Surviving the Side Hustle

Rob Tracz
  • 4.8 (25)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly

Welcome to "Surviving the Side Hustle," the ultimate podcast for balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with maintaining mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Hosted by Coach Rob Tracz, an expert in helping driven professionals achieve 'personal development for professional success,' this show is more than just storytelling—it's a masterclass in thriving amidst the entrepreneurial grind. Each episode features candid conversations with leaders who are rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship, sharing their unique stories, the creative solutions they're offering, and the everyday challenges they’re overcoming. Whether you’re a side hustler looking for your big break or an established entrepreneur seeking fresh perspectives, "Surviving the Side Hustle" provides valuable insights that resonate with the movers, the shakers, and everyone in between. Feeling burnt out and sidelining your own health? This podcast empowers you to overcome stagnation, build resilience, and optimize your life and business. We dive deep into your goals, identify obstacles, and share strategies to boost your energy, improve your strength, and keep the entrepreneurial grind enjoyable. Join us for inspiring stories, expert insights, and practical advice to help you look good, feel good, and do great things at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey. Let’s not just survive the side hustle—let's master it.

  1. 1d ago

    E235 - How a Pizza Guy Built 1,900 Units by Changing His Identity with Gino Barbaro

    For 20 years Gino Barbaro was the pizza guy. Then he started a side hustle in multifamily real estate that grew into over 1,900 units and $450 million in assets under management. Gino is a certified money coach, the author of Happy Money, Happy Family, Happy Legacy, and the founder of Barbaro 360, a family coaching brand built around legacy and money. He walks Rob through the phone call that changed his identity, and why he walked away from the business that made him. The conversation covers why becoming an entrepreneur starts with acting like one, why you should fall in love with systems instead of goals, and how hitting 100 units forced Gino to stop doing everything himself. Rob and Gino also get into his values based partnership with Jake, why he sold the Jake and Gino education company, and the three gears every successful investor had in common. Topics Covered: - Negotiating an $11 million seller finance deal from the restaurant and realizing he had outgrown the kitchen - Why the entrepreneur version of you shows up and makes the calls even when you do not feel like it - Choosing multifamily over fix and flips because he already had a job and did not want another one - Moving from "me, me, me" to serving residents, employees, and the marketplace - Going from about 100 units to 1,000 in three years by investing in systems and processes - Using VAs and AI to hand off the task you hate most, one small step at a time - Aligning values, vision, and objectives before you start any partnership - Mindset, money patterns, and business strategy, and why legacy starts today Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:38 Welcome and Gino's story 02:59 If a pizza guy can do it 05:33 The phone call that changed his identity 07:10 Acting as the next version of yourself 08:30 Fall in love with systems, not goals 09:55 Why multifamily instead of fix and flips 10:32 From me, me, me to serving others 13:16 Running a restaurant on reaction 15:13 The 100 unit mark and learning to scale 19:37 VAs, AI, and delegating what you hate 21:23 The pizza guy and the drug rep 24:24 Quick break 25:00 Selling the Jake and Gino education company 26:51 Mindset, money patterns, and business strategy 29:18 Legacy is something you activate today 33:09 Who Barbaro 360 is for 35:00 Where to find Gino 36:09 Happy Money, Happy Family, Happy Legacy 37:48 Wrap up Connect with Gino Barbaro: Website: https://ginobarbaro.com YouTube (Beyond Money): https://www.youtube.com/@movingbeyondmoney Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

