Life On The Rocks: Recent Episodes
Kyle Miller
From near-death experiences to the devastation of homelessness, how (and where) do we find the will to overcome insurmountable odds?
And if and when we do overcome these challenges, how do we pass that story of survival on to others?
Life on the Rocks is that place where these stories are heard from those who lived to tell them.
Hosted by Kyle Miller, a life-long lover of formidable stories and personal triumphs, Kyle interviews those who have survived these events in Life on the Rocks (sometimes over a glass of bourbon on the rocks, sometimes not), as a source of inspiration for anyone who is struggling in life and needs to hear that if these people could do it, so can they
Many of us feel lost in our 20s. Not knowing which direction to go or how to turn your life around fills you with stress and anxiety.
Financial struggles and feeling lost can make every day a living hell.
Here’s the good news:
Feeling like an absolute failure in your 20s is not only normal, but highly recommended.
Today’s guest, 7-figure entrepreneur Chris Garrison, shows you how taking your first step into the unknown can compound into a chain of life-changing events. And how taking 1 brave step today can forever turn your life around.
In this episode, you find out how to use the struggle you experienced in your life to catapult you to your next destination. Listen now to take the first step to turn your life around and land on a path that makes you happy, confident, and successful.
Show Highlights Include:
- The “Broke Guy’s Way” to building the mental fortitude you need to catapult your business (without investing in masterminds and coaches) (10:00)
- The sole difference between Lottery Winners and Millionaire Entrepreneurs that proves starting from nothing is a massive advantage (11:15)
- Why being broke in your 20s is the best thing that could happen to you in life (11:52)
- The weird way taking the blame for things that are not your fault makes you feel empowered (13:38)
- The “Warrior Blueprint” to filling your daily schedule with little wins that turn into big financial and personal gains long term (17:05)
- Why paying for mentorship is overrated (and how to find mentors wherever you go for free instead) (18:23)
- How giving away your last dollar 10x’s your income and lets you scale your business faster (35:34)
Can you become rich if you come from a poor background?
For many people from a poor background dreams of becoming rich stay just like that– dreams. So what makes those who overcome childhood poverty and turn their dreams into reality different from everyone else?
Turns out financial success starts with setting your “money” mindset right.
But how do you create a mental state of abundance if you came from nothing with no one expecting you to succeed?
In this episode, you’ll hear from successful entrepreneur and real estate investor Mark Andrew, who’s done exactly that. He grew up in a trailer park. Now he operates multiple seven-figure businesses.
And he shows you how to navigate any challenge and realize your potential (even if you come from a poor background).
Ready to reach your full potential? Listen now!
Show highlights Include
- The weird way going to the gym helps you build a better business (3:19)
- How growing up in a trailer park unleashes growth in your life and gives you a huge advantage in your professional life (22:09)
- The sneaky way your lofty income goals keep you from growing your business (25:09)
- How hitting rock bottom and moving back to your mom’s house gives you a closer relationship with God (27:00)
Most entrepreneurs have faced the terror of not knowing if their businesses would make it or not. And many of us have stories of how fear and uncertainty squelch our dreams.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated in your business, then this episode is for you.
Today’s guest, Kaleb Marti is here to share his first-hand experience from being fired to starting his own business. He’s here to show you how to transform your life from living paycheck to paycheck to making well over 6 figures monthly.
In this episode, you’ll discover the mindset which helps you overcome the inevitable rock bottom most small business owners face. And thrive.
Listen now!
Show highlights include
- The surprising truth behind why most small businesses fail (and how to overcome the low point most entrepreneurs face)(25:00)
- The “Good Guy’s Secret Blueprint” to building personal and business relationships that last a lifetime (26:18)
- One neglected skill that holds 80% of entrepreneurs back from scaling their business (30:39)
- Why being a “lone ranger” in business is the worst money-eating decision you could make (and how to find connections) (40:21)
Imagine this:
Your wife just left you. You’re now a single dad with a newborn. You have no money coming in. Your back is against the wall. And you have a vulnerable new life relying on you to provide. Yet, the future seems bleak.
