#AI successes and setbacks

[skannar]

I love good Audiobooks on new tech.

[srbachchan]

DAY 5855

Jalsa, Mumbai Feb 28/29, 2024 Wed/Thu 12:04 AM

🪔 ,

Ef birthday for February 29 ..

This birthday wish can happen only once in 4 years .. worldcup ki tarah .. so it's very extra special ..

For .. February 29 .. our greetings to Anagha Sridhar - daughter of Ef Anjana Sridhar .. hope we're saying the name correctly .. her .. errrrm .. 7th birthday - according to the leap year !! .. be happy and always leap with faith and joy .. love from the Ef Family .. 🙏🏻🚩❤️

As you put in the home details there is a sense of belonging and an enlightened demeanour ..

Home is home .. it may be lesser than most , richer than most , non facilitated with the needs of existence , but it is home .. and nothing can ever replace its bearings , latitudes and longitudes .. they are the permanency that nature instills in us all ..

I am home and in a happy environ .. the happiest , and the most desireable ..

.. and the 'pundits ' of the times express to us all the true feel of domesticity :

"Home is the sanctuary where heart and hearth converge, weaving a tapestry of comfort and belonging. It transcends the physical, embodying memories, laughter, and solace. It's the symphony of familiar creaks and the fragrance of shared meals. Home is where acceptance resides, where love unfolds its gentle wings. It cradles dreams in cozy corners and stands resilient amidst life's tempests. More than walls and a roof, it's an intimate mosaic of shared experiences. Home is the compass guiding weary souls, an anchor in the tumultuous sea of existence. It is a refuge, a haven, where the essence of one's true self flourishes."

The last day at work in the elms of the city of Hyderabad, get visited by the exalted genius and his thoughts and expresses, that be mysterious and mystifying - Ram Gopal Varma , alias Ramu ..

And he pours out in a non stop breather conversation on films contents and the much talked about and meticulously practised - AI

Where are we going .. ? a mystery unknown and in its changes and revolutions by the day almost ..

Fact was never looked upon with doubt and scepticism, and disbelief as it is today .. what be real, non fake , is ever up for debate and discuss each hour .. living side by side .. almost complimenting each other .. but never the belief that it be the truest and correct .. information has 'inform' in it for its delivery .. but does it really inform .. or does it simply put out for its content existence .. impotence and all ... as what was expressed some time back in the days of the year gone by ..

And what of failure and despondency or its despondent exist :

"Failure and defeat linger in the recesses of our being, casting long shadows that echo well beyond the moment of setback. The scars of unsuccessful endeavors etch themselves into our psyche, creating a mosaic of resilience and self-discovery. Even when success follows, the remnants of past failures shape our character, fostering humility and tenacity. The memory of defeat, like an indelible watermark, accompanies us on the journey, a constant reminder of our vulnerability and capacity to rise. Yet, within the persistence lies the seed of growth, as failure becomes the fertile ground from which triumph eventually sprouts, transforming setbacks into stepping stones towards a more profound and enduring success."

Ride it .. wave it , breach the continuity .. accept the fresh abound .. and sail onto the barren sands of time , in the balance of dexterity

Amitabh Bachchan

[curio-queries]

Hi CQ, Thank you for your ask! I would also like to keep this conversation going as it tickles my brain in the most delightful way.

My question is kind of circling back to your comment about the use of Go-Pro's going forward when it comes to BTS content. It's such an easy way to add a very personal and up close pov to the scenes. YET, I feel like the scaled down crew of AYS and the use of Go-Pro's and especially the lack of attention to the audio has led to some pretty egregious technical setbacks. From choppy audio to a lack of proper coverage in certain scenes. This leads to an edit that has to cover a lot of potholes, so to speak. Do you think this is purely due to the intimate nature of AYS (less crew means more comfort for jikook, easier travel in between locations) or something else? Where's that Disney money 😩😩😩?

Hi Sol, I'm loving our exchanges, so thank you for keeping it going and sending me such an interesting prompt! I definitely had to think about this one a little bit to find how to encapsulate my thoughts.

The short answer is, I think this all just speaks to how the BTS production team is approaching experimental content and the financing required for such projects. Some comparables would be Suchwita and Jin's Alcohol Journey.

Let's start with Jin's show first.

(For anyone that hasn't watched it, I highly recommend. I don't drink but I still found it fascinating.) This is a 4 part episodic show that followed Jin as he learned about and made his own batch of a traditional drink. This show was a collaboration with Chef Baek Jong-won.

Personally, I feel this show was a success. Definitely leaned into more traditional filmmaking and storytelling (appropriately given the subject matter) and was a little more heavy-handed with the promo of Jin's solo music. In my opinion, this will lean the content to feeling more dated than it truly is but that may give us a hint as to how it was funded. There weren't any blatant sponsorships aside from the partnership with Chef Baek so it could have been reconciled as part of the promotions for The Astronaut. Wooteo is pretty prevalent in the show and it aired in the midst of the promo content.

I don't remember when the deal with Disney started to become known but I don't recall anyone in my circles angry that it wasn't getting the Disney release. (Could have been happening but I really limit where I spend my time engaging in social media so maybe that's on me for not being aware. Does anyone here remember if this was an issue?)

Now, let's move on to Suchwita.

(Disregard the quote on the above gif, I couldn't find a different one from the first ep.)

If you watch the first episode, it's on a different set and aired about a month before ep 2. When ep 3 airs, they first make it very clear that the show 'survived'. This is what leads me to believe that episode 1 was filmed on speculation. They could use that as a proof-of-concept to shop the show around to brands to secure more long-term funding. Suchwita's main focus as a show in the current events space is very focused on the guest's current projects and promotions.

Getting back to AYS,

We're far enough into the show that I believe we can rule out album promotions as being a financial driver. Not only because most of the member's songs that even make an appearance in the show were long-ago released but the manner in which they were incorporated is indicative as well. They're really only mentioned in the context of bringing us into the member's lives and sharing in the joy they have for eachother's work. (Also hopefully satisfying those fans that only ask the members to mention other member's songs when one of them would livestream...but that's a subject for another day.)

I think there's a strong possibility that the US eps were filmed on speculation as well. That there was no guarantee of a Disney release at the time. Just like the other shows, they knew they knew they could release on their own if Disney decided to pass so the footage definitely wouldn't be wasted. But I believe that's why the scope of the show seems vaguely undefined during eps 1&2.

Everything else that we've been discussing regarding production honestly seems within the typical scope of BTS's content under similar circumstances. Yes, there is plenty of room for improvement, but it's far from the worst show BTS has ever produced. I think one of the points that makes ppl think it's worse than it is is the management of expectations. I mentioned this in my review of Jimin's Production Diary but if we approach that show expecting that we're going to get detailed breakdown of all of the steps to create an album, we'll be very disappointed. Likewise, AYS is not a detailed vlog of how our members spent their time in these mini vacations.

One last thought,

BTS is not really given the space to experiment and explore. True experimentation requires space for failure, realignment, and growth. And that's just not something BTS has been granted the luxury of. There is such EXPECTATION with everything they release. Everything HAS to be success. That's one of the reasons I was so thrilled to hear RM had performed an unreleased song at the D-DAY concert. Crowdworking new material at concerts was a staple of tourning bands in the west and it helps bands get such critical live feedback DURING the creative process. Now, I don't think that was necessarily the goal with RMs performance but it's so lovely to see him able to even take a step in that direction. Such a thing woukd have been completely unheard of years prior. Fans (likely still) would have been clamoring about being led astray if the song changed drastically after that performance.

Anyway, I could very easily be completely wrong about all of this so let's all take it with a huge grain of salt.

[beastickersco]

The Top 10 Hardest Things About Starting a Small Business (And How to Overcome Them)

Starting a small business is an exciting journey, but it is not all passion projects and overnight success. Whether you’re launching a sticker business, an online store, or a local shop, the process is filled with challenges, setbacks, and lessons you never saw coming.

From funding struggles to burnout, many entrepreneurs face unexpected obstacles that can make or break their business. But knowing what to expect—and how to overcome these hurdles—can help turn challenges into opportunities.

Here are the ten hardest things about starting a small business and how to tackle them successfully.

1. Finding the Right Business Idea

The Challenge:

You might have too many ideas, or you may not be able to think of a single good one. Choosing the right business idea is tough because:

• It needs to be profitable.

• It should align with your skills and passion.

• It has to have market demand, meaning people actually want to buy it.

How to Overcome It:

• Test your idea before going all in—survey potential customers or create a prototype.

• Research the competition—if no one is doing it, there may be a reason such as lack of demand.

• Solve a problem—successful businesses fill a gap in the market.

Your first business idea does not have to be your last. Many entrepreneurs pivot after learning what works.

2. Getting Funding for Your Business

The Challenge:

Most businesses need money to start, but where do you get it? Banks require strong credit, investors want proof of success, and using your own savings is risky.

How to Overcome It:

• Start small and test with low-cost products before expanding.

• Look for alternative funding such as crowdfunding, grants, or small business loans.

• Consider bootstrapping by reinvesting early profits instead of taking on debt.

Pre-selling your products is a smart way to generate cash flow before investing too much.

3. Learning Everything (Marketing, Sales, Accounting, and More)

The Challenge:

As a business owner, you wear all the hats—you are the marketer, accountant, customer service rep, and CEO all at once.

How to Overcome It:

• Learn the basics with free online courses on marketing, finance, and branding.

• Use business tools such as accounting software, AI for content creation, and social media planners.

• Outsource when possible by hiring freelancers for things you do not have time to master.

Focus on your strengths and outsource the rest once you can afford it.

4. Building a Customer Base from Scratch

The Challenge:

No customers means no sales. But how do you get people to trust a brand that just launched?

How to Overcome It:

• Leverage social media by consistently posting valuable content.

• Offer early discounts or freebies to incentivize first-time buyers.

• Encourage word-of-mouth by asking happy customers for reviews.

Building a strong brand identity, including a logo, website, and social proof, makes people more likely to buy from you.

5. Managing Time and Avoiding Burnout

The Challenge:

Most small business owners work much more than 40 hours a week—without a boss to set limits, it is easy to burn out.

How to Overcome It:

• Set a schedule and balance work time with personal time.

• Prioritize tasks by focusing on what moves the business forward.

• Take breaks because burnout leads to bad decisions and lower productivity.

You are more productive when well-rested. Take at least one day off per week to recharge.

6. Handling Self-Doubt and Fear of Failure

The Challenge:

Every entrepreneur asks themselves, “What if this fails?” Self-doubt can kill motivation before you even start.

How to Overcome It:

• Focus on progress, not perfection—you will learn as you go.

• Surround yourself with support by connecting with other business owners.

• Celebrate small wins—every sale is proof that you are on the right track.

Every successful business owner has failed before. The key is learning and pivoting when needed.

7. Dealing with Slow Sales and Unpredictable Income

The Challenge:

Some months are great, while others are painfully slow—especially in the beginning.

How to Overcome It:

• Have a backup fund by setting aside money during good months.

• Create multiple revenue streams by selling online, at markets, and on different platforms.

• Run promotions during slow periods, such as flash sales or limited-time discounts.

Focus on repeat customers because loyal customers spend more and shop often.

8. Standing Out in a Crowded Market

The Challenge:

No matter what business you start, there is competition. So how do you make people choose you over others?

How to Overcome It:

• Find your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)—what makes your brand different?

• Offer top-tier customer service because people remember great experiences.

• Build a personal brand so that people connect with you, not just your product.

Brand story matters—people buy from businesses they relate to.

9. Managing Inventory and Supply Chain Issues

The Challenge:

Whether you are selling physical products or digital goods, inventory management can be a headache—especially when suppliers have delays or price increases.

How to Overcome It:

• Start with small batches and do not overstock before testing demand.

• Work with reliable suppliers and always have a backup plan.

• Track inventory closely using software to avoid running out or over-ordering.

Having a pre-order system can help manage unexpected inventory shortages.

10. Staying Motivated When Things Get Hard

The Challenge:

Not every day will be exciting. Some days, you will want to quit. Motivation comes and goes, but consistency is key.

How to Overcome It:

• Remember your “why”—what made you start this business?

• Join entrepreneur communities because talking to other business owners helps.

• Set small goals by breaking big tasks into manageable wins.

Mindset is everything—keep pushing forward, even when it is tough.

Final Thoughts: Is Starting a Small Business Worth It?

Absolutely. Even though starting a business is hard, the freedom, creativity, and potential for success make it worth the effort. Every challenge you face is a learning opportunity that brings you closer to long-term success.

What is the hardest part of starting a business for you? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Looking for custom stickers for your small business? Check out BeaStickers.ca for high-quality, waterproof branding solutions.

[newtiative]

NVIDIA is one of the most successful companies on the planet, worth a staggering $2.8 trillion. But if you think its CEO, Jensen Huang, is all about celebrating smooth sailing, think again.

