Take The Power Back

Why Most People Fail | They're Listening to the Wrong Voices

Take The Power Back - Episode #12
Most people don’t fail because they’re incapable, they fail because they’re listening to the wrong advice.
In this episode of Take The Power Back, I sat down with Tommy Nickerson to break down what actually separates people who rise into leadership from those who burn out. We unpack the difference between trust and loyalty, why most advice is based on emotions instead of outcomes, and why you should never make life decisions when you’re frustrated.
Tommy Nickerson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tnickerson/
Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/
Chapters:
00:00 - Leadership
02:00 - Tom’s Role At FFA
05:30 - Developing Leaders
08:15 - Trust Respect Loyalty
12:00 - How Leaders Lose Trust
15:30 - Moving To Florida
18:00 - First Days In The Business
20:30 - Culture & Competitive Mindset
24:30 - Working Two Jobs
27:30 - Opening The Orlando Office
31:00 - Jacksonville Breakthrough
35:00 - Belief Over Talent
38:07 - Take The Power Back
38:50 - Why People Burn Out
43:00 - Who You Should Take Advice From
49:00 - Leading Leaders At Scale
55:30 - Advice For Young People
1:00:30 - Final Reflections
1:04:41 - Outro
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#leadership #takethepowerback #genz #trust #loyalty #ffa

From Washing Dishes To Restaurant Proprietors | Young Professionals Don't Realize THIS

Take The Power Back - Episode #11
Too many young professionals are being sold a version of success that keeps them comfortable. What they don’t realize is that their idea of safety is doing the exact opposite.
In this episode of Take The Power Back, I sat down with entrepreneur George Zeppos to break down what it actually takes to build unstoppable leadership. From washing dishes on opening night, to building and scaling multiple businesses, this conversation exposes the truth.
Chapters:
0:00:00 - No Limitations
0:00:33 - TTPB
0:01:40 - Who Is George Zeppos?
0:02:46 - The Dodo Bird Technique
0:05:00 - Betting On Yourself
0:07:30 - The Real Grind
0:11:00 - Ownership Mindset
0:16:15 - Systems Win
0:20:15 - Fail Forward
0:23:15 - Finding The Right Room
0:26:00 - Outworking Everyone
0:29:45 - Turning Last Place Around
0:34:30 - Mastering The Details
0:37:45 - Breaking Through Walls
0:41:00 - Building Leaders
0:44:30 - Talent vs Business
0:48:45 - Creating Real Wealth
0:52:00 - Scaling Beyond One Location
0:56:00 - Uncapped Potential
1:01:00 - Choosing Freedom
1:04:30 - Final Thoughts
1:07:34 - Like & Subscribe
Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/
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Get connected and check out Jason’s other content:
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#takethepowerback #FFA #scaling #security #millionaire #restaurantowners

Most Young Professionals Fail Because Of This

Take The Power Back - Episode #10
Most people don’t fail because they aren’t talented, they fail because they adopt a victim mentality.
In this episode I sit down with Steve Schmitt, a successful financial advisor and entrepreneur, to break down why most young professionals fail. We explore the complications of earning six figures early in life, what it takes to be a successful financial leader, and why "victim mentality" is killing Gen Z's careers.
Steve Schmitt- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-s-40515294/
Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/
Chapters:
0:00:00 – Six Figures In Your Twenties
0:00:57 – Who Is Steve Schmitt?
0:08:40 – Entering Financial Services
0:13:39 – Why Most People Fail
0:18:48 – Overcoming Rejection
0:25:51 – Work Hours And Expectations
0:31:46 – Creating And Scaling A Firm
0:53:14 – Advice to Gen Z
1:08:24 – Like and Subscribe!
 
Get connected and check out Jason’s other content: 
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Corporate America Doesn't Reward Hard Work | Here's Why

Take The Power Back - Episode #9
Most people think career success comes down to how much effort you put in, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. In the end, corporate America will never reward your hard work.
In this episode of Take The Power Back, I sat down with Mike Vietri, Chief Distribution Officer at Amerilife, to break down what it actually takes to succeed as a leader inside large organizations, and why so many high performers somehow end up fumbling their careers.
Mike Vietri - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-vietri-39176b4a/ 
Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/ 
Chapters:
00:00 - The Systems
00:40 - Who Is Mike Vietri?
03:45 - Building Scale 
07:00 - Corporate Athlete 
10:15 - Communication 
12:54 - Discipline & Systems 
17:04 - Empathy In Leadership 
22:26 - Early Career 
26:40 - Choosing Leadership 
34:00 - Leadership Mistakes 
37:10 - Image & Culture 
40:41 - Take The Power Back
41:25 - Professional Boundaries 
46:59 - Recognition 
52:09 - The Business Model 
55:30 - Founder Mindset 
58:30 - Scaling Through People 
01:01:58 - Staying Focused 
01:04:44 - Leadership Discipline 
01:10:30 - Opportunity Today 
01:13:30 - Final Thoughts 
01:17:08 - Outro
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Get connected and check out Jason’s other content:
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From Intern to Senior Director | The Real Cost of Playing It Safe

Take The Power Back - Episode #8
 
Most beginners chase comfort, but experienced, high performers chase growth.
 
