Send us Fan Mail What do diamonds, apartment buildings, and a bottle of bourbon that literally talks back have in common? Dan Gorman. Dan joins the Safari to share his unconventional entrepreneurial journey—from getting fired while carrying debt, to building a diamond brokerage, moving into commercial real estate, and eventually helping create General Thomas Bourbon. Along the way, he proves that some of the biggest opportunities in business come from preparation, purposeful risk, and simply getting in the room with the right people. We dig into how thoughts become actions, actions become habits, and habits ultimately shape your results. Dan shares how preparation and consistency can make “manifesting” look a lot more like hard work, why face-to-face networking still beats digital connections, and how one relationship helped him land a 168-unit apartment deal with no money down. Then we pour a glass and explore General Thomas Bourbon—a brand combining tradition with AI technology. Through a unique QR code, a personalized message can be permanently tied to an individual bottle, turning bourbon into an experience and a memorable gift. 💡 GOLD NUGGETS • How negative thoughts can ultimately influence your actions, habits, character, and destiny • Why preparation and consistency create opportunities that can look like luck • Going from being fired and in debt to building a diamond brokerage • Using commercial real estate to create recurring income • How one relationship led to a 168-unit apartment deal with no money down • Why taking purposeful risks can open unexpected doors • The lasting power of face-to-face relationships in a digital world • How General Thomas Bourbon is using AI to make each bottle personal and memorable • Building a brand that stands out without relying on gimmicks 🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari A bourbon bottle shows up on our table, we scan a QR code, and suddenly “General Thomas” starts talking. That’s when we realize we’re not just tasting a great pour, we’re looking at a masterclass in modern small business marketing: build something worth buying, then wrap it in an experience people cannot help but share. We sit down with Dan Gorman, an entrepreneur who went from a diamond broker to commercial real estate investor, and he doesn’t sugarcoat the hard parts. He talks about getting fired with a one-year-old, $25,000 in credit card debt, and real pressure at home, then choosing to bet on himself anyway. From there, we dig into the deal that changed everything: a 168-unit apartment community bought with creative financing and a relationship-driven “yes” from an investment banker. It becomes Dan’s “$7 million lunch,” a reminder that face-to-face networking, credibility, and follow-through still beat a thousand DMs. We also get practical about mindset for entrepreneurs and small business owners. We talk negative thought loops, how thoughts turn into actions and habits, and why leaders have to rewrite the script if they want their teams and their businesses to grow. Then we return to the bourbon and the tech: Dan explains how General Thomas Kentucky Bourbon uses AI and unique QR codes so every bottle has its own web experience and can permanently “lock” a custom message to that specific bottle, turning it into a personalized gift with real emotional punch. If you like business stories with real lessons, real laughs, and a little bourbon culture, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a founder friend, and leave us a review with the best advice you ever got over coffee or lunch. 🔗 Guest Link • General Thomas Bourbon: https://generalthomasbourbon.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangorman/ 🌍 Follow The Small Business Safari • Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast • LinkedIn |https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/ • Website | https://chrislalomia.com Thanks to our sponsor Smart Hire Solutions LLC!
