Networking for Growth: Leveraging Your Connections to Achieve Success | Jeff Cunningham

Looking to take your business to the next level? In this episode of Entrepreneur Unleashed, host Edward Collins sits down with industry expert Jeff to discuss the key ingredients for success. From sharing your story and building a strong support system, to the importance of networking, these three topics are essential for any entrepreneur looking to make their mark.

But it's not just about the topics themselves - it's about the value and insight that Jeff brings to the table. With years of experience in the industry, Jeff knows firsthand the challenges and opportunities that come with building a successful business. So join us for a discussion that is sure to inspire and inform, as we delve into the key strategies and tactics for taking your business to new heights.

Connect with Jeff here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefftheentr...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeffJCunningham
Changing Lives Consulting: https://jefftheentrepreneur.clickfunn...

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Transcript

Jeff Cunningham  00:00
Don't be afraid to share your story. I think so many people are. And kind of the frame point was me, I told multiple stories in this right? There's something like powerful because like we all watch people who watch movies, we listen to things, they're all story 

Edward Collins  00:15
Every story

Jeff Cunningham  00:16
And everybody's so ashamed of where they're at, in a certain way. And you shouldn't be man because everybody's struggling, everybody's trying to figure it out. And if you just share authentically, where you are with your story, like that's, that's what I love doing. I love taking people who just don't know how to or maybe they do, but they just need a little bit of tweaking on it. And I love love exemplifying that and blowing up.

Edward Collins  00:37
Welcome back to another episode of entrepreneur unleashed. I'm so happy you're here, because I'm excited to have this gentleman in the studio, Jeff Cunningham is, is an individual who, well, I'm gonna let him tell it best. But before we get into that, my name is Edward Collins. I'm the host of uplevel entrepreneur, and entrepreneur unleashed. And we're here today to give you an opportunity to do something that I believe is necessary in business. And that is to learn vicariously through others. If you want to shortcut your journey, success and success. You want to do that by learning and studying the people who have been through what you're going through and have made it through to the other side. That being said, let's jump right in. Jeff, thank you so much for coming here. And being willing to have a just a sit down chat one on one, get an opportunity to give me an opportunity to learn about you and the audience learn about you as well.

Jeff Cunningham  01:27
Yeah, no, definitely. Thank you so much for this. I'm overwhelmed by how your great energy how beautiful this is so and the coffee to ties into you got it on going on here.

Edward Collins  01:38
I appreciate it. Now, I don't. Obviously, I'm still learning a lot about you. I know the audience, there's gonna be some audience members who said, I've been following Jeff forever. And there's somebody who's ever, maybe you've never heard of you. 

Jeff Cunningham  01:50
Right. 

Edward Collins  01:50
So tell me a little bit about some of your backstory. Like what, what, what has made Jeff and how you got here?

Jeff Cunningham  01:56
Yeah, so I mean, most you know, and I'll probably tell it this way, too. You know, I think we all go through life sometimes where we always think like, oh, this is how we're supposed to do and both supposed to settle. When I was young. I used to be driving my parents used to drive me I used to look outside and see all these brands and logos all the time thinking man who's behind all that I was my curious thing. But as certain things are told to you during school and being made fun of called retarded picked on all that stuff, kind of self belief stuff. I wound up developing a chip on my shoulder, that there's actually only one girl I want to marry. She was a pastor's daughter. Actually don't teach her that too much. And there was and my mom was the only one to meet here was at a church we went to. Long story short, my mom dying of breast cancer with no life insurance. And I watched my dad, try and save the house really die for a little bit. And I left. You know, I left given up the dreams to play football because I was kind of I was coding HTML back in the day was big geek. My mom was a genius. I actually don't give her enough credit. I started talking about her more now, but part of my code HTML and did my first websites all back in the day, and love that she she, she championed me that like that was my talent after she passed away. Kind of like the the norm of like, kind of the society was like, Hey, you're a geek for doing all that stuff. So I felt to get girls out have to play football and get sports. But there was only one girl I liked if you ever seen the movie, the notebook? 

Edward Collins  03:24
Yes. 

Jeff Cunningham  03:25
Very similar notebook. She'll get mad if she watches this story, but basically got all the way to the point where I asked her to marry me. And she was already engaged this other guy who was in the Navy, right? Still perfect moment for me enough for her. But present day all that stuff. By becoming a semi pro hockey team. I wasn't starting as quarterback. I wanted to find a few different odds of people telling me you couldn't do stuff. 

Edward Collins  03:46
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  03:47
And then six years ago, I think it was I don't even know when it really was. My older brother Jason. He actually had the life the Range Rover everything this is probably why and I was mentioned before you know I kind of got it I kind of hated on all the guys with the fake Lambos in the cars.

Edward Collins  04:01
Right. 

Jeff Cunningham  04:01
Because I watched my brother have him be dead inside and it was kind of almost like an insecurity. So I want to move to Connecticut where I'm from. I'm In Miami now but moved from there. Meaning I had a dream to build a coffee shop music Souter wrote on it gotta get together. Yeah, he said, Jeff, I was a teacher to be ever middle school at the time. He said you were I was I was a substitute teacher because now now you see some of you going big people look your clubhouse, you know? 

Edward Collins  04:24
Yeah. 

Jeff Cunningham  04:26
If you were a substitute teacher, I think all right. Yeah, 

Edward Collins  04:28
Let me clarify.

Jeff Cunningham  04:29
Clarify, you know, so I get that but I wound up. I wound up he said, hey, you've always had a lemonade stand. You've always been I know all the network. You can build the business. So we decided to do it. Long story short, read out the whole blueprint. He was there for my sister's wedding. She was about to get married. Two days later, I go to wake them up to get a haircut. And we were going to build a coffee shop. This is why I love coffee, coffee and I probably don't need it. Coffee Shop music studio. It was the idea and I went to wake them up in my older brother. Those who know didn't wake up He died on drugs, fentanyl. And that happened. The middle school student I taught at committed suicide the same week. I'm in therapy. The lady says you have AD OCD. I said fine. Men, although I think everybody has ADD now. I mean with everything 20 seconds everywhere, right? 

Edward Collins  05:16
Yeah. 

Jeff Cunningham  05:16
But she said that I went home I was lost at home to my dad, my dad always give with advice. I brought the book I had a piece of paper in my hand. My dad said now you've been through like me book power, subconscious mind. You read that book. Great book. You watch it on YouTube and stuff. And then he showed me a video by a guy named Grant Cardone people get mad at me always sharing this part of story. He's the top GE Okay. Don is the top GE to me because I didn't want to live at the time a great guy. I don't care if I wake up. There's a video of anybody's depressed you can search Grant Cardone depression, so that you ever see that video you shared that video with  Yeah. I shared it. 

Edward Collins  05:52
I have not seen it. Okay, share that video. It was transformative. I mean, that's a transformative video.

Jeff Cunningham  05:57
Can I tell you something? So John? Leger of C. T Mobile? 

Edward Collins  06:02
Yes, yes. Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  06:03
I shared on clubhouse. 

Edward Collins  06:04
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  06:04
Good guy. He actually bought me my MacBook Pro. That's here. Okay. He said a lot of nice words and a lot of mean were telling me up. But he said, Hey, Jeff, can you share that video to me someone for a friend and I shared it with them. And dude, anytime I share that people say that and they say that, and especially entrepreneurs like us. 

Edward Collins  06:21
Exactly. 

Jeff Cunningham  06:21
There's always days that are down and grants just being grant. But it's so good. People are calling in with everything. It's the young hustlers video of me seeing if it's the right one. I'm like, that's her. That's dude, I literally tried to drive my car didn't want to live I thought about driving my car off the thing because everybody was saying when my brother died, it's not your fault. And I was like appearance your fault. It's your fault. This is the brother I worked at the school thought I could train and given to them and now he's not alive.

Edward Collins  06:47
I think I don't want to I don't want to interrupt because it's very passionate but I do think what you just said was very interesting because I think when when we're confronted with loss, especially for from for other people confront loss, we're almost like struggling for what words to share. And I think we just said is really important. You should not share things like it's not your fault because there's a problem with what the person is hearing. And ultimately, if you you put that phrase your fault your fault even if it's it has the preface it's not that that could be

Jeff Cunningham  07:20
actually do you ever do NLP or stuff? Yeah, so learning all that senses before I got into growth, my brother used to Tony Robbins sale that and Tony Robbins to me always looks like this perfect guy who was so good. So I never like related to him at first right? Because they didn't know and so I related to grant because grant just had this way he did.

Edward Collins  07:39
Yeah. 