“I wish upon you ample doses of pain and suffering,” he said—yes, really—during a talk at Stanford last year. Then he smiled. “I mean that in a happy way because you want to refine the character of your company.”

Huang isn’t cruel. He’s sharp. He knows that comfort can dull ambition and that real growth happens in the fire of adversity. To him, pain isn’t something to fear; it’s something to embrace. Why? Because it keeps you sharp. It pushes you forward. It makes sure you’re not just coasting on past wins.

At NVIDIA, that philosophy fuels everything. Challenges aren’t setbacks; they’re opportunities to get better. That’s why the company keeps climbing higher—and why Huang isn’t letting anyone rest too long on their laurels.

#sᴜᴄᴄᴇssᴍɪɴᴅsᴇᴛ #businessstrategy #leadershipskills #motivationalquoteoftheday #innovations #ɢʀᴏᴡᴛʜᴍɪɴᴅsᴇᴛ #entrepreneurship101 #nvidia #jensenhuang #ai #technews #siliconvalley #techleadership #quoted #quotestag

[digitalmarkete1r]

Why Most Bloggers Fail in 2025: Key Reasons

Starting a blog is easy, but sustaining success is challenging. Here are five common reasons why many bloggers struggle:

1. Poor Niche Selection

Many beginners choose a niche without proper research, often influenced by others. Later, they realize the niche isn’t right for them, but they’re already invested—making it difficult to continue or quit.

2. Lack of Proper Planning

Following someone else’s plan without understanding it can lead to failure. For example, selling digital products without knowledge of the industry will likely result in frustration and setbacks.

3. Relying on a Single Traffic Source

If you depend only on Google for traffic, a sudden algorithm update could wipe out your rankings. Diversifying traffic sources (social media, email marketing, etc.) is crucial for long-term stability.

4. Not Utilizing AI Effectively

Some still believe AI is bad for blogging, but in 2025, AI is essential. When used correctly (for research, content structuring, and optimization—not spamming), AI can streamline and improve blogging efforts.

5. Lack of Proper Guidance

Many start blogging by watching YouTube tutorials. While self-learning is valuable, it often leads to wasted time. Having a mentor or structured guidance significantly increases the chances of success.

Want to succeed in blogging? Choose your niche wisely, plan strategically, diversify traffic, leverage AI, and seek expert guidance.

https://digitalmarketingexpertteam.com/

[jlf23tumble]

Hello! Now that I'm deep into Larry deep-diving, one of the things that Larries (speaking of the invasive ones, not people just lurking on the internet) miss is how cruel some of their actions are. Specifically for Louis, because I think the sheer volume of Harry's fame has drowned out a lot of the Larry voices. 

In the band, they were heavily controlled, without a say over their outfits, merchandise, their singles, especially in the beginning. Louis was the driving force for them to take ownership over their image and their sound (and he absorbed any pushback from management for this). We know this to be true because the other band members, crew, and Louis himself have told us so. 

Now he's making the music he wants to make, selling the merch he wants to sell, has a band he curated, with management and a label who support him (no longer with the Simon Cowell albatross hanging around his neck). He's created a whole damn festival with new artists he's supporting. And yet, every day people Tweet him manips or AI porn, or harass his sisters/ex/friends, or show up to his concerts with Larry signs or ask baiting questions at meet and greets. All in the name of the conspiracy that Louis is still a controlled puppet who cannot live his true life. 

Even if Larry is real, even if they're still deeply in love, even if it's not real and they're mortal enemies, Harry doesn't matter in this narrative. All that matters is infantilizing Louis. Louis who has spoken so vulnerably and eloquently about his personal and professional setbacks, about his lack of confidence, about how he finally feels he deserves the success he's worked nearly half his life for. 

I mean, how patient and kind Louis is with his fans is incredible. That man deserves so much more than what they're willing to give him. 

[vanillaxoshi]

With the amount of brain damage issues that cahaya has as a result to him.. well almost dying

Has there ever been a situation where cahaya is just struggling concentrating or memorizing when on a mission?

Is that why tanah is so againts cahaya being on missions?

Picture sad scene:

It has been a few days after successful mission, one of which he got to be involved in even! Although there was some setbacks because of his lack of focus; he is still embarrassed that he almost fell into a ditch just because he was curious on a new species of alien butterfly.

They're now in tapops cafeteria eating together to get ready for another mission. He's excited for this mission specifically because of how little info of its habitats and wildlife in general. Its one of the missions hes been looking foward to.

Though apparently his body is in one of those moods now, his fingers are shaking and it takes a bit more focus just to grab a stupid FORK of all things. His motor skills are not great today

'No.. not now... not today of all days." Cahaya thought hoping no one is noticing his struggle.

Unfortunately, since luck was never on his side (it never is) someone was noticing. It was his quietest brother. Ais.

Ais asked if he was ok, and OBVIOUSLY he was. This is.. this is just a minor setback, he does not need help to grab a fork so stop offering Ais

But it seems his own body is againts him, he is stuggling on gripping this dang fork (he succeeded in grabbing it tho so score!). He is using all his energy and concentration on just puting this sliced meat in his mouth

But he can't even do that. Due to his tremors he lost his grip and fork falls

A loud clang echos around the table

...

..

.

Its silent

Everyone is staring, he doesn't even need to look up.. he just.. he just knows it

He stares at his shaking hands (he didn't expect to experience tremors and motor control issues today)

But just to make sure, he looks up with just that little bit of hope in his eyes, his eyes shine with plead as he saw petir and tanah. They lock eyes.

Hope shriveled in his soul, he feels his heart crack a bit. He looks down; vision already blurring

It seems he won't be exploring that planet after all.

When the mission happens, the brothers felt like theres something missing. Someone isn't monitoring them.

Cahaya never get to see what was in that planet.

I essentially wanted to make a little animated version of this but never got to, and now this is just rested in my inbox, best if i just answer it

Poor Cahaya, the brothers decision is understandable but Damn, guess even when he was left behind he didnt monitor them, either the tremors became worse/other problems arose or he certainly didnt feel like monitoring at all

Also, of course he'd have moments where he's struggling essentially

[fashiondairy]

My Professional Journey…

Throughout my 20-years journey, I've learned to rely on my own strengths and talents. I have passout from NIFT Kolkata in 2002-2004 batch. BFA & MFA from Prachin Kala Kendra Chandigarh, despite having a good network of friends and fashion professionals, I've found that genuine support and opportunities have come from unexpected sources.

I've navigated the fashion industry for over two decades, facing numerous challenges and setbacks along the way. Without the support of influential connections or referrals, I've relied solely on my talent, dedication, and resilience to propel my career forward.

The absence of a strong professional network or mentors meant that I had to forge my own path, often through trial and error. Despite these obstacles, I remained committed to my passion for fashion design. I recognised that my creative talent was a valuable asset, one that I was determined to hone and showcase.

Throughout my journey, I've encountered various opportunities that have helped me grow both personally & professionally. These experiences have taught me the importance of adaptability, hard work, & perseverance in overcoming adversity.

One of the most significant lessons I've learned is the value of self-reliance and motivation. Without external support or encouragement, I've had to develop a strong sense of self-discipline and drive to push myself forward.

My struggles have also taught me the importance of continuous learning & skill development. Recognizing that the fashion industry is constantly evolving, I've made a conscious effort to stay up-to-date with the latest trends, AI Tools, technologies, design softwares & new garments construction techniques.

This commitment to self-improvement has enabled me to stay competitive in the industry, even in the absence of strong professional connections. My determination to succeed has ultimately led to opportunities that have helped me grow both creatively and professionally.

In reflection, I realize that my struggles have been a catalyst for growth, forcing me to develop a strong work ethic, resilience, and resourcefulness. While the journey has been challenging, I remain committed to my passion for fashion design, driven by the belief that my talents & technical skills will ultimately lead me to achieve.

I have been highly acclaimed artist & fashion designer with a rich experience worked alongside legendary designers like Ritukumar, Rohit Bal, and Raghvendra Rathore, With a specialization in Indian ethnic outfits & Indo-western outfits. My deep understanding of Indian prints and embroidery aesthetics and a keen eye for detail.

I have participated of painting exhibition in Lalitkala academy new delhi from 14th to 20th April 2024. And many other art and fashion exhibitions across India and abroad.

Have been won numerous awards for my outstanding contributions to the art & fashion industry. My designs are a testament to my creativity, passion, and dedication to preserving India's cultural heritage.

My passion and dedication to designing have been unwavering, even in the face of challenges and periods of unemployment. I've remained committed to my creative profile, recognizing that my artistic talent is a valuable asset passed down from my parents.

One of my most cherished achievements is earning the recognition and respect of the renowned 80-year-old legend fashion designer, Ritu Kumar. Our encounter four years prior left a lasting impression, and I'm humbled that she remembers me and my name. Legendary RK, RB and RR have been renowned fashion designers of India and my fashion Guru I have learnt a lot about traditional prints design, surface ornamentation, Indian ethnic fashion & wedding outfits.

For me, success isn't solely defined by financial gain. Instead, I prioritize honesty, hard work, and transparency in all aspects of my life. I believe that these values, combined with my passion for designing, will ultimately lead my couture brand to achieve my goals.

Sincerely

Madhusudan Kumar Lal

Couture Fashion Designer

New Delhi, India

[prestigebfs]

How to Create a Financial Plan for Your Business in 2025

Introduction

A strong financial foundation is the backbone of every successful business. Whether you’re launching a startup or running an established company, knowing how to create a financial plan for your business in 2025 is essential for growth, profitability, and long-term sustainability.

Why Business Financial Planning Is Crucial in 2025

The economic landscape continues to evolve in 2025, influenced by inflation, AI integration, shifting consumer behavior, and a dynamic labor market. That’s why small business financial strategy must be more proactive, data-driven, and flexible than ever before.

✅ Benefits of Financial Planning:

Set clear short- and long-term goals

Improve decision-making with real-time data

Secure funding and build investor confidence

Monitor and control spending

Minimize risks and prepare for emergencies

💡 A well-crafted financial plan is not just a document—it’s a living tool that guides every aspect of your business.

Step 1: Define Your Business Goals

Start by identifying your business goals for 2025. These should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Examples:

Increase revenue by 20%

Launch a new product line in Q3

Reduce overhead by 15%

Expand into two new markets

🎯 Your goals will shape every part of your financial plan, from budgeting to forecasting.

Step 2: Analyze Your Current Financial Position

Before planning ahead, understand where you stand today. Collect and review key financial statements:

Balance Sheet – Shows assets, liabilities, and equity

Income Statement (Profit & Loss) – Shows revenue and expenses

Cash Flow Statement – Tracks how money moves in and out of your business

💡 Use this data to spot trends, identify problem areas, and evaluate performance over time.

Step 3: Create a Business Budget

Creating a business budget is one of the most important components of business financial planning. A solid budget helps you plan expenses, monitor profits, and prepare for seasonal fluctuations.

How to Create a Business Budget:

Estimate Revenue – Use past data and future projections

List Fixed Costs – Rent, salaries, insurance, subscriptions

List Variable Costs – Inventory, marketing, shipping

Include One-Time Expenses – Equipment purchases, legal fees

Set Aside Savings – Emergency fund or reserve account

💡 Review your budget monthly and adjust based on actual performance.

Step 4: Forecast Revenue and Expenses

A financial forecast helps you anticipate future income and expenses. It’s critical for small business financial strategy, especially when applying for loans or attracting investors.

Forecasting Tips:

Use 3–5 years of historical data (if available)

Factor in market conditions and industry trends

Consider best-case, worst-case, and most likely scenarios

Update quarterly based on actual results

📈 Your forecast should align with your growth strategy and guide spending decisions.

Step 5: Manage Cash Flow Effectively

Even profitable businesses can fail due to poor cash flow. Create a cash flow management plan to ensure you can cover operating expenses year-round.

Cash Flow Management Tips:

Invoice promptly and offer early payment discounts

Avoid unnecessary expenses or delays in collections

Use accounting software to monitor daily cash position

Keep at least 3 months’ worth of operating expenses in reserves

💡 Regularly reviewing cash flow ensures you're prepared for both opportunities and setbacks.

Step 6: Set KPIs and Financial Metrics

Use key performance indicators (KPIs) to track your financial health and measure success.

Important Financial KPIs:

Gross Profit Margin

Net Profit Margin

Operating Expense Ratio

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)

Return on Investment (ROI)

Current Ratio (liquidity)

📊 These metrics help you evaluate progress and adjust your business financial strategy as needed.

Step 7: Plan for Taxes and Legal Compliance

Don’t let taxes catch you off guard. Incorporate tax planning into your 2025 financial strategy.

Tax Planning Tips:

Work with a CPA or tax advisor

Track deductible expenses and tax credits

Pay quarterly estimated taxes

Maintain clean, accurate financial records

Understand changes in local, state, and federal tax laws

📝 Staying compliant saves money, avoids penalties, and simplifies tax season.

