The Brian Beers Show
Episode 253: "37 Life Lessons From a 37-Year Old Millionaire"
Date: January 20, 2025
Host: Brian Beers

Episode Overview

This episode features host and entrepreneur Brian Beers sharing his personal “37 Life Lessons” drawn from his journey building an 8-figure franchise portfolio. With hard-won advice and actionable insights, Brian distills three decades of entrepreneurship into clear lessons for business owners and aspiring franchisees. The tone is practical, honest, and direct—true to the show’s “no fluff” promise. This solo episode is ideal for listeners who want real-world strategies to grow wealth, build resilient businesses, and live an intentional life.

Key Lessons and Takeaways

1. Bias for Action (00:35)

• Act quickly: Wealthy people move fast, learning by doing rather than waiting for perfect conditions.
• Quote: “The quicker that you can move from an idea to action, the more you’ll get done, even if it’s not perfect right away.” (01:03)

2. Build a Business That Serves Your Life (01:24)

• Don’t let your business control you: Design your business intentionally to support your ideal lifestyle.

3. Recognize and Overcome Three Types of Fears (01:58)

• Types of fear: Fear of failure, fear of being judged, fear of unworthiness.
• Quote: “For each fear, there is an equal and opposite power… abundance is a birthright and you have the right to go out get it.” (02:23)

4. Real Estate Is Overrated (02:43)

• Preservation vs. generation: Build wealth through business first, then use real estate to preserve it.

5. Learn From Every Setback (03:23)

• Growth mindset: Every challenge is a learning opportunity, not a reason to feel victimized.

6. Be Resilient (03:52)

• Emotional control: Don’t get derailed by highs or lows; maintain focus regardless of circumstances.

7. Brilliance in the Basics (04:22)

• Master fundamentals: Lasting success comes from excellence at the basics—customer service, sales, operations.
• Quote: “The basics are boring, but they are powerful. They lay that foundation for long-term success.” (04:39)

8. Focus On Less, Then Obsess (04:50)

• Laser focus: Prioritize a few key initiatives; go all-in rather than spreading yourself thin.

9. Progress Over Perfection (05:21)

• Iterate: Move forward, even if imperfectly. Avoid the trap of endless tinkering.

10. Think Big (05:52)

• Scale your vision: The effort to build something big is often the same as building something small, but the rewards are greater.
• Quote: “Don’t aim small when you can aim big.” (06:22)

11. Franchising is Underrated (06:38)

• Proven success path: Franchising is a powerful, overlooked strategy for building wealth beyond fast food and fitness.
• Quote: “Franchising offers a proven path to build wealth… You don’t need to start from scratch.” (06:54)

12. Replace Yourself as a Leader (07:01)

• Delegate: Growth requires removing yourself from daily operations and empowering the team.

13. A-Players Attract A-Players (07:34)

• Culture compounding: High-performers are drawn to other top talent; don’t tolerate mediocrity.
• Quote: “Top talent wants to work with top talent. If you have an A player surrounded by a bunch of C’s and D’s—that A player is going to leave.” (07:43)

14. Simple, Lucrative Compensation Plans (08:09)

• Transparency: Pay structures should be easy to understand and generously reward results.

15. Fire C & D Players ASAP (08:37)

• Protect culture: Letting underperformers linger will drive out your best people.

16. Invest Heavily in Personal Education (09:07)

• Pay for speed: Coaches, courses, and masterminds compress the timeline of learning—use them wisely, with due diligence.

17. 100% Do-to-Say Ratio (09:54)

• Reliability builds trust: Keep your word. Build a team that does the same.

18. Sales Solve All Problems (10:22)

• When stuck, focus on sales: More revenue fixes many business challenges.
• Quote: “There’s nothing another million dollars in sales doesn’t solve.” (10:26)

19. Cash is King (10:47)

• Aggressive expense management: Protect your cash flow, cut non-essential costs fast.

20. Reinvest Capital in Your Business (11:13)

• Best returns: Your own business typically outperforms other investment vehicles “by a mile.”

