Advertise on podcast: Building Billions with Brandon Dawson

Josh Waxman grew up in a house where money was never the issue, until his parents divorced and he saw how fast everything you build can be taken. That sent him studying how the Rockefellers, Carnegies, and Morgans protected what they created, and it led him to infinite banking, a way to use a whole life policy as your own private banking system. I have wanted to build something in this space for 22 years, and I never found a version that felt like more than selling a product until I saw what Josh does for business owners. In this episode, we get into how it protects against death, divorce, debt, and lawsuits while still letting you borrow against your own capital, and why most people never hear about it. We also talk about why whole life has the reputation it does, and what my daughter's savings account taught me about fees. What makes this more than a concept is what Josh did with his own business. When we started working together, he was the top salesperson and the bottleneck, and he had to learn to duplicate himself, strip the company down to the studs, and pour into a core group of leaders. The result was close to 10X the business with a fifth of the people. Now we are bringing this inside Cardone Ventures, starting in Miami and Arizona, so owners can protect their families and their net worth while they scale. It also raises a question most owners never ask: why the CPA, the attorney, and the insurance agent rarely talk to each other, and what that gap is costing them. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I believe your body is the most important asset you have, and most business owners are treating it like an afterthought. In this episode of Building Billions, I sit down with my friend Russ Yeager to talk about why generic health and fitness advice is failing people and what happens when you start optimizing the individual instead of the population. We get into genetics, bloodwork, precision nutrition, supplementation, and training, and why the process has to start with normalizing the body before you ever start chasing performance. Russ shares what he’s seen firsthand with the business owners he works with and how dramatically their health, confidence, leadership, and performance can change when they finally understand what their individual body needs. We also talk about the massive opportunity this creates for trainers, gym owners, nutritionists, physical therapists, chiropractors, nurse practitioners, and other health professionals. I don’t believe the future of health is one person trying to do everything themselves. It’s a team of experts working together around one individual, using real data to create a truly personalized approach. Russ has already built a successful business helping people transform their bodies, and now we’re working together to help health professionals do the same while building more valuable, profitable businesses. If you’re in the health and fitness industry and want to become the authority in your market, this conversation will show you what’s possible. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill Goldberg built a $37 million general contracting business in Montana, then watched it collapse to $3 million in a single year. I call it a snapback, and without the right foundation in place, it can be catastrophic. What kept Bill from going to zero was the work we had already started together: restructuring his business from the ground up, engineering a growth plan all the way to $365 million, and building a team and culture that could actually carry it. Three years later, he's back to $25 million, and in this live Elite 250 coaching session, we get into the real questions: how to navigate breakpoints, when to bring in your next leaders, and why the metrics you're tracking might be lying to you. This is a raw, behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to rebuild, and what's possible when a business owner is willing to do the work. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Success isn't measured only by the businesses you build, it's measured by the people you help build along the way. In this special episode of Building Billions, I reflect on one of the most rewarding moments in my career: celebrating the incredible journey of an entrepreneur I've had the privilege of mentoring, from the early stages of growth to extraordinary success. It's a reminder that creating enterprise value is important, but creating leaders who go on to build something even bigger is the real legacy. This conversation is about gratitude, partnership, and playing the long game. I share why investing in people will always produce the greatest returns, what it feels like to watch someone surpass expectations, and why the next chapter of growth is often the most exciting one. If you're building a business with the goal of creating lasting impact, not just wealth, this episode is for you. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everybody says they want to build a $100 million business, but very few are willing to become the leader it actually requires. In this episode of Building Billions, I break down the mindset shifts that separate founders who stay stuck from those who build real enterprise value. I share why most businesses stall at $3 million, how your personal leadership determines your company's ceiling, and why the habits that got you here won't get you where you want to go. I also dive into the hard realities of scaling, building a leadership team, making difficult people decisions, navigating partnerships, and avoiding the mistakes that destroy otherwise great businesses. If you're serious about growing from $1 million to $10 million, $10 million to $100 million, and beyond, this episode will challenge the way you think about leadership, ownership, and what it really takes to build a business that lasts. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Building Billions, I sit down with JD Ross, founder of Opendoor, partner at Atomic Ventures, and founder of WithCoverage, to break down how he’s taken companies from idea to billions in enterprise value, including scaling Opendoor from first revenue to an $8B public company in under six years. We get into what actually drives growth at scale, how to understand your business equation, why companies break as they expand, and what it really takes to build and lead teams beyond the founder, while also unpacking the massive opportunity in “boring” industries, AI-enabled operators, and the $5T+ small business wealth transfer that’s reshaping where the next generation of billion-dollar companies will be built. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Building Billions, I break down why the biggest wealth creation opportunity right now isn’t in flashy tech or the next viral app, it’s in boring, traditional small businesses. From HVAC and garage doors to storage units and car washes, I explain how consistent cash flow, operational improvement, and smarter systems can turn overlooked businesses into high-value enterprises. We also dive into the “silver tsunami” of aging business owners, where trillions in business value are transferring hands, and how modern tools like AI, automation, and better operational thinking are transforming these companies. I walk through the core financial drivers every operator must understand, revenue, margin, profitability, and cash reserves, and why mastering these fundamentals is what ultimately creates real, scalable wealth in today’s market. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Building Billions, I open the conversation by breaking down what it actually takes to build and scale companies at the highest level, consistency, velocity, and results, before moving into a deeper discussion about leadership, uncertainty, and how decisions made in high-pressure environments shape outcomes far beyond business. I’m joined by Arizona attorney general candidate Rodney Glassman for a wide-ranging conversation about his background as an Air Force JAG officer, prosecutor, and commercial litigator, and what the attorney general’s office actually does behind the scenes. We explore how the role oversees hundreds of attorneys across state agencies, how legal authority intersects with law enforcement, regulation, education, and economic growth, and why understanding this office matters for anyone building or operating a business in Arizona. