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What does it take to walk away from a six-figure salary, a Miami lifestyle, and a 20-year career in luxury fashion? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Melissa Hidrobo, creator of The Stellar Soul, who helps high-achieving professionals design strategic exits from corporate America through a blend of personal clarity and practical strategy. Melissa spent two decades climbing the ladder at luxury brands, including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany & Co. before leaving to build something of her own on her own terms. Melissa shares how growing up around her aunts' luxury boutique in Ecuador sparked a lifelong passion for fashion, which led her to an MBA in international luxury brand management in Paris and a career with Louis Vuitton, her dream brand. She opens up about the night in the summer of 2019 when, sinking into her couch after closing the boutique, she heard a clear thought: "I don't want to do this anymore." Rather than quitting overnight, she built a bridge, earning a master's degree in transpersonal psychology while working full-time, hiring a financial advisor, and forming what she calls her "personal board of directors." Chapters 0:00 Intro – Welcome Melissa Idrobo 1:52 Growing Up Around a Luxury Boutique 3:12 Landing a Job at Louis Vuitton 5:43 The Night She Decided to Leave Corporate 6:12 Questions to Ask Before Changing Careers 8:29 Building a Quiet Exit Plan 8:57 Studying Transpersonal Psychology 11:18 The Hardest Part of Leaving a Six- Figure Career 12:33 How Her Network Grew After Leaving 15:42 Defining Success on Your Own Terms 19:26 Why a Financial Advisor Was Key 23:11 From Golden Handcuffs to Freedom 24:42 Turning Fear Into Fuel 32:44 Building a Personal Board of Directors 37:04 Letting Go of Perfectionism 43:21 Why Working for Yourself Feels Different 46:13 Advice for Women Who Feel Stuck 51:46 Where to Find Melissa 📖  Underdog to Empire —Available Now  Pat's new book — Underdog to Empire: Breaking Barriers and Building Businesses with Strength, Strategy, and a Sense of Humor — is available for eBook pre-sale now. Widely available everywhere on September 22, 2026.  The story of how a girl who ate last at the dinner table built a construction company from a $100 bill. How she lost her husband and still got back up. How every person who tried to hold her back ended up building her up instead.  👉 Get your copy now at: www.patmiller.net Connect with Melissa Hidrobo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissahidrobo/

From splicing underground cable in Manhattan to co-founding a $10 billion global media empire, this episode is packed with one of the wildest entrepreneurial journeys the show has ever featured. In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Larry Namer, CEO of LJN Media and co-founder of E! Entertainment Television, a cable network now valued at over $10 billion and broadcast in 142 countries. Larry's career spans more than 50 years, including launching media companies in Russia and China, and he's the author of the book Off Script: Never Followed the Crowd. Larry shares how he started as an assistant underground cable splicer making $90 a week in New York, rose through the ranks at Manhattan Cable, and eventually landed in Los Angeles to build the country's first fully underground cable system. From there, an idea sparked over movie trailers, a scrappy business plan, and just $2.5 million led to the creation of E! Entertainment, a network that grew from 11 employees to over 1,100 in three years and helped launch the careers of Howard Stern, Ryan Seacrest, Greg Kinnear, and the Kardashians.   Chapters 0:01 Intro – Welcome Larry Namer 1:38 From Coney Island to Cable Splicer 2:52 Rising Through the Cable TV Union Ranks 4:19 Building the First Underground Cable System in LA 5:46 Moving to LA and Chasing Hollywood 6:13 The Idea That Became "The Trailer Channel" 7:35 The Idea That Became E! Entertainment Television 9:03 Raising Money with 31 College Interns 11:39 E!'s Explosive Growth to 1,100 Employees 12:42 Launching Howard Stern, Kardashians, and Talk Soup 14:07 Producing Music Festivals in Russia 15:40 Starting a Concert Company with David Bowie, Bowie & More 17:14 "Influence Is Temporary, Impact Is Timeless" 20:00 Why He Finally Wrote His Book 21:45 Blending Memoir and Cookbook in "Offscript" 22:45 Using AI to Hit the Bestseller List in 4 Days 24:50 Backstage Stories: Kardashians, Stern, and O.J. Simpson 26:23 Expanding East: New Jersey Film & Media Growth 28:37 Embracing AI in Business 39:56 Defining Legacy Beyond Money 41:26 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Larry    📖  Underdog to Empire —Available Now Pat's new book — Underdog to Empire: Breaking Barriers and Building Businesses with Strength, Strategy, and a Sense of Humor — is available for eBook pre-sale now. Widely available everywhere on September 22, 2026. The story of how a girl who ate last at the dinner table built a construction company from a $100 bill. How she lost her husband and still got back up. How every person who tried to hold her back ended up building her up instead. 👉 Get your copy now at: www.patmiller.net   Connect with Larry Namer. Larry Namer is the co-founder of E! Entertainment Television and CEO of LJN Media. He is available for board, advisory, and consulting roles focused on architecting global strategies. 📖 New Book: Two Minute Television Larry's latest book, Two Minute Television, is now available on Amazon in Kindle, softcover, and hardcover editions. 📖 Also Available: Offscript… Never Follow the Crowd Get your copy of Offscript… Never Follow the Crowd on Amazon in Kindle, softcover, and hardcover editions. Contact Larry: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larrynamertv/?hl=en

