AJ Osborne Podcast

For over a decade, as I built my portfolio, I didn’t raise capital from outside investors. Why? I didn’t want to take the risk. Raising capital for real estate is something you cannot afford to get wrong. No one wants to end up in prison because they funded a deal the wrong way. Good news? I’ve got SEC attorney and good friend Mauricio Rauld here to tell you how to do it right. Even better news? AI is about to make it cheaper (and easier) for all of us.    Seriously, why pay a lawyer tens of thousands of dollars to come up with your documents when AI can compile everything for a fraction of the cost? Most lawyers don’t want to hear this, but Mauricio is fully on board. The change is coming, and it’s about to bring huge cost savings to all of us who run businesses or invest in real estate. Plus, accredited investor rules could change soon, making it even easier for average Americans to invest in bigger deals. Will the move actually go through?   If you’re even thinking about raising money, listen to this episode. You could be paying thousands of dollars for what Mauricio is about to tell you. We’re also sharing the best career advice you’ll ever receive, our thoughts on AI’s new lawyer-replacing features, and why the middle class is stuck, getting squeezed while the rich get richer.    Insights from today’s episode:  How to raise capital for real estate (the rules you MUST follow before you do) New AI lawyers that can draft your legal docs for a fraction of the cost  Why you have way more control than you think when raising capital for real estate  Crucial career advice if you feel like you don’t know what your “passion” is Changes to accredited investor rules? Why this could be good for average Americans   — Helpful Articles: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/blog/the-truth-about-real-estate-investing  https://www.selfstorageincome.com/blog/the-secret-investments-of-the-wealthy-1  🎧 Listen to Drunk Real Estate: https://www.drunkrealestateshow.com/ 🔗 Mauricio’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauriciorauld/ 📚 Mauricio’s Coaching: https://coachingwithmauricio.com  🎙️ Have a story worth sharing? Apply to be a guest on the Self Storage Income or AJ Osborne podcasts: https://form.asana.com/?k=TGU88eU0bFTFW1iHcckuTA&d=1203571084143207 📚 Want the full blueprint? Get my latest book on how to build and scale a successful self storage business: https://a.co/d/aRSKcSq 📉 Ready to invest alongside us? Take advantage of today’s market conditions and grow with our team at Cedar: https://cedar.cc/invest 

Discover why the most successful businesses are those built with failure in mind. Learn how entrepreneurs often fail due to an overly optimistic approach. Embrace failure as a necessary part of growth and resilience. Explore how to navigate turbulent economic waters while managing investments wisely. Understand the unique challenges millennials face in this landscape and why a growth mindset can turn setbacks into opportunities. It's all about building systems that can weather any storm!

This investor makes tens of thousands a month from his “AI vending machine” business. A business so simple a teenager could run it—and make more than most Americans do at their day job. We’re not talking about those old vending machines in the back of bowling alleys selling Cokes for $1.50. We’re talking about an AI vending machine business plan that generates $1,200 to $2,000 per month per machine.    Michael Hoffmann—better known as ‘Mr. Passive’—has been running his vending machine side hustle for over five years. But he’s made a serious business out of it, leveraging his Silicon Valley tech background to perfect the purchasing experience.    A customer simply walks up to your machine, taps their card, grabs what they need, and leaves. You make a massive markup, and the customer gets what they want—fast. Want to know how to repeat it? Michael is sharing exactly how much he makes, how much a machine costs, the profit margins, and a step-by-step plan so you or even your kid can start a vending machine business.   Insights from today’s episode:  How much vending machines make AND how much a vending machine costs The new “AI vending machines” with bigger purchases and better margins A step-by-step business plan for starting your own vending machine business How to scale your vending machine side hustle into a full-time business The best way to teach your kids entrepreneurship? Why AJ is bullish on vending machines for HIS kids    Join the Waitlist for VendHub! - https://www.vendhub.ai/  Learn how to do this yourself and subscribe to Michael’s YouTube Channel! - https://www.youtube.com/@UCCr13sXOZgWCqpPv8WPKhwQ  🎙️ Do you have a great story or advice to share on the AJ Osborne podcast? Apply here! https://form.asana.com/?k=TGU88eU0bFTFW1iHcckuTA&d=1203571084143207 📖 Get AJ's book that teaches you everything he knows about self-storage https://a.co/d/aRSKcSq 📉 Take advantage of today’s market conditions and invest with our company, Cedar Creek Capital: https://cedar.cc/invest 