  2. 5d ago

    E234 - Lessons from Jordan Meyer: Focus Beats Hustle

    If you try to do everything, you will do nothing well. That line came from Jordan Meyer, the founder of Addie Health, and it stopped me when he said it. Jordan is building a skincare brand formulated specifically for people on GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, and before that he was the CEO who led Obagi through a hardcore turnaround: an SEC investigation, the threat of being delisted, and 80 to 90 hour weeks. In this Friday recap I pull out what stuck with me from my conversation with Jordan. The top job carries the most responsibility and the least direct control, so you have to lead through agency rather than authority. When Addie Health's med spa and dermatology plan ran into reality, he pivoted to compounding pharmacies and telemedicine and built a network from zero through conferences, LinkedIn, and introductions. And two things keep him sharp: protecting his sleep so he does not overreact or underreact, and focus over motivation or hustle. That maps straight onto the Prime Performance process. Clarity is a one product brand that knows exactly the two things it works on every day. Energy and resilience is sleep protected as a performance tool, not a health habit. I close with one question to sit with: what are you saying yes to that is quietly diluting everything else? Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:39 If you try to do everything, you will do nothing well 02:05 GLP-1 medications and Ozempic face 02:31 Building Addie Health with no roadmap 02:58 A hardcore turnaround at Obagi 03:27 The most responsibility, the least control 03:54 Pivoting to pharmacies and telemedicine 04:22 The hard part was the network 04:50 Building a channel from scratch 05:19 Narrowing your focus and saying no 05:49 Sleep as a performance tool 06:14 Focus, not motivation or hustle 06:43 Steve Jobs and saying no to almost everything 07:12 Prime Performance principle: Clarity 07:37 Energy and resilience 08:06 Where to find Addie Health 08:34 Built for people on GLP-1 medications 08:58 Where to find Jordan and a thank you 09:26 The question to sit with this week 09:55 The focused yes and the hard no 10:18 Follow the show Connect with Jordan Meyer: Addie Health: https://addiehealth.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanpmeyer/ Listen to the full conversation with Jordan Meyer in E233. Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

  3. Oct 27

    E233 - How to Stop Overthinking Decisions That Do Not Matter with Jordan Meyer

    Most of the decisions keeping you stuck do not matter nearly as much as you think. Jordan Meyer is the founder of Addie Health, an Austin based skincare brand built for the 30 million Americans on GLP-1 medications, and the former president of Obagi, where he led a hardcore turnaround through an SEC investigation, a near delisting, and 80 to 90 hour weeks. He walks Rob through what that pressure taught him about focus, and how he now sorts decisions so the small ones stop eating his time. The conversation covers why the top job comes with the most responsibility and the least direct control, the Ozempic face problem that inspired Addie Health, and why Jordan scrapped his med spa and dermatology plan to chase pharmacy and telemedicine instead. Rob and Jordan also get into building a network from scratch through conferences, why the best follow up is a text and a selfie, and three practical ways to get unstuck. Topics Covered: - What leading a public company turnaround felt like day to day, and why you have to work through the agency of others - Why saying no to almost everything is the only way to execute well on what matters - How GLP-1 medications age the skin and the gap in the market that became Addie Health - Moving from med spas to pharmacies and telemedicine, closer to the moment of prescription - Using conference stages, fast follow up, and introductions to build a network in a brand new space - When to automate follow up and when to keep it one to one - Segmenting decisions by how much capital and founder time they commit - Time blocking the work you avoid, changing your environment, and protecting your sleep Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:38 Welcome and Jordan's background 02:50 Inside a hardcore turnaround 03:48 The most responsibility, the least control 05:31 Narrow your focus and say no 07:01 What Addie Health is building 08:11 The Ozempic face problem 09:45 Pivoting from med spas to pharmacy and telemedicine 11:40 Why speed is a startup's advantage 13:08 Building a network from zero 14:37 Conferences, follow up, and introductions 15:08 Systems versus a personal touch 17:37 Quick break 18:16 Stagnation and the what ifs 19:25 Segmenting your decisions 21:01 Time blocking the work you avoid 21:56 Change your environment 23:43 Why sleep drives better decisions 24:51 Where Addie Health is focused now 26:37 Where to find Jordan 27:49 The through line of a career 29:57 Wrap up Connect with Jordan Meyer: Addie Health: https://addiehealth.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanpmeyer/ Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