Why do so many ambitious women hit the same wall, no matter what industry they're in? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Stefanie O'Connell, an award-winning journalist and author of the new book The Ambition Penalty: How Corporate Culture Tells Women to Step Up and Then Pushes Them Down. Stefanie's reporting spans industries from Silicon Valley to the military to the trades, and what she found was strikingly consistent: women who speak up, ask for more, and assert their ambition are met with backlash  regardless of the field they're in. Stefanie shares how her career evolved from writing about personal finance in the early 2010s to uncovering a much bigger story: that when the same effort produces different outcomes depending on someone's identity, that's not an individual problem; it's a systemic one. That realization led to years of reporting, data analysis, and interviews that became the foundation for her book. Chapters 0:01 Intro – Welcome Stephanie O'Connell 3:52 Staying Silent to Avoid Being Labeled 8:38 Why This Book Starts a Bigger Conversation 15:34 The Gender Pay Gap Hasn't Moved Since 2005 16:56 How DEI Became a Cover, Not a Fix 20:34 Why Women Drop Off at the Partner Level 22:59 The Backlash Against Ambitious Women 27:04 Burnout Isn't Personal; It's Environmental 30:53 Pat's Story: Starting a Company With $100 34:26 The Shocking Leisure-Time Gender Gap 39:09 Why "Doing It All" Is Unsustainable 44:13 Turning "Underdog" Status Into a Strength 47:31 Why Equality Benefits Everyone, Not Just Women 48:35 Pat's Fight for Her WBE Certification 51:51 Where to Find Stephanie's Book 📖  Underdog to Empire — Pre-order the eBook Now Pat's new book — Underdog to Empire: Breaking Barriers and Building Businesses with Strength, Strategy, and a Sense of Humor — is available for eBook pre-sale now. Widely available everywhere on September 22, 2026. The story of how a girl who ate last at the dinner table built a construction company from a $100 bill. How she lost her husband and still got back up. How every person who tried to hold her back ended up building her up instead. 👉 Pre-order your copy now: www.patmiller.net 📩  Join the Underdog Community — Free Weekly Newsletter Every Tuesday, Pat sends a free weekly newsletter with: * Episode recaps and key takeaways * Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else * Pat's personal thoughts on entrepreneurship, resilience, and building something real * The Subscriber Exclusive — a personal question from Pat that doesn't appear anywhere else 👉 Subscribe free: www.patmiller.net/newsletter

What if the thing holding your business back isn't a strategy problem but baggage you've been carrying since childhood? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Curtis McCullom, creator of Legit Mindset, who helps CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs eliminate the blind spots that have silently held them back, often since childhood. Curtis draws on nearly 40 years of practicing self-hypnosis and neurolinguistic programming, combined with mental and emotional release (MER), to help high-achieving entrepreneurs break through invisible ceilings. Curtis walks through the four pillars behind Legit Mindset: Learning, Growing, Expanding, and Transforming and explains why so many successful entrepreneurs hit a wall even after achieving real financial success. He shares the science behind why change is so hard (our behavior is roughly 5% conscious and 95% subconscious) and why simply talking to the conscious mind rarely creates lasting transformation. Curtis also opens up about a deeply personal story: uncovering a belief he'd unknowingly carried since he was two years old that "success is hard and difficult" and how identifying and releasing it changed the way he shows up in his own business. Chapters 0:00 Intro – Welcome Curtis McCullom 2:19 What Is "Legit Mindset"? 4:37 The Universal Capacity Principle 7:39 Why Your Success Doesn't Limit Mine 8:47 Uncovering Your True Identity 10:34 The 11 Million Bits vs. 50 Bits Theory 11:45 The 5% Conscious vs. 95% Subconscious Mind 13:04 How Bespoke Mental Audio Supplements Work 15:11 Discovering the "Legit Mindset" Framework 17:14 Why Curtis Sees Clients as Already Whole 17:39 Understanding Hypnosis and Trance States 19:59 How Media Normalizes Negative Programming 22:14 The Power of Daily Mental Conditioning 23:37 Processing Grief Through Loss 25:25 Why Outside Perspective Matters for Healing 28:06 Resetting Yourself When Out of Alignment 29:43 Why Boundaries Matter in Business and Life 30:47 Pat's Story: Losing Her Husband and Staying Professional 39:19 Why Successful Clients Still Feel Stuck 40:38 What It Feels Like to Release the "Baggage" 42:44 Turning Adversity Into Power 44:01 Doing the Hard Stuff First 45:20 Holding Grief and Gratitude at the Same Time 46:38 Curtis's Own Breakthrough: "Success Is Hard and Difficult" 51:20 Why It's Okay Not to Be Okay 53:09 Pat's Story: Surviving Birth Against the Odds 55:44 Where to Find Curtis McCullom   📖  Underdog to Empire —Available Now Pat's new book — Underdog to Empire: Breaking Barriers and Building Businesses with Strength, Strategy, and a Sense of Humor — is available for eBook pre-sale now. Widely available everywhere on September 22, 2026. The story of how a girl who ate last at the dinner table built a construction company from a $100 bill. How she lost her husband and still got back up. How every person who tried to hold her back ended up building her up instead. 