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Coonoor Behal is the Founder & CEO of Mindhatch, a firm that specializes in getting companies better results with creativity through Design Thinking, Organizational Improv™, Innovation Facilitation, and Diversity & Inclusion. She is also the author of I Quit! The Life-Affirming Joy of Giving Up, which will be published by New Degree Press in April 2021. “If you plan to do your business for three or more years, then do not skimp on your website. Make it great and let it help you.”Coonoor Behal Worst investment everGoing out on her ownCoonoor quit her job at Deloitte Consulting to start her own company, Mindhatch. She immediately went into a bootstrap mode and cut out all these things that were personal expenditures.Taking the bootstrapping mentality into her new business ventureCoonoor knew what she wanted to be doing for clients, but she did not know how to go about it, mainly because she was so strapped for cash. Coonoor was looking for all possible ways to build her business without spending a lot of money.One of the things Coonoor decided she needed was a website. Again, she went into the bootstrapping mentality of not wanting to spend much on this website. Her expectations for the website were low, and she thought this was a smart business decision. She went for a static three-page website with simple details of who she is, what her niche does, and contact details.  She paid about $1,000 for that.Time for a new websiteCoonoor’s business started to grow, and she started wanting to do more. Now she was a B2B business, and she needed a website that could do a lot more for her business, such as lead generation, answer questions that people are curious about, and more.Struggling to find a reliable web designerCoonoor decided it was time to improve her website, and she started looking for someone to work with. Unfortunately, this became the worst thing she experienced since starting her business.It took her a really long time to find a good web designer who eventually built the website she should have gotten from the beginning. She learned the hard way that cheap is indeed expensive.Lessons learnedWork on a great business website from the start to save moneyYou will save yourself money, time, and so much heartache and annoyance if you engage a good website design company from the start. Focus on building a professional website as you start building your business so that it can grow with your business.Andrew’s takeawaysBuilding a great website is hard but with the right web design company, you can do itA lot goes into creating a business website that customers will love and find useful. This is an expensive venture that most small businesses prefer to defer until they make a lot of money. However, when you find the right web designer, you can work together to create something great from the very start.Do not let insecurity or fear of failure hold you back from going the whole nine yardsMost new entrepreneurs have a sense of insecurity and fear that their businesses will fail and, therefore, shy away from investing in essential business tools such as websites. Trust yourself and show the world what you are made of.Actionable adviceThink about how long you want to do the thing that requires a website. If you are committed, and you know it is going to be something you will do for three or more years, then definitely invest in that website upfront.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsCoonoor’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to sell many books once her book is launched in April. She also plans to do keynote speeches and give author and book talks at organizations and conferences.Parting words “Just try it out and experiment. Most things in life are not as risky as you think they are.”Coonoor Behal [spp-transcript] Connect with Coonoor BehalLinkedInTwitterBlogWebsiteAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever PodcastFurther reading mentionedDonal Miller (2017), Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen.

Mario Martinez Jr is the CEO and Founder of Vengreso. He spent 86 consecutive quarters in B2B Sales and Leadership. He is one of 20 sales influencers invited to appear in the Salesforce.com documentary film “The Story of Sales” launched in 2018 and was named 2019’s Top 10 Sales Influencers by The Modern Sales Magazine. Mario is the host of the popular Modern Selling Podcast. “We always say invest in people, and that is true 100%. But you also need to know when it’s time to not invest in a person.”Mario Martinez Jr Worst investment everWhen Mario formed Vengreso, he started looking at how he could bridge together the world’s largest modern sales training company by amassing multiple companies underneath one corporate structure through a mergers and acquisitions strategy.Mario pitched 14 different business leaders. He ended up getting ten partners that all said yes to his idea. Two, however, literally dropped out the day before they signed all the paperwork.The big mergers and acquisitions ideaMario’s idea was to have a private equity roll-up where you bring all the companies underneath one corporate entity. Everybody’s assets, IP information, and revenue are all rolled up into one centralized structure. And that is what he did.Mario and the eight partners created a large entity with a lot of reach and brand equity. It went on to take the market by storm.Too much for someWhile the idea was a perfect one, Mario overlooked some things when pitching to business owners. He got excited because people welcomed his proposal. So instead of cherry-picking the people to partner with, Mario accepted anyone who wanted in.The merger ended up a total disasterBecause of this, the merger ended up becoming a total disaster from a personality standpoint. The merge ended up being too scary for some of the partners, and so along the way, they left. Others were exited out of the firm because there were just too many differences causing a rift between partners. Now only four of the new partners are left in the firm.Spending time trying to make relationships workMario spent so much of his time trying to make the relationships work. He saw the clash in personalities from the start, but he just let it go thinking that the issue would naturally resolve itself over time. However, the differences just got worse, and Mario had to finally have the difficult conversation of exiting some partners, something he wishes he had done years earlier.Lessons learnedNormalize dissolving partnerships that are no longer workingIf you are in a partnership and find yourself disagreeing all the time, do not leave disagreements to chance. If the relationship keeps getting worse and you are arguing over the same thing all the time, you need to consider dissolving the partnership. Have an honest discussion about it and call it quits if it is just not working.Do thorough due diligence before getting into any mergers and acquisitionsBefore you get into any mergers and acquisitions, do your due diligence to figure out who is the best partner for you and what they will bring to the table. Do not let the excitement of a new venture cloud your judgment.Andrew’s takeawaysNot everything that experts do will work for you tooJust because experts are doing something you are interested in does not mean that it is the right thing to do or that it is going to work for you. It does not mean it is not going to work, be cautious of doing things blindly just because others are doing them.Not every disagreement needs to be resolved with a confrontationYou can resolve disagreements amicably through nonconfrontational communication and conflict resolution.Actionable adviceWhen getting into partnerships, follow your gut. Also, be willing to have honest conversations with your partner/s regarding the progress of your collaboration.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsMario’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to double Vengreso’s growth from an employee perspective. He hopes to do this by hiring more people from underrepresented groups.Parting words “Just have fun.”Mario Martinez Jr [spp-transcript] Connect with Mario Martinez JrLinkedInTwitterFacebookYouTubeWebsiteAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

Elizabeth Buko is an author and Wealth Coach. She helps entrepreneurs improve their finances & start their wealth-building journey by changing the way they think about money from a faith-based perspective.Elizabeth has helped women eliminate tens of thousands in personal debt, start investing towards their financial goals, grow their net worth to multiple 6 and 7 figures, and let go of deep personal beliefs that limit them financially.She is the Founder of Wealth From Little, where she runs monthly wealth creation classes. She is married and has two young children. “Everything that we have right now is, in most cases, directly related to how we were thinking in the past.”Elizabeth Buko Worst investment everA hunger to be richAt 19, Elizabeth worked as an intern and hated not having enough money to live a comfortable life. She decided that she would be rich and started looking for ways to make money quickly.Elizabeth had heard about investing in the stock market. She had read in the news about people who had invested in stocks and were now millionaires. She wanted to be like them.Saving every penny she couldElizabeth would save every penny that she earned. She would only pay essential bills and save everything else. While her friends and sisters were going shopping, to the cinema, out for dinner, spending money, and having fun, Elizabeth would be left behind. She was literally saving every coin to invest and get rich in 20 or 30 years.Investing in the first option availableElizabeth tried to find information about investing in stocks, but she could not find any. She felt restless and like she was just wasting time sitting around waiting to find information while her savings could be making her rich.Elizabeth had saved about 4,000 pounds, so she decided to just do it. Elizabeth thought that all you had to do was pick a stock from a long list, put money into it, sit back, relax and wait for the money to start coming in. She picked a stock and put in 2,000 pounds. A couple of months later, Elizabeth picked a second stock and put in the rest of her savings.The elusive richesA few months later, the first company Elizabeth invested in started experiencing issues, and the stock lost value. The second stock was still doing well, and she was earning dividends.Fast forward six or seven years later, the company crashed. There was a recession, and the company did not survive it. Just before the recession started, Elizabeth’s money had grown to about 15,000. Then the company crashed, and she lost it all.Lessons learnedDo not let the fear of being poor lead you to your worst investment everThe fear of being poor and the desire to be rich can cause you to invest blindly with the hope of making a lot of money fast. You get so blinded by fear that you make decisions without clearly understanding how to invest as a beginner.Investing in the stock market is not a get rich quick schemeDo not go into the stock market thinking that you will get rich quick. If you want to grow your wealth, you need to do it right. Read up on investing in the stock market, seek advice on how to go about it, and get out of the mindset of getting rich quick.Andrew’s takeawaysInvestment is a serious business that needs more than excitementDo not invest just because you see other investors living lavish lives or get sucked into the media hype on investing. Investing is a serious business that can strip you of your wealth very quickly. So do not get into it blindly.Start investing with a portfolio of ten stocksIf you are going to start investing in stocks, then have about 10 of them. Not one or two, and not 20 or 30, or else you are just mimicking the market. The best way to go about it is to get an ETF or a fund that owns many stocks. This way, you will have a well-diversified portfolio.Actionable adviceGet some education and keep learning every day. No matter where you are, you need the education and information to get you to the next step.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsElizabeth’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to love 100 more women through Wealth from Little. She supports hundreds of women through free monthly calls. But now Elizabeth wants also to support more women one on one and give them the knowledge, the understanding, the faith, and the strategies to start building wealth and turn their financial lives around.Parting words “No matter what you are facing, you can do all the things you want. It is more than possible if you believe it.”Elizabeth Buko [spp-transcript] Connect with Elizabeth BukoLinkedInTwitterInstagramBlogWebsiteAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

