
Next Level Pros
Welcome to Next Level Pros, where we explore the journeys of some of the most successful and inspiring entrepreneurs from around the world. I'm your host, Chris Lee.
Throughout my career, I've founded multiple nine-figure companies and learned a thing or two about what it takes to succeed in the world of business. Now, I want to share those lessons with you by bringing on guests who have their own incredible stories to tell. I'm on a mission to find the most unique and entertaining individuals that have done it the right way.
Latest episodes

May 31, 2024 • 50min
#105: SEO Strategies in 2024
Hey Founder Nation! In this episode, we're diving deep into the world of SEO with the incredible Matt Diamante. Matt, a digital marketing guru with over 14 years of experience, shares his top strategies for improving your website's search engine ranking. Whether you're a local business owner or looking to expand your online presence, this episode is packed with practical tips and insights. Tune in to learn how to leverage blog posts, internal links, and keyword research to drive traffic and grow your business!
Highlights:
"If you're an expert on your topic, it should be easy for you to answer questions that you're hearing every single day from your clients."
"Google rewards consistency. Posting quality content regularly is a long-term strategy that pays off."
"We're training ChatGPT to be an expert on that topic by using the best information from the top search results."
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to SEO with Matt Diamante04:45 - The Importance of a Well-Structured Homepage11:50 - Key Elements for a Local Business Website19:31 - Utilizing ChatGPT for Content Creation20:28 - Keyword Research Techniques Using SEMrush22:24 - Crafting Unique Content with AI Assistance24:39 - The Role of Blog Posts in SEO Strategy27:06 - Maintaining Consistency in Content Posting27:43 - Google’s Preference for Regular Updates34:20 - Internal Linking and Its Impact on SEO
Dive in and discover how you can take your SEO game to the next level with actionable advice from one of the best in the business!
Looking to scale your business? Want to learn directly from the same team that helped me sell my last business for 9 figures? Click this link below to check out how you can work with us. https://nextlevelhomepros.com/grow-home-service-vsl
Join my community - Founder Acceleration https://www.founderacceleration.com
Apply for our next Mastermind:https://www.thefoundermastermind.comGolf with Chris https://www.golfwithchris.com
Watch my latest PodcastApple- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281SSpotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2YouTube - @thefounderspodcast

May 28, 2024 • 43min
#104: King of Franchises Reveals All
Welcome to a new episode of The Founder Podcast. Dreaming of business ownership, but franchising sounds more appealing than starting from scratch? Today’s episode is your golden ticket. Franchising guru Lance Gramlich, the "King of Franchising," shares his secrets to success. Learn why leadership beats passion in franchise selection, discover the power of asking the right questions, and uncover the financial potential of franchising (think 3-5 times cash flow on resale!).
Highlights:
"Forget about your passion. Use your skills, but leadership. Look at the leadership of the business you're getting into."
"The validation stage or process is gold. When you ask the right questions..."
"In franchising as a franchisee you're going to sell for three to five times cash flow typically."
Timestamps:
00:00 - From Wall Street to Franchise King
01:41 - Finding Your Way into Franchising
03:56 - Taking the Gopher Role: Learning from the Ground Up
04:55 - Making Money Doing Anything: The Entrepreneurial Spirit
10:00 -The Importance of Intrapreneurship and Experience
13:32 -The Krispy Kreme Rollercoaster: Boom and Bust
15:00 - Beyond Food Franchises: Exploring Profitable Options
17:35 - Don't Follow Trends, Choose Longevity
20:00 - The Validation Process: Don't Get Married Too Quickly
25:00 - Franchising for the Hands-Off Investor: It's Possible!
Looking to scale your business? Want to learn directly from the same team that helped me sell my last business for 9 figures? Click this link below to check out how you can work with us. https://nextlevelhomepros.com/grow-home-service-vsl
Join my community - Founder Acceleration https://www.founderacceleration.com
Apply for our next Mastermind:https://www.thefoundermastermind.com
Golf with Chris https://www.golfwithchris.com
Watch my latest Podcast
Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281S
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2
YouTube - @thefounderspodcast