  4. Oct 23

    E232 - Lessons from Jay Jacobson: Observation Before Action

    Picture a room nobody wants to be in: grieving siblings who have not spoken in years, and a funeral director who has about three minutes to earn their trust. That was Jay Jacobson's classroom for 45 years. Jay is the founder of Jacobson Professional Staffing and the guy behind Jay's Cookies, and he now teaches the skills he built in those rooms to the next generation of leaders. In this Friday recap I pull out what stuck with me from my conversation with Jay. Reading the room is a discipline you can train, not a talent you are born with. His real edge is observation before action: he walks in and starts seeing before he starts doing. That maps straight onto the Prime Performance process. Clarity means knowing what you are working with before you work on it. Influence comes from being tuned into the people in front of you, not from volume or authority. And his 49 pound health reset is the energy principle doing its work, because you cannot hold that kind of presence on fumes. I close with one thing to try this week: in one conversation, pause, observe, and then act. Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:39 A room nobody wants to be in 02:07 Jay's 45 year classroom 02:35 Two very different worlds 03:03 Lessons from a nine year old paper boy 03:26 Four decades in funeral service and United Flight 232 03:47 Testifying before the Senate and turning it into a curriculum 04:17 The emotional weight of funeral service 04:38 Helping young professionals build balance early 05:04 When a hobby takes off fast 05:25 A 49 pound personal reset 05:47 Reading the room is a trainable skill 06:14 Observation before action 06:39 Prime Performance principle: Clarity 07:07 Prime Performance principle: Influence 07:28 Energy and how the principles feed each other 07:58 Jay's coaching and his book 08:22 Where to find Jay 08:32 Thank you, Jay 08:53 One thing to try this week 09:14 Follow the show Connect with Jay Jacobson: Jacobson Professional Staffing: https://jacobsonprostaff.com Jay's Cookies: https://jayscookies.net Listen to the full conversation with Jay Jacobson in E231. Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

  5. Oct 20

    E231 - What 45 Years in Funeral Service Taught Him About Earning Trust with Jay Jacobson

    You have about three minutes to earn someone's trust, and in funeral service that is all you ever get. Jay Jacobson spent 45 years in funeral service, founded Jacobson Professional Staffing, runs the gourmet cookie company Jay's Cookies, and wrote Lead by Legendary Example. He walks Rob through what a lifetime of sitting with families on their hardest days taught him about leadership, trust, and playing the long game. The conversation covers what Jay learned about people as a nine year old paper boy, why young professionals are losing the ability to read a room, and how a simple thank you tray for funeral homes grew into a cookie business shipping all over the country. Rob and Jay also get into how both businesses survived COVID, the 2 AM idea that rebuilt community for remote teams, and the 10 session team course built into the back of his book. Topics Covered: - Why the paper route taught Jay that people needed a visitor more than a newspaper - How phones are replacing the years when we learn to read body language and tone - The three minutes you get to build trust, and why open ended questions come first - Rewarding employees for a satisfied customer instead of only a closed sale - Thinking in generations instead of quarters, the long game of funeral service - Sending thank you gifts on St. Patrick's Day instead of getting lost at Christmas - Delivering cookies to remote employees on the same day to recreate community during COVID - Being brutally honest but kind, and the 10 session leadership course in Lead by Legendary Example Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:39 Welcome and Jay's background 03:37 Leadership lessons from a nine year old paper boy 05:11 Why we are losing the ability to be present 07:13 The three minutes you have to earn trust 09:46 Paying people for the values you say you have 10:52 The generational long game of funeral service 12:15 How a thank you tray became Jay's Cookies 14:50 Send your gifts when nobody else does 16:25 Why tangible thank yous beat AI generated messages 17:16 Keeping two businesses standing through COVID 18:32 Recreating community with same day cookie deliveries 20:02 How COVID changed funerals for good 22:00 Quick break 22:37 Where the ideas come from: solving problems at 2 AM 25:37 Faith, family, and work balance in a high stress profession 26:42 The story behind Lead by Legendary Example 28:24 Brutally honest, done kindly 31:33 The 10 session team course inside the book 32:42 Where to find Jay 34:28 The one thing the next generation needs to learn Connect with Jay Jacobson: Jacobson Professional Staffing: https://jacobsonprostaff.com Jay's Cookies: https://jayscookies.net Lead by Legendary Example is on Amazon and Apple Books, in print and audio. Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