AJ Wilcox is a LinkedIn Ads pro who founded B2Linked.com, a LinkedIn Ads-specific ad agency, in 2014. He’s an official LinkedIn partner, host of the LinkedIn Ads Show podcast, and has managed among the world’s largest LinkedIn Ads accounts worldwide.He’s a ginger and triathlete. He and his wife live in Utah, US, with their four kids, and his company car is a wicked-fast go-kart. “You can build a business out of being the best in the world at whatever you choose.”AJ Wilcox Worst investment everGrowing up, AJ had no entrepreneurship goals. He planned to leave college, get a job, and work his way up until he became the CMO or the CEO and then get into a fortune 500 company. And so AJ started his employment journey as a digital marketer.True love for Search Engine OptimizationAJ fell in love with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and then Google ads. He remembers talking to the CMO on the very first day of his last job. AJ laid out all of his marketing strategies, not wanting to look stupid. The CMO told him that his strategies sounded great and gave him the go-ahead to execute them. But she also asked AJ to look into a LinkedIn Ads pilot that the company had started two weeks earlier.Not wanting to disappoint, AJ jumped into the LinkedIn Ads platform that he had never heard of before and did his thing. About two weeks later, a sales rep came up and introduced himself and told AJ that the sales reps were fighting over his leads. AJ looked through the leads, looked at their source, and every single one of them was from LinkedIn Ads.Losing his job suddenlyAJ continued to learn more about this platform and kept outperforming everyone. Soon, his company became LinkedIn’s highest-spending account worldwide.After working for the company for two and a half years, AJ’s boss walked into his office one Friday morning and informed him that he was being let go. AJ was so devastated. He had three kids and another on the way at the time.Finally getting the guts to start a businessAJ talked to his wife about his job loss, and they agreed he should find another one. Because he was highly skilled, it took him just a few weeks to find a new job. In fact, he had four job offers.But a small still voice kept telling him this is not what he was supposed to do with his life. AJ prayed about it, and eventually, he decided to start a business instead of going back to a full-time job. He has not regretted this decision to date.Lessons learnedStarting a business is less risky than you thinkMany people get stuck in their full-time jobs because they assume that starting a business is very risky. They do not understand that in the long term, a full-time job is riskier than going out on your own.Running your own business gives you more control of your time and lifeWhen you are your own boss, you get to manage your calendar and your life, allowing you to spend time as you wish.You do not need to be great at everything; you just need to offer valueWhen you run your own company, you are operations and finance and sales and marketing. You may not know how to handle all these functions well. Whichever one you are good at, use that to offer your customers value, and that value will come back.Andrew’s takeawaysSome businesses will be better than othersSome industries, some jobs, and some things, in general, are just easier to sell than others. So when you are thinking of the business to start, look for one that stands to brings you the most success.Get your customers first, even before you produce your productIf you’re going to start a business, make sure you get your customers first. Most people think about their product or service and focus more on the brand instead of getting customers. Customers are the ones who will make your company last.A job these days is riskier than a businessYou may be feeling safe to have a job and avoid starting a business because you are afraid of the associated risk. The truth is that a job these days is just shortfall risk. Do not be scared to start your own business, especially if you are really good at something. The risk is worth it.Actionable adviceIf you have dreams of becoming an entrepreneur, but you doubt you can do it and are afraid to take the leap, perfect your skill first. Do not be scared to go and work for someone else and get paid to train. All you have to do is make sure that you are hungry, and you are trying to develop some niche skill that makes you the best in the world at something.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsAJ’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to get all sales and operations off his plate so that he can do the stuff that he enjoys doing. This includes ad testing, data analysis, publishing, and speaking.Parting words “Think of opportunities that could take you into something that’s marketable. Start a side hustle, find ways of continuing to grow because you can never go wrong with being hungry and wanting to learn.”AJ Wilcox [spp-transcript] Connect with AJ WilcoxLinkedInTwitterWebsiteAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

During the COVID-19 lockdown, when most corporate training stopped, Michael Teoh led his company, Thriving Talents, to pivot from their usual corporate consulting, team building, and employee training practices to work with SMEs to help their sales teams market and sell better and to boost the performance of work-from-home staff.Since then, Thriving Talents have helped 150 companies generate 5-to-6-figure revenue within the initial 3-month lockdown period. They have also taught thousands of remote staff in Malaysia, India, Singapore, Australia and the US on “Mental Health & Productivity.”Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael accumulated 16 years of experience, working in various capacities as a Management Consultant, Branding Strategist, Outreach Campaigns Director, and Serial Entrepreneur. Michael has served Fortune 500 Companies across 41 countries. “As long as you’re willing. There will always be a path for a better future for you.”Michael Teoh Worst investment everMichael had just started his company, Thriving Talents, in 2013 when he made his worst investment ever. He was very fortunate when he first started. The company got big clients, including fortune 500 companies. Michael was bathing in grandiose and in the prestige of working with the world’s largest, most influential organizations, leaders, and brands. He was making progress in life.Investing in crude oilMichael was approached to invest in crude oil. The investment company told him that he could be the trader trading derivatives and commodities. But since he did not have millions of dollars to do that, they advised him to get into drilling the crude oil. Michael figured that made sense.What Michael was buying was land in Canada and the British Virgin Islands so that the investment company could extract crude oil out of it. The company promised Michael a fair return of 12% per year. The return sounded relatively little to Michael, but the company convinced him that anyone promising him 12% a month instead of a year was a scam.Too lucrative a deal, can my family join?Michael did the math quickly and realized that he would get $10,000 every month in return if he were to invest a million dollars. But because he did not have this kind of money, Michael called his grandmother and parents and asked them to join and put their entire savings into it. Though they were not computer savvy, they could not transfer funds luckily missed out on the opportunity.Getting his payoutTrue to their word, the investment company paid Michael his 12% per year for about a year. Now that he had received his money, they asked him to recommend them to other CEOs and friends. While Micahel wanted to share this excellent investment plan with other people, for some reason, he didn’t have that chance to be active and to be serious in promoting it to his inner circle.The cat and mouse games beginOne and a half years later, the company stopped paying. Michael asked them about it, and they told him not to worry; it was just a minor problem with the transaction. Because they had built Michael’s trust for an entire year, he allowed them to pay him in the next six months. Then after six months, they just disappeared.A con game played so wellIn the one and a half years that the company was paying Michael, they held regular meetings. He was invited to go to their posh office, and they would show him actual videos of them going to the site in Canada and the British Virgin Islands.He would see them purchasing the equipment, the drills, and interviewing some chief engineers representing actual oil and gas companies. They even had letters from local governments, acknowledging that the company would be mining crude oil. It all seemed so believable.Accepting that he had been scammedIt was only after the company stopped paying that Michael realized that things were amiss. A group of investors who got scammed about $70 million came together, hired lawyers, and went to regulators. They found out that all those documentations were forged. The land in Canada belonged to other projects by companies that had nothing to do with this investment project. It was all just for show.When the group of investors took the scammers to court, they told the group that it was not rich enough to beat them, and the company would keep hiring the best lawyers or bribe its way through this. The investors, Michael included, decided to let it go and accept that they had been scammed, but the best thing was to move on instead of a draining never-ending court battle.Lessons learnedLearn how to love yourself, especially after you have been scammedIf you ever get scammed, give yourself a break, and just love yourself. Appreciate yourself for being so strong and resilient. Losing money is not worth taking your own life or getting involved in any crimes. Just give yourself a chance, and remember that we all make mistakes. Learn from this mistake and move on.Verify and fact-check information before you sign off on any investmentBefore you sign up for any investment, do background checks. Check up on the investment company, go through reviews, and fact-check every information they give you.Do not involve your family in your investment venturesNo matter how good the investment is, do not involve your family and loved ones. This way, if something bad happens, at least you will bear the brunt of that problem on your own and not include anyone else in the problem.Andrew’s takeawaysBeat investment scams by doing thorough researchScammers have become very smart and will often cover all their bases. To beat them, you have to dig deeper with your research. Research is not just reading and digesting; whatever someone gives you.Good research involves seeking out opinions of a third party that is unrelated to the people selling the investment idea to you. If you are researching a company and thinking about investing in it, talk to one of their customers or suppliers and see what they have to say.Speak out if you suspect you are being playedThese types of investment scams often use shame and embarrassment as tools to take people’s money, knowing that the victims are not going to say anything. So if you suspect that you are being scammed, speak out.You will lose money just as you are going to make it. That is just lifeWhether to scammers or an investment that has gone bad, if you lose money, remember it is only money. In life, you are going to win and lose over time. Losing money is a tragedy, but you can earn it back and get on with life. So do not beat yourself up too much when you lose money.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsMichael’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to expand how he can help businesses, large corporates, and small to medium enterprises worldwide.Parting words “A lot of people talk about how successful they are. But I think there are many more lessons we could learn from failures.”Michael Teoh [spp-transcript] Connect with Michael TeohLinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeWebsiteAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