Jeff Cunningham  07:39
And I got into growth I got into better roads and I'm gonna build the biggest franchise ever an honor my brother called Kokomo Jays you don't give up in America at the level of Starbucks you got to be careful now we're getting bigger 

Edward Collins  07:49
Starbucks watch out 

Jeff Cunningham  07:50
Man I'm gonna do it. But and then you don't give them the journey watch and since then this is it. We're actually now going to be launching hopefully, maybe some at this level like a Kokomo J studio. For top level things too bad people talk about cocoa means heart mind and soul. So we're gonna have people talk about what's on their heart their mind in their soul. And we're basically going to do as a top of funnel lead flow before that when the markets right and by a few locations and and hopefully build some like 

Edward Collins  08:15
I love the concept because it's going to be essentially a coffee shop with an ability to have like almost a studio in the center 

Jeff Cunningham  08:21
It can just be a coffee maker with a studio. Like where it came from. Honestly, after I lost my brother I was lost. I bought a coffee grinder I learned all this stuff. I went with all the the hippie coffee connoisseur guys I studied for six months and realized that I went to build a business I wouldn't do anything business I watched people and I studied here's the thing and you know this is study people's successes but study their failures even more. I have a book coming out called Getting rich recession. There's a chapter where I'm sitting and with this lady, she's Oblivion girl. I feel bad. Because when a business she's like, I'm delivering food I love Did you do any market research about this? You know, and the place is empty. It used to be like a market you know, Margaritaville. 

Edward Collins  09:01
No. Oh, yeah. 

Jeff Cunningham  09:02
So yeah, one of those they switch over to serving restaurant. Nobody showed up the place closed down. 

Edward Collins  09:06
Yeah. So that's the story of a lot of business owners.

Jeff Cunningham  09:09
Well, and because but they're not educated. They don't know. Like, even me at that time, nothing. But I even knew enough to build this business like I would I would have been that same person, right? So got all into personal growth. I actually decided to do a lead generation software one point.

Edward Collins  09:24
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  09:24
The coding back in me what people made fun of me, were my biggest strengths partner with a business guy at a conference that kind of looks like this logo, 

Edward Collins  09:32
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  09:32
called Breakthrough guy named Ahmad and send him a lot of money became the investor in the software. But really, we hired her on a coding team. And that's what got me kind of to the point where I am today that learned me a lot of the skill sets, you know, he talks about building a skill sets 

Edward Collins  09:47
100% 

Jeff Cunningham  09:47
or something like that. Yeah.

Edward Collins  09:48
When you look at when you look at that journey, we're still a little early in your entrepreneurial growth pattern. At that point, you're learning how to potentially build a business right? What What were the key moments for you in deciding to say yes or no with regard to pulling the trigger at any given point in time over the course of

Jeff Cunningham  10:04
Two things, girls and God. 

Edward Collins  10:06
Okay, about that. Let's unpack. 

Jeff Cunningham  10:08
Yeah.

Edward Collins  10:09
Let's talk about let's talk about the girl section first.

Jeff Cunningham  10:11
Yeah, so I will actually so, you know, I was broken hearted with the girl that I asked to marry me, right? She married the military guy for security. But at the time, I wasn't a man who could even think I was more doing like, I love you. You should be with me. Like that was my thing. 

Edward Collins  10:26
Right. Right. 

Jeff Cunningham  10:26
I really my mom just died. I'm helping out my dad, I had nothing. I had nothing to offer her no wonder why she married the guy like I don't think I personally think she likes me more. But maybe that's just a storyteller yourself to still like, you know.

Edward Collins  10:39
Do you want to be a high value man? 

Jeff Cunningham  10:40
Right. 

Edward Collins  10:41
And that's really sad. 

Jeff Cunningham  10:42
Yes. And I even knew when I was there, I knew I had to improve right? So and fast forward I started helping out so many people. I think a lot entrepreneurs, a lot of I see this being a teacher, you know, there's all these programs and everything that they get all these socialistic programs, we got to help people out but if you don't help yourself out first, you're never going to help anybody else out you know, you got to and that's paying yourself your level.

Edward Collins  11:03
Put your oxygen mask on before you help.

Jeff Cunningham  11:06
Everybody knows that but you just don't tend to do it. Even now. I think as entrepreneurs, even us we want to help people like well, you know, especially where it's at, you know,

Edward Collins  11:12
And  it's my business, you have to respect my business. 

Jeff Cunningham  11:14
So there was a girl I took my brother's wedding blew up on clubhouse that clubhouse there was actually a time when I was in a room I was modded up which is a big deal to me when you get modded up because i i, We have another little book coming out on clubhouse stories and secrets I used to just sent off some chapters to editor 

Edward Collins  11:32
Okay

Jeff Cunningham  11:32
but clubhouse was a big part of my growth because while I was still selling windows and I was bartending. 

Edward Collins  11:38
Okay.

Jeff Cunningham  11:38
I started giving advice on on marketing copy. 

Edward Collins  11:41
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  11:42
And people just started coming back to if the entrepreneur made 16k or whatever right now that people will mean they've made a lot of money and they're saying there's like Grant Cardone on stage that and they're like, given me so and I then I tried to I did the biggest mistake and try and be more than I was, you know, there was a guy who really came on started to hate me, I kind of I grew my following of with with that guy kind of really just always taking grants back kind of probably stayed in a little bit too long. So I realized you know where you're at just trying to figure out people you know, but I've always had a pretty good read on people always been very blessed than that. So the girl I didn't know who the girls like even now so I'm gonna ask you about marriage tips. Women scare me because I watched so many entrepreneurs get married. Is this your first wife or,

Edward Collins  12:24
No, third.

Jeff Cunningham  12:25
Third? See what I'm saying? So one part of me is okay with not even getting married right now. 

Edward Collins  12:31
Exactly. 

Jeff Cunningham  12:31
But you know, I'm a guy and there's all this you know, as you start becoming more successful especially I've been putting out stuff in there. You know, women reached out to me for different reasons. 

Edward Collins  12:41
Yes. 

Jeff Cunningham  12:42
And I'm always putting him through my sales funnel get mad. So we do it's a problem in a bigger brand. But anyway, me my brother does show and clubhouse basically, I ran Hey, it's my brother it's October 15 My brother's getting married. And I still don't have a wedding date. So I had a bunch of girls and Patti Stinger do you know that is the daily show she like hated on me. 

Edward Collins  13:02
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  13:02
You're doing it for marquee names like damn right? 

Edward Collins  13:04
Why not? Yeah. 

Jeff Cunningham  13:05
So but it want to I want to how God has it this girl who really kind of caught me by surprise wind up taking her it's actually a pretty bit of long story but it was actually supposed to take my friend I call my friend said listen all these crazy girls will you go with me? This girl she's good friend of mine still today, but she flaked on me a few times. You know anytime I'd be wanting to hang on get a coffee I'd hit her up when I was in her area. We'd always like hanging out never anything more than that. But she's like a good friend. So I thought she was all like yeah, you gotta buy me a dress right? So I was like fine so I put on my Instagram like this is my brand needs crazy.

Edward Collins  13:39
Exactly. 

Jeff Cunningham  13:39
I was like, do not bring that girl these girls call me Don't Bri her you know like so then this other girl I'm out in LA for consulting deal. 

Edward Collins  13:45
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  13:46
One of the consulting guys got into this 64k contract I talked about that I sent out to this guy. do consulting for my buddy Attero makes fun of me says dude, you don't get any girls. Should I get girls? So you know the guy didn't make it through the funnel. Right? Exactly. Yeah, exactly. I've qualified question. Are you are you a high level woman? Are you in growth thing? Right? Are you gonna go with me? Right? It's not easy to be with entrepreneurs. 

Edward Collins  14:10
Definitely not. 

Jeff Cunningham  14:10
So this girl was in LA I text her I knew she was a good looking girl. So I knew we'd get everybody matched comes out to dinner. We have a good time I actually did this whole thing where I said to her was the line I go hey, can Can I go back to your hotel with these guys? I just want to shut them up right and she said okay, went back to your hotel. And it's funny because every sitting on the girl and then were dropped off at the thing so it was just ultimate moment was very special. So she calls me two days later, I don't think anything of it. And she's like, Hey, are you taking me to the wedding? And I was like, no, no, I'm thinking my friend you know this other girl. She's like, Well, you asked me a long time ago cuz I did ask you know 

Edward Collins  14:46
Who's gonna say it.

Jeff Cunningham  14:47
Yeah, right. Rule of thumb don't ask everybody 

Edward Collins  14:50
Exactly 

Jeff Cunningham  14:50
A lot of yeses. How do you tell that so cancel with other girls because I didn't have to buy a dress. It's not really that had a few conversations went with her will probably release on YouTube. actually was called the growth wedding. My brother's like how do you do my wedding makeup? thing? But, but it was good branding branding moment. But really for that she saw the value in me she saw people pay me like $5,000 and I'm trying to show I can provide for Hey, this is where I'm at as consulting. She's like, listen, you're still selling windows, you're still bartending. Do you not believe in yourself? If that wasn't enough, I went back. I was at a conference grow for God. I'm literally down there praying. And I'm like, God, am I really supposed to be this? Because people at this time are like, Jeff, you know, you remind me a Tony Robbins and this stuff and all this stuff that like I had Brad, you know, Bradley. 

Edward Collins  15:34
Yes. 

