Freedom Nation Podcast Jeff Kikel

In this episode of the Freedom Nation podcast, host Jeff Kikel talks with Ingo Schulmeyer about his inspiring journey from a high-level position in the semiconductor industry to finding personal and professional fulfillment through a drastic lifestyle change. Ingo shares how he and his family left their conventional lives behind to embrace new opportunities in Mexico, transitioning into a successful coaching career that helps others achieve their true potential.
Key Takeaways:
• Life Beyond the Paycheck: Ingo discusses the realization that his successful career and the conventional markers of success weren't fulfilling his deeper life aspirations. This led to his decision to leave behind the security of a steady paycheck for a more uncertain but potentially rewarding path.
• The Decision to Move: Ingo and his family made a bold move to Mexico, selling all their belongings. This segment of the podcast delves into the logistics and emotional impact of making such a life-altering decision.
• Adapting to New Realities: After initially traveling around Mexico, Ingo's family decided to settle in a city that felt right for them. He shares insights into the challenges and joys of adapting to a new culture, including the children's experience in local schools.
• Career Transition to Coaching: Ingo discusses how he transitioned from his career in semiconductors to starting his own coaching business, focusing on transformational coaching to help others live the lives they truly deserve.
• Mindset and Personal Growth: A significant part of the discussion focuses on the importance of mindset in achieving freedom. Ingo emphasizes the role of overcoming limiting beliefs and societal conventions to find personal happiness and fulfillment.
About the Guest:
Ingo Schulmeyer is a transformational health and life coach with a compelling journey from corporate life to personal fulfillment. Formerly a director in the semiconductor industry, Ingo left his high-stakes career to seek inner peace and a healthier, more balanced life. This quest led him to relocate with his family to Mexico, where he now helps others achieve similar transformations through his coaching program. Ingo is passionate about helping individuals make fundamental changes for a healthier, happier, and more energetic life. Additionally, Ingo is an accomplished athlete, having completed six Ironman competitions, including the prestigious World Championships in Hawaii. His adventures and experiences enrich his coaching, making him a unique and inspiring figure for many seeking significant life changes.
Links:
https://thesmallreset.org/
linkedin.com/in/ingoschulmeyer
Fast Five Questions:
1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? "I would start the same journey I did before, using my creativity and flexibility to come up with new ideas. I believe it's important to stay flexible and adaptable, focusing on the skills and knowledge I've accumulated over the years."
2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? "My biggest business mistake was investing in 'shit coins' or cryptocurrencies without fully understanding the crypto market. I followed random videos and recommendations, which led to losing money."
3. What is a book that you would recommend? "'Narcissus and Goldmund' by Hermann Hesse”
4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? "I use journaling...

In this episode of Freedom Nation, host Jeff Kikel sits down with Marcos Jacober, an expert in tax deed investments and the author of "The Deed Hunter." From starting with only $100 to becoming a real estate mogul, Marcos shares his journey and reveals how tax deeds can be a path to financial freedom and real estate success.
Key Takeaways:
• Tax Deeds Explained: Learn what tax deeds are and how they offer a unique opportunity to invest in real estate at significantly lower costs.
• Marcos Jacober’s Journey: From moving to the U.S. with just $100 to becoming a real estate mogul through tax deed investments.
• The Power of Persistence: Marcos shares his initial setbacks and how perseverance turned his fortunes around, leading to the purchase and sale of over 4,500 properties.
• Strategies for Success: Insights into Marcos’s investment strategies that have allowed him to maximize returns and minimize risks in the tax deed space.
• Financial Freedom Through Real Estate: How real estate investing, particularly through tax deeds and liens, can be a path to financial independence.
• Educational Resources: Marcos discusses the importance of education in real estate investing and offers resources for listeners to get started.
About the Guest:
Brazilian immigrant Marcos Jacober, also known as The Deed Hunter, is an investor, author, international speaker, and professor. He moved to the United States in 1998 with just a dream and $100 in his pocket, and worked various jobs before saving enough money to invest in real estate… but he lost everything in the 2008 financial crisis. After learning about taxes and deeds, he was able to close hundreds of real estate deals. Today, he is an authority in the real estate industry with over 3,000 transactions in his portfolio. A proud father of two, Jacober has helped thousands of people from different countries start their real estate investment career here in the USA.
Links:
https://thedeedhunterworld.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thedeedhunterworld/