👉 Get your copy now at: www.patmiller.net 📩  Join the Underdog Community — Free Weekly Newsletter   Every Tuesday, Pat sends a free weekly newsletter with: * Episode recaps and key takeaways * Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else * Pat's personal thoughts on entrepreneurship, resilience, and building something real * The Subscriber Exclusive — a personal question from Pat that doesn't appear anywhere else   👉 Subscribe free: www.patmiller.net/newsletter

This week, From Underdog to Entrepreneur flips the script. Instead of hosting, Pat Miller sits in the guest chair as fellow podcaster and friend Sarah Walton takes over the mic to interview Pat about her brand-new book, Underdog to Empire. It's a rare, personal look behind the scenes of the show and behind the woman who's spent every week asking other entrepreneurs to share their stories. Pat opens up about the difference between her first book, a memoir written from a dark, rebuilding chapter of her life, and this second book, which captures her shift from surviving to thriving. She shares the real, unfiltered story of nearly shelving the project entirely, juggling schedules, doubting herself, and wondering if it was even worth finishing, and the moment that changed her mind. Chapters 0:01 Intro – Sarah Walton Takes Over as Host 1:05 Why Pat Did a Role Reversal Interview 4:34 Pat's First Book: "Kicking Karma's Ass" 6:06 Why She Wrote Book Two: Underdog to Empire 8:28 Standing Out Instead of Fitting In 9:51 The Story of "Nobody Listens to the Blonde" 11:18 Confronting a Client Who Crossed the Line 17:02 Almost Not Finishing the Book 18:56 Feeling Disheartened After Losing Bids 19:38 The Phone Call That Changed Everything 20:50 "Rejection Is God's Protection and Redirection" 21:27 The Moment She Decided Not to Quit 24:34 Why She Keeps Writing and Sharing Her Story 26:43 The Importance of In-Person Connection 28:10 Advice for Anyone in an "Underdog Moment" 30:58 Surviving vs. Thriving 31:34 Her Favorite Chapter to Write 32:59 Where to Get Underdog to Empire & Launch Party Details 📖  Underdog to Empire — Pre-order the eBook Now Pat's new book — Underdog to Empire: Breaking Barriers and Building Businesses with Strength, Strategy, and a Sense of Humor — is available for eBook pre-sale now. Widely available everywhere on September 22, 2026. The story of how a girl who ate last at the dinner table built a construction company from a $100 bill. How she lost her husband and still got back up. How every person who tried to hold her back ended up building her up instead. 👉 Pre-order your copy now: www.patmiller.net 📩  Join the Underdog Community — Free Weekly Newsletter Every Tuesday, Pat sends a free weekly newsletter with: * Episode recaps and key takeaways * Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else * Pat's personal thoughts on entrepreneurship, resilience, and building something real * The Subscriber Exclusive — a personal question from Pat that doesn't appear anywhere else 👉 Subscribe free: www.patmiller.net/newsletter

What do you do when everything you built gets taken from you in 22 minutes? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Summer Dey, an award-winning TV host and executive producer, six-time best-selling author, and two-time Comma Club Award recipient who equips leaders to communicate with bold faith and lead from their God-given identity. Summer has built and scaled multiple seven-figure businesses and is also a fierce advocate for victims of sex trafficking, having helped raise over six figures to support survivors. Summer opens up about the day her board of directors voted to strip away everything she'd built just weeks after a miscarriage and months before COVID would shut down another business she was building. She shares how that devastating betrayal, and the depression and PTSD that followed, ultimately became the turning point for an entirely new chapter: launching a coaching business in April 2020 that hit six figures in its first six months, publishing six best-selling books, and building a media and speaking brand from the ground up. What You'll Learn How forgiveness of others and of yourself became the tool that ended Summer's seizures and PTSD, and why she now offers a free course on it How an "accidental" Facebook Live to read the Bible together grew to over 6,700 women in a matter of weeks Why authenticity, even when it feels risky, is one of the most powerful tools in business and public speaking The difference between a "talker" and a true transformational speaker, and why nonverbal communication matters so much on stage Why Summer believes live events and real human connection will become even more valuable as AI reshapes media and content How she and her family sold nearly everything and spent three years traveling in an RV to 31 states after feeling called into ministry Why setting aside intentional time to rest and unplug is essential to avoid burnout, no matter how busy business gets How a single moment of loss and betrayal can redirect your entire path toward something greater Connect with Summer Dey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesummerdey/?hl=e Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/FearIntoFaith/ Connect with Pat Miller Follow Pat Miller for more conversations with entrepreneurs who share the real stories behind building successful businesses. 