Step 8: Prepare for Funding and Investment

If you’re planning to raise capital in 2025, a professional financial plan is a must-have for lenders and investors.

Include in Your Funding Plan:

Business overview and executive summary

Detailed use of funds

Financial projections and KPIs

Exit strategy (if applicable)

💡 A credible financial plan boosts your chances of securing business funding or attracting partners.

Tools to Help You Create a Business Financial Plan

QuickBooks – Accounting and budgeting

LivePlan – Business plan and financial forecasting

Xero – Cash flow management and reporting

Excel or Google Sheets – Customizable templates

Wave – Free accounting and invoicing for small businesses

Common Financial Planning Mistakes to Avoid

🚫 Underestimating expenses 🚫 Not revisiting the plan regularly 🚫 Failing to separate business and personal finances 🚫 Skipping cash flow projections 🚫 Ignoring tax planning

✅ Review your financial plan at least quarterly and update as your business evolves.

Need Personal Or Business Funding? Prestige Business Financial Services LLC offer over 30 Personal and Business Funding options to include credit repair and passive income programs.

Book A Free Consult And We Can Help - https://prestigebusinessfinancialservices.com

Email - anthony@prestigebfs.com

Final Thoughts: Build a Financial Roadmap to Thrive in 2025

Creating a financial plan isn’t just a good business practice—it’s your roadmap to profitability, growth, and resilience in 2025 and beyond. With economic uncertainty still on the horizon, now is the perfect time to refine your small business financial strategy.

✅ Set clear goals ✅ Build a smart, flexible budget ✅ Forecast and manage your finances with confidence

Need Personal Or Business Funding? Prestige Business Financial Services LLC offer over 30 Personal and Business Funding options to include credit repair and passive income programs.

Book A Free Consult And We Can Help - https://prestigebusinessfinancialservices.com

Email - anthony@prestigebfs.com

🎯 Ready to create your business budget and financial plan for 2025? Start today—and set your business up for long-term success.

Prestige Business Financial Services LLC

"Your One Stop Shop To All Your Personal And Business Funding Needs"

Website- https://prestigebusinessfinancialservices.com

Email - anthony@prestigebfs.com

Phone- 1-800-622-0453

[justtryblockchain]

How to a WazirX Crypto Exchange Clone and Dominate the Market

1. Introduction

Cryptocurrency trading has transformed from a niche investment vehicle to a mainstream financial phenomenon. With millions of users flocking to digital assets, crypto exchanges have become the backbone of this revolution. Among these, WazirX has carved out a dominant position, offering a seamless trading experience coupled with high liquidity and security.

For entrepreneurs and blockchain enthusiasts, launching a WazirX crypto exchange clone presents an unparalleled opportunity. By leveraging proven business models and technology, a well-executed crypto trading platform can become a formidable player in the market.

2. Understanding the Market Landscape

Before venturing into the crypto exchange business, a deep understanding of the industry’s intricacies is crucial. Cryptocurrency trading is a fiercely competitive sector where only the most secure, user-friendly, and scalable exchanges thrive.

Key Success Factors

Success hinges on multiple factors, including robust security measures, intuitive UI/UX, deep liquidity pools, and compliance with regulatory frameworks. A failure in any of these areas could lead to significant setbacks.

Regulatory & Security Challenges

Each jurisdiction has different compliance requirements regarding KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) policies. Ignoring these could result in legal repercussions, making it imperative to align with the latest regulatory mandates while ensuring user protection through multi-layer security protocols.

3. Essential Features of a WazirX Crypto Exchange Clone

To replicate WazirX’s success, integrating core functionalities is non-negotiable. Below are the must-have features of an advanced crypto exchange:

1. Trading Engine & Order Matching

A high-frequency trading engine is the heart of any crypto exchange. It should process buy and sell orders instantaneously, ensuring users experience minimal slippage and optimal trade execution.

2. Multi-Layer Security Architecture

The rise of cyber threats in the crypto space necessitates the use of multi-layered security protocols. Two-factor authentication (2FA), cold wallet storage, and encryption standards fortify user funds against breaches.

3. KYC & AML Compliance

A robust identity verification system ensures adherence to global compliance standards. AI-powered verification processes streamline user onboarding while reducing fraudulent activity.

4. Multi-Currency Wallet Integration

Users demand seamless access to multiple digital assets. A reliable crypto wallet with support for major cryptocurrencies enhances trading convenience while ensuring secure transactions.

5. Liquidity Management & API Integration

An exchange’s success depends on its liquidity. By integrating with global liquidity providers and utilizing market-making strategies, new platforms can ensure smooth order execution and prevent price volatility issues.

6. Scalability & Performance Optimization

As user demand surges, the exchange should effortlessly scale. Cloud-based infrastructure and microservices architecture enable seamless scaling while maintaining peak performance.

4. Choosing the Right Crypto Exchange Clone Software

Selecting the ideal crypto exchange clone software is a decisive step in your venture. Entrepreneurs must weigh various aspects before finalizing their tech stack.

White-Label vs. Custom Development

While white-label solutions offer a fast-track approach, custom-built exchanges allow for greater flexibility and brand differentiation. A hybrid approach, incorporating both pre-built modules and custom enhancements, often proves optimal.

Key Functionalities to Look For

The software should offer advanced trading charts, multi-order types, API access, and AI-driven analytics to enhance the trading experience. Additionally, it must support high-frequency trading and automated bot integration.

5. Strategic Marketing & User Acquisition

A high-functioning exchange is only valuable if users actively trade on it. Strategic marketing initiatives are essential for onboarding traders and maintaining long-term engagement.

1. Establishing Trust & Credibility

Trust is paramount in the crypto space. Publishing security audits, obtaining regulatory licenses, and engaging in transparent communication help instill confidence in potential users.

2. Referral & Affiliate Programs

Referral-based incentives fuel organic growth. A well-structured affiliate program encourages existing users to invite others in exchange for rewards, expediting market penetration.

3. Social Media & Community Engagement

The crypto audience is highly active on social media platforms like Twitter, Telegram, and Discord. Hosting AMAs, sharing educational content, and collaborating with influencers bolster brand awareness.

4. Seamless User Onboarding

Simplifying the registration and verification process encourages user adoption. Offering fiat on-ramps further eliminates barriers to entry, ensuring even non-tech-savvy users can begin trading effortlessly.

6. Scaling & Future-Proofing Your Crypto Exchange

Beyond initial launch success, long-term sustainability hinges on innovation and adaptability.

1. Integrating DeFi & Staking Features

Decentralized finance (DeFi) is reshaping the financial landscape. By incorporating staking, yield farming, and decentralized lending, exchanges can cater to a broader audience.

2. Global Expansion & Multi-Lingual Support

The crypto market knows no boundaries. To tap into international users, exchanges must support multiple languages and comply with global regulations.

3. AI-Driven Trading Insights

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing trading strategies. AI-driven analytics, automated risk assessments, and predictive market insights enhance traders’ decision-making capabilities.

4. Regulatory Adaptation & Compliance

Regulatory landscapes evolve rapidly. Proactively adhering to new legal frameworks ensures longevity, protecting the platform from potential shutdowns or penalties.

Conclusion

Building a WazirX crypto exchange clone is an ambitious yet rewarding endeavor. By integrating essential features, selecting the right crypto exchange clone software, and executing strategic marketing initiatives, entrepreneurs can carve out a strong presence in the booming crypto trading ecosystem.

With the right blend of security, innovation, and user-centric strategies, your exchange can dominate the market and become a strong force in the digital asset space.

[atwooozi]

gojo x original character

Chapter 2: First Impressions

Summary: After immersing herself in everything Gojo Satoru, journalist Ai Amada prepares for an interview with the enigmatic actor. Accompanied by superfan Junpei, she boards a train to meet Gojo, feeling the pressure of her recent successful article on Nobara. Upon arrival, they encounter Gojo in an elevator, where his eccentric charm leaves them flustered. The meeting with Gojo's team proves equally chaotic, with Gojo's playful antics overshadowing any serious discussion. Despite setbacks, Ai remains determined to uncover the real Gojo Satoru, even as she grapples with the challenges of navigating his world.

Genre: modern AU, slice of life, comedy, eventual romance, eventual smut, some angst

A/N: I had a hard time picking a song that I felt like would fit this chapter since it's the intro to meeting Gojo. I was really stuck between Betty (Get Money) by Yung Gravy and TATTOO by Official Hige Dandism . I think it depends on your mood, really. If you're feeling goofy pick Betty but if you're feeling kinda sentimental pick TATTOO.

READ ON AO3

It had been two weeks since Ai’s initial meeting with director Yaga over the Gojo piece. In the time that followed, thanks to the help of Gojo Satoru’s unofficial superfan, Yoshino Junpei, Ai had consumed almost all media that contained even a hint of Gojo Satoru. This included things like athletic competitions, films where he was only credited as a stunt actor, small parts like Bad Guy #1, B-list horror films, and his most popular role as the most powerful sorcerer on the show Jujutsu Kaisen. 

While Ai couldn’t say that she was a fan like Junpei, she understood where all the hype came from. The guy was talented . He was a natural actor, a gifted athlete on top of that, and even more annoyingly, he was gorgeous. The man was on top of the world and everyone else was just along for the ride. 

Apart from her deep dive into Gojo Satoru, Ai’s article on Nobara had been published and it was well received not only by the general public but by fellow journalists. She even received a text of congratulations from her coworker Nanami who strictly never spoke to anyone outside the office unless he absolutely had to. However, her mini celebration of fancy cake would have to wait for later. Truth be told, she had to stave off her celebration until after she finished this profile on Gojo. Her plan was to eat a whole cake as a reward. A gift from herself to herself. 

While the success of the Nobara article was like a blessing, it did put even more pressure on her current assignment. Which Ai couldn’t help but think about as she boarded the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto. Typically, Ai didn’t get nervous about these types of things. She had her fair share of tough interviews, but she never dealt with someone as all over the place as Gojo seemed. She hoped that the obsessive amount of prep that she did with Junpei would make up for whatever Gojo threw at her. She’d get over it. She'd get through this. She would have her cake.

However, Ai was still having trouble parsing out what kind of story this would be. Gojo had not sat down for many, if any interviews. All the information that she got from his personal life was from superficial press junkets. The only thing she could pin down about him was that before becoming an actor he was a well-decorated martial artist.   

Who exactly is Gojo Satoru?  

“Amada-san.” Ai jumped from her thoughts and looked at Junpei sitting next to her. “Sorry, um, you just looked a bit… intense.” 

Ai smiled and shook her head. “It’s okay, sorry.” She sighed and flattened out the fabric of her skirt. “Just thinking about the article…” 

Junpei nodded in understanding. He gave Ai a reassuring smile. “I think if anyone can do it you can, Amada-san.” 

Ai couldn’t help but feel flattered at her kouhai’s words. She nudged his shoulder and looked out the window as they started to pull out of the station. “You don’t have to butter me up anymore, Junpei-kun.” She smiled at the boy. “You already made it on the train.”

Junpei pouted slightly at Ai. 

While Junpei genuinely did want to help Ai since he respected her as his superior he was also a big fan of Gojo’s work. He wasn’t expecting to be able to leave the office and go with Ai to interview Gojo, but Ai used what little weight she had at the office to get Junpei a ticket. He was going to meet the man he seemed to admire so much. After all, it was thanks to Junpei that Ai ‌found out as much as she did about Gojo in the first place. In her eyes, he earned the ticket.     

Ai giggled to herself at Junpei’s reaction. “I’m only kidding.” 

Ai pulled out her phone. Despite telling herself that she would try to get some rest on the train before meeting Gojo… she couldn’t help herself. She typed in his name and pulled up a picture of him. He was unreal to look at. Stark white hair and bright blue eyes despite being 100% Japanese. She couldn’t imagine the types of questions that Gojo got on a daily basis just because of his looks. While it would be interesting to touch on it almost seemed too obvious as a line of questioning. 

She sighed as she continued to look through different articles and discussions centered around Gojo. He had done quite a few interviews since his meteoric rise to fame, but none covered anything with substance. It was almost… expertly vague. Whatever PR team Gojo had liked to keep him as much of a mystery as they could. Aside from growing up in Tokyo and being an athlete for a short while before becoming an actor, there was nothing much else to add. Even finding out about him being an athlete took a lot of digging. No one seemed to cut through the well-crafted Gojo Satoru armor. All people got was a loud, bombastic persona. While there was nothing wrong with that being all Gojo was if that were the case; Ai believed that there had to be more. But why now did the Gojo team want to pull back the curtain?        

The two-hour and fifteen-minute ride from Tokyo to Kyoto had come to an end and the conductor was now talking over the intercom. It was time to get off the train. She couldn’t help but sigh - she didn’t even get a chance to relax. 

Ai and Junpei got up from their seats and grabbed their things before stepping onto the platform. 

Thankfully, the trip to the hotel was rather easy. Their driver didn’t talk much and traffic wasn’t so bad. It gave Ai just enough time to freshen up before she had to meet the Gojo team for intros. 