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Car Session episode of Building Billions, Brandon shares reflections from a drive to Elite Edge, where 400 business owners are gathering to talk about what it really takes to operate under pressure, uncertainty, and high-stakes decision-making. He opens up about his own experience navigating delayed global initiatives and what it feels like when momentum slows, timelines shift, and clarity is not immediately available. In those moments, optimism and anxiety often exist at the same time, forcing leaders to think and act without perfect information. From there, he explores a pattern he sees across high-level entrepreneurs. The outcome is rarely just about strategy. It is heavily influenced by environment, specifically the conversations happening around you and the ones you allow in your own mind. He contrasts the voices that reinforce doubt with the ones that reinforce conviction, and explains how those inputs directly shape whether someone pulls back under pressure or pushes through it. Referencing founders like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Sam Altman, he highlights a consistent theme. Breakthrough moments are almost always preceded by uncertainty, resistance, and external skepticism. The core message is simple. Your environment does not just influence your thinking. It influences your ability to stay in the game long enough to win it. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Building Billions, Brandon Dawson sits down with a seasoned entrepreneur and industry leader to break down what it really takes to build, scale, and exit successful companies, across any industry. From HVAC to healthcare to consulting, they reveal a core truth most founders miss: great businesses aren’t built on talent alone, but on systems, process, and disciplined execution. Drawing from decades of experience, multiple exits, and billions in enterprise value, this conversation dives into how mastering the “business builder” mindset unlocks repeatable success. They also unpack one of the biggest wealth opportunities of our time, the $5 trillion transfer as baby boomer-owned businesses hit the market, and why those who understand how to build and systemize companies will dominate the next decade. Whether you’re an operator, founder, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode offers a clear roadmap to scaling smarter, leading better, and capitalizing on the modern-day gold rush hiding in plain sight. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Building Billions, Brandon Dawson breaks down three of the most expensive mistakes entrepreneurs make, mistakes that can quietly drain millions of dollars, years of effort, and untapped potential. From falling into the sunk cost trap to holding onto the wrong people for too long, Brandon shares hard-earned lessons from his own wins and failures building multiple nine-figure companies. He reveals the critical difference between true commitment and stubborn persistence, and why knowing when to pivot can save your business. Brandon also dives into the hidden danger of bad advice, how surrounding yourself with the wrong voices can keep you stuck, confused, and underperforming. With practical frameworks around context, contrast, and decision-making, this episode gives you a clear playbook for hiring smarter, thinking sharper, and executing with confidence. If you’re serious about scaling your business and avoiding the mistakes that derail most founders, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Building Billions, Brandon Dawson makes a direct case for why your current environment may be the very thing capping your success. From leaving his hometown at 19 to navigating unfamiliar markets across the country, he breaks down how discomfort, relocation, and intentional exposure to bigger opportunities became the foundation of his wealth. This isn’t about talent—it’s about proximity. The people, markets, and expectations around you either expand your vision or quietly keep you playing small. Brandon outlines four practical strategies to force growth: auditing your marketplace, eliminating comfort, learning through failure, and mastering new territory. He challenges listeners to stop waiting for the “right time” and instead put themselves in environments that demand more from them. If you’re serious about increasing your income and building real enterprise value, this episode is a push to rethink where you are, who you’re around, and whether your current environment is helping, or quietly holding you back. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Building Billions, Brandon Dawson breaks down one of the most dangerous and overlooked threats to scaling a business: the people in your inner circle. Drawing from decades of experience building and leading companies, he reveals the seven personality types that silently erode trust, culture, and performance, from manipulators and perpetual victims to energy vampires and one-way relationships. These aren’t always obvious bad actors; in fact, many operate subtly, positioning themselves as allies while undermining your team and decision-making behind the scenes. This episode is a direct playbook for identifying, confronting, and removing the individuals who are costing you momentum, clarity, and growth. Brandon challenges leaders to stop relying on words and start tracking behavior, results, and patterns. If you’re serious about building something with real enterprise value, this conversation will force you to take a hard look at who you allow into your environment, and whether you have the discipline to protect your future from the wrong people. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Building Billions, Brandon Dawson sits down with legendary leadership expert John Maxwell for a conversation that goes far beyond business strategy. While the foundation of building enterprise value begins with consistency, velocity, and results, this episode reveals the deeper layer, what it actually takes to sustain success through leadership, self-awareness, and relationships. From early career struggles to scaling multi-million dollar companies, Brandon reflects on the pivotal moments and mindset shifts that shaped his journey. Together, they unpack the truth about leadership: it starts within. Through stories of mentorship, failure, growth, and personal transformation, this episode explores the importance of owning your outcomes, building the right team, and leading with both strength and heart. It’s not just about building businesses, it’s about building people, creating legacy, and becoming the kind of leader others choose to follow. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Building Billions, I break down how learning to communicate like a CEO completely changed my trajectory—from grinding through failed pitches to building over $225 million in revenue in just six years. If you want to become a millionaire, you have to start speaking like one. I walk through the exact communication strategies I used to raise capital, lead teams, and close high-level opportunities by simplifying complex ideas and getting people to lean in. You’ll learn the inversion strategy to capture attention instantly, the eight priority method to think and operate like a high-level CEO when building a team, and how intentional restraint in communication signals authority and drives better outcomes. This isn’t about talking more—it’s about saying the right things, at the right time, with precision. If you want to elevate your influence, close bigger deals, and lead at a higher level, this episode is your playbook. Support the show: http://cardoneventures.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.