Episode 89. It’s hard to create one successful business, but if you can take what you learn from doing one thing and apply it to another the opportunities are endless. They key: getting really good at one thing.

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work Podcast, host Greg Martin interviews David Steele, a successful restaurateur and founder of One Wealth Advisors. They discuss David's journey from working in the restaurant industry during high school to founding a highly successful restaurant group in San Francisco and a thriving financial planning practice.

Key topics include his love for hospitality, the transition to wealth management, building successful businesses through systematic processes, and career advice for young professionals. David also shares insights on the evolution of the restaurant industry, the impact of the Me Too movement, and the role of technology and AI.

Additionally, David talks about his involvement in other entrepreneurial ventures, including a restaurant company in New York, a rock and roll band management company, and a yoga studio.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:23 Meet David Steele: Restaurateur and Financial Planner
• 01:16 David's Journey: From Restaurants to Wall Street
• 02:55 The Allure of the Restaurant Industry
• 05:15 Hospitality in Finance: A Unique Perspective
• 07:01 Starting Flour + Water: Challenges and Successes
• 12:16 Universal Business Principles for Success
• 16:21 David's Diverse Ventures and Board Roles
• 18:00 Building Systematic Processes for Success
• 30:23 Empowering Teams and Delegation
• 31:44 The Evolving Restaurant Industry
• 35:20 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Episode 88. How do you put yourself in the position as a founder to solve a really big and complex problem—while building a great company along the way?

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Frank Rohde, founder and CEO of Ownify, about his diverse career in financial services and his mission to make homeownership more accessible for first-time buyers.

Frank discusses his early life in Germany, his transition from banking and consulting to launching financial startups, and the challenges he faced during the .com bust. He explains the impetus behind Ownify and how the company aims to reduce barriers to homeownership through innovative financing solutions.

The conversation also covers the broader economic factors affecting housing affordability and the balance of creating impactful work that also yields financial returns.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:23 Meet Frank Rohde: From Wharton to Ownify
• 01:06 Frank's Early Life and Career Beginnings
• 02:51 Consulting at Oliver Wyman
• 07:29 The Dot-Com Boom and Bust
• 15:25 Joining FICO and Leveraging Data
• 17:23 Nomis Solutions: Price Optimization in Financial Services
• 21:34 Navigating the Financial Crisis
• 23:13 Reflecting on Career and Future Goals
• 26:15 Identifying the Housing Crisis
• 27:12 The Genesis of Ownify
• 28:07 Economic Factors Affecting Home Ownership
• 30:30 Challenges for First-Time Home Buyers
• 37:45 Ownify’s Innovative Solution
• 46:39 Balancing Financial Return and Impact
• 50:12 Conclusion and Call to Action

Episode 87. Neil Twa has built the type of business that can be repeated again and again. He’s in the world of e-commerce and has lots to share after trying again and again, failing and finding the way.

In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Neil Twa, CEO of Voltage Holdings. Neil shares his unconventional career journey, from learning about the internet to having to file for personal bankruptcy for a failed venture to working his way up in the corporate tech world at Sprint and IBM.

Following a personal tragedy, Neil made the leap to entrepreneurship, building a successful e-commerce business through innovative product strategy rather than invention. They discuss the evolution of e-commerce, the importance of automation, and practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. He emphasizes the need for a purpose-driven approach and strategic thinking in building a sustainable and profitable business.

• 00:23 Meet Neil Twa: From Fighter Pilot Dreams to E-commerce Expert
• 01:23 Neil's Early Career and Internet Beginnings
• 04:00 Transition to Entrepreneurship and Early Challenges
• 10:03 The Shift to Affiliate Marketing and E-commerce
• 12:25 Understanding E-commerce and Amazon's Role
• 20:45 The Power of Data and Innovation in E-commerce
• 26:25 Testing the Engine: 18 Months of Discovery
• 26:51 Rapid Brand Launches and Market Domination
• 27:21 Teaching and Scaling: From Employees to Partners
• 28:47 Acquiring and Automating Businesses
• 30:21 Veteran-Focused Business Growth
• 31:28 The High Voltage Business Builders Podcast
• 32:09 Building an Eight-Figure Business Strategy
• 34:21 The Importance of Patience and Realistic Expectations
• 35:06 The Role of the Operator in Business Success
• 45:26 Creating Value and Purpose in Business
• 47:31 Special Offer and Final Thoughts