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Eric McNeil : Why I Fired a $500K Client: Lessons in Freedom, Culture & High Standards | DSH #1588
00:28:07
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- [00:01]
Podcast Sponsor
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- [00:32]
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- [01:00]
Podcast Host
One of the things I realized few years ago was when you can help people make money achieve financial freedom. It's one of the most powerful skills to have.
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Eric McNeil
Definitely. And that's the word, right, is freedom. Like people always think they talk about money and like money is a root of evil. It's not right. Money is how you bless people. But when we talk about money, money isn't the goal. It's a tool free. Freedom is the goal. And I think that's what you just said, right? Freedom.
- [01:31]
Podcast Host
All right, guys, we got Eric McNeil here. He's in Vegas for summer league. He's got a lot of clients out here and he's doing a lot of cool stuff, investing wise. Thanks for coming on, man.
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Eric McNeil
Yeah, man, thanks for having me.
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Podcast Host
Yeah, it's cool to finally meet in person too.
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Eric McNeil
I know, right? Yeah. It's been a several years that we've been connected and finally.
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Podcast Host
Yeah, you've been killing it though, man. I'mma just dive straight into it. This man is achieving some big things. 83% a year. Was that over the last five years?
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Eric McNeil
Yeah, that blended average for the last five years. Our historical returns, all verified financials. And yeah, man, it's been been a good time for us.
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Podcast Host
Which is insane because people dream about 8% a year, right? So the fact that you're achieving 83%, you know, hats off to you. That's incredible.
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Eric McNeil
Thank you, man. Appreciate it.
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Podcast Host
And we'll dive later into how people get involved with that. But let's start off with Onyx House. That's main thing you're focused on right now, right?
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Eric McNeil
Yeah, yeah. So everything that I've been able to build over the last 10, 15 years has all been right around kind of like the networking, right? So it all kind of started when I grew up in Arizona, left Arizona to move to Utah. And when I got to Utah, I told my wife, I said, look, I'm not going to sell anything for a full year. And you should have seen her face. She's like, wait, so like, how are we going to survive? And I was like, I promise you, we're going to be good. And I kind of got into that mode where, like, I learned that, you know, from Brad Lee, where it's like, the more hands you shake, the more money you make. And so I just wanted to get into as many rooms as possible, shake as many hands and provide them value. So the first question is always, you know, what do you do? How can I help you? Who are you looking for? And then I find out kind of who they're looking for, and I'm like, I got a guy, I got a gal. Let me make the introduction and then I leave. And the more I kept doing that, the more people were kind of like, well, how can I help you? Right? They want that reciprocity.
- [03:06]
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- [03:34]
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- [04:03]
Eric McNeil
Reciprocal kind of benefit. Right. And so now over like the last 10, like I said, 10, 15 years of building network, that's where I was like, okay, I need to actually build something that propelled my own success. Which is now the Onyx House. So the Onyx House is a performance social club. It's a private network. Like I said, a private social club. Our network consists of, you know, athletes to entertainers, businessmen and women. I mean, we're part of the chamber of commerce of Miami to Dubai. I've spent several months in Southeast Asia, Middle east, just brand development, business development. And so now you can come into like into. We're building the HQ in Delray Beach, Florida and so we have a presence from Palm beach down to Miami. Right. And so we're capping at 300 just elite members premium and they'll be able to come in, train, work out. We have the, the whole gym is sponsored by scale core. So like really high end equipment, very moody, modern, like all blacked out. And then we have recovery zones with like hyperice. So you have like the boots, the, you know, the massage guns. And then we have like 3,000 square feet of just members lounge. That's where you can come in, Just shake hands, find out other people are doing and get to know them. And so all members have access to this fund that you mentioned. So we have a members fund. My background like I said was financial management. So I've been a financial advisor 12 years, something like that. And we ventured off from traditional money management to the hedge fund. Right. And so I didn't want to compete with financial advisors. I wanted to compliment them as far as like athlete management and whatnot. And so by adding this hedge fund to their portfolio, we're working with you know, 10, 20% of their investable assets and we're able to average them about, you know, our five year historical has been about 83% per year. And now we're opening that to just all of our exclusive members that are part of Onyx House.
