The BetterLife Podcast: Wealth | Real Estate Investing | Life
#20: AJ Osborne
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Parents should actively engage in their children's learning and reinforce positive beliefs and values.
- The current education system needs more options and customization to support children's unique needs and talents.
- The speaker shares his personal experience of sudden paralysis, highlighting the challenges and the importance of finding a new purpose in life.
- The importance of focusing on revenue generation, strategically allocating business profits, and creating a system where everyone can participate in the benefits of capitalism.
Deep dives
The struggle with schooling and overcoming learning disabilities
The guest discusses his struggles with schooling due to ADHD and dyslexia. He recounts feeling inferior and not fitting into the traditional school system. However, his parents' support and encouragement allowed him to test out of school and excel in college at a young age.
The importance of parental involvement in education
The guest emphasizes the crucial role of parents in their children's education. He believes that parents should actively engage in their children's learning, provide support, and reinforce positive beliefs and values. He also highlights the need for open communication between parents and children when discussing challenging topics like sex education.
The flaws in the current education system
The guest expresses concerns about the current education system, describing it as broken and not focused on individual outcomes. He criticizes standardized grading measures and emphasizes the need for more options and customization in education to support children's unique needs and talents.
The life-altering experience of illness and paralysis
The guest shares his personal experience of suddenly losing the function of his legs and eventually becoming paralyzed from the neck down. He describes the physical and emotional pain, as well as the challenges he faced in adjusting to a life on life support. He also mentions the loss of his job during this difficult period.
The Power of Perspective
The speaker reflects on his experience of being in the hospital and how it has changed his perspective on life. He discusses the moments of progress and the excitement he felt with each small milestone. He also shares the challenges he faced in adjusting to a new normal and the importance of finding a new purpose in life.
Building Wealth and Saving Capitalism
The speaker emphasizes the significance of building wealth and shares insights into his entrepreneurial journey. He discusses the importance of focusing on revenue generation and strategically allocating business profits into other assets. He also highlights the concept of 'saving capitalism' by creating a system where everyone can participate in the benefits of capitalism and have the opportunity to grow financially.
The Man in the Ring
The speaker shares a quote by Theodore Roosevelt about the man in the ring, emphasizing the importance of focusing on one's own journey and not being swayed by the opinions of others. He discusses the value of perseverance, gratitude, and the need to surround oneself with the right people in order to achieve success.
AJ Osborne is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and investor with more than $300 million in self-storage assets. He's also a husband and father of four and hosts the 'Self Storage Income' podcast.
In this episode, AJ opens up about his childhood and how traditional school just didn't work for him – an experience that inspired he and his wife to start a school for kids who don't fit into the box.
AJ also discusses his battle with Guillain-Barre syndrome, which left him suddenly and unexpectedly paralyzed and near death... and how getting a second chance at life drives him to do BIG things in business and life.
AJ also speaks about:
-His advice for parents who can’t homeschool or put their children in private school
-The need to teach your kids that it’s okay to say no to authority and to reinforce your beliefs
-How he and his wife talk to their kids about sex and pornography
-How to help your kids feel comfortable speaking to you about difficult subjects
-His past career as a medical insurance salesman and the massive fluctuations in income he experienced
-His transition into self-storage
-How he suddenly became a quadriplegic after getting diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome
-Being fired from his job while on life support
-His slow recovery, and the small milestones he celebrated when he started getting his movement back
-The current state of his body and the lasting effects of his illness
-How he started 3 multi-million dollar companies out of his wheelchair and how he gets purpose and meaning from his work
-The mindset and attitude that helps him get through the day-to-day
-What he would do if he lost all of his wealth tomorrow and had to start all over again
-How he built a massive machine of self-storage businesses that support one another
-What his leadership style is and the legacy that he wants to leave behind
AJ’s charitable cause:
Chair the Hope, which provides wheelchairs to people who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford them – including in developing countries across the world
Books mentioned in this episode:
The Warren Buffett Way by Robert Hagstrom
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Principles for Dealing with The Changing World Order by Ray Dalio
Connect with AJ on socials:
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