The Code To Winning – Episode 067

Lead Generation Secrets Explained for Your Business / Guest: Daquota Avila
Host: Kagiso Dikane
Date: October 27, 2025

Episode Overview

In this dynamic episode, Kagiso Dikane welcomes Daquota Avila, CEO and founder of Yike (also known as "your media guy"), to demystify the world of lead generation and social media-driven business growth. The conversation dives into actionable strategies for converting content into real revenue, structuring scalable businesses, and embracing the mindset shifts necessary to excel as an entrepreneur. With candid stories and hard-won insights, Daquota reveals the challenges and breakthroughs that transformed him from a struggling solopreneur to the leader of a thriving media company.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Redefining Lead Generation – What Really Works

• Practical “Hands-Off” Lead Gen: Daquota emphasizes that his company isn’t a sales team, but a lead generation powerhouse. They run 70+ social media accounts, identify potential high-value customers, and hand off qualified leads, overlapping digital and physical efforts for local targeting ([01:49–04:12]).
  • “We are not a sales team. We are a lead generation. ... I just generate the leads and you got to do what you do.” — Daquota ([01:51])
  • They use targeted location posting and direct outreach (especially in affluent neighborhoods) for higher ROI opportunities.
• Subscription-Based Model: Clients pay a subscription for content planning, creation, posting, and especially, for strategic targeting after posting.
  • “Where we really, really thrive is after the posting – we find your ideal, ideal customers.” — Daquota ([02:35])

2. From Solopreneur Burnout to Scalable Business

• Origin Story & Growth Shift: Daquota recounts his humble beginnings, skeptical about business coaching but having his mind changed by real-life success stories ([04:49]).
  • “I was a solopreneur. ... Craigslist was my only source of lead gen, and they were horrible leads.” ([11:04])
  • The critical turning point was getting “roasted” during an open coaching session, leading to breakthroughs in pricing, systems, and mindset ([12:30]).
    • “You have no Legion. One source of Legion is you don’t have a company.” — His coach ([12:30])
• Breaking Through Limiting Circles: The transformative power of upgrading his network and masterminds — being the “smallest fish in the room” to drive ambition ([07:52–09:46]).
  • “I was the biggest fish in my pond, and I had to just get in the ocean.” — Daquota ([07:52])
• On Pricing & Value: Early on, Daquota was trapped racing to the bottom on price—now, he insists on value and isn’t afraid to walk away from customers who don’t see it ([11:23–12:15]).
  • “Now I’m the exact opposite. ... If you want the best of the best, go with that.” ([11:23])

3. Mindset, Accountability, and Handling Discouragement

• Radical Accountability: Daquota stresses the importance of taking responsibility for every outcome — good or bad.
  • “Everything is your fault. ... If you own that, everything is your fault.” ([13:22])
• Embracing Failure as Growth: He recommends intentionally stress-testing business systems to find weaknesses and fix them fast ([13:22]).
  • “Let’s fail and fail fast and hard so I can fix it so it never happens again.” ([13:22])
• Consistency and Discouragement: Both guests acknowledge the daily grind can feel thankless, but small, consistent actions and resilience pay off ([16:01–18:38]).
  • “If you’re going to fail, just accept you’re going to fail, but you can’t let it... You have to get up. ... 1% better every day.” — Daquota ([18:32])
  • “Stop. Comparison is a thief to success.” — Kagiso ([16:01])

4. Coaching, Networking & The Right Circle

• Coaching’s Value: Daquota has multiple business and life coaches. He emphasizes paying for the right kind of guidance—those who have walked the walk ([19:54–21:27]).
  • “Find a coach who’s done that... they’ve been in the trenches.” — Daquota ([20:38])
• Caution on Coaches: He warns against online “gurus” who haven’t achieved real results themselves ([20:38]).
• Networking Over Ads: Daquota underscores that his strongest lead flow is from a robust network over paid ads.
  • “Your net worth is your network.” ([27:31])
  • Acts of generosity and authentic connection are central to his client and partner retention ([27:31–32:12]).

5. Scaling Challenges – Hiring & Letting Go

• The Hardest Move: Hiring Help: The scariest leap was hiring an assistant when he barely broke even — but this decision led to explosive growth ([24:02]).
  • “I went from making $500 a week, and in a month I made nothing because I paid everything to her. And then that next month I tripled my business.” ([24:02])
• Systemizing to Freedom: True business success means the company runs and grows without you ([24:02–26:51]).
  • “If you have a business, you can turn your phone off for a month and just disappear... I still don’t think I have a business. I’m just an overpaid employee.” ([24:02])

6. Culture, Collaboration, and Motivation

• Strong Culture, Low Ego: Daquota distinguishes his company by building a culture where creative people thrive and buy into the bigger vision ([27:31–32:12]).
  • He splits roles according to strengths (field videographers vs. editors) and emphasizes knowing personal, professional, and financial goals (a lesson from Natalie Dawson).
  • “If you don’t know your employees’ goals and you’re not helping them achieve those goals, you’re not the business for them.” ([31:02])
• Motivation via Challenge: He seeks out rooms where he’s not the biggest player, constantly chasing bigger thinking, better systems ([33:39–35:20]).

7. Definition of Winning & Final Words

• Freedom, Not Just Profit: For Daquota, true winning is being able to walk away from the business and see it continue to thrive and grow ([36:00]).
  • “Winning, I think, is that freedom where I can just leave. ... My board... company’s going up or down without me. ... That’s what winning is.” ([36:00])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you’re the biggest fish in your pond, you gotta get in the ocean.” — Daquota ([07:52])
• “Let’s fail and fail fast and hard so I can fix it so it never happens again.” — Daquota ([13:22])
• “If you want great turnaround time, you want this... this is what my agency offers. If you want the best of the best, go with that.” — Daquota ([11:23])
• “If you have a business, you can turn your phone off for a month and just disappear... I don’t have a business yet.” — Daquota ([24:02])
• “Your net worth is your network.” — Daquota ([27:31])
• “Stop. Comparison is a thief to success.” — Kagiso ([16:01])
• “Winning, I think, is that freedom where I can just leave.” — Daquota ([36:00])

Key Timestamps

• 01:49 – Daquota explains his company’s lead generation process
• 04:49 – How Daquota started in lead generation
• 07:52 – Realization on the importance of the right circles
• 12:30 – Getting “roasted” during a mastermind and the value of feedback
• 13:22 – Radical accountability and intentional system failure
• 16:01 – Discussion on consistency, discouragement, and redefining success
• 18:32 – Importance of resilience and actionable coaching
• 24:02 – The hardest move: hiring and delegating for growth
• 27:31 – Value of networking, culture-building, and collaboration
• 36:00 – Daquota’s personal definition of “winning”

Where to Connect with Daquota Avila

• Find him on any social platform: @youremediaguy
  “That’s what everyone sort of called me, so that’s what we just went with... if you just follow us, you’re going to get a DM from us anyway.” ([37:27])

Summary Judgment

This episode delivers a wealth of practical guidance for any entrepreneur, freelancer, or business leader aiming to boost their lead generation, scale their operations, and embrace the disciplines that make success sustainable. Daquota’s transparency about his journey, struggles, and wins—along with actionable takeaways—make this both an inspiring and instructional listen, reinforcing the show’s mission of providing “insights you need today to seize the world tomorrow.”