks and pouring in her knowledge with the collective Tom shares some of his journey and how he discovered his passion through a series of blind decisions  Taylor talks about being abandoned as a child and how it fueled and almost crippled her until she had a huge revelation Why Taylor became a loan officer in addition to their home building team and real estate team  How many homes and how much volume Taylor's office did in 2021  Why Systems, processes, and building a solid foundation is so important  Some stories of people they've helped in the recent years and the impact they've had in their lives Tom talks about why it's important to do things above and beyond for the people you employ and how it makes a huge difference personally and professionally  Taylor's fourthcoming podcast and what it's about   And much more! Favorite Quote: “When I decided to start transitioning out of my position that was really hard because I had attached so much of my identity and my value to my team and to the company I had built based on that position. So when I brought someone else in, I thought, “Damn, they don't need me anymore.” And again, that ego came back up and then I started thinking, this is an amazing opportunity and I could think about what do I want to do next?” Taylor Feamster  Connect with  Taylor:   Facebook Instagram How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

There are people in this world that vibrate on a 0-50 level.  And there are some that are always on at 100%.  They have the energy of a child riddled with ADHD and an insatiable appetite for every single thing in life. They wear their heart on their sleeves and care at the deepest levels and they don't seem to have an off button.  Dave Carroll is the Founder and CEO of Dope Marketing, the Owner of a Cleaning Company, A-Type Data, and his 4th company, Lionshare Technology. He is a father and partnered with a wonderful human being who is his spouse and business partner Birynne.      Tom starts this episode with a very simple question asking how Dave found marketing.  Dave shares how he found his way into entrepreneurship at the age of 25 by starting a cleaning company where he was strapped to a truck doing all the things required in business from cleaning gutters to writing out invoices and receipts on carbon copy paper.  Tom and Dave talk about being entrepreneurs and the women that support them.  Dave shares how he started his 3 other companies and how they serve their clients.  He talks about being a very judgmental person at one time and how he was able to temper it in order to grow into the leader he needed to be.  Tom and Dave talk about being let down by people who don't keep their word on getting certain things done.  Core values are discussed, as well as the power of the Apex network. This is a high-energy and intense episode riddled with golden nuggets centered around family, friendships, success, and the driving force behind every single wild-eyed entrepreneur walking the planet today. You're in for a real treat.  What You'll Learn:  The first business Dave started at 25 years of age and what he spent most of his time doing How he took out student loans to sell weed  The four businesses Dave started  How many users Dave had in his first software company  What it's like working with your spouse in every aspect of your life  A unique 90-day hiring process for new employees that works to identify keepers every single time The power of the GCODE How many times both of Dave's parents were married  One of the greatest compliments Tom ever received from an individual A moment of humility Dave shares when he couldn't afford a $400 a month mini-van payment  and the feeling of being able to afford a Lambo rental while taking the kids on vacation to Disney Why it's important to have accountability measures in place in any company How core values are impactful to have in life and business What happens when you don't show up as the same person everywhere you are The importance of being the most elite version of yourself because of the people watching and the opportunities waiting for you  And much more! Favorite Quote: “The only ship that doesn't sail is a partnership.” Dave Carroll   Connect with  Dave:  Facebook Instagram Email: dave@dopemarketing.com   How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

In life, we focus on the wrong things sometimes.  We chase money, goals, power, control, and the ever-elusive pursuit of what's waiting at the top of the mountain only to discover, we could have everything and more if we would simply just let go. It's not a bad thing to want more, but our focus and intentions behind what we want should not be placed in things, but people.  Sam Kafuman is CEO of On The Level Construction, Entrepreneurial Coach, and host of the “Never Stop Building” Podcast.  He is a family-first man, married to his wife of 5 years and has 2 children ages 12 and 9.  Today's episode is bringing you a conversation you won't hear that's had between 2 men often.  The topic is mainly focused on family.  Sam brings a genuine flow to today's show as he talks about taking his family for granted. Focusing on money. Chasing the dream. Being okay with being comfortable, and realizing how he was missing the mark by ignoring the one thing that was the purpose for chasing everything.  Sam shares how making one simple shift in his focus allowed everything else to fall in place in his life simply by focusing on his family.  Tom and Sam make the link between business and the similarities of having a family.  They discuss the main mission of a CEO and why it's important to implement everything first and clean up later. Tom shares one unique approach he took to put himself center stage in front of 4,000 people at an industry conference for 3 hours.  This is one transformative episode you don't want to miss. Pop the corn and pull up a seat.  What You'll Learn:    Why it's important to have core values in a family and company  The one shift Sam made to switch his focus from business to family and why he did it How Sam's company is able to have an “unlimited PTO policy.” What you have to do even if your business isn't there Why doing everything now is better than waiting until it's perfect How Sam became more intentional with his family schedule Tom breaks down and discusses how the GCODE keeps balance in his life Why Sam's CPA told him he was going to “consult his way out of business” and Sam's reaction to this How gratitude and giving back has made Sam a completely different person One strategy your competitors will never implement  Why developing your team to a higher level will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of your company  The perfect day exercise and the bonus exercise everyone should be doing The power of repetition covering everything from morning routines to the moment just before your head hits the pillow and how it will change your life Why keeping exercise an important part of your life Abundance and the secret to unlocking all of it Sam's overall vision and perspective as it pertains to life, love, and business And much more! Favorite Quote: “The team that needs me more is my family.”  Sam Kaufman    Connect with  Sam:  Facebook Instagram Podcast: Never Stop Building   How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

Family is everything.  For some people, it's the only thing. It's the reason we do what we do to support them, the way we parent our children, and the reason we treat our spouses the way we do.  Marriage is a collective effort, but 50% of the population hasn't figured out the most important part…  It's not the cars, the houses, and all the fancy shit that goes with working hard.  It's friendship.  Companionship. Support.  Faithful attention and genuine concern for one another.  Jenn Keenan is the Founder and CEO of Youthful Flow working weekly to keep people in the best mental, physical, and spiritual shape possible through Yoga.  Jenn happens to be married to Tomas Keenan, and today, they share a very special episode with you riddled with laughter, and in a couple of spots, some tears. Tom wastes no time diving in to discuss how he and Jenn met and in true married people fashion, they each have their own version of the story.  Jenn talks about how she met Tom at a bar after being ditched by a girlfriend that night who left her to fend for herself.  Tom remembers his first introduction to Jenn as very brief before he took off to the dance floor to continue popping bottle tops off countless Corona bottles.  Jenn shares how Tom managed to at least get her telephone number before leaving.  Tom and Jenn talk about their 3 children, family dynamics, balancing work, making time for one another, and Tom's biological clock.  Jenn shares her inspiration for raising children after a 10-year long career as a counselor in education, and the ultimate decision around moving her family halfway across the country from New York to Texas.   What You'll Learn:    Tom and Jenn's first date and what they drank  How close Tom and Jenn's moms lived from each other in New York Why certain discussions are important to have throughout a marriage How many times they've fought over the years Where Jenn worked out of college and why her work was so important to her raising children The one thing that prompted Tom and Jenn to pick up their family and move across the country A medical crisis that affected their son When Tom realized he actually had a business  The first thing Jenn did when she landed in Texas and set up her household One childhood wish Jenn shares  Some very important family news you have to listen to this episode to hear! And much more! Favorite Quote: “So I was like, “I'm gonna go try out this studio.” And everybody I spoke to in the studio was like, you just moved here and you're signing up for this class?  Are you okay? I needed the community and something to focus on, and I need something for me because it was a big transition for me after picking up and moving my family across country.  You already had people to fall back on, and it was the best thing for me."  Jenn Keenan   Connect with  Jenn:  Facebook Youthful Flow  How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but, and he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

Being an entrepreneur can sometimes be equated to a cat chasing it's tail while shitting up the side of the wall of the kitty litter box with no end in sight.  It seems a bit graphic, but if you've ever experienced that level of chaos in your life, you're probably living an entrepreneur's most loved and feared life.  There are things that have to be done, no matter what. Today, you get to meet an entrepreneur who made his way out of the catbox and into a life by design.  Josh Meunier is a serial entrepreneur, Sales Manager, and Coach with WinRate Consulting working one on one with sales teams and business owners to find the path of least resistance in business.  He is the founder of Free Space Studio, a design firm that works with architects to create indoor and outdoor spaces for homeowners and business owners to enjoy year around. Today, Tom and Josh jump right in and discuss a very vulnerable moment Josh had while he was at the gym unable to keep from physically hurling from overworking himself during a fitness routine.  Josh shares how this has helped to keep his mind and body in alignment and equip him with the Level 10 clarity most business owners have to have to survive in today's economy.  It's the way he's dealt with the stresses and pressures of entrepreneurship.  Josh and Tom talk quite a bit about the early days of starting a business, generating sales, and then finally systematizing it to keep up with demand and manage fulfillment.  Josh talks about how his work began years before when he went to Halcyon bar in Dallas to make drawings he'd later convert to 3-D.  A chance meeting allowed him to get in front of many builders and architects that would help transform the course of his life into a thriving business.  You'll learn that Josh is a consultant who works with many business owners to streamline processes to make their businesses more efficient while creating more time for them to work on the things they truly love.    What You'll Learn:    The power of systemization and how it can change your business What Josh was doing with a notepad at Halcyon bar every Friday night in Dallas  How Josh used 3-D to create the answer to a much-needed call Why it's important to not be afraid of learning the process The moment Josh realized he lost his passion for what he was doing and the next move he made once he realized this The importance of having high standards Employee Training is the key to helping you free up your time and never answer the same question twice, ever again Unlocking employee retention through continuous training   How producing SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) will keep you from having to train every single person in your company  Why Josh pushes himself so hard in the gym And much more! Favorite Quote: “Sometimes you're going to have people that have never even heard of you. They're so early on in the process that they don't understand the true value that's going to come through. Through that social media be that Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or whatever you put out there, that's where they're starting to realize like, this guy's a human being. Their whole team is sharing messages and the value that you're getting out of this is what's making you want to join this network.”      Josh Meunier   Connect with Josh: Free Space Studio Josh Meunier    How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

Have you ever seen a cat chase its own tail, stand on its hind legs, hiss, and then make a mad leap onto the counter? It could be from the catnip, but in the case of entrepreneurs, it's what happens when they don't know where to channel the shiny objects, information overload, and their desire to execute immediately.  There's a system and process to everything we do in life and while the hustle is good, many business owners are wearing themselves out by not working in reverse.  Drewbie Wilson is Vice President of Break Free Academy, Founder and Creator of the Crush the Day Before it Crushes You Podcast, Author of the Best Selling Book, Crushing the Day Before it Crushes You, and creator of one of the most successful programs he attributes to generating well over $5 million dollars in sales, Closer Memes.  Today, Tom and Drewbie come in raw and real discussing a few pet peeves they see happening right now in entrepreneurship.  Tom shares his thought process as it pertains to creating offers, and Drewbie chimes in with the most important question you should ask before hosting an event. They volley back and forth discussing the process of writing a book, and they share the true insight into how profitable they are in the long run.  Drewbie discusses how he became the Closer Meme King and how it's created millions of dollars in sales for him.  He breaks down the psychology of why memes work so well and how to leverage the transfer of ideas. Drewbie shares how he's used memes to follow up with prospects without being pushy. Tom breaks down the brilliance of being a super nerd and his affinity for tracking the small, tedious details that show the true cost of doing business.  Drewbie breaks down the math and the logic behind his methodology of getting his cost per lead down.  If you're wanting to step up your marketing and sales game, bring your notepad and get ready for an education.    What You'll Learn:    The math behind truly knowing your numbers and the true cost of what you're paying for shitty leads How Drewbie took one popular concept, isolated it, and created the Closer Memes course which has generated over $5 million in sales in the last 2 years for Apex  How to properly plan an event starting from the most important question………. “Why are you throwing the event?”  Tom shares how he reverse engineers every single offer before it launches and the logic behind his methodical madness Drewbie shares what the E3 Method is and how you can leverage it to gain attraction in your market without spending 1 dollar  Bullshit sales tactics that aren't working in today's economy (and it's all based on human psychology) Why you should write a book and how to use that book in your life How doing things out of order can kill the congruency of your offers, and the number one reason many entrepreneurs lose traction in their businesses The compound effects of a program called Building Your Machine and how to leverage by simply following the process in chronological order Why you have to build backend processes to support what your business is offering FIRST!  And much more! Favorite Quote: “I recognize that from a sales perspective, I am not a hard closer.  I'm not somebody, that's “If you don't make this decision, it's going to ruin the rest of your life.” Fuck Off. You tell me that and for sure, I'm going to have a better life than you. But understanding that people are people.  It doesn't matter if I'm doing business with a consumer that's living paycheck to paycheck or a guy that has more money than he knows what to do with, they still are people. And people do business with people they know, like, and trust.  And for me from a sales perspective, I want that trust factor of like, “Yo! I'm just like you. I just want to help you.”  Drewbie Wilson    Connect with Drewbie: Facebook Instagram Crushing the Day Podcast: Crushing the Day Book: Crushing the Day      How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

