Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)

Brandon Dawson scaled his business from zero to $75 million, but behind the success, he was losing control. After taking the company public at 29, he watched investors sell it out from under him and learned that growth is not sustainable without the systems and leadership to support it. He started over with a new playbook and has since built multiple nine-figure businesses, including Cardone Ventures, which he co-founded. In this episode, Brandon reveals why 97% of businesses fail and shares how entrepreneurs can beat the odds to scale massively. He also discusses his core leadership principles and the key traits of a great business partner.

In this episode, Hala and Brandon will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:21) His Early Life and Entrepreneurship Journey

(08:25) Bootstrapping a Startup vs. Venture Capital Funding

(19:04) Why Entrepreneurs Should Prioritize Cash Reserves

(26:14) Scale vs. Scaling for Business Growth

(36:48) Why 92% of Businesses Fail to Scale Past $3M

(40:26) Raising Your Leadership Lid

(45:47) Actionable Steps to Improve Leadership Skills

(55:47) Building Nine-Figure Businesses With Grant Cardone

(01:03:02) The Key Traits to Look for in Business Partners

Brandon Dawson is an entrepreneur, business scaling expert, and co-founder and CEO of Cardone Ventures. He has built and exited multiple businesses, including Audigy Group, which he sold for a reported $151 million at more than 77 times EBITDA. At age 29, he took Sonus Corporation public on the American Stock Exchange. Brandon is also the author of Nine-Figure Mindset and the host of Building Billions with Brandon Dawson.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing.

Mindstone - Master practical AI skills without the complexity with Mindstone’s AI Competency Programme. Head to experience.mindstone.com/yap and get 10% off.

AT&T - Stay connected with reliable, secure internet built for entrepreneurs. Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.com.

Quince - Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/profiting for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

Resources Mentioned:

Brandon's Website: bdawson.com

Brandon's Book, Nine-Figure Mindset: bit.ly/9FigureMindset

Brandon’s Podcast, Building Billions: bit.ly/BuildingBillions-Apple

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell: bit.ly/21-Laws

Good to Great (6 book series) by Jim Collins: bit.ly/GTG-Series

Rich Dad's Cashflow Quadrant by Robert T. Kiyosaki: bit.ly/CashQuadrant

Sell or Be Sold by Grant Cardone: bit.ly/Sell-Be-Sold

Start The Work by Natalie Dawson: bit.ly/StartTheWork

Three Feet from Gold by Sharon L. Lechter: bit.ly/3-Feet-Gold

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Passive Income, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking

John Paul DeJoria is proof that entrepreneurs can build extraordinary businesses without extraordinary resources. After experiencing poverty, homelessness, rejection, and the collapse of the funding he needed to launch John Paul Mitchell Systems, he kept going with just $700, selling door to door and creating products so good people wanted to reorder them. Those hard-earned lessons helped him build two billion-dollar brands and inspired his new book, Success Unshared Is Failure. In this episode, John Paul shares how entrepreneurs can turn limited resources, rejection, and early setbacks into companies built on exceptional products, customer loyalty, and lasting success.

In this episode, Hala and John Paul will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:00) John Paul’s Rags-to-Riches Story

(04:17) Homelessness and the Power of Words

(13:02) Business Lessons From Door-to-Door Sales

(20:57) Starting Paul Mitchell With $700

(29:45) Why Loyalty Beats Bigger Profits

(35:26) Paul Mitchell’s Product Marketing Secret

(39:22) The Origin Story of Patrón Tequila

(45:24) Positioning Patrón as a Luxury Brand

(54:58) Business Decisions John Paul Wouldn’t Make

(58:07) The Power of Sharing Your Success

John Paul DeJoria is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and co-founder and chairman of John Paul Mitchell Systems, one of the world’s largest privately held professional haircare companies. He later co-founded Patrón Spirits Company, which Bacardi acquired in a deal valuing Patrón at $5.1 billion in 2018. As the author of Success Unshared Is Failure, John Paul explores his life, business philosophy, philanthropy, and the belief that true success means helping others rise too.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing.

Mindstone - Master practical AI skills without the complexity with Mindstone’s AI Competency Programme. Head to experience.mindstone.com/yap and get 10% off.

AT&T - Stay connected with reliable, secure internet built for entrepreneurs. Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.com.

Quince - Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/profiting for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

Resources Mentioned:

John Paul’s Book, Success Unshared Is Failure: bit.ly/JP-SuccessUnshared

The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason: bit.ly/GSC-RichestMan

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Passive Income, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking

Tom Bilyeu faced failure long before he achieved business success. After his senior thesis film fell apart, the future he had imagined for himself suddenly felt out of reach. Instead of letting that moment define him, he rebuilt his belief system around learning, feedback, and skill-building, a shift that later helped him build Quest Nutrition into a billion-dollar business and launch Impact Theory. In this episode, Tom shares how entrepreneurs can use failure as feedback to make better decisions, build businesses around meaning, and stay adaptable as AI reshapes the creator economy.