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Podcast Host
One of the things I realized few years ago was when you can help people make money achieve financial freedom, it's one of the most powerful skills to have.
- [06:04]
Eric McNeil
Definitely. And that's the word, right Is freedom. Like people always think they talk about money and like money is a root of evil. It's not right. Money is how you bless people. But when we talk about money, money isn't the goal, it's a tool. Freedom is the goal. And I think that's what you just said, right? Freedom is everything.
- [06:21]
Podcast Host
Yeah. Like you can wake up, do whatever you want.
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Eric McNeil
Yeah, right. Like I can like business isn't on hold. Like I came from Miami to Vegas, you know, I'm working with a lot of my athletes here at summer league. I'm able to chop it away you and like that's how we're able to have that freedom. I have to sweat what's going on at home. I got to sweat bills. Like I'm able to do things that are productive but also really fun.
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Podcast Host
Yeah. Like I'd rather Do what I do now than make 10 times more money but be miserable.
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Eric McNeil
Oh my gosh. Yeah, yeah. No, no doubt.
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Podcast Host
And people can't comprehend that. They're like, what, you would pass? You would pass millions of dollars?
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Eric McNeil
No, I have, I have like even within the fund, right? So like, it's, it's. I interview investors just as much as they interview me. And we actually had an investor yacht day back in January, right? And so I'll spare you the details, but we had this client who he thought he's a little bit bigger than he was and had a little bit attitude. He's a little bit rude to like just some members on board, other investors and think a little bit alcohol got involved. But like, it was just is inappropriate, know. And we had a chat with him and he was like, you can't talk to me that way. You know, I got X amount of dollars with you. And I escorted him, had him go home. And the next morning he woke up with a wire in his account. I sent him all his money back. And that client, I'm not kidding you, that client was generating me probably, I don't know, half a million a year of revenue.
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Podcast Host
Wow.
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Eric McNeil
To me, like, that's like net, right? Like take home crazy. And I didn't want it, didn't need it. And just so what you're saying, it's like, are you going to put up with people that are disrespectful just to make a little bit of money? It's like, there's no way we have the freedom. Like, I don't need that client. I'd rather have the peace of mind and respect. Like, that's infinitely more valuable.
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Podcast Host
Yeah. One bad apple that's saying, right?
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Eric McNeil
Oh, my gosh, could you imagine, right? Like we have a good thing going and they spoil it all because I wanted to make a little bit extra money. It's like, no, I don't want bad reviews. I don't want people feeling weird or awkward. We're at events. It's like, like, I got this yacht. We got this like, you know, a chef and all these things. Then you have one guy that's like making it a hard time. So we don't want that. Like, it's culture. Like, at the end of the day, I want to win with my, like with my boys kind of a thing, you know, it's like winning's inevitable. It's who you're going to win with. That's what we're focused on.
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Podcast Host
As I've gotten older, I've realized I've become a lot more selective with my friend group.
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Eric McNeil
Oh my gosh.
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Podcast Host
I used to want to be friends with everyone when I was younger. Please, everyone. And now it's like the total opposite.
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Eric McNeil
So opposite. I've got. It's funny, I have like this group chat. I was telling my guys I was like my closest friends. There's only like two that aren't McNeil's. It's like I've just like chopped so many people out, man. It's like a very finite circle. The friends, like they can call me at 2:00am like, you know, I'll help them.
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Podcast Host
Yeah.
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Eric McNeil
As far as like where my time and energy is spent, it's like very niche. Who gets that time?
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Podcast Host
You have to be right.
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Eric McNeil
Have to.
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Podcast Host
I know you got big goals. What's the main priority for you?
- [09:01]
Eric McNeil
You'd say that's a great question. Much alongside of what you're saying with freedom. That's always been everything that I've chasing. You know, I got a wife and a two year old kid and like everything's for them. Right. And so like I was telling my wife, I'm building my business for my family. And so if anything ever interferes with the family aspect, I'm not going to do it. Like if it's like this, like she understands, right? Like I'm spending a couple days here in Vegas. Like that happens. Super bowl, like we're traveling, like that stuff happens. And a lot of times she'll travel with me, but like late nights or if I. Bro, I will never ever miss a single event of my boy.
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Podcast Host
Right?
