
Beyond 8 Figures
At Beyond 8 Figures, we believe in DELIBERATE entrepreneurship. It means creating a solid foundational framework for your entrepreneurial journey, building from a place of passion, and intentionally aligning your actions with your goals so that you can create success on your terms.
Join A.J. Lawrence, the journeyman entrepreneur with several 7 figure exits, as he shares honest conversations with successful entrepreneurs about their experiences starting and scaling businesses to $10M and beyond, the realities of being a modern-day entrepreneur, advice for practicing deliberate entrepreneurship, and more!
Latest episodes

Feb 27, 2019 • 54min
$10M+ in annual revenue – Jonathan Cronstedt Runs Kajabi
Solving your business needs and growing your company with Jonathan Cronstedt.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 19, 2019 • 54min
$10M+ in annual revenue – Garrett White Runs Wake Up Warrior Which Generates
Finding your Warrior authenticity and honesty within yourself with Garrett White. As the driving force behind Wake Up Warrior, Garrett has built an empire that generates an impressive $10M+ annual revenue. Join us as we uncover the secrets behind his entrepreneurial journey and how he overcome the challenges along the way.About Garrett White:Garrett White is the founder of Wake Up Warrior and author of the Best Selling Book WARRIOR BOOK, Creator of Warrior Week. Additionally, he hosts the top-rated podcasts Warrior On Fire, Warrior Wealth, and Date Your Wife.What started as a desire to set himself free from the bondage of his own failing life after the banking crisis of 2008, soon transformed into the launch of a Global Movement in Late 2012. The Warrior Movement is quickly changing the business world we have known for decades. It uses an unconventional method for living and producing as a modern man known as the Warriors Way.Garrett co-owns DKW Styling Salon and BMS Training systems in the beauty industry with his wife Danielle. They live in Laguna Beach, CA with their three children Parker, Bailee and Ruby. In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Garrett discuss:How Garrett moved from being a teacher, to a mortgage broker, to the CEO of his current company.Garrett’s transition to finding the 4 B’s – Body, Being, Balance, and Business.Becoming committed to your message and to marketing.Finding a way to let you know everyday that you are winning in everything.Key Takeaways:It is a superpower to be able to hide nothing.If you do not know and accept yourself – the brilliant and the crazy.Know what you are trying to do and know what you are willing to commit.“The difference between a guy that does $100K and $1M a year is the identification of his roles and his skillsets and who he sees himself to be.” — Garrett WhiteConnect with Garrett White:Website: WakeUpWarrior.comShow: Date Your Wife PodcastFacebook: Garrett J WhiteInstagram: @garrettjwhiteYoutube: Wake Up WarriorFollow Beyond 8 Figures:Website: Beyond8Figures.comTwitter: @beyond8figures Facebook: Beyond 8 FiguresInstagram:@b8fpodcastAffiliate Disclaimer: Some links in this episode are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, we only promote products/services we believe will benefit your entrepreneurial journey.

Feb 12, 2019 • 55min
$30M in annual revenue – Mark Evans, American Wealth Builders, Cash Flow Lead Gen
Mark Evans Owns American Wealth Builders And Cash Flow Lead Gen for More Than 30 Million Dollars.In this episode, Mark Evans shares a rags-to-riches adventure in building a real estate empire.About Mark Evans:Mark Evans, known as “The DM” (The Deal-Maker) and “The DN” (The Digital Nomad), defied expectations by building a successful career as an entrepreneur and author. From starting his first real estate company at 18 to acquiring multiple cash-flowing businesses, Mark has become a renowned expert in systems, team building, and running businesses remotely.As a 10x bestselling author, his books such as “Virtual Real Estate Investing Made Easy“, “Trifecta Profits“, “MEconomy“, “The 10-Minute Business Owner“, and “Magician vs. Mule” provide invaluable insights on mastering real estate deals, achieving time freedom, scaling businesses, and transforming your mindset for success.For detailed reviews of these exceptional books, please visit: Virtual Real Estate Investing Made Easy, Trifecta Profits, MEconomy, The 10-Minute Business Owner, and Magician vs. Mule (Book Reviews)Best Advice I Ever Received:You don’t need to know/do everything.Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business:Find the who to do the how.In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Mark discuss:Getting your start in the real estate business and real estate marketing.Taking risks to gain opportunities that can grow your business.How the power of decision making can make or break your business.The effects of online marketing for your business.Key Takeaways:You don’t have to know everything and be an expert to learn and succeed.Anyone can get started in creating a business, regardless of your background.Making the right decisions is much bigger than just what is right for your business. Your business can only succeed if you are living your values.Learning when to exit can start early in the stages of a business, or later when the business has fledged.“Let’s make an impact.” — Mark EvansConnect with Mark Evans:Twitter: @markevansdmFacebook: @markevansdmWebsite: markevansdm.comInstagram: @markevansdmYoutube: @MarkEvansDMFollow Beyond 8 Figures:Website: Beyond8Figures.comTwitter: @beyond8figures Facebook: Beyond 8 FiguresInstagram:@b8fpodcastAffiliate Disclaimer: Some links in this episode are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, we only promote products/services we believe will benefit your entrepreneurial journey.