What would you do in this situation?
Well, this is the situation that Stratton Brown found himself in. With stubborn resilience, he built a business many only dream of– while setting an example for his son about never giving up. He’s here to reveal how you can thrive, even in circumstances when most would crumble and create the life of your dreams.
Listen now, to build the unstoppable mindset you need to come back from any kind of adversity.
Show highlights include
- The “Single Dad’s Blueprint” for rebounding from rock bottom and building a thriving business (12:20)
- The weird way giving away 10% of your income catapults your earnings (even if you’re dead broke) (20:14)
- How this free marketing strategy gets recognition to your brand much faster than paid ads (26:59)
- Why building a business sets a good example for your son and teaches him to never give up on his dreams (40:33)
Lots of people grow up in bad environments: They’re surrounded by people who hold them back and have nobody who expects them to succeed.
While most stay stuck in those circumstances, some of these people manage to escape. If you learn from them, you can transcend any challenge and become whoever you want to be.
In this episode, you’ll hear from successful entrepreneur and real estate investor Shamus Goss, who’s done exactly that: He went from growing up in the Bronx to starting multiple seven-figure businesses. He shows you how to navigate any challenge and realize your potential.
Want to move beyond who you are now and become who you could be? Listen now!
Show highlights include:
- How a setback like getting kicked out of school can unleash growth in your life and transform your identity (7:12)
- Why growing up in the hood can make you self-reliant (even if nobody supports you) (9:15)
- How quitting a successful business lets you build a better life for your family (even if you’re at the top of your industry) (14:30)
- The counterintuitive way shutting down a million-dollar business gives you a closer relationship with God (22:27)
- How to find out exactly what business God wants you to be in. (29:46)
If you look back on your life, you can pinpoint the moments that changed you. Often the most heart-breaking moments are the ones that take you on a whole new adventure.
For my guest, Matt Larson it was the moment when his girlfriend of 4 years left him because she wanted to date someone with “status”. It was when Matt jumped into entrepreneurship with no prior experience or background. Fast forward to now, he owns a thriving 7 figure lifestyle business making his “haters” jealous.
Today, he’s here to show you that you don’t need to have a rich background, connections, or entrepreneurship in your blood to make it to the top.
Tune in to discover how to rewire your brain to be a successful entrepreneur despite your background, past history, or mindset.
Show Highlights Include:
- The “Broken Hearted Guys’ Guide” to building a thriving business that makes your haters green with jealousy (3:21)
- The weird way being dirt poor catapults you above your competition (10:42)
- Why learning humility sets you up for a life of abundance and saves you from money-eating mistakes (11:54)
- How failing in business 10Xs your confidence and makes you a better entrepreneur (28:22)
- How being authentic fills your heart with joy every day ( even if you’re not that cool) (31:05)
- The “Broke Guy Blueprint” to building a thriving 7 figure business (33:51)
Many people complain about life's little things such as the weather, their job, or the lack of money. Simply put, they're frustrated.
If you have a rare, debilitating, and deadly disease you've probably earned the right to complain. But by crushing your life's hurdles with positivity, determination, and sheer strength, you can become an influential person despite any deficiencies.
Today's guest, ALS inspirational leader Seth Polling, discovered that humility, gratitude, and perseverance are the keystones to real strength and handling frustration. He shares how you can use your inner strength to defeat your own demons.
Listen now and by the end of the episode, you'll be acknowledging your own frustrations and motivating others!
Show Highlight Include:
- How stretching every day lifts you mentally and emotionally to live your best life (6:46)
- Why dealing with extreme difficult adversity prepares you to be a blessing for others (11:33)
- The "Hard Times Next Step" mindset that lets you keep going until you achieve your goals (13:48)
- Why leaving a legacy of pictures and videos of yourself for your family far outweighs any inheritance they may get (18:30)
- How having a positive, upbeat personality during your burdensome times inspires others to push themselves (20:49)
- Why learning humility, gratitude, and perseverance sets you up for a life of love, support, and generosity (25:41)
Failing terrifies most people who want to start their own business. But it can also fuel your success.
