The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex

Episode: Why Passive Income Is REAL in 2025: Seve Ortale Breaks Down the Payment Processing Gold Rush

Host: Paul Alex Espinoza
Guest: Seve Ortale
Date: November 19, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Paul Alex sits down with Seve Ortale, a young entrepreneur from Nashville, Tennessee, to demystify the modern “gold rush” of payment processing and the realities of creating passive income in 2025. They unpack Seve’s journey from failed e-commerce founder to the owner of a successful ISO (independent sales organization) in payment processing, the crucial lessons learned from sales, and actionable frameworks for newcomers who want to break into the business. The conversation is candid, motivational, and loaded with practical advice—particularly for anyone seeking scalable, residual income streams outside of a traditional 9-to-5.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Seve’s Origin Story and Entrepreneurial Drive

• Background: Grew up in Nashville; entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, despite parental pressure to attend college (03:39).
• "I'd always say I want to be an entrepreneur, but I don't know what." – Seve Ortale [04:23]
• Met his fiancée in college; dabbled in e-commerce (wearable payment rings) before pivoting after challenges breaking into the U.S. market (09:12–10:28).

2. Failed E-commerce Venture & Lessons Learned

• Developed a payment-enabled ring with European partners due to U.S. banking restrictions (09:12).
• "You were trying to force it at work. It wasn't going. Dude, you were just like, you know what, my main avatar, which is America, can't even target them." — Paul Alex [10:19]
• Ultimately, accepted the need to move on after investing significant time and money; still has leftover inventory as a reminder (10:26).

3. Entry Into Payment Processing

• Encouraged by a family friend—already successful in payments—to try credit card processing sales (11:17).
• Attended a brief training with an ISO, shadowed a successful young agent, and quickly realized the potential for substantial passive income (12:32–12:48).
• "That was the time that I was like, wow, I'm built for sales. Like, I love this." — Seve Ortale [12:48]

4. The Sales Grind: Building Grit & Finding Success

• Faced extreme rejection: Visited 600 businesses before landing his first deal (17:01).
• Initially pitched "savings," as most agents do, but learned to focus on providing real value (e.g., restaurant technology upgrades) (17:05–17:59).
• First residual check: $355, which he donated. Marked a major emotional milestone (18:13).
• "Persistence is the most important thing. Even if you're doing, you know, three deals a month, that's still like a $10,000 yearly raise." — Seve Ortale [25:14]

5. The ‘Why’ Behind Passive Income

• Seve emphasizes freedom over everything. Residuals mean the ability to control your time—something a traditional job can’t offer (20:17–21:29).
• "Money doesn't mean anything if you can't do what you want to do with your own time." — Seve Ortale [21:29]

6. Building an ISO & Expanding Online

• Progressed from a solo agent to building his own ISO within two years; now has a team of six (22:19–23:25).
• Started mentoring/educating others to avoid the "600 rejections" learning curve via Payments University (24:02).
• Vision: Empower others with both tactical information and the support he lacked as a rookie.
• "I want to give people everything I needed to know to build my book... and everything I wish I knew when I started that I didn't." — Seve Ortale [24:02]

7. Attributes of a Top Payment Processing Agent

• Grit, consistency, and willingness to push past rejection are vital (25:07).
• "Stacking" a few accounts monthly can quickly lead to six-figure passive income (25:41).

8. First Steps for Aspiring Agents

• Find an ISO—avoid ones with restrictive contracts.
• Prioritize those offering upfront bonuses in addition to residuals.
• Start with existing networks, then expand through door-to-door and outreach (26:18).

9. The Future: Crypto & Blockchain in Payments

• Seve is skeptical of crypto replacing credit cards soon given entrenched industry interests (29:31).
• Foresees possible ancillary crypto integrations but no sudden shift to blockchain-based payments (30:25–30:50).
• "There's too much big money behind, you know, letting something completely take over overnight." — Seve Ortale [29:31]

10. Training, Community, & Brand Building

• Training program now includes:
  • Live onboarding/education.
  • “Dream 10” outreach system for rookies.
  • Shadowing managers for firsthand deal-closing experience (31:18–32:29).
• On brand building: Action over aesthetics—stop worrying about logos and websites, just execute (34:34).
• "Shut up and work... FIO: Figure it out." — Seve Ortale [34:34]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If it's endurable, then endure it. Stop complaining." — Seve Ortale [36:35]
• "You can make 20, 30, 40, 50 grand plus a month, just you and completely passively, maybe work an hour, maybe two a week." — Seve Ortale [20:35]
• On social proof: "I saw someone else do it, and knowing there’s nothing different between me and him, I love that." — Seve Ortale [18:56]
• On beginner wins: "I made my first $355 check and I donated it. I think that's freaking great. Because a lot of people... would never make a dollar." — Paul Alex [18:13]
• On community: Discussion of launching in-person events in Nashville, and “Operators Podcast” highlighting operator mindsets (33:03–33:34).

Timeline of Important Segments

• 03:39 — Seve’s background, college experience, and early drive to be an entrepreneur.
• 09:12–10:28 — E-commerce venture: technical hurdles, European limitations, lessons learned.
• 11:17 — Intro to payment processing via family friend.
• 12:48 — Discovering a love for sales in the payments industry.
• 17:01–17:59 — 600 business “no’s” and the pivot to value-based selling.
• 18:13 — First (donated) residual check and why small wins matter.
• 20:17–21:29 — Seve’s “why”: time freedom, not just money.
• 22:19–23:25 — Scaling from solo agent to ISO owner.
• 24:02–24:49 — Launching a coaching program to eliminate rookie mistakes.
• 25:07–25:41 — Necessary traits for new agents and the power of compounding effort.
• 29:31–30:50 — Crypto’s slow road to disrupting payment processing.
• 31:18–32:29 — How Seve mentors agents & practical onboarding steps.
• 34:34–35:07 — Building a brand: focus on action, not perfection.
• 36:35 — Final mindset advice for leveling up in 2025.

Action Steps & Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

1. Seek mentorship and avoid reinventing the wheel; learn from others’ failures.
2. Prioritize consistency: A few wins per month can rapidly compound.
3. Reject perfectionism: Start selling and iterating over waiting for the “perfect” brand.
4. Embrace rejection: Success will require hundreds of “no’s”; grit is necessary (17:01).
5. Pick the right partners: Choose an ISO offering real long-term value (26:18).
6. Celebrate small wins: The first check—even if it’s modest—is a gateway to greater achievement (18:13).

How to Connect with Seve Ortale

• Instagram: @seve_ortale_
• TikTok: Same as Instagram handle
• Website/Coaching Program: paymentsuniversity.info (link in Seve’s bio)

Final Takeaway

Passive income is not a myth when approached with discipline, strategic mentorship, and unbreakable consistency. Payment processing remains wide open for determined individuals who want to create real freedom for themselves—and Seve Ortale’s story is living proof that with the right mindset and a willingness to embrace the grind, you really can level up your income and your life.

Quote to Remember:

"If it's endurable, then endure it. Stop complaining."
— Seve Ortale [36:35]