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From Homeless to Tequila Mogul | Metta Risdal DSH #1215
00:45:55
🔥 Metta Risdal on Building a Tequila Empire, Overcoming Homelessness & Breaking Into the Industry 🚀 In this inspiring and unfiltered episode, we sit down with Metta Risdal, founder of U&Í Tequila, to discuss her journey from...
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- [00:00]
A
I think it's a great way to start when you're running a company and also to do every aspect of the business when you run a company, to not just be doing what you want to do, but to actually grind it out, you know, in every field. You know, I would go, like, probably like twice a month, even for six months before I even could get a meeting with them. It's pretty competitive. So, yeah, a small brand like me, it's hard sometimes to get those meetings. Thanks.
- [00:32]
B
All right, guys. Got meta here today from you and I. Tequila. Brought a lovely bottle. Thanks for coming on.
- [00:37]
A
Thank you. Thank you for having me, Sean. I'm excited to be in Vegas.
- [00:41]
B
Tequila is my favorite drink.
- [00:43]
A
That's my favorite too. Tequila and red wine. That's all I drink.
- [00:46]
B
Yeah, red wine's not bad too.
- [00:48]
A
Do you drink that at all also?
- [00:49]
B
Once in a while. Yeah. I need to find a good brand, though, for wine.
- [00:52]
A
Yeah. And. But you're close to the. At least to, like, California. The good California caps and stuff. But. But yeah, I feel better. I wish I actually didn't love red wine, which I do, but I feel better when I stick to tequila, and especially my tequila. That is organic and just so smooth and. Yeah. So I just love sipping it.
- [01:10]
B
Yeah. Wine gives me headaches sometimes, actually.
- [01:12]
A
Yeah, you definitely wake up with a little bit of, like, more grogginess with wine. Any kind of wine. I feel champagne too, for sure.
- [01:19]
B
Oh, champagne necessary.
- [01:20]
A
Too much sugar.
- [01:21]
B
Sugar, yeah. What makes this so special? It's organic.
- [01:24]
A
You said it's organic. You know, there's no pesticides. There's no additives. So I would say, like, that that's the main difference because a lot of them do have that in it now. And then this is the anejo, which is aged for two years, so it's aged longer. And then I use both new and vintage barrels, so kind of just getting the blend of that. It just truly a unique product. And a little oaky, but not too oaky, honestly. Like, I just sipping it neat or on a big ice cube or like with an orange twist and even, like, making an old Fashioned. You know, I used to be a bartender. That's how I kind of got into the whole industry. But then you don't even need all the sugar. You don't need, like, any of that. Just having the orange twist, maybe a few drops of the bitter, and then just the tequila.
- [02:15]
B
Wow. So no chaser needed?
- [02:17]
A
Yes, exactly. Definitely no chaser needed. No lime, nothing.
- [02:21]
B
Dang, I can't wait to try it now sounds smooth.
- [02:23]
A
We're going to celebrate after.
- [02:24]
B
Yeah. Because there's some tequila brands where we don't have to say names, but it goes down rough on your throat.
- [02:29]
A
Oh, I know. When right before I started it, I did, like, a blind taste with, like, the most famous commercial brands. Again, I'm not going to name either, even though it's always very tempting, I think.
- [02:42]
B
We know.
- [02:42]
A
We do know. We do know.
- [02:44]
B
Starts with a J.
- [02:45]
A
And some celebrities involved. You know, maybe one big celebrity involved. But, yeah, like, I did blind tests always. And yeah, mine was always the winner because it just, like, so much better. And then I really wanted the design of the bottle to stand out on the bar, you know.
- [03:02]
B
Yeah. What was the concept for the diamonds and the black?
- [03:05]
A
You know, when I renovated my bathroom floor, I did that old checkerboard floor with the black and white, and instead of just doing the regular gray grout between the tiles, I did that gold. So it just, like, looks so classic. And I saw it in Italy, too, when I was there. So I was like, oh, wow. That is the design of the bottle, like, to have that old school, classic look of it. So that was very important as well, to have that classic look. And then the name uni. You and I. You and I. Which I say that all the time, even though I catch myself. I'm on the phone, my friend. My friend's like, you and I. You and I. Oh, you and I. So, yes.
- [03:49]
B
And you've been able to get this in some big places, right?
- [03:51]
A
I. Yeah, luckily I did by myself. You know, I had no experience in this industry, so I was just going door to door, which have been a great experience as, you know, doing sales. It's like, I think it's a great way to start when you're running a company and also to do every aspect of the business when you run a company, to not just be doing what you want to do, but to actually grind it out, you know, in every field. So it's at Carbon and the Baccarat Hotel, Tiger woods restaurant.
- [04:25]
B
That's impressive.
- [04:26]
A
So, yeah, I was just, you know, I'm consistent. Some of the places I got it into it, like, you know, I would go, like, probably like twice a month even for six months before I even could get a meeting with them. It's pretty competitive. So, yeah, a small brand like me, it's. It's hard sometimes to get these meetings.
- [04:48]
B
Yeah, there are a lot of tequila brands.
- [04:50]
A
There are. There are. Now every category now is getting pretty crowded because, you know, again, a lot of the celebrities are going in, of course. And so it's. But every. Every category is pretty crowded.