Jeff Cunningham  15:34
So Bradley is in his office one time gave him a gift. And he said on the maybe your next man and I remember always being like, Well, I'm not ready yet. Right? And now like, so I'm praying. I'm like, God, show me a sign. Let's just be this consulting firm like who am I amongst these like all these other legends, right like you like, you know what I mean? Like, for this, you know, and sure enough, pastor comes over calcium, the thing it says, God says the answer's yes. And it was I got chills. I actually did a YouTube video after 

Edward Collins  16:04
I'm getting chills right now.

Jeff Cunningham  16:04
on the watch. Yeah. And then then this other guy, Paul, he's just on my life comes over and says, Hey, God just told me to pray for you right now. So man, and actually I'll say this, it wasn't just God. I went back into girl said that they went everything sold my four unit move to Florida. And here we are now.

Edward Collins  16:18
Wow. I think there's so much to unpack in that story. But I do want to touch on one thing, you it seems to be a theme and everything that you're doing and touching is the concept of branding. 

Jeff Cunningham  16:29
Yep. 

Edward Collins  16:29
How important is it for business owners to really focus in on the concept of branding?

Jeff Cunningham  16:33
Oh, it's everything so you can build up the level of success you have. There's a lot of guys that my, my perfect client is guys doing seven figures and above, who really have all this knowledge and nobody knows about it. I mean, because one thing I've done extremely well is getting known about all the time figure out how to do you know, and someone said it, there's not so many great storytellers. All marketing is storytelling. 

Edward Collins  16:53
Absolutely. 

Jeff Cunningham  16:53
And branding, so I got really good at doing it's just looking over copy to get it to self, we're going from that I had my boy, Danny here having me look over copy for an email, because I was like, it's good. He's it gets converted. And I'm like, Yeah, that's awesome. So that's and I love that man. You know, I love that. But it's, it's, it's paramount. Like, you know, you think of Trump, right? Or even Andrew Tate, or any of these big brands that are most Googled about these names, or brands, like they tried to cancel Andrew T. 

Edward Collins  17:19
Right. Yeah. 

Jeff Cunningham  17:21
And because of his brand, and his community, which is the one thing I'm obsessed with right now, this is why we're starting, like our own elite war room, right, which has its own acronym for what elite means, right? And it's more being tactical, and empowering people and really doing it an on my own version, because I really believe that all these brands, people, people pay more for brands, just the fact that like, I just see a lot of people, you know, hit on some people, Patrick, when David, you know him, he's been huge the vault conference, that was what put it together. I was actually at some point, right before and I asked a question of, he goes, What do you I go, Hey, I think this guy wants to recruit me as a sales thing is, What do you want? I said, I'm starting my consulting firm. And I was like that he's like, alright, write this down. And he gave me someone write down went in there. And it was crazy. We were on a Beverly Hills rooftop. I still remember with the guy and I asked the question, yeah, I'm the only decision maker and that that really built the structure for we have now changed that consulting now building our licensing model, which is awesome, because I have something now I can qualify people with our core creed, which is really come from a lot of the vault training we actually really tight with a lot of those guys there.

Edward Collins  18:31
I think the second point that I'm going to raise and ask about is the concept of getting in the right room is that also sounds like it's a continuing theme with you you're getting into the right rooms with the right people ask you the right questions. And then

Jeff Cunningham  18:43
Always asking questions and here's the thing not being afraid like for branding, if you go to event right you go to the vault you go to 10x go to 

Edward Collins  18:50
And whatever you can. 

Jeff Cunningham  18:51
However you get attention like I'm wearing my logo here like now the brand's the vest that we were talking about before promosi even T I got on T I called take a tool he might be the sharpest, sharpest tool in the shed. Because literally like he understood, like, even with his glasses and everything down he was you know, I was like I definitely that type of guy, right that like I didn't like for a while because they they flaunt it a little bit stuff. 

Edward Collins  19:13
Right. 

Jeff Cunningham  19:13
And I was wanting to be relatable. So that's why but I think everybody has, you know, their own confidence zone. Right? Like I'm confident enough with me without anything. 

Edward Collins  19:20
Exactly. 

Jeff Cunningham  19:20
And some people aren't some people need that. You know, listen, it definitely works. Girls cars and money at marketing has worked long time that always worked well. Right. But really getting in the right rooms being around the right people is huge. When the whole George Floyd thing happened I got so passionate because one of my things that I am passionate about if I ever do run for president, right, because like now I've been praying about everything nor now that I've accomplished so many goals. I was on a call with a VC and he said hey secret's out your consulting firm. I have a bunch of people that if you want to run for president, man, they get behind you. And it got real because once you start being confident about something as tall as I'm saying, they then things start happening. So like you want to get in the mirror every day. Hey, I'm the man this is gonna happen to me like I have the five things I do every day and one of them is affirmations Used to Be a Millionaire Mind now it's I have a billionaire mind. Money's attracted to me and I yield to God who I'm called to serve every day

Edward Collins  20:12
And you replace one with you. At the end of the day I've been President No, I will be president. No, it's powerful. 

Jeff Cunningham  20:18
Well, yeah, I sometimes and even now, here's the thing. I just see what's going on with the country. Right? And that's why at any point, we just acquired a short form video editing company. 

Edward Collins  20:29
Okay

Jeff Cunningham  20:30
And the reason why is you know, hater like all these guys, like I don't even totally agree with everything Trump says. I've said that many times. I don't agree with everything entertained, says although he switched his narrative now. He's realized it and I've seen it my man Patrick and David, did you see the interview with this? 

Edward Collins  20:44
Yes, I did. 

Jeff Cunningham  20:45
I that was I did a I know right? I didn't watch the whole thing. You my brother.

Edward Collins  20:48
I watched you did one of my my team members said you have to watch it. 

Jeff Cunningham  20:52
Yeah, I just watched them with the note boys. You know, the elk boys. They're awesome. Guys. They'll probably be on my pockets extra just reach out to him really cool. Two kids. They had Trump on there as they got taken down. 

Edward Collins  21:01
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  21:02
Because Trump I'm running and say because they're gonna put it up, which is crazy that we're in the point. We can't even say it like, that's, that's it? 

Edward Collins  21:10
Yeah, the sensor sensor ism. It's just ridiculous. The fact that we live in the freest country in the world. And the crazy isn't really isn't really the phrase.

Jeff Cunningham  21:18
And I've said this many times. The reason why I talk about running for president, I hope I don't have to, I hope somebody else does, right. But my whole point is, it's for the same reason of, if we keep the way we are, we're going to be a communist country in 10 years. So like, 

Edward Collins  21:31
That's what I think the challenge that they have, though, is we have to, we have to correct the whole education system here. Because everything is founded upon what the people currently understand to be true. And the problem is, it's not, it's not really true. It's what's being shown to them, whether it's through social media or established media, the end of the day, words matter. And if you start at a young age, teaching people the wrong words and given them the wrong meaning they have the wrong understanding. You think about the whole concept of democracy. If I go out and I go out into the streets of Miami, and I asked the question, what is the most powerful democracy in the world? What do you think the response is going to be? The most people gonna say the United States, well, we're not a democracy, we're a constitutional republic. Words matter. And if you don't understand how things actually operate, it's important and when it comes to business, understanding how things operate is important. And you've learned those lessons. I mean, because so you're now you're transitioning, you've made a decision to start with the winter sales and bartending. Now you're transitioning into getting into your consulting firm, full force Tell me Tell me about that transition. You said you made a decision how did it go

Jeff Cunningham  22:34
So a lot of people in life like even at these events being intentional.

Edward Collins  22:38
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  22:38
You get to pick who you want up in your circle with you right? 

Edward Collins  22:41
Yes.

Jeff Cunningham  22:42
So we actually have like a pretty good pack of CLC licensees so i There's a guy who's really good at marketing that I knew he had a heart for for passion to help people really good guy. Police officer just really good ethics. I'm where he was at and he partnered with another guy who runs as he's like, so fast, so I was like, okay, these guys are part of it. Right? Souza and George right. So it's gonna take that I'm good I build a personal brand. I've been everything that everybody wants paid to speak flown on stage, everybody how do you do that? Yep, I've done it. Okay, so now I know how to help people do that. I just had a guy the other day he was kind of doing Where are you at? Almost and I don't I don't listen, there's a point of tough coaching but I don't like when people like like you got to be confident sell or be sold on people he was telling me man, what have you done what's your package? Where are you at? And I started answering questions to him started me second guessing everything but I built a team with within right so when I started thing I said I'm gonna only focus on two things copy and personal branding and brand message that's all I focus in to speak on stories and everything everything else so if you want to build a personal brand I take you through a six week program everybody else marketing outspends him that's all I focus on. 