  6. Oct 16

    E230 - Lessons from Anthony Guastella: Choose Victor Over Victim

    "You have two choices when life knocks you flat. You can be a victim of your circumstances or you can be a victor." Anthony Guastella lived that choice for six years with Lyme disease, through joint pain, thyroid issues, and doctors telling him this was just his life now. He said no, went hunting for answers, and made himself a promise: when he got to the other side, he would do the same for other people. Today he is a health coach, podcaster, speaker, and writer behind Anthony Guastella Wellness. If you have ever felt stuck in your body, stuck in your head, or just stuck, this one is for you. In this Friday recap I pull out what stuck with me most. Podcasts as the tool that taught him when nothing else could. The internal blocks that do not disappear even after you come through something hard, and the frustration of knowing exactly what you want but not getting there as fast as you want to. Why most people quit their podcast watching the numbers instead of holding on to the mission. His belief that your inner world creates your outer world. And his answer to people who confuse short term pleasure with fulfillment: fun is winning. I map it all to the Prime Performance process, especially resilience, intentionality, and why you have to get eyes on where your energy is draining before you can redirect it. Then I close on the one question I want you to sit with next time something goes sideways. Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:38 Two choices when life knocks you flat 02:02 Victim or victor 02:06 Meet Anthony Guastella 02:36 Six years with Lyme disease 02:57 Choosing the path of empowerment 03:21 A promise kept 03:41 The internal blocks do not just disappear 04:06 Consistency and holding on to the mission 04:35 Your inner world creates your outer world 05:01 Fun is winning 05:27 The mission is the reward 05:40 Resilience and intentionality 06:05 Energy is a currency 06:25 Get eyes on the drain 06:52 The work is always on the person first 07:08 Who Anthony is for 07:37 Thank you, Anthony 08:02 Am I being a victim or a victor? Connect with Anthony Guastella: Website: https://anthonyguastella.com Podcast: Anthony Guastella Wellness, on your favorite podcast app Listen to the full conversation with Anthony Guastella in E229. Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

  7. Oct 13

    E229 - Why You Have to Overcome Yourself, Not Your Circumstances with Anthony Guastella

    Six years of Lyme disease, joint pain, thyroid issues and fibromyalgia left Anthony Guastella with two choices: be a victim or be a victor. He chose victor, and the number one tool he used to find answers was podcasting. Today Anthony is the founder of Anthony Guastella Wellness, a certified health coach, speaker, podcaster and the writer of more than 350 articles, and he walks Rob through how taking 100 percent responsibility turned his pain into his purpose. The conversation covers why your mission has to be bigger than your current circumstances, why consistency beats intensity, and why your inner world creates your outer world. Rob and Anthony also get into what inner work actually looks like day to day, Rob's story about playing rugby as "future Rob" instead of "college Rob," and why agency is the first thing Anthony wants every client to walk away with. Topics Covered: - Why it may not be your fault, but it is your responsibility - Holding a long term mission over immediate gratification when nothing seems to be working - How podcasting became Anthony's education and, later, his platform - Doing one set instead of three and still giving yourself credit for showing up - Consistency over intensity: keep the commitment, let the process adapt - Giving yourself space to think and asking empowering questions instead of disempowering ones - Overcoming yourself inside your circumstances, not the circumstances themselves - Why disease does not happen overnight, and neither does health Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:38 Meet Anthony Guastella 02:53 Victim or victor: choosing 100 percent responsibility 04:45 Long term mission over immediate gratification 06:10 How podcasting became his education 07:09 Not your fault, but your responsibility 08:38 Turning pain into purpose 10:35 Reaching the masses and what coaching really is 12:00 Where consistency broke down 14:23 One set instead of three still counts 15:06 Consistency over intensity 16:49 Your inner world creates your outer world 18:09 What inner work looks like right now 20:32 Building capacity and a resilient nervous system 20:56 Quick break 21:33 Rob's rugby story: playing as future you 23:57 Put your energy where you have control 24:25 What clients walk away with 27:44 Disease does not happen overnight, and neither does health 29:08 350 articles and starting before you are ready 30:59 Where to find Anthony Connect with Anthony Guastella: Website: https://anthonyguastella.com Podcast: Anthony Guastella Wellness, on your favorite podcast app Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