Fast Five Questions
1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “Go to the tax office of the closest county, pull up the list of over-the-counter properties, buy a property for $500, and immediately start the process to sell it for a profit"
2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “biggest business mistake was not focusing on scaling and believing that nobody could do as well as he did. He emphasizes the importance of empowering others and letting them learn through mistakes to truly create a passive income business.”
3. What is a book that you would recommend? "Think and Grow Rich and The Secrets of Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker ”
4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? "Virtual Assistants"
5. What is your definition of freedom? “Is about having the liberty to do what you want, with whom you want, whenever you want. Marcos stresses that achieving financial freedom is more accessible than most people think, and it often just requires smart, strategic actions.”

About Jeff:
Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned...

In this inspiring episode of the Freedom Nation podcast, host Jeff Kikel sits down with Barbara Spector, a management consultant with over two decades of experience transforming sales teams and businesses.
From her beginnings as an artist to becoming a beacon of hope for businesses struggling with sales and leadership, Barbara shares her remarkable journey and the lessons learned along the way. Dive into Barbara's story of resilience, innovation, and success, and discover actionable insights to empower your own business and personal growth.
Key Takeaways:
• Transition from Artist to Management Consultant: Barbara’s journey began in the realm of art, taking a pivotal turn after a personal crisis. Her story is a testament to the power of self-reinvention and finding one's purpose through adversity.
• The Importance of Asking the Right Questions: Barbara emphasizes the critical role of asking meaningful, insightful questions in both personal development and business success. This approach has been key in her ability to help businesses uncover underlying issues and drive substantial improvements in their sales processes.
• Overcoming Workplace Challenges: Barbara’s experiences with abusive leadership and unfulfilling corporate roles highlight the importance of emotional intelligence and respectful workplace cultures. Her transition to entrepreneurship was fueled by a desire for autonomy and the ability to enact meaningful change.
• Empowering Sales Teams: With her unique "Sales MRI," Barbara assists sales teams in identifying their strengths and weaknesses, leading to significant improvements in performance. Her work showcases the necessity of digging deep to understand and solve core issues rather than applying superficial fixes.
• The Value of Curiosity and Continuous Learning: Throughout her career, Barbara has maintained a commitment to growth and learning. Her ability to think critically and remain open to new ideas has been crucial in her success and in the value she provides to her clients.
About the Guest:
Barbara Spector has never known a life outside of sales. Her career began with selling products, services, and intangibles, navigating through the myriad challenges that obstruct success. As a highly effective salesperson, Barbara dedicated herself early on to mastering her craft, learning the intricacies of excellence in sales. Her journey saw her ascending through the ranks, from a sales manager to a Vice President of Sales at several firms, and eventually leading to her owning a company dedicated to revolutionizing sales organizations, irrespective of economic fluctuations.
Over a span of 26 years, Barbara has closely worked with thousands of companies across a wide range of sizes and sectors, uncovering a universal truth: business transition and change are both challenging and unavoidable.
She has watched numerous CEOs and Sales Leaders grapple with the frustration of trying to kickstart stagnant sales. Despite their best efforts, their strategies often failed to address the core issues, leading to unsatisfactory outcomes. Barbara knows all too well that without the ability to measure problems accurately, finding a solution is nearly impossible.
These leaders faced numerous issues, including high turnover rates, inflated sales pipelines, low win rates, and a general lack of motivation among sales teams and leadership.
Thanks to Barbara's proven process, these companies have managed to escape the cycle of guesswork and disappointment. They have transitioned from mediocre performance to remarkable growth in revenue, setting a new standard for success.
Fast Five Questions
1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do...