📖 Underdog to Empire — Pre-Order the eBook Now Pat's new book — Underdog to Empire: Breaking Barriers and Building Businesses with Strength, Strategy and a Sense of Humor — is available for eBook pre-sale now. Widely available everywhere September 22, 2026. The story of how a girl who ate last at the dinner table built a construction company from a $100 bill. How she lost her husband and still got back up. How every person who tried to hold her back ended up building her up instead. 👉 Pre-order your copy now: www.patmiller.net 📩 Join the Underdog Community — Free Weekly Newsletter Every Tuesday, Pat sends a free weekly newsletter with: Episode recaps and key takeaways Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else Pat's personal thoughts on entrepreneurship, resilience, and building something real The Subscriber Exclusive — a personal question from Pat that doesn't appear anywhere else 👉 Subscribe free: www.patmiller.net/newsletter

What happens when you discover your father was a footnote in mob history and it's your own name in the index? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Glenn Wichinsky, a distinguished gaming and business law attorney licensed in Florida and Nevada and author of Things Left Unsaid: My Dad, The Mob, and Growing Up in the Nevada Gaming Industry. His memoir, recently featured at the London Book Fair, traces his journey to understanding the truth about his father, a man whose life intersected with organized crime, the early Nevada casino world, and the formative years of a now-global industry. Glenn shares the extraordinary story of stumbling on his father's name in a book by Danielle Gomes, daughter of a Nevada Gaming Control Board investigator, and how that discovery led him to review sealed FBI and military records that finally connected the dots on a lifetime of unanswered questions. He talks about growing up around unexplained moments and surveillance in a wedding parking lot, photos pulled from albums, warnings at customs, and how his father, despite his associations, worked hard to shield his son from that world entirely. What You'll Learn How Glenn uncovered his father's hidden past through a stranger's book and sealed archival records Why his father pushed him toward law and away from the family business How gaming law emerged as a brand-new legal specialty in the 1980s, and how Glenn became one of its pioneers The story of rebuilding his career and finances from scratch at 51 after an unexpected divorce, including running a casino in Laughlin, Nevada, while living in a $15-a-night motel How an unplanned pivot into international business and marketing became one of his greatest professional skills Why trusting your gut and acting on opportunity quickly matters more than overthinking it How the gaming industry has evolved from handshake deals to heavy regulation, and what problem gambling looks like in the online era Why Glenn now teaches gaming law and established a scholarship in his father's name for students entering the field   About Glenn Wichinsky Glenn Wichinsky is a distinguished gaming and business law attorney licensed in Florida and Nevada and the author of Things Left Unsaid: My Dad, The Mob, and Growing Up in the Nevada Gaming Industry, a memoir recently featured at the London Book Fair. Glenn originally set out to become a meteorologist before moving to Las Vegas to work alongside his father and later attended law school, where he went on to become one of the pioneers of gaming law as a legal specialty in the 1980s. His career has included running a casino in Laughlin, Nevada, serving as president of a gaming cabinet manufacturing company, and practicing gaming law with a national law firm. Glenn has been teaching gaming law and regulation as an adjunct professor at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, for nine years and established a scholarship in his father's name for students pursuing careers in gaming law.  Connect with Glenn Wichinsky LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenn-e-wichinsky-attorney-98b460 Connect with Pat Miller Follow Pat Miller for more conversations with entrepreneurs who share the real stories behind building successful businesses. Website: https://patmiller.net/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepatmiller11 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepatmiller11/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepatmiller11/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatMiller11/ Subscribe to From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs who share the real stories, lessons, failures, and successes behind building thriving businesses. If you're passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership, business growth, entertainment, and personal development, this podcast is designed to help you build your dream. New episodes are released regularly.