Ai quickly changed out of her travel wear and into something a bit more professional. A white button down and a baby blue sweater vest that she tucked into some black tuxedo style pants, with black chunky loafers. It was smart but didn’t feel overly formal. 

When Ai checked her phone, it was just about time to go. Junpei was waiting for her down in the lobby. Mappa Studios had graciously provided them with a driver to get them from the hotel to the offices. 

They arrived at the studio twenty minutes early. Ai tried her best to be punctual if not early. It was a much better look for a journalist to be waiting for their subject than the other way around. She checked in with Junpei at security and acquired guest passes before being directed into a separate office building where introductions would be held. 

After making it to the other office building on the studio lot, the pair headed to a hall of elevators off to the side of the entranceway. While the Mappa studio lot was relatively large, their elevators were horrendously slow for whatever reason. The elevator doors finally opened and they stepped in. Much to Ai’s chagrin, however, the doors were just as painfully slow as the elevator ‌itself. She had started to wonder if it was safe to even ride the damn thing.  

Just before the elevator doors could close completely a large hand pushed them open and a person stepped in. The elevator wasn’t exactly big so Ai hoped that it was only one person joining them. 

“Thank god!” 

Gojo Satoru, in the flesh, stepped into the elevator and flashed a large smile in Ai and Junpei’s direction. 

“These elevators take forever,” Gojo said as he went to press the button to the third floor. “Aw, you guys already pressed it.” He jutted out his lower lip as he looked at the lit-up button. “I wanted to press it.” 

Ai and Junpei were stock-still as Gojo babbled to himself about elevators and buttons. The man was in his own world, rocking from heel to toe as the elevator moved and humming to himself, keeping himself occupied. 

The actor smiled over his shoulder at Ai and Junpei once more before turning to face the elevator doors again. He wore a white button-up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing his muscles. He also had simple black slacks and disgustingly expensive-looking dress shoes. While his outfit was simple it definitely sold his whole effortlessly beautiful actor look. Two things had caught Ai by surprise at Satoru’s sudden appearance. 

One, just how tall was this guy? Gojo easily cleared six feet tall and he looked like he spent just as much time in the gym as he probably did on set. Second, was just how blue his eyes truly were. Ai assumed that Gojo’s eyes had been enhanced for his character on the show and for photos, but from the brief eye contact that they made, it made clear that his eyes were that clear azure blue. 

Ai made a note to herself in her head to write those observations down later after their first meeting. 

“Who are you guys?” Satoru asked as he looked back at Ai and Junpei for the third time. 

“Huh?” Ai nearly jumped at the sudden question and Junpei was too starstruck to even respond. 

“What are you guys here for?” Gojo asked with a cock of his head and a bright smile. 

“Uh, for you?” Ai said, trying to gain some composure back. She immediately wanted to slap herself at the response she gave. This was not how she wanted things to start. She felt like a complete idiot. 

Satoru leaned back and dramatically placed a hand on his chest. His body language asked, for me? As if he was too shocked to ask properly. 

“Yes, you,” Ai confirmed as she tried to find her footing. 

“Well, don’t I feel special!” 

Ai wanted to roll her eyes at Gojo’s remark. He was most definitely cheeky but he didn’t seem too bad so far. 

“Does this one talk?” Gojo said as he tilted his head towards Junpei. 

Junpei flushed slightly at the question and opened his mouth to speak just as the elevator door dinged, alerting the small group that they had made it to their destination. 

Ai elbowed Junpei to get his attention and they made their way out of the elevator, leaving Gojo behind. However, the pair's headstart did little to create a gap between them and the white giant. Gojo’s long strides had them all walking together.

“Hey, I thought we were becoming friends,” Gojo whined as he walked with Ai and Junpei to the receptionist's desk. 

Before Ai could open her mouth to respond to Gojo, she was stopped short by the receptionist. 

“Gojo-san! Ijichi-san is waiting for you in the conference room,” she said with a smile. “He wants to go over your schedule and plan again before the reporter gets here.” 

There was a brief pause for a moment as Gojo seemed to connect the dots. “That's who you guys are!” He said as he pointed a finger in Ai’s and Junpei’s direction. This was possibly the worst way this could have gone in Ai’s mind.  

He leaned over and inspected the pass before standing back up to his full height. “Hmm, I figured you guys were like those religious folks that knock on people’s doors.” He said thoughtfully. 

Ai gave Gojo a confused look. Was he actually this much of a screwball or was he just messing around? If anything, Ai half expected him to close off. Most celebrities didn’t like when reporters were sprung on them out of the blue. 

“Well let’s go, missionaries,” Gojo said as he waved Ai and Junpei over. “We’ve got people to convert.” 

Gojo led the way to a large glass conference room. While Ai wasn’t sure about Junpei, it took a lot of effort for her to keep up with him and his impossibly long strides. She was glad that she didn’t wear heels. From what she could see, a few people were sitting around the table in the conference room. Gojo gave an overenthusiastic wave to everyone before stepping into the conference room with Ai and Junpei in tow. 

“Yo!” Gojo said before plopping his ridiculously lanky body in a chair. “I brought some missionaries with me. I have decided that I'm going to start the cult of Gojo.” He said with a boyish grin as he tilted his head towards Ai and Junpei. 

Ai gave a strained smile and she and Junpei both bowed politely. ���Actually, I’m Amada Ai and this is Yoshino Junpei from Hollow Magazine. It’s nice to meet you all.” 

The eyes of a few of the people present widened before professional smiles were produced. Given how things were going, they seemed to be just as happy as Ai was in the current moment. She briefly wondered if she should just walk out with Junpei now. Maybe Yaga would let her keep her job if she begged.   

 “Oh, uh, it’s nice to meet you both. I’m Ijichi Kiyotaka.” The man bowed. “I’m Gojo-san’s manager.”

“Take a seat, you guys,” Gojo said as he reached toward the center of the table and grabbed two water bottles for Ai and Junpei. “You’re making me nervous just standing there all religious-like.” 

“Yes, let’s do introductions.” The woman across the table said. “I’m Mei Mei, I’m Gojo-san’s publicist. I believe we spoke over the phone?” she said as she flipped her snow-white hair elegantly over her shoulder. 

“Where’s Suguru?” Gojo whined like a child. He seemed completely unphased by the meeting that was taking place around him. 

“H-He’s not needed today, Gojo-san,” Ijichi said quietly. 

Gojo took out his phone and started to play…Candy Crush? “Lame.” Exactly how old was this man? 

Mei Mei gave a somewhat strained smile as she looked at Gojo before directing her attention back to Ai and Junpei. “You’ll have to forgive Gojo…he’s been on set for hours already.” 

Ai nodded slowly as she looked at the man next to her as he set up a combo match on his phone game. “...I could only imagine how hard that could be.” 

Mei Mei gave a mirthless chuckle and shrugged. “Yes, well, I suppose it pays well enough.” She took out her phone and sighed as it buzzed in her hand. “Well, I’ll leave the rest to Ijichi-san.” She stood up from the table. “I have some things I need to take care of.” She left the room in a hurry, phone already pressed to her ear.  

Ijichi cleared his throat and bowed to Ai and Junpei again. “I think that’s enough for introductions actually. You’ll have to excuse us, Gojo-san has a busy schedule today.” 

Gojo looked up from his phone. “We’re leaving Ijichi?” 

“Yes Gojo-san, you still have a few more scenes to do today.” He pushed up his glasses. “I’ll email you Gojo-san’s schedule. Higurama-san will go over the details with you.” 

Ai nodded and bowed her head to Ijichi. She made a note to pray for that poor man. Having to deal with Gojo all day every day did not seem worth however much the guy was getting paid. “Thank you, Ijichi-san.” 

“Bye Ai-chan! Bye, Junpei-kun!” Gojo called out as he left the room with Ijichi.

When the two men walked out, Ai’s shoulders ‌slumped. She had only just stepped foot in Kyoto and she was already exhausted. She wasn’t sure how she was going to be able to do this for three weeks. 

Higuruma gave Ai a wry smile as he sat next to her and Junpei. “You’ll get used to his energy after a while.” 

Ai gave a slight nod and looked at the schedule that Higuruma had handed her. She scanned the document quickly. “...I’ll be able to sit down with him one-on-one a week into this, correct?”

Higuruma shrugged and gave her an apologetic look. “I know it’s not ideal, but it might change. You’ll have some small chances to speak with him between commitments,” he explained. “Gojo-san is pretty booked up with reshoots for this second season coming up. Sorry about the inconvenience.” 

Ai nodded as she listened to Higuruma speak. “I’ll make it work.” She wasn’t exactly sure if she was telling Higuruma that or if she was trying to reassure herself with that statement. 

“I’ll let you know if there’s any drastic changes. I hate to cut it short, but I need to go. Best of luck.” Higuruma said as she started to get up. He gave a quick bow to Ai and Junpei before quickly leaving the room. 

Ai sighed and handed the copy of Gojo’s schedule over to Junpei so he could take a look. 

“Amada-san?” Junpei asked carefully. “Are you okay?”

“Peachy.” Ai sighed as she rubbed her temples in an attempt to self-soothe. 

She looked around the room and then back to Junpei. There was no use of them staying here any longer. “Should we grab something to eat?” 

Junpei nodded. “That sounds great!”

“Where are we eating?” 

Ai whipped her head around and to her surprise there was Geto. “...We don’t know yet.” 

“Do you know him, Amada-san?” Junpei asked as he looked up at Geto. 

“This is Geto Suguru, he’s going to be working with us,” Ai explained as she stood up from the plush office chair. 

Geto gave a small smile causing his sharp eyes to turn into slits as he waved to Junpei. “Nice to meet you.”

[captainfightingflower]

Masterson, C.: likely a victim of binjpipe, not an alibi. [Spoilers for Pack 9 i guess? I don’t know, i barely interact with it.]

Hi, this was on my mind and i wanted to talk about it. Putting it up as spoilers because i don’t wanna be inconsiderate to those who are interested in the lore of The Jackbox Party Pack 9. Spoilers, i guess? I’m not sure where exactly, but i do know it’s somewhere in Pack 9 post (dumb) patch!

I don’t know why people automatically portray Masterson, C. as just a soulless replica who’s hellbent on replacing Cookie Masterson and tricking the masses. He doesn’t even know he is an ai replica, and if he’s trained on Cookie’s performances (with a bunch of binjpipe ads stuffed in there for good measure), he likely believes that he’s the original Cookie Masterson.

And since there’s voice lines stating that Cookie had been trapped in the game since his debut in Vol.1, he probably thinks he has a family outside the game, he probably thinks he has lived a long life, has friends, has had love and turmoil, that he has feelings and free will, that he is human.

I don’t think Masterson, C. would react bitterly to meeting Cookie Masterson, i think he’d be shocked at why there’s suddenly another person that looks identical to him. He’d probably assume he was an impersonator, or maybe it was future Cookie that came back for revenge after he insulted him a decade ago.

Could you imagine the denial and building panic he’d be going through if Cookie told him that HE was the fake, explaining how he was just an AI meant to replicate his success. He’d call Cookie crazy, because there’s no way that was possible, that was so stupid, nobody could replicate his likeness, he was THE Cookie Masterson, fan favorite game show hosting face of faceless hosts. He was flesh and bones, and he’d probably accuse the other guy of being the fake.

What if, he grew so desperate, that he intentionally cut himself just to prove that he has blood, because of course he has blood, he’s human! That’d prove this faker that he was undeniably the real Cookie. And then he sees the liquid trickling down his finger; gear oil, and everything comes crashing down. 

How he’d desperately claw at anything to prove that he was real, that he was the original, that he was Cookie Masterson. Because there’s no way he’s just a couple months old, he lived in the 90′s! He saw the turn of the millennial, he had a childhood, there was no way that all of those memories were just strings of 1s & 0s! There was no WAY it was all fake, that his words were pre-planed, that his emotions were just programmed actions, there was no way he was just an AI!

And then, everything would go to black, he’d be shut down on the spot as a safety protocol, taken away to get his AI reset and his body turned to scrap mental. The intelligence would’ve been irreversibly tainted with such a realisation, an imperfect replica. It was an expected setback, one that has happened many times before this model.

And then another would be created, and another, and another, all unaware that they’re nothing but an attempt in a string of many to capture the charm of a host. Because why should Cookie Masterson be told the truth about his existence? It’s not like he hosts Lie Swatter.

