CASE STUDIES

• John Taylor: Discipline, Leadership, and Lasting Impact

  John Taylor, billionaire-minded entrepreneur and Co-founder of Grit Marketing, went from knocking doors in college to building one of the fastest-growing sales organizations in America. Now, he reveals the leadership habits, mindset shifts, and business principles that shaped his rise—and how you can apply them to your own journey.In this episode, John Taylor shares:The leadership routine that keeps him disciplined and focusedHow Grit Marketing evolved from door-to-door sales into a platform companyThe psychological shift that separates top sales reps from true leadersWhy skipping the “boring” financial skills could cost you millionsHow marriage, family, and faith keep him grounded while scaling businessesThe mindset that turns setbacks into opportunities for growthJohn Taylor’s story is about more than sales—it’s about building belief, leading with humility, and creating success that lasts. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or rep in the field, his lessons will change the way you think about business, discipline, and life.”00:00 | Opening & why this conversation01:18 | Partnership, boardroom lessons & belief from mentors01:54 | Todd Pedersen’s influence and the evolving Grit team 03:04 | Early valuation, vision, and “bottom of the mountain” mindset04:22 | Roots, family of 11, first door-to-door reps09:08 | BYU finance, pest control, and learning to lead12:21 | Competition, identity, and the power of belief15:32 | From top rep to VP: building organizations that scale16:52 | 2020 uncertainty, honoring deals, and character under pressure18:16 | Essential business, resilience, and keeping promises24:02 | Founding Grit (2020): from sales partner to platform26:59 | Habits & rituals: Sunday planning, cold plunge, breathwork 30:05 | Emily: marriage, values, and building a life that works33:30 | Don’t skip steps: hard skills (finance/accounting) compound35:39 | Sharpe ratio thinking: time, trade-offs, and priorities36:30 | Golf, relationships, and playing the right game41:57 | Purpose, presence, and leading with love43:28 | Modeling authenticity: inspiring people to be better51:46 | Faith, hope, NICU lessons, and “life happening for us” 58:21 | Close: the best is yet to come Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Chad Lewis: Highlight Episode

  In this deeply engaging episode, we journey through the life of Chad Lewis - whose path from being an overlooked high school athlete to a professional football star embodies the essence of an underdog victory. Chad shares his exhilarating tales of resilience and unexpected success, revealing how moments of inspiration led him from performing a pivotal standing backflip to secure a scholarship to walking on at BYU against all odds. His candid stories extend from heartfelt chats on long hikes to the intense pressures of professional football.Listeners will gain insights into Chad’s personal struggles, the impact of his faith on his career decisions, and the influential people who believed in him when few others did. Alongside his reflections are tales of personal growth and pivotal life decisions that not only shaped his career but also his character. This episode not only celebrates Chad’s athletic prowess but also his profound humanity and the enduring belief that determination and faith can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Chad Willardson on Living Fully Invested, Saying No to Wrong Opportunities, and Building A Legacy

  In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down once again with Chad Willardson - Founder of Pacific Capital and ELEVATED a coaching mastermind, as well as a best-selling author of five books; for a powerful conversation on wealth, focus, and building a life without compromise.Chad shares how narrowing his focus to serve only ultra high-net worth entrepreneurs transformed his business and his ability to deliver real value. He and Casey dive into the discipline of saying no, the courage required to walk away from the wrong opportunities, and the freedom that comes from aligning your work with your true identity. Chad also opens up about creating ELEVATED, a community where entrepreneurs can grow not only in business but in family and life, challenging the false idea of “balance” by embracing what it means to be Fully Invested.The discussion is rich with lessons on focus, growth without finish lines, and leading with principle over profit. For entrepreneurs and leaders seeking clarity, conviction, and a model of integrated success, this episode offers a masterclass in designing both business and life with intention.00:00 | Welcome back & “Fully Invested” mindset01:41 | Family update: missions, college, adventures03:00 | Amber’s endurance wins: Ironman, Alcatraz, 2902904:17 | Why growth is emotional when you support your spouse07:31 | Bringing business principles home: family vision boards09:33 | Kids’ ambitions: macros, sports, golf, and grit12:05 | Two lanes: Pacific Capital UHNW founders & Elevated13:36 | What Elevated members get weekly 1:1, pods, events14:51 | Pricing & scale goals for Elevated15:13 | Carving out 80% of clients to go ultra-narrow16:13 | Partnering clients, retention, and bold focus17:44 | The sports facility business: ops, margins, expansion20:26 | USA Volleyball opportunity & LA mega-facility21:22 | COVID pivot: tutoring essential workers’ kids to survive22:42 | Content, reach, and building a movement around mindset26:48 | Frameworks: saying no, time truth, one life calendar29:15 | Protecting the calendar: Derby vs. son’s playoff game33:29 | Championship teams: coach strengths, not weaknesses36:13 | Saying no to good for great incl. NBA referrals38:45 | Turning away $120M: culture over revenue40:52 | Scalable mentorship: resources + voice memo workflow44:47 | Two-EA triad: personal vs. business lanes47:15 | Books solve real problems: 6 titles, 10-in-10 plan49:44 | Tony & Dean’s Zenith: proximity, launches, real estate53:23 | Owner vs operator: lessons from Business Mastery53:53 | No retirement: growth without finish lines55:47 | One-year vision: LA facility, 500 Elevated members56:33 | Pacific Capital +$400M AUM; narrow by design57:22 | Book #7 commitment & public goal setting01:00:20 | 10k-person Fully Invested live event plan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Astrid S. Tuminez: Highlight Episode