Attaining excellence is not an easy process.  You have to be willing to fight the distractions in the natural world and create a certain ecosystem in your life and business that allow you to only focus on what you want to focus on.  This means you can't be a “part-time” gangster as our guest today so affectionately calls it.  The journey to living a life of excellence is going to require sacrifice, a militaristic discipline, and the drive of a 200,000-ton-earth-mover.  Jeremy Mercer is co-founder of the Mercer Company, Matador Capital, is a Commercial Real Estate Broker and a true purveyor of practicing abundance by being transparent and teaching his competition how to do what it is he's doing, freely.  It sounds crazy, but he's going to drop the magic sauce of how it works to his benefit.  Tom and Jeremy jump in today's episode to share a little perspective on where the drive to dominate originates for each one of them. Jeremy talks about some of his tedious daily routines as a collegiate athlete and his approach of treating it like a job due to the level of new competition coming for his spot every single year. Jeremy discusses chasing shiny objects and his thoughts on how to combat everything coming for your focus daily.  Tom lays down hard on core values, the stringent hiring processes he uses to only attract top talent.  Jeremy chimes in on 2 ways you have to look at social media and how to leverage it for your life and business.  He also shares the pivot that made him leave being a commercial real estate broker and become a highly sought-after investor……so sought after, his competition brings him business without him having to ask. Today's episode is packed full of practical solutions and a dissertation of what it means to live in excellence.    What You'll Learn:    Where Jeremy got his drive and ambition  The typical daily schedule for a collegiate athlete The high-performance stakes and the consequence of having to protect your spot at every turn How to combat shiny object syndrome on a daily basis The 2 choices you have on how to use social media Tom breaks down how he manages social media and a full calendar  Jeremy's thoughts on core values Why living and dying by the calendar is a secret weapon for anyone needing to do more in their life or business How Jeremy scored his first commercial property deal with no money  The pivot that led Jeremy into becoming a commercial broker  What made Jeremy get into brokering industrial buildings and how he leveraged them to sell to private equity companies  Why figuring out how to do something will make you tons of money  The power of core values and how they're implemented in Jeremy's company How many square feet of property Jeremy has closed on to date How to get competitors to bring you business and investors to invest  Why Jeremy doesn't work with everyone and what he says to them instead of the word “no.” The amount of money Jeremy raised for his first commercial investment property And much more! Favorite Quote: “There are no part-time gangsters. Now, when I look at something, I say, “Oh, I can go do this!,” but then I think no, that will make me a part-time in this and part-time in that, so I can't do that.  I say this is what I'm doing cause I'm a fucking gangster at that.  Being clear on what you want to do will keep you in your lane.  Time management at that point, it doesn't matter when you know you're only working on one main thing.”  Jeremy Mercer    Connect with James:  Instagram Matador Capital  Mercer Company How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

The journey to a different life is pretty simple if you allow yourself to get out of your own way, get out of your comfort zone, and take a leap of faith and massive action.  Some people like to sit on the sidelines and see how it's done, and there are those who jump in and figure it all out.  Today's guest is one of those who figured it all out.  James Emerson is President of ReNew Roofing and always had the entrepreneurial calling.  He owned a cell phone repair company, tried multi-level marketing, and later got into the trades working for a home builder.  Life in a small, poor northern Wisconsin town was enough motivation to catapult James and his family upward into the life they live today.  In today's episode, James and Tom talk about living in a small northern Wisconsin town, small-town mentality, establishing relationships, and how they differ there from the rest of the world.  James talks about the struggles and challenges of running his roofing company early on and shares how he motivated his employees to kick it into high gear working by piece rate from hourly.  Tom dives into processes that James has deployed to make his business run smoother, the world of subcontractors, and the systems he uses to ascertain whether he has good people on his crew.  James talks about the challenges of being self-employed in the roofing industry and managing the nature of the seasonal work due to the weather.    What You'll Learn: How James works with insurance companies to help homeowners obtain a new roof when hail damage has occurred Why it's important to take a chance and what it takes to create a business from nothing, knowing no one in a brand new town A new plan James has for relocating his family to Texas from Wisconsin and why he's decided now is the time How James decided to test the labor crew that led to him changing the model of how he operates his business How James got hooked on sports cars The first time James rolled into a brand new town in his Hellcat and how he used it to make fast friends with town influencers that took him on a tour of the town which led to business The most important thing on James' “list”  Why taking responsibility and working as a team is a huge part of his company's culture and success How hiring and firing makes a huge difference in your company  And much more!   Favorite Quote: (Regarding Core Values): “You gotta be willing to take responsibility, and then behind that, the team.  If you don't take responsibility, it affects the rest of the team. And if you don't take responsibility, you don't have a team, and then it's back to me and my wife."     James Emerson   Connect with James: ReNew All Roofs Facebook  Instagram  How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

Hard decisions have to be made every single day. Sometimes they have to be made where we remove any personal desires from a specific outcome we want from a situation.  We make personal decisions, business decisions, and decisions that ultimately affect decisions of others. The easy way is always a great option, but true leaders do not take the easy way. It's never an option.  Today's podcast is a true picture of how true leaders make impactful decisions in the real world.  Josh Wilson is Founder and CEO of JW Enterprises, Off-Leash K-9 Training with offices in Virginia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and Texas.  He's the founder and host of The Big Dog Podcast talking about life and business with people from all walks of life.  Tom and Josh have been acquainted for the last 2 years in Apex and they jump in like two friends sitting at a bar having a drink as they talk about the importance of making hard decisions, sometimes unpopular ones, and the weight of responsibility that comes with making them. Josh shares a couple of FOMO moments in his life recently, but stuck to his immovable commitment to his clients, his employees, and his executive team by putting them first. Josh and Tom talk about the value of investing in good employees and the disconnect many employers have when they look at the numbers on the P & L. They discuss the hiring process and how they set people up for success inside their organizations by looking closely at their true talents and assigning them to positions accordingly. Tom and Josh talk about the bullshit excuses we all tell ourselves and the importance of mindset and the biggest lie we tell ourselves about having everything we want.     What You'll Learn: Why Josh shut the doors on one of his businesses How company culture and looking at the bigger picture of the lives of the people he employs are impacted by his decisions, right, wrong, or indifferent Why you shouldn't hire people based simply off a P & L What Josh does when he realizes he's hired someone for one job that truly fits in another position  The power of setting up your team for success and why it's important to talk to them about finances  Tom shares why he hates working out, but more importantly, why he continues to do it every single day Josh shares what it's like having teenagers and the stark reality of what he represents to them Why Josh stopped being an early riser recently  The power of delegating responsibilities to the team you employ How Josh came to the realization that he's only operating at only 40% in his life and why it's supercharged him recently to make some serious changes Josh shares the value of creating a powerful workplace for his people  ROI and how it's directly connected to your personal care Tom shares 3 benefits that have come from him investing in himself first and the ripple effect it's created in his family Why it's important to have a network that will push you and how hiring people to tell you what to do will save you time and make you more productive  And much more!   Favorite Quote: “That audit of your personal time and more importantly of the staff you do have, their time, is like where can we maximize?  We've shifted people to so many different roles, hired them for one thing and figured out they would thrive somewhere else and do better. It's a matter of figuring out the right seat.  Just because they're in the car with you doesn't mean they're in the right position.”   Josh Wilson    Connect with Mike: IG The Big Dog Podcast   How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

The secret to exponential growth in anything we do requires a few things.  The first is the willingness to do the work, figure things out and last, but most importantly, hire a coach who can get you to the next level once you've maximized your God-given intelligence.  Sometimes you just don't know what you don't know, so having a coach to help guide you beyond any plateau is necessary.  Doug Mitchell is the CEO and Founder of Argenta Field Solutions and Helios Power helping thousands of clients one door at a time keeping them energy efficient with solar panels, roofs, and backup batteries all under a 25-year warranty.  Tom and Doug jump right into the episode talking about the exponential growth they've both experienced by going hard.  Doug shares how when he finds something he likes, he goes hard on it for 6 months and then he's over it. Tom shares being tasked with finding a CRM (Client Relationship Management Software) for his company. They discuss Doug's wins to which he attributes to the vast, engaged network of Apex. Doug talks about dealing with a lot of rejection growing up, suicide, and abandoned by his mom, never feeling like he never belonged.  Doug shares the importance of family, loyalty, and his overall mission toward creating a culture for not only his family, but for the families of every single person that works with him in his companies.    What You'll Learn: The 3 major things that happened to Doug as a child that set him on the course of creating his own family Why Doug decided to come into the Apex network and the brief conversation that opened the door for him to take off like a rocketship.  How Doug is plugged into AT & T and how he got the opportunity to continue working with them.  The one special job in a boiler room where Doug served as a buffer in a failing business that later became his first business How much Doug paid to acquire his first business Why  Doug decided to stop going door to door selling cable, internet, and phones  Doug shares how lucrative his partnership with AT & T is (He talks numbers) The shitty deal Doug's Uncle got from a door to door Solar sales guy which prompted him to jump into the solar industry  Why it took Doug 7 months to get his systems, processes, and marketing up to speed in the solar industry  The little idiosyncrasies involved in the solar industry  How Doug has managed to scale his solar company to profitability in a short period of time  The importance of trademarking when starting a company and how it can save you thousands before you get too big Compensation structures, and tools that caused Doug to run short on cash flow and the reason he kept moving forward with his plan despite the risks And much more!   Favorite Quote: “The greatest business owners I've ever seen think they suck at everything which is why they delegate things.  I'm not good at sales. I'll give it to Ralph, let me give it to Wayne.  I delegate it.  I'm not good at training.  I'll give it to this person.  It's a travesty when I meet a business owner who says they're good at everything. That means they won't be able to give anything up and delegate it.” Doug Mitchell     Connect with Mike:  Facebook   Instagram   How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

We're all on different paths and where we start is not necessarily where we end up 9 times out of 10.  The average person will have 12 different jobs in their lifetimes, but if they're lucky, they stumble into working with an entrepreneur that ignites their passion and shows them the ropes into running their own business.  Mike Hambright is a Multi-Millionaire Real Estate Investor, Founder of Investor Fuel, America's Top Mastermind for Professional Real Estate Investors, Founder of Flip Nerd, and Co-Founder of Investor Machine. Mike is one of the most diversified Real Estate Investors in the country and brings his exotic mix of investing in Real Estate while helping fellow investors find high-quality leads saving them time, and money.  Today, Tom gets Mike to share his early start in business in the corporate world where he is self-identified as a “Corporate Refugee,” as they discuss the challenges associated with not truly being autonomous in that environment. Mike talks about how he worked his way into a startup that later collapsed due to bankruptcy and why he decided to make a jump out on his own.  Mike talks about flipping hundreds of homes in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, but still feeling a need to educate, speak, and help fellow investors make their way through what can be a tedious process.  Tom and Mike have a candid discussion about masterminds and the power of educating like-minded, goal and results-driven individuals to success. They discuss the evolution of real estate from Covid and the reason 2021 was such a transformative year for real estate investors. Bring your tablets and get ready for an education.    What You'll Learn: Mike's powerhouse position that was not as insulated as he thought  Annual trips Mike takes with his investor group including Cabo and Vegas What Mike decided to do when he exited a company that underwent bankruptcy The experiential gathering that turned into a successful real estate event company  Why being in networking groups has been a huge part of Mike's development and success What Investor Fuel Mastermind is How to get connected and plugged into Mike's ecosystem of Real Estate Investors Mike's number one resource for learning and implementing things rapidly at a high-level What made Mike decide to partner up in one of his Investment companies  The power and freedom Mike has discovered from becoming an investor How Mike rates himself as an extrovert   And much more!   Favorite Quote:  “I was riding the wave of a half-billion-dollar a year company and 18 months after I went there, they filed for bankruptcy.  My son had just been born. He was 2 months old.  My wife had quit her job for me to go take this job and it was just the realization of I don't have control over where I go from here.  It doesn't matter how hard I work, how smart I am, or anything. That was my first foray into “I need to do something different” which ultimately became real estate, but I didn't know that at the time.”  Mike Hambright    Connect with Mike:  Facebook   Instagram  Investor Fuel    How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