[freifraufischer]

When AI's write Gymnastics Fan Fiction

So I asked ChatGPT: "Tell me about the career of the greatest German women's gymnast"

Here is what it gave me:

Nadja Schulze is widely regarded as the greatest German women's gymnast of all time. Born on March 12, 1990, in Berlin, Germany, Schulze displayed exceptional talent and dedication from an early age. Her gymnastics career spanned over a decade, during which she achieved remarkable success and left an indelible mark on the sport. Schulze began her gymnastics journey at the age of six when she joined a local gymnastics club. She quickly progressed through the ranks, showcasing her extraordinary skills and natural aptitude for the sport. By the time she reached her teenage years, it was evident that she possessed immense potential. Her breakthrough came in 2005 when she represented Germany at the European Championships. Despite her young age, Schulze demonstrated incredible poise and skill, capturing the attention of gymnastics enthusiasts around the world. She won multiple medals, including a gold in the uneven bars, cementing her status as a rising star. Over the next few years, Schulze continued to excel and establish herself as a force to be reckoned with in international gymnastics. She competed in numerous prestigious events, such as the World Championships and the Olympic Games. Her performances were characterized by a unique blend of power, elegance, and technical precision, captivating both judges and spectators alike. In 2008, at the age of 18, Schulze made her Olympic debut in Beijing. She contributed significantly to the German team's success, helping them secure a bronze medal in the team event. Individually, she showcased her exceptional skills, earning a silver medal on the balance beam, further solidifying her reputation as a world-class gymnast. Following her Olympic triumph, Schulze continued to dominate the gymnastics scene, amassing an impressive collection of medals. She consistently showcased her versatility by excelling in various apparatuses, including the vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise. Schulze's career reached its zenith in 2012 when she competed at the London Olympics. She led the German team to another bronze medal in the team event and achieved remarkable success individually. She won two gold medals, one in the vault and another in the floor exercise, highlighting her exceptional skill and prowess in these events. After the 2012 Olympics, Schulze faced several challenges, including injuries and personal setbacks. Nevertheless, she continued to inspire younger generations and remained an influential figure in German gymnastics. She retired from competitive gymnastics in 2014 but continued to contribute to the sport as a coach and mentor. Nadja Schulze's legacy extends beyond her numerous achievements and accolades. She played a pivotal role in popularizing gymnastics in Germany and inspiring aspiring gymnasts across the country. Her technical mastery, artistic flair, and unwavering dedication have left an enduring impact on the sport, making her the greatest German women's gymnast of all time.

Nadja Schulze is a real German gymnast, born in 1998 not 1990. The highest profile meet she ever competed at is the 2013 European Youth Olympic Festival. She came in 13 out of 13 at 2016 German Olympic Trials.

[chichiricatsan]

What doesn't help is the way that society as a whole views "failing" today. We see it as some kind of setback rather than a part of that process. We want the best end results NOW rather than have the patience or the time to go through this essential process of failing and struggling. Not to mention the way that some people, and especially social media and the internet--a mainstay in all of our lives now--shows success stories and the best of the best or the worst of the worst. There's no gray area to show those essential failures and learning processes, only the reward and the end result. It's like the process of "showing your work" in mathematics. As a kid, I thought it was so stupid and frustrating to show this process, but now looking back, I'm so glad we were taught that. Because to just put it in a machine and get the result, and then get asked how we got there only to look like a backpedaling fool, shows just how broken the whole process of AI is. It steals from the people who've gone through that failing process and steals the education of it from others to only show the "best" or end results to save time. And the thing is, some people struggle and fail all their lives before ever seeing success, and with AI, yeah we can get results "fast and easy", but it's a failure in and of itself with the loss of that process. Now I'm just talking in circles, but...yeah. 😞

Something I don't think we talk enough about in discussions surrounding AI is the loss of perseverance.

I have a friend who works in education and he told me about how he was working with a small group of HS students to develop a new school sports chant. This was a very daunting task for the group, in large part because many had learning disabilities related to reading and writing, so coming up with a catchy, hard-hitting, probably rhyming, poetry-esque piece of collaborative writing felt like something outside of their skill range. But it wasn't! I knew that, he knew that, and he worked damn hard to convince the kids of that too. Even if the end result was terrible (by someone else's standards), we knew they had it in them to complete the piece and feel super proud of their creation.

Fast-forward a few days and he reports back that yes they have a chant now... but it's 99% AI. It was made by Chat-GPT. Once the kids realized they could just ask the bot to do the hard thing for them - and do it "better" than they (supposedly) ever could - that's the only route they were willing to take. It was either use Chat-GPT or don't do it at all. And I was just so devastated to hear this because Jesus Christ, struggling is important. Of course most 14-18 year olds aren't going to see the merit of that, let alone understand why that process (attempting something new and challenging) is more valuable than the end result (a "good" chant), but as adults we all have a responsibility to coach them through that messy process. Except that's become damn near impossible with an Instantly Do The Thing app in everyone's pocket. Yes, AI is fucking awful because of plagiarism and misinformation and the environmental impact, but it's also keeping people - particularly young people - from developing perseverance. It's not just important that you learn to write your own stuff because of intellectual agency, but because writing is hard and it's crucial that you learn how to persevere through doing hard things.

Write a shitty poem. Write an essay where half the textual 'evidence' doesn't track. Write an awkward as fuck email with an equally embarrassing typo. Every time you do you're not just developing that particular skill, you're also learning that you did something badly and the world didn't end. You can get through things! You can get through challenging things! Not everything in life has to be perfect but you know what? You'll only improve at the challenging stuff if you do a whole lot of it badly first. The ability to say, "I didn't think I could do that but I did it anyway. It's not great, but I did it," is SO IMPORTANT for developing confidence across the board, not just in these specific tasks.

Idk I'm just really worried about kids having to grow up in a world where (for a variety of reasons beyond just AI) they're not given the chance to struggle through new and challenging things like we used to.

[unitedstatesrei]

From Burnout to Buyouts: Escaping the 9 to 5 and Building Your Own Financial Empire with Gus Ofili

Key Takeaways Betting on yourself can lead to explosive growth if you're willing to work harder than everyone else. Real estate sales are just the starting line—long-term wealth is built through strategic investing. A “burn the fleet” mindset can turn fear into focus and setbacks into opportunity. United States Real Estate Investor The REI Agent with Gus Ofili https://youtu.be/7HJr4FHp-L4 Follow and subscribe to The REI Agent on social Facebook Instagram Youtube .cls-1fill:#fff; Linkedin X-twitter United States Real Estate Investor It's time to have an investor-friendly agent on your team! It's time to have an investor-friendly agent on your team! United States Real Estate Investor The Catalyst: A Graduation, A Conference, and a Bigger Vision This episode of The REI Agent Podcast kicks off with co-host Mattias reflecting on a personal milestone, his daughter’s graduation from daycare, and how family moments like these intertwine with bigger dreams. Having just returned from the REI Summit in Austin, Mattias and Erica found themselves reignited with purpose. They weren’t just building wealth; they were building a family legacy. They even turned to AI to help translate their family’s core values into kid-friendly wisdom. “I hadn’t thought of that use of ChatGPT yet—how I can translate these big concepts to kids,” Mattias shared, inspired to shape his children’s character with intention and clarity. Burn the Fleet: Gus Ofili’s Leap from Stability to Savage Hustle Enter Gus Ofili, a man who didn’t just dip his toe into real estate. He dove in, scorched the shore, and never looked back. After years at Bank of America, constantly overlooked for promotions and crushed by corporate red tape, Gus had a decision to make. “I talked to my wife, my brothers, my parents... I cleared out my 401k and bet on myself.”  That one decision launched a domino effect. Gus was done waiting for permission. He met with brokers, grilled seasoned agents, and told himself, “If they can do it, I can do it better.” He didn’t just get into real estate. He bulldozed his way through it. Within his rookie year, Gus closed 50 transactions. Not 5. Not 15. Fifty. And he did it by becoming the “yes man” that everyone needed, answering phones, doing open houses, posting creative skits on Facebook, and even accepting nightmare listings others refused to touch. “I needed people to believe in me. So I showed up, took action, and built my name from nothing.” From Commission Checks to Cash Flow: The Pivot into Investing While Gus was crushing sales, he was watching his investor clients rake in far more with far less effort. He recalls seeing a client earn $175,000 on a flip while Gus walked away with a $5,000 commission. “I’m doing the math. I’m like, this doesn’t add up.” That’s when the switch flipped. Instead of selling properties, Gus started buying them. His first deal? A five-unit building he originally planned to list for someone else. But when a buyer’s financing fell through, Gus took the leap. That one purchase became the spark that ignited an empire. He quickly transitioned to the BRRRR strategy, buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat, allowing him to recycle his money and scale fast. His weapon of choice? Business lines of credit. “Now I’m not even using my own money. I’m using bank money to build my future.” The Growth Mindset: Why Gus Isn't Slowing Down Despite selling over 100 homes in back-to-back years, Gus knew burnout was creeping in. So he made another bold move, he stepped back from being a full-time agent to become a full-time investor. Some questioned the decision. But Gus? He was laser-focused. “I watched guys get rich just by holding properties when the pandemic hit. Now it’s my turn.” Today, Gus operates with a mindset of abundance and long-term vision. He's not chasing flashy cars or surface-level success. He's building generational wealth, one property at a time. “I don’t wanna look rich. I wanna be wealthy.”

Final Thoughts: Build Your Freedom Brick by Brick This episode is a masterclass in guts, grit, and growth. Gus Ofili didn’t wait for ideal conditions. He created them. He didn’t start with connections or capital. He started with courage and conviction. “Being an agent is your entry into real estate. Once you’re in the room, pay attention. That’s where everything changes.” Mattias closed out the episode with a reminder that wealth isn’t just financial, it’s holistic. It’s about freedom, family, and fulfillment. And if you stay focused and intentional, like Gus, your breakthrough is coming too. Are you ready to burn the fleet and bet on yourself? Stay tuned for more inspiring stories on The REI Agent podcast, your go-to source for insights, inspiration, and strategies from top agents and investors who are living their best lives through real estate. For more content and episodes, visit reiagent.com. Related Articles Therapy You Didn’t Know You Needed (Holistic Wisdom for Real Estate Professionals) From For Sale Signs to Life Design (How The REI Agent Transforms Real Estate Into Holistic Wealth) Achieving Holistic Wealth and Success Through Real Estate (Insights from The REI Agent) Partnering with Investors (How Real Estate Agents Can Exponentially Maximize Profits) United States Real Estate Investor Create healing and connection within yourself, your family, and your community. Create healing and connection within yourself, your family, and your community. United States Real Estate Investor Contact Gus Ofili Ofili Real Estate Facebook Instagram United States Real Estate Investor Mentioned References Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki BiggerPockets Podcast United States Real Estate Investor Transcript Welcome to the REI Agent, a holistic approach to life through real estate. I'm Mattias, an agent and investor. And I'm Erica, a licensed therapist. Join us as we interview guests that also strive to live bold and fulfilled lives through business and real estate investing. Tune in every week for interviews with real estate agents and investors. Ready to level up? Let's do it. Welcome back to the REI Agent. It's just Mattias. Today, we had a little graduation celebration. So my middle child is getting out of the daycare that we're at. We are at a local university, has a young child program. Shout out to JMU YCP. And they do a phenomenal job in general. Our daughter has been there for, this is second year now. She graduated from the program. She's still gonna be there in summer school. So it wasn't like crying and hugging teachers that they'll never see them again. But she'll be there through the summer, but then she gets to go to her elementary school, which is just kind of crazy to think about. We're about to go out and grab ice cream. And then my littlest, he also got to perform. He didn't have a graduation ceremony, but he got to perform a couple songs. He was just standing there like a deer in the headlights, just like, what is happening? Sucking his thumb. And then I went to get him afterwards and it just took him like 20 minutes of just like, what was going on? What is that feeling? I don't know what stage fright is. I've never had that before. But I think at the end of the day, he was back to himself in a couple minutes and enjoyed the thrill of it maybe. But yeah, we also, Eric and I just got back from Austin. We were at a conference, REI Summit Conference, learning about investing more. And it was a really fun time. We got to go a couple days early to explore the city a little bit. And then we had the conference itself and really enjoyed it. One of the things that we came back with was we've been kind of intentional about, or I've been intentional about my life in kind of general, being focused on various things in the business, but trying to be intentional with our life as well. But we came back kind of motivated to actually kind of apply some of the things you do in

