
Hosted by sevenfigures · EN

Today's guest is Megan Schwan, the CEO and founder of her own accounting firm. Megan discovered her passion for accounting as a freshman in high school and landed her first accounting job at just 15 years old. She went on to graduate with honors with a Bachelor's in Accounting from a university in Virginia and now has over 15 years of professional experience. As a mother of four, Megan is deeply motivated by her family, which serves as the driving force behind her business. Megan founded her firm with a mission to change the face of accounting for small businesses. She believes that understanding your finances is like using a decoder ring; it contains all the information needed to answer the questions that will take your business to the next level. Her firm is more than just a bookkeeping and tax service—it's a partnership. Megan and her team are passionate about educating and supporting owners, empowering them to unlock their financial data and pave a clear path to success. As a certified financial professional and an experienced entrepreneur who bootstrapped her own business from the ground up, Megan knows exactly what it's like to navigate the challenges of life while building a dream. This unique perspective has allowed her to help thousands of owners bridge the gap between their numbers and their business goals. Megan is also deeply committed to her community through partnerships with several business development organizations and local chambers. For More Info: https://Sidekick-Accounting.com

In this episode, we're pulling back the curtain on how we built our funding empire from the ground up, starting with simple, local networking. I remember walking into my first Chamber of Commerce event and feeling totally out of my league. My biggest fear was seeing business bankers there—I thought they were my competition! But I quickly discovered a secret mindset that changed everything. Find out how we turned these bankers into an incredible source of referrals who were thrilled to send their declined clients our way. The best part about these strategies is that they don't have to cost a fortune. We found a free online platform just packed with local business owners who all needed one thing: funding. We even taught this strategy to one of our partners, and the results were absolutely mind-blowing. Want to know how he started generating dozens of high-quality leads in just a few weeks without spending a dime? We'll break down his exact, super-simple process. Finally, we reveal the one networking strategy that can be a bit of a grind, but the payoff is huge. It involves a weekly commitment and a small investment, but it forces you to become a master connector and perfect your elevator pitch. We’ll share how joining this one type of group led to a massive return on a tiny investment and can help you build relationships that send business your way on autopilot. Listen in to learn all three of our foundational networking secrets! For More Info: https://MyFundingMachine.com Email: info@7figures.com

We all dream of building our own funding empires, but there's one giant wall that stops almost everyone dead in their tracks: getting a consistent flow of quality leads. It can be the most frustrating part of the business. But what if I told you the problem isn't your strategy, but your mindset? In this episode, I’m breaking down the one thing all the greats—from Rockefeller and Carnegie to the billionaires of today—understood about getting their name out there. It’s about being bold and unapologetic about the value you provide. You’ll hear a story about two of our partners who landed new business just by having a conversation over lunch. Find out the simple mental switch you need to flip to start attracting opportunities everywhere you go. When it comes to lead generation, I see two main paths you can take. While one involves paying for ads, the other is a powerful, no-cost strategy that completely transformed our business. We used this exact method to sign up 400 referral partners in our first year, which has now grown to over 12,000 partners sending us thousands of leads every month. You’ll have to listen to find out how we did it, and how you can start building your own lead-generating machine today. For More Info: https://MyFundingMachine.com Email: info@7figures.com