At the age of 23, Michael Brody-Waite was a full-blown drug addict. Every day he drank a fifth of vodka and a twelve-pack of beer, he smoked two packs of cigarettes and more weed than any human should, and he did whatever other drugs he could get his hands on.He had been kicked out of college, fired from his job, and evicted from his apartment. He had no money and no home. He was throwing up blood and believed he would be dead before his thirtieth birthday.Then, on September 1, 2002, after running out of options and fearing death, he checked into rehab, entered recovery, and has been transforming himself every day since.Michael’s TEDx Nashville YouTube video, Great Leaders Do What Drug Addicts Do, is the number one talk in TEDx Nashville’s history. It has been seen by 1,000,000+ people in 25+ countries and provides insight into his seventeen-year journey from addiction and near homelessness to successful entrepreneurship.This talk sparked the #MaskFreeMovement that brought awareness to Michael’s Mask-Free Program, built on three principles inspired by his recovery, showing leaders how to achieve balance, reclaim energy, and thrive in work and life.Michael is an acclaimed speaker, Inc. 500 entrepreneur, award-winning, three-time CEO, a leadership coach, and author of Great Leaders Live Like Drug Addicts: How to Lead Like Your Life Depends on It. His accomplishments include being named a Most Admired CEO, named to the Top 40 Under 40, and is recognized by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce as Healthcare Entrepreneur of the Year. “If you’re suffering right now, the worst thing about you can be the best thing about you.”Michael Brody-Waite Worst investment everMichael had always wanted to be an entrepreneur. And so, at the height of the US recession, he decided to max out his credit card, drain his 401k and blow his savings to start a company. The company Michael started was called Inquicker, a platform that lets patients schedule appointments online. At the time in the States, 99% of healthcare appointments were made over the phone.Michael started the company with his partner a year after getting married. They were bootstrapped and became quite successful and ended up being an Inc 500 company. The company grew 20,000% in six years.Hiding his weaknesses so wellAs his success grew, Michael also became quite good at hiding his most significant weaknesses. He had gotten good at telling people that he was a recovering drug addict. But when he started being recognized as a successful CEO, the temptation to hide his weaknesses grew.Michael had always told his story as the homeless drug addict who beat his addiction and becomes a huge success. However, he did not feel like the successful man the world saw him as. Michael was, in fact, struggling to be a great leader.His world starts to crumbleIn 2013 Michael got blindsided by two of his most important relationships. His business partner decided to take his equity away and tried to get him unseated as CEO of their company. At the same time, his marriage was in turmoil, and his wife wanted to file for divorce. While Michael was good at admitting that he was a drug addict, he was bad at admitting how much he was failing to navigate both of these issues.Failing as a leaderWith these two issues hanging over Michael’s head, his role as a leader suffered. Suddenly, this voracious leader who cared about his people was gone because he did not know how to face his team. Whenever he would be in business meetings, he would put this mask on, pretending that everything was okay because that is what the CEO of any 500 company does.Trying to handle his issuesMichael had suffered for too long, so he decided to find a middle ground with his wife and partner. He signed a marital dissolution agreement that he and his wife had agreed on. Michael’s wife kept trying to take a large part of his equity in the company, but he successfully convinced her to let him buy her out to keep the company’s equity.After settling things with his wife, Michael and his partner met with investment bankers to put the company up for sale. Michael asked one of the investment bankers what he thought the company was worth, and the number he got was 600%, higher than the value they had used in the marital dissolution agreement. Michael felt terrible that he had cheated his wife out of a lot of money even though he had done it unknowingly. He struggled with this, and eventually, he decided to tell her the truth, a decision that cost him a million dollars but left him at peace.Making amendsMichael also found a way to make amends with his business partner, although they never got to do business together again. But by allowing himself to surrender to the outcomes in his life, Michael was able to talk with his partner, who apologized to him and let him keep his equity.Lessons learnedPractice rigorous authenticity in your lifeOwn your life’s journey. It does not matter what you have gone through in life; as a leader, you need to stay true to who you are. This means that you have to always be authentic.Surrender to the outcomeMost leaders do not know how to surrender to outcomes because they are responsible for outcomes. Leaders are always trying to drive outcomes and waste so much energy on things that they cannot control at the expense of the things they can. You, therefore, have to learn how to surrender to outcomes.Learn how to do uncomfortable workWhen you practice authenticity and learn how to surrender to outcomes, you will do uncomfortable work. Uncomfortable work is emotional. It involves making decisions and taking actions that you would rather avoid taking because of the emotions involved.Andrew’s takeawaysAllow yourself to surrender and let go of your mistakesYour past mistakes are probably causing you a lot of pain and holding you back from experiencing life in its fullness. You need to surrender and let go; otherwise, you will continue living in pain.Do not be afraid to be authenticDo not be afraid to be your authentic self because everybody else is hiding behind a mask. When you remove your mask and live authentically, you will find freedom.Accept the painful moments in lifePain is sometimes necessary, especially if you are going to do things that are emotionally consuming. If you do not accept pain, you will never live a full life or find happiness.Actionable adviceThis is for you who has something that is hurting you badly, and the hurt is holding you back. But you cannot share what is hurting you with anyone because you think it will make you less successful.The truth is that you can get the relief of sharing your pain with the people you are scared to share it with. There’s a nine out of 10 chance that your pain will inspire the person you share it with, and they are going to feel connected to you because they see the strength that it took to share your pain. Then they are going to help you solve your problem.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsMichael’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to market his services. He has figured out what his product-market fit is, and all he has to do is literally go out there and say, “Hey, I think this will help you.” That’s what Michael plans to do in 2021.Parting words “If you are suffering from addiction, reach out. I would love to hear from you.”Michael Brody-Waite [spp-transcript] Connect with Michael Brody-WaiteLinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeWebsiteAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

Marcus Luer is Asia’s #1 Sports Marketing Entrepreneur and the Group CEO of Total Sports Asia (TSA), Asia’s global sports marketing agency, which he founded 23 years ago in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Marcus is a sought-after industry expert and speaker and has been featured on CNBC, BBC News, Bloomberg Asia, regularly presents at major global sports conferences, and has contributed to many international newspapers and industry magazine articles. He recently launched his Sports Entrepreneurs Podcast series featuring top sports executives and entrepreneurs from around the world. “Pivoting is important, but I think you also got to be careful not to distract yourself too much.”Marcus Luer Worst investment everInspired by Netflix, Marcus started his own over the top platform SportsFix. SportsFix is a live sports streaming platform. He felt very confident about this platform because he knew the sports industry in and out. Given his over 20 years of experience, he knew where to buy content and what the audience was looking for.Launching the platform with confidenceMarcus put a team together, put in some of his money into the platform, and even brought external investors. He launched the platform in 2018, believing it would be a gamechanger. SpotsFix was at first available in Malaysia, and then after about eight months, it launched in Indonesia.Why this very good idea never succeededWhile SportsFix was and remains a good idea, Marcus and his team made a couple of mistakes that crippled the idea.Marcus and his team did not understand the consumption habits in Asia. He assumed the Asian market would consume online content the same way people in the West do. But there is a vast difference. People in Asia were not ready to sign up and pay for content, given that there is a lot of free content available.Another thing that Marcus overlooked was piracy. He did not realize there was a massive amount of piracy out there, which the team could not stop.Trying to pivotAfter learning that he had overlooked several vital factors, Marcus tried to change the business model. At one point, he changed the model from a subscription model to an ad-driven model. The constant pivoting saw Marcus get distracted from the original SpotFix idea.In trying to make the business idea work, Marcus ran out of money before he could get the confidence of his investors.Lessons learnedKeep your eye on the ball, and do not get distractedBuilding a business is not easy, and you may want to keep pivoting as you find your ground. However, be careful not to get distracted from your primary goal as you pivot.Find success in your local market before you go globalDo not be too aggressive in your growth strategy. Begin by winning your local market so that you have a strong foundation to expand globally. If your home market is weak and you try to go global right away, you will have a hard time cracking the global market.Andrew’s takeawaysShould you pivot or shut down your idea?As a business owner, always evaluate your business idea critically before you decide to pivot. Sometimes a business idea could be a bad idea. When an idea is bad, it does not matter how many times you pivot it; it will not work. You are better off shutting it down to avoid wasting your time and money.Allocate your business resources wiselyLimited resources are one of the biggest challenges many new entrepreneurs face. Your ultimate success or failure is dependent on how you allocate those resources. So be careful how you do it.Test your product within your local market firstTest your product with a small market, see how it feels about it, make necessary adjustments, and then scale to a bigger market.Actionable adviceDo not get so caught up emotionally in your business. You have to learn to let go, especially when you realize that it is not working anymore.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsMarcus’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to take his experience in sports into the world of Esports and gaming. Marcus also has a goal to find the next billion in revenue in the next 10 years.Parting words “It is always good to reflect on what happened in a different way.”Marcus Luer [spp-transcript] Connect with Marcus LuerLinkedInTwitterInstagramWebsiteBlogAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