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Eric McNeil
So like people have asked me like accomplishments that I've had in business and I've never, like, I've never veered from this. But like my biggest flex in business is I haven't missed a single first. Like he's two, we adopted him and since we've had him, like, bro, the first time he fell down the stairs, like I was there. He hits his head. His first words, like the first. Everything I haven't missed, you know, and like the second that clients start taking my time or attention and. Or just business in general takes me away from those moments. I'm just going to pass on it. Like I just, I. I'm not going to say I'm at that freedom point yet, like where I want to be totally. But I do have a level of freedom, right? Yeah, man. It's like. And I'm just not going to let things interfere with my family.
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Podcast Host
Those early years really shape how the kid turns out.
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Eric McNeil
There's a lot of studies on it. Dude, it's everything right now. It's like they absorb everything. If they fall, they look at you for a reaction and know if you're like, oh, my gosh, then they freak out. But if you're like, oh, you're good, you kind of laugh it off. Let's go. They get up, they wipe it off. They keep going. You know, it's just they're. They're so mold. Like, moldable right now. And, like, I just can't not be in the house, you know?
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Podcast Host
Yeah. Do you integrate the wife with all the business stuff? Do you keep her in the loop or do you sell?
- [10:51]
Eric McNeil
Yeah, no, that. Dude, that's such a good question. At first, I really, really tried to, like, hey, come be, like, an admin or come be this, come be that, and, like, help me out. Be in the business. And this is actually probably really relevant to a lot of entrepreneurs out there, because my wife isn't career driven. She's very. I want to be a mom.
- [11:13]
Podcast Host
Family, right?
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Eric McNeil
Very family driven. Right. And I'm not gonna lie, I have a lot of friends that are couples, and, like, they're in the business together. And, like, there's times where I envied that. I'm like, dang, man. Like, I really wish that, like, my wife would help me out. We can, like, do this stuff together. But, bro, it is such a blessing that she focuses on the family. It truly is. And so there are things within the business that I don't share with her, which is I. For me, it's just. I don't want to, like, brain dump onto her because you can't see the whole vision. So if you're not in the business, you don't need to understand the. A lot of the inner workings and, like, challenges, if you will. But it's. It's so nice because when we had the chat, I was like, look, here's my. Here's what I'm doing outside of the family. And I think very, like, along those lines. And so I'm like, what if you were kind of acting as, like, the CEO of our family? And so now she has all the organizational for, like, our travels. And, like, because we want to explore all of Florida. I've only been in Florida, like, a little over a year. And so we're trying out all, like, the local restaurants, like, the touristy stuff and, like, vlogging it all. And so it's like, look like you handle all that. Help us with the calendar, help me stay organized, and all the family stuff off worry. I like the providing, the protecting and like, it's just traditional families, you know, and like, whether people are for it or against it doesn't matter. That's what my wife wanted, like her whole life all she wanted to be stay at home mom and like a supportive wife.
- [12:37]
Podcast Host
I'm big on the masculine feminine energy stuff, man. I think you should just try to do what you're naturally here for, you know?
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Eric McNeil
That's what I'm saying. And it's just so beautiful and beneficial, right? Like it's. We're able to bring different energies to our kid, right? So he can see the feminine, he can see the masculine. And. And it's funny, someone said something that rocked me regarding men and working, right? This guy was saying the more he was at home because he like, you want to be around your kids and all these things, the more you're at home. For some odd reason, a lot of that respect starts to kind of like dissipate because they don't see you in your element. They don't see you grinding and chasing, like taking the world, right? And like there's. There's something to be said about like attacking your goals because they see that and they start to like get inspired by that. And there are small sacrifices. And so that's. That was big because I was like, man, I want to be at home. Like, I can't stand not being around my kid.
- [13:38]
Podcast Host
Truthfully, that's bars. That's the truest statement I've ever heard, I think, bro. Cuz I work from home and I can relate to that.
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Eric McNeil
It's hard, man. It's super hard to like be home but not be present. People just don't understand that.
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Podcast Host
Yeah, that's so funny. Dude. Where do you rank Florida out of everywhere you've lived?
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Eric McNeil
So grew up Arizona, we did desert, moved to Utah, did mountains and now we're beach. We'll never leave Florida.