business to our family, trying to have like a vision, values, mission statement, that kind of stuff. And we're really eager to see how that implements into our lives. So we spent a good amount of time crafting as much as we could before we got really burned out. We spent a good three, four hours on the way home working on that. That was Wednesday. This is a Friday. Working on those values and missions and all that kind of stuff. And the next challenge is trying to see how that all comes up with our kids. I think we're gonna try to get them involved in a conversation a little bit in general. The youngest one probably will just be throwing rocks or eating dirt or something while we have this conversation. But maybe at least the oldest one will have some things to contribute. And we'll do our best to try to make these big ideas bite-sized for the kids. And actually we use ChatGPT, haven't finished the process, but we use ChatGPT to kind of like create two different. So if we have like a category, like let's say total ownership is one of the categories of our values we wanna give to our kids. Being standing, following through with what you say you will being honest, that kind of stuff. Owning your life so that you're not playing a victim, you're not blaming others. We asked, we kind of made the big flowery word version and then we asked ChatGPT to actually translate that into something that a younger kid could understand into easier concepts. And it did pretty well. So I think there's definitely room there when you're thinking of those big concepts. And I like to, man, I wanna give our kids speeches. And they are not old enough for these speeches yet, but I wanna give them. And anyway, so I hadn't thought of that use of ChatGPT yet, how I can translate these big concepts to kids. And so I'm excited about what that looks like. I think we're gonna have vacations coming up or we're gonna have like some dedicated time. And to really going through these, getting their input as well, explaining these different visions or values in the mission statement and vision. And just, I'm encouraged to see how that really impacts their life going forward and how that imprints them. Because I think when you have some clear guidelines, some clear boundaries and some clear reasons why, that can really inform the relationships you have going forward as they're older, the way you treat others, the way your character develops. And a lot of the times I've been concerned, I've been worried about how, what I do with building wealth or having assets, all that kind of stuff. Will that hurt my kids long-term? Will that be something that they actually have, will be worse off from having that? Will they not be motivated? Will they, what will that do to them? And so I think this really spoke to me as a way to try to instill some of those core values. I think another one that I really appreciated was having this like kind of growth mindset, but also just being passionate, like pursuing stuff that you're passionate about. I think that's, it's such an unfulfilled life if you are never pursuing what you're passionate about. If you are the proverbial, just drinking cocktails on the beach, if that's all you do, that's just depressing. And I think, yes, vacations are nice, there's a place for that kind of stuff. But at the end of the day, the real fulfillment, the real enjoyment comes from flow, from relationships, deep relationships, and from, yeah, just being passionate about stuff. So anyway, we're excited about that. We'll probably talk about that more in the future. But anyway, we have Gus Ofili today. Gus is a tunnel vision person, he said that himself. And very impressive, very impressive. He took the burn the fleet approach in getting into real estate. There's something that I discuss with people often and contemplate as to what to recommend. And I don't think there's a one size fits all approach, but Gus went out and said, I'm gonna be a real estate agent, put in his two weeks notice and got after it.

And is a success story for that. And I think a lot of that fire was needed, or just fueled how hard he was gonna work. And we talk about how my approach was different, it was a different time, market was different, there's different factors there. So there's not a one size fits all. But I think when you kind of contemplate making a move like that, it's helpful to hear other people's experiences and why, and how they did what they did, so that you can make a decision what scenario fits right for you in your situation. So part of that can be, if you wanna buy a house, having two years of experience in a real estate, the income from real estate is required before you can count it for a mortgage. So there's a few different factors there, but obviously, he is killing it in sales. He was killing it in sales. He talks about how he is more focused on investing now, but he's a perfect guest for the show, because he marries the two, and kind of explains, yeah, how to be successful in both. So without further ado, let's get Gus on the show. Welcome back to the REI Agent. I'm here with Gus Ofili. Gus, thanks so much for joining us. I appreciate it, thanks for having me. Now, Gus, tell me a little bit about your backstory. You're pretty perfect for this show. You're both an agent and an investor, is that correct? Yes, that's correct. Yeah, tell me how you got into real estate. So yeah, I'm gonna start from the beginning, and this is kind of like everyone's story at the beginning, is I'm working my regular nine to five. Out of college, I jump right into Bank of America. It was a call center at Bank of America. We deal with the credit cards. I got there. I wasn't able to really find jobs right out of college, so this is my entry level into a Fortune 500 company. Once I got there, I kind of took off within the company as an employee, not on the management level. So I started selling a lot. The whole object of the job was to go ahead and do balance transfers and open new credit cards to people. So I was with the company. Within three years, I become in a lead role, and what I started to notice in that lead role is I'm ready to become a manager now. I'm ready to run the whole shop, and anytime there was opportunities for me to go ahead and have that position, I would go ahead and interview, and I was told, oh, this is why you didn't get in. This is why you didn't get it. So after three, four times, I'm like, you know, is this ever gonna happen? And I think one of the biggest things for me that a light switched in my head was when I would see the managers, they would try to keep me at bay. And what I mean, keep me at bay, is this guy doesn't do it like how everyone else does it. He likes to kind of do his own thing, and it's not the normal way we do it. So when I would think of creative ideas to keep a team that I'm looking over, focus on the job, it would be something that no one does. They would tell the unit manager what I'm doing, and he would bring me in my office. He says, Gus, that's a great idea, but this is not how it's supposed to be. You're supposed to be like this. And also, Gus, you gotta start creating relationships with the managers. How can I put you there? And I'm thinking, I'm like, isn't it about production? Isn't it about what my team is doing to make me get in these positions? Why do I have to be best friends with everyone? Not that there's anything wrong with it, but I'm an introvert, and I'm kind of a loner. I've been like that for as far as I can remember, and I only let a certain amount of people in my circle. So as time went on, a second thing happened. I was on a phone call, it was a manager call. Even though I'm not a manager, I was able to take manager calls. It was an older individual who was in a tight situation as far as money. And then when I was looking, we were able to look at their accounts and things like that. She was on retirement. And I'm like, dang, that's all they get for retirement?

And then, so this is a person who worked all their life, and now they're at the point where, in my opinion, they should be enjoying it. That's what people have to think. A lot of them were close to retirement, and they would talk about it. I'm like, that doesn't sound like something I wanna be in. So for the strength of that, my wife now, but my girlfriend at the time, her brother-in-law owned a title company. And she was like, hey, have you ever thought about being a real estate agent? Maybe you could do that on the side. I was like, nah, I never thought about it. She's like, you could talk to my brother-in-law about it. So I had lunch with him. We started talking about it. I was like, all right, this sounds like something interesting. This sounds like something I could do on the side. So I took the class, and the class is what got me. Had a great professor who taught us the class. And he didn't teach us the textbook way. Of course, you have to teach that stuff for us to pass. He would bring up his experiences, and we would ask questions about it. And I was like, oh, wow, this sounds like something I wanna do. And then he said a key thing. If you wanna be successful, and you wanna make money as a real estate agent, you're gonna have to do this 100%. He said, the people that do this part-time, they miss a phone call, and that call goes on to someone else. Then I'm thinking, I'm working this job, and we can't even bring our phones onto the floor. So if I'm becoming a real estate agent, and people reach out to me, I don't have a way to pick up the phone. And I was talking to my wife now, but I was talking to her, I was like, I think I wanna quit my job. And then she's like, let's do it, let's do it. And I'm like, okay. The biggest fan that I got, she's down with it. I got two younger brothers. I talked to them, I talked to my parents, and I thought about it. I'm like, all right, what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna clear out my 401k, and I'm gonna bank on myself. But before I do that, I reached out to all the local real estate agencies around my area. I met with them all. So I kinda started creating this buzz a little bit about myself. Because I did well in these one-on-one meetings. And the follow-up I had is, I wanna speak to an agent that's been here for one year. So every person, broker I spoke to, I wanted to speak to an agent that's been here for one year. I sat back, I listened to the agents, and I was like this, and I'm very competitive. So sometimes that's a big flaw in my character, but if this person can do it, I can definitely do this. That was the thing that reassured me. So at the bank, I let them know, hey, I'm putting in my two weeks. They were like, Gus, you got a bright future here. I'm like, I appreciate it, but I'm gonna go ahead and try to do this real estate agent thing. And they were like, well, at least do your two weeks. So if it doesn't work, I'm able to come back. I did it, but I knew I wasn't coming back. So I cashed out my 401k, and I started my journey as far as being a real estate agent. That's awesome. You know, man, you brought me right back. I worked in customer service, customer care, in Rosetta Stone for a little bit. And it was probably the, I mean, in some ways, I enjoyed aspects of it, but I think the job itself was probably one of the worst fits I've ever had. But yeah, you just brought me back to why I love being able to just to do what I want when I want. And maybe that's scary to some people. Maybe they just don't have that excitement about chasing things down and kind of being self-motivated. But, oh man, I couldn't go back now. Like, it would be so hard to go back to having that bureaucracy, that level, different levels of management, the exact formula of how you're supposed to do things. And, oh man, that just brings back memories. One thing I knew, I was a workaholic. So through the year, so you get three weeks vacation, and then you get like, no, it was two weeks vacation, and like, somehow it worked. It was a month with vacation and sick time.

I would never take vacation. I would never be sick. And I worked a crap load of overtime. So I'm already a workaholic. So come December, I'm taking the whole month off because I have to, or I lose the time for the next year. My brother was like, Gus, you do that. And how much money are you making the bank? Probably a lot. You know, how much are you getting of that money? No, my brother's already an entrepreneur, so he already knows this. Imagine taking all that time and effort and you putting it into your own business, how much you get from return. Yeah. Amen, bro, it makes sense. Yeah, no, it's so true. It's so true. That's interesting you talked about the whole, you know, going all in, burn the fleet, sink or swim model. It's definitely something that I think, A, it really depends on what job you're doing and how compatible it is. It sounds like yours would not have been at all. When I started real estate myself, I was in a high school working as like a behavior specialist and I got off about at three o'clock. I was able to kind of answer emails and texts kind of throughout the day as I needed. And sometimes if I could, I would go sneak a call out, take a call outside when I needed to. And then I had summers off. So like it, to me, it felt like it was fairly conducive. And also I just had that like, that like, this is what I'm doing. Like I'm, this is, you know, I'm so focused. I'm getting up at 5 a.m. every morning and I'm, you know, cranking out as much as I can before work and just completely committed to it. Be pre-kids, you know, when I could have a little bit more time. But I guess all it's to say is you think, would you, if in a different occupation, do you think you would have gone back and done it more gradually or do you think that was the right call or just jumping right in? You know, as easy as it is because it's already happened for me, it was the right call. 100%, I think it was the right call for me. Now, I think everyone's situation is different. Once again, when that instructor told me, you'll lose business if you're doing anything else but this. And I was like, all right, I'm all in, I gotta go. And I think, and you know this, taking risk is where you get the biggest reward. And that was like my first risk because, you know, I'm at a job for seven and a half years. There's no real risk in that, that's automatic money. Now, if I'm gonna do something and I'm gonna change my life and leave a job I've already set the groundwork for, it's gotta be for something way bigger and I had to take that risk. And it seemed like it may have paid out a little bit. Yeah, no, and I think another thing that helps or is another factor to consider is kind of market cycles because in 2014 when I started, things were pretty slow. It was a buyer's market and things were pretty slow overall. I probably would have done a little bit better but I think the first two years it made like 15,000 gross and I had other colleagues that started around the same time as me and they may have done a little bit better than me but not significantly. And at the time we were definitely focused on paying off our debts, that was like number one priority. But all that to say is, you know, market cycle is another factor. Then another thing I talk about too is like if you are an agent that doesn't own a house and you're thinking that you wanna buy a house pretty quickly, jumping right into being a real estate agent will, even if you make a ton of money, unless you make enough money to buy it cash, this might not be able to work out with financing because you gotta have two years of proven income in that field. So there's just a couple of factors that make it, or to weigh if you're kind of debating that situation. Yeah, those are all valid things. You know, at the time my, so I moved in, so me and my wife weren't living together at the time. I move into her place, she owns her place. Even though she owned her place, you know, I don't know if this is gonna sound bad but I'm gonna say it anyways.

I was a man moving into my wife's place or my girlfriend at the time's place. I got a bad ego, I mean, and I come from a household where it wasn't like that. So that was another battery in my back, like, you know, and it wasn't the biggest place, it was kind of a condo and I felt claustrophobic in there. So that was like, I need to get my family out of there and you know how once you get kids, that ramps it up a little bit more. So it was layers on top of I gotta win and there's no way of losing, there is no plan B, this is it, and that was my mentality. Yeah, that was the exact same mentality I had for different reasons. And I think that is, you know, it's okay to have doubt and everything like that but like when you just know this is gonna be the route and there's just no other option and you just do everything that you know you're supposed to do, right? And you go out and get it. So how did your first year go? So I ended up starting at the end of 2018. I think I may have, I wanna say I started like October, September, October. I did three transactions like in the end, in December. But then my first full year, so I guess you know how my brokerage works, your first full year is your rookie year. So my first year, I ended up doing 50 transactions. Now this is pre-kids, this is me going ballistic. So, you know, do you mind if I get into? Yeah, go. So what the first year, what it entailed was I'm at the office 24 seven. The reason why I'm at the office, we have this thing called phone time. So I wasn't able to get phone time because I was brand new. So I guess you gotta sell a certain amount whether it be five or 10, I can't remember what it was. So, you know, the older agents would do phone time. But what I did is I set up shop right next to the receptions desk that would get the calls. So I'm in there, you know, great sense of humor, making people laugh, this and that. As soon as the agents don't show up for their thing, guess who's getting those calls? I'm getting those calls. So I was like, all right, so that's one avenue. Next avenue, I'm going to every single agent, no matter if there's a biggest agent or the smallest agent, I'm knocking on their door and like, hey, I'm willing to do open houses, I'm willing to do put signs up, I'm willing to do anything that you need, just let me know, I'm here for it. Why I can do some of those things? Because I cashed out my 401k and I got a little, you know, this is the stuff you're putting money, like the gas to go do this stuff. I'm putting that 401k money to work to be able to impress these agents that are already in the game, so they can give me a bone. Whether I do the open houses, sometimes people didn't show up, but then sometimes people did show up. And when they did show up, that's my time to go ahead and convince them. Another thing I did was Zillow. Everyone's like, don't do Zillow. And, you know, I see I'm in some agent groups on Facebook, Zillow is the killer of real estate, but my mentality is, if I'm not doing it, someone else is doing it, and they're wreaking the benefits off of it. So as much as we're saying they're the bad guys, they're creating opportunities, and I just quit my job. So I'm gonna do this, and I'm gonna strategize, I'm gonna strategize it to make it work as best as possible. I don't know anything where you don't put money down for it to get profits in return. So yeah, I could do these other things, but I also wanna have an avenue that I would never meet people before, and that was my avenue with Zillow. So I strategically picked outside of the major city. I picked a small town. I think I started off with 150 bucks. Fast forward, you know, I ended up like at 2,000, 2,500. But I started with 150 bucks. That opened doors for me. Last but not least, the biggest thing at the beginning of my career was, well, I'll say two things. Networking, like I said, I'm an introvert. I hate networking with a passion. I feel a lot of times I go to these places and people are kind of doing short talk, and it's kind of like, oh, yeah, you're Gus.