Before becoming a marketing entrepreneur, Andrew Muller worked for Microsoft in their pay per click (PPC) division. His company (Andrew Muller Creative) now specializes in a new type of hyper-agile market testing called The Market Testing Incubator, where he’s able to test hundreds of ideas in a month (his average market test costs $2.63, which is about 50x cheaper than the industry standard) intending to lower lead costs.He helps clients who are spending thousands on media buying a month but aren’t getting the return on investment (ROI) they need. “An ounce of prevention is like a pound of cure. Test your ideas to understand what the market wants.”Andrew Muller Worst investment everAndrew was 16 years old and about to graduate high school when he decided to find work to pay his bills after graduating. However, Andrew did not want to be employed but rather preferred working for himself.Getting started with Google AdSenseAndrew discovered Google AdSense, and he immediately built a content website and filled it with content. He loved the business idea, and he believed it would be his retirement plan.Skipping the market research partAndrew did not do much research, and anytime he ran into market research that went against what he wanted to do, he would ignore it and do what he wanted to do instead. This ignorance led Andrew into choosing a niche that was difficult to make money in: music. It was very difficult to monetize his website.Doing it anywayEven though Andrew could see that his Google AdSense idea was failing, he kept at it. First, he did it for six months. He even created a course on how to use music production software. That did not work too. But Andrew kept at it until he was 23 years old.Finally putting his ego asideAndrew’s business idea was doomed from the start. He had spent almost seven years investing all his skills into this thing that never worked.Andrew could still not pay his bills from his business, and so he was on Employment Insurance. At one point, he was so broke he had nothing to eat. At this point, Andrew decided it was time to put aside his ego and accept that his idea was a big fail. So he gave up on that dream.Getting a jobAndrew found a job at an agency. Luckily, finding a job was not too hard for him because he had acquired lots of skills while running his business. Andrew had done everything in internet marketing, including email marketing, writing a 500 article website, paid ads, marketing strategy, automation, and more.Lessons learnedTake feedback, put your ego aside and pivot your businessWhen you get feedback about something that is not working, put your ego aside, and make the changes you need. This will prevent you from continuing on the path that is not working.Market research is fundamental; do not skip itMany business owners find market research very dull, and so they skip it. Then they spend a year or more running a failing, instead of spending just one day of market research that will guide them on how to pivot their businesses.Marketing and sales are two completely different business functionsMarketing is not sales, and neither is sales marketing. Marketing is bringing someone to the door, and the salesperson takes them across the finish line. Not understanding the difference between the two critical functions can lead to tension between marketing people and salespeople. Such tension reduces the quality of your leads, which ultimately affects your bottom line.Andrew’s takeawaysSave your time and money by testing your ideas firstTest your ideas so that you do not waste your time pursuing unprofitable ideas. If you test your ideas and realize that they will not work, do not hesitate to change them.Put people’s advice into considerationNot all advice will be good for you, but it pays to listen to people whose opinion you can trust. In doing so, you might just save yourself from getting boxed into a corner.Revenue is proof of concept, while profit is proof of competenceRevenue is indeed proof of concept. You can come up with an idea, test it, and all that. But if you cannot get somebody to pay for it, then the concept just does not work. You also need to understand that revenue is just the beginning when you are running a business.Other things, such as marketing, human resources, managing the people involved, accounting, etc., need to come together to make a business last. This leads to making profits and, therefore, if your concept is bringing you profits, you can consider yourself competent.Actionable adviceShift your mindset so that you can trust other people. Some people are worth trusting. First, believe in that, and then find that person that you can trust.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsAndrew’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to double revenue without losing his sanity and continue being happy to be alive.Parting words “Get testing.”Andrew Muller [spp-transcript] Connect with Andrew MullerLinkedInFacebookYouTubeWebsiteAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

Shan Saeed is Chief Economist at Juwai IQI, a leading property, technology, and investment company operating and advising clients in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Makati, Toronto, and Dubai.He has 20 years of financial market experience in private banking, risk and compliance management, commodity investments, global economy, and brand and business strategy.Based in Kuala Lumpur, he is a financial market commentator cited in various news outlets around the world.Shan graduated from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago and got his first MBA from IBA Pakistan in collaboration with the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is also trained in Alternative Banking/Strategies from Harvard Business School. “In order to be successful in your life, you need to work hard, have an abiding faith in Almighty God, and lastly, which I strongly believe in, your mother’s blessing.”Shan Saeed Worst investment everShan was always impressed by his mom’s investing acumen. She had started investing in gold from the time when Shan was a kid. When Shan finished his first MBA in 1999, his mom encouraged him to read about gold and oil. However, Shan was not interested.At the time, Shan was focusing on his career and getting his second MBA. So he was saving money for that.Finally getting round to investingThe price of gold had been going up steadily since 1971. In 1971 gold prices were trading at $35 per troy ounce, and in 1980 it was $850. The price went down in 2001 to $257 per ounce. But in 2011, the price hit $1,923.Even though Shan had been keeping an eye on gold and knew how lucrative it was, he did not start investing until 2007. That was pretty late, and he was indeed behind the curve. Shan’s worst investment was the ignorance that saw him miss out on some good returns from gold for at least six to seven years.Lessons learnedSave to investAs soon as you start working, you should allocate 10 to 20% of your saving to investing. Cut down your expenses and save that money.Understand the market before you start investingBefore you start investing, you must first understand the market. So do your homework and get your market intelligence report. When you get to know the market well, you will be able to choose your investments wisely.Understand your risk profile and have an exit strategyUnderstand your risk profile and your risk-reward ratio. And most importantly, you need to have an exit strategy.Andrew’s takeawaysPut aside a specific amount of money for investingYou have to be very intentional with your investment plan. Make it a habit to save by putting aside a certain amount. Do not use it for anything else other than investing. Whether it is 5% or 10%, or 20% of your salary, allocate it to investing in stocks, gold, property, or bonds. Then manage your portfolio slowly and steadily over time.Actionable adviceBe aggressive, gather as much information about the financial market as you can. Listen to people’s advice about investing, but make your own decision.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsShan’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to take a long position in gold and silver, be very aggressive in the market, and keep himself up to date. [spp-transcript] Connect with Shan SaeedLinkedInTwitterWebsiteAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

Jonathan Palmar makes videos. “People will always disappoint you because your expectations will never match what they provide you with.”Jonathan Palmar Worst investment everEver seeking approvalLike most people, Jonathan grew up believing that he needed to trust in the constant search for other people’s approval. As is human nature, Jonathan wanted to fit into the pack. He found himself often wanting people to give him the validation that he was going on the right path.The nagging need to be validatedJonathan’s need for approval sometimes got pretty dramatic. He would often put himself in gravely uncomfortable situations.There was this one time that Jonathan wanted to complete this project so badly. He put his heart and soul into this project because he wanted his boss to be happy. When he finally went to present it, his boss responded nonchalantly and tossed it to the side.Getting to his breaking pointJonathan was devastated by the reaction he received from his boss so much that it threw him to his breaking point. He realized that he had put all this time into the project, and he ought to be proud of himself. Jonathan also admitted that he would always get disappointed if he kept trying to get people to validate him.Adjusting his expectations of othersAfter this incident, Jonathan learned that he had wasted so much money and time searching for validation from people. Now he has stepped out of this kind of thinking. He lives his life without seeking approval from anyone, including his friends, family, coworkers, and audience.Lessons learnedOutward approval brings you zero rewardThere is no reward in searching for approval or doing things to get acceptance from other people. Stop seeking validation from others and be your number one cheerleader.You need to invest more in yourself and not other peopleWe need to focus more on building ourselves up and investing in ourselves instead of on building others.Partner with someone who gives as much as they takeFind somebody you can work with within a balanced partnership in which the give and take are equal. If you find yourself in a situation where the amount of effort that you are putting to get validation is not equal to the outcome that your partner provides you with, then you need to leave.Andrew’s takeawaysWhat other people think of you is none of your businessBe comfortable with the fact that this is your life, your decision, and your thinking. Some people are going to like it, and some won’t. But that is their problem. So have the courage to live your life, and do your things without getting concerned with what people think about you.Actionable adviceYou have to polish your diamond. Nurture yourself as an investment. Take the time to look introspectively and figure out what is important to you, and then have the courage to act on it. You cannot start to love and care for people until you begin to love and care for yourself.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsJonathan’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to live a day at a time and not plan a single moment.Parting words “This wasn’t the worst podcast I’ve ever been on. So I consider this a success story.”Jonathan Palmar [spp-transcript] Connect with Jonathan PalmarLinkedInAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

Dale Dupree is leading a sales rebellion against the mediocre ways of the status quo in order to put people over products, community over commissions, experiences over performing a pitch, and fellowship over negotiations. “If you miss it at 30, and you don’t find it until 60, it’s okay. Being patient with your outcomes is what’s most important instead of trying to force them.”Dale Dupree Worst investment everWhen Dale was 23 years old, he had ambitions to become a rockstar. He rubbed elbows with big names in the industry, such as Lou Pearlman, a well-known record producer.Meet the who is who in the music industryOne day, Dale got invited to Pearlman’s mansion for a hangout with the who is who in the industry. He was elated to receive the invite because this was his chance to network with the music industry big wigs.The enticing investment opportunityWhile at the mansion, Pearlman and other big wigs from Warner Brothers, Sony, and Universal Records did a video presentation of a product similar to Spotify where a user could access any album they wanted at a subsidized rate. Now in 2007, this was huge.The big wigs invited those in attendance to invest in the product. One could choose to invest $50,000, $20,000 or $10,000. Dale liked the idea.Here comes the pyramid schemeAfter signing up for the investment, Dale got informed that he had to get 10 of his friends to sign up underneath him, and all their sales would level him up.Then came the wait for returns. A year later, Dale had made nothing. Two years later, he still had not seen any return on his investment. Eventually, in 2012 the scheme was shut down by the government. Dale never made anything from this investment.Lessons learnedJust because someone has a big name does not mean that they are credibleBe careful when investing in something just because someone famous has endorsed it. Just because a big wig has put their name on something does not give it credibility. Just because a celebrity says you should do something does not mean that you should. Always do your due diligence.We control our outcomes much better than other people canNever believe in a scheme that tells you to sit back, relax, and have other people make you money. If you want to be rich, you have to work hard. Do not depend on luck. Making smart, intentional decisions and being very aware of what you are doing will create the wealth you desire, not joining pyramid schemes.Andrew’s takeawaysKnow the difference between multi-level marketing and Ponzi schemesThere is a fine line between multi-level marketing and pyramid/Ponzi schemes. A Ponzi scheme involves getting paid out from what other people are paying, while multi-level marketing involves real products and services. There are legitimate multi-level marketing methods of distributing products. However, a pyramid scheme is illegal. It is, therefore, vital that you know the difference between the two. You do not want to find yourself on the wrong side of the law.There is no legal fast way of making moneyIt takes time to make money. You have to invest it and let it grow slowly and compound. Do not go looking for shortcuts.Question the motivation behind every opportunity offered to youEverybody who is approaching you with an opportunity is doing so from a financial incentive perspective. Nothing wrong with that as it is just business. Whether they are a salesperson, or an entrepreneur selling a dream, they will be motivated by some financial incentive. Understand that incentive so that you can make a better decision. If those incentives are not stated clearly or are hard to figure out, or someone denies that they have some financial incentive, then take that as a warning sign.Actionable adviceThere is so much fakeness out there, be very careful about what you perceive to be real. If you cannot touch it, feel it, see it, or believe it, it is not real. Make the right decisions around your wealth, your family, your community, and your legacy.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsDale has developed an app for rebels that do not have 1,000s and 1,000s of dollars to spend on sales training because it is expensive. The app is part of his company’s ministry as a sales organization to help small businesses wanting personal development and growth. Dale’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to launch the first, second, and third iteration of the app. [spp-transcript] Connect with Dale DupreeLinkedInTwitterFacebookYouTubeWebsiteBlogAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