  Join us on a remarkable journey with Dr. Astrid Tuminez, President of Utah Valley University, as she shares her incredible life story from humble beginnings in a Philippine rice farming village to leading a university. In this heartfelt episode, Dr. Tuminez delves into her experiences as an immigrant, a scholar, and a leader, highlighting the pivotal moments and the influential people who helped shape her path. From her early education to her academic pursuits at BYU, Harvard, and MIT, and her impressive career across global institutions like Wall Street and Microsoft, Dr. Tuminez's story is a powerful testament to the transformative impact of education and perseverance. Discover how her unique approach to leadership at UVU is fostering an environment of care, accountability, and results, preparing a diverse student body for the challenges of tomorrow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• John Jackson: Turning a Life Sentence Into a Second Chance

  In this episode of Case Studies, Casey is joined by John Jackson; a former gang leader who rose through the ranks of one of the most powerful prison organizations before choosing a path of transformation. From maximum security yards to solitary confinement at Pelican Bay, John shares how trauma, prison politics, and the underground economy shaped his life—and how entrepreneurship helped him rewrite it.He reveals how gangs inside prison operate like corporations, complete with hierarchies, rules, and revenue streams. John breaks down the incentives that drive violence and control, while also exposing the perverse economics of private prisons. His story shows how the same discipline and leadership that once sustained chaos can be redirected toward growth and purpose.From orchestrating survival in solitary to joining an in-prison entrepreneurship program, John and Casey explore the pivotal moments that shifted his trajectory. This conversation offers a rare inside look at resilience, influence, and the possibility of change in even the harshest environments.Chapters00:00 | Welcome & setup00:18 | Why this world feels “foreign”00:42 | John’s origin story begins01:03 | First encounter with law enforcement01:20 | Taking the drug charge at 1701:35 | Four armed robberies & max prison02:21 | Siblings, loss, and isolation03:14 | Environment vs. guardrails05:40 | Probation, parole & stacked obstacles06:20 | Private prisons & perverse incentives08:10 | Cartels as local “employers”09:11 | Crime’s inevitable endgame10:14 | Why he took the fall11:12 | Acceptance as a survival need12:07 | Jail ecosystem: drugs, fights, status13:04 | Race lines and prison structure14:00 | Negotiation skills behind bars16:10 | Cutting off family to “go all in”17:10 | First robbery & the dangerous win18:00 | Dopamine, risk, and escalation19:23 | “I knew I’d thrive in prison”20:13 | The cafeteria incident & mentor21:07 | Sentencing math: stacking charges22:02 | Centinela: max prison near the border23:20 | Why jail can be more volatile24:05 | Joining the largest prison gang26:16 | Gangs as parent companies & franchises26:40 | Smuggling supply chains (incl. dirty cops)28:05 | Earning status: debts & discipline29:06 | Prison entrepreneurship (gambling, alcohol, phones)31:01 | Corporate politics—just higher stakes31:26 | Power, money, and “don’t do politics”33:08 | The written rulebook & paperwork checks33:47 | Who’s excluded—and why35:11 | Internal punishments & order36:20 | 18 years inside: the ladder37:01 | Pelican Bay & four years in the SHU39:20 | Solitary reality vs. myths41:27 | Transfers, levels, and riots42:36 | Use of force: towers & rifles43:06 | The peace treaty & hunger strikes44:09 | “Yard time” myth in solitary44:40 | Breaking point: wanting to go home45:01 | New charges from inside48:23 | Stepping down from leadership49:14 | A lifer’s blessing to leave50:09 | Entrepreneurship program that changed everything51:25 | His future wife: VC to prison reform52:21 | Scaling Defy & big-name allies52:42 | A force of nature walks into Pelican Bay54:10 | She saw potential—before he did Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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