The First Million Is Always The Hardest

Ramez Fakhoury on Self-Directed IRAs, Real Estate & Buying Businesses

Video Version: https://youtu.be/UC2UfHim0Qc [https://youtu.be/UC2UfHim0Qc] In this episode of The First Million is Always the Hardest, host Bo Kemp sits down with Ramez Farkhoury of the IRA Club for a practical conversation about how investors can use self-directed IRAs to build wealth beyond traditional stocks and mutual funds. Ramez breaks down how self-directed retirement accounts can give investors more control over where their capital goes — including opportunities in real estate, private lending, and business acquisitions. Bo and Ramez explore how everyday investors can think differently about retirement savings, not just as money sitting in an account, but as capital that can be directed toward ownership. The conversation focuses on two powerful uses of self-directed IRAs: investing in real estate and buying businesses. Ramez explains how investors can use these accounts to participate in rental properties, private deals, and acquisition opportunities while staying mindful of the rules, structure, and compliance requirements that come with retirement funds. This episode is about expanding the definition of investing, using retirement capital more strategically, and understanding how ownership can become a path to long-term wealth. Because the first million is always the hardest — and sometimes the capital to begin building it may already be sitting in your retirement account.

Catherine Okoroh on Lending, Real Estate Investing & Taking the First Step

Video Version: https://youtu.be/R6c5SWkrT-k [https://youtu.be/R6c5SWkrT-k] In this episode of The First Million is Always the Hardest, host Bo Kemp sits down with Catherine Okoroh of Advance Lending for a practical conversation about helping everyday people move from curiosity to action in real estate investing. Catherine brings both lending expertise and real-world storytelling to the conversation, breaking down the common barriers that keep people from getting started — fear, lack of information, credit concerns, down payment questions, and confusion about financing options. Through her work with Advance Lending, she helps aspiring investors understand how the right lending strategy can make ownership feel more accessible and achievable.   Bo and Catherine explore why real estate remains one of the most powerful paths to wealth building, especially when investors have the right guidance, preparation, and partners. Catherine’s stories show that investing is not only for insiders or people with perfect financial profiles — it is for people willing to learn the process, ask the right questions, and take disciplined steps toward ownership.   This episode is about practical solutions, smart financing, and turning real estate ambition into a real plan. Because the first million is not built by waiting on the sidelines. It starts with learning the game — and taking the first step.

Elijah Brown on Athletics, Influence & Building Enterprise Value

Video Version: https://youtu.be/kbzOgWwTHac [https://youtu.be/kbzOgWwTHac] Guest: Elijah Brown — Delaware State University Track & Field Athlete, Entrepreneur & Brand Builder In this episode of The First Million is Always the Hardest, host Bo Kemp sits down with Elijah Brown, a Delaware State University track and field athlete, entrepreneur, and brand builder, for a conversation about discipline, ambition, ownership, and the difference between chasing income and building enterprise value. Elijah’s story begins in West Orange, New Jersey — a place that shaped his grit, competitiveness, and self-starting mentality. As an 800-meter runner, he competes in one of the toughest events in track and field: a race that demands pain tolerance, pacing, strategy, and mental control. That same discipline now shows up in how he thinks about business. But Elijah is not just an athlete building a personal brand. He is already experimenting with entrepreneurship through ventures connected to moving, club promotions, and Star City Management. In the conversation, Bo and Elijah explore what those early businesses taught him about operations, customer service, attention, influence, and the challenge of turning hustle into something scalable. The heart of this episode is a bigger question: how does a young athlete move from being an influencer to becoming a true operator and future owner of a sellable company? Bo and Elijah discuss the difference between making money online and building a business that could one day be worth millions — one with systems, recurring revenue, brand assets, a team, and value beyond one person’s name. They also unpack what athletes and creators often misunderstand about wealth, and why influence only becomes powerful when it is converted into ownership. This episode is about New Jersey grit, athletic discipline, early entrepreneurship, and the leap from personal brand to real enterprise. Because the first million is always the hardest — and for Elijah Brown, the race is just getting started.

Brian Page on Airbnb, Influence & Building Beyond the Side Hustle

Video Version: https://youtu.be/CfNHDGgTXq4 [https://youtu.be/CfNHDGgTXq4] Guest: Brian Page — Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker Series: The First Million is Always the Hardest — ACHIEVE Summit Series As part of the ACHIEVE Summit Series, host Bo Kemp sits down with entrepreneur, speaker, and HarperCollins bestselling author Brian Page for a conversation about building income, influence, and a business model that creates real freedom. Brian is widely known for his work in the Airbnb and short-term rental space, where he built a major platform teaching entrepreneurs how to generate income through scalable, asset-based strategies. His insights have been featured in Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur, and Forbes, his ads have been viewed by millions, and he has generated more than $40 million in online sales. Along the way, he has been promoted by names like Dean Graziosi, Grant Cardone, and Robert Kiyosaki—a reflection of both his reach and his credibility in the world of entrepreneurship and personal development. But this conversation is about more than Airbnb. It is about what happens when an entrepreneur evolves from chasing income to building influence, brand, and long-term leverage. In addition to his work around passive income, Brian is now helping people build their personal brands, grow their influence, and most importantly, find their voice onstage. That mission connects directly to his broader message in Don’t Start a Side Hustle, where he challenges the idea that entrepreneurship should simply mean more hustle, more hours, and more exhaustion. Instead, Brian makes the case for building a business around systems, assets, expertise, and visibility. Bo and Brian explore what it takes to create income through short-term rentals, why so many side hustles become traps, and how speakers, coaches, and creators can turn their knowledge and story into a scalable brand. This episode is about freedom, influence, and building a business that works for you. Because the first million should not just change your income. It should amplify your voice.

Manny Flores on 504 Loans, Capital Access & Building Through Ownership

Video Version: https://youtu.be/iAI3oDmRjm8 [https://youtu.be/iAI3oDmRjm8] Guest: Manny Flores — President & CEO, SomerCor Series: The First Million is Always the Hardest — ACHIEVE Summit Series As part of the ACHIEVE Summit Series, host Bo Kemp sits down with Manny Flores, President and CEO of SomerCor, for a conversation about one of the most important tools in small business growth: the SBA 504 loan. As a nonprofit lender and Certified Development Company, SomerCor helps businesses access long-term capital for commercial real estate, equipment, and expansion. Under Manny’s leadership, the organization continues to play a critical role in helping entrepreneurs secure the kind of financing that supports ownership, stability, and long-term growth. But this conversation is about more than lending. It is about how access to capital shapes who gets to grow, who gets to own, and who gets to build lasting businesses in their communities. Bo and Manny explore how 504 loans work, why commercial ownership can become a strategic advantage, and how structured financing helps businesses scale without draining working capital. They also discuss the broader role community-based lenders play in economic development and why capital access remains one of the biggest barriers for entrepreneurs trying to grow. As a Title Sponsor of the 2026 ACHIEVE Summit, SomerCor’s involvement reflects a shared belief that entrepreneurship requires more than ambition — it requires real pathways to capital, ownership, and scale. This episode is about financing as a tool for growth, stability, and legacy. Because the first million is not only about making money. It is about getting access to the capital that lets you own what you build.