Épisodes

  • Episode 005: The Golden Handcuffs: Walking Away From a Pension, Betting on Yourself, and Rebuilding Your Identity with Brendan D'Anna

    Episode 005: The Golden Handcuffs: Walking Away From a Pension, Betting on Yourself, and Rebuilding Your Identity with Brendan D'Anna
    Feb 20 2026
    Episode SummaryWhat would you do if you had five years left to a guaranteed pension and a career that looked great from the outside, but felt like a slow death on the inside? That's exactly where Brendan D'Anna found himself after 15 years in fire service. He was running into burning buildings, pulling double shifts with a private ambulance company, and raising a family. From the outside, it looked like a solid life. On the inside, the fire was going out.Brendan started in fire service at 19. Same age Karl joined the Army. That number is not a coincidence. Both men found structure in service. But Brendan's wake-up call came when he broke his foot and realized one thing: if he got hurt doing this job, he had nothing else to fall back on. That one moment sent him toward real estate in 2016. He got licensed, started growing, and began building a second career while still showing up to the firehouse every third day.Then kids came. And everything changed. Because when you become a father, the math on risk looks completely different. Brendan started asking himself a question that most men avoid: "If I don't come home tomorrow, was it worth it?" His answer was no. So he ripped the Band-Aid off. Called his chief on a Wednesday. Said he worked his last shift Sunday. He was done.This episode is for the person sitting in a job they've outgrown. The one clinging to the golden handcuffs because the pension is close and the fear is loud. Brendan breaks down what it actually costs to stay. The identity shift. The isolation. The honeymoon phase that ends in January. The faith walk that carried him through. And the one quote on a sticky note on his desk that keeps him moving forward when the doubt gets loud.Quote of the Episode:"The defining point of success is removing the gap between decision and action." — Matthew HasslerIn This Episode, You'll Discover:How a broken foot became the catalyst that pushed Brendan toward real estate and out of fire serviceWhy becoming a father completely changed his relationship with risk and job securityWhat the real cost of golden handcuffs looks like when you do the math on what it takes to stayThe brutal identity shift that happens when you leave a 15-year brotherhood overnightWhy his first year out of the fire department was his best income year in real estate, and yet he still battled crippling self-doubtHow he used faith, a men's discipleship trip, and a willingness to be uncomfortable to rebuild his inner circle from scratchThe phone and social media boundaries that changed how he shows up as a husband and fatherThe quote from Matt Hasler that lives on a sticky note on his desk and gets him out of his own head every single dayKey Takeaways:The Broken Foot Principle: Sometimes it doesn't take a near-death experience to wake you up. A small injury, a shift change, a quiet moment of honesty with yourself can be enough. Pay attention to what's waking you up.Fatherhood Changes the Math: When people are counting on you at home, the risks you take at work look completely different. Brendan stopped being willing to be a liability on the job. That is not quitting. That is growing up.The Pension Is a Trap If You Hate the Job: Brendan had five years left to retire at 40 with a 50% pension and full health benefits. He walked away. The golden handcuffs only feel like security until you realize what they're costing you in time, identity, and joy.Rip the Band-Aid: Brendan called his chief on a Wednesday and said Sunday was his last day. He did not ease out. He did not "transition." He left. Sometimes the cleanest cut is the kindest one.The Honeymoon Phase Is Real and It Ends: Freedom feels electric at first. But January always comes. The self-doubt, the pressure, the voice in your head asking if you made the right call. Have a plan for that season. It is coming.Trim the Fat on Your Circle: When Brendan left fire service, he left a brotherhood. But he also left an environment that normalized behavior that no longer aligned with who he was becoming. Isolation is uncomfortable. It is also necessary before rebuilding.Boundaries Are a Skill, Not a Personality Trait: Phone off at dinner. No social media first thing in the morning. Managing his own temper with his kids. Brendan had to build boundaries intentionally because they do not happen on their own.Remove the Gap Between Decision and Action: Brendan keeps a sticky note on his desk with this quote from Matt Hasler. That quote is his whole morning. If you are sitting on a decision right now, this is for you.Timestamps:[00:00] — Introduction[01:29] — Brendan's background: 15 years in fire service, private ambulance work[04:39] — The broken foot moment and the real estate pivot[05:51] — How having kids changed his relationship with risk[07:00] — The pension math: 5 years left, walking away anyway[08:50] — The identity shift: leaving a brotherhood after 15 years[11:42] — Faith, inner circle, and why leaving the firehouse was ...
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    54 min
  • Episode 004: The Eclipse Moment: Escaping the 9-to-5 Trap, Building Systems, and Reclaiming Your Life with Jimmy Smith