In this insightful conversation, Tessa Osborne, Board of Directors member at Innovate Academy and founder of Family Foundations Camp, shares her unique approach to parenting. She emphasizes the importance of raising self-sufficient and financially literate kids amid societal challenges. Tessa discusses the need for hands-on life skills and the value of sibling interactions in fostering resilience. They also touch on the significance of intergenerational connections and the vital role of storytelling in developing identity, proving that intentional parenting can lead to independent, happy children.

In this engaging discussion, Dan Martell, an entrepreneur and author of "Buy Back Your Time," shares his inspiring journey from rehab to building successful software companies. He dives into strategies for hiring and promoting team members while addressing toxic influences that can sabotage growth. Martell emphasizes the importance of a clear team vision and effective executive compensation to foster commitment. Learn how to empower a self-sustaining business that thrives even in your absence, along with insightful reflections on resilience and adapting through adversity.

Scott Donnell, a family expert with extensive experience helping wealthy families, shares invaluable insights on raising successful children. He discusses the unique 'success recipe' used by top families to foster strong values and financial literacy. Discover why traditional chores and allowances might be counterproductive. Learn about the three 'E's that can transform kids' attitudes and strengthen family bonds. Scott also reveals the nightly rituals that keep his own family connected and thriving, emphasizing the importance of emotional strength over financial wealth.

I grew a $400 million business from scratch, in a wheelchair, and starting around the Great Recession. Almost everything was against me from the beginning. People told me my business would fail and my assets were worthless; banks laughed us out the door when we asked for funding. Then, suddenly, one day, my business needed to run on its own when I became paralyzed, unable to move, talk, or do anything but blink. So, how did I do it? Today, I’m breaking down my $400 million company, how we make money, what we’re invested in, the teams doing the work, and how you can do the same and build a business that gives YOU ultimate financial freedom. We started this business during tough times, when getting money to fund self storage facilities was almost impossible. I’m sharing the creative way we came up with cash by recycling our capital so we never ran out. Running a multimillion-dollar business is great, but at some point, you will run out of hours in the day. I’ll give you the exact breakdown of how my team runs the businesses for me and why having complete control over your business will stop you from growing, make your life harder, and limit your success. This is a peek behind the curtain of a company most people never get to see—and I’m sharing everything with you in this episode. Insights from today’s episode: How I built a $400 million self storage business with ZERO investing experience to startWhy we’re buying (a lot of) real estate right now (and why we always do in recessions)Getting the funds for your business and my strategy to recycle limited capital How my company runs without me and why you NEED to make sure yours can do the sameThe “smaller” businesses we have that produce over $5 million per year in revenue — Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 (AJ’s Book!) https://www.selfstorageincome.com/book  🖊️ Enter our survey for a chance to win a signed copy of my Book: https://form.asana.com/?k=da0pR8v74pC8OEgx9dgKRQ&d=1203571084143207  Sign Up for My Newsletter Here: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/newsletter?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=ajopod   