In fact, it can actually be the sole reason you succeed in business if you know how to handle it.
Today’s guest, serial entrepreneur Mike Fallat, discovered how to handle it after starting 4 businesses that became massive failures. And he shares his secrets with you in this episode, so you can transform your failure into fuel too.
Listen now and by the end of the episode, you’ll invite failure into your life instead of shying away from it.
Show highlights include:
- The insidious “Wantrepreneur Syndrome” which prevents you from starting a successful business (and one book that gives you the antidote) (2:04)
- The weird way starting multiple businesses that all fail is the easiest way to become the wealthiest entrepreneur in your industry (4:01)
- The subtle, yet potent “Test” mindset shift which instantly reframes your failures to fuel your success (8:13)
- The simple “Mirror Test” trick which tells you if you should quit your job or stay in a single glance (12:07)
- How running towards discomfort unleashes an infinite storm of freedom for the rest of your life (13:17)
- How to trick your mind into having fun when you’re working (and why this grows your income more than any other “skill” you can learn) (18:07)
- The “Who, Not How” secret every wealthy person used to build their riches (22:42)
- Tony Robbins’s “Double G” method for feeling alive every single day (26:48)
They say you are the sum of the people you surround yourself with.
But what if you grow up in a family of addicts fighting poverty every day? What if rock bottom is your launching pad for life?
My guest, Allan Foglio grew up as a child of heroin-addicted parents. He dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and got hooked on drugs himself. In only a few years, Allan went from truck driver living from paycheck to paycheck to finding financial freedom with real estate.
Listen in as he shares how you can overcome adversity, addiction, and build a thriving 6-figure business.
Even if you have no connections. No starting capital. And no college degree.
Show Highlight Include:
- The “high school dropout blueprint” that lets you succeed through any adversity (04:38)
- The “brainwash” method that 40xs your income in a few months (even if you’re dirt poor now) (07:38)
- How investing in mentorship changes your life and skyrockets your income (at any stage of your career) (12:19)
- How to manage your business and enjoy your success without sacrificing your health (23:42)
You probably look up to many multi-millionaires, billionaires, and other great entrepreneurs. To be like them, it might feel like you have to create irresistible offers or invest a boatload of money.
However, there’s a skill that’s more basic but also far more powerful.
What’s that unique skill?
It’s integrity. It can turn nobodies into wealthy entrepreneurs. Why? Because when you’re upfront in difficult situations, you build trust, reputation, and recurring partnerships.
In this episode, my guest is real estate agency owner Michael Burns. You’ll discover how to show up in difficult situations to build a strong professional network that supports your professional growth.
Listen now!
Show Highlights Include
- Why mindset, relationship, and self-improvement lets you outperform all the hustlers, rich kids, and gurus (even if have no startup capital) (03:31)
- The “woo-woo” way of closing your first deal that works every time (09:37)
- How being the “new guy” accelerates your success and gives you a massive competitive advantage (14:26)
- How prioritizing your relationships over profit magnetizes wealth and guides you to success (26:11)
- How losing the “victim mentality” instantly catapults you above 80% of your competition (30:27)
Have you ever stopped to wonder what exactly success means to you? Many times we measure our achievements (personal or professional) by attention and status. But why is it that those who “made it” still don’t feel content?
The answer is simple.
Often we realize the goals we reached are not our own. They’re the values of our parents, teachers, or friends. But it’s not who we want to be at our core. If you want to be your true self and strive for the things you were put on this planet for you need to forget about the external and tune in with the voice within.
In this episode, Dana Cornell, former Executive Director at Morgan Stanley shares what it takes to leave your comfort behind for a more fulfilling future.
Listen now!