- [05:03]
B
I think Dana White has his own, right?
- [05:05]
A
Does he have tequila?
- [05:06]
B
Maybe the tequila whiskey. Oh, it might be whiskey.
- [05:09]
A
Maybe whiskey. Yeah.
- [05:10]
B
Howler Head.
- [05:12]
A
Yeah, it could be.
- [05:13]
B
Yeah.
- [05:13]
A
Whiskey, Whiskey, I think. Yes. Yeah. Well, that makes sense for him. He might be, like, now partner with some of the other brands, which I wouldn't be familiar with if he is, but it would make sense for his branding and, you know, the whole world that he's in.
- [05:29]
B
Yeah. Did you have business success before this brand, too?
- [05:33]
A
I had a skincare company I did sell kind of off the recipe of it. It wasn't, like, crazy success, but enough to where I had enough money to do this brand and then also enough money to invest in real estate, which is really my hobby. I do that, you know, so much on the side. So, yeah, it was. But, you know, it's still just like, again, like, really took time. All of it again. It just, like, really takes time. That's the thing. I would just. I keep, like, reminding myself, even with this, like, it takes time. Give it time. Don't give up. And slowly you'll get there.
- [06:12]
B
So you've come a long way from being homeless in the streets in New York City?
- [06:15]
A
Yes, I did. Yeah, I did. But even with them, I felt like, you know, I had already made that decision that I couldn't move back to Norway, and I really wanted a different lifestyle. And Norway is a wonderful country. Don't misunderstand me. But if you want to be an entrepreneur, you know, I always felt, like, so left out. Like, even in school, I was so bullied. I think you were as well. I remember you told me that or you said that and just, I think all those things, like, you wanted even more in some ways. Right. So even though, yes, it's a wonderful, you know, country, and I'm close to my family there and so on, but as an entrepreneur, there's no better country than America. America is the best country if you want to be an entrepreneur. So they were like, no, I'm not going back. I got to make it. So I plowed through that and did end up becoming homeless because I didn't have papers. So I came in illegal. And, you know, I thought I was going to get it because I thought I was going to. I had been actually moving to London first, and I was working in a pub as a bartender. So I was like, of course I'm going to get a job as a, you know, bartender here in the U.S. but I didn't. And then I was in a hostel, living in a hostel, and I just didn't. I hadn't gotten a job, so I didn't have the money. So one day I got back and the suitcase was on the front desk, you know, so. And it was the evening, so I was like, okay. Nowhere to sleep. But, you know, and it was tough. I stayed awake at night, and then I would be sleeping in the chair at Starbucks in the East Village in the daytime. And then I made friends with a guy at Chipotle on East 8th Street. Good old Chipotle. I love Chipotle.
- [08:16]
B
I used to eat it every day.
- [08:17]
A
Yeah, I'm back to there a lot.
- [08:20]
B
I haven't been there in a while.
- [08:21]
A
That's what it was for me. I took a break for a while and now I'm like, back. Like, not every day, but three days a week.
- [08:27]
B
Okay. Dam. I used to eat it, like sometimes twice a day when I was growing up.
- [08:31]
A
Yes.
- [08:32]
B
So good.
- [08:33]
A
That is so good. And you know, it's like still like free range chicken. And that's important to me. I just feel like it's a quick.
- [08:41]
B
Meal, but it's very, very convenient. My only qualm with it is the seed oils.
- [08:46]
A
Yes.
- [08:47]
B
They use rice bran oil.
- [08:48]
A
That's true.
- [08:49]
B
Yeah. That's my only issue with it.
- [08:51]
A
Yes, that's true. And I am too now getting bedrock, staying away from the seed oils.
- [08:56]
B
Yeah.
- [08:56]
A
I kind of have decided to ignore that with them.
- [08:59]
B
I'm sure if you eat it once or twice a week, it's not a big deal, but.
- [09:02]
A
Yes.
- [09:02]
B
I have an app that tells me if the restaurant uses seed oils or not.
- [09:05]
A
So. You're so healthy.
- [09:07]
B
I gotta get that seed oil, Scout.
- [09:09]
A
Wow.
- [09:10]
B
Yeah, it's really good because I order food a lot, so I need to look if they use like. Well, that's canola oil or whatever.
- [09:16]
A
Yeah. Is it just of the fast food restaurants?
- [09:18]
B
No, it does everything.
- [09:19]
A
So they all have it down there.
- [09:20]
B
Like, where do you live at?
- [09:21]
A
Well, now, you know, I'm in Florida. West Palm beach area now, and New York City still, but mostly Florida now.
- [09:28]
B
Yeah, I'm sure they're big on there. The customers at the restaurant ask the owners if they use seed oils and then you report it on the app.
- [09:35]
A
Okay.
- [09:35]
B
What they say?
- [09:36]
A
Very cool. I'm glad that that's becoming a big thing now because that is so important.
- [09:40]
B
Super important. Yeah. Health is important. They say tequila is actually the healthiest alcohol. I've seen Tai Lopez say that.
