Travis Makes Money

• Make Money Without Insane Car Payments and Destroying Relationships

  Travis brings producer Eric into the virtual studio for a late‑night, high‑energy reaction episode on how money, status, and expectations collide in modern relationships. Using viral clips about insane car payments, a rejected Walmart engagement ring, and a boyfriend insisting on separate finances and a prenup, they break down what these decisions reveal about values, red flags, and long‑term wealth building. On this episode we talk about: Why multi‑thousand‑dollar car payments are almost always a wealth killer, not a “flex” The viral story of a woman rejecting an $898 Walmart engagement ring and what it says about priorities How the wedding industry exploits “once in a lifetime” emotions and traps couples in years of debt When prenups make sense, what they actually do (vs. the myths), and why they’re different from keeping money separate Why shared financial values and a common mission matter more than ring size, wedding cost, or follower count Top 3 Takeaways Massive payments on depreciating assets like cars are usually a sign of poor financial priorities; if you want to build wealth, avoid over‑leveraging on status items. Engagement rings and weddings are symbols, not investments—if they’re forcing you into debt or exposing deep value misalignment, that’s a relationship red flag, not “romance.” A prenup can be smart planning, but separate finances inside a marriage often signal that you’re not truly on the same team; long‑term success requires a shared mission and transparent money conversations. Notable Quotes “If you want to build wealth, don’t get a $3,700 car payment—that’s not a flex, that’s financial self‑sabotage.” “You’re not owed a $10,000 ring or a six‑figure wedding—love doesn’t magically make more money appear.” “Marriage is a partnership and a shared mission; if you’re sharing a bed and kids but not money, something’s off.” ✖️✖️✖️✖️ 🚀 Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. 🚀 Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. 🎁 Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Make Money by Deleting Clubhouse

  Travis and producer Eric perform a tongue‑in‑cheek “autopsy” on the rise and fall of Clubhouse, revisiting a 2021 conversation with Jordan Harbinger where they questioned whether the app could ever compete with podcasting. They unpack why a product that looked brilliant on paper—and raised money at a $4B valuation—collapsed so quickly, and what creators, founders, and marketers should learn before betting their careers on the next hype platform. On this episode we talk about: What Clubhouse actually was (live, invite‑only audio rooms) and why early hype convinced many people it might “kill podcasting” Why Travis and Jordan were skeptical from the start: no on‑demand listening, chaotic audio quality, unqualified speakers, and a format that demanded hours of real‑time attention How follower counts and moderator status created a hollow, status‑driven game that rarely translated into real audience or revenue The psychological moment Travis realized the opportunity cost—half‑listening to a room while missing time with his infant son—and decided to walk away even if Clubhouse “won” How a few marketers did monetize the app (treating rooms like live webinars), and why podcasts and audiobooks still win for durable, compounding content and leverage Top 3 Takeaways Any platform that requires constant real‑time presence, but doesn’t create durable assets (episodes, clips, searchable archives), is risky as a primary growth strategy. Vanity metrics and FOMO can lure smart people into massive time sinks; always weigh status and follower counts against actual business outcomes and life trade‑offs. Long‑form, on‑demand media like podcasts remain powerful because they respect the listener’s time, allow deep preparation, and compound over years instead of disappearing after one live session. Notable Quotes “Clubhouse was like a podcast that doesn’t get recorded, done by everybody on AirPods, with eight unprepared guests, none of whom are qualified to talk.” “I realized I was half‑present with my son just to ‘be a mod’ and chase followers on an app that might not exist in a year—that was a terrible trade.” “Even if this is the next Instagram, I’m okay not ‘winning’ here if the time cost means sacrificing what actually matters.” ✖️✖️✖️✖️ 🚀 Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. 🚀 Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. 🎁 Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Make Money Knocking Doors in Solar | Steven Cohen

  Travis reconnects with long‑time friend and solar sales leader Steven Cohen to break down how door‑to‑door solar has created life‑changing income for thousands of reps—and why the recent merger of Sunder Energy with publicly traded SunPower has only strengthened that opportunity. From early days earning a few hundred dollars per kilowatt to today’s multi‑thousand‑dollar commissions, Steven explains how the industry has evolved, what the new legislation means, and why performance‑based sales is still one of the fastest paths out of a capped paycheck. On this episode we talk about: How Sunder Energy grew into one of the largest solar sales dealerships in the U.S. and why SunPower acquired it to power their third‑party ownership (TPO/lease/PPA) strategy going into 2026 What the recent “big, beautiful bill” did to tax credits, why homeowners will lose the 30% credit on ownership, and how finance companies now use that credit on TPO to lower customer costs Current solar commissions (often $700–$800+ per kW and even higher in some markets), realistic income potential for committed reps, and why many people are now earning the same money on less volume The realities of 100% commission work—no base, no benefits, but unlimited upside—and why solar, pest control, alarms, and similar models are better viewed as businesses than jobs How industry corrections, higher interest rates, and weak operators have shaken out tourists from solar—and why those who stay, build teams, and play the long game are best positioned for the next upswing Top 3 Takeaways Performance‑based sales can compress your earning timeline dramatically, but only if you treat it like a business, manage volatility, and stay in the game when conditions get hard instead of chasing the next “easy” industry. Door‑to‑door isn’t just about commission checks; it forges rare skills in communication, resilience, team building, and leadership that transfer to any future venture or career. Solar is still a long‑term growth industry despite short‑term corrections; as energy demand soars with AI, data centers, and crypto, those who remain and level up through this cycle are likely to benefit most from the next boom. Notable Quotes “Profits are better than wages—any time you can be paid on the value you create instead of the hours you clock, you give yourself a real shot at financial freedom.” “It’s never just about your comp plan; it’s about what you believe you’re worth and whether you’re willing to bet on your performance instead of your time.” “Most people play the finite game and quit when a cycle turns; if you can stay planted for a decade in the right vehicle, you usually win by simply outlasting everyone else.” Connect with Steven Cohen: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevencohen/?hl=en ✖️✖️✖️✖️ 🚀 Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. 🚀 Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. 🎁 Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Make Money Learning from Immigrant Entrepreneurs | Neri Karra Sillaman