The past is one part of our lives and is sometimes one of the longest relationships any of us will have.  It's only when we decide to make real-time edits to moments of disappointment, failure, despair, desperation, drugs, alcohol, emotional, spiritual, or sexual abuse do we begin to finally find the path were intended to be on.  Life gets simpler when we keep it simple.  You're in for a real treat today.  Bryan Bercik is a managing partner of Hemlock Homes based out of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania who focuses on interior residential remodeling, and building custom homes on clients' lots.  His previous career led him to Real Estate fixing and flipping homes, wholesaling and eventually working for a company where he was paid well to learn on the job.  Bryan's knack for logistics served him well and it wasn't long before he went out on his own and started his business.  Tom and Bryan get right into the discomfort of being naturally introverted, except when it comes to sales. Bryan shares how he almost talked himself out of a truly life-changing opportunity because of ties to his past.  They discuss the limiting beliefs that show up amongst “friends” and family when you start doing well for yourself. They try to take you off your focus.  Tom and Bryan talk about the importance of having core values in a company, their views on the employer-employee relationship, and the power of getting uncomfortable and taking huge chances that would make anyone stroke out and shit themselves.  If you're a dyed in the wool entrepreneur, you're in for a hell of an episode.    What You'll Learn: Why Bryan was on parole from the age of 12 to 31 Life on the streets and the role Bryan actively played One of Bryan's most impactful core values and why he's implemented it in his business Why Bryan decided to start his own company and the risk he took not knowing how to build a home or the business partner he was taking on How fast 14 Amish men can frame a home What Bryan did to take their business from $1.1M in business to $7.5M in just 2 years  A huge lesson Bryan learned on the importance and necessity of Branding The total financial loss Hemlock Homes took during the pandemic after not asking their clients for anymore money  Auditing Contractors invoices and why it's important to you (Bryan breaks down the numbers)  The first thing Hemlock Homes did once the covid restrictions were lifted in Pennsylvania What happened when Bryan decided to do #75Hard One thing that changed Bryan's mind about business networking groups when he walked into his first event at Apex   And much more!   Favorite Quote:  “I get up every day and know that I work for every one of my employees. Every single fucking day. I understand that I work for you. As a business owner, if you don't realize you work for every one of your employees, you're a fucking loser. It's that kind of culture. The team knows I'm not telling them to do some shit I've never done. I am right next to you working my ass off day in and day out.  If I don't get you to buy into my vision and I don't get you to buy into what we're doing here at Hemlock, you'll never work to your fullest.” -Bryan Bercik    Connect with Bryan:  Facebook   Instagram  Hemlock Homes IG- Hemlock    How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

The only difference between men and women are the words can or can't. All the false narratives you hear about sexism are partially true, however, it's a slap in the face to those who have chosen to set their focus and attention on pursuing a life most only read about on social media.  When you look at the types of professions people choose to work in, we make assumptions based on the fact a person is a male or female.  Today, this perspective is going to be questioned.  Monica Byers, is Founder and CEO of Sugar Creek Transportation, and the founder of the powerful brand Mother Trucker Life.  She has a fleet of 115 Big Rigs blazing the roads of the United States and 90 trailers.  Monica has doubled her fleet from last year and has goals to do the same thing in 2022.  Today, Tom and Monica get right into the logistics of owning and operating a successful trucking company, the cost of real estate and the increased value of recently purchased real estate, some of the high risks associated with simply transporting goods we use everyday across the U.S. Monica shares about her start in the trucking industry going from knowing absolutely nothing to managing the highly-detailed complexities of a trucking company. Tom and Monica talk about tire kickers  and the endless chase for opportunities to source business for her trucking team. Monica shares why she almost went out of business due to a very competitive market, mechanical challenges that occur that can run up costs, and the never-ending pursuit of finding success in the small details that equate to huge successes. What You'll Learn: How much a brand new and used big rig costs as of today The number of miles the average truck has on it when it's purchased Family dynamics and why Monica is affectionately known as “Sugar Mama” The responsibility that extends beyond the company and the bottom line  Why Monica decided to dive into the trucking industry  Monica shares how she value-stacks her offer to owner-operators and what she says to those who challenge her percentage Tom shares how he decided to open his own car audio business and how long it took  him to crash it One big mistake and lesson Monica learned one Memorial Day when she missed payroll What to do when the government comes and takes all your money from your account and how to insulate yourself from going bankrupt  Monica's winning perspective that keeps her tough through challenging times  Why Monica puts back 50% of her money back when she gets paid One of the best lessons Monica recently learned from an Uber driver What the Dream Manager is and how to unlock the law of reciprocity Tom and Monica talk about their experiences with #75 Hard Challenge and how Monica fights the temptation from drinking at bars during the challenge Monica shares some of her goals she has for 2022 including buying another truck yard, owning an apartment complex, and growing her Mother Trucker Life Brand What Mother Trucker is and who it serves How Monica is transforming the Trucking Industry for smaller carriers and owners And much more! Favorite Quote:  "If every single one of my truck's motors blew tomorrow, I'd be fucked. So you have to look at the most expensive thing that could cost you and you have to have that in the bank. And that way, when it does, it's like, ah shit, back to doing business."  -Monica Byers  Connect with Monica:  Facebook  Instagram Sugar Creek Transportation Mother Trucker Life     How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

The more you look at the clues success leaves, there's a constant trail of themes that continue to show up: Poverty, hard-times, impactful lessons, mentors along the way, and the arduous journeys many have taken.  Scott Simons is Managing Partner and General Manager of 5 West Virginia Car Dealerships with Carter Myers Automotive.  He's co-host of the highly successful show on clubhouse.io, Breakfast of Champions with over 115 thousand followers.  He is a speaker,business consultant, savvy investor, and a purveyor of filling the cups of every single person he can help if they are willing to put in the work. He's a proud father and happily married to his wife of 40 years. Today, you're in for a treat as Tom and Scott dig right into the beginning of where most great stories begin………childhood.  They discuss Scott's massive family of 8 aunts and uncles, the lessons he learned with working with less.  Tom and Scott dig into the importance of establishing culture and creating an environment where people can come to work on building a life and not just a resume.  Scott shares some of his processes he takes his clients through including sharing their stories with his staff before they are sent to approach a referral about purchasing a vehicle.  This episode may bring a few tears to your eyes (bring your kleenex) as Scott shares one of the greatest gifts during a session where he was educating his staff on getting their financial houses in order. This is the mic-dropper in the episode you will not forget.  What You'll Learn: Scott's family situation that led to him developing the ethical foundation in approaching life and business  Tom shares a little about his childhood and living in scarcity growing up What to do when you don't “people” as well as others and are thrown into a sales role  Why it's important to find out the objections leading to payment, price, trade in the car business Scott talks about the power of getting into big networks like Arete' and Apex and what inspired him to get involved How doing business with your own people make your climb to success is better Why Scott sits down with his team to share a story about the clients he refers to them to follow up with and why this is important Locations Scott and his dealerships send vehicles to and the various brands, makes, and models they carry  How cross collateralizing can affect a dealership to its detriment One word that people use that chap Tom's ass How Scott pours back into his team weekly including monitoring their personal credit, managing expenses, and much more that's lead to saving their lives A gift that Scott received publicly that brought tears to every single pair of eyes in the room  And much more! Favorite Quote: “I was raised to help someone if you can help them, but do not enable them.  When people show you who they truly are, believe them. When I was younger, I would turn that person into an enemy, but now, I just distance myself.”  Scott Simons  Connect with Kris:  Facebook  Instagram Carter Myers Automotive    How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

Everything you have today is a direct result of everything you were working on 5 years ago.  If there's something you want in this life, you have to say it out loud, write it down, and then work your ass off.  Today's guest is the epitome of what happens when you live your life in this order.  Dan Costantino is a Real Estate Investor, Family man, and currently has over 700 doors in Real Estate under his management.  He operates various Real Estate Funds, Syndication Funds, and is a hard money lender. Dan hails from the beautiful state of Pennsylvania where he's begun the process of investing across state lines and in this episode, he's going to share how it's easier than most know.  Today, Tom and Dan have a candid discussion about corporate America's work ethic compared to the everyday entrepreneur.  They discuss the differences between being a Visionary and an Integrator and how to leverage these key positions to create powerful opportunities in any organization. Dan shares a story about putting too much on one utility employee that caused him immense pressure ultimately affecting his attitude at work. Dan shares the revelation he had at this pivotal moment and how it changed the culture of his business.  Tom and Dan discuss the benefits of flips, and how to turn active real estate into passive income to create bandwidth. Tom and Dan discuss why creating specialists in your company and assigning duties that position puts everyone in a position to win.  Dan shares why he's passionate about disseminating information to the masses and why theory is an ineffective mission in creating a powerfully community focused life.  What You'll Learn: The difference between working in corporate America and a small business What makes a good owner versus a good operator  Why it's taking so long for homes to be built right now One simple text Dan sent that closed and funded one of his first Real Estate syndication deals What syndication deals are and the basics of how they're structured Two things necessary to manage contractors The value in paying someone to do something for you How letting go is one of the hardest things most entrepreneurs will do Why Dan's wife thought he was crazy How making videos, taking photos, and telling stories on social media will bring you more opportunities that pay dividends beyond any savvy marketing campaign Essentials of creating bandwidth in your business in order to grow it and where you have to start  The power and fear associated with delegation The two kinds of people in business and how determine which one you are Why it's important to create specialists in your business and how it benefits the organization Why March 3rd is important to you and how you can meet Dan Costantino in person And much more! Favorite Quote: “It's tough in a small business, because when you're a small business, you have this mindset that you need to have more people that do many different things. I am finding that the specializing requires you to hire more people but specializing has really been eye opening to me. It's really worked a little bit better, and you can train them, and they can become better in their component.”  -Dan Costantino     Connect with Dan: Facebook Instagram to, 412AH   How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

No matter what room you walk into, you never want to be the smartest one there, however there are times when people play too small because they don't believe they belong in a room amongst giants. Today, you're about to take a deep dive into the mentality of iconic excellence.  Kris Whitehead is the epitome of human excellence.  He's the founder of Iconic Alliance, helping business owners navigate the path to being transformative leaders in life and business. He's an Executive Head Coach for the Apex network and is a bestselling author, speaker, and Elite Business Coach.  In today's episode, Tom and Kris share a few laughs at the expense of Kris hinting around a couple of his nicknames as they discuss the earlier iterations of their lives 24 years ago compared to 18 months ago.  Kris brings passion and energy to every conversation he has as he shares how he's gotten more accomplished in one year than he did in the previous 20 years of his life and career.  Tom and Kris discuss their journeys into the evolution of figuring out entrepreneurship, the lessons learned, and the discovery of the emotional intelligence required to have the confidence and fortitude to make a splash in any room by simply being yourself. They share the story of how the “Goon Squad” formed and take a deep dive on the personal successes of each member and the impact of having a group of like-minded, accountable people to share their mission with.   What You'll Learn: One of Kris' nicknames affectionately given to him by Tom The lessons Kris struggled with the first 22 years in business Secrets to collapsing time and changing the trajectory of your life in less than 2 years Power moves that have elevated many business owners from mediocrity to massive influence Tom shares a powerful revelation about self-talk and how it's important to be careful what you say to yourself Kris talks about calling himself stupid and why it's important not to say them out loud in front of people he respects    The Goon Squad's Powerful One-Day Event Coming Up and How to Get Tickets! And much more! Favorite Quote: “Go ahead and feel the humiliation cause that's what it is to me of catching yourself calling yourself fat and me calling myself stupid. What are the different things I would say that I just said in front of someone and I just outed myself in front of someone I respect? Feel it and be committed to change.”      Kris Whitehead      Connect with Kris: Facebook Instagram Iconic Alliance    How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

What happens when you take 2 guys from California and a guy from New York and put them behind a powerhouse company transforming lives of people from around the world? They dominate starting by following up with clients like a bill collector on Christmas Eve. Blake Presson and Matt Anices are Client Service Representatives with Break Free Academy in Addison, Texas who came to join the powerhouse company to assist the existing team in helping educate, inform, liberate and elevate individuals to the top of their game in life and business.  Blake is finishing up his education at the University of North Texas as he continues his journey to focusing on bigger opportunities within the Apex community. Matt brings his real estate and business background with a focus on raising awareness around mental health.  In today's episode, Tom, Blake, and Matt discuss where they were born and what brought them to Dallas.  Blake shares how he came into a unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with Break Free Academy, and Matt discusses how a simple connection from years ago led him to the same opportunity by simply staying in contact and forming an impactful relationship with one person. They discuss the high standards required to gain entry into such an opportunity, and what's necessary to maintain a stronghold daily, weekly, monthly, and well into the future. This is a short episode, but an impactful one filled with golden nuggets for looking for opportunity, within a company culture that knows the secret to creating a successful culture.   What You'll Learn: How Blake and Matt made their way to Texas from California Blake's revelation after being in close proximity to a roommate that would invite him to take a seat at the table Matt's passion purpose and what's motivated him to raise awareness around mental health Tom's simple process for vetting prospective candidates to work on the Client Service Representatives team  The age-old adage followed in Break Free Academy  What each one of these gentlemen were doing on New Year's Eve One major goal that each Matt and Blake have in 2022 and why How following up with leads will lead to 6-figure income when done correctly  Previews of the guests to come in the upcoming episodes of the Step It Up Entrepreneur Podcasts Details on the Goon Squad Live event coming up February 3rd and how you can get in the room And much more! Favorite Quote:  “I want to help impact at least 100 people on mental health awareness. I believe it's a big big thing especially in the business world. There's a lot of stress that comes with building a business and then you add family on top of that, and life happens, and things come unexpected. So, I want to help 100 people take care of their mental health and themselves.”    Matt Anices      CONNECT WITH BLAKE AND MATT:    Blake Presson:  Facebook  Instagram    Matt Anices: Facebook Instagram     How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