Show Highlights Include:
- How to make a name for yourself in any business (even if you're dirt poor) (07:14)
- How to apply Tony Robbin’s “6 human needs” theory to create more wealth (13:17)
- Why being rich won’t solve your mid-life crisis and how to solve it by following your purpose (19:18)
- A recession-proof blueprint to reaching success with a new business in less than a year (27:43)
- Why it’s better to tell people you’re an amateur instead of “faking it ‘till you make it” (even if you’re a total beginner) (35:44)
The rules to succeeding on the streets are not that different from succeeding in business.
You constantly have to bet on yourself, figure things out and have ultimate faith in your abilities.
My guests, Jeremy and Joshua Mathis were raised by a single mom in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods of Florida. Their days were filled with crime, violence, and financial trauma.
Despite the mountains of adversity faced growing up, they still built a 7 figure business and a life many of us only dream about.
Listen now to discover how you can embrace discomfort and build ultimate confidence in yourself, no matter what life throws in your way.
Show Highlights Include:
- How to apply the rules of the “hood” to become a better entrepreneur (21:35)
- Why coming from a difficult upbringing is actually a huge advantage in life (22:41)
- How to live a life full of unforgettable memories that you’ll remember even when you’re 80 while scaling your business (25:23)
- Why you should intentionally seek discomfort (even if your days are filled with gun violence and crime) (37:55)
You must have heard the phrase “hard work betrays none “. But is that always true?
We often feel like we should be working more, doing more and saying yes to all the things.
But when you try to do it all, you feel like you’re pulled in a thousand directions. You’re left with no room to breathe.
Our guest Andrew suddenly collapsed while running in the gym and became bed-ridden for years as a result of chronic stress. Thanks to his incredible courage, he came back from rock bottom. Now he’s all about helping entrepreneurs build stress free businesses.
Listen now to discover what you can do right now to optimize the most powerful asset you have: your body.
Show Highlights Include
- Simple advice to help you reduce work-related stress, make less mistakes and enjoy work more (17:31)
- How to incorporate the oxygen therapy used by basketball and football players in your life to prevent diseases (20:57)
- Why your body is the best technology you’ll ever have and how you can optimize for even better performance (30:27)
- A powerful mindset shift that changes your perspective on mistakes and sets you free from limiting beliefs (34:22)
Most people think success is created from streamlined processes, unwavering dedication and “hell-yes” offers.
In reality it’s actually something much deeper. It’s all about what you think is possible.
Your thoughts create your actions and your actions create your reality. It may seem difficult at first, but once you unlearn limiting beliefs, manifesting can become second nature to you.
In this episode, serial entrepreneur, Michael McLeish reveals how you can unlearn old beliefs, manifest your dreams and apply the “modeling strategy” to build the life of your wildest dreams.
Listen now!
Show Highlights Include
- The “what if syndrome” that holds you back from success (18:41)
- How to change your belief system to skyrocket your income in less than 6 months (21:58)
- How to run a lifestyle business while camping in the woods without sacrificing your income goals (27:09)
- The ‘red balloon’ experiment that shows you how to manifest any dream you have into reality (35:40)
- What the Bible proves your destined to reach everything you ever wanted in your business and personal life (38:54)
- Why being a “copycat” helps you reach your goals faster than following your own ideas (43:47)
There’s so many perks of being an employee. Safe income, paid time off and benefits.
But what if you feel destined to create a legacy of your own?
You find yourself constantly fixing problems and coming up with new ideas. Like our guest, Boradus Palmer who promised himself that he’d never be an entrepreneur again after facing bankruptcy.
Listen now as he shares how you can overcome the fear of starting over, beat imposter syndrome and raise your yearly income to well over a million dollars.
After this episode, you’ll feel empowered to change your life upside down.
Show Highlights Include
- How to build your personal brand and have employers chase you when you have no resume to show off yet (17:00)
- A simple mindset shift that helps you overcome imposter syndrome ( even if you have no experience) (17:43)
- Why working too hard makes your business worthless (23:59)
- The secret of hitting $100k /year (even if you’re stupid) (35:46)
- How investing in self-education can shoot your income from $100K to a million dollars a year (36:12)
Imagine losing everything you had. Divorce, addiction and being homeless would crush most people.