- [09:46]
A
Yeah. Tai Lopez. I've actually talked to him lately, and, yeah, he loves tequila. And it is the healthiest if you decide to, you know, to drink. Even me, I drink less now than I did. Like, of course, in your 20s. And. And honestly, I don't even think we knew it so much. Like, this is the plus for you and a very younger generation, the Gen C and everyone. Like, we know now that a lot of it, like, even, like I said, I love red wine, but I don't feel healthy when I do drink it, even though I still do it once in a while, but I don't do it as often because of that. So that's why I do choose to. Especially mine. That's organic and it doesn't have. And it's, you know, ethically sourced, and all of that helps a lot. But I don't, you know, in Florida, and especially a lot of my neighbors, like, they're retired, they just. They drink every day. A lot of them are drinking every day. So, yeah, I don't do that. But whatever people choose to do, but at least, like, drink healthier. So tequila is a good option if you choose to drink.
- [10:49]
B
Yeah. Yeah. My generation's not drinking as much.
- [10:52]
A
Yeah.
- [10:52]
B
As yours.
- [10:53]
A
Good to hear. Yeah.
- [10:55]
B
Yeah. That's interesting.
- [10:56]
A
Yes, it is interesting. But don't you feel they do other stuff, though? Like this other stuff? Yeah, because I don't do any of that, so.
- [11:04]
B
I have never done drugs.
- [11:05]
A
I never. Wow. It's like. No, in Norway, like, it was, like, looked upon so bad, like Mariana and Wheat. So I was always like, oh, wow. No, that's drugs. I can't do that.
- [11:17]
B
Wow.
- [11:18]
A
But there's probably no difference doing that or drinking alcohol.
- [11:21]
B
Alcohol might be worse, to be honest.
- [11:23]
A
Maybe. Yeah.
- [11:23]
B
Depending on the drug, I guess.
- [11:25]
A
But I guess since I never got into it. But yeah, I have friends that do it. But then, you know, you hear rumors like, oh, you get lazy from doing it.
- [11:33]
B
Yeah.
- [11:33]
A
I always like energy. So if I'm gonna go out and, you know, I want energy.
- [11:38]
B
Yeah.
- [11:39]
A
Otherwise, when I'm staying home with my dog, you know, every night on the couch, anyway, it doesn't matter. But when I go out, I want the energy. So even red wine gets me lazy.
- [11:49]
B
Wine gets me so lazy.
- [11:51]
A
Tired. Yeah.
- [11:52]
B
Sometimes alcohol gets me lazy.
- [11:54]
A
That's true. Tequila is the only thing. If I drink it straight like that or just on a big ice cube, it actually gives me energy. But, yeah, if you put in a cocktail with a lot of sugar, that too will tire you out. Yeah. Yeah.
- [12:06]
B
You got to be careful with the cocktails.
- [12:08]
A
Yeah, totally. Hold those.
- [12:09]
B
Do you miss Norway?
- [12:11]
A
You know, I'm lucky that I'm able to go back every summer. So every July I go for three weeks still my whole family there. And I'm lucky that they come and visit me at least. Like, they were just here. My parents and my sister were just here. My other sister and my niece is coming. And last year, I took my niece here to Vegas for the Bruno Mars concert.
- [12:35]
B
Nice.
- [12:36]
A
So technically not last year, but the prior one. So a year and two months, whatever year that is. And so they come to see me all the time, so I don't really miss it since I know I can, like, go there and stay there in the summertime. And it's kind of enough for me. I think it goes back to. I just feel that I have a whole nother mindset, you know, I just feel that they love it there. Like, for example, my one sister, all she wanted was to get married and had children. That's awesome. But that wasn't really me. I was like, no, I gotta start a business, you know, I don't wanna. I wanna, like, be. I want freedom. I want to be comfortable. And then if I choose to go to Norway, like I do in the summer, that's awesome. But it kind of scared me to just have that, you know? So, yeah, I don't really miss it. And I think if I did, I would just make a quick trip over there and then I'm like, now I'm ready to go.
- [13:38]
B
I want to go there one day.
- [13:39]
A
It's beautiful. I heard it's beautiful. It really, really is beautiful. And the people are friendly when you get to know them, you know? And it's just the fjords and so green. And it's never too hot in the summer, so it's a good time, but it's cold in the winter. I don't know if you like skiing or not.
- [13:57]
B
I've never been, but I want to learn this here.
- [14:00]
A
If you like skiing, you can go to anytime. But if you want to, like, hike and bike, which is what I would suggest, it's just beautiful. Yeah, the summertime O.
- [14:09]
B
Can't wait. I love hiking. Yeah, I'm going to Sedona tomorrow.
- [14:12]
A
Oh, really? Oh, nice.
- [14:14]
B
Have you been there?
- [14:15]
A
No.
- [14:15]
B
Yeah, it's beautiful. I got engaged there.
- [14:17]
A
Oh, nice.
- [14:18]
B
Yeah, super beautiful.
- [14:19]
A
Is their family from there, then?
- [14:21]
B
No, they're from New Jersey.
- [14:22]
A
Okay.
- [14:23]
B
Yeah.
- [14:23]
A
Yeah.
- [14:24]
B
But yeah, my favorite chess player is Norwegian.
- [14:27]
A
Oh, yeah. Magnus Carlson, right? Yeah.
- [14:29]
B
He's my dream podcast Guest. I know.
- [14:31]
A
You gotta get him. I kind of know someone that know him.
