Beyond A Million

What if you could close high-value clients... without pitching, posturing, or even talking about what you sell? This week's guest, Corey Lilburn, is a senior consultant and shareholder at Acrisure, a $35B global insurance and fintech firm. From selling Cutco knives to advising enterprise clients, Corey's success comes from mastering the timing, psychology, and nuance of complex sales. Corey shares the real sales skills that matter in today's market, the habits that create consistent closers, how to make renewals a non-event, and why self-funding might make sense sooner than you think. He also shares what Mark Cuban is getting right about pharma... and how a Sinatra impersonator helped him close a major deal. Plus, we dig into the evolution of Bay Area Advisors and how their Martinis for Moffitt event has raised over $4 million for cancer research. If you're selling high-ticket services or navigating long sales cycles, this one's packed with real strategies that actually work. Tune in and learn how to sell anything to anyone. — This episode is part of the 8FE (8-figure entrepreneur) series, where we talk to entrepreneurs who have already passed the million-dollar mark. — Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:37 Essential skills for mastering sales 00:05:03 How AI will impact insurance in the next 5 years 00:07:08 The challenges of risk assessment 00:09:17 Sales cycles and client relationships in insurance 00:22:18 Can you make insurance less boring? 00:23:41 Renewal vs. assumptive close 00:28:23 Keeping healthcare costs down 00:40:45 Self-insurance and level funding 00:53:38 Selling insurance companies to bigger insurance companies 01:06:26 Bay Area Advisors and Martinis for Moffitt 01:20:42 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 01:24:35 Outro — Additional Resources: 🔹 Patrick's website: https://patrickriddle.com/ — ➡️ Learn more at: https://beyondamillion.com/ ➡️ Watch full episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5hbIUyUb68J3nhHSAGDrmUxX4vgXQ4b8 ➡️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Beyondamillion?sub_confirmation=1 — Let's Connect: 🔹 IG: https://www.instagram.com/bradweimert 🔹 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondamil 🔹Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradWeimert 🔹 FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089061999787 -- Beyond A Million is a business podcast that reveals the scaling secrets of 8, 9, and 10-figure entrepreneurs. Every week, we share an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the best business growth strategies that work. If you're an entrepreneur or business professional who's looking to level up & continue to scale far beyond the million-dollar mark, this podcast is for YOU! Tune in weekly for new interviews with Easy Pay Direct founder Brad Weimert and business expert guests who absolutely crush it in their area of expertise. Learn world-class marketing and sales tactics with elite-level business strategies in sales, marketing, operations, finance, and wealth building. Be sure to give us a follow wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a new episode!

What if you could create a marketing funnel that works for you while you sleep? Today's guest, Patrick Riddle, is here to show you how to turn cold traffic into cash with a high-converting funnel. Patrick is a seasoned entrepreneur and the CEO of a multi-million-dollar educational publishing company. After getting his start in real estate, he shifted to the info product space, where he's helped thousands of students grow their businesses using smart marketing strategies. But Patrick's strategy isn't just about driving traffic or having a good offer. It's about owning the customer journey from start to finish. He explains how to create front-end offers that bring in the right leads and then maximize profit with smart back-end partnerships, allowing you to scale without risk. We're talking recurring revenue, software upsells, and affiliate partnerships that pay you long after the first sale. Plus, he reveals why email marketing is still king and how you can take advantage of the most underutilized tool in your marketing arsenal to grow your business. Tune in to learn how to turn your funnels into money-making machines and stop leaving cash on the table. — This episode is part of the 8FE (8-figure entrepreneur) series, where we talk to entrepreneurs who have already passed the million-dollar mark. — Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 02:22 The impact of AI on the info product space 03:32 Building a marketing funnel that actually works 05:25 Patrick's winning business model 18:17 Building an all-star team 21:58 Order bumps and upsells 28:10 Scam reviews, reputation management, and compliance 38:46 Becoming a CEO 53:08 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 56:56 Outro — Additional Resources: 🔹 Patrick's website: https://patrickriddle.com/ — ➡️ Learn more at: https://beyondamillion.com/ ➡️ Watch full episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5hbIUyUb68J3nhHSAGDrmUxX4vgXQ4b8 ➡️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Beyondamillion?sub_confirmation=1 — Let's Connect: 🔹 IG: https://www.instagram.com/bradweimert 🔹 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondamil 🔹Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradWeimert 🔹 FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089061999787 -- Beyond A Million is a business podcast that reveals the scaling secrets of 8, 9, and 10-figure entrepreneurs. Every week, we share an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the best business growth strategies that work. If you're an entrepreneur or business professional who's looking to level up & continue to scale far beyond the million-dollar mark, this podcast is for YOU! Tune in weekly for new interviews with Easy Pay Direct founder Brad Weimert and business expert guests who absolutely crush it in their area of expertise. Learn world-class marketing and sales tactics with elite-level business strategies in sales, marketing, operations, finance, and wealth building. Be sure to give us a follow wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a new episode!

