Founder's Story

Daniel opens the conversation inside Tony’s skateboarding room by asking which item he would keep if he could only hold on to one. Tony points to one of his first signature skateboards from 1982, a board he rode in competitions, gave away to an amateur skater, and eventually received back decades later. He also shares the story behind a prop skateboard from the movie Hook, used by Robin Williams’ character. Pasted text
The episode then moves into Tony’s early years, when professional skateboarding existed but was not a reliable career. Tony explains that when he started skating seriously at 11 or 12, being a professional mostly meant having your name on a board and maybe winning $100 at a contest. For him, skating gave his hyperactive energy somewhere to go and quickly became the center of his life. Pasted text
From there, Daniel and Tony explore the business side of his career: starting Birdhouse in 1992 when skateboarding was struggling, taking out a second mortgage, living lean, and learning how to protect his name after seeing low-quality products and even a toilet paper mockup with his branding. Those lessons shaped how Tony approached Activision, where he insisted on creative approval before attaching his name to what became a video game franchise with nearly $2 billion in sales. Pasted text Pasted text Pasted text
Key Discussion Points
Tony shares the story of one of his first signature boards from 1982 and why that piece of history still matters to him decades later. Pasted text
He explains why skateboarding did not feel like a career choice at first, because in the early days, even professionals were barely making money from competitions. Pasted text
Tony breaks down the risk behind starting Birdhouse in 1992, including taking out a second mortgage, downsizing his life, and living on instant noodles, Taco Bell, and peanut butter and jelly while keeping the company alive. Pasted text
The conversation explores brand control, including how a bad licensing deal and low-quality products taught Tony not to sign away his name without creative approval. Pasted text
Tony explains why he said no to a $500,000 buyout from Activision, choosing instead to let the video game royalties ride because he no longer felt desperate for cash. Pasted text
He reflects on landing the 900 after more than 10 years of attempts, describing it not as emptiness, but as relief after years of injuries, falls, and relentless pursuit. Pasted text
Takeaways
Tony’s story shows that obsession can build greatness, but it can also cost relationships, time, and physical health. He says skating demanded complete focus, and that kind of hyperfocus can cause someone to lose sight of everything else. Pasted text
Brand control matters. Tony learned that if someone else controls your name, likeness, or creative direction, they may not protect the values or quality that made the brand matter in the first place. Pasted text Pasted text
The Activision deal worked because Tony protected the integrity of skateboarding. He wanted approval over anything carrying his name, and when the game resonated with both core skaters and mainstream audiences, that trust became leverage for future partnerships. Pasted text
Entrepreneurship is exciting, but it does not always work. Tony talks about successful brands, failed bets, and learning the hard way that getting into a business you do not truly understand can create major risk. Pasted text
The 900 was about perseverance, not just spectacle. Tony says the move took more than 10 years of attempts, injuries, and painful falls, and finally landing it represented what skateboarding is really about: trying something until you make it happen yourself. Pasted text
A “steel mindset” means not giving up through pain and difficult attempts. For Tony, that mindset changed his life, but it also came with sacrifice, especially to his body. Pasted text
Closing Thoughts
Tony Hawk’s Founder’s Story episode is about far more than skateboarding. It is the story of someone who turned obsession into mastery, risked everything to build a company for skaters, protected his name when others tried to cheapen it, and helped bring an underground culture to the world without losing its core. Tony’s journey captures the cost of greatness: broken bones, failed deals, financial risk, relentless practice, and the constant question of what comes next. But it also shows the reward of a steel mindset. A skateboard, a dream, and the refusal to quit can change not just one life, but an entire culture.
Today's sponsor:
Turn live shopping into a real business with Whatnot, where sellers build relationships, move inventory in real time, and reach buyers across collectibles, electronics, luxury, beauty, and more. Search Whatnot in the App Store and start selling today.