- [14:35]
B
No way. Are you serious?
- [14:36]
A
I can try to reach out.
- [14:37]
B
Wow. Small world, huh?
- [14:39]
A
He was just on Joe Rogan's podcast.
- [14:41]
B
What?
- [14:41]
A
Yeah, because he doesn't do a lot of podcasts, but obviously you're. I saw that you're so famous now and you're doing so well. I. I mean, I will try to reach out to the.
- [14:51]
B
Wow. I didn't know he was on Rogan.
- [14:53]
A
He was just a Rogan. And he just got married. Yeah, he just got married. My parents actually saw him last summer. But he's so casual, so down to earth. Kind of typical Norwegian. Saw that way, I gotta say. Yeah. No, he's brilliant. Yeah, he's brilliant.
- [15:09]
B
Norwegians are smart, huh? They're great at chess.
- [15:11]
A
Yeah, they are. He's so smart, you know, I never met him myself, but whatever he's been doing, I don't know what he's up to now. It's because. Isn't he.
- [15:22]
B
Yeah. So he. He's making more now doing other stuff because chess, the money is not that good.
- [15:27]
A
No.
- [15:27]
B
So he's doing like poker now. He's doing coaching. I think he has a course on chess or something. Yeah. Because chess isn't like a major sport.
- [15:36]
A
No. You know, but he had that game. Right. He has an app, his own app.
- [15:41]
B
Yeah. He's an investor in Chess.com, i think.
- [15:43]
A
Yes. One of those. Yeah.
- [15:44]
B
He's gonna be well off, for sure.
- [15:46]
A
Oh, yeah, he'll be fine.
- [15:47]
B
Which is good because that's changing the narrative for Norwegians and entrepreneurship.
- [15:51]
A
Yes.
- [15:52]
B
Right.
- [15:53]
A
Yes. Especially if he decides to continue to live in Norway. It's much more simple there.
- [15:57]
B
Right.
- [15:58]
A
I don't know if his wife is Italian or something, so who knows if they're going to be doing both places. But. But by his family being in Norway, I'm sure he'll always have, like one foot there.
- [16:07]
B
Yeah.
- [16:08]
A
But no, he's. He seems very cool.
- [16:10]
B
Yeah. I can't do the simple lifestyle. I can't do it.
- [16:12]
A
I know it's hard when you start flying. Business class. Get used to all of that. Even me. And I usually bring my dog. So for me, my dog is everything. I know you love.
- [16:22]
B
I spend more on my dogs and, like, my friends, honestly.
- [16:26]
A
Me too. I'll do anything for my dog. I do more for my dog than I do for myself or anyone else. Like, I don't go to the doctor if I don't feel well. As soon as there's something with my Dog. And I'm like, are you okay right away, Like, I don't want to risk it. This is my life.
- [16:41]
B
No, that's facts. I spend a lot because I feed my dogs raw.
- [16:44]
A
Yeah. Oh, you went to raw food. Not just refrigerated from whole food, but no.
- [16:49]
B
Maeve. Yeah. M A E V. Yeah. It's raw human grade meat. So humans can eat it too.
- [16:55]
A
I know one of my neighbors, they have. My old neighbor, they have two German shepherds and one of them were losing a lot of hair.
- [17:02]
B
Yeah.
- [17:03]
A
And that did help to bring it back.
- [17:05]
B
Wow.
- [17:06]
A
They went on that diet, the raw food for dogs.
- [17:08]
B
Yeah. The kibble's so bad for dogs. It is the dry kibble. What do you feed your dog?
- [17:12]
A
Well, I used to want now from Whole Foods, that's refrigerated.
- [17:16]
B
Oh, nice.
- [17:16]
A
I heard that. I was. I just, I used to. Used to dry one because.
- [17:20]
B
Yeah, same.
- [17:21]
A
I was.
- [17:21]
B
Everyone did.
- [17:22]
A
Yeah.
- [17:22]
B
It's easy.
- [17:23]
A
It's easy. And then, you know, all of these started coming out and I was like, well, whole food probably got the best brand on board.
- [17:30]
B
Right.
- [17:31]
A
And I was looking at the ingredients and I remember, okay, this looks pretty good. But then when I started reading, like, is there any scientific proof that they're going to live longer? And it didn't seem that way, but maybe at least they're staying healthier while they're living.
- [17:44]
B
So I talk to people that feed their dogs raw or just human food, and their dogs seem to live longer from what I've seen, and converse with people.
- [17:52]
A
I hope that's it. Do you have one or two dogs?
- [17:55]
B
Two. I want more. I want ten. I love dogs.
- [17:58]
A
If I didn't live in a condo, I too, I would have.
- [18:00]
B
Yeah. Yeah. That's my life goal. To retire on a farm. Not even retire, just be on a farm or something with like 10 plus dogs.
- [18:06]
A
I know. I started to think about it already. Have you ever looked into cloning your dog?
- [18:11]
B
Yeah. So Tyus out here, I don't know if you met him. His friend cloned his dog.
- [18:15]
A
Yeah.
- [18:16]
B
Yeah. His friend cloned his dog. It was like 50 grand.
