Dragon's Gold: The Magic of Mindset

Justin Mills

Uncover the magic of mindset and the secrets of success on Dragon’s Gold: The Magic of Mindset. Join host Justin Mills as he takes you on an epic adventure through the stories of high achievers, big dreamers, and champions of personal growth. Each episode dives into the challenges, breakthroughs, and insights that shaped their journeys, revealing the strategies, habits, and mindsets that helped them "win the game" in life and investing. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, practical advice, or a spark to pursue your dreams, this is the show where wealth becomes the tool, and joy is the ultimate treasure. 

  1. Ever Forward: Michael Rebelo on Escaping the Traditional Employee Playbook

    12/31/2025

    Ever Forward: Michael Rebelo on Escaping the Traditional Employee Playbook

    At 17 years old, Michael Rebelo’s mom sat him down for a talk he thought was "the end of the line"—but instead of a reprimand, she handed him a lesson in financial illiteracy that would spark a 216-unit real estate empire by age 20. In this episode, Michael shares how he stopped trying to master every skill and started mastering the "fellowship" of his network to accelerate his growth. This is a masterclass in the "Ever Forward" mindset—a commitment to never looking back and always building yourself better and bigger than you were yesterday. Key Takeaways: • The Power of a "Why": How the mission to retire his mother turned Michael’s "darkest hour" into a massive comeback. • The Starfish Strategy: Why making a difference for a single investor is the ultimate win-win-win. • Leveraging the Griffin: Why protective, disciplined leadership is the secret to guarding your values and your legacy. • Escaping the Playbook: How to stop being a "highly paid cog" and start building an economic engine that works for you.  Tools & Weapons Mentioned • The Fellowship Army: Leveraging a high-level network to find the right answers instantly. • The Internet Database: Using modern tools (ChatGPT, Google, etc.) to self-teach like a modern-day Lincoln. • The Starfish Mindset: A guiding story for choosing impact over ego in business. • Sem-paf-franc (Ever Forward): The Portuguese philosophy of relentless forward momentum.  Send us a text About Gold Dragon Investments: At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome. Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth. Join Us on the Adventure: Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com Schedule a Call

    36 min
  2. The Unicorn Within: Lana Schulenburg’s Journey of Grit and Grace

    12/23/2025

    The Unicorn Within: Lana Schulenburg’s Journey of Grit and Grace

    What happens when you lose your ability to walk just as your career is taking off? In this episode, Lana Schulenberg takes us inside the high-stakes world of competitive equestrian show jumping and the surprising "magic" of pageantry.  Lana shares her "darkest hour" story—a bad riding accident that left her stagnant and questioning her Olympic dreams—and the mindset shift that allowed her to turn an injury into a resource for growth.  We explore how she manages an elite schedule, riding 50+ times a week, while building a mentorship platform for the next generation. Key Takeaways: • The "Make It Happen" Plaque: Why your hunger for a goal dictates its reality. • The Discipline of the Arena: How riding 50+ times a week builds Olympic-level resilience. • The Fellowship of Mentors: The role of family and elite coaches in navigating burnout. • The Unicorn Mindset: Embracing the "magic" within to stay majestic yet humble under pressure.  Tools & Weapons: • Elite Discipline: A training routine involving riding 50+ times a week to match Olympic standards. • Youth Mentorship: Leveraging the guidance of mentors like Alicia Burton to organize thoughts and prepare for high-level competition. • Nature and Paddock Time: Using the "back paddock" as a grounded resource to rethink thoughts and solve problems when the world feels overwhelming.  Send us a text About Gold Dragon Investments: At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome. Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth. Join Us on the Adventure: Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com Schedule a Call

    33 min
  3. The "You First" Method: Angie Mays on Curing Depression and Self-Doubt