What do shoveling coal in Pittsburgh, working on the set of Ocean's Thirteen, and helping companies use AI have in common? They're all chapters in the story of Maury Rogow. In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Maury Rogow, CEO of RIP Media Group and author of Sell Your Superpower in an AI World. Maury has produced over a thousand brand films, teaches more than a hundred thousand students on LinkedIn Learning, and has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Success Magazine.  Maury shares his winding path from a cold childhood in Pittsburgh to sales roles at AT&T and Lucent to helping build a startup that sold to Cisco for over a billion dollars, only to lose it all when the market crashed in 2001. That setback pushed him to reinvent himself, this time moving to Hollywood to work on major film sets before ultimately combining his sales background, storytelling instincts, and love of authenticity into the marketing and AI consulting work he does today. What You'll Learn Why the "underdog story" is one of the most powerful tools in sales and marketing How real, authentic storytelling helps businesses stand out instead of competing purely on price Why most people using AI are only scratching the surface and how to actually put it to work How to set up AI "projects" with clear rules, knowledge bases, and no fluff to get sharper, more useful answers Why businesses need to protect their intellectual property and privacy settings when using AI tools How live streaming and video add authenticity that helps entrepreneurs build trust with potential clients Why companies like Blockbuster and Borders failed to adapt and what business owners today can learn from it The importance of following up after losing a bid or deal to learn and improve, rather than taking it personally   About Maury Rogow  Maury Rogow is the CEO of RIP Media Group and the author of Sell Your Superpower in an AI World. He has produced over a thousand brand films and teaches more than a hundred thousand students through his LinkedIn Learning courses, with features in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Success Magazine. His path took him from sales roles at AT&T and Lucent, through a startup sale to Cisco, to working in Hollywood before shifting into marketing and AI consulting. He also serves as Chief Marketing Officer of the Applied AI Association. Connect with Maury Rogow  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauryrogowofficial/ Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/MauryRogowOfficial/ Connect with Pat Miller Follow Pat Miller for more conversations with entrepreneurs who share the real stories behind building successful businesses. Website: https://patmiller.net/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepatmiller11 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepatmiller11/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepatmiller11/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatMiller11/ Subscribe to From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs who share the real stories, lessons, failures, and successes behind building thriving businesses. If you're passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership, business growth, entertainment, and personal development, this podcast is designed to help you build your dream. New episodes are released regularly.

What happens when you sell your house to bet on a travel business idea, survive the world's longest COVID lockdown, and still come out building a multi-seven-figure empire? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Lisa Pagotto, founder of Crooked Compass, an immersive travel company specializing in off-the-beaten-path destinations and experiences for fragile and emerging communities. Lisa is also a keynote speaker on leadership under pressure and a two-time Entrepreneur of the Year winner who gained national attention after appearing on Shark Tank Australia. Lisa walks through her surprising journey from corporate travel employee to founder, starting with a travel blog that built a loyal following before it ever became a business. She opens up about selling her house with her then-husband to fund Crooked Compass, her surreal 18-month journey to filming Shark Tank Australia, and how a 12-minute segment aired nearly two years later completely transformed her business overnight, even though she walked away with no deal and full ownership of her company. What You'll Learn How a "no deal" on Shark Tank still led to massive exposure, mentorship, and business growth   Why selling everything to bet on yourself isn't for everyone, but conviction and gut instinct matter.                                                                                                                                                     How Lisa rebuilt her business by launching private plane tours across Australia during the COVID lockdowns, after her original tourism business came to a complete halt.                                                                Why recognizing you're "stuck" is often the first step toward meaningful change The importance of taking small, actionable steps to build momentum instead of waiting for a perfect plan  Why compartmentalizing personal hardship (divorce, financial stress, single parenthood) while staying professional is a skill entrepreneurs have to learn How intuition and gut feeling have shaped major turning points in her business Why paying it forward and helping other entrepreneurs is part of the culture Lisa values most About Lisa Pagotto  Lisa Pagotto is the founder of Crooked Compass, an Australian travel company specializing in immersive tours to off-the-beaten-path destinations. She's also a keynote speaker on leadership under pressure and has built multiple seven-figure businesses. Lisa gained national attention on Shark Tank Australia, and though she walked away without a deal, the exposure sent her business into rapid growth. During Australia's COVID-19 lockdowns, she pivoted and launched a second business offering private plane tours. Since then, the business has expanded to bring American travelers to Australia for unique travel experiences. She has also been named Entrepreneur of the Year twice. Connect with Lisa Pagotto. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-pagotto?originalSubdomain=au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisapagotto Connect with Pat Miller Follow Pat Miller for more conversations with entrepreneurs who share the real stories behind building successful businesses. Website: https://patmiller.net/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepatmiller11 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepatmiller11/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepatmiller11/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatMiller11/ Subscribe to From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs who share the real stories, lessons, failures, and successes behind building thriving businesses. If you're passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership, business growth, entertainment, and personal development, this podcast is designed to help you build your dream. New episodes are released regularly.