- [18:19]
A
I know it's 50 grand because I've looked at first the 1600 to freeze the, I don't know, eggs or. Yeah, probably. What. Whatever it's called. And then it's 50 grand if you decide to move ahead. Not a lot of people are against it, but like, my dog is like my child.
- [18:33]
B
Right.
- [18:34]
A
Love him and I want him to live forever. And there's a company, Texas, and that's probably the one.
- [18:39]
B
Yeah, probably so. The thing is, though, even if you clone them, they're still going to be different.
- [18:43]
A
That's what I learned. So if I could get a guarantee, like, yes, you are going to be the dog that I currently have 100, I would do it, but. And he doesn't need to look the same. I just need the same person. I was actually gonna bring him, but.
- [18:57]
B
I would have loved that.
- [18:58]
A
Oh, next time.
- [18:59]
B
Next time, please. I always want to bring my dog here, but he gets too excited, so he'll jump on people and stuff.
- [19:04]
A
Well, and you're lucky to have two. They have each other, so they're okay to be left together.
- [19:09]
B
Yeah, well, my fiance's watching them now, but that's true. Yeah. Dogs are really important to me.
- [19:14]
A
They are everything in life.
- [19:16]
B
Yeah. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted them. My mom would never let me get one.
- [19:19]
A
Oh, so you didn't even have one growing up?
- [19:21]
B
No, I wish I did.
- [19:22]
A
Yeah. That's what I did. I was 2 years old when we got. My dad is a hunter, so he goes and hunt for the moose.
- [19:29]
B
Yeah.
- [19:30]
A
Go fishing. So he had a hunting dog, and Teddy and I just loved that dog. Yeah. And then we had cats, and my sister loved cats, but I'm very allergic to cats, so I had eczema all over my body and rashes.
- [19:44]
B
Damn.
- [19:45]
A
And figured it out many years later. It all came from the cat.
- [19:50]
B
So you didn't even know you were.
- [19:51]
A
No. Yeah.
- [19:53]
B
Wow.
- [19:53]
A
Yeah. Who knows? You know, if. If they knew, but they. They didn't do anything about it.
- [19:59]
B
Did you ever go moose hunting with your dad?
- [20:02]
A
I didn't. I probably should have. I'm like the. You know, they have three girls. I'm the youngest of three girls, so I. They named me Thomas, but obviously in Norway, it's not like you named a girl's boy's name like you do here in the U.S. yeah. So then when I came out and I. Oh, I guess we. She can't be a Thomas anymore, so I ended up being meta.
- [20:24]
B
Oh, wow. So they thought you were going to be a boy or.
- [20:27]
A
Yes, because they had said it was going to be a boy. Yes.
- [20:31]
B
Wow.
- [20:31]
A
Yes. So that's why they had already named me Thomas. Yeah.
- [20:35]
B
I wonder why they said that. That's weird.
- [20:36]
A
Yeah, I know. They did say that. So it's like, okay. And they were excited, of course, because they already had to. They already had the two girls. So, like, finally, a boy and then. Oh, another girl. But I think they're. They were Just.
- [20:52]
B
They've gone over.
- [20:53]
A
Okay.
- [20:53]
B
I want one of each, you know?
- [20:55]
A
Yeah, yeah. And that's what most people saw. I get it. That they really wanted a boy.
- [21:00]
B
Yeah.
- [21:01]
A
And I think particularly because, you know, my dad does love those things like hunt. Hunting and fishing and. But my mom is good at it, so at least he has her.
- [21:10]
B
Wow. How did the moose taste when he brought it home?
- [21:12]
A
So good, because they will bring it home and they'll honestly chop it up on the kitchen table.
- [21:18]
B
Wow.
- [21:19]
A
It smells a little bit.
- [21:20]
B
Oh, yeah.
- [21:21]
A
Tonight they do that. It doesn't. We're like, okay, we gotta watch a movie. I'm used to it from a kid. Right. And then we have two big freezers in the basement. Like, we live in, like, nature. So that's how they do it. Like hunting, fishing. They have garden with everything organic.
- [21:38]
B
Wow. So you didn't even go to the grocery store?
- [21:40]
A
Very little.
- [21:41]
B
Wow.
- [21:41]
A
Like, maybe if you want to buy some chicken or something. Right. But they have all the fruit and vegetables and berries, and they freeze it down. So they have it for the whole season until the next year, until there's a new crop coming out with that.
- [21:56]
B
Yeah.
- [21:56]
A
So, yeah.
- [21:57]
B
That is cool. So you were living off the lay of the land. Pretty much, yeah.
- [21:59]
A
Living in nature. So I'm with you. Like, I'm now starting to think more like that, too, you know, And I think that's also why I, like, even though I spend time in New York City, but I love now actually living in Florida and not in Miami, even. Even though I have properties in Miami, I rent it out and I prefer to be north of there because it's just. It's nice to be more quiet.
- [22:23]
B
Yeah.
- [22:24]
A
Yeah.
- [22:24]
B
That's what Tai Lopez does. So he has three houses.
- [22:27]
A
Yes.
- [22:27]
B
One in the city, one in the suburb, and then one rural.
- [22:30]
A
Yeah. And he spends a lot of time in Virginia at the farm. And I know he also, of course, in Sweden, he spends a lot of time. So he loves Scandinavia.
- [22:38]
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's big on it. Yeah. He was Amish for a bit.