Today, we’re talking about the “T-word”… trauma. Before you click away, this is not a downer episode. If you’ve been through trauma, big or small, you know how hard it is to bounce back. For me, without trauma, I wouldn’t have this podcast, my businesses, my wealth, my financial freedom, or much of the gratitude for life I take with me every single day. The worst months of my life used to define me. Now, they’re much of the reason I’ve succeeded. Eight years ago, out of nowhere, I became paralyzed. My children, who were used to having a strong, stable father, now had a dad who couldn’t move, lying on a hospital bed with tubes running down my throat. I didn’t know if I would ever walk again, hug my children again…or even leave that hospital bed. The pain lasted for months—pain no one should ever have to endure—and still lingers today. I had two options: give up or give whatever I had left in me. I chose the latter. Now, almost a decade later, I’m financially free, own multiple seven-figure businesses, and see life from a different angle. If your trauma is holding you back, keeping you from achieving great things, please hear me out in this episode. You’re not alone—I’m sharing everything that helped me move forward. Insights from today’s episode:  Money and trauma and how you CAN use the worst days of your life to reach financial independence How to be grateful for life when you’re constantly in pain (mentally or physically) Why you MUST start depending on others if you want to succeed and STOP doing everything yourself  Why giving 10% is ENOUGH on days when even waking up seems unbearable  The #1 reason you should invest while you’re young (stop wasting time!)   🎙️ Would you be a good guest for the AJ Osborne or Self Storage Income podcasts? You can now apply here!  https://form.asana.com/?k=TGU88eU0bFTFW1iHcckuTA&d=1203571084143207 Sign Up for My Newsletter Here: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/newsletter?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=ajopod 

The billionaire problem: ultra-wealthy business owners and investors aren’t paying into the tax system. The Warren Buffetts of the world are getting wealthier while average Americans struggle to buy necessities like groceries. So, how do the ultra-rich avoid paying taxes? Would a “billionaire tax” work and finally force the ultra-wealthy to fork over their fair share, or will they merely use their legal loopholes to dodge taxes and make the middle class foot the bill?   “Tax the rich” is, by most means, a misunderstanding at best and ignorance at worst. I want billionaires to pay more, as they should, but is that possible with the current tax system? What happens if we start taxing billionaires on their unrealized gains? Could this finally solve the government’s tax revenue problem or bankrupt the entire system?   I will explain, in depth, how the rich avoid paying taxes, the consequences of a “billionaire tax,” how much it would benefit the United States, and the EXACT strategies billionaires use to avoid taxes that you can copy.   Insights from today’s episode:    How billionaires avoid paying taxes by sheltering their wealth in assets  The effect a “billionaire tax” would have on the United States (very surprising) The one tactic Warren Buffett uses to make tax-free income while dodging Uncle Sam Why both Democrats and Republicans fuel billionaire wealth and hurt average Americans The money-printing machine that is widening the wealth divide and will financially burden our children  — The 2025 “Worst Case" Scenario That Could Begin the US Downfall - https://youtu.be/igSJlA0FBJM?si=Dhcx80ocicPK7_J-    Warren Buffett's Secret Strategy -  https://youtu.be/LS5VApAADPg 

What is “fractional general counsel,” and why was not having it one of the biggest business mistakes I ever made? Whether you’re a startup, a self storage operator, or a growing small business, you rarely think about “legal.” You know that big companies will happily pay hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars a year to protect their products and services, but you dismiss it because you’re not “big enough” for that yet.   This is a massive mistake, and it potentially cost me hundreds of millions of dollars.   Big businesses use their legal counsel to “bury” their competition—it’s all part of their strategy, and until recently, little guys couldn’t access this type of legal network.   That’s why we brought on Jeff Holman, who helps startups and scaling businesses access the right expertise from the right attorney at the right time with his “fractional” legal team. This means even small businesses and new startups can AFFORD to make the same strategic moves as powerful market players for a fraction of the cost of hiring a dozen attorneys.    This is a game-changer for small businesses and startups, and if you think you’re not ready for it, think again. This episode will show you the dangers of not having legal counsel and the massive opportunities of using a “fractional” team.   Insights from today’s episode:   How the big businesses use legal tactics to “bury” their smaller competitors  Why NOT hiring legal counsel was a mistake that slowed down my business dramatically  The legal “strategy” ANY small business can use to compete in their market  Is an on-staff attorney a waste of money? The better option for startup and small business legal needs — Americans vs. Institutions: Why We’ve Had Enough - https://youtu.be/3uOIL6KJbJM?si=KINpdF5nalpPGtL4     Jeff’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/holman/    Book a Strategy Call with Jeff’s Team - https://www.intellectualstrategies.com/strategy-call/book-a-call