How many decisions do you make in a day without even thinking about it? More importantly, how many choices each day result in a significant impact - for better or worse - further down the road? Intention and perseverance are two of the most effective ingredients in a robust, thriving lifestyle, and they're often the ones people skip over entirely. Since 2003, Marc “The Fitness Ninja” Zalmanoff has been helping people live happier, healthier lives through improved fitness, nutrition, and mindset. A gym owner in Frisco, TX, Marc has a unique talent for blending science-based fitness & nutrition programming with empathetic coaching to meet people where they are and help them achieve the results that have eluded them for far too long. Along with his never-ending wit and humor, Marc can help anyone ready for change.  Over the years, Marc has realized being a business owner, regardless of the profession, requires an expanding skill set of personal growth, marketing, business skills, and a lot of written words. He knows people need to hear the right message to be moved to make positive changes in their lives.  Whether it's serving people in his gym, coaching people thru his online programs, or educating and entertaining the masses on social media through his written content and memes, he is currently on a mission to Make America Fit Again and help people Make Good Choices, and will do whatever he can to make the most significant impact possible!  On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Marc jam on powering through COVID with a championship mindset, how to pick and choose the people around you by how willing they are to level up, and how to ease decision fatigue and save valuable time with your daily schedule. Tune in for an interview that will obliterate your excuses and get you started making decisions that will change your life for the better (and for good). What You'll Learn: What those who are successful in business and life carry with them into the gym (and how Marc can tell the successful gym-goers from the not-as-successful) How Marc puts in the work and sticks to his values - and how those seemingly minor steps allow you to reap huge rewards  Why what seemed like a considerable delay in the process of writing his book wound up making the book better than it would have been otherwise  The Goon Squad's Powerful One-Day Event Coming Up and How to Get Tickets! And much more! Favorite Quote: "Those of us who have a servant attitude is always looking at, 'How can I help people?' Because overall… that's what we're trying to do in some form or fashion, whether it's a business or health and fitness or mindset or relationships, like, we're trying to help people. And so when there is a tragedy, and there are trials and tribulations far beyond what most people ever experienced, those of us positioned well, we look for ways to help."   Marc Zalmanoff   Connect with Marc: Make America Fit Again on Facebook  FitPro Bros on Instagram Marc on Instagram Real Talk with Real Fit Pros Podcast MarcZFitness.com Reach out to Marc here How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.  

The end of the year is almost here, and most people are taking their foot off the gas.  Guess what?! That's the last thing you should be focused on doing right now.   If anything, it's time to plan 2022 if you haven't done so.  Today, Tomas Keenan is riding solo to share a few insights as we head into the holiday season. It's the first episode in a long time since he's not had a guest in studio with him and he shares the impact of 2021.  We're coming to the end of the year where many people fail to plan for the upcoming year. Most people don't start planning until the end of the 1st quarter of the year. The time is now.  Did you set your goals?  Did you cite what you were going to accomplish as a husband, as a wife, as a business owner?  If you are weak in the area of planning, listen to episode #110 with Mike Claudio; he's a beast and has this dialed into a science.  In this episode, Tomas shares what he's learned from Mike Claudio and the hard questions everyone should be asking themselves:  What are the goals you're setting aside for love? What are the goals you're setting aside for your home? What are the goals you're setting aside for your spirituality? What are the financial goals you are putting in place for yourself? What are the physical goals that you're putting in place for yourself, your spouse, and your children?  What are the career goals you're putting together for yourself?  Mike Claudio has a webinar that covers all this. (Be sure to connect with him)  Get focused and get clear about what you want your life to look like and exactly what you want to have come into your life in 2022.  Planning to win your year starts today.    FAVORITE QUOTE:  “I want you guys to go out there and before the end of the year, go out and do the fucking work!”  - Tomas Keenan   How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.   

Have you ever met someone who took the rules, folded them into a book and smacked you upside the head with them?  Today's guest will do just that unapologetically. Mike Claudio is founder of WinRate Consulting, advising clients from various backgrounds and industries on how to become addicted to the addiction of success.  During the pandemic, he tore the roof off of conventional thinking and did what no other person in business would've done and started looking for a way to give back in a major way.  He started a foundation called, "A Champion's Shoes," gifting children with little means a pair of brand-new shoes to give them a confidence boost and a grander sense of self.  Mike is the host of the host of the Big Stud Podcast and best-selling author of #TooStrong, speaker, and executive business coach.  Today, Tom and Mike share some insights from a previous episode where Mike shares the struggles and challenges, he's faced with alcohol, wandering aimlessly in the world in search of a deeper, more fulfilling purpose. Tom and Mike talk about the addiction of success and working tirelessly to achieve greatness one step at a time. They talk candidly about the processes and routines that rule their universe, managing expectations and operating at the highest level in business and life.  FAVORITE QUOTE:   "I don't want to have to call you. If there's a problem, there's a problem.  I just want to know you can confirm the ball has been passed and it's being handled."  - Mike Claudio CONNECT WITH MIKE: Instagram Big Stud Podcast Youtube Book: #TooStrong How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.     

Opportunities are everywhere if you simply know where to look.  So, what happens when you find all these opportunities? Do you feel a sense of entitlement? Superiority? Or do you shut the f#ck up and do the work?  Today's guest is allergic to slackers and underachievers. Drewbie Wilson is the Vice President of Break Free Academy, host of the Crushing the Day Before it Crushes You, a best-selling author of a book with the same title.  He's also host of “The Apex Spotlight  For fun, he likes to help people close business and creates courses to help the masses.   Tom and Drewbie take a deep dive outlining everything from modern-day culture, applying the rules of old that still work to this day.  Drewbie gives you the game of everything he's doing and what works.  They'll discuss why it's important to constantly coach with someone at a higher level than yourself, the power of assessments and how they're used to build a team.  What You'll Learn:  The transition in the American society set to start in the Fall of 2022 Why having core values is important The power of having a mentor or coach who has been where you want to be How Drewbie was able to take resistance and use it to motivate his team and getting them up and producing successfully Why being resourceful is one of the most important things you can do  Managing transitions in life and business while being grateful and a stellar leader  How to scale and grow your team and your business by using a simple process 3 qualities it takes to be a stellar leader  Why continuing education is powerful enough to change the trajectory of your life  What value systems are What happens when you write your first book  And much more!   Favorite Quote:  “I'm a simple man. Less decisions make my life easy.  Black shirt, jeans, and a hat and I see people that will look at me and judge me. I went to buy a couch last year and I'm wheeling and dealing with this guy, and he offered me a zero percent credit card for 18 months.  I thought, “that's free money.”  I asked him what it would take to get started and he gave me an application.  I filled it out and lined out my monthly income and he came back saying, “No, no.  It needs your monthly income, not annual income. "I told him that WAS my monthly income.  His demeanor changed when he realized I was not a broke boy.” Drewbie Wilson     CONNECT WITH DREWBIE:   Facebook Instagram Crushing the Day Podcast   How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.     

Imagine if you would've had the focus at 15 years of age that you have now.  What would that look like?  I don't know about you, but when I was 15, I wasn't thinking about starting a business, building a team, or making lump sum investments into anything beyond girls and cars.  Zach Sasser was different.  Zach is a serial entrepreneur and the current leading Sales Rep at Break Free Academy in Addison, Texas.  He is managing co-partner in a tree removal business, and operates as a partner in his brother's roofing company recruiting, training, and selling.  At 15, he spent his time doing the work to create his very first marketing agency, and at 21, he's projected to be a millionaire before he's 27.  In today's episode, Tom and Zach take a journey back one year when they first met.  Zach and Tom discuss the differences between his confidence then, compared to now and outline the processes in thinking and execution that totally changed the game for Zach and the Apex organization.  They discuss coming up in family businesses, the difference 20 years makes, their favorite books, intentionality, dream boats, writing and creating your perfect day and much more. They take an existential dive into the big picture by focusing on the little consistent things done daily that collapse time and create new realities.    What You'll Learn:  How Zach looks at the world through the eyes of a 21-year-old Zach shares his thoughts on distractions and how he manages the multitude of temptations  The Elite Version exercise and how profound it's been in transforming the way you think  Tom's ultimate dream boat Zach's personal thoughts on dating, creating your perfect day, and manifestation  How confidence is connected to feeling and how it can affect your ability to sell well The one number Zach is not comfortable with today Why identifying your goals and writing them down is a powerful tool to create a new future  The 2 things required to achieve goals according to Tom Keenan Where Zach invests his money  How friendships change once you become successful  The power of investing in yourself and making your money work for you True power of belief  One thing Zach learned while teaching his Mother in business  And much more!   Favorite Quote:   “Business owners are real smart. If anything, they're smarter cause they realize they can use leverage, start using other people's time, building multiple streams of income. You don't have to rely on one source. And that's whenever it started to open my eyes. I was 15 learning about digital marketing and funnels and that's really why I arrived here.”   -Zach Sasser   CONNECT WITH ZACH:   Facebook Instagram    How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.     

Have you ever walked into a room needing help from someone and before you can finish saying “I need help,” one eager, willing, and enthusiastic person cuts you off before you explain the fuckery of a journey you're about to take them on?  You're going to meet that person today.  Justin Schoener is the founder of Outlaw Off-Road of Texas where they outfit some of the biggest, baddest trucks on America's highways with suspension lifts, enhanced diesel and gas performance, tires, wheels and a full line of truck accessories.  He's an enthusiastic business consultant, and loves educating fellow investors about VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owners).  In today's episode, Tom and Justin have a candid discussion about the automotive industry, the infancy of their entrepreneurial journeys, the mistakes, lessons, and the blessings that came from getting kicked in the teeth along the way. They share some pivotal lessons about what's required to do whatever it takes to make shit happen, even in the most direst circumstances. Justin and Tom talk about the fact there are no accidents or coincidences that have led them to a series of chance meetings, and associations that brought them to the exact moment of recording this podcast.  They talk about everything from cars to the power of why it's important to hire a mentor and do life with magnificent people.     What You'll Learn:  How to create value around your product and service without losing profit  The one job in the automotive industry that prefers blind people to assemble their products The spark that led Justin Schoener to the automotive industry  Justin's first truck and the big revelation that made him realize he got ripped off Why having a mentor is important The number of vehicles Justin and Tom have each owned in their lifetimes What you need to know to set up a successful Vacation Rental By Owner and what to look for in your first property  Two services you can pay for today to get more of your time back  Three reasons Justin's life is on fire right now (in a good way) Ways to connect with Justin  What it means to go all the way the fuck in on life! And much more!   Favorite Quote:  “These people are achieving success and being the best version of themselves by doing the work, and we're happy for each other.   We're happy for our wins. There's no negativity in our group. And no one tolerates bullshit. We're not going to tolerate anything.   I love opening my social media feed and seeing everybody win, and that we're all willing to help each other.”    Justin Schoener     CONNECT WITH JUSTIN:  Facebook Instagram Outlaw Off-Road of Texas    How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.     

You know that guy who sits in the back of the room listening, blending in, very unassuming, who breaks the glass around your world when he speaks?  He's the person that has a line of people with questions after he asks a question or presents.  He's down to earth and doesn't waste words talking about the weather.   Brandon Brittingham is “that guy.” He's the Founder and CEO of the Maryland and Delaware Group of Long and Foster.  Brandon heads the #1 team for the most sold homes in Maryland. He's a monster of an investor, executive business coach, and slays the stage during speaking engagements.  Today, Tom and Brandon pull back the curtain on how to enhance the quality of your existence by collapsing time to achieve magnificent things professionally and personally.  They get vulnerable and share real-life experiences that tested them along the way.  If you're hungry for knowing where to start to organize your business and life, Tom and Brandon give you the game in this episode covering visualization, mission statements, core values, their importance, systems, processes, hiring and how to implement them rapidly. They'll share the game-changing advice they got by simply reading books and implementing them.  What You'll Learn:  The difference between a visionary and integrator  How many core values you should have in your company (There's an exact number)  Creating a company culture where the team manages itself in alignment with core values Why Brandon meets with his team daily   Little known facts about Coach Bill Belichick and his winning mindset  The new currency in today's economy and why it's important to you for a sustainable future Burning out will teach you some powerful lessons  Law of attraction and how to make it work for you Knowing the best time to create the “next” business while operating your current one And much more!   Favorite Quote:   “Get in the right room and when you get in the right room, maximize that potential. When I come here, sometimes it might annoy people, but I will ask every fucking question because I want to get better. I'm inquisitive.  I'm not going to ask you the question to ask you the questions, but I'm going to ask you the question because I'm going to go fucking implement.”   Brandon Brittingham     Connect with Brandon:  Facebook MooreBrittingham   How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.     