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Podcast Host
Is that good?
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Eric McNeil
Bro, we'll never leave Florida, dude.
- [14:01]
Podcast Host
I was just in Tampa. I got to say, the humidity, I.
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Eric McNeil
Did not like humidity is tough if. If you're a blue collar thousand percent. There's no way I'd rather do the dry, right? But it's funny, like for the summer stuff. We are trying to do like that whole snowbird thing. Yeah, man. So I think exactly right? So we have like the Scottsdale home to kind of be close to family. The Miami home. We're not in Miami. I would never live in Miami. We're just outside. Just call it Miami. Right? Miami Home where we make our money. And then we want, like, the Park City summer home to, like, get grounded, be in the mountains, be in, like, God's beauty. Like, no one can touch me. And just, like, dnd for a couple months.
- [14:39]
Podcast Host
Once I have kids, I'm gonna do that. Have to do 100% because the Vegas summers. Hell no, bro.
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Eric McNeil
Even right now. Was it like, 118? This?
- [14:48]
Podcast Host
I was in the sauna this morning. I'm like, I don't even need to be in a sauna. I'll just walk outside.
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Eric McNeil
Just go to the gas station.
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Podcast Host
Yeah, it's hotter outside than in the sauna, you know, bro, it's wild. Yeah. 120. So I want to do, like, some winter storm stuff.
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Eric McNeil
Yeah.
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Podcast Host
Snowed in. I missed those days. I grew up in Jersey, so.
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Eric McNeil
Dude, it's funny. I don't miss waking up, put it on my jacket, putting on my beanie, putting on my boots just to take the trash out. Like, bro, no way. Miss me with that.
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Podcast Host
Yeah.
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Eric McNeil
But on, like, a weekend. Oh, yeah. Like, chilling, just, you know, hang out. Hot coffee, you know, and just hot chocolate. Watch tv. Football Sundays, bro. Football Sunday. Snowing. Just locked inside of the blankie.
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Podcast Host
Classic.
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Eric McNeil
Can't beat it.
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Podcast Host
Yeah. I miss watching sports sometimes, but I'm so locked in what I'm doing now. I don't think I've watched a full game in, like, five years, bro.
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Eric McNeil
But you've been, like, you said you've been locked in, though, and, like, you're soaring. Like, even, what, Top five podcasts. Multiple times you've been top two, three.
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Podcast Host
We hit one, like, once. Because it changes every day. Yeah, but we're always top five, usually top three.
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Eric McNeil
That's insane. But it's. That's part of that thing is just being locked in and, like, minor sacrifices, you know? It happens.
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Podcast Host
Yeah. I've taken some major ones. I probably wouldn't do that again.
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Eric McNeil
It's tough, like, when you're locked in. Like, people, they don't realize how, like, obsessed you are with it, you know? Like, you. You live it, you breathe it. Like I told my wife the other day, it's. It's actually very true. Like, I wasn't making a separate line. In the last three weeks, twice I've cried.
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Podcast Host
Damn.
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Eric McNeil
Just of, like, not being overwhelmed. I, like, I see, like, my goal so clearly, and, like, I get so passionate and worked up about it that, like, I start, like, getting, like, a little bit, like, teary.
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Podcast Host
Yeah.
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Eric McNeil
Yeah. And I just, like. It's like, what? Ray Lewis, like, he Taught. When he went to Miami, he talked to like the guys about being pissed off for greatness. And like, bro, I get so freaking fired up that, like, it, it just like it becomes. I get like, I can't sit down. I get up and I go do something. Because at certain point, like, you don't even need discipline. Like, you want it so bad. You don't feel like you're sacrificing. You don't feel like you're just, you're just locked in. Like that's all you care about.
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Podcast Host
Yeah. It's a very emotional process. Being an entrepreneur.
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Eric McNeil
Oh my God.
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Podcast Host
Forces you to take accountability, bro.
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Eric McNeil
The highs and lows and it's like, because it's yin yang, right? Like the, they match each other ebbs and flows. And so when you're at a, like, if you feel like things are really bad, dope, you get excited.
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Podcast Host
Yeah.
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Eric McNeil
Because it's like you're going to slingshot. Things are going really well. You're like, damn. Like, I get worried, like, you know, when's the other like shoe going to drop?
