Make Money from Over $1 BILLION in Exits | Ryan Blair

Ryan Blair is a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and one of the most remarkable comeback stories in business. With over $2 billion in sales and $1 billion in exits—including a $792 million exit as CEO of ViSalus—Ryan’s journey from poverty, gang life, and juvenile hall to New York Times bestselling author and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year is nothing short of extraordinary. His books, Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain and Rock Bottom to Rockstar, have inspired countless entrepreneurs worldwide. Ryan’s unique perspective comes from having lived in poverty, middle class, and wealth, making his insights on entrepreneurship, risk, and resilience especially powerful.

On this episode, we talk about:

• Ryan’s early days hustling for his first dollar and how his father used incentives to teach him about money
• Growing up in a turbulent environment, falling into poverty, and the impact of a life-changing mentor
• The transition from illegal entrepreneurship to building legal, scalable businesses
• Ryan’s first tech ventures, his early exit at 24, and the mindset shift from cash to equity
• Acquiring and scaling ViSalus, the lessons (and controversies) of network marketing, and the value of teaching entrepreneurship
• The debate around network marketing, compliance, and why leadership and values matter more than ever
• The skills sales and entrepreneurship build—and why Ryan would support his own son joining a network marketing company
• What Ryan would do if he had to start from scratch today
• The importance of authenticity, empathy, and building real relationships in business

Top 3 Takeaways

1. Resilience and Risk-Taking: Ryan’s willingness to take risks was forged by adversity—he literally had nothing to lose, which freed him to pursue entrepreneurship with relentless drive,
2. Sales and Equity Matter: Mastering sales and understanding the value of equity (not just cash) are critical for wealth creation. Ryan’s first big win shifted his beliefs about what was possible.
3. Leadership and Authenticity: Success in business, especially in network marketing, hinges on authentic leadership, strong values, and genuine care for people—not just maximizing profits.

Connect with Ryan Blair:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanblair/
• https://www.instagram.com/realryanblair

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