Stop losing deals in spreadsheets and switch to Pipedrive, the AI-powered sales CRM built by salespeople for salespeople. Get an exclusive 30 days free with no credit card at https://www.pipedrive.com/founders
When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to https://www.LegalZoom.com to get started.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Daniel opens the episode by asking Greg about one of the most surprising parts of his story: Greg reached financial independence by owning just one franchise in one territory. Greg explains that while some people may need multiple territories depending on their income goals, it is possible to build meaningful financial freedom from a single franchise if the model, territory, effort, and personal financial needs line up. Pasted text
The conversation then moves into how someone should choose a franchise. Greg says the decision starts with understanding your own skills, what you enjoy doing daily, what kind of life you want, whether you can afford the investment, and whether the franchise culture fits. He emphasizes that with thousands of franchises available, people can get overwhelmed quickly, which is why a good investigation process matters. Pasted text
Daniel and Greg also dig into the “Anti-Founder” idea: instead of starting from scratch and making every mistake yourself, franchisees can buy into a system where the founder already figured out what works. Greg explains that franchising is not for everyone, especially people who want to reinvent the system immediately, but it can be powerful for people who want a proven process, a clear playbook, and a faster path to building a business asset. Pasted text
Key Discussion Points
Greg explains how he achieved financial independence with one franchise and why the right number of territories depends on a person’s income goals, lifestyle, and long-term plan. Pasted text
He breaks down how to evaluate a franchise by looking at your skill set, what you enjoy doing, the required investment, the available territory, the culture, and the expected runway. Pasted text
Greg explains why franchises are not just restaurants, pointing to HVAC, plumbing, electrical, restoration, senior care, tutoring, medical, pest control, handyman, remodeling, and other essential service businesses. Pasted text
The episode explores why franchisees fail, with Greg saying the biggest mistake is not following the proven system and trying to get creative before understanding the model. Pasted text
Greg talks about corporate employees who want to leave their jobs, explaining that they need to know their financial runway, family support, desired lifestyle, and whether they want owner-operated or semi-absentee ownership. Pasted text
The conversation also covers how franchises can become sellable assets, why Greg would choose doggy daycare if he were starting again, and the traits that make someone a strong franchisee. Pasted text
Takeaways
Franchising can be a path to financial independence without building everything from zero. Greg’s view is that the franchise founder already made many of the mistakes, built the systems, and created the playbook for the franchisee to follow. Pasted text
The best franchise is not just the hottest category. It should match the buyer’s skill set, financial situation, personality, preferred daily work, and long-term lifestyle goals. Pasted text
Following the system matters. Greg says people who immediately think they can improve everything may be better suited to starting their own business rather than buying a franchise. Pasted text
Franchising is much broader than food. Many of the strongest opportunities may be in essential services like home services, senior care, pet care, medical services, tutoring, and other categories people need regardless of trends. Pasted text
A franchise should be treated like an asset, not just a job. Greg says the goal should be building something that can operate without revolving entirely around the owner, making it more valuable and easier to sell. Pasted text
The strongest franchisees are self-starters, have some risk tolerance, and are willing to follow a proven system instead of constantly trying to reinvent it. Pasted text
Closing Thoughts
Greg Mohr’s Founder’s Story episode reframes franchising as a practical path for people who want business ownership without the full risk of starting from scratch. His “Anti-Founder” message is not anti-entrepreneurship; it is about knowing yourself, buying into proven systems, and using an existing playbook to build income, independence, and eventually a sellable asset. For corporate employees worried about layoffs, aspiring entrepreneurs unsure where to begin, or investors looking for cash-flowing business models, Greg’s message is clear: do the research, know your runway, pick the right system, follow the process, and build the business around the life you actually want.
Today's Sponsor:
Launch your online store before Black Friday with Shopify, the platform that helps entrepreneurs start selling in just a few simple steps with no e-commerce expertise required. Start your free trial today at https://www.shopify.com/foundersstory.
Start with Upwork, the platform to find, hire, and pay expert freelancers across marketing, design, development, and operations. Visit https://www.upwork.com to post your job for free and get matched with top talent.
Support longevity in business and life with CocoaVia, a daily cocoa flavanol supplement designed to support healthy blood flow, heart health, and brain function. Go to https://www.cocoavia.com/ and use code FOUNDERS for an extra 20% off, or find it at your local Sprouts.
Turn live shopping into a real business with Whatnot, where sellers build relationships, move inventory in real time, and reach buyers across collectibles, electronics, luxury, beauty, and more. Search Whatnot in the App Store and start selling today.