Not every great career story starts with owning the company. In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller switches things up to spotlight the other side of the journey building a name for yourself while working for someone else. Her guest is Nicholas Verzicco, who runs the construction management staffing division for New Jersey at Actalent (formerly Aerotech), placing hundreds of professionals with general contractors, subcontractors, and AEC firms. A five-time President's Club winner, Nicholas shares how a chance conversation with a former college classmate led him into an industry he never studied for recruiting and how he's built a thriving career in construction staffing just seven years out of college. Nicholas opens up about his path from Monmouth University, where he studied finance through the Educational Opportunity Fund program, to landing his first staffing role through a simple breakfast conversation and a willingness to take a chance on something unfamiliar. He and Pat dig into networking, mentorship, and what it really takes for young professionals to stand out in a competitive industry like construction. What You'll Learn Why networking and relationships can completely redirect your career path  How AI is being used (and not used) in construction staffing and estimating and why human trust still matters  Why "blue collar" skills remain valuable and future-proof, even in an AI-driven world  The importance of mentorship for the next generation entering the workforce  Why energy, effort, and enthusiasm can set you apart in any role  How giving back  through mentorship programs and organizations like Professional Women in Construction (PWC) helps open doors for the next generation  Why staying true to yourself and tuning out critics is essential to long-term success About Nicholas Verzicco Nicholas Verzicco runs the construction management staffing division for New Jersey at Actalent, where he places professionals including project managers, superintendents, assistant project managers, and estimators with general contractors, subcontractors, and AEC firms. He has placed hundreds of people in the industry and has won the President's Club for five consecutive years. Nicholas is originally from Mays Landing, New Jersey, and attended Monmouth University through the Educational Opportunity Fund program, earning a degree in finance while serving as president of his Student Government Association, senior class president, and president of the club lacrosse team. He entered the staffing industry through a college connection and has spent close to seven years building his career at Actalent. Outside of work, Nicholas is involved in mentorship, participating in a program for high school students through the Lena Harris Foundation and supporting organizations like Professional Women in Construction (PWC). Connect with Nicholas Verzicco LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-verzicco-76a404151/ Connect with Pat Miller Follow Pat Miller for more entrepreneurial insights, business strategies, and inspiring conversations with successful founders and business leaders. Website: https://patmiller.net/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepatmiller11 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepatmiller11/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepatmiller11/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatMiller11/ Subscribe to From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs and professionals who share the real stories, lessons, failures, and successes behind building thriving careers and businesses. If you're passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership, career growth, and personal development, this podcast is designed to help you build your dream. New episodes are released regularly.

Cut From the NBA, Built a Million-Dollar Coaching Empire What does it take to turn 60 rejections into a nine-year pro basketball career and then build an entirely new business from scratch? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Dre Baldwin, founder of Work On Your Game, a TEDx speaker, 43-time author, and former professional basketball player who spent nine years playing overseas. Dre shares how he went from a walk-on at a Division III college to building a company that helps entrepreneurs and experts install the mindset, systems, and strategy needed to scale from six to seven figures. Dre opens up about cold-calling 60 basketball agents and mailing VHS tapes of his footage just to land his first pro contract and how he started posting training videos on YouTube back in 2005, years before "influencer" was even a word. That early audience-building experience taught him lessons about ownership, platforms, and personal branding that still guide his business today. What You'll Learn Why being an underdog can actually be an execution advantage  How relationships and "tap-rooting" knowing someone who knows the right person open doors in business  The real difference between motivation and discipline, and why only one of them is repeatable  Why building on rented platforms (social media) means you don't actually own your audience  How relatability and authenticity build stronger connections than raw talent or fame  Why slowly transitioning clients to other team members protects a business built around one person  The importance of structure, self-discipline, and controlling distractions as your own boss About Dre Baldwin Dre Baldwin is the founder of Work On Your Game, a company that helps experts and entrepreneurs install the mindset, systems, and strategy needed to scale their businesses from six to seven figures. He's a TEDx speaker and a 43-time author. Before entrepreneurship, Dre spent nine years as a professional basketball player overseas, mostly in Europe, after walking on at the Division III college level. While still playing, he began posting training videos on YouTube back in 2005, building an audience that eventually extended beyond basketball players to professionals and entrepreneurs interested in his lessons on discipline, confidence, and mental toughness. In 2015, he stopped playing basketball to focus full-time on that mindset-driven business, moving through professional speaking before shifting into the consulting and coaching work he does today, centered on execution reliability and building presence and power in business.  Connect with Dre Baldwin. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dreallday/ Connect with Pat Miller Follow Pat Miller for more entrepreneurial insights, business strategies, and inspiring conversations with successful founders and business leaders. Website: https://patmiller.net/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepatmiller11 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepatmiller11/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepatmiller11/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatMiller11/ Subscribe to From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs who share the real stories, lessons, failures, and successes behind building thriving businesses. If you're passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership, business growth, entertainment, and personal development, this podcast is designed to help you build your dream. New episodes are released regularly.