Edward Collins  23:51
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  23:51
Now I build a big brand is Jeff the entrepreneur now rebranding and Jeff J Cunningham now we're going to take all these high level seven figure entrepreneurs in the elite warm room have these guys that have an open invite or anybody spent over 100k and personal growth that way we know they're we're gonna take them you know case by case scenario exact to build out actually these people who can really just meet up so we can actually create you know, our own private equity bank is really the point of it yes, you don't have to go to it. It's gonna be a lot of things on sale with real estate and just build up a whole firm like that you know me in between me and Danny and everybody we're very well connected. So and that's one thing I built up a huge network. So using that network then right so change that consulting this again we are licensee Jhansi Maxwell you know he is great leadership guy his thing we have a guy only studies his stuff he's leadership and development and teaches that to companies then we have systems in processing paid brand ambassador for progress it's a goal high level white label. We use them it means we care about your progression daily and to date boom he's a systems guy right was working with his brand, then boom I focus personal branding that guy June who's really good in video editing, he's here right? So now we everybody has the roles so we know where it is. And then we just come then and then we pass everybody off into it. And where that happened was I've been doing coaching and everything just by helping people. When I my first software I used to help them convert through the DMS, I had Instagram growth software. So I've been doing this for years. So it comes so natural, someone's boring to me, and I gotta say this, I was on a thing, right? But that's how you know you're good at it. You know, when that's a boy that people like, this is ingenious, thank you so much. I've done this, you know. So just focus on that stay exactly in that. And when you kind of stay inside your zone, and a higher weakness is great. A lot of times I was revenue sharing with other guys, my coach or mentor said, Hey, build up the most direct revenue, which is what the elite warm room and the inner circle wound up becoming. So that way, if I want to scale and exit it and run for president, I can you know. When you look at your journey, I mean, a lot of people would find it difficult to do the things that you're doing right now, just because they they may think they didn't have the skill set. Exactly true. But a lot of people aspire to to accomplish something within their life. And there are certain skill sets that you do possess, or or at least you've cultivated within yourself, for instance, getting to know people, the whole people skills, environment. How did you learn? Was that something you learned? Or is that something?  Yes. I mean, I was at multilevel marketing thing. 

Edward Collins  26:08
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  26:08
When the guy said two things, it was Ambit Energy, and then of Melaleuca, which, by the way, melaleuca you cannot do on social media, which I did a video they got mad, and I used to take the packets at the restaurant work that I used to sell them outside. I'll go back and how much you make, because I go, Yeah, I sold it. But you can't do that. You gotta give him the membership. I was like, Man, I don't like your rules. I guess we're entrepreneurs, right? My rules and point, but, but two things. They told me tell your old story to new people every day. And I remember hearing that. And I actually talked to Gary Vee just recently. And I said, Should I keep doing this old story about the coffee shop like now we're getting closer of it? And he said, Yeah, do a book deal with your new story, too. So the new story is how we build a consulting firm, right, this story based marketing, right? So so and it's why people do business with you like people. Let me ask you this. Do you believe people care? People don't care? 

Edward Collins  26:52
For the most part? 

Jeff Cunningham  26:52
Yeah, for the most part.

Edward Collins  26:54
For the most part, people don't care about you. They care about themselves.

Jeff Cunningham  26:57
Okay. Yeah, that's, that's true. Okay. And whatever you believe is the answer, right? Because we have reticular activating system. 

Edward Collins  27:04
Correct. 

Jeff Cunningham  27:04
So if you believe that right, then all of a sudden, and that is true, that is true to a point. But my point is, I believe people care to have such an

Edward Collins  27:12
In general.

Jeff Cunningham  27:13
In general, someone Oh, we walk out and someone's going to open a door for me, right? 

Edward Collins  27:16
Yes. 

Jeff Cunningham  27:17
Let's say I dropped him. Someone picks something up. They care. But that's more for me than them. 

Edward Collins  27:22
Oh, yeah. 

Jeff Cunningham  27:23
So you know what I mean, science say we program there was a bartender girl sitting down with and I said to her, Hey, do you believe people care? I said the same thing. She said, people don't care. She was very thing and what my whole belief in life, there's so many people going around life believing people don't care as their findings, the people don't care for it. And the reason why they don't care, it's because people are hurting inside. If you just switch the belief that people care to the most part, right? You're gonna find it, you're gonna find the door exam, right? You know what I mean? Like, I'm gonna find someone who took time out of your day, right? With everything you're building out to have me on like, yes. And that's my thing. And maybe, you know, selfishly you care more about what this leave for you. But personally, either you care more, you know what I mean? So to do this and build it up. So that's, that's an having that belief. Just, it strengthens you to go out there and share your story more. And then the second thing, I learned this when I was pitching my software to VCs in adventure, in 2008, the pitch freak, great guy, he taught me this formula, that emotion value, subtle call to action, he actually switched it differently. Right. 

Edward Collins  28:15
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  28:16
And it was basically yeah, just I want to be using that. Because I definitely have high energy. I'm gonna be using that in a certain way. 

Edward Collins  28:23
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  28:23
And yeah, I've really just realized networking was the most important thing. I went to one event and they said, you know, network with people around you, you don't have to network with the top dogs, you know, and I think everybody listens to that, right? I never say never. Yeah, I'm just gonna say like,

Edward Collins  28:39
No competition 

Jeff Cunningham  28:40
I wanted to skip to the head and there was no 

Edward Collins  28:41
blue ocean. 

Jeff Cunningham  28:42
My whole belief was, I'm going somewhere. You're lucky to go with me. 

Edward Collins  28:46
Exactly. 

Jeff Cunningham  28:46
If not, you don't believe it. And that's your loss. 

Edward Collins  28:48
Absolutely. 

Jeff Cunningham  28:49
I was with Dan Bilzerian. Do you know Dan?

Edward Collins  28:51
I know 

Jeff Cunningham  28:52
So Okay. Yeah. So I was at ringside at Jake Paul's fight which it's funny because Mark Zuckerberg is just ringside doing the same thing I was doing because Mark Cuban was there I met Jake Paul's fight took this girl probably shouldn't it took her trying to cancel on me I took her at the last second but that's more the journey there but she was she was she was cool. But I went over to where at dinner Dan Fleischman 

Edward Collins  29:14
Familiar 

Jeff Cunningham  29:15
Awesome guy really good guy. best guy in personal branding. Best guy man I guess I should say I am but he wrote a great book if you can't do anything read the book that he did on personal brand it's awesome connected on clubhouse his masterminds is 100 million like really good guy but him the the real Tarzan, Adam Weitzman, you know him so he's gonna be on our podcast. We're gonna do really good stuff every if you had to pick anybody that would rub off on me what Adams done what Adam has shared with me in the short period of time we've known each other has been has been you know, just like Paramount IK and he he does certain things that I implement that he does to me, 

Edward Collins  29:51
Like give me an example. 

Jeff Cunningham  29:53
I was on the phone, I told my story. And he said, Jeff, I said what advice do you have me he said, don't pretend and to be more than you are.

Edward Collins  30:01
Yes. 

Jeff Cunningham  30:02
And Everest and that was exactly what I always wanted to do. But I was at a point now because I was getting flown out, I felt like I had to be more, right. And even now with Danny or anybody where I'm at, I'm very transparent on where I am 

Edward Collins  30:14
Be who you are. 

Jeff Cunningham  30:15
Right. And like, a lot of times, too, especially as you're building your business, and you're getting people you know, you're taking on gulyas. Right. And you know, people are saying stuff people are looking at you like, well, who's this guy? How should I do this? Why should people listen to him? Like you get a little side? 

Edward Collins  30:27
Oh, yeah, right.

Jeff Cunningham  30:28
But I already know what what's in me already know what I can deliver.

Edward Collins  30:31
I appreciate  Exactly. 

Jeff Cunningham  30:31
So if you go from that, then it's fine. But that was the great message. And one thing he does is he'll send me a text or appreciate you my friend, right? Every once in a while and I started doing that, you know, I love suffocating. And it was really good. Dan Fleischman taught that you know, and I've done that 23333 emails a day three messages, obviously just reach out to some people on Instagram, send him a voice message anybody I want to connect with. Those are all things you can do. But yeah, that whole your network, I've realized, listen, nobody's gonna remember how much money you make, but they're gonna remember. Like, they're going to remember true wealth is your name, you know, so and so I was like, I'm just gonna build the most known trusted name. I'm gonna be as transparent as I am. I'm gonna really just find out something really valuable about person and say, whatever it is, like I told you, I like your energy, right? I read all about all your success and stuff. And I thought this guy's gonna be like, stuck up guy. And you're not anything like that.  Not bureaucratic, right? People get bureaucratic when they get to a level, right? And Adams not that way. So it's cool to see people like that, because those are the people I want to be with. I listen. I think the reason why I'm one of the best marketers is because I know I don't know it all. I know, there's a lot and I surround myself with people know it. And to do that, that's what is, and I can call them anytime. Like, I probably have one of the strongest networks that people come in, and why are people hanging out with this guy all the time. But it's literally by that by just being myself. 

Edward Collins  31:51
It's easy to see. Exactly. 

Jeff Cunningham  31:53
Yeah. And it's definitely now everybody wants to go up and get a cup of coffee with me. 