Building an empire can be an incredibly lonely job. I know exactly what it’s like to be in the trenches, fighting battles and facing a constant barrage of problems. It’s easy to lose hope. But what if I told you there’s a way to get a complete paradigm shift by putting yourself in the right room? In this episode, I’m talking about the unbelievable power of live events. They are the secret sauce that connects you with other like-minded risk-takers and can absolutely change your life. It’s how I got to meet some of my biggest heroes and mentors. I've had some wild experiences on this journey, from hanging out backstage with Patrick Bet-David to having Gary Vaynerchuk drop an F-bomb on me in front of thousands. We even got to work with titans like Grant Cardone. But it wasn't all glamorous. We made some expensive mistakes. Listen in to find out why paying a hefty $10,000 sponsorship fee can be a complete disaster and learn the crucial lesson we discovered that turned these events into a massive win for us every single time. I’m ready to share the powerful strategy we now use to partner with major events and get on stage, often without paying a single dollar in fees. You’ll also hear the story of how I was told I had only three minutes to speak to a room of 500 entrepreneurs. Find out exactly what I did with just a business credit card and a QR code to capture the entire room's attention. See why this simple, 3-minute pitch was so effective that it had people flocking to our booth for days. The most amazing part is that the biggest opportunities often come from where you least expect them. In the episode, you’ll discover how one event that I considered a total business failure actually led to an unexpected, seven-figure revenue stream from a source I never saw coming. It's a wild story that proves you have to show up. Tune in to learn how you can use these same principles to get reborn, find your own paradigm shift, and build your funding empire. For More Info: https://MyFundingMachine.com Email: info@7figures.com

In this episode, we're diving deep into the core principles required to build a 7-figure funding business. It’s a goal many of you have, but the hard truth is that less than 5% of funding professionals ever reach that level. I’ve done it multiple times, but my path to success was paved with some catastrophic failures that almost ended my career before it truly began. I thought I had it all figured out in my 20s. I built a multiple 7-figure mortgage business from the ground up, only to watch it all crumble during the 2008 recession. I lost everything. Instead of fighting back, I became someone I didn’t recognize: a whiner, a complainer, someone who blamed the world for my problems. I was at rock bottom for three long years, stuck in a cycle of negativity. How do you pull yourself out of a nosedive like that when you’ve become your own worst enemy? It all changed when I made a conscious decision to adopt one powerful, life-altering principle: to be unreasonably optimistic in the face of adversity. This isn’t about naive positivity; it's a strategic weapon. I’ll share the story of a client who was just moments away from quitting on his dream, needing $30,000 but ready to stop after a single decline. What I told him in that moment not only saved his business but is something you can use on your very next sales call. I’m revealing the three toxic habits I eliminated that completely transformed my results and the simple, daily practice I use to recenter myself when challenges feel overwhelming. This is the key to winning when adversity inevitably strikes. Are you ready to learn how to master it? For More Info: https://MyFundingMachine.com Email: info@7figures.com

What is the one thing that separates a six-figure business from a true seven-figure funding empire? In this episode, we reveal that the answer isn't a complex strategy or a secret funding source—it's leadership. If you feel like you're stuck in the trenches, forever working in your business instead of on it, this is for you. We break down the critical leap from being a skilled solo operator to becoming the leader of a real team. So many entrepreneurs get trapped doing the $15-an-hour tasks, like chasing down clients for paperwork or fixing tech issues, because the thought of hiring is terrifying. We get it. The idea of taking on payroll, setting up a W2 employee, and trusting someone with your business can feel like a massive risk. But if you never make that jump, you don't have a business; you have a high-stress job that owns you. So, what is the very first hire you must make to break this cycle, and how do you overcome the mental tug-of-war that holds you back? Once you have that first person, who comes next? We'll tell you the exact roles you need to fill to scale effectively, including the one type of sales professional you should look for that most people overlook. But simply hiring people isn't enough. To prevent your business from looking successful on the outside while crumbling on the inside—a painful lesson we learned firsthand—you need a powerful foundation. We'll explain how to establish the core values, principles, and vision that will attract and motivate a team of A-players. Ultimately, this is about building a machine that runs without you. It’s about creating systems, leveraging technology, and forging strategic partnerships that deliver a flood of leads every single month. We discuss how to build a business that not only produces massive cash flow but also gives you the ultimate reward: the freedom to do what you want, when you want, with whomever you want. What is the key to creating that kind of leverage and finally achieving true freedom? Listen to the full episode to find out. For More Info: https://MyFundingMachine.com Email: info@7figures.com