In this inspiring episode of Freedom Nation Podcast with Jeff Kikel, we sit down with Shara Gabaldon, a former government employee who bravely left the security of her 9-to-5 job to embark on a journey into the beauty industry. Shara shares her incredible story of transformation, from her roots in business finance and mortgage to becoming a leading figure in the beauty space. Discover the challenges she faced, the successes she celebrated, and the lessons learned along the way.
Key Takeaways:
• The Spark of Change: Learn about the moment Shara decided to pivot from a secure government job to the uncertain yet rewarding world of entrepreneurship in the beauty industry.
• Overcoming Challenges: Shara discusses the hurdles she encountered while making her transition, including skepticism from peers and navigating a new industry with no prior experience.
• Strategies for Success: Gain insights into the strategies that propelled Shara's success, from identifying niche opportunities to leveraging her background in finance and business consulting.
• The Power of Education: Shara emphasizes the importance of education, mentorship, and continuous learning in her journey to becoming a beauty industry maven and a successful entrepreneur.
• to entrepreneurship, ensure you have a solid financial runway and safety net in place first.

About the Guest:
With an extensive 25-year background in the beauty industry, Shara brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every conversation, making her an invaluable guest for podcast hosts and their audiences alike. As a seasoned professional, she possesses deep insights and strategies for establishing successful beauty service businesses and enhancing the revenue of struggling salons.
Shara's participation offers practical tips and advice on effectively growing and scaling their beauty ventures. Learning from her experiences and implementing her proven strategies can propel businesses to new heights. As a Beauty Business Coach, Shara's unique perspective enriches discussions, providing a fresh and informed outlook on the industry.

Links:
https://luxebeautyandbodyco.com/
https://www.instagram.com/luxebeautyandbodyco/

Fast Five Questions:
1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “I would start with Google, researching ways to make money, especially something in the digital realm that could be developed once and sold repeatedly, like digital courses.”
2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “I can honestly say not starting sooner. There are so many things that I have done, whether it's starting the business sooner or making implementations or changes or updates, I have made some significant changes and updates. To my business in the last six to nine months, every change that I've made has enabled my business to grow that much more.”
3. What is a book that you would recommend? ”isn't much of a book reader, preferring online research and self-help content, I highly advocated for therapy and personal growth, stressing the importance of mental health and self-care.”
4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? "Louise Hay's meditations on YouTube"
5. What is your definition of freedom? ”Freedom revolves around the ability to prioritize health and well-being over work.”

About Jeff:
Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had

Join us in this enlightening episode of The Freedom Nation podcast as we sit down with Matthew Searsley, a seasoned attorney who pivoted to become a tax strategist amidst the economic downturn of 2020. Discover Matthew's journey from the courtroom to the realm of personal finance, where he now helps individuals and businesses navigate the complexities of tax planning to achieve financial freedom.
Key Takeaways:
• Pivoting Careers: Learn about Matthew's decision to shift from being a personal injury attorney to a tax strategist, driven by a significant income drop and a passion for entrepreneurial ventures.
• The Importance of Side Hustles: Matthew emphasizes the value of exploring side hustles, sharing his experiences with digital marketing, Amazon fulfillment, and dropshipping, highlighting the lessons learned from each venture.
• Strategies for Financial Independence: Gain insight into the strategic steps Matthew took to identify lucrative opportunities in tax advising, which quickly transformed his financial landscape and client base.
• Tax Planning Essentials: Matthew shares invaluable tax strategies and planning tips, including the benefits of hiring your children, the significance of bookkeeping, and leveraging deductions to minimize tax liabilities.
• Attorney vs. CPA: Understand the unique advantages of working with a tax strategist who is also an attorney, such as attorney-client privilege, and why it might be a better fit for your financial planning needs.
• The Power of Email Marketing: Discover how Matthew utilized email marketing to dramatically increase his business's revenue, proving the effectiveness of consistent and targeted communication.
• Leveraging AI for Business Efficiency: Matthew discusses how AI tools have enhanced his business operations, from improving persuasive writing to speeding up content creation.