Chris Tate is one of the first people to ever release a share trading book in Australia. He is the best-selling author of The Art of Trading and The Art of Options Trading in Australia. He’s been running the 6-month repeat-for-free Mentor Program since the year 2000, and he’s also the founder of the Talking Trading podcast, a free weekly trading podcast.With a background as an immunologist and his previous work as a bouncer, Chris’s life experiences will amaze you. When he’s not hanging out with his traders, he can be seen lifting weights at the gym, enjoying yoga, and trying to get a personal best time on his rowing machine in his garage. “Time is more important than money because money can be replaced; time cannot.”Chris Tate Worst investment everChris began his career as an immunologist and had a profession in academia mapped out for himself. However, he started to trade in the 80s bull market in Australia.Chris made the mistake of thinking that because everything he bought succeeded, he was somewhat a genius. When his luck stopped, Chris thought he should learn about trading. He figured stockbrokers know best about stocks.Joining a broking firmChris conned his way into a broking firm based on the fact that his background is reasonably quantitative. Derivatives were beginning to take off in Australia, and he seemed to have an affinity for understanding them.Stockbrokers know squat about tradingAs soon as Chris joined the broking firm, he learned that stockbrokers knew nothing about trading. He found out the person sitting opposite him had been selling shoes two weeks beforehand, and the person sitting next to him had been selling carpets.Chris quickly learned that broking was a sales profession and not of analysis and execution.Making the best of what he had learnedNow that Chris had realized that brokers would never teach him how to trade, he had to make the most of his situation. He was still working for a brokerage anyway.Chris noted that being in a dealing room gave him access to information he did not have before. It also gave him access to a trading floor that helped him understand ebbs and flows very quickly. Chris also got to understand the cyclical nature of emotion that drives price. And so he thought he could marry his access to information and the trading floor together. Chris spent many years as a broker taking the opportunities presented to him to hone his skills.There was an easy and quick way to learn about tradingIn hindsight, working in the brokerage for so long was his worst investment ever because he just burned time, not knowing that time is precious. He now realizes that he did not think through the problem well.Chris’s problem was his desire to learn how to trade, and instead of going back to school and take a degree in Finance, he went to work for a brokerage. A Master’s degree would have taken him between 18 months and two years, and it would have given him different connections within the industry.Lessons learnedTime is precious invest it wiselyTime, unlike money, cannot be replaced. Therefore invest your time wisely. You can make more money should you lose it, but once your time is gone, that is it. There are many opportunities to make money. But no option or scheme grants you time.Take risks when you are youngIt is best to take risks and make mistakes when you are young because you still have time to recover and learn from your mistakes.Andrew’s takeawaysIf you want to learn about trading, go to a trader, not a brokerBrokers are simply salespeople who package ideas for clients in a way they think they would like them. If you want to learn about trading, go to a trader. If you desire to learn sales in the financial world, go to a broker.Money is not hard to access. What you need is a solid ideaMoney may be hard to make, but nowadays, if you have a good idea and are good at convincing people, you can make money if you execute your plan well.Actionable adviceDon’t be impulsive when making decisions. Instead, take time to sit and think about your problem instead of just rushing to a solution.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsChris’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to get on an airplane and go somewhere.Parting words “Pack your ego.”Chris Tate [spp-transcript] Connect with Chris TateLinkedInTwitterFacebookWebsiteAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

Benjamin Quinlan is the CEO and Managing Partner of Quinlan & Associates. He is also the Chairman of the FinTech Association of Hong Kong, an Adjunct Professor at the AIT School of Management, a Mentor for PingAn’s Cloud Accelerator, a Guest Contributor for eFinancialCareers and Regulation Asia, and a Senior Advisor to many leading startups in the region.He was previously the Head of Strategy for Deutsche Bank’s equities business in the Asia Pacific and its Investment Bank in Greater China. He has also worked at UBS, Oliver Wyman, and PwC. “You’ve got to be in the game and not on the sidelines; otherwise, you are never going to get involved to the degree you need to make things work for you.”Benjamin Quinlan Worst investment everInvesting in cryptocurrency with all the hypeIn 2017, there was all this hype going on around cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin was literally on the financial news headlines every day. As a strategic consultant, Benjamin likes to put a lot of data and thought behind how he looks at new opportunities and new developments, particularly in the financial services industry.So Benjamin deployed his team and tasked them with cracking this new cryptocurrency. His focus was on learning what this ecosystem was all about and the real value of this very elusive Bitcoin that everyone kept referring to.Finding a way to value BitcoinAs Benjamin and his team tried to crack Bitcoin, they realized that nobody knew its worth. Analysts in the market said it was worth zero, while the people rushing to invest in Bitcoin were saying it was worth a million. But they were all in agreement about one thing; there were zero methodologies and approaches to valuing Bitcoin.The team sat down and worked out how to value this new currency. The team came up with four different methodologies. Every single method pointed to the fact that this was a massive speculative bubble.Sharing his report with the marketBenjamin and his team concluded that Bitcoin was just a speculative investment that would plummet in no time. At the time of Benjamin’s research, the price of Bitcoin was around $20,000.In Benjamin’s report, he predicted that the price of Bitcoin at the end of 2018 would be $1,800. By the end of the year, it hit $3,100.Claim to fameBloomberg cited Benjamin’s report as the most accurate crypto forecaster in the world. The report got so much coverage around the world and even made it into Quora and Reddit.The advice he had but never tookOne day, Benjamin was on international TV, CNBC, and the anchor asked him, “So Benjamin, given all of your research and analysis and thought process, are you shorting Bitcoin?” He said, “No, we do not. Because as an independent consulting firm, we do not get involved in the investment side.”Benjamin watched as Bitcoin continued to plummet throughout the year and could not help but think about the amount of money he could have made from backing the advice he and his team were so confident of. But alas, he did not do it. It would have been great to put his money where his mouth is.Lessons learnedThe success of any investment lies in thorough researchWhen considering an investment, including cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, do thorough research first. Do not just look at technicals and theories. You need to look at what is going on in the broader market too.Back your thought process with convictionYou will not always get everything you do right but no matter what happens, always back up your decisions with conviction. If you strongly believe that your decision is right, then stick by it.Andrew’s takeawaysTake a small position and grow it over timeJust because your gut tells you to do something does not mean you have to go all in. Invest just a little bit into your investment of interest so that you are at least taking action. Start slowly and continue to build your portfolio.Actionable adviceIf your gut is fundamentally pushing you in a direction to make a decision, take a position. Whatever that position might be, follow your instinct, and follow your gut. Only over time can you work out if you got it right or wrong and, that is part of investing.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsBenjamin’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to continue to build and scale his business. Beyond that, he wants to get back on stage and do some more touring for comedy. He also wants to finish the book he’s been working on.Parting words “I wish everyone a very fruitful 2021.”Benjamin Quinlan [spp-transcript] Connect with Benjamin QuinlanLinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagramWebsiteBlogAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