Stop losing deals in spreadsheets and switch to Pipedrive, the AI-powered sales CRM built by salespeople for salespeople. Get an exclusive 30 days free with no credit card at https://www.pipedrive.com/founders

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Daniel opens the episode by asking Christopher about a defining moment in 1991, when he watched a Tony Robbins video series and wrote down a 10-year goal. Christopher explains that he and his wife listened to Tony’s 30-day cassette program, and during the goal-setting workshop, he wrote that he wanted to start a firm named CAZ Investments that would become one of the leading alternative investment firms on the planet. For the next nine years and nine months, he worked to prepare himself for that exact objective.
The conversation then moves into Christopher’s relationship with Tony Robbins. He shares that, outside of his faith and his wife, no one has had a greater impact on his life than Tony. What began as a cassette program eventually became a friendship, partnership, and co-authorship, culminating in The Holy Grail of Investing.
From there, Daniel and Christopher dive into how wealthy investors think, why private markets matter, how sports teams became a major investment theme, and why live sports content has become so valuable in a streaming world. Christopher also opens up about the personal cost of building CAZ, including lost sleep, constant intensity, and the challenge of shutting off when the mission is always on his mind.
Key Discussion Points
Christopher shares how a Tony Robbins cassette program led him to write down a 10-year vision to start CAZ Investments and build it into a leading alternative investment firm.
He explains why he does not believe in passive “manifesting,” but does believe in vision, intentionality, hard work, deadlines, and having a big enough why to endure difficulty.
Christopher breaks down what ultra-high-net-worth investors understand: diversification is the only free lunch, tax efficiency matters, discipline matters, and wealth is not just what you make but what you keep.
The conversation explores private markets, including why so many major companies remain private and why investors who only focus on public stocks may miss a large part of the economy.
Christopher explains why CAZ is heavily interested in professional sports, live content, media rights, cord cutting, and the long-term economics of owning stakes in sports franchises.
He opens up about the price of success, including years of limited sleep, building the firm through 9/11 and the global financial crisis, and learning to keep faith at the center of the journey.
Takeaways
A goal becomes more powerful when it has a deadline. Christopher says writing down a specific 10-year target gave him a clear path and forced him to prepare intentionally for almost a decade.
Manifestation without execution is not enough. Christopher’s view is that belief matters, but only when paired with a plan, hard work, intentional steps, and the willingness to be bruised along the way.
Ultra-wealthy investors think about risk differently. They focus on diversification, tax efficiency, discipline, and staying power instead of chasing whatever looks popular in the moment.
Private markets are a major part of the opportunity set. Christopher explains that many large companies are private, meaning investors who ignore private assets may be missing a significant part of the economy.
Sports are no longer just entertainment assets. CAZ views sports through the lens of live content, media rights, streaming, cord cutting, scarcity, and long-term demand for events people want to watch in real time.
Success has a price. For Christopher, that price has included sleep, intensity, and difficulty shutting off, but he says faith, family, and purpose helped keep the journey grounded.
Closing Thoughts
Christopher Zook’s Founder’s Story episode is about vision, discipline, investing, and the long road between writing down a goal and actually becoming the person capable of achieving it. His story begins with a Tony Robbins cassette program in 1991 and leads to CAZ Investments, The Holy Grail of Investing, and a career built around alternative assets, private markets, thematic investing, and purpose. Christopher’s message is not that success comes from simply putting something into the universe. It comes from knowing where you are going, building a plan, staying disciplined through crisis, keeping faith at the center, and having a why big enough to keep going when the road gets hard.
Today's Sponsor:
Start with Upwork, the platform to find, hire, and pay expert freelancers across marketing, design, development, and operations. Visit https://www.upwork.com to post your job for free and get matched with top talent.
Support longevity in business and life with CocoaVia, a daily cocoa flavanol supplement designed to support healthy blood flow, heart health, and brain function. Go to https://www.cocoavia.com/ and use code FOUNDERS for an extra 20% off, or find it at your local Sprouts.