But what if you could transform your traumas into an inspiring breakthrough story instead?
Our guest Kevin Marron faced bankruptcy in 2008. He slowly built his business back from zero, all while sleeping on his brother’s couch, working as an employee 9 to 5 and binge drinking over 16 beers a night.
Listen now to discover what it takes to bounce back from rock bottom, face your demons and redefine success on your own terms.
You’ll leave this episode inspired to take action towards your dreams RIGHT NOW.
Show highlights include:
- The "quit your job in your head" approach to building a multi-million dollar business (without sacrificing your job) 24:41
- Why you’ll make more money focusing on one business idea (even if you have many) 26:01
- The “complete mess” success blueprint that’ll help you build a business (even if you’re going through divorve, struggling with addiction and homeless) 30:45
- The “legacy” approach to making money that can help you redefine success and make you a better person 36:54
- Why there’s no shortcut to success ( and the harsh truth about how you can hit your income goals faster) 40:46
- An obvious, yet overlooked skill for standing out from the crowd and achieving success in anything you set your mind to 44:25
- How to make a boatload of money by not caring about money 47:44
Imagine waking up tomorrow and realizing you lost everything. What’d be the first step you take to get yourself out of rock bottom?
When life slaps you in the face, there’s two things you can do: cower or take the punches.
Successful people don’t stay down- they get right back up.
How you respond to tough situations is what defines whether you succeed or fall back into the pit. That goes for every kind of adversity you’ll go through.
In this episode, Kyle interviews Nate Kennedy, serial entrepreneur who shares how you can thrive through any adversity, even if you have to restart from zero.
Listen now to discover how you can build the resilience, determination and confidence to handle whatever life throws your way.
Show highlights include:
- Why believing you’re successful can end your career and make you lose everything (04:53)
- How living in a condo with rats and being dead broke can motivate you to turn your life around (07:22)
- How going in the ‘wrong direction’ can lead to your next break through in life (and why being complacent is actually wasting your potential) (11:19)
- The “roll with the punches“ attitude that can help you in any situation life throws at you (even if the FBI shows up at your door) (13:12)
If you grew up in a blue collar family, you’ll be familiar with the common advice “get a trade, then at least you’ll have something to “fall back” on”.
It’s not bad advice… if you want to live a “safe” life. But what if you feel destined for more?
Our guest Jonathan Rivera also felt destined for more. His teachers told him “you will amount to nothing”. Now he runs a successful online business, writes $50,000 checks in real estate and aims to inspire millions of people to better their lives.
You’ll leave this episode feeling inspired and ready to take on any challenge. You’ll also discover what it takes to withstand the “rock bottom” of entrepreneurship and reach the top, no matter what luck throws your way.
Listen now!
Show highlights include:
- How to turn the old guy at work into a fortune teller who predicts your life satisfaction with astonishing accuracy (2:09)
- The “Pigeonhole Prison” that holds you back from your dreams (3:50)
- How a tragic death opens the path to freedom (5:03)
- The “complete idiot” success blueprint (9:06)
- How you can move past any mental roadblock by practicing three steps (10:53)
- How to fight the “you can’t do it” voice in your head (even if everything came crumbling down) (13:38)
- How joining a mastermind could “accidentally” turn your hobby into a booming business (18:07)
- The only way to guarantee that you always bring in money (and never have to resort back to a job) (21:01)
From near-death experiences to the devastation of homelessness, how (and where) do we find the will to overcome insurmountable odds?
And if and when we do overcome these challenges, how do we pass that story of survival on to others?
Life on the Rocks is that place where these stories are heard from those who lived to tell them.
Hosted by Kyle Miller, a life-long lover of formidable stories and personal triumphs, Kyle interviews those who have survived these events in Life on the Rocks (sometimes over a glass of bourbon on the rocks, sometimes not), as a source of inspiration for anyone who is struggling in life and needs to hear that if these people could do it, so can they.