He lost $40 million in 2008... and built a real estate empire from the rubble. Today's guest, Levi Benkert, went from running coffee shops to flipping houses, losing $40 million in the 2008 crash, relocating his family to Ethiopia to run an orphanage and start businesses, and then returning to the US to build a thriving Class B industrial real estate empire in Texas. He breaks down the mindset shifts, lessons from failures, and disciplined strategies that turned what looked like a disaster into the comeback story of the century. If you've ever wondered how to recover from a huge setback, this episode gives you the playbook straight from someone who's done it. Tune in to hear Levi's journey from collapse to empire... and why the lessons he learned can help anyone in business or life. — This episode is part of the 8FE (8-figure entrepreneur) series, where we talk to entrepreneurs who have already passed the million-dollar mark. — Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:55 Understanding interest rates and market cycles 00:04:08 The Chatham forward curve 00:11:36 Levi's early business ventures 00:16:42 Fear and feelings in business 00:19:09 Transitioning to property development 00:27:05 Institutional lending 00:32:12 Losing $40M during the 2008 crash 00:41:49 Building an orphanage in Ethiopia 00:49:22 Building a beef farm in Ethiopia 00:57:51 Moving back to the US and starting Harbor Capital 01:03:15 Industrial real estate and fundraising 01:11:16 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 01:13:53 Outro — Additional Resources: 🔹 Levi's Website: https://harborcap.com/ 🔹 Levi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levi-benkert-81a18895 — ➡️ Learn more at: https://beyondamillion.com/ ➡️ Watch full episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5hbIUyUb68J3nhHSAGDrmUxX4vgXQ4b8 ➡️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Beyondamillion?sub_confirmation=1 — Let's Connect: 🔹 IG: https://www.instagram.com/bradweimert 🔹 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondamil 🔹Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradWeimert 🔹 FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089061999787 -- Beyond A Million is a business podcast that reveals the scaling secrets of 8, 9, and 10-figure entrepreneurs. Every week, we share an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the best business growth strategies that work. If you're an entrepreneur or business professional who's looking to level up & continue to scale far beyond the million-dollar mark, this podcast is for YOU! Tune in weekly for new interviews with Easy Pay Direct founder Brad Weimert and business expert guests who absolutely crush it in their area of expertise. Learn world-class marketing and sales tactics with elite-level business strategies in sales, marketing, operations, finance, and wealth building. Be sure to give us a follow wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a new episode!