May 24, 2024 • 30min
#103: This Technique Made Me MILLIONS!
Welcome to a new episode of The Founder Podcast. Tired of customers saying "maybe" or needing to think it over? In today’s episode, we dive into the secrets of setting customer expectations and mastering the hard soft close. We’ll discuss how to get clear decisions from your customers before revealing the price and share a game-changing technique that has brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars. Tune in for practical tips and real-life examples to boost your sales skills and close more deals confidently.
Highlights:
"Setting clear expectations isn’t about taking the slap away, but letting them know it’s coming so they can be prepared."
"The hard soft close gets customers to commit before a decision needs to be made, using what you can control."
"Customers buy confidence; they need to believe that you, the salesperson, believe in your product."
Timestamps:
00:00 - Setting Customer Expectations
03:00 - The Power of Clear Expectations
06:00 - Emotional Sales and Logical Justification
10:00 - Framing the Sale
14:00 - Step-by-Step Customer Journey
21:00 - The Hard Soft Close Explained
25:00 - Handling Common Objections
30:00 - The Importance of Getting a 'No'
35:00 - The Role of the Salesperson
40:00 - Using the Hard Soft Close in Your Sales Process
Looking to scale your business? Want to learn directly from the same team that helped me sell my last business for 9 figures? Click this link below to check out how you can work with us. https://nextlevelhomepros.com/grow-home-service-vsl
Join my community - Founder Acceleration https://www.founderacceleration.com
Apply for our next Mastermind:https://www.thefoundermastermind.com
Golf with Chris https://www.golfwithchris.com
Watch my latest Podcast
Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281S
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2
YouTube - @thefounderspodcast

May 22, 2024 • 44min
#102: The Power of Pitch: Forbes Riley's Journey to $2.5 Billion in Sales
Welcome to a new episode of The Founder Podcast. In today’s episode, I sit down with the legendary Forbes Riley, a pioneer in the world of infomercials and sales, known for her incredible ability to sell anything and everything. Forbes opens up about her journey from going through personal challenges to achieving over $2.5 billion in sales. She shares the philosophies that drive her, the power of effective pitching, and how she turned her setbacks into comebacks. This episode is packed with valuable lessons on resilience, the art of persuasion, and the importance of believing in your goals.
Highlights:
"Life happens for you, not to you. Use your obstacles as stepping stones."
"You pitch people all day; it's about making them want what you have."
"Consistency and belief in your goals are the keys to achieving greatness."
Timestamps:
00:00 - The Power of Infomercials02:20 - Mastering the Pitch05:57 - Working with Billy Mays10:00 - Overcoming Personal Tragedy13:44 - Age and Career Transitions20:00 - Setting Big Goals26:04 - Committing to Goals29:43 - Hypnosis and Memorization34:26 - Life-Changing Accidents39:29 - Mastering the Art of Pitchings
Looking to scale your business? Want to learn directly from the same team that helped me sell my last business for 9 figures? Click this link below to check out how you can work with us. https://nextlevelhomepros.com/grow-home-service-vsl
Join my community - Founder Acceleration https://www.founderacceleration.com
Apply for our next Mastermind:https://www.thefoundermastermind.com Golf with Chris https://www.golfwithchris.com
Watch my latest PodcastApple- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281SSpotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2YouTube - @thefounderspodcast

May 20, 2024 • 26min
#101: Wild Moments from first 100😳
Welcome to the 100th episode of the Founder Podcast! In this special episode, we dive deep into a treasure trove of networking wisdom, sharing memorable moments and valuable lessons from past guests. From chance encounters with industry titans to profound personal revelations, join us as we celebrate the connections that have shaped our journey and continue to inspire entrepreneurs everywhere. Don’t miss out on this celebration of community, learning, and growth!
Highlights:
"You're always only one handshake away from anybody in the world."
"I ended up taking over the academia to Galleria... I had a table of six set up at the feet of David... Then, Andrea Bocelli came in and serenaded them."
"The two things I cared about from when I was 12 were making people happy and being an awesome dad."
Timestamps:
00:00 - The Power of Networking
01:52 - The Value of Podcasting
02:18 - Dinner with David
05:00 - Clint Sparks' Childhood
07:42 - Building Happiness
10:06 - A Moment of Reckoning
15:00 - Lessons in Business Scaling
18:27 - The Human Connection
20:00 - Investment Opportunities
24:22 - Grant Cardone’s Do-Over Advice
Looking to scale your business? Want to learn directly from the same team that helped me sell my last business for 9 figures? Click this link below to check out how you can work with us. https://nextlevelhomepros.com/grow-home-service-vsl
Join my community - Founder Acceleration https://www.founderacceleration.com
Apply for our next Mastermind:https://www.thefoundermastermind.com
Golf with Chris https://www.golfwithchris.com
Watch my latest Podcast
Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281S
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2
YouTube - @thefounderspodcast