Edward Collins  31:57
Yeah.

Jeff Cunningham  31:57
You know, and I'm like, 

Edward Collins  31:58
That's like the theme. 

Jeff Cunningham  31:59
Yeah. Oh my god. It's love it. Yeah. So,

Edward Collins  32:02
When you look at at now that the business is going you're operating here, you're building building an enterprise. It's not just you it's an enterprise. What has been like the biggest challenge that you face so far? Because it's still relatively young. Yeah, but what's the biggest challenge so far?

Jeff Cunningham  32:18
Biggest challenge really very, very clear is me wanting to do it all, you know, and I used to watch my old mentor when I he was the real estate mentor guy that when Grant told me Hey, stop worrying about your software business go work for it and we're for local multimillionaire just did his marketing as much as I could and did sales for him. I watched him doing allows was doing so much you know, and now that I'm in it, but one of my one of my coaches or mentors kind of really made it clear Hey, you focus on this, let everything go out do that. So that's really been it but that was the biggest thing too because um, you know, I think I care so much about the core values in the company of who's in it that's what made me be the licensee model. I don't want anybody wrapping my name is a reference if they don't abide by our core values, you know, so that helped that a lot because I knew who was really on it so I can really trust if someone gets on a call with June right now to do brand consulting mess or look at videos they're good before I want to be on every call with that.

Edward Collins  33:13
Right because you weren't sure if it was going to

Jeff Cunningham  33:15
Leadership is passing on to one to one right he's spending all the time of June and getting making sure he's good to do it on and I actually did the numbers with June as I was bringing people as to June this is how much money we were I was flying out to LA the night and I did the numbers he's from there and I did this how much you're gonna make without me and I did it because I was scared of losing them you know? I said you can make way more money if you don't work with me. And I said you really want to do this because at the end the day I want to know what it was true yes true buy in because like then today we're we're not like the Bugatti is are nice and all that school. I remember one of my teachers I used to teach you as she wrote, I'll say this quick this program in trouble. But she wrote on the board. Her name is Nancy, I don't want to say BNC she comes in there teaching she writes feminist on the board. She's what does that mean to you? Right? And we're all sitting in there and I got a challenge. And all of a sudden everybody's like that. And I started hanging out with the sort of hanging out with the cool kids. She didn't like me right away. She Dox me all the time throughout. Probably your toughest student. But I remember her the first time I heard the name Bugatti and she put it out there now with Tate you hear it all the time. And she's like, we'll never see this in our lifetime. I don't even know what the car was. I was like, speak for yourself. 

Edward Collins  34:22
Exactly. 

Jeff Cunningham  34:22
I'll look at that in this lifetime. And Adam has forgot he's part of the club. Right? And there's different ways to do it. I'm not a really big car guy. I'm really not I'm more I'm not a Flash guy. 

Edward Collins  34:33
Right. 

Jeff Cunningham  34:33
But I have learned just recently, one of the masterminds I went to luxury cars, exotic cars go up in value, the whole device sort of wiped clean flip publicly. Yeah. And this guy has done a science so we probably will do as investments

Edward Collins  34:46
depends this depends on the depth of a recession as to how long they they retain their value, but at the end of the day, they tend to

Jeff Cunningham  34:52
what's really going into right now Yeah, and it really because they make less of it. So why demand you know, it's very simple. When it was it's funny because cuz now that I said it's very simple, I understand it. I remember when I was told retarded, and this is why it's so important who you're around and I think every young man goes through the same journey heartbroken, feel kind of awkward, right? The whole deal you like a girl, she breaks your heart the whole deal, right? Yeah. And through that you kind of just become more and it's so important to who you're around and who's teaching you I think what's going on right now with young men is they're around the wrong people. They're getting coddled all the time. And that's that's a lot a big, big part of you know, entertains message but I also think Patrick and David came out with a video on it lately. And that's kind of right now where we're at is I suppose part of life

Edward Collins  35:35
though your struggle is a part of learning. I mean, a baby learns to crawl when its toys are just out of reach, right? If you remove struggle, what's the quality of the learning that's taking place right

Jeff Cunningham  35:45
and that's what we're doing though we're trying to remove struggle and give the power to the government and everything going on forward on right Oh, we'll get covered and assistance we got to take care of people. This is a story I was teaching so I was a teacher's aide one of the teachers a behavioral middle school kid get my the lead teacher gets concussion right kids are rowdy they were gang kids the whole deal some of the board I become the interim teachers when I first shot everybody's like Jeff can't do a crazy All right. So either one of the girls I had a crush on the head teacher girl. She she kind of gave me the thing. I went in Monday. We read I did structure toilet Monday we read a topic, right? had everybody reading that, Tuesday any vocabulary words? We didn't know I had them right on the board. Right? Okay, I took the girl that is middle school kids and all that she was distracting. I hit her up on the board. I build a community of all kids around who walk in for different places all had different level learning abilities. It was probably the most challenging, but the thing that gave me the most confidence I had around the board at everybody writing. What is it? vocabulary words that they knew. And then on Wednesday, anybody who's got the writing now because I hate writing. I've gotten better at it. But all the boys had writing girls that had no problem writing. And it's basically how they write you know, women, they're more cultivators and more that guys are more conquerors, they just want to get on to the next level. It's just kind of how God made us. But so she wound up. She wanted to brighting out all the vocabulary words anybody didn't write them on on Wednesday, I only took two people got all the vocabulary words written on a fun project. They were doing timezone. So we did clocks. On Friday, I learned what the kids want. One kid wanted Juicy Fruit gum in the conversation. I typed into the bourse, and anybody gets 100 on the test on Friday on everything we're learning on vocab words, we'll get the Juicy Fruit gum. 

Edward Collins  37:25
Okay

Jeff Cunningham  37:26
Truth be told there's a kid. Probably the genius level. Elon Musk, very similar. Have you ever read Elon book? 

Edward Collins  37:31
I have not. 

Jeff Cunningham  37:31
Great book. Ashley Vance wrote it. It's a life inside actually, a lot of times too, because of where I was at. And the reason why I'm such a thing of everything. Elon Musk, I relate a lot to his childhood he was out. 

Edward Collins  37:44
Okay.

Jeff Cunningham  37:45
I want to buy a rocket when I was young. 

Edward Collins  37:46
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  37:47
My parents invited me rocket build my skateboard. I often joke that they bought me a rocket when I was 12 probably be up there with Elon Musk right now right? But fast forward to Tony Tony is a kid genius kids through his books in science space the whole deal in the corner people used to pick on him kid wanted Juicy Fruit gum, he comes in get the 100 as test so did the other group boom, boom. They we were we were sticking them to learning because of what because we coddled them as a system. I get pulled in by the system. And they basically say to me, Hey, these are IEPs you know, these are they cannot be today. He says test anxiety. The kids so smart. He knows that testing wants to get tests nobody. So I'm gonna freak out her though it does have test anxiety, right? So these are the things that we're limiting our kids by I saw it firsthand as a teacher. And then at the end, I did most moments that made me feel like I could do anything. One of the first moments was all those kids in being quiet during a test and the girl told me it could be a teacher see at all, and she just walked out like she couldn't give me any credit. So it was cool moment. That was it. She also told me I couldn't become a lifeguard. I raised my hand become a lifeguard. Actually, it's funny story teller on the Amazon Prime video when I spoke on Amazon Prime, but I raised my hand be lifeguards, you'd be a lifeguard a horrible swimmer, right? And so I said you have without a word. I will do whatever it takes to become a lifeguard, but I had to do the save on her to get my lifeguard license without lifeguarding a few times after that. And then I was at a dance with her. And I went up to her and said, Hey, can you tell me I won't make 77 million because my brother had a tattoo 7799 That was the goal, the target we had to make? Because we went back his family. And she goes No, I said why? And she just gives you everything I say you want to? Yeah, so but yeah, that's, I think that's where I'm at right now. My journey I have so many people believe in me, you know, Patrick and David. I put it on the other day say hey, looking forward, you're doing next you're very capable. Right? And I love it. It's great. I Tim story first guy who prophesied over me just good these are legendary guys that he's to look up to. And now I now now it's a better point but I always feed it off people saying hey, you can't do it. Part of me talking about running for president. I just needed a few people say hey, you can't do it now. And and I saw this I'm extreme capitalist and a point I understand we have socialistic reasons for a reason was it within a government to stand, but not over overdo it? And as I started studying everything, I said, Hey, I'm going to be president. When I started it, I felt like I would get kicked back. Right. Everybody in my apartment comes, Mr. President, Mr. President, I put on my chat. I'm like, okay, that's getting kind of serious now. Yeah. So when we're State of the Union address, like, you know, you always do, it has to happen, right? So just to be ready for anything, you know, be active, stay paranoid. You know, look, 50 moves ahead where we're at, okay, this is I used to always joke and say, once I read Barnes as a King, Jr, I grew up in a Pentecostal church had no clue people judge each other by the their subject, really. So I read a report and said, Man, this is why and they made a data scan. They treated me horribly. And I remember thinking at that time, there's two points. My mom homeschooled me. She looked up William Jefferson Clinton was the president. I said, what number why be? And then and then Martin Luther King, Jr. I had a day and I was like, Well, I want a weak man. I want to make such a thing. And this is me when I was young. 