Born and bred in a small coal mining and steel mill town in Western Pennsylvania, Ric Franzi moved to California after graduating with a B.A. in Communications from the University of Pittsburgh. While in Southern California, he continued his education by attaining his MBA from Pepperdine University.Ric is the host of the Critical Mass Radio Show & Podcast and an author of three books and frequently speaks to CEOs and business owners. He has been featured on Forbes, INC, CNBC, and many others. “When you emotionally want something, it is amazing how you can mentally rationalize that it makes sense.”Ric Franzi Worst investment everRic and his wife had family friends whom they had known for a very long time. The friends had a son, Henry, who was one of two co-founders of the company Broadcom. The company is a very well recognized chip manufacturer. The couple has known Henry forever, and they trusted him. Henry had started other successful businesses, and so they knew him to be a successful entrepreneur.Getting the first chance to invest in their friend’s startup companyRic and his wife got a chance to buy shares into Broadcom at a family and friends rate.Being the cautious investor he is, Ric called his broker and talked to him about the idea of investing in Broadcom.The broker told him that he did not have to but that the shares were three times higher than the price he could buy them. With that advice, he made up his mind to purchase the shares.Selling their shares to build a poolBroadcom was doing well, and so Ric was quite delighted with the decision they had made. After a while, the couple decided to build a pool and do some modernization to their house.Since the couple had made enough money on the Broadcom stock, they decided to sell it and use that money to finance the project rather than getting a second mortgage. So they took the gains off the table and spent it on something that they wanted.The couple spent tons of time in that pool with their growing children and made lots of family memories.Leaving money on the tableWhile building a pool and improving their house was a fantastic personal decision, selling their stock too early saw the couple lose a lot of money. The Broadcom shares continued to appreciate.Ric was pained to realize that they had made a very foolish financial decision by selling an appreciating asset to get a depreciating one.Lessons learnedDo not sell an appreciating asset to buy a depreciating oneDo not buy depreciating assets, especially if you have to sell an appreciating asset. It never works out well. Also, do not overbuy depreciating assets.Seek the assistance of a financial advisor whenever you need to sell your investmentsIf you have an urgent need for cash and the only way to raise it is to sell your investments, then consult a financial advisor and figure out how to minimize the drain on your finances. Do not let emotions take control of your decisions.Have someone who can offer you uncompromised adviceHave someone trusted who will advise and reason with you without any emotions involved whenever you want to make financial and investment decisions.Andrew’s takeawaysPeople miss opportunities every day. So do not beat yourself upIt is painful to look back at the opportunities that we miss. The best way to deal with the emotion of that is to remember that everyone has missed many other opportunities.Test things out with a small positionWhen you encounter a stock whose price goes up or down, take a small amount of that stock and sell it or buy it depending on the price’s direction.Actionable adviceSolicit outside advice from people who have no vested interest in the decision you are going to make. Then take seriously the recommendation that you get. Remember to submerge your ego and your emotion and realize these people have your best interests at heart. They may be smarter than you, so follow that advice as much as you may not want to hear it.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsRic’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to leverage digital-first strategies to drive his top of the funnel activities and grow his community.Parting words “Stay healthy.”Ric Franzi [spp-transcript] Connect with Ric FranziLinkedInTwitterFacebookWebsiteAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

Mighty Pete Lonton from the Fire In The Belly show is an author, soon to be TEDx speaker (Jan 2021), podcast host, mentor, entrepreneur, property investor, husband, and father of three beautiful girls.Pete’s background is in project management and property, but his true passion is the ‘Fire In The Belly’ show and project. His mission is to help others find their potential and become the mightiest version of themselves.Pete openly talks about losing both of his parents, suffering periods of depression, business downturn, burn-out, and ultimately his years spent not stoking ‘Fire In The Belly.’ In 2017, at 37.5 years of age, that changed, and he is now on a journey of learning, growing, accepting, and inspiring others. “Not everything that shimmers is gold. Just because it looks good and it smells good doesn’t mean it is good.”Pete Lonton Worst investment everPete started investing in property 20 years ago in his early 20s. It has always been something that has worked for him in the background. Pete, over time, came up with a very successful property investment model that was super simple. The model looked for a 10% growth yield that brought a return on investment in three years. Pete retained the asset but would add value to it or buy an undervalued property and get it back up to value.Exploring new opportunitiesPete had the opportunity to meet somebody who was a much bigger investor than him. The man was heading towards retirement, and his portfolio was about ten times the size of Pete’s portfolio. The man wanted to offload his portfolio, and Pete saw an opportunity to grow his portfolio. The two gentlemen quickly grew on each other and had a good rapport.Sizing up the opportunityPete got invited to go and take a look at the properties with a view of potentially doing a deal. One particular property stood out as a good investment opportunity. The Gulf Open was coming to a location in Northern Ireland, and as a result, accommodation was under severe demand. The property could be developed into a guest house, or it could be knocked down and built into ten apartments. The property, therefore, had both short term and long term potential.The universe bending to make this happenThe deal was a five-year lease, with an agreement to buy. So that gave Pete five years of a head start on the lease agreement. The sale price to be paid in five years was pre-agreed on the commitment to sell and for Pete to buy. With this kind of arrangement, financing the deal would not be a problem for Pete. Contracts were drawn in just a matter of days, and everything seemed to be moving along pretty fast. The pressure to close the deal was on.One little issueEverything seemed to be right with this deal except one thing—it went against his property investment model. Pete started feeling off about the whole deal, and he decided to run it through someone else who would look at it with fresh eyes.Pete assembled his family, friends, and colleagues, took them to the property, and asked them for their feedback. They were all against the deal. Their reaction came as a huge shocker for Pete but was also a big wake up call.Backing out of an agreementFortunately, Pete had not signed the deal yet though they had had a gentleman’s handshake. Pete felt guilty about having to back out of the deal, but he had to protect himself from making his worst investment ever.Lessons learnedStick to your investment modelDo not let anyone rush you into a deal, especially if it goes against your investment model.Take time to make significant decisionsBefore you make a major decision, sleep on it, and give it some more thought. You never have to make a decision right away.Not everything that shimmers is goldJust because it looks good and it smells good does not mean it is good. Do not let the excitement of something new cloud your judgment.Andrew’s takeawaysUrgency is just a sales tool. Take your time before investing in propertyWhenever you are purchasing property, remember that urgency is just a sales tool. Occasionally, urgency is real, such as when a property is to be foreclosed on, and the owner wants to get out of it right away because the bank has given a deadline. But in normal circumstances, be sure to take your time before investing in property.If you have a system that works, don’t break itIf you have a system that works well for you, do not break it. Always stick with your system.Protect your interests even if it means reneging on a contractYou have a right to protect your interests, even if it means backing out of a contract. Do not accept to get caught up in contracts because sometimes the pain of what comes out of a contract is not worth it.Actionable adviceKnow what you are good at and do it repeatedly.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsPete’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to build passive assets that will be working for him while he sleeps. These include books, podcasts, property, and intellectual property.Parting words “Be the best version of yourself. Find and live by the fire in your belly.”Pete Lonton [spp-transcript] Connect with Pete LontonLinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagramYouTubeWebsiteAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