What happens when you've built multiple companies, lost control, got burned by partners, and then finally get it right? Patrick Dillon has done it all. He's built several digital agencies, and even a janitorial company. He's taken on investors, lost equity, made painful pivots, and come out the other side with a lean, wildly profitable agency. Today, his company, WISE Digital, is scaling steadily without the risk of it all collapsing from one bad client, partner, or decision. In this episode, we break down how Pat used AI to scale without bloat, what really went wrong with his first three ventures, and why he'll never niche down again. We also get into the recruiting system that saved him thousands of hours, the legal dispute ChatGPT helped him settle, and how to avoid toxic positivity while building something that actually lasts. If you're in agency life, you'll feel this one. Listen in and find out what it really takes to build a growth engine you actually want to run. — This episode is part of the 8FE (8-figure entrepreneur) series, where we talk to entrepreneurs who have already passed the million-dollar mark. — Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:53 Undervalued marketing tactics 00:04:24 Unusual AI use cases 00:08:03 Patrick's entrepreneurial journey 00:18:38 Interacting with investors 00:21:29 When to pull the plug 00:27:57 Transition to WISE Digital 00:37:43 Focusing on SMB 00:40:02 Growing the business through AI 00:51:57 SEO strategies and the impact of AI 00:58:58 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 01:01:21 Outro — Additional Resources: 🔹 Website: https://www.wisedigitalpartners.com/ 🔹 Meet with Pat: https://meetwithpat.com/ 🔹 Patrick on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrickjamesdillon/?hl=en — ➡️ Learn more at: https://beyondamillion.com/ ➡️ Watch full episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5hbIUyUb68J3nhHSAGDrmUxX4vgXQ4b8 ➡️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Beyondamillion?sub_confirmation=1 — Let's Connect: 🔹 IG: https://www.instagram.com/bradweimert 🔹 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondamil 🔹Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradWeimert 🔹 FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089061999787 -- Beyond A Million is a business podcast that reveals the scaling secrets of 8, 9, and 10-figure entrepreneurs. Every week, we share an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the best business growth strategies that work. If you're an entrepreneur or business professional who's looking to level up & continue to scale far beyond the million-dollar mark, this podcast is for YOU! Tune in weekly for new interviews with Easy Pay Direct founder Brad Weimert and business expert guests who absolutely crush it in their area of expertise. Learn world-class marketing and sales tactics with elite-level business strategies in sales, marketing, operations, finance, and wealth building. Be sure to give us a follow wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a new episode!

How do you make an offer so irresistible that you don't even need a sales team to sell it? Jake Setterlun is 29, runs four different companies, and somehow manages to make offer-building look easy. He started out doing Facebook ads for real estate agents, but everything changed when he figured out what makes an offer irresistible. That insight led to The Offer Code, his "Purple Ocean" framework, and multiple agencies doing seven and eight figures. In this episode, we get into how Jake thinks about creating offers that do the selling for you, why most agency owners are still stuck in 2018, and what it really takes to use AI in a way that actually boosts conversions. He also breaks down how he tests new offers, the biggest mistake he made while scaling, and how he rebuilt after stepping away too soon. If you're an agency owner, or honestly, anyone selling something online… this one's going to hurt a little. But it's worth it. Tune in to learn how to make your offer the only one your customer wants to buy. — This episode is part of the 8FE (8-figure entrepreneur) series, where we talk to entrepreneurs who have already passed the million-dollar mark. — Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:47 From concept to money 02:33 Biggest business mistakes in the agency space 06:48 How to get into the agency space 08:47 Jake's offer code 15:24 Creating the offer 20:12 Changing the game with AI 34:25 Biggest mistakes when implementing AI 37:08 Testing offers 38:54 Traffic sources and marketing strategies 49:36 LinkedIn's role in the ad ecosystem 53:09 Biggest mistake in the last 5 years 57:02 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 58:03 Outro — Additional Resources: 🔹 Jake's Website: https://jakesetterlun.com/ 🔹 Jake on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/optimizedjake/ — ➡️ Learn more at: https://beyondamillion.com/ ➡️ Watch full episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5hbIUyUb68J3nhHSAGDrmUxX4vgXQ4b8 ➡️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Beyondamillion?sub_confirmation=1 — Let's Connect: 🔹 IG: https://www.instagram.com/bradweimert 🔹 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondamil 🔹Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradWeimert 🔹 FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089061999787 -- Beyond A Million is a business podcast that reveals the scaling secrets of 8, 9, and 10-figure entrepreneurs. Every week, we share an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the best business growth strategies that work. If you're an entrepreneur or business professional who's looking to level up & continue to scale far beyond the million-dollar mark, this podcast is for YOU! Tune in weekly for new interviews with Easy Pay Direct founder Brad Weimert and business expert guests who absolutely crush it in their area of expertise. Learn world-class marketing and sales tactics with elite-level business strategies in sales, marketing, operations, finance, and wealth building. Be sure to give us a follow wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a new episode!