Have you ever wondered what the number one secret is for building an incredibly valuable business? There's a specific business model that creates exceptional profits and predictable cash flow, making a company a truly sellable asset. Without this key ingredient, you might be working much harder for much less. So, what is this powerful strategy that can transform a struggling business into a financial success story? In this episode, we reveal how we had to learn this lesson the hard way. After looking at our own company, we realized it was missing this critical component for long-term value. This led us on a journey to create something new: an automated system that completely revolutionized our industry. The "machine" we built now takes a process that used to last 45 minutes and shrinks it down to just two, helping our clients build seven-figure businesses of their own. But we didn't stop there. After creating that first tool, we developed a second one to solve another massive problem for small business owners. Now, we’re showing our own community how they can use our platforms to generate massive recurring revenue for themselves. To discover exactly what we built and how you can apply the same principles to your own business for more cash and less stress, you'll have to tune in. For More Info: https://MyFundingMachine.com Email: info@7figures.com

In a special announcement, Leo reveals the new, hyper-focused mission for the 7 Figures Club that will change the show forever. To launch this new chapter, he shares a surprisingly personal story about failure, fluency, and finance. What could learning Portuguese in the streets of Brazil, or Spanish in Chile, possibly have to do with closing million-dollar funding deals? The answer is not what you think, and it contains the blueprint for your success. Leo explains why the skills he learned as a struggling "gringo" in South America are the same ones that separate average loan brokers from 7-figure funding CEOs. Are you caught in "analysis paralysis," studying endlessly but afraid to take the next step? This episode exposes a dangerous plateau where most entrepreneurs get stuck, believing they're "good enough" while their true potential withers. Leo reveals the one "maniacal obsession" required to break free, but it's a commitment most aren't willing to make. Listen now to discover why the most effective business-building strategy feels a lot like looking like a fool, and how the moments you feel most lost might be the clearest sign that you're finally on the right track. For More Info: https://MyFundingMachine.com Email: info@7figures.com

Hi everyone, this is Leo Kanell. As we approach our 300th episode here at the 7 Figures Club, I've been doing a lot of thinking. We've helped thousands of entrepreneurs secure hundreds of millions in funding, but I've realized we're just scratching the surface. I saw a huge group of small business owners and gig workers who still weren't getting the help they needed. To solve this, I'm making a major pivot—one that will change everything about how we operate. I knew that just hiring more people wasn't the answer. So, I’ve developed a completely new approach to our business that will allow us to have a much bigger impact. It’s a model that will empower a whole new group of professionals to achieve seven-figure success while helping more entrepreneurs than ever. In this episode, I'll explain exactly what this new structure looks like and how you can be a part of it. To make this all possible, we've been building some game-changing technology in the background, including our secret weapon that we call the "Funding Machine." The way it transforms the funding process is something you have to hear to believe. I'll be breaking down how these tools work and what it means for the future of the industry. This also marks a new chapter for the podcast. I’ll be bringing on industry titans to share strategies you won't hear anywhere else, and I'll also be getting more personal than ever before. If you want to know how we're going to revolutionize the funding world and how you can build your own seven-figure empire using our new playbook, you won't want to miss this episode.

Chris Shihadeh, born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a successful businessman and the founder of several profitable companies, including a marketing agency, sales contact centers, and online retail businesses. He is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton. Currently, Mr. Shihadeh is the President of Skylab Digital, a leading company in digital marketing and lead generation. His team specializes in creating internal advertisements on popular platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Google, and TikTok. These efforts generate hundreds of daily calls for their clients. A proven entrepreneur, he leads his team of media buying experts at Skylab Digital to specialize in lead generation for the Medicare and insurance industries. They currently produce over 7,500 inbound calls for many of the largest insurance companies in the nation. Mr. Shihadeh has been featured on the Affiliate Marketing Show and has earned recognition on the Inc. 5000 list. His company, Skylab Digital, was also nominated for Pay-Per-Call Company of the Year, showcasing his significant expertise and impact in the performance marketing field. He is known for combining data-driven strategies with creative approaches to achieve measurable results for his clients. For More Info: https://skylabdigital.com/ chris@skylabdigital.com