Best of 2020 Podcast Episodes Roundup“Hello, fellow risk-takers, and welcome to My Worst Investment Ever,” that’s how I start every one of the 300+ My Worst Investment Ever Podcast episodes I have recorded. Below are some of the highlights from the 170 people I interviewed in 2020.One of the things that makes the investors, businessmen and women, and experts who come on the show extraordinary is their willingness to share their worst investment with the world. Most people I ask to go on the show say, “No, thank you.”The good news for you is that you don’t have to experience their loss. Listen and absorb the lessons they teach. Whether you’re an experienced investor or just starting your investment journey, these podcasts can give you a different investment perspective and expand your knowledge.To get straight to the lessons, just click here and download my one-page cheat sheet.Ep250: Stephen Kalayjian – The Key to Success in Trading Is to Have DisciplineStephen Kalayjian is a Chief Market Strategist and co-founder of Ticker Tocker. He has decades of experience trading stocks, futures, currencies and has traded nearly 2 billion shares.Steve shared how, in his youth, he used his hard-earned money to buy 550 calls and assumed that stocks only went higher (they don’t).Key takeawaysDiscipline is the key to successIt’s better to admit you are wrong; than to lose all your moneyKnow when to continue or quit a specific investmentEp248: Karen Foo – Risk Management Is the Key to Success in ForexKaren Foo is a motivational speaker, financial trainer, and author. She has ranked #1 in a Singapore nationwide Forex trading competition. You can find her on her YouTube channel.Karen shared how she lost her savings when she invested in forex and unit trusts without guidance and research.Key takeawaysRisk management is the key to long-term successSeek out mentors who are experts in what you want to learnWrite out your investment plan before investingDo your research, ask more questions than you answerEp279: James Jani – You May Gain the Right Skills From the Wrong PathJames Jani is a YouTube Expert and Vlogger, who creates thought-provoking documentaries on YouTube about Business, Money, and Life.James shared his story of investing years of his life into acting without success, only to realize later acting wasn’t what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.Key takeawaysBe brave to follow your purpose in life, no matter what.The skills you gain from every experience combine to help you create value in the future.Ep249: Chris Mayer – Build a List of 5 Quality Companies and Enter at the Next Market FallChris Mayer is the co-founder and portfolio manager of the Woodlock House Family Capital fund. He has authored four books, including 100 Baggers: Stocks that Return 100-to-1 and How to Find Them, ranked 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon with 290 reviews. You can follow him on Twitter.Chris’s worst investment story happened when he bought cheap companies while disregarding what those businesses could offer in the long-term.Key takeawaysBuy the best companies, even if they are expensiveBuild your stock buy list and wait for significant market falls to buy themConsider the long-term returns instead of being seduced by today’s cheap stocksEp192: Sampath Mallidi – Your Startup Should Always Have Paying CustomersSampath Mallidi is the Founder and CEO of Intandemly, an account-based sales platform that helps organizations simplify their sales pipeline.Sampath shared that he and his then-boss spent all their money, shifting their company’s strategy because they anticipated funding. The money never came.Key takeawaysA deal is never done until the money is in the bankCash flow, not cash, is KingDon’t let failure get to you. Bounce back fast, and figure out how to move forward.Ep232: Ranveer Brar – Deepen Your Relationship with What You Love and Be a Good BusinessmanRanveer Brar is one of India’s top chefs, a celebrity, a Masterchef India judge, author, restaurateur, food film producer, and benefactor. He shares his passion for food on his website and his excellent YouTube channel. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Ranveer shared how he left his executive chef position in India to join a restaurant startup in the US. His big mistake was going with the flow of other people’s plans.Key takeawaysDon’t do something just because it worked for others; find what works for youBalance your passion with the need to create a profitable business modelDeal with problems head-on rather than denying and avoiding themEp235: Rand Fishkin – Don’t Be Afraid to Stand up Against the Growth-at-All-Cost Venture Capital ModelRand Fishkin is CEO & co-founder of SparkToro, and author of Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World. The book has an impressive 4.7 out of 5 Amazon rating; I enjoyed how Rand personally narrated the book’s Audible format. He previously co-founded and ran the SEO optimization company, Moz.Rand’s worst investment was when he received venture capital for Moz and focused on expanding its other marketing services while stopping what was working for the company.Key takeawaysFind your niche and focus on it, do not get distractedStructure and incentives matter more than almost everything else when it comes to business successJust because investors want growth at all costs doesn’t mean it’s the right pathListen to different opinions but do what’s right for youEp255: Morgan Housel – A Successful Value Investor Focuses on Why a Stock Is CheapMorgan Housel is an award-winning financial writer and a partner at The Collaborative Fund. Don’t miss his recently published, The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness, which has received more than 3,000 ratings on Amazon which average an impressive 4.7 out of 5 ratings. Follow him on Twitter.Morgan shared his story of how he blindly followed the advice of the father of value investing, Benjamin Graham, to buy stocks that were trading at less than book value.Key takeawaysSeparate research on risk from research on the returnDon’t blindly follow any investment book or guru, even Warren BuffettCheap stocks are usually cheap for a reason, and they can get cheaperEp191: Cedric Dahl – You’re Going to Fail Countless Times, Don’t Dwell on the FailuresCedric Dahl was CEO of Buttercoin, one of the first Bitcoin marketplaces in the US. He writes the Internet Money newsletter covering the most critical events in the weird world of Internet Money. Find him on YouTube, where he has recently been posting Cedric Dahl Friend Call, and Twitter. Finally, consider joining his “1000x Group,” where Cedric and community members share projects and ideas that they believe have the potential for 1000x+ returns.Cedric shared how he and his friend Bennett raised money for a Bitcoin startup and how it went downhill and was ultimately knocked out by the rise of Coinbase.Key takeawaysRisk management is the key to long-term successWhen pressure, stress, and the impostor syndrome kick in, step back and take care of yourselfLuck, whether you want to admit it or not, plays a role in life and investingSuit up and show up. You can’t get better if you don’t practice, and you can’t practice if you don’t start.Pursuing your big dream will be hard at first; challenges will be many, but you’ve got to stay in the game to succeed. Have the courage to stick with it.Ep245: Mark Moss – Diversify Your Profits to Protect Your WealthMark Moss is a full-time investor with more than 25 years’ experience and has invested in businesses, real estate, stocks, gold, and cryptocurrencies. He created his website, Signal Profits, to help struggling traders. Follow Mark on his YouTube channel or Twitter to gain further investment knowledge (I watch everyone he puts out).Mark talked about the time he kept placing all his efforts solely on his real estate investments even though the market was crashing.Key takeawaysDiversify by holding various asset classesFor newbie and seasoned investors alike, make sure that you understand how real estate investing works and have a strategySome of the most dramatic investment stories often come from real estate, and even the most experienced investors experience lossEp239: E.B. Tucker – Go With Your Gut and Consider Starting SmallE.B. Tucker is a board director and major shareholder of Metalla Royalty & Streaming, a gold royalty company. He’s been active in capital markets for over two decades and authored Why gold? Why Now? The War Against Your Wealth and How to Win It has received a 4.6 out of 5 with more than 500 reviews.EB shared how he started as a sales VP for what he thought was a good company, which he then got his friends to invest in. Unfortunately, the company turned out to be a scam.Key takeawaysDo your research, ask lots of questionsFollow your gut and intuition, not your egoTake calculated risks and always assess whatever you will invest in so you don’t lose everythingEp289: Jim O’Shaughnessy – Have the Discipline to Stick With Your Investment ProcessJim O’Shaughnessy is the Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer of O’Shaughnessy Asset Management (OSAM). He is the author of various books, with What Works on Wall Street, Fourth Edition: The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time being one of my all-time favorite finance books.Jim ignored his investment model and sold his puts (the right to sell at a fixed price, a contract that investors enter when they think the market will fall) just before the market crashed instead of holding onto them at least one more day as his model told him.Key takeawaysSet your investment system and follow itConsider entering and exiting investment positions in a step-by-step mannerEp234: John Lee Dumas – Avoid the Sunk Cost Fallacy by Testing Your Idea in the MarketJohn Lee Dumas (JLD) is the host of Entrepreneurs on Fire, an award-winning podcast where he interviews the world’s most inspiring entrepreneurs. Check out his fantastic book, The Common Path to Uncommon Success: A Roadmap to Financial Freedom and Fulfillment, which is launching now.JLD walked us through his first investment in a penny stock and the course offering he created back when Entrepreneurs on Fire was in its first year.Key takeawaysDon’t let failures stop you from doing what you love; it’s ok to pivot and persistFOCUS means Follow One Course Until SuccessListen to your audience to find out what they want and build your business around thatBefore you create something, get proof of concept by getting a few people to buyTiming is essential; just because your offer doesn’t work the first time doesn’t mean that it’s a bad offerEp231: Neil Patel – Fail Your Way to Success by Practicing the 3Es: Experiment, Experiment, ExperimentNiel Patel is a New York Times bestselling author, one of the top influencers on the web, and is recognized as a top 100 entrepreneur under 30. You can find more about him on his website. I love to watch his YouTube videos, his Facebook, and his Twitter. Most importantly, I purchased a subscription to his Ubersuggest.Neil shared his vision for...

Larry Levine is the best-selling author of Selling from the Heart and the co-host of the Selling from the Heart Podcast.In a post trust sales world, Larry Levine helps sales teams leverage the power of authenticity to grow revenue, grow themselves, and enhance their clients’ lives.Larry has coached sales professionals across the world, from tenured reps to new millennials entering the salesforce. They all appreciate the practical, real, raw, relevant, relatable, and “street-savvy” nature of his coaching. Larry is not shy when it comes to delivering his message.In a world full of empty suits, Larry is passionate about helping sales reps succeed by helping them to uncover their true value before they get visible.Larry is leading a revolution of authenticity, integrity, and substance in the sales profession. “If you can self reflect, become self-aware of who you are, and work on the inner part of who you are, you, it fills your outer success.”Larry Levine Worst investment everLarry helped start a company in LA in 1994. In 2000 he bought into the company that went on to expand rapidly.Wanting to explore more optionsIn 2012, Larry started feeling that it was time for him to move on. His work environment had become too toxic and dysfunctional. It was time for Larry to explore other options. In 2013, Larry sold his shares of the company, and after about eight months, he left the company for good.Starting afreshAfter working for almost 20 years with the same company where he poured a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, Larry made a career decision to go somewhere else. This time he decided to go to a large corporation. He was now a newbie in one of the biggest corporate firms in LA. Larry was number 18 on an 18 person corporate account team.To prove himself, Larry got an exorbitantly high quota for the year. For 90 days, it was a rough roller coaster for him but, Larry took everything he had learned, put his best foot forward, and rose in one year from number 18 to number two. He managed to bring in a million and a half dollars of brand new business.The biggest let down of his lifeIn the spring of 2015, at 50 years old, Larry was fired. For the first time, he found himself without a job. Losing his job was the worst rejection Larry had ever had in his whole life, and it hit him so bad. He cried for days. Now he had to figure out what to do with himself at 50 years old.Trusting himself to start his own businessLarry had to figure out what to do next because he had a family to take care of. He started tapping into his networks right away. A few days later, Larry’s close friend called him and suggested that he becomes a sales coach and trainer.Larry thought about his friend’s advice and realized that he could do it. But he was afraid of disappointing his dad. However, Larry decided to give it a shot. The plan was to be the best coach ever and make his dad proud.Building a successful coaching businessLarry started to coach office technology reps. He wore his emotions on his sleeves, connected deeply, and built meaningful relationships with his clients. He built a successful coaching business based on everything he had learned over the years.Lessons learnedReinvent yourself and learn from your mistakesWhether you made a horrible career investment or a bad financial investment, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep pushing forward.You are capable of doing a lot more than you think; just believe in yourselfIf you believe in yourself, you will see that you can do a lot more than you ever thought you could. Trust yourself to be great.Andrew’s takeawaysBe comfortable with facing resistance. It will propel you to greatnessEmbrace resistance, disasters, frustration, and emotions. It is this resistance that forces you to change and look for new options and propel yourself.Embrace your pain and your struggle and tell your story with authenticityYou may have gone through a lot of struggle and pain. Instead of letting it hold you back, embrace it, and then bring your story to the world. You will never know where it can take you and who you may help with your experience.Actionable adviceWhether you are in sales, finance, you are a teacher, a banker, work as a clerk in a grocery store, etc. if you bring genuine sincerity, substance, and your heart to the forefront, it will not only change you but also change the conversations you have, your relationships and your business endeavors.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsLarry’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to launch another Selling from the Heart book. He just started the rough outline, and he hopes to get the book to market in 2021.Parting words “Sincerity, substance, and heart will set you apart.”Larry Levine [spp-transcript] Connect with Larry LevineLinkedInTwitterWebsiteAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