Last year on the show we had a group of irreverent, yet big-hearted gentlemen join together and form what is now known as The Goon Squad. Like Marvel characters, they've banded together over the last year from various industries. Each one of them has written a book and has a podcast.  They've changed thousands of lives through a ripple effect that can't be explained by science, but can be summed up in one simple phrase: They did the important work.  This cast of real-life superheroes include:  Kris Whitehead, Founder of New England Custom Remodeling, Author, Speaker, Podcast Host, Head Executive Coach  Brian McKittrick, Founder of Insurance of Texas, Best Selling Author of “It Ain't Rocket Surgery.”  Marc Zalmanoff, Founder of Marc Z Fitness, Best Selling Author of “Make Good Choices.”  Drewbie Wilson, VP of Break Free Academy, and Meme Lord, best selling author of “Crush the Day Before it Crushes You” and speaker   Mike Claudio, Founder of Win Rate Consulting, and A Champion's Shoes, Youtuber, Podcaster, Best Selling Author Tom Keenan, COO of Break Free Academy, Apex Executive Coach, Best Selling Author of “Unfuck Your Business,” and Founder of Step It Up Academy  In this episode, the Supersonic 6 known as “The Goon Squad” reflect back on how everything got started, as they share some of the challenges they encountered over the last year and how they rose up to power through with the help of each member of the squad.  As a collective, they've hosted hundreds of shows, spoken at hundreds of events, dominated in growing their companies, brands, and ultimately changed 1000s of lives by simply showing up, doing the work, and caring enough to make a difference while expecting nothing in return.  This is a powerful episode.  What You'll Learn:  Why vulnerability helped transform the trajectory of their lives from yesterday to today  The titles of their number one best selling books  Lessons they learned along the way and how they used the wisdom to change lives with a compound effect How long and how much hard work has to be put in to fly in a private jet for a 3 hour flight What happens when you go deep into conversation and what has to occur in order to maintain the highest level of discipline, commitment, and integrity Why they still have fear  They break down the power of what happens when you get with the right people, hold each other accountable and do the fucking work!  The reality of how long it takes to dominate on social media by taking massive action And much more!   Favorite Quote:  “Stop laughing at what you think we're doing and start taking your own fucking action.  None of us was invited into this group. We earned it by living by what we talked about earlier. And if you're not where you want to be, I highly suggest you take some fucking action about it.  Because each one of us will be 100 X more successful in our lives if we stopped having this conversation right now.  The investment we've already cultivated, the seeds we've planted, the confidence, and the vision and potential that has already been lit for us, we can't undo at this point.  We can't stop it.  If I didn't see any of you or talk to any of you for 5 years, I'd still be a better father, better leader, better husband, a better coach, a better communicator. I've done more in 2 years than I would've which has projected a completely different future.   All it took was showing up, being authentic, being vulnerable, being myself, and being okay with it.”    Mike Claudio      How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.     

Just because you're from a family business doesn't mean you've had it easy.  Today's guests are from the same family with very different backgrounds, and it's the perfect pairing for creating a successful legacy.  Eric Gonzalez is President of Top Crew Labor pairing roofing crews to some of the top roofing jobs across the United States.  Daniel Davila operates in Regions Commercial Roofing, Inc.  Both of these gentlemen have been building upon a 3rd generation family business for the last 6 years and they're lightyears ahead of most people in any age group.  In this episode, Tom and  Eric, and Daniel discuss the early years of business, the importance of creating core values, books that have influenced them coming up, the Live Hard Program, the power of Daily GCODE, and the lessons learned along the way, and the climb to the pinnacle of life, dreaming bigger and bigger every step of the way. They'll share a little about how to scale a business in a few simple steps and Eric and Daniel will share what it means to take an existing family-owned business and the amount of work necessary to build it into a culture that only attract the best of the best.    What You'll Learn:  The dream Daniel had to give up on and the conclusion he came to within his family Driving forces behind Eric's passion to carry on the family business and expand it at the same time  One shared common goal both Eric and Daniel have for 2022 Why core values is the most important thing you can have when building a company culture Daniel shares what he had to learn in order to put himself in the unique position he's in at a very young age Challenges they have with hiring and scaling their businesses How gratitude has allowed them to thrive at such a pivotal point in life  Their favorite books that have changed the way they approach life and business And much more!   Favorite Quotes:  “I found myself being forced by my dad to go with him because obviously he wanted to teach me to be somebody of good and hardworking. Eventually, it clicked with me that if I have to be out here in the field and see the construction process, I may as well make something of it.”   Eric Gonzalez   “It's been kinda hard for us to find that person who is going to align with us because you have a lot of slack and partying, and they're not focused on what they want.”   Daniel Davila    Connect with John:  Eric's Instagram Daniel's Instagram Regions Commercial Roofing  Top Crew Labor   How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.     

Have you ever walked into a room and saw one person that stands out in every sense of the word?  Anyone who has spoken to this person in a conversation is always left more enlightened, educated, and entertained.  That person is John Highley. John Highley hails from Dayton, Ohio, where he cut his teeth at Dannon Yogurt until one fateful day changed the course of his life.  John is founder of Marketing Savage working with entrepreneurs to find a fulfilling path personally and professionally.  He is a best-selling author of Marketing Savage: True Wealth. True Health. True Life. and host of the Tactical Mentor Podcast. In this episode, Tom and John break down the scientific effects of 75-hard, take a deep dive into divinity, God, discuss a little religion, share about their entrepreneurial journeys as younger men, and dive deep into the importance of effective communication, and the power of shutting the f#ck up.  Tom and John break down the psychology and philosophy of everything we do in an existential way as John shares how to build an impenetrable machine in life and business.   What You'll Learn:  The importance of creating an environment of transformative communication  The story of King Solomon and how rich he really was in today's monetary value How to manage and create autonomy in personal and business relationships How to shut the f#ck up and why it's important to your future  What happens at a cellular level when you drink a gallon of water a day Why creating training and tools for your clients and employees will change your life  The compound effects of providing so much value, you have clients for life   Lessons learned from a good old-fashioned beating   A book John turned to that has helped him change the way he looks at things in life and business  The power of belief and how John's helped people break the shackles of conformity And much more!   Favorite Quotes:  “Water is the conductor between your thoughts and your nutrition to deliver them to your cellular makeup and make that change. One of the cool things about 75 Hard is it actually speeds up the process of change that you're dealing with.” -John Highley      Connect with John:   Instagram Facebook Marketing Savage FB Group Marketing Savage Website    How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.     

It's always interesting how people get their start in entrepreneurship.  Our guest this week shares how back pain took him into becoming a serial entrepreneur.  Jory Mack is a serial entrepreneur who started his career managing the family pawn shop until he made a leap out into the fitness industry which propelled him into owning kiosks in malls, a phone repair shop, carpet cleaning business, a garage door repair and installation company, and now, a solar company.  In this episode, Tom and Jory get into their humble beginnings, sharing their “fuck it” moments that led them into entrepreneurship.  Jory shares how back pain connected him to a product he loved so much he decided to buy the company and sell it himself.  Tom and Jory discuss the importance of establishing core values, mission statements, creating company culture through independence, empathy, hard work and they'll share some of the hacks they used along the way to develop them into serial entrepreneurs. Bring your notepad, cause this episode is packed with huge, yet simple takeaways.    What You'll Learn:   How back pain lead Jory to owning his first business Being hard-headed can be a huge benefit when it comes to managing a business Setting core values, standard operating procedures, and mission statements created a better culture and a scalable company culture What college does and doesn't teach you Effectively managing difficult personalities  Cleaning up a company in one meeting  How to deal with family doubt  Why micromanagement is a counterproductive pursuit as an employee and entrepreneur Jory's favorite book on sales that changed the game for him And much more!  FAVORITE QUOTE: “You see what they do in colleges and schools and all that stuff.  They say you gotta learn this and get a job. They don't ever teach you to go get a business or learn a trade.  They say, you do this and go get the best job you can. And go get a job, and go get a job, and go get a job.  I'll tell you if I wasn't in an entrepreneurship actual major, even then you hear this stuff of go get a job.  At least I heard a little bit about starting a business, which is good. It's crazy, but that's how people are taught.”    Jory Mack     Connect with Jory Mack: Facebook Text: 775-846-9371   How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

  This week, we continue with our compelling interview with Dan Ward who can best be described as a business Machiavelli in every sense of the word.  How many guys do you know own a Llama and love minivans?  In this segment, Dan showcases his in-depth knowledge and acumen in business as it pertains to best practices, systems, processes, and diving into his thoughts on side hustles and the new way to capitalize on growing a business $10 at a time over the long-term.  In this episode of Step It Up Entrepreneur, Tom and Dan discuss an industry full of people who fall under the nickname “Fucktards,” and the simple fact that sometimes people focus on using the wrong principles to build and scale a business.  They have a candid discussion and break down how knowing your numbers will predict the trajectory of your future in business. Dan and Tom also discuss the power of looking for additional streams of revenue inside of an existing business, and share a little about the network that makes it possible to collapse time and bring everything together with a flawless, systematic approach.    What You'll Learn:   The one industry known affectionately as “Fucktards”  Why being a leader requires you to be a talent scout and the efficiency at which you need employees to perform How knowing your numbers will allow you to narrow down your troublespots and scale your business effectively Golden nuggets of how to know it's time of when to start a business The type of person you have to become to run and operate a successful small business Getting to know the type of employee you're looking for in your organization to effectively maximize results  Dan's response to the question of when it's time to take a side-hustle and make it into a full-time business A book shared that will allow you to implement recurring revenue models in any company And much more!  FAVORITE QUOTE: “You can put recurring revenue models in any business.  Let's go back to the barbershop. Instead of saying, $25 haircuts, why not do unlimited haircuts for $20 per month.  People are doing it on a small scale, but if you can get that and blow it up...it's a high margin anyway, and you can do it with a lot of businesses.  The biggest thing is recurring revenue.”    Dan Ward     Connect with Dan Ward: Facebook Instagram    New Podcast Coming Soon: The Dirt Road CEO Podcast    How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

While most people are Jet setting across the country, around the world, living that Instagram lifestyle, there is one man who is defying convention by simply keeping common sense infused in his life and businesses.   Dan Ward started his work life like many who have come before him by taking a journey into the college system, graduating and quickly learning that working for FedEx, Darden Restaurants, and other companies in Corporate America would not be enough to keep him free from the “golden handcuffs.” Today, Dan is a serial entrepreneur who has figured out how to replace himself as the technician and become the owner in various industries including gutter replacement, barbershops, real estate, and much more.  In this episode of Step It Up Entrepreneur, Tom and Dan get raw and real as they discuss the American educational system, the pros and cons of a college education, slugging it out in a comfy corporate lifestyle, and pivoting into the fulfilling world of entrepreneurship.  They'll discuss business hacks that have led them to get business in any industry up and running quickly and profitably.  This episode is so good, there are two parts to it.     What You'll Learn:   Why Dan prefers minivans to private jets  Two things Dan learned while working in corporate America The longstanding discussion of the value of a college education in today's technology-infused world  How applying a common sense approach to life and business saved him thousands of dollars  Being resourceful will keep you from having to learn hard lessons if you simply mimic what's already proven to be successful How to spot a good location for a brick and mortar One hack that will allow you to open any franchise type model without paying exorbitant fees And much more!  FAVORITE QUOTE: “So when I graduated college, I went to FedEx and was like, “I got this degree, bro!”  They told me they had an opening in Memphis as a Dock Supervisor and it was a position that required a 4-year degree.  They came back saying it started at $35,000. And I was like, but I have this piece of paper. Where's the money?”    Dan Ward     Connect with Dan Ward: Facebook Instagram    New Podcast Coming Soon: The Dirt Road CEO Podcast    How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