    12/16/2025

    The "You First" Method: Angie Mays on Curing Depression and Self-Doubt

    For 25 years, Angie Mays lived in the cycle of severe depression, relying on increased medication, and sacrificing herself to constant burnout and narcissistic relationships.  She learned the hard way that the only path to true self-mastery wasn't a pill—it was mastering her mindset and learning to put herself first. In this incredibly human and values-driven conversation, Angie walks us through her darkest hour, detailing the physical and emotional exhaustion caused by overworking and suppressing her feelings with alcohol.  She explains the profound realization that her thoughts were creating her reality (CBT), the shift from reacting to responding, and why practicing mindset is like going to the gym—requiring constant, inner work.  This raw episode is dedicated to anyone tired of the endless grind who is ready to cancel the negative thoughts, find their inner strength, and build a life of alignment and joy. Key Takeaways (What You'll Hear): • How reaching the highest dose of medication forced Angie to look for a non-chemical cure for her depression. • The psychological tools (CBT) she used to break the cycle of negative thoughts, feelings, and actions. • Why constantly saying "yes" to 12-hour shifts and forgiving abusive partners showed a complete lack of self-worth. • The life-changing mindset shift from reacting to responding, which helps her handle stress without reverting to shouting or tantrums. • Why putting your children first can still lead to exhaustion and burnout if you don't first put on your own "oxygen mask". • The importance of treating mindset like exercise in the gym—requiring constant, small efforts to keep your mind fit. • Why her life changed completely once she committed to her "You First" method, even attracting a partner who mirrors that self-respect. Tools & Weapons: • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): The foundational framework for understanding how thoughts lead to feelings, which dictate actions. • The Mindset Muscle: The analogy that working on your inner mindset is like going to the gym—it requires constant, repetitive inner work, even when you don't see immediate results. • Respond vs. React: Learning to pause and evaluate a situation instead of shouting or having a tantrum when a problem arises. • Gratitude & Positive Energy: Recognizing that where energy goes, energy flows, and choosing positivity eliminates the "heavy" feeling that negativity creates. • Find Your Phoenix: The idea of recognizing your own power to be reborn and empowered through self-mastery. Send us a text About Gold Dragon Investments: At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome. Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth. Join Us on the Adventure: Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com Schedule a Call

    45 min
  4. A Medevac Pilot’s Code: Jon King on The 4 F’s of Freedom

    12/10/2025

    A Medevac Pilot’s Code: Jon King on The 4 F’s of Freedom

    Jon King spent years flying Blackhawks into hostile territory to save lives, but his hardest battle didn’t happen in a cockpit—it happened in his own home. From the adrenaline of 300 combat missions to the quiet struggle of "The 22," Jon’s journey is a testament to the power of showing up, even when you want to quit,. In this episode of Dragon’s Gold, Justin sits down with Jon to discuss his transition from military service to entrepreneurship. Jon shares the profound leadership lesson he learned from being put in charge of a refrigerator, his unique "Table Analogy" that destroys the scarcity mindset, and the "4 Fs" framework he uses to filter out life’s noise. Takeaways: • The Fridge Philosophy: Why mastering the smallest, simplest tasks builds the trust required for the biggest missions. • The Table Analogy: A powerful mental model for understanding abundance and creating win-win scenarios in business and life. • The 4 F’s: If it doesn't affect your family, your future, or your finances, don't worry about it.  • The Phoenix Mindset: How to burn down the old versions of yourself to rise stronger from the ashes. Tools & Weapons: • Poem: "If—" by Rudyard Kipling (Keeping your head when all about you are losing theirs). • Tech Tools: ChatGPT, Co-Pilot, & OpenAI (Leveraging tech to buy back time for family). • Mantra: "The 4 Fs": Family, Future, Finances. If it doesn't fit, don't worry about it. • Mantra: "If we all do a little, it lightens the load for all". • Mantra: "Gone but not forgotten". Send us a text About Gold Dragon Investments: At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome. Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth. Join Us on the Adventure: Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com Schedule a Call

    1 hr
  5. The "60 For Me" Framework: Bill Hoopes on Strategic Selfishness and Avoiding Burnout

    12/03/2025

    The "60 For Me" Framework: Bill Hoopes on Strategic Selfishness and Avoiding Burnout