Dr. Robert B. Ramos, CFA, CAIA, CIPM, completed his undergraduate degree from the Ateneo de Manila University. He finished one master’s degree in Business Management from the Asian Institute of Management and the second one in Business Economics from the University of Asia and the Pacific. And to top that off completed his doctoral degree from De La Salle University.Robert has more than 20 years of banking and finance experience working for both Philippine and foreign institutions. He has experience in the fields of trust and asset management, product development, treasury trading, fund management, marketing, and relationship management.He is currently the First Senior Vice-President and Group Head of RCBC Trust and Investments Group. Robert is a CFA Charterholder, a CAIA Charterholder, a CIPM Certificant, and the current President of the CFA Society of the Philippines. “The thing that made you a star may not work in the next few years. So be ready to adapt, not only from a firm management standpoint but also from a people management standpoint.”Robert Ramos Worst investment everAround 2013 Robert was promoted to the head of investments and business development. He took pride in being able to select undervalued stocks. Robert would choose firms that had a good story and a massive upside. For the past seven years, this had worked very well to the point where many of the funds managed by the firm were in the upper tier.In a continued effort to grow the fundOne of Robert’s best analysts brought a good stock in the power industry to his attention. The stock was undervalued and had fantastic growth potential. Robert looked at the numbers, and he was impressed. This firm was just the best. Not only did they have great numbers, but good management too.Having a piece of the pieRobert was satisfied that this was the best stock to buy. So the firm went ahead and decided to buy a 13% stake.Watching the stockThe stock was performing well a few days after buying it. But after about three months, it started slowing down. In about six months, the stock started dipping. Initially, the decline in value of the stock was not so much that it would cause panic, but it was enough for Robert to notice.However, he believed that the numbers he had seen when evaluating the stock would save it once people saw its value.A downward spiralIn the eighth month, the stock started dipping more and more. Now everyone, including fund managers, was taking notice. In the ninth month, clients started calling because this fund that was doing so well for them suddenly was not doing well.Now the tables had turned. The stock expected to outperform the rest was the one bringing the fund down. Eventually, Robert had to sell that position. That stock remains as Robert’s worst investment ever.Lessons learnedNumbers are not the only thing that determines the value of a good stockNumbers are great, but sometimes they will lie to you. Go beyond numbers when evaluating a good stock. Check out other factors too, including management, illiquidity, the number of analysts covering the stock, and the number of people looking at the stock daily.Selling your underperforming position does not mean you are a failureUnderstand that selling a poorly performing position does not make you a failure. You have to be able to separate yourself and your actions to be able to move accordingly. If you fall in love with your position, then you fall into the trap of throwing in good money into bad money and making a problem even worse than it is.Andrew’s takeawaysBuild a position slowly, over timeBuilding a position over time is an exceptional risk management tool because it removes the excitement of owning it all. You can put your emotions aside and observe how the position performs over time, and you can increase it when you deem it viable.Consider having a stop lossSometimes you may have played your cards right and got the best stock, but you just bought it at the wrong time. In such a case, a stop loss can have some value. So consider using stop losses in a limited way.Liquidity is a major risk factor when selecting the best stock to buyDo not overlook liquidity when deciding which stocks are good investments. You want to invest in a company that is liquid and profitable.Actionable adviceWhen evaluating a stock, look at its numbers, management, size, and liquidity. But the most important thing is being able to admit that you made a mistake and act fast.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsRobert’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to grow the business of his current asset management firm and serve the needs of his clients.Parting words “Keep learning and evolving. The world is evolving and if you don’t evolve with it you will die.”Robert Ramos [spp-transcript] Connect with Robert RamosLinkedInTwitterInstagramWebsiteAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

Kevin Maloney is a serial entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience in business development, marketing, operations, and finance with early to the mid-stage consumer, media, technology, and real estate companies.He has led more than 1,000+ early mid-stage investor presentations, conducted 100+ corporate and institutional roadshows, and raised more than $90M+ in capital for a dozen early-stage companies. “It doesn’t matter what you or your science team think. Just innovate and iterate quickly based on customer feedback.”Kevin Maloney Worst investment everAt the age of 29, Kevin connected with some scientists working on a process to produce nanomaterials. These are very tiny metallic powders. Kevin saw the potential this technology had, so he raised $100,000 to support the development of this technology.Building one of a kind productKevin gathered the best of the best people in the industry to work on this product that would be a gamechanger. He also surrounded himself with the best mentors. The team went on to develop a high-class product.Kevin raised the first amount of capital, proved the concept, filed patents, and launched his product in 2003. Then he started engaging with a few large potential partners and potential early customers.Struggling to get paying customers for his incredible productKevin believed that if you build an incredible product, then customers will come. He was so wrong. It was an uphill task to get customers to buy his product. Kevin had wanted to start engaging customers while the product was still an idea, but his scientists insisted that he waits until they had a finished product.Kevin missed Energizer’s opportunity to engage and commit to his project because he waited to have a finished product.No money, no businessKevin’s product was not bringing in any substantial income, and he could barely raise enough capital to continue working on it. He was technically running an R&D company with great technology, looking for applications.Eventually, Kevin ran out of money. He had spent over $35 million on this project. He ended up selling the technology to a public company and got an offer for about $10 million in equity.Lessons learnedEngage customers as early as possibleEngage customers and get them to buy in as early as when your product is just a vision. Do not wait for a finished product to start engaging customers. The earlier you start doing it in your product development cycle, the better.It is easier to raise money on a passionate visionStart selling your product as soon as it is a vision; do not wait until you have a finished product. Selling a passionate vision that could change the world is less complicated than selling a ready product.When you have a ready product, people will only give you their money when they see you have paying customers. So sell your vision first to investors before you even come up with the product.You don’t have a business unless you start selling somethingServe your customer well with a great product or service, and they will pay you for it. If you want your business to be successful, make creating a sustainable customer base your focal focus.Andrew’s takeawaysGetting people to pay for your product is the hardest part of entrepreneurshipYou may have a perfect idea, employ the best team that develops the best product, but you cannot count yourself as a successful entrepreneur until you convince people to pay for your product.Actionable adviceWhen the opportunity to take your company public and raise money comes, take it.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsKevin’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to launch an indoor air quality, IoT sensor, and monitoring platform. He is also launching a program with his son to motivate kids, students, athletes, and entrepreneurs worldwide to hustle with grit.Parting words “Have fun, fail quickly and often. Engage your customer and get feedback from them.”Kevin Maloney [spp-transcript] Connect with Kevin MaloneyLinkedInAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast

Armand Rosamilia is a New Jersey boy currently living in sunny Florida, where he writes when he’s not sleeping. He’s happily married to a woman who helps his career and is supportive, which is all he ever wanted in life.He’s written over 150 stories that are currently available, including horror, zombies, contemporary fiction, thrillers, and more. His goal is to write a good story and not worry about genre labels.He not only runs two successful podcasts but also owns the network they’re on, Project Entertainment Network.His two podcasts are Arm Cast Podcast that interviews other authors, filmmakers, musicians, etc., and The Mando Method Podcast, with co-host Chuck Buda. The podcast talks about writing and publishing.You can find him at Armand Rosamilia for his latest releases and interviews and guest posts with other authors he likes. “When I look back on my life, at least I can say I tried, and it failed. I gave it a shot.”Armand Rosamilia Worst investment everArmand wanted to become a writer ever since he was 12 years old. However, he was now in his 40s and was yet to muster the courage to do what he wanted to do most—write.Living a life of obligationEverything that Armand did in his life was out of obligation. He got a job to be able to pay bills and take care of his family. He hated his job so much, but he couldn’t stop working. His ex-wife would not let him quit. Armand had to continue meeting his obligation to his wife and kids.Sneaking out to pursue his passionThe dream of becoming a writer never left Armand. Every night he would sneak out of bed and stay up to write. This habit annoyed his ex-wife so much, but he kept doing it.Hitting rock bottom and rising to his dreamOne day, Armand found himself jobless, and even though his ex-wife was pushing him to get another job, he spent the time writing. He managed to finish his first story. He could not be happier even though he was dead broke. At this point, Armand’s ex-wife was tired of pushing him to get a job and decided to leave him.Armand was devastated. His life was a complete mess, and he could barely take care of his family. He was ready to take on any job to make ends meet. However, Armand’s day of becoming a writer had come.The breakthroughUnbeknownst to Armand, a publisher had picked up his book, read it, and loved it. As his wife walked out of the door and left him for good, his phone rang. It was the publisher. He said he would love to have a conversation with him about a deal he had struck with a movie company in Hollywood. The company wanted to turn Armand’s book into a movie. This opportunity catapulted Armand’s career as a full-time author. He has not looked back since.Lessons learnedYour dreams are valid even if other people do not believe in themDo not stop chasing your dreams just because other people do not believe in them. You are the only one who can make your dreams come true. Do not let anyone tell you that you are not worth dreaming.Andrew’s takeawaysPursuing your dreams will not be easy, but you have to do itIf you have a passion, go for it. The world is not just going to open up for you. You have to do it yourself. People are going to resist and doubt you. They are going to challenge you and even discourage you. But, there is a point in your life when you have to decide to make your passion work. If you do that, hopefully, if you are good at it, then you will get your breakthrough.Your dreams will not always be validated, and that is okIt feels nice to be validated but don’t chase your dreams because you want validation from other people. External validation is not a guarantee. Pursue your dreams for yourself.Actionable advicePursue your dreams. Strive for what you believe in and remain realistic about it. It is a lot of work, but you have to do it.No. 1 goal for the next 12 monthsArmand’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to continue working and learning. [spp-transcript] Connect with Armand RosamiliaLinkedInTwitterFacebookWebsiteAndrew’s booksHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketMy Worst Investment Ever9 Valuation Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemTransform Your Business with Dr.Deming’s 14 PointsAndrew’s online programsValuation Master ClassHow to Start Building Your Wealth Investing in the Stock MarketFinance Made Ridiculously SimpleBecome a Great Presenter and Increase Your InfluenceTransform Your Business with Dr. Deming’s 14 PointsConnect with Andrew Stotz:astotz.comLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeMy Worst Investment Ever Podcast