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Podcast Host
Yeah. 100%, dude. Yeah. But going back to the sacrifices. Yeah. I've lost best friends. I've. I've lost physical health. It's not easy, dude. I know people glorify entrepreneurship, but most people are not cut out for this if we're being honest.
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Eric McNeil
You're. You're not, you're not. It's. Bro, it's, it's too hard to even dive into. Like if you're, if you don't have a deeply rooted why, you'll fail 100%.
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Podcast Host
If you're doing it just for money, you're. You're toast.
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Eric McNeil
Oh my gosh.
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Podcast Host
That's why when I go into business with people, that's one of the first things I ask them. I'm like, why are you doing this?
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Eric McNeil
Yep.
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Podcast Host
If they save money.
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Eric McNeil
Well, it's like you said, right? Like we, we invested in like we, you know, quick shouts to my guys over at Pathwater, right? So like we invest into founders, right? So like we're launching this VC fund. We've had the hedge fund for a while and we just launched the VC fund. And we are looking for 30 to 50 companies that we'll invest in 100 to a million dollar check sizes, right. And it is all founder based. And like when we invested in barcode, we invest in a path water we, you know, got involved with. We've done ora ring in the past. Hyper ice in the past, like we've done cool companies that are CPG related stuff. We can give our athletes help promote it. Right. We have culture, capital. But at the end of the day it's the founder. I love these founders so much and I just had a phone call with another guy that we're going to add to our portfolio company I wish I could talk about. We haven't finalized but we're going to this this week, same thing. It's, it's the founder story and the founder vision that trump financials. I don't like and if you don't like that model, don't invest with me. I don't care. Like yeah, we need 30 to 50 million. Like there's so much money you can place elsewhere. But me it is like if it's a coin toss to find out like what we're going to do, it's like it's the founder. That's it. That's all I care about is like can I get behind this guy or gal? Like will I invite them to the cookout? Do I want to spend time with them? Like can I trust them around my kid? Like does this guy value family? Like what, what is he rooted in? Like what's his why? And if those things check the box.
- [19:18]
Podcast Host
You bet on the person.
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Eric McNeil
Yeah, exactly.
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Podcast Host
One of the things that stood out to me from Shark Tank because I used to watch every episode when I was younger was the ladies I believe still have the best portfolio in terms of exits.
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Eric McNeil
Yeah.
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Podcast Host
And they were set. Both of them were saying Barbara and Lori were like they, they bet on the founder whereas the guys on the show were just looking at the numbers.
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Eric McNeil
Trying to be all fundamental, analytical and.
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Podcast Host
Like Barbara gets roasted on the show. She gets the most hate I've seen but she has the best return.
- [19:43]
Eric McNeil
Yep.
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Podcast Host
And it's because she bet on her heart, man.
- [19:46]
Eric McNeil
Like the end of the day, like you know, I was talking to this founder and he was mentioning, he's like dude, I'm never going to raise from like PE ever again. Just cuz they're just so locked in and good for them. Like they have, they're a fiduciary. They want to make money for their people. He said that's all they cared about. He was like, you know, every single month, every quarter they're just grilling me for numbers and analytics and da da da da da. Whereas you know, these other found these other investors that we've raised capital with, it's like they're just checking in. How's the family, how's the kid? How's X, Y and Z, like, those are the people you want to be in lockstep with, man. Like.
- [20:19]
Podcast Host
Yeah, because you don't want to be running a company from a place of fear.
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Eric McNeil
No, it's ridiculous. And then you come to the end of the month, end of the quarter, and you got to worry about projection. Yeah. No, man, like, obviously, like, yes, you need to be held accountable. But it's like, I gave you money because I believe in you and I believe that you have the vision. And now if I'm giving you too much feedback or I'm like weighing you down, you can't operate. And now I'm hurting my own investment. That's, that's foolish. If I can't cut you a check and just let you do your thing, I shouldn't invest.
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Podcast Host
Yeah, yeah. If you're too hands on, it's like almost a nuisance, right?
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Eric McNeil
Yeah, it's like, it's, it's a, it's a waste of everyone's time.
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Podcast Host
Yeah. What industries excite you right now? AI.