Why Diversity Training Fails and What Actually Works What happens when you've spent 30 years telling CEOs the truth nobody else will? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Mauricio Velasquez, president of Diversity Training Group (DTG) and author of the newly released book Tackling Toxicity: A Skills-Based Guide to Addressing Toxicity. Mauricio has trained, consulted, and coached over a million people across every U.S. state but one in a career spanning three decades. Mauricio opens up about starting his business on a houseboat in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, a $520-a-month setup with no insulation but a "billion-dollar view," and how growing up watching racism directed at his immigrant parents shaped his life's work. From there, he built a career doing the jobs nobody else wants to touch: sexual harassment training, executive coaching, and calling out toxic behavior that most companies would rather ignore. What You'll Learn  Why most people are conflict-averse and avoid addressing toxic behavior  and why that silence only makes it worse  The difference between responding and reacting when someone is being toxic or bullying  Why "soft skills" are actually the hardest skills to master, and why the label undersells them   How writing a book and speaking at conferences became a lead-generation engine for his consulting business  Why diversity and inclusion work is tied directly to business growth, market expansion, and staying competitive  Real, unfiltered stories from Mauricio's career from a car dealership salesman ignoring his wife, to a model home saleswoman questioning whether he could afford a house, to his own mother's initial rejection of his wife  Why he believes DEI work is set for a resurgence, even amid current industry headwinds About Mauricio Velasquez Mauricio Velasquez is the President of Diversity Training Group (DTG), a company he founded that is celebrating 30 years in business this year. Over the course of his career, he has trained, consulted, and coached more than a million people in every U.S. state except North Dakota. His work covers diversity and inclusion training, sexual harassment training, mentoring, and executive coaching, helping organizations and leaders address issues they'd often rather avoid. Mauricio is also the author of the newly released book Tackling Toxicity: A Skills-Based Guide to Addressing Toxicity, which draws on real stories from his three-decade career to teach practical, skills-based approaches for calling out toxic behavior in the workplace and beyond. He got his start in business working out of a houseboat in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, and his motivation for the work traces back to witnessing discrimination directed at his immigrant parents as a child.  Connect with Mauricio Velasquez  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricio-velasquez-mba/ Website:  https://www.diversitydtg.com/ Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/mauricio.velasquez.9484/reels/ Connect with Pat Miller Follow Pat Miller for more conversations with entrepreneurs who share the real stories behind building successful businesses. Website: https://patmiller.net/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepatmiller11 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepatmiller11/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepatmiller11/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatMiller11/ Subscribe to From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs who share the real stories, lessons, failures, and successes behind building thriving businesses. If you're passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership, business growth, entertainment, and personal development, this podcast is designed to help you build your dream. New episodes are released regularly.

From Wall Street to Dog Walking Empire  What happens when you walk away from a 22-year career on Wall Street to pursue something completely different? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller, host Pat Miller sits down with Amanda Anderson, founder of Ring and Run Dog Walkers, to explore her remarkable transition from the fast-paced world of New York's Financial District to building one of Staten Island's premier dog walking businesses. Amanda shares how she recognized the changing landscape of Wall Street, started building her business while still employed, and eventually turned a side hustle into a thriving company. She explains why entrepreneurship isn't always about chasing millions, but about creating a lifestyle you genuinely enjoy. Throughout the conversation, Amanda offers honest advice on hiring, setting boundaries, automating operations, building customer trust, and creating systems that allow a business to grow without consuming your entire life. Her story is a powerful reminder that success can look different for everyone. Whether you're considering leaving a corporate career, building a service business, or looking for inspiration to pursue a more meaningful path, this episode delivers practical lessons from someone who successfully made the leap. What You'll Learn Why Amanda left a 22-year Wall Street career to become an entrepreneur How to build a business while still working a full-time job The importance of running your side hustle before making the leap Why relationships and customer trust matter more than marketing How hiring the right people can transform your business The systems every growing business should implement early Why entrepreneurs need clear boundaries with clients The difference between working in your business and on your business How to create a business that supports your lifestyle instead of consuming it Why success isn't always measured by revenue alone About Amanda Anderson Amanda Anderson is the founder and owner of Ring and Run Dog Walkers, Staten Island's premier dog walking service. After spending more than two decades working on the trading floor in New York City's Financial District, Amanda made the bold decision to pursue entrepreneurship full-time. Today, she has built a trusted pet care business known for exceptional customer service, strong client relationships, and personalized care. Amanda combines her passion for animals with a people-first approach, proving that businesses built on trust, reputation, and genuine service can thrive through referrals and organic growth. Connect with Amanda Anderson Follow Amanda and Ring and Run Dog Walkers on social media to learn more about her entrepreneurial journey, pet care insights, and growing a service-based business with purpose. Website - https://ringandrundogwalkers.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-anderson-707a4512/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RingandRunDogWalkers/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ringandrundogwalkers/?hl=en Connect with Pat Miller Follow Pat Miller for more conversations with entrepreneurs who share the real stories behind building successful businesses. Website: https://patmiller.net/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepatmiller11 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepatmiller11/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepatmiller11/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatMiller11/ Subscribe to From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller for weekly interviews with entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders sharing the lessons, challenges, pivots, and wins that shaped their success.