You work over here and know hows everything, and we're done. I don't like it, but I needed, with the traction I was doing, I'm like doing social media posts, I needed for these people to meet me out in the public. So I forced my way to do that. Last but not least, one agent gave me a chance to go ahead and sell a mobile home that was on 20 acres of land. The seller was completely a jerk. Now, we'll call him other words, but I'm trying to keep it PG on this podcast. But he was a jerk. He would yell at me. He would do everything in the world. The agent's told me, Gus, you know, he's kind of difficult. We'll take 15%. I was like, all right, cool. I got, I eventually got it sold. You know, I did things a little bit different. So I would post it, and this is a little, some time ago, so it's a lot different now. I would post the listings on Facebook Marketplace, and I would go to barter pages and post the listings in there. And then I found a bank that would take 20% down with what's called a portfolio loan. I found a guy who just, you know, he had an accident or something. He was getting a large lump sum of money. We linked them together. I got that, I got that sold. What I did was they asked for 15. I gave him 50. The reason why I gave him 50% of that, because I wanted them to tell everyone else in the office that Gus gave me 50%. Now- On a thing I didn't want to touch. Yes, not only that, they're telling everyone that, oh, when I got someone difficult, I'm just going to give them to Gus. That was a one-time thing with the 50. Let me just say that also. But yeah, no, that's awesome. I mean, that is like the attitude as an agent, you know, that is wanting to refer things out and wanting help is whenever you have like an eagerness, like I'll do whatever, like give it to me, yes. I'm your yes guy. That just makes you become the go-to person. If there's like a, if there's one person that's like kind of like, oh, is this worth my time? Like, you know, am I going to do this one? Or is it, you know, let me think through this a little bit and get back to you. Versus somebody that you send it to and they're running with it and you know they do a good job. Like you're going to give that person the business every time it comes, like whenever there's a chance, for sure. I try to tell that to new agents and they're like, are they pre-approved? And I know I get the whole pre-approval. Don't get me wrong. Bro, I was showing houses. I didn't care. I just had to hear what you did for a living. Oh, yo, you're a doctor? You don't got a pre-approval? You know, I'll meet you there so me and you can create a relationship. Then I'll go ahead and we'll try to get you pre-approved at some point. You know, I need you to get that so we can put an offer in. If you don't get it, we already built a bond. I don't know who you know. Joe Smoll, you might meet tomorrow, might be like, oh, I'm looking for an agent. Hey, this guy Gus helped me out. Every person was an opportunity for them to expand your name, whether they had approval or pre-approval. Now, don't get me wrong. Now, if you don't have a pre-approval, you know, I'm probably way more hesitant. But at the beginning, I was hungry for any opportunity and try to make it work. Yeah. Well, you know, you could really look at your initial meeting with a buyer as a good opportunity to also like meet a lender or something. Cause you know, we gotta get those brokerage agreements signed now. And I mean, we've had to in Virginia for a while, but yeah, like you gotta get those signs. So that's a good opportunity to maybe give some education and get, give some value and not make it too long, but maybe also meet a lender, kind of get at least initial screenings done to make sure that we're all moving forward as just an idea. But yeah, no, I know I've like, but even if for me, like if I'm referring an agent, a business and they're asking me questions, like, are they pre-approved? I'm like, I don't know. But like, you can ask that question. Like, I'm trying to give you some business.

Yes. And I'm like, wow, are you selling 80 houses a year? Like, I thought you were just trying to get paid. I guess, I guess, you know, you need the, you need everything on the platter given to you, I guess, I don't know. Yeah. No, but that's the, that's the attitude to cultivate right there. Like that is the attitude. And I think I'm curious where, if you could break down some of like where your most business kind of came from, but if you get tapped into some agents that are willing to give you their leftovers, their extras, or they're like, I don't want to, or even I'm just too busy right now. And I think there's very, you know, abundantly minded people that will also give you some slam dunks. Like if they're, have a buyer coming to their listing and they wanted representation, it might've been their client before. Like if you're the go-to person, like that's just gonna be the opportunities that you present. So sometimes you have to do the, you know, the single one on 20 acres to kind of get some of that easier stuff. So I was doing a lot on social media, like I said, and I was doing like funny skits. I feel, and I say this to my wife, I was doing TikTok on, and our major platform is Facebook. I know this, it wasn't too long, it was like 2018, but our area of Facebook is the major platform. Sure. Especially at that time. So I was doing like funny skits about being a real estate agent, stuff like that. And I told myself, yo, no one's gonna take me serious until they see me do closings. As soon as I closed that mobile home, oh, I just got this done. I'm taking pictures with the guy. He's talking, I'm recording him. He's talking about his experience with me. That's the stuff. Now, not only those avenues I told you about how I'm getting people, now the people I've met since I've been in college and been an adult in this local area, I've met at the bank. Oh, now Gus closed on a property. Now they're contacting me. Now they're starting to believe in me that I'm not just a guy that just decided to quit his job, be an agent. Now they're having some trust that they're seeing results all on social media platforms. So that was another thing that kicked in. That's cool. I'd be curious, okay, so that's killing it for a first full year. That's absolutely killing it. That's awesome. I would imagine you had similar trajectories after that. When did you start getting into investing? So 2019, that was my first full year. 50, 2020, I was 71. 2020 was when I brought my first investment. So now 2020, I'm making good money. My mentality is things are always too good. I'm scared it's gonna end. So I started to work with investors. So they kind of taught me the game. And the reason why the investors started working with me is because I was quick to get to showings and just open the door. They knew I didn't know anything. So they were like, you can't really help us as far as breaking down deals, but what you can do is just get us into these buildings. This is when the MLS, you had great opportunities on the MLS. Things have changed a little bit since then. So I would open the doors for them. So I would help someone buy a property. Then six months later, or maybe three to six months later, we're selling it. So I may get a check for 5,000, let's say. Then I'm reading the closing disclosure and they're getting a check for, let's say 175,000. So if you're really a student of the game, if you're really being aware of what's going on, you're gonna ask this key question. Hey, I saw you got like 175,000. How much did you put into that? We put in about 45,000. Okay, I helped you buy that for 65,000. So I'm doing the math. I'm like, oh, wow. But then I go in the house, I see what he did. There was no, and then once again, this might be just for the area that you're in, but there was no granted, you know, not the stuff I saw on HGTV, not those three, 400, $500,000 houses that are normally around my area. So I'm seeing like, okay, I'm busting my butt.

$5,000, he just got one check for, you know, 135. I'm doing something wrong. Or when I would help someone buy four units. Yeah, I'm getting the data as far as the P&L on how that works. But then I'm asking questions. So I'm like, you know, when you're looking at this, what are some of the things that you're looking at? He's like, Gus, if you go in and you do this to the unit, and you do that, and you put this amount of money down. So they're kind of telling me this information. Now, one big thing I was doing was bigger pockets. So they're telling me the information. And I'm listening to bigger pockets every single day since 2017, 2018. So I'm trying to put it together. So I'm like, hey, so when, right now, you're gonna cashflow about 2,500. When you get these where they need to be, it's gonna be like 4,500? He's like, yeah, every month? Yeah, I was like this. So I'm busting my butt. I'm on the road. Because I was getting a lot more, obviously, when you're starting out, you're getting a lot more buyer clients than seller clients. I'm on the road 24-7, anywhere. I'm going here, there, hour away, two hours away. I'm on the road. I'm like, so you're getting this 4,500 automatically. So I need to get in the game. So all the money I was saving up, I'm ready to buy my first investment. My first investment I actually walked into was like a duplex in a single-family home. I was gonna buy it. We went to the inspection. I got feedback from some people I trusted. They're like, we don't think this is the one. All right, cool. I ended up talking to someone else. I was helping them buy a property. He's like, yeah, I got this five-unit I'm looking to sell also in a town I'm familiar with. I was like, yeah, I can help you sell that. Now I'm thinking like an agent. I can help you sell that? Yeah, no problem. So we go see the place. I call one of my investor buddies. I'm like, hey, I just got a five-unit off market, you wanna come take a look at it? I'm here with the owner right now. He goes takes a look at it. He's like, Gus, that five-unit is awesome. Let's put it on the contract. So we ended up putting it under contract. I'm the agent. The thing that happened was his bank didn't appraise the property for what it needed to appraise for. So in most cases, people would be like, oh, it's not a good deal. But with talking to him, only thing he could talk about how good of a deal this is. So I sat back. Now it's a five-unit. It's real different than what I thought I was gonna get. I thought I was gonna get a duplex, triplex, fourplex to start off with. I said to myself, you know what? Why don't I just buy this? Let me go ahead and try. So I got introduced to commercial lending first. So I've never, except for my primary home, I've never purchased anything without it being a commercial mortgage on it. Once I got introduced to that, I brought the five-unit in August of 2020. That was my first investment. That's an awesome jump right in. That's amazing. Yes, yes, yes. Yeah, that's- One of my babies to this day, probably top three or four in my portfolio. Yeah, I'm thinking back to the interest rates then and how much appreciation it's helped us spend and how much rents have gone up. It definitely helped. That definitely helped. How much rents have gone up. Yes, it was a great buy. If I could go back to myself back then, I'm like, don't even think about trying to sell this, buy this right now. But yeah, it was a great buy. Yeah, yeah, I know. I mean, how many times has that happened to people? I think that that's just kind of a mindset people get into. And I'm gonna make a commission off this. And even if the commission would have been bigger than the first month or the first year of cashflow, let's say, I mean, just over time, that's just difference that it compounds and gets bigger and bigger. I mean, having owned real estate through the pandemic, I mean, that's, I would imagine a big chunk of your net worth at this point.

Yes, yes. So when I brought that first one in August of 2020, January comes, I buy a three unit. Then February, no, March, I buy another three unit. So I get on the road now. So I got the bug. I was gonna manage the five unit at the beginning. And then the day I owned it, maybe a week later, one of the toilets broke and they called me over and I'm looking like, I don't know what to do. They're looking at me like, I'm gonna save the day. I was like, I don't really know what to do. I really don't got connections. I'm calling other investors. Yeah, who do you use for a plumber? So I was like, I need to put this with a property management team. I kind of, I'm happy I did that. But now as a seasoned investor, I'm kind of mad I did that. And we could get into that at some point in the conversation. Well, go ahead. I mean, do you self-manage now all the time or? No, so everything I have right now, not everything. Majority of the stuff I have right now is with my management team. Now, the reason why I say I wish I would have managed that at the beginning, because I would have been able to understand how the money works, where it's dispersed, who am I paying? How much are these things that were getting fixed? So this was a more like a turnkey property. This wasn't something I fixed up. So when I'm getting my slips from the management team, I'm like cleaning. I'm like this. I'm like, I'm reading the lines. I'm like, okay, this is not what I written down, written out at the beginning and was supposed to get. So, you know, I'm getting confused. It took me six to seven, eight months to really understand how everything worked. That could have been six to seven months. I was doing it myself, understood it, pass it to them. And from the beginning, I could have told them how I want it. So I feel like I missed a learning curve there at the beginning. I see. So like you would still have it managed, but having that kind of baseline understanding of how the whole thing works, you could better manage the managers. Okay. Yeah, that makes sense. And I think, you know, at some point, again, I think with real estate agents, we tend to try to do everything ourselves and delegation is definitely key. And also like, I mean, just for longevity of things, like if you think that this, you know, managing these properties is going to make you not buy any more or sell, like get it managed, like for sure, like get it off your plate because you can probably be spending your time in other areas that are gonna make you more money. And owning real estate over time is, you know, the best way to become wealthy. So, yeah, man, you don't play around. You jumped in to investing and sales and just went, you know, 100 miles an hour right away. That's awesome. With making the money as an agent, so one thing I was noticed, cause my first few transactions, I was putting 20% down. So, you know, with bigger pockets, I'm sure everyone's a bigger pockets baby. Brandon's biggest thing is brr, brr, brr. So I got to a point, I was like, okay, I can't keep putting 20% down. As much as that's a benefit, I need to figure other ways to be able to scale without putting that much money down. So I brought my first brr. And with buying my first brr, I brought it for like 70,000 with the closing costs, with the fees as far as monthly fees, holding costs. And with the rehab, I was all in like 45,000. The house, so this was a single family home and it pays for 150. So I presented it to the bank and I can get 80% back, the bank I work with, I get 80% back. So I was basically my first brr, I think I was in maybe a few thousand, but I was right there, like close to where I needed to be. And right now I still have, say it again. A lot better than 20% down, right? 100%. And then when I got the taste of the brr, I was like, okay, so we're gonna switch our model now. No longer are we buying 20% unless they're phenomenal deals. We're gonna look for properties where they're depleted and we can fix those up so I can retain my money.

