Podcast Summary: "How to Carry a Legacy"
Andy Elliott’s Elite Mindset Motivation and Sales Training
Guest: Dominic Cominada (Grosso University)
Date: September 12, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, Andy Elliott invites Dominic Cominada of Grosso University to share his transformational journey from small-town beginnings and hard labor to becoming a top sales leader and legacy builder in the home improvement industry. Together, they dig into overcoming setbacks, the impact of mentorship, unlocking your "inner greatness," and the hunger and discipline required to achieve at the highest level. The conversation is deeply motivational, touching on faith, leadership, breaking generational cycles, and the ongoing importance of personal growth and contribution.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Dominic’s Background: Small Town Roots and Hard Work
- [01:18] Dominic was raised in Farmington, WI (48 in his graduating class), competitive in sports (football, wrestling).
- Physical labor was the family expectation: “My father owned a demolition company… Ever since I could walk, I had a sledgehammer in my hand.” ([02:08])
- Instilled with a powerful work ethic and leadership skills from sports.
2. First Major Life Setback — and A Pivotal Decision
- Dominic lost his first job before it started due to flooding and spent months at home, feeling stuck.
- Wrestling was the spark that drew him back into action; “I think I wanna wrestle again.” ([03:26])
- Recounting how poor academics nearly derailed him from college, but persistence and building relationships gave him a chance.
“I spent several weeks just going to practice with the wrestling team, going to lunch with them, getting to know them, and I struck such a bond... the whole wrestling team wrote a letter of recommendation.” ([06:06])
3. The Power of Taking Action without Certainty
- Andy highlights a massive entrepreneurial lesson: Act first, answers come later.
“When you want to change your life, you just do it. But everybody looks for the answers first.” ([07:19])
4. Shift from Physical to Mental Mastery
- Despite athletic success, Dominic struggled with self-limiting beliefs academically.
- Decision to approach academics as seriously as sports; improved from 1.9 GPA to 3.3.
- Discovery: Strong presentation and communication skills were his real edge.
- Won a campus-wide business plan competition (like “Shark Tank”), netting cash and investment offers. ([08:54]–[11:10])
5. First Steps into Sales: Learning the System
- Answered a Craigslist ad for Mad City Roofing, hired for attitude.
- Introduced to the “Grasso 10 Step Sales Process” – paint-by-numbers approach for repeatable success.
- First seven sales, though robotic, produced wins.
“Even though I was telegraphing my punches and so robotic, the shit was still working.” ([14:09])
- First taste of adversity – cancellations, rejections.
- Turned point: Embracing competition and refusing to quit. Developed resilience by enduring objections.
“82% of consumers will buy after four or five objections.” ([16:48])
6. Epiphanies: Adversity and Faith
- Seeing setbacks (like getting laid off) as unexpected blessings.
“Sometimes, the worst thing that ever happened to you is the best thing that ever happened to you.” – Andy ([17:53])
- The importance of hope, faith, and always believing “tomorrow will be better than today” as the anchor for perpetual drive.
7. The Influence and Legacy of Rick Grasso
- Dominic’s journey is shaped by his mentor, Rick Grosso.
- Years of top sales, later promoted to sales trainer/leader, grew the team from $8 million to $100 million annual sales.
- Shared stories of transforming his team members’ lives—from homelessness to huge income.
“Less than half a percent of salespeople in the home improvement industry make 200 grand a year. ... If you were not doing $2 million a year on our sales team, you were at the bottom of the leaderboard.” ([25:17])
- Became the final champion at Grosso’s famed Closer’s Camp, then boldly assumed the legacy by “assuming the close” on Rick himself.
“I just wanted to tell him in person that I'm taking over his legacy.”
“[Rick:] I couldn't think of anybody better. I'm like, yes.” ([27:50])
8. Vision, Manifestation, and Ongoing Training
- Emphasized visualization and relentless preparation.
“You trained. ... When you're a good wrestler... you trained. You trained really hard.” – Andy ([29:00])
“I'm still watching [our own content]... constantly trying to sharpen the axe, trying to improve.” ([29:33])
- Shout-out to Dominic’s wife, Kelly, for constant support, demonstrating the importance of having a partner who lifts you up. ([30:09])
9. Building Grosso University: Training, Scaling, Making an Impact
- Since 2019, Dominic’s mission: “Build the most powerful, comprehensive sales training, coaching group in the history of the home improvement industry.” ([30:46])
- Grosso University offers not just training, but recruiting, lead generation—full pipeline solutions.