  8. Oct 9

    E228 - Lessons from Shakti Sharma: The Belief Has to Catch Up With the Business

    "I hold a lot of trauma in my throat." That is how Shakti Sharma described her starting point: a shy kid who wanted to stay in the corner and not be seen. Today she is a serial entrepreneur, a manifestation coach, and the founder of the Feminine Wealth Movement, where she helps women entrepreneurs, coaches, healers, and service providers turn a passion into a 100K offer sold directly to organizations. If you are sitting on a skill or a gift and telling yourself nobody will pay real money for it, this one is for you. In this Friday recap I pull out what stuck with me most. The four years she built on the side while holding a full time job. The yoga studio launch where nobody came on Saturday, and the one person on Sunday who felt like gold. The outreach and marketing that used to freeze her completely, and why she had to heal herself while running a healing business. And her secret, inner state alignment paired with the outer structure of her Feminine Wealth Launch Framework. I map it all to the Prime Performance process, especially resilience, clarity, and opportunity, and why opportunity tends to show up right after clarity does. Then I close on the one idea I want you to sit with: the belief has to catch up with the business. Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Show intro 01:38 I hold a lot of trauma in my throat 02:02 Meet Shakti Sharma and the 100K offer 02:30 Welcome to the Friday recap 02:58 Four years building on the side 03:26 One person on Sunday felt like gold 03:53 Ten thousand dollar months and a second business 04:23 The outreach that used to freeze her 04:52 Healing yourself while running a business 05:20 Inner state alignment 05:47 The Feminine Wealth Launch Framework 06:15 Freedom and a juicier life 06:41 Resilience, clarity, and opportunity 07:09 Clarity is the foundation 07:37 Opportunity shows up after clarity 08:04 Who Shakti is for 08:30 Thank you, Shakti 08:57 The belief has to catch up with the business Connect with Shakti Sharma: Feminine Wealth Movement: https://femininewealthmovement.com Listen to the full conversation with Shakti Sharma in E227. Follow Surviving the Side Hustle at https://survivingthesidehustle.com for every episode.

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4.8
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About

Welcome to "Surviving the Side Hustle," the ultimate podcast for balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with maintaining mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Hosted by Coach Rob Tracz, an expert in helping driven professionals achieve 'personal development for professional success,' this show is more than just storytelling—it's a masterclass in thriving amidst the entrepreneurial grind. Each episode features candid conversations with leaders who are rewriting the rules of entrepreneurship, sharing their unique stories, the creative solutions they're offering, and the everyday challenges they’re overcoming. Whether you’re a side hustler looking for your big break or an established entrepreneur seeking fresh perspectives, "Surviving the Side Hustle" provides valuable insights that resonate with the movers, the shakers, and everyone in between. Feeling burnt out and sidelining your own health? This podcast empowers you to overcome stagnation, build resilience, and optimize your life and business. We dive deep into your goals, identify obstacles, and share strategies to boost your energy, improve your strength, and keep the entrepreneurial grind enjoyable. Join us for inspiring stories, expert insights, and practical advice to help you look good, feel good, and do great things at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey. Let’s not just survive the side hustle—let's master it.

Information

  • Creator
    Rob Tracz
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    236
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rob Tracz
  • Show Website
    Surviving the Side Hustle