AJ Osborne Podcast

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!

Are interest rates really going to fall in 2025? Could DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) actually clean up the federal government? Will tariffs cause more harm to the US than we think? One of the most qualified people to address these issues is former US Chief Market Intelligence Officer Andrew Busch. And he’s got a lot to share about the future in today’s episode. Andrew worked under the Trump administration from 2017 to 2019. He’s also been an economic advisor during the McCain US Presidential Campaign, now running his own firm performing economic and policy research. He’s one of the most experienced economists we’ve ever had the chance to talk to, and we talk about a lot.   We’re discussing everything from the Fed’s big mistake to the developing “power crisis” that could massively impact data centers and manufacturing. We touch on Trump’s proposed tariffs, their effects on our trade partners, and why you should not listen to the news when they give interest rate predictions. Plus, how will commercial real estate fare over the next few years? Things could be looking optimistic!    Insights from today’s episode:  The Fed’s colossal interest rate mistake and whether or not they’re making up for it Why Americans are fed up with the federal government and whether DOGE could change things Good news for commercial real estate and why we should see improvements soon Trump’s 2025 plan: trade, taxes, tariffs, and other massive changes to the government  The looming energy crisis and the surprising advantage the US holds over the rest of the world Andrew’s Website: https://andrewbusch.com/ Andrew’s Book, “World Event Trading”: https://www.amazon.com/World-Event-Trading-Analyze-Headlines/dp/0470106778  American Action Forum: https://www.americanactionforum.org/     

How does “smart money” always seem to be ahead of the curve? The world’s most prominent investors, like Warren Buffett, are slowly selling off their assets and moving their positions into cash. Do they know something that we don’t? What are they preparing for in 2025? And is this next economic cycle going to help or hurt average investors? Instead of speculating, M.C. Laubscher, alternative wealth strategist and founder of Cashflow Ninja, will teach you how to think like the wealthy. M.C. has noticed more of the “smart money” moving their assets into cash—but why? As with any market cycle, you can make money in the peaks and the valleys, so does now signal a great time to get out of your investments? Not necessarily. I’m talking to M.C. about what drives these economic cycles so you can use the same strategies as the ultra-rich to build your wealth in ANY market conditions. M.C. shares what to pay attention to in this cycle, what to do with your cash when waiting on the sidelines, and why the wealthy aren’t scared but are “preparing” for what’s about to come.    Insights from today’s episode:  Why “smart money” is selling off their assets (slowly) and moving into cash Understanding economic cycles and how to make money at the top and the bottom Economic “wild cards” that investors MUST be aware of, especially in 2025  Artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and whether or not we’re at the peak  How freezing during market volatility will cost you in the long run Can anyone actually time the market?    Cashflow Ninja: https://cashflowninja.com/  Get Wealthy for Sure: https://producerswealth.mykajabi.com/get-wealthy-for-sure  ShadowStats: https://www.shadowstats.com/  Truflation: https://truflation.com/

Do you have the makeup of a serial entrepreneur or successful real estate investor? If you’re looking to time the market and make a quick buck, probably not. But if you’re willing to sacrifice, help others, and play the long game, you might just have what it takes, in which case this episode is for you! Mike and Bo are business partners who have bought over 200 commercial real estate properties and built more than a few dozen businesses from the ground up. Today, I’m talking to them about real estate, self-storage, partnerships, and their many ventures across the last thirty-five years. What has led to their enormous success? They’ve failed. They’ve been broke. But despite all types of challenges and hardships, they’ve stayed true to the “fundamentals” of business. By eliminating ego and greed, prioritizing the customer’s needs, and reinvesting their profits back into their portfolio, Mike and Bo have built a nine-figure empire that most aspiring entrepreneurs only dream of attaining. If you’re just getting into real estate, starting a business, or trying to scale, you CAN’T miss this one. Insights from today’s episode: What Mike and Bo did to build a nine-figure business portfolio from zero Unlocking scalability and opportunity through the power of partnerships Why you DON’T need an exit strategy for your business or property The one investment every person should buy for long-term passive income Why building buy-and-hold businesses always beats “timing the market” The special ability that will allow you to overcome ANY entrepreneurial hardship — Mike and Bo’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikeandbo/ Text: (928) 605-4335 🎙️ Do you have a great story to share on the AJ Osborne podcasts? Apply here! https://form.asana.com/?k=TGU88eU0bFTFW1iHcckuTA&d=1203571084143207