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Eric McNeil
AI is very exciting. A lot of what we do on our trading is AI driven. I think that a lot of the companies that we invest in, like I said, they're mostly cpg, but anything they could do on the automation side is massive. Right? Because it's leveraging AI, leveraging automations. Like, you have to, if not like, you're the blockbusters, you're the, you know, red box. Like, you're just gonna get passed up, you know. And so AI is super exciting. It's funny, I actually hired a girl this last week and the biggest thing was, look, I need a, like an administrative assistant. But like, I want someone who like, just finished college, who took courses on AI, who understand that that lives this. And like, those are all the questions, like, what's your experience with like, setting up my notion? And like ChatGPT and like Otter and like all these other like, brothers, Hundreds of thousands. There's so many AIs, like, you don't need to pay anyone. Like, so my goal was I'm going to pay an admin to run all of the AI.
- [21:56]
Podcast Host
Smart.
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Eric McNeil
That's it. So instead of having like all these memberships, I'm like, I'm gonna pay you, you handle it. And then here's everything I'm trying to accomplish and get me to where I want to be.
- [22:03]
Podcast Host
That's really smart because it would take you a while to learn them all.
- [22:06]
Eric McNeil
Oh, dude, I just don't have that power. And if I did, then like, these companies sink and like, I, I Fail my investors, you know, or even like the, the Onyx House, the hq. Like, if I could figure out all the automation side, and then now all my members get a benefit from it. We all win.
- [22:20]
Podcast Host
Dude, I can't wait to stop by when I'm in Miami.
- [22:22]
Eric McNeil
Bro, you got to pull up.
- [22:23]
Podcast Host
They're opening up a club at the wi. I forget the name, but I, I, I think community is everything.
- [22:28]
Eric McNeil
Dude, it's everything. It's taking over, man. Like, you think like, what we're building, you kind of think like Soho House meets, like, Equinox, right? And just kind of like we have a little bit of the versatility, you know, it's, it's a performance social club. You come in, we have great brands around us, great partners around us. We have, I mean, anything you can think of, you know, we have just the quality of the network too. Like, we're, we don't just want these memberships, right? We want, like the right person elevating it. So it's like we probably have 70 to 80 pro athletes in the network.
- [22:59]
Podcast Host
Nice.
- [23:00]
Eric McNeil
And not all of them are a good fit for this, honestly, like, transparently, right? Like, they're not really business. Not all of them. Like, some of them, like, they don't really care about the business. I don't care about networking. There's kind of like, very introverted, but there's nice guys and, like, they're cool to hang out with. So I'm like, look, pull up if you're around. But, like, they're not going to be actively looking for, like, deal flow or bringing value or, like, looking in business. They just want to, like, retire and then, like, coach or just be a dad.
- [23:23]
Podcast Host
That makes sense.
- [23:23]
Eric McNeil
Which is great. Like, there's like, that's perfect. That's what you want. You want happiness and peace. But as far as, like, you know, like I said athlete to entertainer, and we got people. Miami to la, Miami to Dubai. Like, it's just kind of all over.
- [23:36]
Podcast Host
It's badass. I still got to get to Dubai. Haven't been.
- [23:38]
Eric McNeil
Bro, it's so dope.
- [23:40]
Podcast Host
I heard it changes your perspective on things.
- [23:43]
Eric McNeil
I never get, like, I could public speak, no problem. Biggest stages, small stage, doesn't matter. Like, I'm comfortable in front of pretty much anyone. Dude, that was the one time in my life that I was like, I had to take like the, the deep breath and then, like, hit it. Like every other time, it's just like routine. Just hop up, start talking and it's whatever.
- [24:03]
Podcast Host
What made that one so difficult?
- [24:06]
Eric McNeil
You just realize the power of the room. Like that same week President Trump was out there and got them to commit to the trillions of dollars to bring to America. Right? And so the people I was talking to, they reported directly to the Royal Family. And so you have this guy that's like, hey, look, we have, you know, kind of at a small end, we have about 2 billion to 4 billion that we can send your way.
- [24:27]
Podcast Host
Yeah, that's small for them, right?
