Episodes

Neel sits down with Jeff Hill shares his journey from corporate America to location independence, discussing the struggles, mindset shifts, and the decision to raise a family outside the US. He emphasizes the importance of multiple sources of income and the freedom to live life on one's terms. Takeaways Transitioning from corporate America to entrepreneurship requires courage and a willingness to work hard for oneself. Creating multiple sources of income is essential for achieving location indep...

Buddy Rathmell, a former anti-human trafficking operative, shares his journey of entrepreneurship, nonprofit work, and the pursuit of a fulfilling lifestyle. From running anti-trafficking operations in Southeast Asia to starting Map Winners, Buddy's story is one of impact, values, and the pursuit of contentment. Takeaways Buddy Rathmell's journey is a testament to the pursuit of a fulfilling lifestyle driven by impact and values. Entrepreneurship and nonprofit work can coexist, serving as fuel f...

In this episode of the Freedom Formula podcast, Neel Parekh sits down with Ben McAdam, a business coach who helps entrepreneurs increase their profits by analyzing their numbers. Ben shares his journey from being a classical pianist to becoming a business owner and explains how he discovered the power of numbers in growing a business. They discuss the mindset shifts required for entrepreneurship, the importance of prioritizing spending, and the role of mindset in achieving lifestyle design. Ben ...

Mitchell Sorkin, known as the ATM guy, shares his journey of building a portfolio of almost a thousand ATMs across the country. He explains how he got into the ATM business and the qualities he looked for in a business, such as low labor intensity. Mitchell discusses the business model of ATMs, including the risks and benefits. He also talks about the negotiation process with store owners and the potential income generated by ATMs. Mitchell emphasizes the importance of finding a business that su...

In this episode, Neel chats with Bobby Hobert, host of The Bearded Man podcast and a lifestyle design coach. They discuss Bobby's journey from driving for Uber to becoming a full-time creator and coach. Bobby explains that lifestyle design is about being intentional with every moment and designing a life that aligns with your goals and priorities. He shares his four-step process for helping clients design their lives, which includes a personal audit, mapping out the dream life, creating a custom...

Jesse Schoberg, CEO of Dropinblog, shares his experience living as a digital nomad in Thailand and the benefits of the lifestyle. He discusses the cost of living in Thailand compared to major cities like New York and London, highlighting the affordability and quality of life. Jesse emphasizes the safety, quality of service, and availability of amenities in Thailand. He also talks about his journey from living in Wisconsin to moving to Panama and eventually settling in Thailand. Jesse reflects on...

Peter Murphy Lewis shares his journey of designing his own freedom lifestyle through entrepreneurship and career changes. From living abroad in Chile to starting his own travel company, Peter has embraced different opportunities and made bold decisions to create the life he wants. He discusses the challenges and rewards of making career transitions and emphasizes the importance of spending less than you make to have the freedom to make choices. Peter also talks about his current role as a fracti...

Ryan Knoll and Neel Parekh discuss their backgrounds and experiences in the home service industry. They talk about their early days, growth trajectories, and the marketing tactics that worked for them. They emphasize the importance of networking and traditional marketing methods, in addition to digital marketing strategies like SEO and Google ads. They also discuss the structure of their teams and the use of remote staff. The conversation covers topics such as managing a cleaning business, handl...

In this episode, Neel chats with David Lahav, a former locksmith company owner turned meditation teacher. They discuss David's journey in entrepreneurship, his mindset shift towards finding purpose and freedom, and the role of meditation in his life. David emphasizes the importance of being an importer of happiness rather than an exporter, and how meditation helps reduce stress and improve decision-making. He also explains how entrepreneurship and meditation are not mutually exclusive, but rathe...

In this episode, Neel Parekh sits down with John Seiffer, author of Output Thinking and founder of CEO Bootcamp. They discuss John's entrepreneurial journey, starting with a failed waterbed store business in the 70s. They explore the differences between B2B and B2C business models and the importance of building a business like an asset. John introduces the concept of output thinking and explains how to identify and develop systems in a business. They also discuss common issues faced by new busin...

In this episode, Neel reunites with his old friend Jon to discuss Jon's unique lifestyle and career transitions. Jon shares his journey from being a residential advisor to working in startups and spearfishing. They delve into the challenges of making career pivots and the importance of unlearning limiting beliefs. Jon also talks about his experience as a stay-at-home dad and the impact it had on his business. They explore the balance between career goals and prioritizing experiences, and the val...

In this episode, Ryan Sneddon shares his journey of starting a successful local email newsletter business. He discusses how he came up with the idea, experimented with different business models, and eventually found success with his current business. Ryan explains the process of monetizing the newsletter through advertising and the importance of targeting the right advertisers. He also shares his plans for scaling the business and partnering with others to expand into different cities. Ryan emph...