May 13, 2024 • 45min
#100: Owns a Jet AND Gives Away 50% of Profits😳
Welcome to a new episide of The Founder Podcast. Join us in this episode where Lauren Von, CEO of Quintessa Marketing, shares her journey of integrating deep-seated generosity with business success. From giving away half of her company's profits to the impactful changes it has brought within her team and community, Lauren’s story is proof to how business can be a powerful force for good. Join us to discover how generosity has not only shaped her business strategy but also fueled its growth to incredible heights.
Highlights:
"We still give away half of our monthly profit, something that we've just committed to, and it's funny because we've grown more doing that. Our employees are more bought in; it's really changed the trajectory of Quintessa and our employees."
"Giving away 50% of your profit, that's painful, there's a lot of pain in that. But what's amazing is, I have helped more because I felt called to mission work at a very young age."
"This will be a billion-dollar company. I get very clear on my vision. You don’t like my team? Great, I’ll go find the best. I'll go find it and scale it."
Timestamps:
00:41 - The Genesis of Giving Half the Profits
01:05 - Giving on Employees
03:10 - Committing to Regular Generosity
05:20 - Largest Donation: A Milestone of Generosity
08:15 - Childhood Inspirations from Parents
14:00 - Using Business for Greater Good
19:37 - A Decade of Leadership
25:04 - Bringing on Strategic Leadership
32:56 - Implementing the EOS System
38:08 - Power of Employee Involvement
Looking to scale your business? Want to learn directly from the same team that helped me sell my last business for 9 figures? Click this link below to check out how you can work with us. https://nextlevelhomepros.com/grow-home-service-vsl
Join my community - Founder Acceleration https://www.founderacceleration.com
Apply for our next Mastermind:https://www.thefoundermastermind.comGolf with Chris https://www.golfwithchris.com
Watch my latest PodcastApple- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281SSpotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2YouTube - @thefounderspodcast

May 10, 2024 • 19min
#99: How to increase your profits with this one strategy tweak
Welcome to a new episode of The Founder Podcast. In today’s episode, we discuss the strategy behind pricing your offerings. We take a deep dive into why positioning yourself as a premium option can enhance your brand's perceived value and boost your bottom line. We explore strategic pricing insights, debunk the myths around being the cheapest, and share actionable tips to help you price confidently.
Highlights:
"Every dollar more that you charge is a step closer to not just profitability but sustainability and quality in your business."
"Being the cheapest means cutting corners, but charging more allows you to invest back into your products and services, enhancing overall customer satisfaction."
"Price your product not just for the market, but for the quality, longevity, and experience it offers. That's the true value."
Timestamps:
00:00 - The Pitfalls of Underpricing
00:43 - Setting the Stage in Pricing
05:00 - The Luxury Margin
06:17 - Comparative Economics: Louie Vuitton vs. Marshalls
08:20 - Small Price Increase, Big Impact
09:10 -The Real Cost of Pricing Too Low
10:00 - How a 10% Price Increase Translates to 33% More Profit
12:45 - Educating Customers on Value
15:00 - Avoiding Apple-to-Apple Comparisons
16:55 - Are You Undercharging?
Looking to scale your business? Want to learn directly from the same team that helped me sell my last business for 9 figures? Click this link below to check out how you can work with us. https://nextlevelhomepros.com/grow-home-service-vsl
Join my community - Founder Acceleration https://www.founderacceleration.com
Apply for our next Mastermind:https://www.thefoundermastermind.comGolf with Chris https://www.golfwithchris.com
Watch my latest PodcastApple- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281SSpotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2YouTube - @thefounderspodcast

