Podcast Summary: Mick Unplugged – Grant Cardone: Why Saving Money Doesn’t Work

Host: Mick Hunt (Realm)
Guest: Grant Cardone
Date: August 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This high-energy episode of Mick Unplugged features Grant Cardone, the renowned sales strategist, investor, and author behind the 10X movement. Together with modern leadership coach Mick Hunt, Cardone unpacks his personal philosophy of moving beyond traditional advice (“Why”) to a much deeper driving force (“Because”). The conversation covers Cardone’s journey from troubled beginnings to billionaire status, with a powerful focus on mentorship, reputation, the pitfalls of saving money, and actionable strategies for scaling businesses.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Because” That Drives Grant Cardone

• Grant’s Twin Motivations (02:44 - 05:08)
  • Mentorship Hunger: Growing up without strong positive guidance, Cardone sought leadership and fell into negative influences for a decade.
    • Quote: “Because I desired mentorship. And I see this happening to a lot of people… they’re looking up to the ballplayers or the rappers… You don’t really have a potential to succeed. It’s very low compared to being a businessperson.” (04:03)
  • Pursuit of Potential: Driven by a spiritual connection, Cardone is not motivated by a sense of lacking self-worth, but an obsession with realizing his fullest ability.
    • Quote: “I am trying to discover my full worth. I do not have a self-worth problem. I am in pursuit of my potential that God gave me.” (04:44)

2. Reputation & Making Your Name Known

• Value of a Name (06:11 - 09:21)
  • Cardone’s father emphasized protecting the family name; Grant believes you must also make it known.
    • Quote: “You got to get the name known, bro. My dad would be so happy today because millions of people know my name… We help so many people today.” (07:23)
  • Sharing mastery is core to Cardone: excellence comes from teaching others as you learn.

3. The “Cardone Zone” Mindset

• Becoming an Action Word (09:44 - 11:09)
  • In Mick’s company, “Cardoning” and “Cardone Zone” both mean deep focus, relentless drive, and avoidance of distraction.
    • Quote: “We are in our cardone zone… that has to be the mindset because it’s easy to get out of it. And then you start making excuses.” (10:09)
  • For entrepreneurs, focus on fixing one or two problems at a time is critical instead of being spread too thin.

4. Dealing with Obscurity & Getting Noticed

• Dangers of Being Unknown (11:17 - 17:09)
  • Cardone distinguishes between being rejected and being unseen; obscurity is far more dangerous for business growth.
  • Quote: “Rejection is nothing compared to not being seen at all. Be careful what you don’t like. If you’re being rejected… at least you were seen.” (13:03)
  • Overcoming obscurity is more important than perfecting your “why.”
  • Who knows you is more valuable than who you know.

5. Changing Your Circle to Level Up

• Not Everyone Can Go With You (17:42 - 23:32)
  • Growth means leaving some friends and even family behind; “up-levelers” will support, but lateral and downward relationships often resent change.
  • Quote: “The first level of resistance is your family. The ones you love the most will hold you back the most.” (23:32)
  • Surround yourself with high achievers and seek new environments with more opportunity.

6. Lessons from Failure, Location, and Hustle

• Self-Disgust as Fuel (22:28 - 23:09)
  • Cardone leveraged his dissatisfaction into motivation, quit seeking validation from external symbols, and focused on maximizing where he was, even if it wasn’t ideal.
  • Quote: “I quit looking for shoes to make me look better or a suit to make me look better…I’m going to take what I have, and I’m going to look better.” (21:48)
  • Importance of relocating for opportunity and aligning with the right people.

7. The Truth About Money: Why Saving Doesn’t Work

• The ‘Save Money’ Myth (27:47 - 32:17)
  • Cardone unpacks why saving money is a losing strategy due to inflation and the way banks operate.
    • Quote: “If I had a 1958 hundred-dollar bill and I put it aside and pulled it out today… It’s worth nine bucks. I can’t save it. I’m losing money. It’s impossible.” (00:00 & 29:30)
  • Focus should be on earning (“getting”) and investing money, not hoarding it.
  • Cardone’s practical rule for building wealth: Live on 20%, invest 80%.
    • Quote: “For 40 years, when I get $100, I take $20 and live off of it. And 80% I invest.” (31:00)
  • Earned income should always go toward investments that produce passive income, not consumption.

8. On Credit and Debt

• Good Debt vs. Bad Debt (32:22 - 35:39)
  • Cardone distinguishes between “consumption” debt (bad) and investment debt (good).
  • Quote: “All money is debt… I will never owe a penny to a bank or a credit card for something I’m merely consuming or living off of.” (33:46)
  • Passive income is what should fund your lifestyle improvements, not earned income.

9. The Fastest Way to Scale: Acquisition

• Scaling Lessons (36:40 - 38:30)
  • Cardone recommends buying existing businesses instead of starting from scratch, citing his own experience acquiring and scaling Streamline/10X Health System.
  • Quote: “Go buy 10 of you. The easiest way to scale your business is to buy it… You can literally buy these companies for no money.” (36:40)

10. Final Words: Focus, Goals, and Possibility

• Quote: “You can do anything, but you cannot do everything… Get back to your goals. Where’s that windshield in front of you? What’s the target?” (39:31)
• Cardone writes his goals every day as a way to stay forward-focused, especially after setbacks.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Pursuit of my potential… that God gave me.” (04:44, Grant)
• “Your name is your brand, and your brand is represented by what you do, the things that you do, the stories that you tell.” (05:14, Mickey)
• “The panhandler, he doesn’t make money. He just goes out and says, hey, give me money, right?” (28:55, Grant)
• “All of it’s hard. It’s hard if you got a billion dollars, and it’s hard if you broke. I’ve been both.” (38:48, Grant)
• “Don’t listen to the people in the back seat, bro. They sitting back there for a reason.” (40:14, Grant)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Grant’s “Because” and Early Struggles: 02:44 – 05:08
• Reputation and the Cardone Name: 06:11 – 09:21
• Obscurity & Why Being Seen Matters Most: 11:17 – 17:09
• Leaving People Behind to Grow: 17:42 – 23:32
• Cardone’s Money Philosophy: Save vs. Invest: 27:47 – 32:17
• Debt: Good vs. Bad: 32:22 – 35:39
• Scaling by Acquisition: 36:40 – 38:30
• Final Words on Focus & Goals: 39:31 – 40:14

Tone & Language

The episode is fast-paced, candid, and packed with practical, occasionally blunt advice (“If you’re being rejected, at least you were seen”, “All money is debt”). Both speakers trade in direct, motivational language, urging listeners to self-audit, take control, and embrace relentless focus.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Don’t settle for your “why”; go deeper to your “because.”
• Your reputation is your brand—protect it, but make it known globally.
• Obscurity is deadlier than rejection—make yourself seen.
• You outgrow circles; be ready to leave some people behind.
• Saving money doesn’t build wealth—focus on investing and earning passive income.
• Leverage debt for investment, not consumption.
• If you want to scale, consider acquisitions rather than starting from scratch.
• Write your goals every day; keep your target in the windshield, not the rearview.

For anyone seeking to level-up, Cardone’s message is clear: challenge the status quo, think bigger, get known, and invest with purpose.