    Episode 004: The Eclipse Moment: Escaping the 9-to-5 Trap, Building Systems, and Reclaiming Your Life with Jimmy Smith
    Feb 17 2026
    He Built a $2M/Year Amazon Empire. But He Almost Missed It All.Episode SummaryWhat does it take to walk away from a "safe" job and bet on yourself? Jimmy Smith knows. He was selling corporate insurance, making decent money, and feeling dead inside. The turning point wasn't a big business revelation. It was a solar eclipse. He watched it from a parking lot with coworkers instead of the people who actually mattered. That was the moment everything changed.Jimmy left the nine to five, built an Amazon arbitrage business that hit over $100,000 a month, and eventually pioneered a replenishable inventory model that generated over $100 million in annual revenue across his student community. He didn't just build a business. He built a system. And now he teaches others to do the same.This episode gets honest. We talk about the anxiety that never goes away, the identity crisis that hits when you finally quit the job, the $100,000 he lost to scam courses, a divorce, bad real estate deals, and why more money doesn't make you happier after a certain point. Jimmy doesn't do highlight reels. He does real talk.If you're grinding 80 hours a week and wondering what the point is, this episode is your permission slip to do it differently.In This Episode, You'll Discover:The solar eclipse parking lot moment that made Jimmy realize the nine to five was costing him more than just timeHow Jimmy went from insurance salesman to building a $100k per month Amazon business from scratchWhy quitting your job full time doesn't automatically grow your business — and the distraction trap Jimmy fell intoThe replenishable inventory model Jimmy pioneered that generated over $100 million in annual revenue across his communityWhy entrepreneurship is actually more secure than a nine to five — and what Covid proved about job fragilityThe outsourcing math that freed Jimmy's time: how to calculate what tasks are actually worth your hoursJimmy's framework for building multiple income streams — and why you can't start with multiplesHow Jimmy's faith, Psalm 34:14, and the principle of seeking peace became his operating system for life and businessKey Takeaways:The Eclipse Effect: A small missed moment can wake you up faster than any business book. Jimmy's turning point wasn't a financial crisis — it was watching a solar eclipse from a parking lot when he wanted to be with his people. Pay attention to those moments.Distraction Is the Silent Killer: Jimmy quit his job to go all-in on Amazon, then immediately started chasing local merch deals, wholesale, and private label. Business didn't grow. He had to audit himself and recommit to one thing before anything clicked.One Before Many: You cannot build multiple income streams until one is solid. Jimmy has 15 streams now, but each one came after the previous was proven. Trying to build them all at once is how you build none of them.The Outsourcing Math Problem: If you're doing $15 per hour tasks when you could be doing $75 per hour tasks, you're making a math mistake. Jimmy broke down prep-and-ship work at 20 hours a week before he finally paid someone else to do it and freed himself to source more product.Anxiety Changes Shape, It Doesn't Disappear: Early anxiety is "can I even make this work?" Later anxiety is "will it all fall apart?" Jimmy is honest that the fear doesn't go away. It just wears a different outfit. The goal is learning to work with it, not eliminate it.The $80K Threshold: Research backs it up. After about $80,000 to $100,000 per year in profit, additional money produces diminishing returns on happiness. After that number, it becomes about purpose — what are you actually building toward?Identity Tied to Success: One of Jimmy's deepest struggles is valuing himself only when things are going well. That's a trap. You are not your revenue. Recognizing that cycle is the first step to breaking it.Grit Is a Daily Decision: Jimmy's definition of grit is simple. Do the three to five things that move your life and business forward every single day, whether you feel like it or not. No protocols. No secrets. Just showing up more days than you don't.Timestamps:[00:00] — Introduction and welcome[01:47] — Jimmy's origin story: corporate insurance, side hustle, and finding Amazon[05:18] — The replenishable inventory model and the community impact it created[09:23] — The solar eclipse moment: the parking lot that changed everything[13:00] — Going full time and immediately losing focus: the distraction trap[19:50] — Identity tied to success and the anxiety that changes shape[25:37] — Is entrepreneurship actually more secure than a job?[33:00] — The money happiness threshold and the $80k to $100k principle[37:02] — The outsourcing math: how to value your own time[47:14] — Jimmy's definition of grit[49:26] — Delegating admin tasks and building local community as a remote entrepreneur[51:25] — Faith, Psalm 34:14, and the power of seeking peace[54:37] — Jimmy's biggest ...
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    1 h et 2 min
  • Episode 003: The Ultimate Leverage: Tragedy, Trust, and the Walk Away Mindset with Andy Westmaas

    Episode 003: The Ultimate Leverage: Tragedy, Trust, and the Walk Away Mindset with Andy Westmaas
    Feb 13 2026

    Episode Summary:

    What if the worst day of your life gave you the greatest leverage in your business?