May 6, 2024 • 45min
#98: T-Pain; How the King of Autotune Went from $40 Million to $0
Welcome to a new episode of The Founder Podcast. In this episode, I’m joined by the man who made auto-tune a musical masterpiece - T-Pain! This episode pulls no punches, exploring the raw journey of a legendary artist. We'll delve into his humble beginnings, the challenges that tested his limits, and the successes that proved his status as a genre-bending icon. Prepare for unfiltered honesty as T-Pain reflects on his life, his music, and the impact he's had on the industry. Don't miss this chance to see the man behind the mask - an episode that's as real as it gets.
Highlights::
"Money won't solve your problems. It solves your financial issues but not your problems."
"You get to see where people's parameters are; you get to see if I'm down, everybody's cool... But when you get successful again, it's like, 'What makes you so good?'"
"Speak. Say the weird thing. Just do it. Just go. When you say it out loud, it creates problems in the past; when you hold it in, it creates problems in the future."
Timestamps:
00:00 - The Pitfalls of Early Fame
03:33 - Breaking Away from Religious Constraints
06:03 - Family Dynamics: Then vs. Now
10:06 - Evolving Personal Image
15:00 - Learning from Business Failures and Successes
19:30 - The Dark Side of Financial Management
26:10 - The Origin of a Signature Sound
33:04 - The Impact of Industry Critique on Career
37:25 - The Rollercoaster of Public Perception
43:11 - Reflecting on Life After the Show
Looking to scale your business? Want to learn directly from the same team that helped me sell my last business for 9 figures? Click this link below to check out how you can work with us. https://nextlevelhomepros.com/grow-home-service-vsl
Join my community - Founder Acceleration https://www.founderacceleration.com
Apply for our next Mastermind:https://www.thefoundermastermind.com
Golf with Chris https://www.golfwithchris.com
Watch my latest Podcast
Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281S
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2
YouTube - @thefounderspodcast

7 snips
May 3, 2024 • 47min
#97: Scaling Businesses From $0 To 8-Figures; Alex Neist; The Man Behind Hostage Tape
Welcome to a new episode of The Founder Podcast. In this episode, we explore Alex Neist's journey from the depths of personal and professional despair to the heights of entrepreneurial success with Hostage Tape. Discover how a simple change in his sleep habits led to a profound transformation in his life and sparked the creation of a brand that's much more than just a product—it's a movement. Alex shares the incredible story behind Hostage Tape, revealing how it not only improved his own life but also promises to revolutionize sleep for millions.
Highlights:
"I'm building a billion dollar brand. It is—I know it is. I can see where it's going to be. And I know what the TAM is, I know what the opportunity is."
"This isn't just tape. It's a movement."
"I need something that I'm I love doing and I love building. I love building these companies."
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Hostage Tape
02:08 - Origin Story of Hostage Tape
05:08 - Early Development of Hostage Tape
10:48 - Naming the 'Hostage' Brand
16:41 - Marketing and Brand Evolution
22:40 - Protecting Product Innovations
30:09 - Building a Brand Community
34:50 - Team Culture and Philosophy
42:17 - Future Vision and Strategy
45:15 - Influential Books and Resources
Looking to scale your business? Want to learn directly from the same team that helped me sell my last business for 9 figures? Click this link below to check out how you can work with us. https://nextlevelhomepros.com/grow-home-service-vsl
Join my community - Founder Acceleration https://www.founderacceleration.com Apply for our next Mastermind: https://www.thefoundermastermind.comGolf with Chris https://www.golfwithchris.comWatch my latest PodcastApple- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-founder-podcast/id1687030281SSpotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2vI1JAtQrojSOA7D2YouTube - @thefounderspodcast

May 3, 2024 • 51min
#96: Secrets to Thriving In Health And Business; Yuri Elkaim former Pro Soccer Player to Health Guru
Welcome to a new episode of the Founder Podcast. In this episode, I’m joined by Yuri Elkaim, a former professional athlete turned transformative health pioneer and New York Times bestselling author. Yuri explores the power of health, mindset, and entrepreneurship. Gain invaluable strategies to weave wellness seamlessly into your everyday life, grasp the important role of mindset in accomplishing your objectives and learn new methods to consistently elevate your energy for success in every aspect of your existence. Tune in to transform the way you think about health, success, and personal growth.
Highlights:
"Enjoy the walk not the destination because you'll walk further if you enjoy the process."
"You don't understand how good you can feel until you feel how good you can feel."
"It's a grind if you feel ground. When you find your life's purpose, it doesn't feel like work."
Timestamps:
00:44- Meet Yuri Elkaim, Health Expert
02:02 - The Balance Between Health and Hustle
05:29 - The Real Cost of Neglecting Health
07:24 - Yuri's Personal Health Journey
11:15 - Yuri's Perspective on Vaccines
17:18 - Positive Energy in Consuming Food
23:04 - Yuri's Daily Routine for Optimal Health
28:32 - Underrated and Overrated Workouts and Diets
34:15 - The Importance of Breathwork and Meditation
47:24 - The Biggest Challenge Entrepreneurs Face
Live Links:
Join my community - Founder Acceleration https://www.founderacceleration.com
Apply for our next Mastermind:https://www.thefoundermastermind.com
Golf with Chris https://www.golfwithchris.com
Watch my latest Podcast
Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/1e0cL2v...
YouTube - @thefounderspodcast
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