Turn live shopping into a real business with Whatnot, where sellers build relationships, move inventory in real time, and reach buyers across collectibles, electronics, luxury, beauty, and more. Search Whatnot in the App Store and start selling today.
Stop losing deals in spreadsheets and switch to Pipedrive, the AI-powered sales CRM built by salespeople for salespeople. Get an exclusive 30 days free with no credit card at https://www.pipedrive.com/founders

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Scott begins by reflecting on his years working on Wall Street, where long hours, coffee, and traditional energy drinks became part of his daily routine. Eventually, the constant stimulation left him questioning whether that lifestyle was sustainable, leading him to search for a healthier way to maintain focus and energy. His discovery of functional mushrooms became the catalyst for what would eventually become Odyssey Functional Energy.
The conversation traces Scott's entrepreneurial evolution—from building successful businesses in vaping and CBD to launching Odyssey during the pandemic. Along the way, he explains why listening to customers is more important than protecting your original idea, how multiple pivots transformed Odyssey into a leading functional energy brand, and why he believes entrepreneurs should obsess over building products people genuinely love before spending heavily on marketing.
Scott also shares one of his biggest business failures, explains how he learned when to pivot instead of forcing an idea to succeed, and outlines his vision for the future of the energy beverage industry.
Key Discussion Points
Why years on Wall Street pushed Scott to search for healthier, longer-lasting energy and ultimately inspired Odyssey Functional Energy.
How Scott successfully built, scaled, and exited businesses in vaping and CBD before entering the functional beverage market.
The importance of listening to customers, pivoting quickly, and refining products instead of becoming emotionally attached to the original vision.
Why Odyssey abandoned coffee and tea to focus entirely on functional energy drinks after customer demand made the opportunity clear.
The lessons Scott learned from launching products that failed—and why knowing when to stop can be just as important as knowing when to persist.
How Odyssey built strong retail momentum through product quality and customer referrals before investing in influencer marketing and creator partnerships.
Takeaways
Build the product before building the hype. Scott intentionally delayed major marketing efforts until he knew customers genuinely loved the product and repeatedly came back to buy it.
Customer feedback should drive your business—not your ego. Several of Odyssey's biggest successes came after Scott changed packaging, product positioning, flavors, caffeine levels, and branding based on retailer and consumer feedback.
Not every good idea becomes a good business. Scott openly discusses PhoneGuard, a texting-and-driving prevention app backed by Justin Bieber that ultimately failed, teaching him when to recognize that an idea isn't gaining traction.
Entrepreneurship requires constant adaptation. Odyssey began as mushroom coffee before evolving into teas and eventually becoming a functional energy drink company focused on a much larger market opportunity.
Winning starts with solving a real problem. Rather than creating another highly caffeinated beverage, Scott focused on sustained energy, improved focus, and eliminating the crash that many consumers experience from traditional energy drinks.
Long-term businesses are built through purpose. Scott believes founders perform at their best when they genuinely believe their products improve people's lives, making purpose the foundation of sustainable growth.
Closing Thoughts
Scott Frohman's entrepreneurial journey demonstrates that successful founders rarely follow a straight path. From Wall Street burnout to multiple exits, failed ventures, and continuous reinvention, he shows that building an enduring company often means letting customers shape the product, embracing pivots, and staying focused on creating genuine value. His story is a reminder that breakthrough businesses aren't built by chasing trends—they're built by solving real problems better than anyone else.
Today's Sponsor:
Start with Upwork, the platform to find, hire, and pay expert freelancers across marketing, design, development, and operations. Visit https://www.upwork.com to post your job for free and get matched with top talent.
Support longevity in business and life with CocoaVia, a daily cocoa flavanol supplement designed to support healthy blood flow, heart health, and brain function. Go to https://www.cocoavia.com/ and use code FOUNDERS for an extra 20% off, or find it at your local Sprouts.
Turn live shopping into a real business with Whatnot, where sellers build relationships, move inventory in real time, and reach buyers across collectibles, electronics, luxury, beauty, and more. Search Whatnot in the App Store and start selling today.