What does it take to go from organizing small events at 19 years old to working with Grammy-winning artists, launching one of Hollywood's hottest nightlife venues, and building a successful talent management company? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller, host Pat Miller sits down with Connor Treacy, an entrepreneur, talent manager, and former music producer who turned his passion for music and entertainment into a thriving business in Los Angeles. Connor shares his unconventional journey from promoting concerts while still in college to becoming one of Hollywood's most connected young promoters. He explains how those relationships led him to Universal Music Group, where he helped develop rising talent and worked alongside artists who would go on to win Grammy Awards. Later, he co-founded one of LA's most exclusive nightlife venues before pivoting once again to build his own management company. This conversation is packed with lessons on entrepreneurship, relationship building, calculated risk-taking, and adapting through uncertainty, including surviving the entertainment industry's shutdown during COVID-19. Whether you're pursuing a career in music, launching a startup, or building your own brand, Connor's story proves that success rarely follows a straight line. If you're interested in becoming a creative entrepreneur, building a music industry business, or learning how to turn passion into a sustainable company, this episode is full of practical insights. What You'll Learn How Connor built a successful career as a music producer and entrepreneur Why relationships are the foundation of every successful music industry business The lessons learned from promoting concerts before turning 21 How networking opened doors at Universal Music Group What it takes to build a successful business in Los Angeles The reality of becoming an LA business owner in the entertainment industry Why calculated risk is essential for entrepreneurs How COVID forced entrepreneurs to pivot and adapt The importance of momentum in business and career growth Why your entrepreneurial journey doesn't have to follow a traditional path About Connor Treacy Connor Treacy is an entrepreneur, talent manager, and entertainment executive based in Los Angeles. After launching his entrepreneurial journey by promoting concerts and nightlife events, Connor built relationships that led to opportunities with Universal Music Group, where he worked alongside emerging artists and Grammy-winning talent. He later co-founded Off Sunset, one of Hollywood's most exclusive nightlife venues, before returning to his passion for talent management. Today, Connor helps build artists, brands, and strategic partnerships across music, entertainment, hospitality, and culture while continuing to grow his management company. He recently completed his MBA at USC Marshall, combining real-world entrepreneurial experience with advanced business strategy. Connect with Connor Treacy Website:https://connortreacy.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconnortreacy  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connortreacy/  Connect with Pat Miller Follow Pat Miller for more entrepreneurial insights, business strategies, and inspiring conversations with successful founders and business leaders. Website: https://patmiller.net/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepatmiller11 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepatmiller11/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepatmiller11/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatMiller11/ Subscribe to From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs who share the real stories, lessons, failures, and successes behind building thriving businesses. If you're passionate about entrepreneurship, leadership, business growth, entertainment, and personal development, this podcast is designed to help you build your dream. New episodes are released regularly.

If you've ever wondered why you can't close a sale, this episode is for you. In this powerful episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams, host Pat Miller sits down with Kayvon Kay, internationally recognized keynote speaker, Master Closer, sales strategist, and revenue architect, to break down the psychology behind closing deals and why most entrepreneurs unknowingly sabotage their own sales. Kayvon shares the mindset shifts, communication skills, and sales techniques that separate top performers from everyone else. From handling objections with confidence to understanding why people really buy, he explains that great sales isn't about pressure or manipulation. It's about creating trust, solving problems, and becoming someone people naturally want to buy from. The conversation also explores the rapid rise of AI and how today's entrepreneurs can use technology to sell more effectively without losing the human connection that ultimately wins business. Whether you're a business owner, freelancer, salesperson, or entrepreneur, you'll discover practical insights that can immediately improve your ability to influence, communicate, and grow revenue. If you're looking for actionable sales training, better ways of overcoming objections, and proven methods for how to close a sale, this episode delivers a masterclass from one of the industry's leading experts. What You'll Learn Why most people struggle with closing deals The biggest mistake salespeople make before asking for the sale Practical sales techniques that build trust instead of pressure How to confidently handle and overcome objections The mindset every Master Closer develops Why sales is about solving problems, not convincing people How entrepreneurs can use AI to improve productivity without replacing human relationships The importance of authenticity in modern selling Why embracing new technology creates more opportunity, not less How to future-proof your business in an AI-driven world About Kayvon Kay Kayvon Kay is a globally recognized keynote speaker, sales strategist, revenue architect, and Master Closer who has trained thousands of entrepreneurs, founders, and sales professionals around the world. Through one-on-one coaching, group programs, live events, and corporate training, Kayvon helps businesses increase revenue by mastering communication, improving sales performance, and building scalable systems that consistently close more deals. His practical approach combines psychology, leadership, and modern technology to help professionals sell with confidence while creating genuine, long-term relationships with clients. Connect with Kayvon Kay Website - https://kayvon.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kayvonkay/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@kayvonkay Connect with Pat Miller Website: https://patmiller.net/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepatmiller11 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepatmiller11/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepatmiller11/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatMiller11/   If you enjoyed this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller, subscribe for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and industry experts who share the real stories, lessons, and strategies behind building successful businesses.