Edward Collins  40:58
 Right. 

Jeff Cunningham  40:58
So I was always like, 

Edward Collins  40:59
always been passionate fire. 

Jeff Cunningham  41:00
So now's the time like right now we're at Oh, yeah, I always had it and always got suppressed but people I was around always a little different. Always a little odd, you know? And I was like, Okay, I was like, you know, I'll conform, conform, conform. So there's a short I saw a hot topic once why blend in when you're born to stand out right? So and I always think of that and like even now it's just on clubhouse right now. And people always like you know make fun of me and like that quote prime my favorite quote was first they laugh at you, then they mock you then they fight you then you win. Dude, I love that quote man every time because that's about my story quarterback when I went to go play quarterback you know lifeguard everything. So you know.

Edward Collins  41:38
So, when you look at your journey so far then like you've achieved a lot in such a little time

Jeff Cunningham  41:44
Yeah, well no alcohol

Edward Collins  41:46
Exactly.

Jeff Cunningham  41:47
Less girl. 

Edward Collins  41:47
So that's what I was just gonna say, what are what are the contributing factors to that because a business owners whether you're a business owner now or you're thinking of becoming a business owner, you're sitting back and you're consuming this content and are saying okay, this this Jeff guy, like look at what he's been able to accomplish I could never do that. Why could they like what is why is that limiting belief it why should it be shattered?

Jeff Cunningham  42:10
Yeah, it's because everybody doesn't know what they're really doing with their time they're not attention the most most valuable thing than money is time right? Even spending like I appreciate all this time we're spending together right? But it's really like just manage it whether you take 15 minute blocks, you just track exactly what you're doing. You can color code in different ways. So you know where you're at. Most of us scroll Instagram all the time me included like there's certain times I do where I'm not great with my time but really have someone audits your time right? And you know giving up you always have to give up something to get something more, why are so afraid to give up? Even me man I was afraid to give up. You know, I was home in Connecticut. And you know, my dad was there everything was there was it was tough man I'm not gonna lie.

Edward Collins  42:49
In reality is you have to be willing to give up who you are now to become the person you want to be

Jeff Cunningham  42:53
Right even now, like, Dude, I was at the gym this morning. And I didn't want you to feel like it right? But then when you leave, it's so much better. Right? You never regret going to the gym, you'll never regret like I encourage anybody right now just do a time audit on your life. Right? That you can literally just write down 15 minutes and just circle what's what what literally do this make a reality board if you DM me board on Jeff the entrepreneur, you get it for free. I used to sell it within all my courses now give away for free. Three images. I have a new one. I just built it with the decennia. 

Edward Collins  43:23
Okay, yeah. 

Jeff Cunningham  43:24
All right on the life that I was telling you, but three images of three things you want in one year. 

Edward Collins  43:28
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  43:28
Then two things you've overcome in your life that you're proud of one sole focus, whatever your sole focus business, and right now it's a consulting firm everything here. And then And then three to five year goals, right. 

Edward Collins  43:38
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  43:38
And then if you do that, okay, just and I tell everybody before you join my inner circle, I want to see that send me that send me because I want to know what you want. If it's a matter of five with 

Edward Collins  43:46
Exactly 

Jeff Cunningham  43:47
have any satanic weirdo stuff, you know, but there was a witch that was trying to work with me. I was like, oh, cool, you know, but but when when I see that, and I know, okay, this is what they want, especially because I'm pretty well networked. And I know what you want, so I can help you out. Right, exactly. So send that to me, I have everybody do the thing. And then when you do that, then audit your time, right? We're coming out with a planner, one guy has helped me build up. He wants to call it 50 entrepreneurs daily planner, it's your perfect day planner. I've used multiple planners all the time. I don't like writing. So he built it out with just gratitude wins and everything we're going to have on a point where you can track your time 15 minutes queues. 

Edward Collins  44:18
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  44:19
Because then how you're spending your time I did it when I was when I was selling. When I was teaching actually I was teaching I was still starting my software company was teaching. 

Edward Collins  44:26
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  44:26
And I noticed it took all this time and I was making this little bit of money. I was doing video editing, they're teaching me Photoshop for it. And I was like this, this isn't right, man. So that's when I started looking for other things. And it's just that time audit, knowing what you want being very clear what you want, and then doing that if you really want it right. You kind of need. Like you said, going through struggle. There's got to be something inside of you that someone told me you couldn't do that. You can totally do okay, we're capable. And here's the thing. It's perspective energy. The reason why I work so hard there was a kid with one arm literally back at the restaurant. My brother worked I'm working harder than me wiping down tables. And I remember watching, I was so upset because going through the numbers and entrepreneur, I'm sitting on my computer that I built, that's not working. That's why John bought me the computer was very, very awesome. Like just cool, cool moments, you know, on this journey. It's special minutes is special. I admit that even now, I want to enjoy right now, you know, because even people laugh now. Exactly. And this is so many people say, Jeff, oh, you're gonna be so successful. Give me that. I'm like, what does that look like? This? Success is the realization where the idea actually it fears me to have the next Starbucks. You walk into Coke on Wednesdays? Oh, Jeff owns that, right? We have them all around the world. Why do you go to Dubai? There's one. It's like, what's next? So a lot of times, it's always and I think it's every entrepreneur just gotta keep going. You don't really slow down, you know? So

Edward Collins  45:45
I think that that's one of the main characteristics of an entrepreneur is that you don't have a break. Like there's no brake pedal that I like

Jeff Cunningham  45:53
Do you ever go to the beach? Like and can you just lie on the beach? It's very, right. Okay, thank you. Can I tell you sir, I used to think there was something wrong with me because I had to go teach a little I flew.

Edward Collins  46:03
I was in Bahamas this past weekend with my family and my kids. And they're like playing the beach. I went to sit down for a few seconds and I couldn't do I had to get up and I had to do something. It's very difficult.

Jeff Cunningham  46:13
How many kids you have? 

Edward Collins  46:14
I have two.

Jeff Cunningham  46:14
Two little kids. So what's let me ask you this thing cuz I did ask this because my biggest fear is relationships now right? business partnerships, cool. But even find the right one. I said this before I noticed I said it to a rod on the thing, man, hey, like all these Latina women, I heard Oh, man, they're very challenging, right? What's what's a good relationship type, I know it's work. But

Edward Collins  46:34
so I'd say this, when when you really want to connect with someone, you want to connect with them through what I consider an ideal constant courtship. So I think the challenge where most relationships fail is when you stop courting, think about the energy that you have, when you're initially dating someone, you're constantly trying to look your best, do your best, do your best. And when you get into this, this thing of familiarity, meaning you're in a relationship with the same person for the same amount of time, for a long period of time, you become so familiar that you stop doing the things that made it special in the beginning, and you stop and stop being quote unquote, attractive in the way that made you attractive in the first place. And that's with all relationships, whether you're talking about a intimate personal relationship with with a partner, whether you're talking business relationships, it's the process of constantly courting that makes you stand out. And that can make you last the test of time, because time is going to move forward with or without you. And if you stop courting, that gives an opportunity.

Jeff Cunningham  47:35
It sounds so like, like old school, but

Edward Collins  47:38
what do you do when your date is when you're when you're interested in getting someone interested in you? How do you act? Oh, yeah, it gives it a little bit special attention a little bit special? Like, what is it that you 

Jeff Cunningham  47:52
get back to the last last lady that would take out? Yeah, 100%. You know, you kind of you're on your best behavior. And that doesn't sell myself. 

Edward Collins  48:01
You're still athletic. 

Jeff Cunningham  48:02
But yeah, no, no. And I really think that most people wouldn't Yeah, when I used to bartend, I used to ask people that same question. I'm actually I will used to go home and write in a Google document. But really the best, you know, 30 years don't fight to win fights resolve, all right. And one of the couples used to come in all the time actually just hit it the guy up soon. I just recently because keeping people in your thing, just to hey, I appreciate you is huge. And him and his wife to come in for a date night every time and it was just really awesome. They used to talk, I don't think they liked when I was was waiters that much. Because I would be like, This is what happened. Next thing. The guy liked it because he was entrepreneurial. And she was just like, we got to talk, you know? So. But yeah, but just really, I think having that of having the constant date i There's a guy named you. He's a millionaire mentor guy, Jason stone, him and his wife, Sam. So they're always doing vacations and all that stuff, too. And I think innovative campaigns, even marketing, right, having an innovative campaign for your relationship. Like I was just thinking about this now part of us doing the lead warum and seven figure in this whole thing we're going to be doing with everything's for my licensee guys, so they don't get stagnant so they can have some income. 

