Built To Win with Brian Murdock

Brian O. Murdock

Built To Win unpacks success stories of top entrepreneurs. Host Brian Murdock, with 20 yrs tech experience, explores their journeys, strategies & the mindset to turn dreams into realities. Actionable insights for your entrepreneurial journey.

Episodes

  1. 12/26/2024

    Redemption Behind Bars: How a Former Inmate Found Purpose in Prison

    Welcome to a new episode of Built to Win! In this episode, we sit down with a two-time NCAA national champion, former international drug kingpin, and current federal inmate. He shares his remarkable journey, from his humble beginnings as a surfer kid in Redondo Beach to his rise as a successful entrepreneur in the world of sports betting and drug trafficking. However, his ambition and risk-taking ultimately led him down a dangerous path, culminating in his arrest and incarceration. His story serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the fine line between entrepreneurial success and criminal downfall. Highlights: "I'm that kid that came from that blue collar family in Redondo Beach, and I'm looking at myself going, how am I going to survive here?" "I'm an entrepreneur. Man, I could take $15 an item and get $100 and get 100 winning. That's almost a 1000% markup." "I'm not gonna lie, Brian, you know, I stopped as soon as I graduated college. You know, it served its purpose, and made this money to be able to afford to live in college because my parents weren't able to help me." "Once you go down that illegal rabbit hole, there's that rabbit hole, and it's illegal activity down that rabbit hole, it's hard to get out, because once you cross that line, yeah, of being on the fence, of maybe I could just do a little, just a little, let me just Yeah, it's that once you start making that cash, that fast cash, you can't go back. It's just too hard." Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction  00:40 - Upbringing and Volleyball Journey 03:07 - The Transition to USC and Initial Drug Dealing 07:35 - Expansion into Sports Betting 13:38 - Mastery of Business Retention and Acquisition 20:46 - Involvement with the Cartel and Increasing Risks 27:58 - Losing the Cartel's Money and the Heat Intensifying 32:40 - Working for the Cartel to Pay Back the $4 Million 34:48 - The Arrest and Reflection on His Entrepreneurial Journey 37:37 - Appreciation for the Simple Pleasures of Life Outside Prison

    39 min
  2. 06/03/2024

    From War-Torn Beginnings to an Emmy Winner: Thomas Vu's Journey

    Welcome to a new episode of Built to Win. In this episode, we are joined by Thomas Vu, a veteran game designer, VC entrepreneur, and Emmy-winning show producer. From his turbulent  childhood in Vietnam to his pioneering work in the gaming industry, Thomas shares his remarkable story of resilience, innovation, and success. Join us for an insightful conversation that will leave you motivated and ready to achieve your dreams! Highlights"Great people in the long run always succeed in a way they can lose in the short term, but in the long run, they'll always win." "Every positive interaction is a door to open 1,000 doors, and every negative interaction is a door that closes 1,000 doors." "To enter the kingdom of heaven, you have to be like a child. Children play naturally, and as adults, we must remember how to play." Timestamps00:11 - Welcome to the Built To Win Podcast with Thomas Vu.01:04 - Thomas shares his childhood experiences and the challenges his family faced after the Vietnam War.03:25 - The journey by boat to the US and settling in Houston and Los Angeles.04:39 - Growing up in garages and the influence of a forward-thinking parent.05:26 - From UC San Diego to working at NASA and landing a job at Electronic Arts.12:01 - Joining Riot Games and contributing to the success of League of Legends.14:39 - Vietnam, launching League of Legends and the growth of esports.21:12 - Thomas discusses his journey of self-awareness and spiritual growth.33:19 - The role of religion and programming in shaping beliefs and behaviors.45:30 - Creating an Emmy-winning show “Arcane” and transitioning from gaming to TV.

    54 min
  3. 05/08/2024

    How David Rivero Overcame Challenges in the E-commerce World

    Welcome to a new episode of Built to Win! Ever wonder how to bounce back from business blunders and build an e-commerce empire? In this episode, David Rivero tells us all about his journey from early stumbles to massive success. David Rivero's journey wasn't a straight shot to success. After a rough start with a DUI and a firing, he used those setbacks as fuel to build his dream. Starting with affiliate marketing, David relentlessly educated himself and built a multi-million dollar portfolio of e-commerce brands. Today, he uses his hard-won experience to help others achieve their entrepreneurial goals. This episode is packed with lessons in resilience, the power of family, and the strategic smarts you need to dominate the competitive world of online sales. Highlights: "Corporate America is not for me. I'm the hardest working guy there. I get fired for trying to be aggressive."  "It's not about being the first one to speak, it's about making sure when you do, it adds value to the conversation. It's about turning transactions into relationships." "When I was at rock bottom, it was my wake-up call. I knew I needed to start a business, though I had no clue which one at the time."  Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to David Rivero. 01:33 - Early Beginnings 05:11 - The Salsa Venture 07:19 - Learning from Failures 15:00 - Breakthrough with Affiliate Marketing 17:14 - Decision to Start Own Product 20:21 - Achieving Financial Success 27:29 - Building a Legacy 31:46 - The Mastermind Networking Event 34:21 - Importance of Discipline

    59 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Built To Win unpacks success stories of top entrepreneurs. Host Brian Murdock, with 20 yrs tech experience, explores their journeys, strategies & the mindset to turn dreams into realities. Actionable insights for your entrepreneurial journey.