Feb 5, 2019 • 55min
$30M in annual revenue – Mike O’Hagan, MiniMovers, Shore360, and MikesBusinessTours
Mike is a sought after presenter for business & industry events across Australia and the World – where he shares his unique insights about Business growth models, including improving Business Cash flow and Profits through a principle of “World’s Best Value”. Mike’s business career started with buying and selling goods as a second-hand dealer. Four years later, the entrepreneur in Mike surfaced when he launched a short distance furniture removal business. This evolved into MiniMovers. What businesses does Mike have? (3:56)Mike has a business in Australia called Mini-Movers, he started this business about 35 years ago with only $200. Today it has almost 450 people working in it. The annual revenue it makes is about $23 Million.Mike then has a workspace and people business in the Philippines. It is a new business he has had for three years, the current revenue for that is about $7 million. The business is called Shore 360. They tap into Filipino wages being much lower than Western World wages. They hire Filipinos into workspaces, and Western Businesses tap into that to build their team workers. Mike’s third business is a marketing business called Show Marketing. They have a separate business group, and they do digital marketing. There are about 40 people currently working there in the Philipines. It is a relatively new start-up of about two years, and three offices are running in that area. Mike also has a web building business which is running with about 20 people, and it is also a 2-year startup. Then he also has an integration business of about 15 coders, and they make a computer program to talk between all of the companies and integrate them. How do these businesses integrate? (9:28)Mike uses his Australian mini-movers business because it got a little rocky around the time of the recession. They move furniture from door to door or caseloads. With the significant downturn moving was scarce and Mike had to step in to save the company. He moved a lot of the back end processes to the Philippines. The tour is the story of how Mike managed to save Mini-Movers, including the mistakes he made along the way before everything worked out. Some people on the tour use Shore 360. Mike and his managers visit a lot of other places that clients can use as well. It depends on what suits the client and their particular business. Each person has a different tack, a separate business niche, so you have to line up with those niches to help clients in what they want to do. Mike started his first business when he was 28, which was buying and selling furniture. He had a store that bought and sold furniture and Mike was very naive in many ways. Mike had wanted to be his boss like many people who quit their jobs to start a business, and he does not believe that is the best way. How did Mike get outside capital for his businesses? 17:05)When Mike started the business, it was in the middle of a downturn. It was at the market, and the overall economy was terrible. People were going broke everywhere, and there were a lot of people who had gone and finance trucks for various reasons but had no actual work for them. What Mike discovered was that he could go and rent these trucks but not the drivers themselves because they did not suit Mike needed. Mike would find a guy with financial difficulty who was behind with their payments and rented the truck off from them.He rented only from people who were struggling, creating a help them, help me business dynamic. Mike never had to extend or borrow any capital or take any risks during this time. He did this for about ten years. One of the guys got clever and bought a few trucks, and after ten years of his trucks doing so well, the bank did not hesitate to give the guy the capital needed, and he became Mike’s competitor.That triggered Mike to go to the bank and say he has been doing well for ten years, he asked them to finance him to buy the trucks instead of renting them, and after his record of 10 years the bank did not hesitate to fund him, and Mike bought a brand new fleet of trucks for his business. Shore 360Shore360 Inc. is a 100% Australian owned enterprise based in Clark Freeport Zone, Philippines. They are a dynamic BPO – incorporated in 2014 – with a team of Owners and Leaders rich in Outsourcing and Offshoring enterprise experience.They operate in a professional and corporate ecosystem. Their facilities include the mandatory meeting and breakout areas for staff amenities and onsite training activities. Options range from a single seat lease in a shared office environment, teams in private office spaces, to “build your own” business places.ResourcesConnect with Mike: LinkedInShore360: WebsiteBeyond 8 Figures: WebsiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 29, 2019 • 55min
$10M in annual revenue – Lee Richter, Richter Communication & Design Group