Edward Collins  49:01
So it's also important to make sure that you have the right roles set up in an intimate relationship. 

Jeff Cunningham  49:06
Yeah. 

Edward Collins  49:06
What role do you take within that family? What What role is she going to take within that family and make sure that you're have the same vision, essentially, what those roles mean, and how they should evolve. The other thing though, is you have to be willing to evolve with. 

Jeff Cunningham  49:19
Yeah.

Edward Collins  49:20
because the the reality is the relationship is going to progress over time, and you are going to be growing over time. So the challenge is what I also see happening, especially with entrepreneurs is an entrepreneur will get into a relationship with someone at this stage of their life. The entrepreneur has now grown to this stage, and this person did not grow in the same way, right? And now there's a lot of disconnection. And that's where a lot of relationships break down.

Jeff Cunningham  49:42
Yeah, no 100% And that's, that's always what I see a lot of times, like, even with people actually one of the guys I was consulting, I was out there. I was like, How can we include your wife more she has to have a marketing background? 

Edward Collins  49:52
Yes. 

Jeff Cunningham  49:53
And I didn't want to really be doing so I was like answered every call. But it was good though. And then she was actually really good. She was doing together, and I saw how much it brought the relationship together and the relationship was fine. I won't say anything about that. But it's just brought the business side it is always at work. She knows it. 

Edward Collins  50:08
Yeah, exactly. 

Jeff Cunningham  50:08
So like, that's what I'm looking for. People always ask me what I'm looking for I always a joke. It's a fluke, free labor. But my voice is someone at a mission, because when you're starting a startup, or you're in a business, right, like, all the time, I take the least amount of salary, I'm paying everybody else, right. And I mean, that's a kind of, I guess, an ego thing, too. I like doing that. You know, I mean, I'm sure but like, I really do. I realize there's obviously there's tax benefits to it, too. But there's also a point of, like, knowing that I have, you know, what I have The LORD will provide rarely, right, God will provide where I'm at. And you know, certain things any and knowing that everything's my fault. I think that's a big thing. You know, 

Edward Collins  50:47
Huge stoics i 100%. Agree. 

Jeff Cunningham  50:49
Yeah, right. Like and that was where it was when I used to be. If you knew me, I'm 37. Now if you knew me when I was 22. Man, I would shuck and jive a good communicator. That stuff's not my fault. I used to get my brother my brother Joshua's growth he's great. He's a lot of the reason why for growth used to always say Jeff, and I, I asked him dude, how are you so good with all these arrogant people, you know, and he's because I 

Edward Collins  51:09
Used to have to deal with you. 

Jeff Cunningham  51:11
So now I have a hard time. It's so true. I have a hard time. My biggest fear is to go back to that right? 

Edward Collins  51:17
Yes. 

Jeff Cunningham  51:17
Like one of the things that does rub me wrong. And I understand there's a point for by like, maybe the entertainers or stuff like that, it's that they have this level of arrogance that I'm like, Where's where's it missing inside? Right? 

Edward Collins  51:27
Yeah. 

Jeff Cunningham  51:28
But I was actually wrong kind of about kind of 

Edward Collins  51:31
Some of that's just brand 

Jeff Cunningham  51:32
I don't consume, Yeah, exactly. A lot of its branding. Like, what I what I realized was interesting, he was joking a lot of apps, you know what I mean? For it, like, and people didn't take it, they took it serious and stuff like that. But my whole point with all these brands, and like people asked me, What do you have an answer to on your show? And at first it was no. And then I watched, you know, he watched by their thing. And sometimes to me, it's not always about clicks. It's about my name. 

Edward Collins  51:52
Exactly. 

Jeff Cunningham  51:52
Who I associate myself with. That's why I looked you up before I even came on Erica, what's this about? You know, because there was actually another podcast that asked me to come on, and nothing against weed and everything like that, too. They do a whole like, you know, a hippie days thing. But I don't smoke weed. I feel like it slows you down, you know, to like, so I'm not going to be about that. You know what I mean? I'm not going to endorse that, you know, understand, listen, so I'm not so desperate for attention where I need to go on everything. And I think a lot of that's what people do a lot of wrong. Because we're in such a clickbait thing. You're just gonna put up everything. Hey, if I really want to talk about, you know, Elon Musk, let me talk about Elon Musk. I'm not gonna talk about him just because I don't want to you know, I think it's awesome that he bought Twitter. You know, I mean, I'm on Twitter all the time. You know, JJ had a blue check right there. And we're proud of it.

Edward Collins  52:36
Awesome. Awesome. One of the things I like to do with all the guests that come on, is I like to do a little bit of a thought exercise. So if you wouldn't mind. So I want you to imagine for a moment that you have the capability of 

Jeff Cunningham  52:48
Going to close my eyes?

Edward Collins  52:49
You can if you'd like to. But imagine that you have the capability of going back in time. Now, when you imagine that you're going to go back and visit a younger version of you. And you have the chance to tell that version of you one thing. I want to know, Who do you go back to visit? What age are you what's going on in your life? And what is it that you share with them? That younger version of Jeff?

Jeff Cunningham  53:11
Yeah, just go for it.

Edward Collins  53:13
So who you're going to see though? Like what age are you going back to?

Jeff Cunningham  53:15
So literally, going back to the girl it's always the girl with me man. Playing capsule flag. I went to it right away. She She was church girl. So she had her long skirt on, and the flag was there. And I want to dive under the skirt. 

Edward Collins  53:31
Yeah. 

Jeff Cunningham  53:31
Yeah, I think we wound up doing it anyway. And I want to that moment there of just me hesitating, is why the perfect moment is when I didn't hesitate. Even me asking her to marry me years down the road, I went forward a little bit sooner might have had a better chance, you know, so literally, that guy was probably like 12 11 years old. My mom was so alive. And I was too scared of what she thought of me obviously I liked her and I was scared of what everybody else would thought of me you know, if I really just went for you know, that moment sooner, I think you know, maybe it would have played out like I am now you know, I probably would have been entrepreneurial but, but yeah, that's that was basically it managed to just go for it and it's funny because one of my mentors has fears that direction right? And it is thinking anytime you're afraid you're the retreating or going forward right and everything we know anything more like I'm now I'm learning about mergers and acquisitions and profit share models, right? A lot of times I was going out there hunting and killing and it's kind of uncomfortable and you know, I think but it's essential to grow my business you know, absolutely so so that was that's what we started implementing now. And but it was fearful at first like oh, man, why do I have to learn this as a new level? Right? I don't want to there's certain points of that and I think you know, just knowing fears direction and going for it like that point. Yeah, just write them I was young, like I wish I knew that sooner. might have had it a little different of a life now where I'm out, you know, getting married by now we're married three times.

Edward Collins  54:53
I like to say that the the outcomes that I desire are always found on the other side of caution. 

Jeff Cunningham  54:59
Yeah. 

Edward Collins  55:00
So taking action being willing to take action moving first, being the person who says okay, yeah, I'm not gonna hesitate just gonna do I like I s6aid, again, outcome, the outcomes that I desire are always found on the other side of caution. They're never on the side of caution. The ones that you truly desire. Now, there are outcomes, obviously, on the side of caution, right? Those aren't the ones I want. 

Jeff Cunningham  55:21
That's good. I like that. 

Edward Collins  55:22
It's good. When you look at it. The second portion of this thought exercise now is I want you to imagine that a future version of Jeff comes back to us in this moment, this setting sits right next to you and has a chance to share something with you. What is it that he shares?

Jeff Cunningham  55:36
Right now talks to me where I'm at? 

Edward Collins  55:38
Yeah, so a future version of you. 

Jeff Cunningham  55:39
Yeah, I know. I've done this often. Her mosey talks about this. And it's enjoying now, you know, because I'm so like, like, here's the thing like and I've been very blessed like people put me and me I've put myself in a position myself up there with like, these thoughts and it's not even a thought leader man, I'm just I'm literally just trying to help people market and brand better. That's it. I want to build a bit and brand as big as Trump if not bigger than Trump right then that's why I admire what entertains done in the short time you know, Jake, Paul to man, you know, I was at Jake Paul's fight for reason I respect the heck out of Jake Paul. Just going in having all the money and doing it. And even Jake Paul man, you know, enjoy where you're at right now enjoy the grind, enjoy the difference, even enjoy the struggles, you know, I'm saying, but really just enjoy this. Like, I think a lot of times I get so discontent, especially with people putting such a stigma on me because I cast the vision so well. That like, Oh, you're not there yet. You know, like, wherever there is, you know, and it's really like, I'm going to be old. Eventually, like really enjoy this moment right now. You know, like, really enjoy, like, really? Hey, I appreciate you so much. You know, like, really be appreciative for this. Like, I have my health right now. One day, I'm going to be sad, you know, one day my dad's alive right now a very I'm gonna call my right now and tell him I love him one day because he's gonna he might not be here. People might die, right? There's going to be a day to be sad. I'm I have a flat tire right, right now where I'm at. You know, I'm very grateful for what I have. Right? So don't get upset. Like I was with one guy. He was upset because it was chocolate chip cookies, one of those bureaucratic, you know, guys, and he's like, it's like, I don't care if you mess up my food, I don't care if it's cold, like that. Like, I'm so grateful for everything there. And if I ever find myself in that, and really have someone to check me on that, like, hey, enjoy, now, you got everything going for you now, you know, kinda, I think that would be a big thing. You know?