- [22:41]
A
That's right. Yeah, that's right. He's brilliant. He was like, ahead of the time. I don't think, like, way ahead.
- [22:47]
B
He was the start of, like, the courses, the coaching.
- [22:50]
A
Yes. And from what I heard was that even, like, Mr. Beast, I think, did like his early course, I think Mr.
- [22:57]
B
Beast, Logan, Paul, a bunch of big people. Yeah.
- [22:59]
A
Yeah.
- [23:00]
B
I wouldn't be surprised if Bradley did it.
- [23:02]
A
Yes, probably.
- [23:03]
B
Yeah, I did it. I took a bunch of his. Yeah. Took like five of his courses. Wow.
- [23:08]
A
Because you've come out so fast. But yeah, you probably grinded it longer than we know and then all of a.
- [23:13]
B
No, I was watching a course a day.
- [23:15]
A
Yeah.
- [23:16]
B
I was doing 2x speed watching a full course a day for like a year straight.
- [23:20]
A
Yeah.
- [23:20]
B
Yeah. I've been learning like behind the scenes. I probably spent tens of thousands of hours just learning.
- [23:25]
A
Wow. Yeah. That's the way to do it.
- [23:27]
B
Yeah. But you also have to act on it. A lot of people read books, but.
- [23:30]
A
They don't do anything sit there like the secret, like oh, you know, bring it to me now and putting out to universe. But yeah, you're right. That's the thing. Then you got to actually take action. So of course having a positive mindset and getting confidence. And I think that's what's helpful about surrounding yourself like people like Ty and other people like that like minded people. You know, you do become the average of five people. You spend the most time as we know. Jim Rohn says that. I so believe in that. Tony Robbins, that whole thing. And. But then when you have that, it's like, okay, then you actually got to take the action and actually do it. But what, what do you think? I think it's confidence sometimes that's lacking. Why people don't.
- [24:12]
B
Yeah. I was super unconfident growing up. So once I had the confidence which came from success.
- [24:17]
A
Yeah.
- [24:17]
B
Game changer for me.
- [24:19]
A
Yeah.
- [24:19]
B
Now I have like. But it's a balance with confidence and ego also. You don't want to have too much confidence.
- [24:24]
A
Totally.
- [24:24]
B
Because then it turns into ego.
- [24:25]
A
We don't want to be narcissistic. Yeah.
- [24:27]
B
So I've seen people go down that route where they're too. Too much in their ego.
- [24:32]
A
True. Yeah.
- [24:33]
B
So you need the right level of confidence. But confidence is important.
- [24:36]
A
It is important. Yeah.
- [24:37]
B
Yeah. Because I've. I've been in rooms where if I didn't have confidence to go and talk to certain people, it wouldn't have opened any doors.
- [24:43]
A
And that's it. I think that's the thing. People are so scared because they always think, oh, they're so above me maybe. And they just don't feel, oh, I can't even talk to this person. But that's a lost opportunity as we know it's lost.
- [24:56]
B
And you also got to think, okay, where was this person at my age? Maybe I'm actually ahead of them.
- [25:01]
A
You are so ahead. Yeah, definitely.
- [25:03]
B
So I, I'm careful with comparison because that could be dangerous.
- [25:06]
A
That's.
- [25:07]
B
If you're comparing yourself to a 70 year old that's a billionaire. It's. It could be scary, right?
- [25:11]
A
Oh, yeah. No, we can't. Warren Buffett is like, yeah, but where.
- [25:15]
B
Was he at your age? You know, it's. It's more.
- [25:18]
A
I think he becomes successful at 50.
- [25:20]
B
Yeah. Millionaire at 50, right?
- [25:22]
A
Yeah.
- [25:22]
B
You got a late start.
- [25:23]
A
He got a late start. A lot of them do. I've actually heard, I heard Jesse Itzel say this. I love him too. Yeah, he's great to his stuff. I think he's saying, like, so I'm excited for what's ahead because he was saying. Because I'm almost there. He was saying, like from 45 to 55 is when you make like most of your money and get most of the good relationships and, you know, for what's ahead. So. Interesting. Yeah, I've heard someone else say it too, but he said it really well. So I. But, yeah, but. But looking at you, maybe not. You know, it's good that some are doing it even earlier than that Some.
- [25:58]
B
Are doing it earlier than me too.
- [26:00]
A
Wow.
- [26:00]
B
I see. I meet teenagers that are millionaires now.
- [26:02]
A
I know, but crypto, no, crypto or.
- [26:05]
B
Social media marketing, whatever. Like, whatever the trend is, there's always a new trend. AI is the trend right now. So people are becoming millionaires off AI.
- [26:12]
A
Yeah, totally. That too. Got so early with all of that stuff. Stuff. Did you do any of the bitcoin?
- [26:18]
B
Yeah, I got in on crypto. Crypto's how I became a millionaire.
- [26:21]
A
Okay. Yeah. That was the first step that you.
- [26:23]
B
Caught some good timing there. But I wouldn't have had that knowledge without confidence.
- [26:28]
A
That and being surrounded by the right people and listening to the right people. Right.
- [26:33]
B
Yeah. I went to events. I went to crypto events, you know, now I'm going to AI events, seeing what, what's there.
