AJ Osborne Podcast

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 

What if 2025 marks the start of a financial crisis for the United States? This discussion dives into the complex factors behind the looming economic instability, including skyrocketing debt and government spending. Discover how interest payments could overshadow all other federal expenses. The potential for a recession looms large, alongside startling insights on political maneuvers that could exacerbate our economic woes. Brace yourself for the possibility that the next Great Depression may be nearer than we think!

What if everything you thought about money and making money was wrong? For centuries, most people have been fed a series of money lies, preventing them from building wealth or escaping poverty. When recessions and economic depressions happen, those believing these lies get wiped out, forcing them to restart while the rich take advantage. To break free from this, I’m sharing three crucial money “truths” the rich know but the poor don’t. Once I describe these truths, I will show you exactly how to take advantage of the value-creating assets that can make you massively wealthy. This is how I built my wealth, and I’ve seen hundreds of others repeat the same process. But where are these assets most primed to make you rich? One KEY data point highlights tremendous opportunities (and exactly where to find them). So many people believe they’re forever stuck in a position they don’t want to be in. As soon as you embrace these money truths, you can begin to escape, ascend the social ladder, and build long-lasting wealth for you and your family. Do NOT believe the money lies. Insights from today’s episode:  Three money “truths” that the wealthy know but the poor do not The economic “pie” lie and how to create value (and money) out of nothing  Why you should NOT be perpetually sitting on cash, even if it makes you feel rich  Key signs of “value” that point to colossal investing opportunities How debt can destroy you and make you rich, and when to use it  Sign Up for My Newsletter Here: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/newsletter?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=ajopod 

How do you build a billion-dollar company? Knowing the “four stages” of business growth will help you not only get to your first million or hundred million but also a billion-dollar business valuation.  Maybe you don’t want to build a massive, billion-dollar business. That’s fine! You can use the initial stages to build multimillion-dollar wealth, just like I did. I’m currently on track to reach billion-dollar status with my companies, starting from nothing, now at $400 million, and within a few years, hopefully, a billion dollars. I’ve followed the formula I’m sharing in this episode to go from small to big business and, hopefully, billion-dollar business. These four stages are crucial for any entrepreneur or business owner. These will help you grow to the next level and even tell you when your business should STOP growing so you don’t get so big that you fail.  I’ve spent decades figuring out these business stages. Take my lessons, learn from me, and build your business faster (and better) than I did!  Insights from today’s episode:  How to build a billion-dollar business and go from solopreneur to ten-figure company  Why testing your market fit is crucial for any business before you scale (or risk failure) The true “cost” of business growth and why you must be prepared to pay it or see your business die Why NOBODY cares how good YOU think your business is, and the one opinion that matters  Building your “business model” so you can scale and avoid entrepreneur burnout  When to start hiring and how to know taking a pay cut (or profit cut) will be worth it 

Economist Lauren Saidel-Baker from ITR Economics shares her alarming predictions about an impending depression by 2030, driven by government actions rather than traditional market failures. She discusses immense investment opportunities arising from the predicted downturn and explores the fluctuating housing market and rising interest rates. Additionally, Lauren highlights the impact of labor shortages and AI on productivity, as well as the implications of geopolitical conflicts on the U.S. economy. Prepare for significant changes as we navigate these economic shifts!

Most people have the wrong idea about entrepreneurship and how to grow a small business. The average Shark Tank viewer thinks you need the next innovative idea and a boatload of venture capital to become a successful small business owner, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Looking to start your own business in 2025? You won’t want to miss this episode!  Today, we’re chatting with Brian Hamilton, a lifelong entrepreneur and philanthropist who has founded, grown, and sold several multimillion-dollar tech companies over the last thirty-plus years. Currently, he’s the chairman of Inmates to Entrepreneurs, a nonprofit organization that equips people with the knowledge, tools, and resources to go out and build their own profitable businesses from scratch. And in this episode, he’s going to show YOU how to do the same!  And guess what? You don’t need to wait for an inventive idea to fall in your lap, pour thousands of dollars into your new endeavor, or cripple your fledgling business by bringing venture capitalists on board. If you have grit and gratitude, you have everything you need to start the type of business Brian is talking about today! Insights from today’s episode:  How to build a successful business from scratch (with low money!) The tried-and-true, low-cost businesses YOU can start today The venture capital “trap” entrepreneurs should avoid when starting out “Downward pressure” and other threats to business owners in 2025 Why grit and gratitude are the entrepreneur’s secret weapons — Inmates to Entrepreneurs https://inmatestoentrepreneurs.org/ LiveSwitch https://www.liveswitch.io/   

Unlock the secrets to building wealth in 2025 with a simple three-stage framework. Discover how to skip the second stage to accelerate your journey to financial freedom. Learn from personal successes and challenges faced in 2024. Understand the current economic cycle and how it influences investment strategies. Dive into the art of leveraging resources effectively and hear inspiring community success stories that showcase the power of strategic asset reallocation. Transform your approach to wealth building and set yourself up for financial success!