- First fully bilingual sales training group in the home improvement industry—serving an underserved Spanish-speaking market. ([33:14])
- Dedication to making Rick Grosso’s legacy eternal after his passing in 2024.
10. Leadership: The Cycle of Self, Others, Multiplication
- Andy and Dominic discuss three stages of leadership:
- Lead yourself
- Lead others
- Develop other leaders
“Leaders don't make followers. Leaders make leaders.” – Andy ([34:59])
- True leadership is “absence of an off switch”—it’s who you are, everywhere, all the time.
11. Generational Impact & Breaking Cycles
- Honoring family roots, but choosing to break from limiting beliefs and "generational curses" about work, money, and self-worth.
“You wanted to use your mind… That’s called generational curse breaking.” – Andy ([37:19])
- Message: Everyone is qualified to help others once they’ve changed themselves.
12. Mindset, Media, & Environment: Shape Your Behavior Intentionally
- Be aware of what programs your mind—social media and entertainment mainly program mediocrity.
- Replace mindless consumption with learning from successful, motivational sources or reading.
“If you want to hide the secrets of the world, just put it in a library. No one will ever find it there.” – referencing Rick Grasso ([41:12])
- Just 15 minutes a day reading can compound into 20 books a year—one idea can change a life.
13. Abundance Mindset and Teaching Others
- The best way to master sales (or any skill) is to teach and mentor others, reinforcing your own learning.
- Foster a “give-first,” abundant team culture.
“When you have a whole sales team that has that mindset, it’s game over.” ([45:54])
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Changing Your Life Through Action:
"When you want to change your life, you just do it. But everybody looks for the answers first."
- Andy Elliott [07:19]
-
On Facing Failure:
“Sometimes, the worst thing that ever happened to you is the best thing that ever happened to you.”
- Andy Elliott [17:53]
-
On Leadership:
“Leaders don't make followers. Leaders make leaders.”
- Andy Elliott [34:59]
-
On Competing at the Top:
“If you were not doing $2 million a year in our sales team, you were at the bottom of the leaderboard.”
- Dominic [25:17]
-
On Faith and Mindset:
“It's very hard to get people to go very far without faith. Because faith is believing in something you can't see.”
- Andy Elliott [19:42]
-
On Mentorship:
"If you really want to learn the game of sales at a subconscious level, start teaching it."
- Dominic [44:34]
-
On Mastery:
“I don't believe there's any masters—there are only students. And school's never out for the closer.”
- Dominic [41:04]
-
On Being Driven:
“If you crack open any successful person, they're batshit crazy… They know tomorrow is going to be better than today, so they go crazy.”
- Andy Elliott [35:21]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00–01:18 – Introduction & Andy’s motivational opener
- 01:18–07:13 – Dominic’s upbringing, wrestling, and early setbacks
- 07:13–08:54 – Taking action, the “how” comes after the leap
- 08:54–11:10 – Academic turnaround, business competition, discovering his true gifts
- 11:10–14:36 – Entry into sales, Mad City & the “paint by numbers” approach
- 14:36–17:53 – Early sales struggles & competitive turning point
- 17:53–21:06 – Embracing adversity, faith, and the role of hope and mindset
- 21:06–25:17 – Meeting Rick Grosso, setting intentions, rising as a leader
- 25:17–27:49 – Building a powerhouse team, transforming lives
- 27:49–30:09 – Winning the last Closers Camp, “assuming the close” on Rick
- 30:09–33:14 – Building Grosso University, services offered
- 33:14–34:37 – Bilingual solutions, legacy goals
- 34:37–37:19 – Three levels of leadership, generational cycle-breaking
- 37:19–41:43 – Media/culture programming, intentional inputs, reading
- 41:43–44:34 – Final lessons, the importance of teaching and giving back
- 44:34–46:08 – The abundance mindset, mentorship, and team culture
- 46:08–46:53 – Where to find Dominic and Grosso University online
Tone and Style
- The episode is fast-paced, energetic, and highly motivational, blending personal storytelling with actionable wisdom.
- Both Andy and Dominic are candid, passionate, and direct, often using sports and faith analogies.
- Emphasis throughout is on “no excuse” mindset, self-leadership, and relentless pursuit of growth for oneself and others.
Connect with Grosso University
- Website: GrossoUniversity.com
- Social Media: Dominic is active on LinkedIn and Facebook (with plans to expand to YouTube).
- Training Programs: Comprehensive sales, leadership, recruiting, and talent development for home service/home improvement companies.
This summary distills the essential lessons, stories, and strategies from Andy Elliott’s interview with Dominic to help listeners cultivate legacy, mindset, and leadership, whether they’re in sales or the business of self-development.