We all have dreams of being successful and achieving excellence in our lives. But we inevitably experience resistance, challenges, and obstacles in the pursuit ...
John Terzian: The King of LA Nightlife and Building The h.wood Group from Scratch | E156
John Terzian is the co-founder of The h.wood Group, one of the most influential hospitality companies in the world, known for creating iconic venues like The Nice Guy, Delilah, Bootsy Bellows, and Shore Bar. But before he built an empire in nightlife and dining, John’s path was anything but conventional. From working as a DJ assistant to getting banned from the Queen Mary for throwing an out-of-control college party, John’s journey is filled with unforgettable twists, relentless hustle, and big risks. A former USC walk-on quarterback and Pepperdine law school grad who never passed the bar, John chose to follow his passion for creating experiences over traditional career paths. In this episode, he opens up about growing up in L.A., being harassed by corrupt cops, dealing with failure, and how grit, creativity, and real relationships helped him build a global brand from the ground up.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction and John's Childhood10:45 – USC Football, Recruiting, and the Roots of H.Wood’s Culture20:55 – Nightclubs, Celebrities, and the Birth of The h.wood Group35:30 – The Tea Room and Getting Shut Down by Corrupt Cops47:40 – Moving Back Home and Starting Over53:17 – Bootsy Bellows, Katy Perry, and the Breakthrough MomentResources:The h.wood Group WebsiteThe h.wood Group InstagramJohn's InstagramThe h.wood Group Media InstagramWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Instagram | 1-on-1 Coaching | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn
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1:02:09
Grant Ellis: What The Bachelor Taught Me About Life, Love, and Success | E155
Grant Ellis is a reality TV star, entrepreneur, and former professional basketball player whose journey from the courts to prime-time television has captivated millions. Best known as the lead of The Bachelor, Grant's rise to fame began unexpectedly when his mother submitted his application for The Bachelorette, launching him into the national spotlight. However, his story goes far beyond dating on TV—Grant grew up navigating family struggles, a deep love for basketball, and the harsh realities of professional sports before pivoting into the world of finance and trading. From competing in the Dominican Republic’s professional basketball leagues to mastering financial markets, Grant has built a unique career through resilience, risk-taking, and self-belief. In this episode, he opens up about the lessons he’s learned from sports, reality TV, and business, sharing insights on relationships, financial literacy, personal growth, and the power of taking advantage of unexpected opportunities.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction 09:45 – Growing Up in Sports 23:30 – Losing Everything in Day Trading 38:10 – How Grant Became ‘The Bachelor’ 58:20 – The Reality of Fame 1:17:00 – Fill in the Blank to ExcellenceResourcesGrant's InstagramThe Bachelor on ABCWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Instagram | 1-on-1 Coaching | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn
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1:30:46
Andy Elliott: Why 99% of Companies Get Culture Wrong | E154
Andy Elliott is a powerhouse in the world of sales training, leadership, and personal transformation. From a tough childhood filled with hardship and rejection, Andy turned his struggles into the fuel that made him one of the most successful sales coaches in history. As the founder of The Elliott Group, he has trained over 600,000 people and helped more than 13,000 companies scale their businesses through his cutting-edge sales techniques and mindset strategies. With a no-nonsense approach to personal growth, business success, and extreme resilience, Andy has built a career on breaking the mold and pushing people beyond their limits. In this episode, he shares his journey from being the least likely to succeed to becoming a self-made leader in sales and motivation, offering powerful lessons in overcoming adversity, mastering confidence, and taking complete ownership of your success.Timestamps00:00 – Building a Winning Culture 12:28 – The Three Most Important Traits for Success in Sales and Life 28:34 – Handling Criticism and Haters 38:54 – The Secret to Hiring 50:17 – Fill in the Blank to ExcellenceResourcesAndy's InstagramThe Elliott GroupWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Instagram | 1-on-1 Coaching | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn
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52:25
Andy Elliott: The No-BS Blueprint to Winning in Life and Business | E153
Andy Elliott is a powerhouse in the world of sales training, leadership, and personal transformation. From a tough childhood filled with hardship and rejection, Andy turned his struggles into the fuel that made him one of the most successful sales coaches in history. As the founder of The Elliott Group, he has trained over 600,000 people and helped more than 13,000 companies scale their businesses through his cutting-edge sales techniques and mindset strategies. With a no-nonsense approach to personal growth, business success, and extreme resilience, Andy has built a career on breaking the mold and pushing people beyond their limits. In this episode, he shares his journey from being the least likely to succeed to becoming a self-made leader in sales and motivation, offering powerful lessons in overcoming adversity, mastering confidence, and taking complete ownership of your success.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction12:15 – Andy's Childhood33:40 – Andy's Transition to Sales53:17 – Andy's Start in Sales, Mindset, and Self-Development1:22:20 – The Strategy Behind Andy’s Business GrowthResourcesAndy's InstagramThe Elliott GroupWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Instagram | 1-on-1 Coaching | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn
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1:26:34
Matt Barnes: Why Success Is Built on Failure, Resilience, and Hard Work | E152
Matt Barnes is a former NBA player, entrepreneur, and media personality whose journey from a turbulent childhood to professional basketball stardom is a story of resilience, grit, and determination. Growing up in a racially diverse yet challenging environment, Matt faced adversity both on and off the court, fueling his drive to succeed. After being overlooked in high school and college, his relentless work ethic led him to a 14-year NBA career, where he played for teams like the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers, ultimately winning an NBA Championship with the Warriors in 2017. Beyond basketball, Matt has become a prominent voice in sports media, co-hosting the popular podcast All the Smoke and advocating for social issues, fatherhood, and personal growth. His journey from underdog to champion offers powerful lessons in perseverance, self-belief, and the importance of staying true to oneself.Timestamps0:00:00 - Introduction and Family Life0:05:38 - Racism in School and Childhood Challenges0:26:00 - Playing with and Learning from Kobe0:33:58 - Matt's NBA Career1:13:54 - Importance of Being a Team Player1:32:27 - Matt's Thoughts on Caitlin Clark1:46:08 - Drugs in the NBA1:55:55 - The Truth about the Derek Fisher Fight2:02:47 - Tupac and Fill in the Blank to ExcellenceResourcesAll the Smoke PodcastMatt's InstagramWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Instagram | 1-on-1 Coaching | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn
We all have dreams of being successful and achieving excellence in our lives. But we inevitably experience resistance, challenges, and obstacles in the pursuit of our dreams. In Search of Excellence provides us with the inspiration we need to overcome these obstacles and accomplish our goals. In Search of Excellence takes us through the stories, routes, and strategies of people from hundreds of different backgrounds who have achieved excellence in both their professional and personal lives. Guest features include Sharon Stone, Kevin O'Leary, Sammy Hagar, Lara Logan, Sam Zell, and many more.
Ireland