- [26:39]
A
Okay. I got Scott to go into AI. Are you going to the crypto in May here?
- [26:43]
B
Yeah, yeah, I'll be doing podcasts there.
- [26:45]
A
Okay, good. I'm probably going to go as.
- [26:47]
B
Yeah. You have any crypto?
- [26:48]
A
I got into bitcoin, of course. I sold too much too soon. I got in like 2017, 2018, when it was three grand. Wow. Maybe it was 3, 500.
- [26:59]
B
Well done.
- [26:59]
A
I logged in again, like, you know, to look at everything. But yeah, again, you know, remember when it like the first height that it went to like 17k? I guess I sold around like 13, 14, so can you imagine? But then it was dip again and then a mistake. Of course. I didn't buy more again. But I luckily had already bought so that I just kind of, I'm holding on. I actually bought some more again at 93. Damn. When I was realizing Trump was going to be president, or maybe it was even like right after that, it was like, okay, eventually, you know. Again, everything I do is long term.
- [27:36]
B
Yeah.
- [27:36]
A
And that's why I'm mostly in real estate pretty much. And I don't really do the stock market. But yeah, I just sort of like, okay, you know, if I'm gonna, obviously gonna be holding it for 5, 10 years at least, or even forever. Yeah, Danny makes sense to go in even a little bit more. So yeah, I did that. Yeah. I agree with some of these people, you know, that it's going to be 250in, in a year.
- [28:00]
B
Michael Sellers has a million.
- [28:02]
A
Oh gosh, I hope he's right.
- [28:04]
B
Nice little 10x.
- [28:06]
A
I took a bet, you know, I, I, it will be good for all of us.
- [28:10]
B
I wouldn't be complaining about that.
- [28:11]
A
Oh, me too.
- [28:13]
B
Any big wins in real estate for you?
- [28:16]
A
Real estate? I've always almost won, I gotta say.
- [28:20]
B
Is that luck or is that still.
- [28:22]
A
Oh, I, this is my hobby. This is what I do in the evening with my dog, look at real estate, you know, like, you know what? I, I don't really sell. So I'm so glad that I figured out a few years ago and I ended up investing in Florida a lot in 2020 when. Right as Covid came, I was living full time almost in New York and I went down to Florida that September 2020. I bought some properties, they have already doubled. So now what I just did a year ago and I actually done all of them, I'm doing a refinance. Right. So I don't really sell because I rent it out. It covered the cost. Not making a lot, maybe making only like 200 each property, but at least it's covering all the cost. And then now with the refinance, which I was able to get out like half again in money for the refi and then buying more properties. So yeah, I just bought like more properties in West Palm beach and Nice and Juno beach and those areas which I so believe in. So my thing in real estate is.
- [29:27]
B
Don'T sell, don't sell and go after.
- [29:29]
A
Markets you believe in and just do the refi.
- [29:31]
B
Right.
- [29:32]
A
You know, and, and that, that's the key though. Like again, you know, if you have an income and you can do that and then just, you know, don't just know it's long term, obviously. So none of this stuff That I do is like, oh, I'm just going to invest and I'm going to sell in three, four years. No, it's forever. And then I didn't even expect to pull this much money out already, so I was kind of thinking, okay, maybe I can do a refi in like seven years. The same. The norm, maybe. Or six, seven years. Right. So to already be able to do that and then to put into more properties that I believe in. So, yeah, properties is where I've done well. It even started with like in. In no leader. I did some commercial. I rented some commercial properties and I did a 10 year lease and I subleased it for double. I just did like a tiny little renovation and sublist it to like another tenant for commercial space. So you allowed to do that?
- [30:31]
B
Yeah.
- [30:32]
A
So yeah, the real estate is like my second thing. It's almost like the same as the tequila. It's like tequila and real estate. I love real estate. I don't know, I just, I just love driving by and I'm like, oh, this is gonna be so worth. It's so nice in 20 years still having all of these properties. Right.
- [30:51]
B
It's tried and true. It's something you can see with your own eyes.
- [30:54]
A
Yeah.
- [30:55]
B
Some investments you can't even touch.
- [30:56]
A
Well, that's why I always loved real estate and kind of got to beat myself up a little bit too, because I probably would have gone even harder maybe with the bitcoin if I didn't believe so much in real estate. I just love real estate. So it's. That's usually where I put the money and. And that's what it is, I think. Just like having a tenant getting income myself growing most likely, because I did pick some good locations. I think that's why.
- [31:24]
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a win win because you got the active income coming in and then you have the investment on the back end.
- [31:29]
A
Yeah.
- [31:30]
B
Whenever you do decide to sell. Right. Or be fine again.
- [31:32]
A
Yes, exactly.
- [31:34]
B
Yeah. I like win win opportunities.
- [31:36]
A
Yes.
- [31:37]
B
Whenever I put money into something, I think of, okay, I can make money, but what else am I winning with this.
- [31:42]
A
Yeah.
- [31:43]
B
So I invest in relationships, masterminds.
- [31:45]
A
That is the most valuable and that's the number one everyone should be doing, you know, in the beginning for sure.
- [31:53]
B
Yeah. I mean, it's led to so much growth for me because I learn a lot. I also get people on the podcast because of it. I figure out new ways to save money on taxes, make money, whatever.