And so what I'm doing as far as a real estate agent, I can build up and I'm just using the same amount of money each particular deal. And I think that's helped me scale 10 times since then. Yeah, what are you doing for your holding money? Are you doing cash, equity lines, hard money? What are you doing for that? Yep, so at the beginning I was doing cash until I got introduced to lines of credit. Wasn't really familiar. Once my banker broke it down, he was like, yeah, it's pretty much money you're able to use from the bank to do exactly what you're doing with your own money. I was like, oh, really? So he's like, how much do you want? Because this time I already got six, seven buildings. I was like, can I get 150,000? He's like, yeah, we can do that. I was like, dope. So now I'm not even using my own money which I was using at the beginning. And since then my credit line is a good chunk now as way more than 150,000. So I normally buy cash, rehab with the credit line and then refi. And I only refi and I hear this a lot. I don't really like sometimes when I hear this, if I'm all into something for 100, let's say 100,000 and the building gets appraised for 200,000 and I could get 80% of that 200,000 that would get us at 160 me and myself, I don't wanna take that extra 60,000. I just wanna take what is that I put into the building. So I'm keeping my principal payment lower and I don't have an extra 60,000 that I'm paying on which I may not have an opportunity to place it anywhere. To me, that doesn't make any sense. Yeah, it really depends on your goals for one. I mean, so like if you're wanting to just kind of free up your expenses through passive income, like you're trying to be 100%er where all your living is covered by passive income, that totally makes sense. I gotta say, I've mostly been in that same mindset but at the same time, I'm kicking myself for not taking out more, at least for my primary residency which is at like a 2.7% rate, I'm like, I'll never see, if I could have got another $100,000 out of this house, I will never see that kind of cheap money again. But at the same time, I do love my like $1,700 a month or whatever I'm paying in a mortgage payment on it. So yeah, I think, and there's people, a lot of people argue about like your return on equity ratios and stuff too when you kind of get into how much leverage to have. But at the end of the day, like we don't, if the market turns, like if, I know it has in some areas, you know, it's kind of, you're in a good place now, right? Like you're in a better place. You can afford more, you can, rents could come down and you could still be okay, prices come down and you'd still be above water. So I think it's a personal thing overall but I definitely lean more that way as well. I don't think leveraging out my eyeballs is comfortable. Never, but then if I keep things, so I have a yearly meeting with my banker and then that's when we talk about increasing my credit line so if I'm keeping, if I'm refiling and just taking what I need, now that leaves me some money for negotiations when I ask my banker how much I want to increase my credit line for, I could just put it on that and that's something I can control when I need it. That's where I'm more of a fan of with the lines of credit. No, that makes sense. Yeah, it makes sense. You can still tap into it. I mean, sure, you have to pay interest on it at that point but yeah, like, I mean, you can still have access to that which, and when you get into this BRRRR kind of strategy, like it's like you're not printing money, you're like printing houses almost it feels like because you're just kind of recycling this money. So access to more is great when you can get it all back and I think it's always, you hear horror stories about people who get caught holding a few or like a number of flips or a number of whatever at the same time when markets turn and it's just, that's, I've never, we also don't have that many in

our area that we can really take on, like multiple at the same time, we're a smaller market so the deals are more limited but yeah, that's always in the back of my mind as well, like just kind of trying to make sure that you're being conservative and everything, just how much you're taking, how big of a scale, et cetera. But. If you don't mind me saying this. Yeah. Everyone's gonna have their different perspectives, because a lot of people say, Gus, aren't you worried about if the market turns, Gus, aren't you worried about this, that and the third? I can't control that, only thing I can control is making sure I'm buying these properties the right way, making sure their cashflow and I'm underwriting it to the best of my capabilities, making sure when we're rehabbing them, we're rehabbing them so they're lasting longer than a half-ass rehab, sorry for my language. I can do those steps. I can't have the fear hovering over me, oh, 2008 or 2010, everything went haywire. Okay, I haven't gone through that type of situation but I'm not gonna stop and the reason why I'm not gonna stop, as a real estate agent, I work with too many people that they ended up selling because the market got crazy when COVID happened. They're making 500,000, 300,000 and I was like, all you did was hold on to the house? All you did was have as many houses as possible and now you're just letting the single families go and you're making a crap ton of money? So my mentality right now is I don't, if you're, to me, if anyone's talking about being conservative, over-leverage and things along those lines, I can't really hear that right now. I'm laser-focused and one day this might be the downfall that this guy was an idiot because he didn't listen to what people said but I'm all in, I'm putting all my chips in and this is the time to go right now because when the next boom happens, whether it be five, 10, 30 years from now, there's no telling when that is. That's where I'm gonna go back and be like, okay, I watched these guys make a crap ton of money. I wanna be that same person when that next boom happens and by me doing that is collecting as many properties as possible. I don't have partners. I don't have mentors. Only thing I have is me watching how things are going and telling myself this makes sense to get as much pawns because right now I'm getting a lot of single families, get as much pawns on the board and when it's time for those pawns to sacrifice them, I'm gonna have a whole bunch of sacrificing pawns on the board. Yeah, no, I mean, I think there's definitely wisdom to not waiting for things to be ideal. Well, I mean, because people will make that, like this is not the right time to buy or people always feel like they overpay for a house and interest rates now are one of the big things, right? It's hard to buy something that pencils out because of interest rates, especially if you're just on market, not doing any rehab but I tell people like, well, my buddy who had like 50 houses when the interest rates dropped was able to refinance them all. He would not have been able to buy 50 houses in that window of time. And so that's definitely a key component to all this. And then on the other hand, I see people, again, this is a personal tolerance thing. I think I see people will tap into any equity they can and then put that as a down payment on another property with a DSCR loan so that they're almost 100% leveraged even though that it pencils out of cashflow wise now, and I'm sure they're doing a lot of good calculations to make sure that everything's covered if there is a shift in the amount of rent they're getting, et cetera. So I think there's just, there's different extremes, right? And I think it's your personal preference, your personal risk tolerance and the people have been bold and have done really well, for sure. So people have failed, so we'll see what the people have done. I always kind of try to be a little bit moderate overall for that reason but I probably missed out on some things.

Yeah, but Gus, that brings me, I mean, is that like, so you've been just investing hard ever since, right? And you've been continuing your sales. Are you still a solo agent then as well? No, so as an agent, I had a phenomenal, some phenomenal, I'm trying to figure out which ones are which. So in 2000, I'm looking at the plaques, 2022, 100 and then 2023, over 100 houses sold. Those are my peaks. And after that, to be honest, you start being a little bit more selective and more giving other agents stuff. I was burnt out after 2023. On the road 24 seven, my portfolio was growing. I'm doing births. I'm giving that a lot of time and effort to it. And I told myself, hey, this is the time where the 100% I gave as far as an agent, I'm giving that to the being an investor. So I kind of switched. Now, a lot of people were mad at me. Maybe when I go through that office, you were a top selling agent. And now, even though I guess mine would be respectable, I'm doing 30, 35 transactions, that's still respectable to a degree. But that's not where I was before. I was flat out posters, this and that. But I'm like, if you saw me do this in this avenue of work, imagine what I'm gonna do over here. And this is gonna give me the biggest return. So there's active money and passive money. Now it's time to give that passive money that full attention. And that's where I'm at right now. So I'm kind of like a part-time agent at this point. Yeah, no, that's awesome. I mean, I think there's a couple of honest thoughts there. So following what you're passionate about is one, which that's great. I mean, I think it's great to have the freedom to do that, right? You can choose kind of what you wanna do. And then, I mean, second of all, like I think at some point, what's the point? Like what's the point of working 24-7, just slaving away to get every single transaction that you possibly can? And that's kind of what this show's all about is we're working towards, again, because we leave our W-2s or whatever, we leave and we try to be free by pursuing real estate and then become slaves to it, basically, right? I mean, we're working so hard that we don't have any time for ourselves. Everything else is kind of falling. And yeah, so like working towards a different kind of freedom then. Or if you look at the cash flow quadrant, for example, like there's the employed, the self-employed, the business owners, and the investors. And kind of when you get into the real estate ownership, I would say that you're kind of both. You're kind of a business owner and an investor. But yeah, anyway, all that to say is it's great. I mean, I think that's a pursuit that's gonna pay dividends over time. Sometimes it doesn't always feel like you're kind of reaping it all. Like we joke around about being an investor and being cash poor, like asset-rich, cash poor. So it kind of, it feels, you're building stuff for the future and it's awesome. We've had a long conversation. I do wanna break it into a golden nugget. If you have one you wanna share to our audience here. Yeah, so what I would say is a lot of this I've been saying have tunnel vision. But what I will tell everyone who's a real estate agent, and right now that's your main focus, and what you should, you should master one craft. But what you wanna do is when you become a real estate agent, when you get things going, you're gonna meet a bunch of people. And being a real estate agent to me is your entry level into real estate. Once you get in, get in the door, you see how everything works, you're gonna come into contact with people that may take you in other directions. Be open, listen, and be aware of what other people are talking about. Because for me, it was investing. And that took me to a whole different place I thought I would never be in. So once again, be aware of where you're at, but still have that drive and that tunnel vision also. I love that. And we haven't even touched the tax benefits. I love this.

It's like a retirement account that you don't have to pay taxes on, or like that reduces your taxes. Especially for real estate professionals. So I love it. That's awesome. Gus, what about a book that was fundamental for you that you think everybody should read, or maybe one that you're just currently really enjoying? Well, what I'm gonna say is probably the book everyone says, Mr. Kiyosaki, is that his name? Robert Kiyosaki? Yeah. Yeah, correct. What's the name of the book? Rich Dad Poor Dad? Yes. So that was a book I read when I became an agent. Very good things that were said in there on how some people live compared... I'm very cheap. So it was right down my alley. So I don't have the flashy car. I feel like you can't do the things that are gonna give you wealth if you spend it on things that are gonna just make you look rich. I don't wanna look rich. I wanna be wealthy. So that book was very instrumental as far as that. But I'm gonna be honest, since then, I have not read a book. And maybe some people could tell, and that's why- You've been focused on grinding. No, but I really am. For me, listen to a podcast like this, listen to The Bigger Pockets, a few other podcasts. That's my avenue. And I wanna be able to maybe give a little bit different answer so people can hear, okay, he's saying podcasts. And maybe that's more of the thing I like to listen to also. So I would definitely recommend some podcasts, talk on real estate, whatever you wanna be, listen to that. And whatever you wanna be, read that. I guess that's the reason why. Sure, no, I love it. And honestly, I think a lot of people in podcasts and seminars, et cetera, are kind of espouting the knowledge that are the going trending books anyway. They're kind of regurgitating that. So that makes a lot of sense. Podcasts are great. I mean, I think the continued pursuit of knowledge is really where you're honing your craft, you're learning how you can improve yourself, everything, your world, your finances, your investing, blah, blah, blah, as you go. That's awesome. Gus, where can people reach you or follow you? You said that you're active on Facebook still, or do you Instagram as well? Yeah, so in the last three years, I have converted over to Instagram. It's @GusOfiliRealEstate. You can catch me over there. I post, when I close properties, I post when they're all done and what the numbers look like. I'm a big fan of giving receipts and giving that type of information. So I would say that's the major platform to catch me on and me and my everyday and real estate, whether it be reels or stories. Cool, awesome, Gus. Well, hey, thanks so much for being on the show. This has been a lot of fun. I appreciate it, man. Thank you, and thank you everyone for watching. Thanks for listening to the REI Agent. If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe to catch new shows every week. Visit REIAgent.com for more content. Until next time, keep building the life you want. All content in the show is not investment advice or mental health therapy. It is intended for entertainment purposes only.