To celebrate the 100th episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur Podcast, we brought in someone who represents the epitome of humility, tenacity, and hyper-achievement. He's helped thousands of individuals and companies grow in life and business by sticking to one simple mindset…...Do the Work!  On a hot summer day back in July of 2008, Ryan Stewman left federal prison with $25 to his name and a vision; to become the most elite version of himself. In the last 12 years, he's done just that and currently operates over 20 businesses.  He's known as “The Hardcore Closer,” and founder of Break Free Academy and his flagship program, Apex where sales professionals, solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, CEOs and investors gather as a community to dial in the four main areas of their lives: Gratitude, Genetics, Grind, and Group. By focusing on these four main areas, Ryan has single-handedly helped thousands of people transform their lives personally and professionally.  Ryan has been published in Forbes, Inc and Entrepreneur magazines, host of two podcasts, The HardCore Closer Podcast and ReWire, and is a 10X best selling author.  In this episode of Step It Up Entrepreneur, Tom and Ryan reminisce about one of their first flights together, the difference between core value-driven companies, and those flailing, barely making it by in one of the most abundant times in human history.  In this episode, Ryan shares “the test” he puts all of his employees through, and discover the best practices for running successful businesses…..it's simpler than you might think.    What You'll Learn:   What you should and shouldn't say when 4 police and government agencies greet you on the tarmac at the airport  How to fly private without breaking the bank The best practices when it comes to scaling your business What it means to do the best thing for the client  Creating a winning culture that supports itself in life and business One simple test that will determine if you'll continue working with the people you've hired on your team  Crucial steps required to outlast your competition no matter the state of the economy.  And much more!  FAVORITE QUOTES:  “I had an 8-year brain dump.  Most people can have a 10-minute brain dump and they're fucking empty. I had so much shit stored up there, I went on an 8 year run of podcast after podcast, video after video, post after post, but eventually, as my skill level rose to a 10...I'm a level-10 writer, level-10 video maker, level-10 podcaster, level-10 speaker, level-10 business leader, but once I got my skills to a level 10, then all of a sudden, I started attracting, 7s, 8s, 9s, and other 10s”   Ryan Stewman    Connect with Ryan: Facebook Instagram    Podcast: The HardCore Closer Podcast Podcast: ReWire Podcast  JoinTheApex.com    How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

Our guest today is not a regular human being, but one of the nicest, and friendly people you could meet in person.  Steve Schabacker doesn't mince words and he doesn't waste time when it comes down to doing the work.  He's currently operating 4 companies including an IT Services Company, a Security Services company, 2 Gun Shops, an Online Gun Store, and a gun manufacturing business.  The name of his brand is one you won't forget: SheepDog Firearms, named for the SheepDog that lives his life in hopes one day the wolf that never arrives, does.  Guns. Ammo. Training.  In this episode of Step It Up Entrepreneur, Tom and Steve take a sledgehammer to a mountain of business gold as they dress down in detail the intricacies of establishing a mission statement, core values, and taking care of their clients by doing the hard work and being willing to do what 98% of businesses won't in today's world.  Steve will outline how he gets his clients to drive over an hour away to see him every single month and what he does to make such an impact. They discuss the pivotal moments during the pandemic that exploded Steve's business into the empire he's continuing to build today.    What You'll Learn:   3 things that have allowed Steve to dominate and change the face of the firearms industry  How the size of your store does not equate to the profitability of your business Why taking the extra steps in connecting with clients while they're in person is so important What happened when hand-written cards and gift cards were sent out to key people in his industry  The why and how Steve and his business partner tanked a $10 million dollar a year business One activity Steve does to maximize his time when he's traveling that's added to his bottom line consistently  And much more!    FAVORITE QUOTES: “If you treat people right, they'll drive farther than you think they will drive.” “We can come together over here under things in the Constitution and we don't have to worry about what this group or that group is telling us.”   Steve Schabacker    Connect with Steve: Facebook Instagram    Podcast: The Tactical Entrepreneur Podcast SheepDogFirearms.com    How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

Matthew Kondrup aka “Matty K  El Capitan” is a New York Native who took a side hustle and with a little help from the Universe and life circumstances, developed into a thriving business.  For the last 16 years, Matty K has been a public servant for Nassau County Police Department as a Paramedic coming to the aid of thousands of people over the course of his career. An unfortunate injury left his femur and back broken and forced him into “retirement.” He's also the founder of Matty K Travel arranging various travel accommodations for families, wedding parties, and entrepreneurs. On this episode of Step it Up Entrepreneur, Tom and Matty K discuss the challenges of living in New York, the power of choosing how to work and live life on your own terms.  They take a deep dive into the importance of doing little things for people today, that lead to bigger opportunities tomorrow. Matty K will share how he took life-changing defeat and pivoted into creating a business that has transformed the lives of his clients, family, and employees.      What You'll Learn:   The importance of setting up your life to serve the needs of your family Serving people at a level where they get to know, like and trust you How breaking the strongest bone in your body can change your life and what he did to bounce back  A unique way of attracting employees to help build your business organically Why firing bad clients is a good thing to do from time to time  Reasons why taking a vacation is important for your mental health, especially if you're running a business How Matty K took a part-time hustle and exploded the business by doing 3 simple things  And much more!    FAVORITE QUOTES: “I said if I ever start a company, I'm gonna run a company where the employees respect the people they work for and run it with common sense.  I try really hard.  We have 50 people that work for us around the country.  I would hope that they would all stand up and say, “Hey, Matt's great to work for.  He's got some common sense. He's sticking up for us and going to bat for us with people.”   Connect with Matty K Travel: Facebook Instagram    MattyK Travel Group   How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

There are exactly 729 details that have to be assembled in order to have a successful live event. Is that a true statement? Depending on how detailed your event planner is, the answer is yes.  At the ripe age of 26, Tyler Shane Dozier is an anomaly for his age, and experience. He currently serves as the Events Coordinator for Break Free Academy in Addison, Texas where he works tirelessly to  successfully bring the magic of live events to life with entertainment, music, atmosphere, and a pleasant end-user experience.  Over the last 9 years, he's run over 900 events with anywhere from 10 to 4,000 people in attendance.  On this episode of Step it Up Entrepreneur, Tom and Tyler discuss his journey from high school through the last 8 years of working with youth, working in the fast-paced music industry, serving as the Director for Gymnastics academies in Dallas-Fort Worth, and the most important lessons he's learned along the way.     What You'll Learn:   How Tyler took each opportunity to build a massive event-planning machine by simply doing the work  The logistics required to successfully conceptualize and execute a successful live event  Negotiating and leveraging resources and budgets with various vendors 3 Key elements required to “manage chaos” in any situation Lessons that helped him collapse time and take advantage of new opportunities  His favorite prop when entertaining large audiences  And much more!    FAVORITE QUOTES: “I've spent the greater part of 10 years being the technician in every business. I haven't taken the step to see what I could do on my own and I don't know that I necessarily want that .  I always want the people I've met here to be a part of what I'm doing and I think there's a huge amount of opportunity around me.  I'd be dumb to not stick around for that.” “My biggest goal….I've always wanted to serve people and I want to be able to do that in the entertainment side of things, especially pole dancing, with the pole between my cheeks.  I'm all about that.”    Tyler Shane Dozier    Connect with Tyler: Facebook Instagram      How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

What is the worst thing you could ever do to yourself?  I'm sure a few images popped in your mind.  Brian Lewis is not what most people would call an “average man.”  He's a Licensed Real Estate Agent with EXP Realty, a Real Estate Investor, and works in his family's HVAC company while running a successful non-profit organization, and raising 6 children.    On this episode of Step it Up Entrepreneur, Tom and Brian get real, raw, and talk about hustling as kids in the streets, flipping cars for cash, working for the family business, the multitude of opportunities in the world to make a great living, and the painful lessons learned from doing the one thing most people make the mistake of in their lives…….chasing money.      What You'll Learn:   The stark contrast between being well-educated versus self-employed  Brian's mindset when it comes to creating massive connections that go deep creating the perfect storm for receiving unsolicited referrals 4 + ways to make money as a side hustle   The severe consequences he paid as a result of simply focusing on chasing the money Important considerations when you choose one thing over everything else Surviving Covid-19 Making the most of unfavorable circumstances in life and business  The transformative effects of 75 Hard  “There are certain people in life when we just know.  Like in the Apex Community, we're just having conversations.  You know we're not just the average people.  And I hate to say that, cause a lot of people are happy trucking through life, running the hamster wheel.  We've never been there.”   Brian Lewis Jr.   Connect with Brian: Facebook Instagram    BrianLewisRealtor.com    How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

What if James Bond and Laura Croft are your parents?  What would they do for work?  Where would they vacation? What would their philosophies be on life, love, business and raising children?  Jeff and Kirstin Smith are real-life versions of hi-performance superheroes.  They currently run a successful gym, business consulting, and fitness and nutrition wellness businesses, and real estate investors.  Jeff's life has taken him to play college football, insurance, and ultimately into special operations for the armed forces.  Kirstin started her education at Rice University in Arabic and Islamic studies with a focus on Counter Terrorism. As a team, they are beasts in marriage, raising their four children, and business.   On this episode of Step it Up Entrepreneur, Tom, Jeff and Kirstin discuss how they met, their journeys on their individual paths, the importance of creating core values in business, and family.  They're not your typical parents or entrepreneurs and they'll share how they've managed to create the most ideal versions of their lives that work best for them and their family, and will share how you can do it, too.     What You'll Learn:   Why it's important to duck in a bar fight  How to channel the drive of being high achievers An alternative way to raise your family, educate them and run successful businesses from home  Their philosophy behind the core values in their companies and the expectations of their employees  Making your own rules on your own terms no matter what the economy or the world dictates   Favorite Quotes:    “We both share the core value of Freedom, and we want the freedom of our time and  movement to do what we want to do and do what makes us happy.  Jeff has worked from home for years. We have a great team in place at the gym. I work virtually with clients so we have the ability to load our 4 kids in the RV and go wherever we want.”    Kirstin Smith      “We're not real resume heavy on our transferable skills. We go to fill out resumes and ask, “what the fuck can I do?    Some of these guys are IT techs and hackers.  I can go in the civilian world and become a contractor, become a security guard, or I can go and shoot people…….that resume doesn't go very far in most circles.  As a former operator, most go into the corporate world.”     Jeff Smith     Connect with Jeff: Facebook Instagram   Connect with Kirstin:  KirstinSmith Facebook Instagram   How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

What does it take to pull yourself out of the depths of poverty, food stamps, alcoholism, drug abuse, and negativity?  Michael “Doc” Rannigan has one motto:  “No Give-Up Attitude.”  It's the very attitude that took him from the rough streets of Oak Cliff in Dallas to the isolation of country living which led him to pursue a better life through service in the medical field in the U.S. Navy. Today, “Doc” operates the #1 Veteran Owned Roofing company in North Texas.  On this episode of Step it Up Entrepreneur, Tom and “Doc” discuss the mindset that led him from a life of poverty and dead ends, into a life that took him around the world serving and caring for injured military personnel in war zones, and eventually to the revelation and meaning behind “why” we're doing what we do on this planet.    What You'll Learn:   The initial spark that led him to serve in the U.S. Navy Where he was when the planes hit the twin towers  How his unit became a huge part of American history  The number one revelation he had when he was in the streets of Iraq during war time Why creating a legacy starts with knowing the end result and the importance of removing yourself from the center of it all.    “Like, why are we in Iraq? We were being told it's weapons of mass destruction.  Oh, it's this, oh, it's that…..and we were like, this was all bogus. But when we got down to it and started seeing all the help we were giving to these kids, to these people…..they were just wanting to live a little bit freer than they were living yesterday.”  Michael “Doc” Rannigan  Connect with Doc:  Doc'sRoofing Doc'sRoofingTX- Facebook   Facebook Cell: 214-284-0695    How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

George Randle is a 20 Army Veteran, Managing Partner at Talent War Group, co-author of “The Talent War,” and host of the Talent War podcast.  He's leveraged his experience in human capital management and has become a strategic and masterful recruiter in large organizations from the US military to companies such as Hewlett Packard and other global organizations. He's known for selecting, building, reorganizing teams and companies to reach their full potential. On this episode of Step it Up Entrepreneur, Tom and George take a deep dive in discussing the challenges that come with attracting, recruiting, motivating, and empowering talented individuals to lead successful companies.  They also discuss how George became a co-author with Mike Sarraille and wrote and published the best-selling book, “The Talent War.”    What You'll Learn:     The power of leveraging LinkedIn for recruiting  Updating and Utilizing social media for professional development and growth  The lowest form of communication on social media  Solving big problems in business with talent  Processes and systems used to attract, motivate, train, and retain special operations for your business    Favorite Quote:  “It isn't the gear, the technology that makes special operations special.  It's the people and that goes for every small business and every big business.   If you don't get the people right, it doesn't matter your product and there's a slew of companies you can look at that got it wrong and are no longer around.”    - George Randle   Connect with George: Talent War Group Talent War Group FB  Facebook.com  Instagram LinkedIn  Book:  The Talent War  Email: george@talentwargroup.com     How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