- [32:02]
A
Yes. You have great relationships, which is number one.
- [32:06]
B
Yeah, that's why I started the WhatsApp chat too.
- [32:08]
A
Yeah, I love that one.
- [32:10]
B
Yeah, there's some good people in there.
- [32:11]
A
There's some very good people. People want to help each other out. Like minded, doing the events. You have something coming up too, in.
- [32:20]
B
Yeah, March 11th. Yeah, yeah. It's already sold out, I think, but yeah. A thousand people.
- [32:25]
A
Yes.
- [32:25]
B
I have events in every city I go to because I want to build networks in every city. So whenever I travel somewhere, I have people I can hang out with, get a dinner with.
- [32:33]
A
Yeah, that's the best way you're doing one in Miami anytime soon.
- [32:36]
B
Yeah, Miami in May for F1.
- [32:38]
A
Okay. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay.
- [32:39]
B
2,000 people at that one. And then New York and LA this year in Vegas.
- [32:43]
A
Okay, good. Yeah, the good places. Miami is good. It's still very happening. Miami.
- [32:48]
B
It's easy getting people in Miami to the events. You guys love to network out there, love to have fun. Miami's a good city.
- [32:53]
A
It is. It's a good city. And I think everybody wants an excuse to go to Miami. Yeah, just like they liked an excuse to come to Vegas too, right?
- [33:01]
B
Absolutely.
- [33:01]
A
Maybe Miami even more.
- [33:03]
B
Yeah. I mean, the weather is unbeatable. Vegas has been cold lately.
- [33:07]
A
Yes. Yeah, it's still a little cold, but it's better. I was here a month ago, I guess, and this is. It's getting a little bit better now, but finally.
- [33:15]
B
Yeah.
- [33:15]
A
Yeah.
- [33:15]
B
Winter has been brutal, but then it's.
- [33:17]
A
So hot again in August.
- [33:19]
B
Oh, my gosh. I don't leave the house those months.
- [33:21]
A
And that's how Florida is, too. That's why.
- [33:23]
B
That's why everyone leaves in those months.
- [33:25]
A
You have to.
- [33:26]
B
You have to get out to Norway?
- [33:28]
A
Yes, go to Norway.
- [33:29]
B
How's Norwegian food?
- [33:31]
A
It's good, you know, it's very basic. Like, they actually, like, eat a lot of potatoes.
- [33:37]
B
Similar to Irish then.
- [33:38]
A
Yeah, I would say so. Like the traditional meatball with the brown gravy, brown sauce, gravy and potatoes and just like boiled potatoes. A lot of vegetables. But very good quality food. I'm so lucky because both of my parents really cook really amazing food, obviously with. So, yeah, they. They make it so good. So when I'm in Norway, I don't go out to eat that much. Like, if I do, it'll be like, pizza.
- [34:08]
B
Got it.
- [34:08]
A
I like the pizza there.
- [34:09]
B
Really? You got the pizza?
- [34:11]
A
Me too. Damn good pizza. It's a little thicker, you know.
- [34:15]
B
Okay.
- [34:15]
A
Yeah.
- [34:16]
B
I don't see Norwegian restaurants anywhere.
- [34:18]
A
No.
- [34:18]
B
So that's why I asked how the food is.
- [34:20]
A
I know it's similar to Swedish and we do have some Swedish restaurants in New York. You know Marcus Samuelson, like he has a couple of. He used to have one in midtown in York and now he has one in Harlem. I forget the name. Is it called Red Rooster maybe or something?
- [34:35]
B
I'm not sure.
- [34:36]
A
It's pretty big. I went there. But for some reason I'm wondering if that's the name. So. Yeah, I like that traditional, you know, lingonberry jam with the gravy and sauces and stuff. Very like basic but good quality food. I would say that makes sense. Yeah.
- [34:53]
B
Meta. It's been fun. Where could people purchase the liquor and find out more about you?
- [34:56]
A
They can buy it online on unitiquila.com then you have like a shop order on, you know, the button there on the website. And I, because I actually now am able to ship to 45 states.
- [35:08]
B
Nice.
- [35:09]
A
So that's, that's probably the easiest way because I only have distribution in Florida, New York right now. And you know, it'll be more of a time. But yeah, easy to buy it online on unity kilo.com and, and then the shipping is like just two, three days. So that's great.
- [35:25]
B
Not bad at all. Check them out, guys. I'm about to take a shot. We'll post it on my Instagram. Cool.
- [35:30]
A
Awesome.
- [35:31]
B
Check her out, guys. Peace.
- [35:32]
A
Peace out.
- [45:55]
C
Marketing is hard, but I'll tell you a little secret. It doesn't have to be. Let me point something out. You're listening to a podcast right now and it's great. You love the host. You seek it out and download it. You listen to it while driving, working out, cooking, even going to the bathroom. Podcasts are a pretty close companion. And this is a podcast ad. Did I get your attention? You can reach great listeners like yourself with podcast advertising from Libsyn Ads. Choose from hundreds of top podcasts offering host endorsements or run a pre produced ad like this one across thousands of shows. To reach your target audience in their favorite podcasts with Libsyn Ads, go to libsynads. Com, that's L, I B S Y N Ads. Com Today.