Confessions of a Millionaire

Paul Lajoie

 Confessions of a Millionaire reveals the real stories, hard lessons, and smart decisions behind building wealth through buying and owning businesses. Hosted by Paul Lajoie, the show offers an honest look at what actually works -and what can quietly cost you everything. 

Episodes

  1. JAN 27

    From Bankruptcy to Breakout: How Ken Wimberly Built a Franchise Empire by Learning the Hard Way

    In this episode of Confessions of a Millionaire, Paul sits down with Ken Wimberly for an unfiltered conversation about the realities of entrepreneurship, the cost of early mistakes, and what it truly takes to build scalable, sustainable businesses over time. Ken shares his journey from earning a finance degree at TCU and serving in the Navy to launching his first entrepreneurial venture in the pizza business, a venture that ended in bankruptcy just 18 months later due to a critical commercial real estate mistake. Rather than ending his career, that failure became the foundation for everything that followed. The conversation dives deep into: How a single real estate decision can determine the success or failure of a business  Why mentorship, proven systems, and the right advisors are non-negotiable  The dangers of ego and trying to “figure it out alone” as an entrepreneur  Why leadership and execution matter more than ideas  How following proven franchise and operating models accelerates growth  What makes laundromats a recession-resistant, cash-flow business when done correctly Ken walks through his transition into commercial real estate brokerage, surviving the 2008 financial crisis, and eventually becoming a Keller Williams franchise owner, where he scaled multiple offices by implementing proven systems and hiring the right leadership. He then shares how those experiences led him into the laundromat industry, launching Laundry Love just months before COVID, and turning early challenges into long-term competitive advantages. Now focused on scaling Laundry Love through franchising, Ken explains why he chose a franchise model, how his team eliminates costly “unforced errors” for new operators, and why community impact and operational excellence are core to their success. This episode is a candid, experience-driven look at failure, resilience, and building businesses the right way - ideal for entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone considering business ownership who wants real lessons without hype or shortcuts.

    27 min
  2. 12/30/2025

    From the Deli Counter to the Deal Table: Lessons from 34 Years in Business

    In this episode of Confessions of a Millionaire, Paul sits down with RJ Galdorisi for an unfiltered conversation about what it truly takes to build, scale, and exit a business over the long haul. RJ shares his journey from the high-pressure world of Wall Street in the late 1980s to owning and scaling a demanding food service operation for more than three decades. Along the way, he breaks down the real lessons most entrepreneurs only learn the hard way—managing cash flow, surviving rapid growth, understanding working capital, and why “profitable on paper” doesn’t always mean solvent in reality. The conversation dives deep into: How creative deal structuring and seller relationships can make or break a businessWhy cash flow—not profit—is the lifeblood of every operationThe hidden dangers of scaling too fast without the right systems and peopleHow consultants and masterminds dramatically shorten the learning curveWhy knowing your numbers daily (not quarterly) separates winners from strugglersRJ also explains his transition from long-time operator to business broker and advisor, sharing what he looks for in businesses today—and why he’s far more selective than he was earlier in his career. He offers candid advice on industries to approach cautiously, where real opportunity exists, and why business ownership isn’t for everyone. This episode is a masterclass in practical entrepreneurship, ideal for business buyers, operators, and anyone considering the leap into ownership who wants a realistic, experience-backed perspective—without the hype.

    34 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

 Confessions of a Millionaire reveals the real stories, hard lessons, and smart decisions behind building wealth through buying and owning businesses. Hosted by Paul Lajoie, the show offers an honest look at what actually works -and what can quietly cost you everything.