How do you determine whether moving forward with your business idea during shaky economic times is wise? And what can you do to ensure that this new business is set up for success?   When Alex Cantaboni started his pest control business in 2009, he heard from his share of naysayers on the heels of the recession. Not only was the timing called into questioning, but Alex was also entering an exceedingly competitive market. In Texas, there are hundreds of these companies, all warding off Texas-sized pests. But a few things set Alex's operation apart and, 12 years and 32 employees later, have made it into the success it is today.    On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Alex talk about his journey from working 90-hour weeks for others to owning his company, how he's transforming the way fumigation as a career path is seen (“I want it to be a respectable industry”), and the impact core values have had on his turnover rate.   What You'll Learn:   Why never offering discount services has been one of Alex's keys to success The hiring trick that's saved him “hundreds and hundreds of hours” Why he does a quarterly review of his customers — and ultimately chooses to “fire” some And much more! Favorite Quote:   “Firing customers is one of the most liberating things you can do… when you get rid of a**hole customers, the morale of your team increases, and you can take that effort and energy and put it into the right people.”     Alex Cantaboni   Connect with Alex:   LinkedIn   Facebook   How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

As a former Navy SEAL who spent 26 years serving the U.S., William Branum knows what it looks like to push the human body past its limits. And he also knows how it feels to emerge on the other side of that, in need of mental, emotional, and physical healing.    “At some point along the way, I started self-medicating with alcohol because alcohol is a great way to turn stuff off,” William recalls. “It's a great way to mask things that are going on in your head. I would use pharmaceuticals, and I would use alcohol to kind of turn the noise off.”    And after completing any number of missions that most people would consider impossible, including swimming out of miniature submarines on the ocean floor up to the surface and back, William had plenty of noise and, more specifically, pain. After he retired as a SEAL, he discovered something that helped with his discomfort: CBD... Now, he operates a CBD business that focuses on helping veterans and first responders recover from pain, stress, anxiety, sleeplessness, and more.   In this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and William discuss the challenges William faced becoming and serving as a Navy SEAL and how CBD has helped him recover.   What You'll Learn:   How William ultimately became a SEAL (it involved a few failed attempts — and an unexpected exchange with the Navy's highest-ranking member) Why attempting to better himself, post-the Navy pushed him in the direction of CBD “before it was popular” The dosages and types of CBD he recommends to those just starting out And much more! Favorite Quote:   “When things get out of balance, your endocannabinoid system gets out of balance. CBD helps your body heal itself. It doesn't heal your body.”     William Branum     Connect with William:   Naked Warrior Recovery    Instagram   LinkedIn   How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

Ever wonder how a confident person conquers every industry, every challenge, every skill they set foot in? It's not because of a magic wand or a handful of self-help books. That kind of victory comes from a set of solid principles, a willingness to fail, and a welcome attitude toward adversity.  Chris Duffin is an author, entrepreneur, thought leader, innovator in the health and fitness industry, and co-founder and chief visionary officer of Kabuki Strength. Having overcome a chaotic upbringing, Chris became a record-holding powerlifter who often uses his lifting to raise funds for charity. Now, he puts his engineering background to work with companies across various industries and build up his own.   On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Chris dig into finding the perfect middle by chasing challenges and extremes, the mission and approach of Kabuki Strength, how Chris structures his business' values, his teams, his days, and his role as a leader, and getting clear on what you want in life and why you want it so you can focus on the fundamentals and smash goal after goal. Listen in for an interview with one of the world's (literal best) and get some insanely valuable gems to put to work in your life and your business.    What You'll Learn:   Why the “easy life” most people chase all their lives is the thing that's going to kill them faster How Chris is pursuing his goal of changing the entire face of fitness through his companies and their one-of-a-kind processes and teams What Chris' book has in store for readers, including the process of finding extreme clarity and becoming a relentless learner And much more!   Favorite Quote:   “I know exactly what I want in life. I know my values, and I know how I want to live, and I cut out the non-essential, and I chased that shit like it's fucking everything - because it is everything. And I take care of the fundamentals. I'm there with my family. I make sure I get my sleep. And I spend tons of time with my wonderful wife every day."   Chris Duffin   Connect with Chris:   Kabuki Strength   BuildFast Formula   Bearfoot Footwear   Facebook   Instagram   LinkedIn   ChrisDuffin.com (make sure you grab a copy of the book!)   Kabuki on YouTube   Kabuki on Instagram   Jacqueline Duffin on Instagram How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

The ideal business partner is your better half as you run your company...sometimes literally. Two driven, talented brains are always better than one, and synchronicity is the ideal ingredient to add to systems and sales skills for a successful business.   Amy and Ray Cattaneo run Infinity Personal Training together, with Ray serving as CEO and Amy in the role of Director. The couple takes a holistic approach to health and fitness based on natural healing. In addition to Infinity, Amy runs an essential oils business and helps women grow healthier and happier on the way to their goals.   On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas sits down with Amy and Ray to cover the growth of their franchise from staffing to revamping their organization systems and establishing their specific approach to health and fitness training, how they both built up their most valuable skills from scratch and leveraged them into stellar careers, and how solid processes and systems make a good idea into a great business. Join in to get a rare glimpse into the life of a high-powered team with a unique dynamic. What You'll Learn:   Why you need to be able to step back and work on your business rather than being stuck working in it - and how Amy and Ray created that type of space for themselves What Ray's early sales experience gave him in terms of business skills he's still using to this day How Amy and Ray navigate running their business together as a married couple, and some of the boundaries they set to keep their roles and priorities in place And much more! Favorite Quote:   “We were constantly trying to grow [the business] past what it was, and just trying to make it bigger and better in terms of serving our clients and giving value, because we wanted it to be completely different from the typical big-box gyms of just, ‘You're a number, we're all about the sales.' We don't want that. We want it to be, get results, get our client's value, what can we do to serve this person and change their life?"   Amy Cattaneo   Connect with Amy and Ray:   Amy's website   Infinity Personal Training   Amy on Facebook   Ray on Facebook   Amy on Instagram How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

What if you could design your marketing to go straight to your audience's brains? There's a natural science out there dedicated to not only attracting the right customers but keeping them for generations. Learning just a few of the core principles could change your business forever.   Alex Vonderhaar is a speaker, entrepreneur, neuro-marketer, podcast host, and CEO of Hidden Falls Media; a company focused on bringing psychology and neuroscience to entrepreneurs and marketers looking to achieve stratospheric growth.   On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Alex break down the application of neuroscience in marketing, how Alex built up his unique skill set, found his purpose and got into the field, the transformative nature of float tanks, and the process of curating a podcast full of information and top-of-their-field thinkers. Tune in to bypass the usual marketing advice and go several layers deeper.    What You'll Learn:   What effective storytelling can do for the way you communicate with your customers on a nearly subconscious level How the connection between psychology, human behavior, and business clicked for Alex, and how he took that connection and grew his own business out of it Why getting access to solid scientific research is the best way to seek out the information you need (if you want to get ahead) And much more!   Favorite Quote:   “At the core of what we do, marketing is a game of memorization, and it's all about being human. And there's no amount of preparation you can do besides that to connect with your clients at a humanistic level."   Alex Vonderhaar     Connect with Alex :   Hidden Falls Media    The Hidden Falls Media Experience Podcast (Remember to subscribe, rate and review!)   Fix Your Marketing Facebook group   Alex on Instagram How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

Times are changing fast - it's tough to deny that. Will your business be left behind? For as much as tactics and tools come and go, the real secret to staying at the top lies in your mindset, your approach to serving your clients, and your priorities.   Jonathan Lautermilch is the founder of Smart Shark and, along with Marc Zalmanoff, the driving force behind Fit Pro Collective and the Real Talk with Real Fit Pros Podcast, both of which exist to give entrepreneurs and personal trainers in the fitness space the strategies and community they need to grow their business and get paid what they're worth.   On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Jonathan jam on the process of navigating both the positive and the adverse reactions of the outside world to your personal development, how Jonathan helps and supports ambitious fitness entrepreneurs beyond simply scoring a few sales, and adapting the way you do business to keep up with the significant shifts in how we treat information. Listen in for a no-holds-barred interview that will give you the tools to serve your people and operate at higher levels than ever.    What You'll Learn:   What you begin to notice about the people around you when you take on a new challenge (hint: it's not always positive) Why 2020 turned out to be the best year of Jonathan's life business-wise, and how he did the prep work to thrive during the toughest of times How to limit decision fatigue in small-but-crucial ways to open up a game-changing amount of bandwidth and brainpower And much more!   Favorite Quote:   “That time forged me into who I am today. And I know every pain and every struggle and every step that someone's going to go through when it comes to being in this business, which is why I didn't pick fitness as a niche. It picked me."   Jonathan Lautermilch   Connect with Jonathan:   Fit Pro Collective   Real Talk with Real Fit Pros Podcast (Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!)   Jump into the Facebook community   How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

What do you do when you step into a stage of life that you don't know how to navigate? We'd all love to think that we have everything figured out. But when we eventually realize that's not the case, the best path forward is creativity, adaptability, and plenty of confidence.   Leandro Thomas is a content creator, video marketing consultant, producer, and the founder and owner of Majestic Media Group, a multifaceted media company based on high-quality content creation and client results that speak for themselves.   On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Leandro dive deep on building confidence through intelligent networking, the origin story of Majestic Media Group, the unique approach Leandro takes to working with clients and balancing art with business, and the importance of staying adaptable receptive while protecting your energy from negative influence, both internal and external. Tune in for an uplifting interview that will get your mind churning on how you can more fully realize your talents and let them show through to your people. What You'll Learn:   What project planning looks like for Leandro, from hearing the client's vision to mapping out shots to ensuring maximum time efficiency  How Leandro's first big “aha” moment helped him step into his value and make an (unexpected) homerun offer Why ditching the money-making tunnel vision and turning your focus toward a genuine presence and some self-confidence is the best revenue-generating strategy there is  And much more!   Favorite Quote:   “I think everything is figure out-able. I've heard that before. I don't know who said that, but it's figure out-able. Like, if you can just be adaptable and roll with the punches, you can accomplish anything literally."   Leandro Thomas   Connect with Leandro:   Majestic Media Group   Leandro on Instagram How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

How did you build your current mindset? More to the point - did you work at building the mindset you have? Entrepreneurs who want to break out of the average put in the work, create the habits, and gather the knowledge they need to stay focused and stay extraordinary.   Irvin Retiz is the founder of Retiz Electric and the host of the Breakthrough Society Podcast. His show, and the community he has built up around it, exists to help other driven entrepreneurs break through to the next level in business and in life.   On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Irvin dig into the impact a good podcast can have on its listeners, fine-tuning all the parts of the machine that is your business so that you can run it (rather than the other way around), and how to structure your life around intentional goal achievement and exactly zero excuses. Listen in for a perfect example of a success story in progress and on the rise.   What You'll Learn:   How Irvin grew up learning the ropes of entrepreneurship from his father - and how he put it into practice on his own as an adult What it takes to grow a podcast that people actually want to listen to, including networking, planning for the best sound and visual quality, and grade-A promotion strategy Why 75 Hard is an excellent first step toward a lifestyle that will help you embrace challenge with way less of an intimidation factor And much more!   Favorite Quote:   “You realize that you're making these excuses and you're like, ‘What the fuck is an excuse? Like, I'm just gonna go do it.' It helps you just power through stuff later on in life."   Irvin Retiz   Connect with Irvin:   Irvin on Instagram   Breakthrough Society Podcast (Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!)    Breakthrough Society on Instagram   Breakthrough Society on Facebook How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.   