    Episode Summary: At 15 years of service, Bill Hoopes was just five years away from a guaranteed Navy pension. He was a Chief Petty Officer making $90k a year with a clear path to retirement. Then, he did the unthinkable: he handed in his papers and walked away with nothing but his freedom. In this episode of Dragon’s Gold, Bill joins Justin Mills to discuss the high cost of "golden handcuffs" and the resilience required to rebuild from scratch. From failing his Chief Petty Officer exam six times before finally passing, to navigating bankruptcy and a $50k pay cut as a teacher, Bill’s story is a masterclass in grit. He reveals why "sticking your toe in" is the most dangerous way to take a risk and shares his "60 for Me" framework—a strategic approach to self-care that prevents you from "moving positive in the wrong direction." Key Takeaways: • The 7th Try: Why failure is just data until you decide to quit. • Burning the Boats: How to make high-stakes decisions when comfort is the enemy. • The "60 for Me" Rule: Why taking one hour a day for yourself is the ultimate productivity hack. • Breaking Generational Curses: Transforming trauma into a drive for greatness. What You'll Learn: • How to build resilience when you fail (again and again). • The real cost of comfort and "golden handcuffs." • How to reclaim 60 minutes a day to change your life. Tools & Weapons: • The Bible (Corinthians 9.24): Run the race in a way to win. • Social Media Time Capsules: Using posts to hold your future self accountable. • The OODA Loop: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. • Leading Her Game: Bill’s book on raising high-performing female athletes. Send us a text About Gold Dragon Investments: At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome. Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth. Join Us on the Adventure: Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com Schedule a Call

    1h 7m
  6. Control What You Can: Frank Bernstein on Humility, Faith, and the Strategy of True Freedom

    11/26/2025

    Control What You Can: Frank Bernstein on Humility, Faith, and the Strategy of True Freedom

    How does a top patent attorney, trained in high-stakes litigation, manage to build a career of excellence while making profound choices to prioritize family and faith? Frank Bernstein joins Justin Mills to share his incredible journey—from surviving the academic pressure cooker of Caltech at age 16 to achieving partnership in a top firm in just five years. This episode is a masterclass in perseverance, humility, and the critical wisdom of knowing what you can (and cannot) control.  Frank explains how a demanding job led him to deliberately restructure his life to better support his family and how his deepest mentors helped him develop the moral compass necessary to win both in the courtroom and in life. Key Takeaways: • The Power of Humility: Why recognizing your limitations is crucial for long-term success, especially among elite professionals. • The Litigator’s Lesson: The pivotal advice Frank received: to "recognize what you can control, and what you can't control, and act accordingly". • Choosing Family: How Frank made a significant career move to California to ensure he was not "useless" to his wife on the weekends. • The Golden Rule: Why Frank believes the Golden Rule applies in 100% of life situations, serving as a powerful guide to finding common ground. • The Next Quest: His inspiring plan to attend seminary once his professional career concludes. What you will learn: • How Frank managed the imposter syndrome of being ranked low among elite performers by embracing humility. • The life-changing move to California designed specifically to reclaim time with his family. • The power of introspection and following a moral compass, which Frank believes are essential for a grounded life. • Why finding common ground is the best strategy in both personal and professional conflicts. • The advice from a mentor that taught him the strategic advantage of discerning what is controllable versus uncontrollable. Tools & Weapons: • Wife & Family Support: Having a spouse who keeps you balanced and "has your back" is cited as the biggest weapon. • Introspection: The ability to look inside and know yourself, which helps keep you grounded and understand others. • Mindset of Control: The strategy to "recognize what you can control and what you can't control and act accordingly". • The Bible & Golden Rule: Used as a moral compass and source of ethics; specifically, Jeremiah 29:11 ("I know the plans I have for you...") and Matthew 7:12 (the Golden Rule, which applies in 100% of situations) Send us a text About Gold Dragon Investments: At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome. Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth. Join Us on the Adventure: Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com Schedule a Call