    In this episode, we sit down with Andy Westmaas, a veteran entrepreneur with a 40-year career spanning executive non-profit fundraising to building an e-commerce empire that sits in the top 5% of Amazon sellers. Andy recently made headlines in his own life by acquiring an award-winning toy company with a Shark Tank pedigree—but the road to success wasn't paved with simple wins.

    Andy opens up about the "earth-shaking" decision to dismantle his high-performing internal prep team to move to a 3PL, a move driven by the need to reclaim his time and focus on his true "zone of genius": sales and buying. We also dive deep into the dynamics of running a multi-million dollar business with a spouse, exploring the "Visionary vs. Integrator" relationship that allows him and his wife, Michelle, to thrive.

    But the heart of this conversation lies in Andy’s concept of "Walk Away Power." forged through the 15-year battle and eventual loss of his son, Jacob, to mental health struggles. Andy shares how this profound personal tragedy taught him to hold business outcomes loosely, giving him an unshakeable edge in negotiation and leadership.

    In this episode, we cover:

    • The Pivot: Why Andy shut down a successful internal warehouse operation to outsource to a 3PL.
    • Walk Away Power: How deep personal loss reframed Andy's perspective on risk, negotiation, and success.
    • Spousal Partnerships: Navigating the "Visionary vs. Integrator" dynamic and why complementary weaknesses are key to scaling.
    • Zone of Genius: The difficult decision to "fire yourself" from tasks like repricing and inventory management to focus on revenue-generating activities.
    • Core Values: How to discover (not invent) the values that drive your business decisions.

    Timestamps:

    • 00:00 – Intro & Welcome
    • 01:56 – From Non-Profit Executive to E-Commerce Entrepreneur
    • 06:02 – The Shark Tank Connection: Acquiring an Award-Winning Toy Company
    • 10:04 – The "Earth-Shaking" Decision: Shutting Down the Warehouse & Moving to a 3PL
    • 17:35 – Jacob’s Story: Navigating a 15-Year Battle with Mental Health
    • 23:42 – "Walk Away Power": How Tragedy Changed Andy’s Approach to Negotiation
    • 29:46 – Visionary vs. Integrator: The Secret to Working with Your Spouse
    • 32:18 – Discovering Core Values: Why "Trust" and "Fun" Drive the P&L
    • 43:31 – Leadership Lesson: The Danger of Unmet Expectations
    • 51:42 – Essentialism: Why Andy Fired Himself from Repricing & Inventory
    • 58:15 – The Role of Faith in Business and Resilience
    • 01:06:07 – Andy’s Question for the Next Guest

    Resources & Links:

    • Download Andy’s Tribute to Jacob – As mentioned in the outro, this is the raw, moving story Andy wrote about his son. Please have tissues ready.
    • Recommended Reading: Essentialism by Greg McKeown & Buy Then Build by Walker Deibel.

    Connect with Andy Westmaas

    • Website: WestMProductsGroup.com
    • Facebook: Andy Westmaas

    Connect with Karl Jacobi

    • Website: successwithkarl.com
    • LinkedIn: karljacobi
    • Facebook: karl.jacobi
    • Instagram: @successwithkarl
    • YouTube: @KarlJacobi
    • TikTok: @veteran808
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    1 h et 13 min
  • Episode 002: The Fireman's Hedge: Profit, Purpose, and the Arbitrage Mindset with Ted Harton

    Episode 002: The Fireman's Hedge: Profit, Purpose, and the Arbitrage Mindset with Ted Harton
    Feb 10 2026

    Ted Harton runs into burning buildings for a living. That is real risk. But when he gets home? He bets on sports.


    Most people hear "betting" and think gambling. They think luck. They think recklessness. They are wrong.


    Ted isn't gambling. He is following a protocol. Just like in the firehouse. He uses a system called arbitrage to exploit inefficiencies in the market. It is not about hunches. It is about math.


    But Ted didn’t start here. He had to burn his old life down first. He got "lost in the sauce." He was partying. He was unfaithful. He was drifting.

    Then business hit him hard. Amazon shut him down. He lost $15,000 in inventory. It was gone. Trash.

    The truth is... most people would quit. They would stay down.

    Ted didn't. He used the pain. He pivoted. He found a way to hedge his bets in life and business.


    In this episode, we talk about the difference between fear and danger. We talk about the "Essentialism" of quitting the wrong things. We talk about how to beat the books using their own money.


    Everything you want exists on the other side of fear.

