A Car Crash at 26 Changed Everything

A Car Crash at 26 Changed Everything

Most people are trapped in a box they can't see. In this episode, Matt sits down with Alan Lazaros, founder and CEO of Next Level University, who has logged over 12,000 hours of coaching. Alan shares the story behind his 7-figure company — from losing three families by age 14, to climbing the corporate ladder to $180K by his mid-twenties, to the head-on car crash at 26 that mirrored the accident that killed his father at 28. That moment forced him off autopilot and into 11 years of relentless personal development. He breaks down his Success Set Point framework (personal, social, and professional development), the "floor, ceiling, and walls" box of fear, and the 3 core wounds — defective, unlovable, and unwanted — that quietly run most people's lives. If you've ever wondered why you keep your goals vague, why achievers get hated, or how to actually build self-belief from zero, this episode is a masterclass. Key takeaways * Aim high and you'll have choices — you can always scale down, but rarely up. * The social world is your Instagram; the real world is your bank account. Get the order right. * We're all in a box: fear of failure is the floor, fear of success is the ceiling, fear of judgment is the walls. * Only 4% of people have clear written goals — vague goals protect your ego from seeing how off track you are. * Self-belief is built in private: set a small goal, keep the promise to yourself, then level up. * The more successful you become, the fewer friends you'll have — but the more fulfilled you'll be. About the guest Alan Lazaros is the founder and CEO of Next Level University, a global podcast and coaching company with a 24-person team. A computer engineering graduate of WPI with an MBA, Alan left a successful corporate career after a life-changing car accident at 26 to pursue personal development full-time. He has since logged over 12,000 hours of coaching, helping clients around the world master personal, social, and professional development. Connect * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/ * Website: https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/

What Surviving Cancer Twice Taught Me About Life | Savio P. Clemente

Most leadership advice focuses on surviving the crisis. Savio P. Clemente says the real win or loss happens after. In this episode, Matt sits down with Savio — a two-time cancer survivor, TEDx speaker, and board-certified wellness coach — to unpack what stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a relapse a decade later, and 29 days in a quarantine room taught him about clarity, pressure, and leading under fire. They cover his Adaptive Resilience Framework, the ALOHA Reboot, why "performance doesn't fail first, clarity does," and the one pattern he found after interviewing 200 cancer survivors. If you lead a team, face high-pressure decisions, or you're rebuilding after your own crisis, this conversation will change how you think about what comes next. Key Takeaways * Performance doesn't fail first — clarity does. Resource yourself before you try to fix anything. * The crisis isn't where you win or lose. It's what you do after: recalibrate, reorient, reframe. * The ALOHA Reboot: Acknowledge, Listen, Open, Harness, Act (with courage). * You can't control your blood counts, your boss, or the outcome — only your emotional state and response. * In the heat of a crisis: ground your feet, name the trigger, and don't underestimate stillness and silence. * After 200 survivor interviews, one thread shows up every time: self-forgiveness. * Focus on vision over goals — how you want to feel and be, not just the milestone. About the Guest Savio P. Clemente is a two-time cancer survivor, TEDx speaker, board-certified health and wellness coach, and author of I Survived Cancer: Here Is How I Did It, featuring the stories of 35 survivors drawn from his interview series with 200. After beating stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2014 and a relapse in 2024 that required a stem cell transplant, Savio now works with healthcare leaders and executives on burnout, crisis, and what he calls adaptive resilience — staying flexible, strategic, and clear when the pressure is highest. Connect * https://saviopclemente.com (keynotes, coaching, and his TEDx talk) * @TheHumanResolve on all social platforms * Book: I Survived Cancer and Here Is How I Did It: 35 Cancer Survivors Share Their Journey - https://amzn.to/4vBIvZg As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

The $10 Trillion Wealth Transfer Nobody's Preparing For | Jeff Glick

Most founders obsess over sales and product while the thing that determines their exit price sits ignored: their financial infrastructure. In this episode, Matthew sits down with Jeff Glick — seasoned CPA, fractional CFO, and Head of US Operations at OCFO — to unpack why 6 million businesses worth $10 trillion will change hands in the next decade, and why most owners aren't ready. Jeff shares his journey from Salomon Brothers to losing everything in 2008 to building his own outsourced CFO practice, then breaks down franchise value, sell-side due diligence, valuation benchmarks, recurring revenue, merger pitfalls, and how AI is already valuing companies. If you own a business or sit anywhere near the C-suite, this is your 12-18 month head start. Key Takeaways * $10 trillion in businesses will be sold over the next 10 years as boomers age out — buyers will have options, so you need to be bankable. * Franchise value matters: if your business can't run without you, you could lose 2-3x on your valuation. * Do sell-side due diligence on yourself 12-18 months before a deal. Finding your own gaps first shows buyers you're proactive, not reactive. * Know your margins per engagement, not just overall. "About 50%" isn't an answer an investor will accept. * Recurring revenue is what's worth money. Buyers care about the lifespan of your revenue, not just new sales. * A board of the owner's friends is worthless. Real governance asks the hard questions at the right time. * You're not an accountant, you're a CFO — there's a difference. Be a strategic partner to sales, marketing, and operations, not a number cruncher. About the Guest Jeff Glick is a seasoned CPA and fractional CFO with over 20 years of experience helping founders scale and raise capital. His career spans Merrill Lynch, Salomon Brothers, and 16 years at Phibro Energy before founding Start You Up, an outsourced CFO and compliance firm serving hedge funds, private equity, VCs, family offices, and SPACs. He is currently Head of US Operations at OCFO, where he helps small and mid-sized businesses grow from the inside out. Connect * LinkedIn: Jeffrey Glick * Email: jeffrey@ocfo.com