In this episode, Hala and Tom will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:48) Building Around Meaning and Purpose

(05:08) Work-Life Harmony for Entrepreneurs

(11:24) Using Failure as Data for Progress

(16:39) First-Principles Thinking in Business

(21:37) Tom’s Path to Self-Improvement

(24:10) The Illusion of Free Will

(29:32) How to Beat Laziness to Achieve Your Goals

(32:50) From Crushed Dream to Growth Mindset

(40:17) The Power of Storytelling in Business

(44:50) Starting the Journey to Entrepreneurship

(50:17) The Future of AI and Content Creation

Tom Bilyeu is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Quest Nutrition, which he helped build into a billion-dollar business. He is the co-founder and CEO of Impact Theory, a media company focused on storytelling, mindset, business, and personal empowerment. Tom is also the creator of Project Kyzen, a video game and virtual world built around community, user-generated content, and empowering ideas.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing.

Mindstone - Master practical AI skills without the complexity with Mindstone’s AI Competency Programme. Head to experience.mindstone.com/yap and get 10% off.

AT&T - Stay connected with reliable, secure internet built for entrepreneurs. Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.com.

Quince - Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/profiting for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

Resources Mentioned:

Website: tombilyeu.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tombilyeu

TikTok: tiktok.com/@tombilyeu

Instagram: instagram.com/tombilyeu

Determined by Robert Sapolsky: bit.ly/RS-Determined

The Tao of Jeet Kune Do by Bruce Lee: bit.ly/BL-TaoJeetKune

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Passive Income, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking

Chandler Bolt built a $10 million business by challenging one of the biggest myths in publishing: that authors can only make money from book sales. As the founder of SelfPublishing.com, Chandler has helped many entrepreneurs use books to generate leads, attract high-value clients, and scale their businesses. In this episode, Chandler breaks down how one of his books generated $7 million in revenue for his business and reveals how to choose a profitable book idea, launch it successfully, and turn it into a driver of real business growth.

In this episode, Hala and Chandler will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:00) SelfPublishing.com’s Business Model

(04:24) Dropping Out to Build a Business

(08:42) The Power of SEO in Branding

(12:51) How SelfPublishing.com Generates Revenue

(18:20) Using AI to Scale Operations

(22:37) Finding the Highest-Margin Offers

(25:47) Chandler’s Customer Growth Strategy

(33:28) Why the Right Book Idea Matters

(40:11) Turning Books Into Client Funnels

(45:51) Maximizing ROI From Your Book

(56:12) The Journey to Business Mastery

Chandler Bolt is the founder and CEO of SelfPublishing.com, an online education and services company that helps people write, publish, and market books that grow their impact, income, and business. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, he is the author of seven books, including his most recent release, Published. Under his leadership, SelfPublishing.com has earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. for multiple consecutive years.

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing.

Mindstone - Master practical AI skills without the complexity with Mindstone’s AI Competency Programme. Head to experience.mindstone.com/yap and get 10% off.

AT&T - Stay connected with reliable, secure internet built for entrepreneurs. Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.com.

Quince - Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/profiting for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

Resources Mentioned:

Chandler’s Website: selfpublishing.com

Chandler’s Instagram: instagram.com/chandler.bolt

Chandler’s YouTube: youtube.com/@ChandlerBoltOfficial

Chandler’s Book, Published: bit.ly/CB-Published

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Passive Income, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking

Entrepreneurship often begins with the goal of making money, but Naveen Jain believes chasing money is the worst way to get rich. After losing his father to stage four pancreatic cancer while building Moon Express, he realized success means little unless it helps solve the real problems causing people to suffer. That mindset led him to build Viome and reshape his life’s work around human health. In this episode, Naveen shares how entrepreneurs can think counterintuitively, solve bigger problems, and build businesses that create wealth by improving lives at scale. 

In this episode, Hala and Naveen will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:38) Will Chasing Money Make You Rich?

(03:21) How Top Entrepreneurs Thrive Solving Big Problems

(08:22) The “Why This, Why Now, Why Me” Framework

(16:17) The Outsider Advantage in Business

(30:20) Why the Best Salespeople Never Sell

(34:50) Building a Mindset of Positivity

(42:50) The Traits of Counterintuitive Thinkers

(49:50) Execution Traps That Keep Founders Stuck

(56:53) The Real Measure of Success 

Naveen Jain is a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author known for building companies that tackle ambitious global challenges. He is the founder of Viome Life Sciences, a health technology company focused on making illness optional, and Moon Express, a lunar exploration company. His latest book, Counterintuitive, teaches unconventional principles for success in life and business. 

Sponsored By:

Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/profiting

Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.

Northwest Registered Agent - Get a complete business identity with Northwest. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/YAPFree and start using free resources to build something amazing. 

Mindstone - Master practical AI skills without the complexity with Mindstone’s AI Competency Programme. Head to experience.mindstone.com/yap and get 10% off. 

AT&T - Stay connected with reliable, secure internet built for entrepreneurs. Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.com. 

Quince - Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/profiting for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

Resources Mentioned:

Naveen’s Book, Counterintuitive: bit.ly/NJ-Counterintuitive 

Naveen’s Book, Moonshots: /bit.ly/NJ-Moonshots 

Naveen’s Instagram: instagram.com/naveenjainceo 

Naveen’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/naveenjainintelius 

Naveen’s Website: viome.com

YAPE22 with Naveen Jain: youngandprofiting.co/E22 

YAPLive with Naveen Jain: youngandprofiting.co/NJ-YAPLive 

Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals 

Key YAP Links

Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap

YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting

Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter 

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/

Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/

Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com

Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new 

Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, Passive Income, Online Business, Solopreneur, Networking