About the Guest:
Matthew Searsley has been practicing law for over 15 years, but his entrepreneurial spirit has led him to venture into business long before that. With a track record of starting 14 businesses over the last 25 years, his journey through entrepreneurship has been nothing short of adventurous. His ventures have spanned various industries, necessitating a deep dive into the complexities of tax law to maximize savings and profitability. This pursuit of efficiency in taxes ultimately led him to two successful ventures: real estate investing and providing tax avoidance strategies to fellow entrepreneurs.
Searsley's expertise in navigating the tax landscape has made him an invaluable asset to those looking to minimize their tax liabilities legally and effectively. His approach to business and taxation is deeply influenced by his libertarian values and passion for freedom, making him a preferred consultant for like-minded individuals and freedom-focused entrepreneurs. Despite this, his broad appeal and expert guidance have earned him a diverse clientele who appreciate his insights and strategies for financial growth and preservation.

Links:
https://www.agoristtaxadvice.com/
linkedin.com/in/sercely

Fast Five Questions:
1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “ I would go to a platform like Aweber to set up an email list, create a white paper or similar resource, and use social media to build his email list.”
2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? ”Having a business...

In this inspiring episode of the Freedom Nation Podcast, host Jeff Kikel sits down with John Hewitt, the legendary entrepreneur behind Jackson Hewitt Tax Service and Liberty Tax. Hewitt shares his incredible journey of innovation, strategic growth, and the relentless pursuit of financial freedom. From developing the first tax software on an Apple computer to founding and scaling billion-dollar companies, Hewitt’s insights are a treasure trove for anyone aiming to achieve their own Freedom Day through entrepreneurship.
Key Takeaways:
• The Origin of an Entrepreneur: Learn how a simple tax course recommendation from H&R Block sparked a lifelong passion in Hewitt, leading him to pioneer the tax preparation industry.
• Building Billion-Dollar Brands: Discover the strategic decisions and innovative thinking behind the creation, growth, and successful sale of Jackson Hewitt and Liberty Tax.
• The Power of Franchising: Hewitt shares why franchising from the start is crucial and how it fueled rapid expansion and success in the competitive tax preparation market.
• Diverse Ventures: Get an inside look into Loyalty Brands, Hewitt’s latest endeavor, encompassing a range of franchises from home inspections to pet grooming.
• Lessons in Leadership: Hewitt emphasizes the significance of hiring for attitude over skill and cultivating a positive culture for sustainable growth.
• Defining Freedom: Reflect on Hewitt’s personal definition of freedom as the ability to live unconventionally, thinking outside the norm and pursuing unique paths.
About the Guest:
John Hewitt is the "Hewitt" in "Jackson Hewitt Tax Service," after which he founded "Liberty Tax Service" with over 6,000 offices. John sold his interest in Liberty for nearly 500 million dollars. Now John and his partners and friends are helping Entrepreneurs discover how to become CEOs - "Building Their Empires" for the King of Kings. He is the author of the fascinating book iCompete and the CEO of Loyalty Brands.
Links:
https://loyaltybrands.com/
https://www.instagram.com/loyalty_brands/
linkedin.com/in/john-t-hewitt-9917b7149

Fast Five Questions:
1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “I would look for the next opportunity to help people and I've lived a life of changing lives."
2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? ”not starting with franchising from day one when he began Jackson Hewitt.”
3. What is a book that you would recommend? "The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker”
4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? "not a physical tool the importance of hiring for attitude over skill"
5. What is your definition of freedom? ”Freedom means not being confined to normalcy or average expectations. It's about thinking outside the box and resisting the societal pressure to conform. True freedom is the ability to be unconventional and pursue one's unique path without being dragged back into conformity.”

About Jeff:
Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community and supporting the growth of small...