Stop losing deals in spreadsheets and switch to Pipedrive, the AI-powered sales CRM built by salespeople for salespeople. Get an exclusive 30 days free with no credit card at https://www.pipedrive.com/founders
Get locked in on game day with PrizePicks, where you pick 2–6 players and choose more or less on their projected stats across sports. Download the app and use code FOUNDERS to get $150 in lineups if you win your first $5 lineup.
Eat real food even when life gets busy with Factor’s chef-crafted, dietitian-designed meals ready in just 2 minutes with no prep or cleanup. Go to https://www.factormeals.com/founders50off and use code founders50off to get 50% off plus 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year while supplies last.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Daniel opens the episode by asking Bill why it is so important for someone to create a will. Bill explains that without one, the court can end up deciding how a person’s assets are distributed, often in ways that may not match what the person actually wanted. He says that taking just a few hours to draft a simple will can help protect a lifetime of accumulated assets and make the distribution process clearer for loved ones.
Bill then shares examples of high-profile estates, including Prince and Howard Hughes, where the absence of proper planning led to years of litigation. He emphasizes that people often avoid wills because they do not want to think about death, but avoiding the topic can create far more pain, cost, and confusion for the people left behind.
The conversation also dives into the practical details of writing a will, including choosing an executor, signing the document correctly, getting the right witnesses, and understanding that rules vary by state. Bill explains that a will can distribute assets, but a trust is needed if someone wants to control how money is managed or distributed over time.
Key Discussion Points
Bill explains why dying without a will can leave the court in control of how assets are distributed, which may not reflect the person’s actual wishes.
He shares why estate planning matters for entrepreneurs and business owners, especially when partnerships, business interests, property, and family members are involved.
Bill breaks down the role of the executor, saying this person must be trusted completely because they may have access to money, property, and major decisions after someone passes away.
The episode covers common will mistakes, including failing to sign the document, not having required witnesses, or using witnesses who are also beneficiaries.
Bill explains the difference between a will and a trust, especially for people who want to spread out distributions or protect wealth across generations.
The conversation also explores family fairness, including why explaining certain gifts or decisions inside a will can help reduce confusion, resentment, or conflict among heirs.
Takeaways
A will is not just for wealthy people. Bill’s message is that anyone who has assets, family, children, property, or business interests should think about how those things should be handled after they pass away.
The executor may be the most important decision in the will. This person needs to be trustworthy, responsible, and able to handle the estate without abusing access to the assets.
A will has to be executed correctly. If it is not signed or witnessed properly, it can become worthless or create major problems for the family later.
A will distributes assets, but a trust can control assets over time. Bill explains that people who want to protect wealth for children, grandchildren, or future generations may need a trust instead of relying only on a will.
Business owners should plan before there is a crisis. If someone owns part of a business, they should clearly document what happens to that ownership interest if they pass away.
Estate planning can prevent emotional damage, not just legal problems. Bill explains that writing down why certain people receive certain items can help family members feel seen, understood, and treated with care.
Closing Thoughts
William Funk’s Founder’s Story episode turns an uncomfortable topic into a practical conversation every founder, parent, business owner, and family member should hear. Bill makes the case that writing a will does not have to be mysterious, expensive, or overwhelming, but waiting too long can leave loved ones with confusion, legal fees, court involvement, and years of unnecessary conflict. His message is simple: take a few hours, make your wishes clear, choose the right executor, sign it properly, and protect the people and assets you have spent your life building.
Today's Sponsor:
Turn live shopping into a real business with Whatnot, where sellers build relationships, move inventory in real time, and reach buyers across collectibles, electronics, luxury, beauty, and more. Search Whatnot in the App Store and start selling today.
Start with Upwork, the platform to find, hire, and pay expert freelancers across marketing, design, development, and operations. Visit https://www.upwork.com to post your job for free and get matched with top talent.
Support longevity in business and life with CocoaVia, a daily cocoa flavanol supplement designed to support healthy blood flow, heart health, and brain function. Go to https://www.cocoavia.com/ and use code FOUNDERS for an extra 20% off, or find it at your local Sprouts.
Stop losing deals in spreadsheets and switch to Pipedrive, the AI-powered sales CRM built by salespeople for salespeople. Get an exclusive 30 days free with no credit card at https://www.pipedrive.com/founders

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.