Is SEO really dead… or are you just doing it wrong? Andy Kolodgie has already built a multi–eight-figure business by mastering SEO in a space most people think is too competitive: real estate. And he's only 29! Andy started out wholesaling but quickly realized it wasn't his game. With a background as a Navy software developer, he shifted gears and leaned into his strength – building systems that drive motivated seller leads online. That shift led to Property Leads, which now helps real estate investors scale through SEO. In this episode, Andy explains why SEO for real estate is far less crowded than people think, how Google treats housing searches differently than other industries, why he refuses to scale anything that isn't sustainable, how he measures lead quality, and what are the red flags he's learned to spot in partnerships. Have you written off SEO as too crowded… or maybe too old-school? Andy's story will definitely make you rethink that. Tune in and see why SEO might just be the biggest untapped growth channel left. — This episode is part of the 8FE (8-figure entrepreneur) series, where we talk to entrepreneurs who have already passed the million-dollar mark. — Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:44 Why real estate SEO isn't as saturated as you think 00:06:24 Real estate keywords confuse Google's local vs national intent 00:11:50 The three SEO pillars 00:16:29 AI is killing click volume, but SEO still drives deals 00:21:26 Moving from deals to data 00:34:27 Warm transfers increase close rates and trust with clients 00:42:11 How to allocate time and resources 00:45:20 Ignoring early red flags leads to poor business outcomes 00:54:01 The role of ego in business 01:03:36 When people show you who they are, believe them 01:07:13 Advice for first-time entrepreneurs 01:09:29 How to connect with Andy — Additional Resources: 🔹 Property Leads: https://www.propertyleads.com/andy-kolodgie/ 🔹 Andy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewkolodgie/?hl=en 🔹 Andy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andykolodgie/ 🔹 Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-kolodgie/ — ➡️ Learn more at: https://beyondamillion.com/ ➡️ Watch full episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5hbIUyUb68J3nhHSAGDrmUxX4vgXQ4b8 ➡️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Beyondamillion?sub_confirmation=1 — Let's Connect: 🔹 IG: https://www.instagram.com/bradweimert 🔹 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondamil 🔹Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradWeimert 🔹 FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089061999787 -- Beyond A Million is a business podcast that reveals the scaling secrets of 8, 9, and 10-figure entrepreneurs. Every week, we share an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the best business growth strategies that work. If you're an entrepreneur or business professional who's looking to level up & continue to scale far beyond the million-dollar mark, this podcast is for YOU! Tune in weekly for new interviews with Easy Pay Direct founder Brad Weimert and business expert guests who absolutely crush it in their area of expertise. Learn world-class marketing and sales tactics with elite-level business strategies in sales, marketing, operations, finance, and wealth building. Be sure to give us a follow wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a new episode!

Ryan Pineda talks about the system behind his daily million-view content engine. He shares a framework that drives his content strategy: get recognized, deliver value, and make timely CTAs. He explains how he integrates subtle calls to action without turning his content into ads, and why value has to come first if you want attention to convert into revenue. He spends $40K a month on his team that handles everything from filming to repurposing across platforms. That approach allows him to reach millions daily. Enjoyed this clip? Check out our full interview with Ryan: https://youtu.be/CnyC_t22OvI

She didn't have a plan. No investors. Not even a laptop. At 25, Sava Lelcaj had 60 days to figure out her next move after losing the lease on her 10-table café. Most people would've played it safe. She didn't. Instead, she convinced investors, who'd just lost money on the space, to hand her the keys to a 300-seat restaurant. And somehow, it worked. Today, Sava runs a $25M hospitality group with multiple restaurants, guest houses, and a farm. In this episode, she talks us through what it actually looked like to scale with no roadmap, why being underestimated helped her win, and what she's learned about leadership, mostly the hard way. Sava didn't have capital, experience, or a plan. She succeeded through sheer grit and determination alone. Wanna do the same? Tune in and learn from the best of the best! — This episode is part of the 8FE (8-figure entrepreneur) series, where we talk to entrepreneurs who have already passed the million-dollar mark. — Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 02:51 The intersection of AI and hospitality 07:17 Sava's experience with being a female entrepreneur 12:41 There are no bad decisions 19:30 Sava's sheer will and determination 26:48 From a tiny cafe to a huge restaurant 32:04 Holding on or letting go? 37:43 Leasing vs. buying real estate 41:02 Becoming a good leader 47:38 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 53:47 Outro — Additional Resources: 🔹 The Pulpo Group: https://www.thepulpogroup.com/ — ➡️ Learn more at: https://beyondamillion.com/ ➡️ Watch full episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5hbIUyUb68J3nhHSAGDrmUxX4vgXQ4b8 ➡️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Beyondamillion?sub_confirmation=1 — Let's Connect: 🔹 IG: https://www.instagram.com/bradweimert 🔹 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondamil 🔹Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradWeimert 🔹 FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089061999787 -- Beyond A Million is a business podcast that reveals the scaling secrets of 8, 9, and 10-figure entrepreneurs. Every week, we share an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the best business growth strategies that work. If you're an entrepreneur or business professional who's looking to level up & continue to scale far beyond the million-dollar mark, this podcast is for YOU! Tune in weekly for new interviews with Easy Pay Direct founder Brad Weimert and business expert guests who absolutely crush it in their area of expertise. Learn world-class marketing and sales tactics with elite-level business strategies in sales, marketing, operations, finance, and wealth building. Be sure to give us a follow wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a new episode!