  Neri Karra Sillaman joins Travis to unpack why immigrant entrepreneurs are disproportionately likely to build enduring, billion‑dollar businesses. Drawing on her journey from refugee child expelled from Bulgaria, to founder of a 25‑year‑old leather goods company, to PhD and entrepreneurship expert at Oxford University, Neri shares the eight principles from her book Pioneers: Eight Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs and how any founder can apply them. On this episode we talk about: Neri’s family being expelled from Bulgaria with two suitcases, becoming refugees in Turkey, and how that shaped her obsession with education as a path to a better life Coming to the University of Miami at 18, discovering that the Intel chip in the computer lab was created by a refugee, and how that reframed her identity as an immigrant Launching a sustainable leather goods brand by repurposing surplus luxury Italian leather, and eventually manufacturing for houses like Prada and Miu Miu Why nearly half of Fortune 500 companies and the vast majority of billion‑dollar startups have immigrant founders or executives, and what she calls the eight “pioneer” principles behind that success How cross‑cultural bridging, future‑back vision, deep community orientation, humility, and a lack of entitlement help immigrant entrepreneurs spot opportunities and build companies that last Top 3 Takeaways Immigrant founders often win because they blend cultures, see problems from multiple vantage points, and design solutions informed by their past while building toward a very clear future vision. A strong sense of non‑entitlement—expecting to earn every opportunity—and humility in leadership (inviting employees, suppliers, and communities into the solution) are core to long‑term business resilience. Treating your company as part of an ecosystem, not the center of the universe, leads to healthier relationships with suppliers, employees, institutions, and even the environment, which supports business longevity. Notable Quotes “Being an immigrant is not something to hide; it can be the very source of the ideas and resilience that build great companies.” “You are not a star operating alone—your company is only as healthy as the ecosystem it’s a part of.” “You can’t have ego in this game; you can’t take rejection personally when you’re building something that matters.” Connect with Neri Karra Sillaman: https://nerispeaks.com ✖️✖️✖️✖️ 🚀 Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. 🚀 Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. 🎁 Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Make Money by Being a Better Interviewer

  Eric and Travis react to a clip of Riaz Meghji. Riaz breaks down the craft of powerful conversations, drawing on his two decades as a TV host, human connection keynote speaker, and author of Every Conversation Counts. Known for helping leaders build meaningful relationships in a distracted, digital-first world, Riaz shares practical frameworks any creator, entrepreneur, or interviewer can use to unlock deeper stories and stronger trust with guests, clients, and audiences.​ On this episode we talk about: Why Riaz lost his first MTV Canada hosting job, what imposter syndrome looked like on camera, and how not burning bridges brought him back to the network later The mindset shift from “how do I look?” to “how do I light up the person watching?” and why focusing on the audience changes everything about how you show up How to “overprepare to improvise” so research gives you confidence, but listening and curiosity drive the actual conversation Simple phrasing shifts—like “tell me about,” “take me back,” and “set the scene”—that turn flat Q&A into emotional, story-rich dialogue Practical ways to ask for stories you “can’t Google,” especially with highly interviewed guests, and how that leads to more memorable content and relationships Top 3 Takeaways The best interviews prioritize the audience and the guest, not the host’s ego; your job is to unlock stories and insights that genuinely serve the listener. Overpreparation plus improvisation is the winning combo: know your guest’s world deeply, then be willing to drop the script when something more alive shows up. Asking for specific moments and stories instead of abstract answers creates emotional connection, builds trust faster, and makes your content stand out. Notable Quotes “The opportunity to unlock something unique, personal, and something you can’t Google is always there—but only if you stop obsessing over how you look on camera.” “Overprepare to improvise: do the work beforehand, then lean into listening so you can follow what actually matters in the room.” “Emotion is what connects us; when you ask for a story, people don’t just hear information—they feel like they’re living the moment with you.” ✖️✖️✖️✖️ 🚀 Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. 🚀 Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. 🎁 Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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