The Franchise Coach: How $125K Gets Your Family Living In America In 60 Days | Adam Goldman

Most people think starting a business means building from scratch — and taking on all the risk that comes with it. In this episode, Matthew sits down with Adam Goldman, founder of Franchisecoach.net and one of the nation's leading franchise consultants, to break down how buying the right franchise can be a faster, safer path to business ownership. They cover what franchises actually cost ($125K to seven figures), how Adam matches candidates with brands across 75 industries, the trends he's betting on for the next decade, and a little-known E2 visa strategy that can move a family to America in 30–60 days. If you're corporate-curious, entrepreneurial, or just exploring your options, this one will change how you think about owning a business. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Franchises hand you a proven brand and system, so success rates run far higher than starting solo. * Go deep on three well-matched brands instead of shallow on hundreds — that's how good decisions get made. * Validation is everything: talk to underperforming, average, and overperforming franchisees before you commit. * The most predictive skill for success is sales and business development — the ability to open doors. * A ~$125K franchise investment can unlock an E2 visa in 30–60 days, a fraction of the cost and wait of the alternatives. ABOUT THE GUEST Adam Goldman is the founder of Franchisecoach.net and one of the nation's leading franchise consultants. After skipping corporate America to build his career in 1990s Europe — where he founded and sold an IT business in Poland — he went on to own an office-cleaning master franchise in Houston before dedicating himself to helping others navigate franchise ownership. He matches candidates with pre-screened brands across 75 industries, runs a separate practice helping families immigrate to the U.S. via the E2 visa, and has been a member of Entrepreneurs' Organization for over a decade. CONNECT * Website: https://franchisecoach.net/ [https://franchisecoach.net/]

How a Shy Introvert Became World Champion of Public Speaking | Darren LaCroix

(This video was originally uploaded on the Speak Arizona YouTube channel. Go check them out at speakarizona.com) What makes a speech connect, land, and win? In this special Speak Arizona episode, Matt Malan steps into the host seat for a live workshop with Darren LaCroix, the 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking. Darren gives real-time feedback on Matt's Division contest speech and breaks down practical ways to make a message more memorable. They explore how to use dialogue instead of narration, create vivid scenes, build emotional moments, speak directly to the audience, and stay coachable on the path to stronger communication. Perfect for Toastmasters, speakers, leaders, and presenters who want to turn a good speech into one that truly connects. Key takeaways * Use dialogue to create a scene instead of simply narrating what happened. * Make the audience feel like you are speaking to them one by one. * Build speeches around emotional moments, not just events. * Add sensory detail to help listeners see, hear, feel, and remember the story. * Stay coachable because the right feedback can completely change a speech. Chapters 00:00 - Intro and why this episode matters for speakers 01:52 - Matt welcomes Darren LaCroix to Speak Arizona 02:25 - The International Speech Contest journey 04:25 - Darren's first speech and learning to be coachable 08:04 - Why clarity matters more than cleverness 13:43 - What Darren notices first in Matt's speech 18:55 - How to step in and out of a scene 19:30 - Use "you" language to connect with one listener at a time 21:45 - Turn narration into dialogue and emotional moments 26:55 - Introduce characters with vivid detail 30:00 - Use sensory details to build a memorable scene 34:04 - Stage Time University and the value of stronger feedback 39:05 - Darren's final advice: decide to be world class Watch Matt's full 2nd Place Contest Winning Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWtvZWwhblI About the guest Darren LaCroix is the 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking. After a rough first comedy club set, he committed to mastering the craft of speaking and eventually became a world champion. Today, Darren helps presenters, executives, professional speakers, and trainers become more unforgettable on stage through his coaching, keynote work, books, and Stage Time University. Contact • Websites: https://darrenlacroix.com/ https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/ • Book: 17 Minutes To Your Dream: How To Get The Breakthroughs You Need - https://amzn.to/4egHy2q As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.