In this clip, Cole Gordon breaks down why so many entrepreneurs struggle to hire top-tier sales reps – no matter how many interviews they run or how flashy their job posts are. Most think they have a hiring problem… but what they really have is an offer problem. If the right candidates aren't saying yes – or aren't even showing up – it's probably because the opportunity doesn't match what elite reps are actually looking for. If you're stuck cycling through underwhelming hires, you can't miss this one. Tune in! Enjoyed this clip? Check out our full interview with Cole: https://youtu.be/Rk-D-3DnSVA

What could a Swiss Army officer possibly teach you about building and selling companies worth hundreds of millions? Turns out – everything. Today's guest, Sam Goodner, took the discipline and precision he learned in the Swiss Army and applied it to entrepreneurship. He founded Catapult Systems, scaled it through two major recessions, and eventually sold it after 20 years. Later, he helped take Flash Parking from a stuck $3M startup to $100M in revenue and a billion-dollar valuation. Now a mentor at Capital Factory and author of Like Clockwork: Run Your Business with Swiss Army Precision, Sam distills 30 years of lessons into practical principles that help entrepreneurs scale businesses that thrive without them. In this episode, Sam shares why scaling always begins with a sales playbook, how "cloud conversion therapy" won over 100% of skeptical customers, and why annual contingency planning can make your company recession-proof. He also breaks down what it really takes to prepare for a sale years in advance and how unforgettable first-day employee experiences can shape culture for decades. If you're ready to scale with Swiss Army precision and build a company that runs without you, tune in now. — This episode is part of the 8FE (8-figure entrepreneur) series, where we talk to entrepreneurs who have already passed the million-dollar mark. — Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 00:02:03 Running a business like clockwork in practice 00:17:00 Curated client experiences turned skeptics into loyal customers 00:25:33 Starting Catapult Systems 00:28:54 Recession-proofing strategies 00:33:49 Separate teams allow multiple ventures under one umbrella 00:38:54 Selling businesses: Define your number and prepare years before exit 00:43:07 Strong EBITDA and audited records maximize company valuation 00:48:17 Choosing investment bankers 00:53:45 "Like Clockwork: Run Your Business With Swiss Army Precision" 00:59:54 First-day experiences build culture and long-term loyalty 01:01:35 Advice to young entrepreneurs 01:05:09 Wrapup — Additional Resources: 🔹 Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samgoodner 🔹 Sam on X: https://x.com/goodner 🔹 Sam's book: https://samgoodner.com/ — ➡️ Learn more at: https://beyondamillion.com/ ➡️ Watch full episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5hbIUyUb68J3nhHSAGDrmUxX4vgXQ4b8 ➡️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Beyondamillion?sub_confirmation=1 — Let's Connect: 🔹 IG: https://www.instagram.com/bradweimert 🔹 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondamil 🔹Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradWeimert 🔹 FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089061999787 -- Beyond A Million is a business podcast that reveals the scaling secrets of 8, 9, and 10-figure entrepreneurs. Every week, we share an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the best business growth strategies that work. If you're an entrepreneur or business professional who's looking to level up & continue to scale far beyond the million-dollar mark, this podcast is for YOU! Tune in weekly for new interviews with Easy Pay Direct founder Brad Weimert and business expert guests who absolutely crush it in their area of expertise. Learn world-class marketing and sales tactics with elite-level business strategies in sales, marketing, operations, finance, and wealth building. Be sure to give us a follow wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a new episode!