    38 min
  7. 11/19/2025

    Firm, But Fair: David You on How Accountability Creates Transformation

    David You spent three decades as a Sheriff's Deputy navigating high-stakes environments where he quickly learned that respect must be earned, not demanded. He discovered that the most powerful strategy in law enforcement, leadership, and life is consistently adhering to one core philosophy: being firm but fair. In this insightful conversation, David shares how this steadfast philosophy became the bedrock of his greatest professional achievement: running a Drug Treatment Court program that achieved a remarkable 95–98% success rate.  He reveals the mindset that allowed him to lead and create real, lasting impact, emphasizing that true "Dragon's Gold" comes not from chasing accolades, but from simply enjoying the journey and dedicating yourself to doing your job well. Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode: • Why law enforcement is fundamentally about problem solving and helping people that need help. • The profound impact of the Drug Treatment Court program, which required participants to commit to tangible life-altering changes. • David's personal philosophy on mastery: focusing on enjoying the work itself rather than seeking awards or compliments. • The critical need for research and verification (trust and verify) in the age of information, ensuring decisions are educated and based on confirmed facts. • A vital piece of communication wisdom: stepping away from emails and texts to talk in person or on the phone to avoid misinterpreting tone and emotion. Key Takeaways: • The "Firm But Fair" Philosophy: The bedrock of effective leadership is consistently adhering to the philosophy of being firm but fair with everybody. • The Dragon's Gold Mindset: True professional rewards do not come from chasing awards or accomplishments. • Problem-Solving as Service: David viewed his three decades in law enforcement primarily as a mission of "problem solving" and "helping people that need help". • Impact Through Structure: David’s work with the Drug Treatment Court program demonstrated the powerful impact of a structured program. • Learning from Others: Strategic growth comes from taking advice and experience from multiple mentors, combining "a little bit of everybody's experience, bring it together, and then create your own" strategy. Tools & Weapons: • The Research Habit (Trust and Verify): Due to the overwhelming amount of information and misinformation online (fake news), it is critical to "confirm everything". • The Communication Rule (Get Off the Email): To ensure a deeper and richer experience and avoid misinterpreting tone or emotion. • The Integrity Shield: When asked a question you don't know the answer to, "don't make stuff up", commit to finding the correct information. • The "Firm But Fair" Framework: This core strategy helps build respect and allows you to guide yourself through difficult interactions. Send us a text About Gold Dragon Investments: At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome. Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth. Join Us on the Adventure: Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com Schedule a Call

    28 min
  8. Make It Exist, Then Make It Good: Graham McNeill on Writing, Mastery, and The Expected Path

    11/12/2025

    Make It Exist, Then Make It Good: Graham McNeill on Writing, Mastery, and The Expected Path

    How do you trade a stable career designing buildings for the high-stakes world of fantasy writing? Graham McNeill, the legendary author of Warhammer 40,000 novels, shares his origin story—which began not with a grand life strategy, but a pivotal choice in a bookstore after encountering The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. Graham opens up about overcoming the generational belief that a creative career was unattainable and why he had to leave the "expected path" of architecture behind. He shares the invaluable lessons learned from his fellowship of mentors, including the secret to succeeding as a freelancer (reliability and communication), and the practical tools he uses to maintain focus and avoid burnout. This episode is packed with strategic insights for anyone looking to make a massive creative or career leap and seeking long-term mastery. Here’s what you’ll learn in this adventure: • Why realizing his architecture career meant "designing toilets" forced him to change everything. • The profound advice: "Make it exist, then you can make it good," and the discipline required to finish projects. • How to build the "muscles" of resilience needed to accept constructive criticism as a gift, not a personal attack. • Why mastering self-discipline and routine as a freelancer is essential to avoid returning to the 9-to-5 grind. • The hidden, powerful asset that ensures you always get hired again: being the guy people want to work with. • Graham’s true "Dragon's Gold" that keeps him writing, which has nothing to do with awards or bestsellers. Tools & Weapons: • Notepads & Moleskins: Essential for capturing ideas; the physical act of writing aids the "embedding process" of creation. • Office Routine: Treating the freelance day like an office schedule (8:30 AM to 5:30 PM) to cultivate discipline. • Timetabling Joy: Scheduling time for non-work passions (like painting miniatures or reading a book) to avoid guilt and recharge creativity. • Discipline of Finishing: The crucial mindset shift to "Make it exist, then you can make it good" to overcome stagnation. • Transparency/Communication: Being reliable and communicating clearly if a deadline is at risk to maintain strong relationships as a freelancer. • Growth Mindset: The resilience required to accept criticism as a gift to improve your skill set immeasurably. Send us a text About Gold Dragon Investments: At Gold Dragon Investments, our mission is to bring joy to others by helping them win the game of investing. Helping every client become the hero of their financial journey. We believe that wealth is a tool, but joy is the ultimate outcome. Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to empower our investors to create freedom, and build lasting legacies of purpose, fulfillment, and wealth. Join Us on the Adventure: Website: https://golddragoninvestments.com Schedule a Call

    54 min
5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Uncover the magic of mindset and the secrets of success on Dragon’s Gold: The Magic of Mindset. Join host Justin Mills as he takes you on an epic adventure through the stories of high achievers, big dreamers, and champions of personal growth. Each episode dives into the challenges, breakthroughs, and insights that shaped their journeys, revealing the strategies, habits, and mindsets that helped them "win the game" in life and investing. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, practical advice, or a spark to pursue your dreams, this is the show where wealth becomes the tool, and joy is the ultimate treasure.