Lee RichterLee Richter is an award-winning, dynamic business innovator and a visionary recognised for the 7th consecutive year by the San Francisco Business Times as one of their Top 100 Women Business Leaders in 2019. For more than 25 years, she has launched a dozen successful businesses in the financial, education, and lifestyle sectors. Her unique vision and drive revolutionise the industry as her companies produce hundreds of jobs, educate tens of thousands of people and make millions in revenue.What exits has Lee had previously? (4:42)The first exit that Lee had was working as a stockbroker at Merril Lynch in 1984-1998. She stayed with them for around 14 years. She took a 1-year sabbatical after training many people and decided that she wanted to take a break. She spent her year of sabbatical in Key West Florida. Goldie Hawn was filming a movie called Criss-Cross. The film happened to be in the hotel that Lee was staying in at the time. Lee had the opportunity to get to know the crew over that period. Lee asked the hotel owner what he was planning to do with the restaurant after the movie, and he said he did not have any plans. Lee bought the business and during her 1-year sabbatical ran the business in Key West because she thought it would be a fun thing to do. She had the restaurant for a year before selling it to her chef who made a massive success of it.It had cost about $100,000 to buy the business, and Lee ended up walking away with seven figures. What were some of the things from a marketing perspective that Lee did to bring attention to her businesses? (22:30)Lee created a marketing team inside the organisation. So within her PR and marketing company, she had a team specifically on the veterinary hospitals and in the veterinary industry. A critical moment was in 2007-2009 when they had a market crash around them, especially in Silicon Valley. Lee’s business was thriving more than others during that time.Their vendors go to many hospitals, drug wraps, cardiologists and radiologists, Some of them would go up to 100 hospitals and mention how busy Lee’s business as compared to all the others. This made Lee evaluate her business, and she realised she was consistently connecting with the community regularly. Having started in 2001, she did marketing plans and figuring out what their non-profit was going to do next and how they would do it. They started meeting with the community, and they would apply for awards. They wrote a book and published it. They had about 13 different tactics.They had 13 weeks for each quarter and decided to implement and try each strategy each week. Which business was most exciting to Lee and which one has the potential for the largest exit? (44:47)50% of Lee’s enterprises are in her Husband’s wheelhouse. This was because they were in the veterinary and pet industry.The other half is in her wheelhouse, which is PR marketing. Even her veterinary hospitals and other business pay her PR marketing company as a vendor. The PR Marketing business is legit. When she sold the veterinary hospital, there was a $250,000 line item just for the logo. They created a package in the brand, for a $250,000 line item to the PR company just for the IP. The pet concierges have products that they have launched. They just passed their 4th month launching a product that has done successfully so far and is considered valuable. The product is called NutriaThrive, and they have sold 90,000 units in their 4th month of launching. It is mostly about word of mouth and people are validating that the product works the way it says it’s supposed to. They are planning four more products next year, so lee believes that they are headed for the 9 figure range with Pet Concierge. They are adding a lot of value to the community as well by coming up with products that help pets. Richter CommunicationsRichter Communications and Design Group comprises industry-transforming companies and organisations ranging from Pet Health Care, Event Planning, Marketing Consulting, Business Scaling, and Personal Growth.ResourcesConnect with Lee: LinkedInRichter Communications: WebsiteBeyond 8 Figures: WebsiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 22, 2019 • 31min
$10M in annual revenue – Nyasha Gwatidzo, Banya
Nyasha Gwatidzo was born in a rural village in Zimbabwe and came over to the UK in the 1970s. Nyasha is a distinguished businesswoman, social entrepreneur, and philanthropist who has, over a 30-year career, launched and built successful multi-million-pound businesses and social enterprises in the United Kingdom, generating a cumulative $130 million turnover. Nyasha is a qualified psychotherapist, social worker, coach, and mentor.What does Nyasha do and how did she get to this point? (1:45)About 32 years ago, Nyasha was running a children’s home for children in need of therapeutic care. It was the first of its kind to be set up by someone independent of the local authority and charities in London. During that time, Nyasha saw a remarkable behavioural change in the children receiving therapeutic care. She asked her staff if they would look after the children in their own homes and they said yes. After years of looking after the children, Nyasha thought that every child has a right to live in a home and not a children’s home. They were tiny with only six children at the time. Nyasha’s first foster carer was a member of her staff who started working in her kitchen in her house in South London. Now the agency is a vast National Agency all over England. They look after and manage over 300 foster families, and annually they look after more than 300 children. Each child has developed and grown into functioning adults, and recently they have registered as an adult placement agency as well. What led Nyasha to this in the first place? (9:26)Nyasha’s late mother always said she was not surprised that Nyasa was doing what she was. Nyasha has always loved children.She grew up in Zimbabwe, and the first memory she has is when she was four years old, carrying a baby to her bed. Her love for