21. Use Smart Debt, Not Bad Debt (11:44)

• Leverage wisely: Use loans for assets that generate income—not depreciating stuff.

22. Little Banks Over Big Banks (12:13)

• Community banking: Local banks know you, offer more flexibility, and are invested in your success.

23. Seller Financing Is the Best Way to Grow (12:55)

• Creative deals: Let sellers help finance your acquisitions, especially relevant in the franchise space.

24. Build a Personal Brand (13:30)

• Share publicly: Posting on social media opens doors to networks and opportunities.

25. Understand the Tax Code (13:52)

• Be proactive: Don’t rely solely on your accountant; bring them ideas, stay educated.

26. Invest In Time, Not Things (14:18)

• Time is your asset: Spend money to free up your time instead of buying unnecessary “stuff.”

27. Be Present With Your Family (14:37)

• Intentionality: Don’t let business crowd out what matters—focus on family during family time.

28. Think Twice Before Selling Your Business (15:04)

• Consider alternatives: Instead of selling and starting over, build a business that runs without your day-to-day involvement.

29. Create Opportunities for Your People (15:35)

• Lift everyone: Team growth follows business growth; your success enables others’ advancement.

30. Ask for More, Get More (16:06)

• Big ask, big rewards: Those who ask for large opportunities often receive them.
• Quote: “Picture a world as an ocean of opportunity… the more that you ask for, the more that you get.” (16:14)

31. Every Problem Is Math or Mental (16:34)

• Diagnose issues: Is it a resource (math) problem or a mindset (mental) issue? Solutions differ.

32. Don’t Force a Deal (16:54)

• Gut check: Stay aligned with long-term goals; don’t pursue business just because it’s available.

33. Create a Vivid 3-Year Vision (17:15)

• Visioning: Write down in detail where you want to be in three years to clarify your strategy.

34. Wake Up Early (17:52)

• Focus time: Mornings are prime for deep work, free from distractions.
• Quote: “Waking up early is a great way to get ahead and stay clear-minded.” (18:11)

35. Hard Work is Rare (18:17)

• Enduring differentiator: Simply showing up, working hard, and being accountable sets you apart.

36. Simple Investing: The Three Fund Portfolio (18:55)

• Passive approach: One US stock fund, one international stock fund, one bond fund (Vanguard) is the host’s recommended default.

37. Consistency Compounds (19:48)

• Show up daily: Over time, small efforts add up to big success—this principle applies in every area of life.
• Quote: “Put in work every single day… and the more consistent you are, the bigger returns you’re going to get.” (20:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Action:
  “Act fast, learn fast, and keep moving forward.” (00:46)

• On Building Wealth:
  “Many people who are rich have made their money in business and then they invest it into real estate. The order matters.” (02:54)

• On Talent:
  “A-players attract A-players... so you need to get rid of the bad people just as much as you need to bring in the good people.” (07:45)

• On Sales:
  “If you are stuck, focus on sales. There’s nothing another million dollars in sales doesn’t solve.” (10:26)

• On Opportunity:
  “The more that you ask for, the more that you get. If you ask for small rewards, that’s all you’re going to get.” (16:14)

• On Consistency:
  "If you show up every day consistently... you will see compound results.” (20:03)

Episode Flow & Segment Timestamps

• 00:01–00:28: Host intro and overview; motivation for making wealth through franchising
• 00:29–20:30: The 37 life lessons, discussed in straightforward, quick succession; each point builds from personal experience, includes anecdotes and practical tips
• 20:30–end: Brief closing remarks and a plug for Brian’s newsletter (outro omitted per instructions)

Final Thoughts

Brian Beers’ 37 lessons are a masterclass in actionable entrepreneurship, balancing tactical business advice with principles for life and personal growth. His direct delivery, memorable analogies, and unvarnished perspective make this episode a valuable listen for aspiring and active business owners alike.

Pro tip: This summary streamlines Brian’s comprehensive roadmap. For listeners inspired to take the next step, start by honing in on a few lessons to implement this week (“focus on less, then obsess”), and revisit the full list regularly as you grow.