In this episode, Neel chats with Khe, a former finance professional who quit his high-paying job to pursue a more fulfilling life. They discuss Khe's background, his career journey, and the midlife crisis that led him to reevaluate his priorities. They also explore the concept of lifestyle creep and how Kay managed his spending habits. The conversation delves into the psychological hurdles and money beliefs that often hold people back from making significant life changes. They touch on generatio...

In this episode, Neel chats with Aaron Harper, CEO of Rolling Suds, about his journey in the franchise industry. Aaron shares his background in the film industry and his transition to entrepreneurship. He explains his approach to acquiring Rolling Suds and turning it into a franchise. Aaron discusses the importance of building a strong franchise system and the support provided to franchisees. He also emphasizes the need for commitment and effort from franchisees and the challenges of part-time f...

In this episode, Neel sits down with Connor Loftus from Mike's Fences and dive into his entrepreneurial journey, exploring the fusion of passion, family influence, and market opportunity that led to the creation of his company. Takeaways: Entrepreneurship often involves seizing opportunities where one's passion aligns with market demand. The journey to building a successful business may involve trial and error, but perseverance and adaptability are essential. Embracing uncertainty and taking ca...

In this episode, Neel Parekh interviews Cole Simpson, owner of a roofing company, about his journey in entrepreneurship. Cole shares his background and how he got into the roofing business. He discusses the challenges and lessons he learned along the way, including his experience with franchising and acquisitions. Cole shares his motivations and goals, and how he approaches business as a game. Takeaways Entrepreneurship requires risk mitigation and the ability to make asymmetrical bets. Experien...

In this episode Neel sits down for the second time with Stephen Heiner, who previously appeared on episode 108 , when he had just newly moved into a Catholic seminary after having been location independent for a decade. This was Neel's "6 month checkup" on Stephen. Neel and Stephen discuss: - Stephen's frame for freedom, i.e. discipline = freedom, and how stability has given him productivity, but also another way to do what it is he wants to do - how much the Four Hour Work Week influenced Steph...

In this episode Neel sits down with Logan Robison who just quit his job in the last few weeks to go full-time on his business. Neel and Logan discuss: - a side hustle he started in February 2020: a photo booth which he made 5X on upon exit despite starting the month before Covid hit - how a big project at his full-time job forced a crisis and a niche move in his then rapidly-growing cleaning business...and just how hard it was to turn down jobs as a result - how a text message autoresponder help...

See you guys in the new year with a fresh look!

In this episode Neel chats with Renee Aafjes of Organized Garage , a company that helps people upgrade their garages to make them look and function better. Neel and Renee discuss: - the unique (and supportive) environment America offers in building businesses from the ground up (and how New Zealand, where Renee hails from, deals with Tall Poppy Syndrome by contrast) - Renee's entrepreneurial journey, which included an injury which forced him to change into a business that didn't require as much ...

In this episode Neel sits down with Paul Tran , owner of 11 Halal Guys stores in the Orange County, California area. Neel and Paul discuss: - how what you don't know can really be a secret weapon in entrepreneurship - what sort of people make good franchisees (and who can sometimes come with baggage) - how Paul's personal love for the brand led him to jump back into the restaurant space after sitting on the sidelines for a decade If you want to start your own MaidThis Franchise in your market & ...

In this episode Neel and sits down with Walker Drewett of NuBrakes , a mobile brake-repair business that grew out of a mobile car detailing business he started while going to school. Neel and Walker discuss: - not sitting on your laurels: despite growing the car detailing business to $1M in revenue, Walker found out customers really wanted help with maintenance and service, so he pivoted accordingly - why it is nerve-wracking to trust employees with company vehicles they can take home, but that ...

In this episode Neel and sits down with Chris Schwab of Think Maids (remote cleaning business) and Inova Local (a virtual assistant company). Chris originally wanted to get to Japan to be with his long-distance girlfriend and realized starting a business was the only way he could do that. That paved the way for everything else. Neel and Chris discuss: - the cleaning "revenue valley of despair" in which you are bringing in a lot of revenue but are not yet profitable enough to hire full-time help ...

In this episode Neel speaks with Ben Davis of The Gents Place (which he describes as speakeasy meets barber shop meets country club) and Rascal Man about his journey from the corporate life to being a remote local business franchisor. Neel and Ben discuss: - how he chose what kind of business to start, which included asking "where could I work 80 a week and still love it." - why someone would choose a $600 annual membership to The Gents Place instead of just paying $30 each time he needs a hairc...