children has stayed throughout her life. When she was 12, she left Zimbabwe and came to the UK for university. She was going to become an academic, studying chemistry and math. She left all of that her tutor pointed out how much Nyasha lit up when talking about children. So Nyasha ended up training to become a social worker or child psychotherapist. She also did a PhD in chemistry. The comment from her tutor sparked the idea, and Nyasha’s passion for children kept it alight. Did Nyasha have any competitors? (16:21)In London, other similar agencies have appeared since Nyasha started. There were only around 11 national agencies in the whole of England. The other agencies were supportive of Nyasha, some of them mentoring her during startup.The first few months Nyasha just asked all of the agencies how they did what they did. Even though most of the agencies had different models, they were all pretty similar. Nyasha collected all the information she needed from these agencies, the structure, damage to the church, local authorities, how much they pay, how much they care, etc. BanyaBanya is an independent fostering provider. Banya supports foster carer households in Greater London and beyond. Hundreds of children and young people have benefited from placements with our foster carers since Banya was founded in 1997. They aim to provide a high standard of foster care for a range of children and young people. Banya has developed specialisms in placing sibling groups, unaccompanied children and young people from overseas, children with special needs, and troubled teenagers.ResourcesConnect with Nyasha: LinkedInBanya: WebsiteBeyond 8 Figures: WebsiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 15, 2019 • 54min
$10M+ Exit – Parham Parastaran, Car-X Tire and Auto
Parham Parastaran discusses how personal growth is the key to growing and succeeding in business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 8, 2019 • 54min
$10M Exit – Björn Öste, Dynasoft
Bjorn Oste, CEO of Good Idea Exited Dynasoft for More Than 10 Million Dollars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 24, 2018 • 54min
$2B Exit – Stuart Taylor, Taylor Nelson and Associates
Think long term and strategy building for a strong exit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 17, 2018 • 54min
$10M+ Exit – Chip Conley, Joie de Vivre Hospitality
In this episode, Chip Conley shares his inspiring journey of starting a company from scratch and eventually exiting for $10 million. Discover how Chip transformed inner-city motels into the second-largest chain of boutique hotels and helped guide the Founders of AirBnB to create the world’s most valuable lodging brand.About Chip Conley:Rebel hospitality entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author, Chip Conley disrupted his favorite industry… twice, first with Joie de Vivre Hospitality (JdV) where he transformed a small motel into one of America’s largest boutique hotel brands, and later as Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy, playing a crucial role in shaping the company’s growth. Recognized as the “Most Innovative CEO” by the San Francisco Business Times and honored with the Pioneer Award in hospitality, he continues to make an impact as Airbnb’s Strategic Advisor for Hospitality and Leadership.Chip has authored several influential books including “Learning to Love Midlife“, “Wisdom at Work“, “Emotional Equations“, “PEAK“, “Marketing That Matters“, and “The Rebel Rules” providing valuable insights on personal growth, leadership, and marketing strategies. Through his writings, he inspires entrepreneurs to achieve success, find fulfillment, and embrace their individuality in the business world.For detailed reviews of these exceptional books, please visit: Marketing That Matters, Rebel Rules, Learning to Love Midlife, Peak, and Wisdom at Work (Book Reviews) Best Advice I Ever Received:Richard Branson, who wrote the Foreword for my first book, told me when he’s creating a new company, he always repeats the mantra, “I am the market, I am the market, I am the market” as a reminder that he wants to thrill himself as a customer.Best Advice I’d Give to Someone Who Wants to Build A $10m+ Business:Focus on a niche that you can own with clear differentiators.In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Chip discuss:How Chip got started in the hospitality business and getting investors to invest.How to handle an unstable market and shrinking revenue due to recession.Hiring and building the team you need to better manage your own time and your business’ growth.How hospitality has changed in current culture and what changes have occurred in businesses.Key Takeaways:Be a part of your market so you can always stay in tune with the desires of your clients and industry.Understanding investments will help you grow your business and flourish.Building a company that people want to work for makes a stronger team and smoother process.Balancing your consumer base is the key to growing your businesses.“People liked our company.” — Chip ConleyConnect with Chip Conley:Twitter: @ChipConleyFacebook: @chipconleyauthorWebsite: http://www.chipconley.comInstagram: @ChipConleyFollow Beyond 8 Figures:Website: Beyond8Figures.comTwitter: @beyond8figures Facebook: Beyond 8 FiguresInstagram:@b8fpodcastAffiliate Disclaimer: Some links in this episode are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, we only promote products/services we believe will benefit your entrepreneurial journey.