    Show Notes & Key Takeaways

    • [02:22] The Double Life: Ted is a full-time firefighter. He works 24 hours on. He gets 48 hours off. He uses that time to build wealth.
    • [08:26] The Blessing in Disguise: Ted got fired and kicked out of his apartment in Chicago in the same week. It forced him home. It led him to the fire department.
    • [24:12] Hitting Rock Bottom: Ted gets real. He talks about cheating on his girlfriend and partying too much. He felt like a fraud. He decided to become the man he thought he was.
    • [34:49] The $15,000 Loss: Amazon gated his account before Black Friday. A prep center error destroyed his inventory. He lost huge money. He realized he built a business on sand.
    • [43:25] Quitting is a Strength: Ted read Essentialism. He realized his Amazon business wasn't working. He killed his ego. He walked away to find something better.
    • [48:45] The System: Arbitrage betting explained. You bet on both sides. You use the difference in odds. You guarantee a profit. No luck required.
    • [55:13] Research is the Enemy: You don't need to know sports. You need to know numbers. If you bet with your gut, you lose.
    • [1:03:25] The Credit Card Hedge: How Ted uses credit cards to buy gift cards and fund his accounts. He racks up points. He creates cash flow.
    • [1:09:50] Be the Light: Emotional regulation is the game. You cannot watch the scoreboard. You have to trust the process.

    Connect with Ted Harton

    • Website: https://teddybets.com
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ted_bets
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ted.harton
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    1 h et 31 min
  • Episode 001: The 17-Year Bet: Escaping Corporate, Taming the Monster, and the Art of Imperfect Action with Silas Anderson

    Episode 001: The 17-Year Bet: Escaping Corporate, Taming the Monster, and the Art of Imperfect Action with Silas Anderson
    Feb 10 2026

    Silas spent 17 years in a cubicle. It was a Fortune 500 firm. It was safe. It was secure.


    It was killing him - yes, literally!


    He watched a colleague retire and die almost immediately. That was the wake-up call. He realized "someday" is not a day on the calendar. So he left. He bet on himself.

    He started an Amazon business. But this isn't a fairy tale success story. Not yet.

    He built what he calls a "cash-eating monster." He chased top-line revenue. He ignored profit. He dug a hole.

    The truth is... most people would have crawled back to the cubicle.

    Silas didn't. He got real about his numbers. He stripped the emotion out of his decisions. He turned a cost center into a profit center by launching a leads business in less than a week.

    In this episode, we talk about the trap of "safety." We talk about why sales is vanity and profit is sanity. We talk about the "UOP Shadow" mindset of persistence.

    Everything you want exists on the other side of fear.

    Show Notes & Key Takeaways

    • [02:46] The Golden Handcuffs: Silas spent 17 years at a major brokerage firm. He made good money. He was miserable every single day.

    • [13:48] The Wake-Up Call: Layoffs were looming during his vacation. Then a friend died right after retiring. Silas realized he couldn't wait for retirement to start living.

    • [22:41] The Cash-Eating Monster: The reality of his e-commerce business. He was executing, but the results weren't there. He was $100k in debt and chasing the wrong metrics.

    • [27:10] Vanity vs. Sanity: The hard lesson. Focusing on top-line revenue almost destroyed him. He had to learn that profit is the only number that matters.

    • [42:46] The Pivot: Silas took a process he was already doing—sourcing leads—and monetized it. He turned an expense into a revenue stream.

    • [59:35] Kill the Emotion: How he launched the new business. He set a hard deadline. If it didn't make money in two months, it was dead. No feelings attached.

    • [1:06:44] Imperfect Action: He didn't wait for perfection. He went from idea to first sale in one week. He beat analysis paralysis with action.

    • [1:19:02] The UOP Shadow: A lesson in grit. You have to go through the phone book from A to Z until you get a "Yes."

    Connect with Silas

    • Website: https://oaprofitpipeline.com
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealsilas317
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silas.anderson.376
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silas-anderson-7057b6a2
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    1 h et 38 min
  • Introducing The Grit Factor Podcast

    Introducing The Grit Factor Podcast
    Jan 21 2026

    Episode Title: Introducing The Grit Factor Podcast (Trailer)

    Episode Description / Show Notes:
    You don’t need more hype. You need real conversations with people who’ve actually built something and paid the price to get there.

    Welcome to The Grit Factor Podcast, hosted by Karl Jacobi.

    This show is for founders, business owners, leaders, and high-performers who want to win in business without losing their family, their faith, or themselves in the process.

    Each week, you’ll hear:

    • Interviews with high-achieving men and women who share the real story behind their success (not the highlight reel).
    • Solo episodes from Karl with practical lessons you can apply immediately.

    We’ll cover leadership, grit, faith, work ethic, relationships, marriage and family, building a winning culture, business, finance, entrepreneurship, and more.

    New episodes drop Tuesdays and Fridays.

    🎧 Subscribe now and join us for real conversations with founders who are building meaningful lives, not just impressive resumes.

    Connect / Follow:
    YouTube: @gritfactorpodcast
    Instagram: @successwithkarl
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karljacobi
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karljjacobi
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    2 min