- [24:29]
Eric McNeil
I do drop in the bucket. And then it's like, but if things look good, you know, we probably have a couple trillion that we can look. I was just like, dude, oh, my gosh. Like, it's just weird. And so it's just perceptive. And it's just like, numbers are numbers. Doesn't matter how big or it's just. It's just a number.
- [24:42]
Podcast Host
Yeah.
- [24:43]
Eric McNeil
You know, and it's like when you. A lot of times I had. I've been really good about, like, just relating with bigger names, if you will. Because at the end of the day, like, bro, you bleed the same blood I bleed. Like, you're elite in your industry. You're just more celebrity, right? I'm just as good at in your craft, in my craft, as you are in your craft. So there's just like mutual respect there. But this is like the one time it was just like walked in there and like, it was just culture shock. It was just a little bit different. And it wasn't a huge crowd. It was like, probably 20.
- [25:16]
Podcast Host
Just, like quality people, though.
- [25:18]
Eric McNeil
Just stupid, high quality. And so it was just like intimate like this. Right? Whereas, like, you can talk to a crowd, you don't think about it. You just think you're talking to a teleprompter type thing. But you have like, you're making these eye contacts, you're talking to a couple of people in an intimate room. And then they start grilling you with some questions because they've, you know, they've underwritten crazy deal flow. So they have different questions than your average investor or even average family office. So it was cool. But, bro, that whole Dubai, Saudi, or we didn't get into Saudi to Riyadh, so Dubai, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi. Like, so much fun. I brought my wife with me.
- [25:51]
Podcast Host
Oh, nice.
- [25:51]
Eric McNeil
Is her birthday that week. So it's like the integration. So it was like, I'm going to go present for a couple of days, but let's go jet ski, you know, let's go hit some fun shop. All that fun stuff.
- [26:00]
Podcast Host
That's cool, dude. Yeah. I've been invited to the LEAP Conference in Saudi, so gonna get out there next time.
- [26:04]
Eric McNeil
Have to, dude. It's so cool. But we've built great relationships, you know, so we invited one of the advisors to the Royal family. We got him into the Chamber of Commerce. And so now it's like we had just have that, like, connection. I could just go text this guy tomorrow, you know, it's like. It's funny. I'd sent him a picture of a Dubai chocolate. I'm like, hey, let's think.
- [26:22]
Podcast Host
Are so good. There's a farmer's market in Summerland. I get one every week, bro. Like, I. I could eat the whole bar if I want.
- [26:28]
Eric McNeil
They're so good.
- [26:29]
Podcast Host
It's. It's too good.
- [26:30]
Eric McNeil
But it's nice because when we're out there in the mall, they're just like, handing them out. Like, they see, like, white people. Well, they're getting, like, little samples and so. But I. I probably had like eight bars worth of samples. Just kept walking back, taking my hat off, you know, like, changing up my look. But, hey, oh, you got candy.
- [26:45]
Podcast Host
Yeah, I'm. When I go there, I'm probably going to look forward to that more than.
- [26:49]
Eric McNeil
Most things that Dubai, so dope.
- [26:51]
Podcast Host
That's cool, dude. Well, where could people get involved with Onyx and the fund and everything, man?
- [26:54]
Eric McNeil
Yeah. So really right now, if you look me up on IG Eric McNeil, I'm sure you'll be tagging it and stuff. But that's like the main. And then Onyx Reserve is being all built down. So obviously, as far as, like, you know, we got to remain compliant. So I can't dive too deep in everything here, but I would love to, like, interview anybody who is interested. You know, we are limited to the number of investors into the fund, and we are limited on people into the Onyx House to members. So anybody who wants to get involved, you know, I have my admin and my COO as well that we can chat with, and so it'd be awesome. It'd be a pleasure to get connected with anybody who wants to come in and get involved.
- [27:33]
Podcast Host
Perfect. Check him out, guys. We'll link his Instagram message from there. Thanks for coming on, brother.
- [27:36]
Eric McNeil
Yeah, appreciate you, bro.
- [27:37]
Podcast Host
See you guys. Wherever you guys are watching this show, I would truly appreciate it if you follow or subscribe. It helps a lot with the algorithm. It helps us get bigger and better guests, and it helps us grow the team. Truly means a lot. Thank you guys for supporting. And here's the episode.