How do you consistently show up as a champion in every arena of your life? First, of course, you won't do it without taking a few hits. But if you can learn to bounce back and keep moving past every roadblock and every doubting voice, you'll find yourself at the top of whatever mountain you want to conquer.   Dontae Smiley is a professional wrestler, speaker, athlete, fitness coach, and Prime Time Fitness Training owner. Dontae's commitment to discipline and decisive action shines through every pursuit he takes on from the boardroom to the ring.   On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Dontae break down the trajectory of Dontae's career from leaving the music industry to suffering a severe injury and becoming a trainer and CrossFit athlete to his start as a pro wrestler, how he developed an attitude and a presence that contributed to his success at a time when a lot of people weren't in his corner and the process by which Dontae's clients learn to take control of their habits and lifestyles for the better. Tune in for some heavy-hitting words of wisdom from an athlete who fought his way to the top and did the work to stay there.   What You'll Learn:   How Dontae's injury ultimately brought him into a state of extreme gratitude and motivation to build a lasting legacy of hard work Why so many people default to an “I can't do it” mindset, and how to build up a state of mind that helps you to push past your perceived limits What simply telling your story, no matter what your past might look like, can do for the people around who you look up to you and want your advice And much more!   Favorite Quote:   “When I die, I don't want anybody ever to be able to say that they didn't see me busting my ass and working hard... That's the one thing that won't be able to be said about Dontae Smiley when I'm gone from this Earth. Everybody always sees me work hard at anything and everything that I do, be it with this stuff online, with fitness. Everybody sees that I work hard. When I talk about my family, they say I try to do my best and [stay] elevated in my life through my businesses and stuff like that for my family."   Dontae Smiley   Connect with Dontae:   Facebook   Prime Time Fitness on Facebook    Twitter   Instagram OIWA   Prime Time Fitness How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don't forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

Have you ever made a decision (personal or business) that left folks in your inner circle wondering if you had lost it? In this episode we welcome back Tomas Keenan - founder of Step It Up Academy, COO of Break Free Academy, and Mike's personal Apex Executive Coach - to discuss some life changing decisions he's made over the last few years after he decided he was done living just an OK life. These decisions have opened the doors to multiple opportunities he never saw coming and have lead to a life that most only dream of. If you are tired of just living an average life you need to check out this episode & don't forget to subscribe AND leave a review!  For more from Tomas: https://connectwithtomas.com/ 

Forget the "lone wolf" mentality. The fact is, no one gets very far on their own. You need people who have got your back, who are willing to tell you the truth when things get tough, and who never stop striving to succeed.   The Apex Executive Member tier is the highest offered at Breakfree Academy. More than an average coaching group, though, Apex is a group of committed, hyper-focused entrepreneurs who never settle and support each other relentlessly.   On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and the “Apex goon squad” dig deep on the value they’ve found (and given) in building a community of like-minded, 100% transparent individuals who are dedicated to pushing themselves and each other, Tomas' rise through the ranks at Breakfree to his current position as COO, and letting good things and powerful opportunities enter your life when they're supposed to. Tune in for an unconventional interview from a group of guys who have the kind of rare bond that carries the potential to change the world.   What You’ll Learn:   How the guys go above and beyond to support each other at work and in every other area of life What the people who want a pre-made “formula” for doing better and achieving more in business are missing  Why no amount of money made will keep your clients with you if you haven't built a strong trust And much more!   Favorite Quote:   "Most of us just really [come] from humble beginnings and have truly worked our asses off to get where we are. And we're still hungry. And that's what I love about being surrounded by you guys. Because most of us at this point right now, we could coast if we wanted to, and things would be good - wouldn't be great, but they would be good. But none of us are satisfied."   Marc Zalmanoff   Connect with the Guys:   Drewbie Wilson:   Facebook   Instagram   Crushing the Day Podcast   Crushing the Day book   Chris Whitehead:   Facebook   Brian McKittrick:   Insurance of Texas   Marc Zalmanoff:   Instagram   Facebook   Mike Claudio:   Instagram   Big Stud Podcast How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don’t forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.   

How often do you lose track of what you need to get done in a day? It’s a common problem for any business owner - and the fix is easier than you think (if you’re interested in changing the game).   Mike Claudio is a sales and leadership coach, speaker, host of the Big Stud Podcast and WinRate Consulting. Through his content and coaching, Mike helps contractors scale their business, manage leads, and plan for a successful future.   On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Mike dig into leveraging an addictive personality to drive healthy habits and a disciplined lifestyle, the time-blocking process that helps Mike and his team focus and gets things without confusion or overlap, and the importance of the human element in your branding. Listen in for a no-nonsense episode that will give you the key to taking back control of your time and making robust progress. What You’ll Learn:   How Mike got intentional about staying present, staying positive, and doing the work during 2020 - and finished the year stronger than ever What Mike considers his “nonnegotiables” when it comes to his calendar, why they exist, and how to preserve your essential time blocks Why regularly taking a step back and analyzing your performance at the end of a set period is vital to keeping your business around and keeping it thriving And much more! Favorite Quote:   “‘Win fast, win often’ is my brand. It's, wins every decision, wins every next step, wins that situation - ‘win often’ means you're setting yourself up for success regularly by creating the game plan. What makes today a winning day? If you don't know what that is, how are you ever going to feel it?”   Mike Claudio   Connect with Mike:   WinRate Consulting on Instagram   Big Stud Podcast (Go subscribe and drop a rating and review!)   Mike on YouTube How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don’t forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next. 

Do you want to learn real discipline? Listen to a soldier. And not just any soldier - if you want the secrets to ultimate teamwork, dedication, and resilience, you’ve got to seek out the best of the best. Zack Hughes is a former Green Beret Special Forces soldier who became the COO of Elite Meet and co-founder of Operators Association following a career-ending injury in Afghanistan. Now, Zack puts his exceptional discipline and focus towards motivating, educating, and supporting other veterans and new Special Operators on the rise.    On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Zack dive deep into the unique dynamic that exists in a Green Beret Special Forces team and the values that that experience instilled in Zack, how a series of injuries ended Zack’s military career and the shift that followed, and the trials, errors, and wins of Zack’s growing experience in social media strategy. Listen in for an interview unlike any other with a warrior who brings a whole new mindset to the world of business.    What You’ll Learn:   What an airdrop of supplies in Afghanistan looks like, both to the soldiers stationed there and the local community How Zack balances the “all for the team” mindset he experienced in Special Forces with the more individual mindset of an entrepreneur, and why each is useful in its own ways Why Zack now feels a responsibility to mentor and improve both the existing and the up-and-coming Special Forces community even after his military service has ended - and what he’s doing about it And much more! Favorite Quote:   “The rooms that you're in play a huge part in who you are and what you do. And this room, this building, these people, Special Operations rooms, those people selection rooms...getting in the room with the same like-minded individuals - you can't put a number on that. It changes everything.”   Zack Hughes     Connect with Zack:   Instagram   Facebook   LinkedIn   YouTube   TikTok    Elite Meet   Operators Association How To Get Involved:   From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him.   Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don’t forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop.   Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.   

How does one business last through generations of sons, thriving and growing with each one? The amount of work it takes is incredible, but the rewards far outweigh the struggle. Chad Felderhoff is the co-owner of Muenster Milling Co. alongside his brother Mitch, and the two of them stand as the fourth generation of Felderhoffs to run the company. Chad's devotion to constant challenge, integrity and self-improvement is evident in every corner of his life, from the business to his own family and beyond. On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Chad jam on how Chad went from slinging feed sacks in the summers to running the family business, why isolating high-leverage activities for yourself and delegating the other stuff is such a game-changer, and having the discipline to keep moving through whatever the world (and your own children) might throw at you. Listen in for an interview full of the fundamentals every entrepreneur and business owner should be studying. What You’ll Learn: How Chad and his brother skirted difficult supply-chain logistics and forged ahead with products made by their own two hands What Chad's parents' management style and his experience in a corporate structure taught him about maximizing his resources and letting go of his ego Why the learning curve you're navigating in your business is not only normal, it's actually to your advantage down the road And much more! Favorite Quote: "It's a straight discipline thing. Jocko says it best with 'Discipline equals freedom.' And it took a while for that to click for me. But yeah, once you kind of realize that, getting up every morning sucks when you first do it, but then, man, that's how I add hours to my day."   Chad Felderhoff   Connect with Chad: MuensterMilling.com Chad on Instagram Chad on Facebook Muenster Milling on Facebook YouTube How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don’t forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

How do you make forward momentum the standard for your business, rather than an occasional thing? Growth is far from unpredictable if you know how to engineer it - you just have to master a few important concepts. Jason Graybeal is the founder and president of Graybeal Group, a multimillion-dollar agricultural, commercial and personal insurance agency designed to help empower high-performing individuals to thrive in rural areas while protecting customers in the same market. Jason is also the co-host of the No Bull Business and Brews Podcast, where he lends his wisdom and sense of humor to other entrepreneurs and business owners on the rise. On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Jason cover how Jason grew his insurance business to great heights using genuine connections, drive, and smart acquisition strategies, what to look for as you seek out a group of peers you can grow with and learn from, and Jason’s guiding philosophy regarding cash and opportunities. Listen in for a laid-back interview that will get your wheels turning on your next big move towards major business growth.  What You’ll Learn: How Jason managed to get funding for his goals early on without a ton of assets to prove himself to his investors (and why he has the exact opposite problem these days) Why books have been irreplaceably valuable in Jason’s rise to the top, and what he’s gained from his reading list over the years What Jason looks for in his employees and team members - and how a pattern of negativity can change the tone of your whole company culture And much more! Favorite Quote: "What's that story of Elon Musk, maybe, he went to 180 banks before they finally got a yes, or something like that… The same mentality exists - if I want this to happen, I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna find a way and I still am that way. Like, if there's a deal that pops up tomorrow, I will find a way. And I can almost guarantee you that I will find the way, I'm not going to give up."   Jason Graybeal   Connect with Jason: No Bull Business and Brews Podcast JasonGraybeal.com Facebook Instagram How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don’t forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

What does it mean to be a man? What deeply rooted piece of who you are inspires you to leave your mark on the world and the people in it? Without the drive to do anything more than live in the moment, life takes on a lot less meaning. Paul Beam founded True North Ministries based on the lessons learned and the enlightenment gained from his own struggles to define what it means to be a man and find and pursue his purpose. Along with his coaching, Paul hosts the True North Man Podcast and holds Man Camp events designed to bring men back in touch with their identities as men and their calling in life. On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Paul dig into the rocky path Paul took into intentional, impactful manhood, the birth of True North Ministries and the battles that begin when you embrace your highest purpose, and how Paul creates a prime atmosphere for transformation within his Man Camp events. Listen in for an interview that will strip away the noise and distractions of your day and bring you back to the things that truly matter. What You’ll Learn: Why it's okay (and even helpful) to rip off techniques and strategies you like from other businesses or entrepreneurs you admire How you can start to tap into what you value above all by identifying just 5 pieces of your life What revelations occur when men are allowed to just be men together, everyone on an equal playing field, everyone striving to be the best version of who they are And much more! Favorite Quote: "At the end of the day, I believe that is what every man's purpose on Earth is, is to edify and uplift and elevate those around them. Now, in the manner in which they do that, that is what is going to be different. The way that Tomas does it is different than the way that Paul does it, but we both do it. And in doing so, that's where we find our fulfillment. That's where we find our true call."   Paul Beam   Connect with Paul: True North Ministries True North Man on Facebook Paul on Facebook Paul on Instagram True North Man on Instagram True North Man Podcast (don't forget to rate, review and subscribe!) How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don’t forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.

How many decisions do you make in a day without even thinking about it? More importantly, how many choices each day result in a significant impact - for better or worse - further down the road? Intention and perseverance are two of the most effective ingredients in a robust, thriving lifestyle, and they're often the ones people skip over entirely. Since 2003, Marc “The Fitness Ninja” Zalmanoff has been helping people live happier, healthier lives through improved fitness, nutrition, and mindset. A gym owner in Frisco, TX, Marc has a unique talent for blending science-based fitness & nutrition programming with empathetic coaching to meet people where they are and help them achieve the results that have eluded them for far too long. Along with his never-ending wit and humor, Marc can help anyone ready for change.  Over the years, Marc has realized being a business owner, regardless of the profession, requires an expanding skill set of personal growth, marketing, business skills, and a lot of written words. He knows people need to hear the right message to be moved to make positive changes in their lives.  Whether it’s serving people in his gym, coaching people thru his online programs, or educating and entertaining the masses on social media through his written content and memes, he is currently on a mission to Make America Fit Again and help people Make Good Choices, and will do whatever he can to make the most significant impact possible!  On this episode of the Step It Up Entrepreneur podcast, Tomas and Marc jam on powering through COVID with a championship mindset, how to pick and choose the people around you by how willing they are to level up, and how to ease decision fatigue and save valuable time with your daily schedule. Tune in for an interview that will obliterate your excuses and get you started making decisions that will change your life for the better (and for good). What You’ll Learn: What those who are successful in business and life carry with them into the gym (and how Marc can tell the successful gym-goers from the not-as-successful) How Marc puts in the work and sticks to his values - and how those seemingly minor steps allow you to reap huge rewards  Why what seemed like a considerable delay in the process of writing his book wound up making the book better than it would have been otherwise  And much more! Favorite Quote: "Those of us who have a servant attitude is always looking at, 'How can I help people?' Because overall… that's what we're trying to do in some form or fashion, whether it's a business or health and fitness or mindset or relationships, like, we're trying to help people. And so when there is a tragedy, and there are trials and tribulations far beyond what most people ever experienced, those of us positioned well, we look for ways to help."   Marc Zalmanoff   Connect with Marc: Make America Fit Again on Facebook  FitPro Bros on Instagram Marc on Instagram Real Talk with Real Fit Pros Podcast MarcZFitness.com Reach out to Marc here How To Get Involved: From his start in the GPS tracking industry to founding the Step It Up Academy, Tomas Keenan is on a mission to break out of the concept of “average” and reach the success that is anything but. And he wants you to join him. Check Tomas out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and don’t forget to visit tomaskeenan.com and sign up to make sure you never miss an episode drop. Enjoyed the episode? Hop over to Apple Podcasts for more! Like and share to help spread the word. We appreciate your support—and we hope to return the favor: Leave a review to let us know what you want to hear from Tomas next.