Edward Collins  57:21
So the the younger version of Jeff got some advice, the present version of Jeff got some advice. I don't want the audience to feel left out. So what what piece of advice would you give individuals? Thank you. What piece of advice would you give to someone who's consuming this content right now who, who may be either thinking about starting a business? Maybe they've been in business for a decade or two? What

Jeff Cunningham  57:44
Don't be afraid to share your story. I think so many people are. And kind of the frame point was me. I told multiple stories in this right. There's something like powerful because like we all watch people who likes movies, we listen to things, they're all story 

Edward Collins  58:00
every story 

Jeff Cunningham  58:01
and everybody's so ashamed of where they're at, in a certain way. And you shouldn't be mad because everybody's struggling. Everybody's trying to figure it out. And if you just share authentically, where you are with your story. Like that's, that's what I love doing. I love taking people who just don't know how to or maybe they do, but they just need a little bit of tweaking on it. And I love love example find that and blowing up if it's the right story for the right reason, you know what I'm saying? But that's it. Don't be afraid to see so many people afraid, put their face out there. And now or even get a voice or a podcast, just start putting your brand I think content. This part isn't required viral alchemy and a content company and I love what you're doing here is is the biggest thing right now in recession to do is get content out there. Get message, don't and also, you know, do do some talk about only what you've done. You know, there's a lot of veteran David talks about this. There's theory, right? And that's I was a teacher, right? So I read from a book I teach your time's right right after. So the theory guy, so I was very good at that all the time, which is when I started consuming grants car content, that's why I went around to all their people, because at the end, it's all regurgitated. Anyway. It's research and development Just who do you like so if you have a good energy people like now I want to learn from Jeff because I want to learn from you, you know, whatever it is, they'll go to you don't I mean, so just get out there getting on. But there's, there's theory, there's witness, you know, learning from the multimillionaire mentor that I learned from real time and just serve. I learned so much stuff there. And those applications now I've done it for myself than for other people, right? We have the first guy who made 10k in one day, I still remember still my favorite thing because that was the moment I was like, Oh, if I can do this for him, I could do for anybody. And that was still when I was doing that. So I think a lot of it is just get your story out there and really get content out there you know, get get get content for your business, your message wherever you're at. If you don't even have a business right now. I think you'll help more people with your story inside wherever it is. And you know, people get mad like don't write a book. I think everybody should write a book. Everybody has a story. I think you have it in you. I think it's cathartic. I think if what we did in school, if we had kids right about and I want to change the education system, we are in a certain point with all the education we're putting out. But really Lle, thing if we had every kid maybe when they're 12 write a story about their life kind and then write a story then of who they wanted to be just that one exercise. I did that with 7k coach I went for, thing and it's actually funny what I wrote down that big picture assignment. Literally right now is exactly where I'm I talked about complementing run for president, looking at opening my first Kokomo jays, it was fine. It's been five years since then. So I think if we did that to kids, we'd have a lot more success. We'd know where they want in life.

Edward Collins  1:00:26
Exactly. 

Jeff Cunningham  1:00:26
We wouldn't just put them in boxes, you know?

Edward Collins  1:00:29
So, so powerfully true. 

Jeff Cunningham  1:00:31
So powerfully true. 

Edward Collins  1:00:32
Jeff, this has been amazing. And I know that everyone, everyone who's, who's been consuming this is like, there's they're sticking to it because everything you're sharing is awesome. How can they get back in touch with you after this episode's final? Like what's the best best way for them?

Jeff Cunningham  1:00:47
We didn't say anything that's gonna be cancelled from there too, as well. Probably the best way, the best way to get directly to me is on Instagram, Jeff the entrepreneur. 

Edward Collins  1:00:55
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  1:00:55
Although we are rebranding we're getting. We have branded forever.com That kind of goes over kind of what I do. Brand is forever because I believe it. That's when we just bought that for, but those are probably the best ways. You know, we're on Twitter GGC Entrepreneur on Twitter, and you're supposed to have them all Mark together. I like being a little bit different, I guess. could ever think but yeah, tweet me is really the biggest one. I'm very active on Twitter because Elon Musk now. 

Edward Collins  1:01:19
Okay. 

Jeff Cunningham  1:01:20
I told you when I stopped in Elon is gonna be on the show people laughed at me. But you gotta believe stuff. You gotta go into the pocket where it is. He's a top e right. 

Edward Collins  1:01:29
Yeah. 

Jeff Cunningham  1:01:29
So. So yeah, so you want to want to make sure? Yeah, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube. I'm Jeff Cunningham on YouTube, we're going through a whole rebrand from Jeff the entrepreneur to Jeff J. Cunningham. Sounds a little bit more presidential. More in that, you know, rebranding, let a little less documenting a lot more teaching. Now. I'll still document I have a few. We're gonna have a few other accounts pop up as us as well, too. But Jeff, the entrepreneur JJC, entrepreneur on Twitter, Jeff Cunningham couldn't win YouTube brand is forever.com is probably the best one. And we have a few other things coming out soon. But that's the best way if you just search my name or Google me, some guy said to me, man, what's your Google? What do you get if I google you? And I was I don't know, when I grew up my son was it's pretty good stuff out there. Yeah,

Edward Collins  1:02:11
I'm just I'm so inspired by everything that you're doing. I think it's amazing what you've been able to accomplish in such a relatively short period of time. It's awesome. What you're doing.

Jeff Cunningham  1:02:19
It doesn't feel like a short period of time. I feel like I've been doing 40 years within six years. The add my lights, six mini days, you know. So that's another thing. That's another thing I did for a while three days into one. And I was doing a lot of this while I was still selling windows and bartender. 

Edward Collins  1:02:34
Yes. 

Jeff Cunningham  1:02:35
It'll be in productive now. We're all in it. So now, 

Edward Collins  1:02:37
You're Ultra productive. 

Jeff Cunningham  1:02:39
Oh, yeah. 100%. Like, we're actually like, I kind of I think this is true for every entrepreneur. 

Edward Collins  1:02:43
Yeah. 

Jeff Cunningham  1:02:43
You know, losers. They feel like they don't get a lot done. You know, I mean, they feel like winners or losers feel like they they get more done than they really do. 

Edward Collins  1:02:53
Yeah. 

Jeff Cunningham  1:02:53
And then winners feel like, they didn't get enough done. 

Edward Collins  1:02:56
Yes 

Jeff Cunningham  1:02:57
Right. And I think every day I look on we'll do our five wins, or we'll go over like the KPIs with the team. And we'll I'll be like, Oh, actually, we did pretty good. Oh, yeah, we actually did that. You know, but I have such high standards for myself. That you know, and that's good. I don't I don't want everyone to lower the standards. 

Edward Collins  1:03:11
The reality is, whether you're a loser or winner, you have the same 24 hours. How are you going to spend it?

Jeff Cunningham  1:03:15
Right, exactly. Yeah, that's so true.

Edward Collins  1:03:17
So this has been amazing. I appreciate you being so authentic. I appreciate you sharing so genuinely, from every aspect, pretty much. I think we've touched on almost every topic. 

Jeff Cunningham  1:03:26
Yeah. 

Edward Collins  1:03:27
I just want to thank you so much for coming out. I know your audiences loved it. And I can't wait to see what you're going to do next day. 

Jeff Cunningham  1:03:33
I can't wait to see how this all comes out, man. Because this is this by far, this is another moment of making it by the way. So if you can be on entrepreneur unleashed, I definitely encourage it because it's just been great hospitality all the way through and just I love studios man, I love this, I think the power to anything changes through communication. 

Edward Collins  1:03:53
100%. 

Jeff Cunningham  1:03:53
So definitely as far as acquiring the team, and I'm very eager to see you know what you do next as well, you know,

Edward Collins  1:03:59
Awesome. Well, I'm looking forward to it. Guys. You've watched another amazing episode of entrepreneur unleashed. I know for a fact that you've loved every second of it. Be sure to click that that thumbs up button not just because it helps me but because it actually helps you to you know, when you tell the algorithm what it is that you like, you'll be fed more content like this. So be well be be genuine in everything that you're doing. And make sure you keep putting one foot in front of the other it's been another episode of entrepreneur unleashed, My name is Edward Collins. I can't wait to see you on the next episode. Bye for now. 

Jeff Cunningham  1:04:32
Awesome so that was that was great man we didn't have to get into the boxing match.

Edward Collins  1:04:37
I know this is well you're gonna have to come back as well it's gonna

Jeff Cunningham  1:04:41
This is especially cuz I'm In Miami and when I have my setup down to if not I have to make more money podcast is