In this episode of Take The Power Back, I sat down with Victoria Raps, Senior Director of Operations at Florida Financial Advisors. We broke down what real career growth actually looks like, and why the “safe path” so many Gen Z professionals are sold is quietly holding them back.
 
Victoria Raps: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-pena-raps/ 
 
Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/ 
 
Chapters:
0:00 - Leadership Tactics
0:47 - Take The Power Back
1:20 - Meet Victoria Ralph 
2:09 - From Intern To Operations Lead 
3:09 - Scaling A Fast-Growth Firm 
4:29 - A Day In Operations 
5:23 - Leadership Styles 
7:10 - Motivation & Growth Systems 
8:40 - Using Norms At Work 
10:55 - Emotional Intelligence 
12:57 - Early Life 
14:02 - College And Internships 
15:01 - First Roles At FFA 
16:49 - Becoming An Executive 
19:55 - Expectations VS Reality 
21:00 - Coaching & Accountability 
22:31 - Almost Quitting 
24:05 - Startup Reality Check 
27:02 - Conflict & Team Tension 
31:06 - Resistance To Change 
33:40 - Scaling The Team 
39:00 - What’s Next 
43:30 - Advice For Young Pros 
45:01 - Pride In the Systems 
47:20 - Earning Titles & Pay 
49:00 - Career Momentum 
50:40 - Becoming More Valuable 
51:30 - Trusting the Process 
52:20 - Final Reflections 
54:09 - Thanks For Watching!
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Get connected and check out Jason’s other content:
 
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What Gen Z Gets Wrong About Success | Why Talented People Fail

Take The Power Back - Episode #8
Most people don’t fail because they aren’t talented, they fail because their expectations are wrong.
In this episode I sit down with wealth advisor and entrepreneur Chandler Durham to break down what actually separates the people who succeed from those who quit early.
From building a career in financial services, to turning a practice into a business, this conversation is a masterclass for Gen Z and young professionals who want more than a “safe” career.
Chandler Dutram: https://www.instagram.com/chandler_dutram
Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:53 - Who Is Chandler Dutram?
3:15 - Growing Up In Florida
7:08 - Choosing One's Own Path
9:29 - First Job Search
11:51 - Imposter Syndrome & Early Confidence
14:09 - Horatio Office Culture
17:19 - STEM Meetings
19:36 - Entrepreneurial Wants
21:25 - Handling Rejection
25:45 - Why Some People Don't Make It
26:28 - Pre-COVID vs Post-COVID
27:46 - Take the Power Back
28:23 - Moving Into Leadership
30:17 - Managing People
32:11 - Going Independent
34:08 - Building His Own Brand
35:43 - Working Remotely From New York
40:04 - Why Talented People Fail
42:38 - “Success Is A Bowl Of Spaghetti”
45:28 - Comfort vs Long-Term Reward
47:40 - Financial Advisory Business
50:15 - Choosing The Path Forward
53:01 - Building Lifelong Friendships
54:12 - Final Advice For Gen Z
56:40 - Outro
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The Green Beret Who Couldn't Accept A Normal Corporate Job | Patrick Laughlin

Take The Power Back - Episode #6
In this episode of Take The Power Back, I sat down with former Green Beret and entrepreneur Patrick Laughlin to break down what elite performance really looks like in the military, in business, and in life.
Patrick shares what it actually takes to survive Special Forces selection, why most people fail long before they hit their physical limits, and how those same principles apply directly to entrepreneurship.
Patrick Laughlin: https://www.instagram.com/conquer_custom/
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
1:13 - Who is Patrick Laughlin?
3:08 - Gen Z and Technology
4:32 - Custom Car Shop
6:36 - Preparing to Leave the Military
8:27 - Special Forces Mindset
10:51 - Early Life and Military School
12:56 - Impact of 9/11
16:09 - Green Beret Training
19:25 - The 3% Mentality
22:11 - Grit Beats Talent
27:34 - Leadership and Expertise
28:22 - Becoming an Expert
33:18 - Side Hustles While Serving
46:53 - Rejecting Corporate Life
49:11 - Owning the Hard Parts
53:30 - Passion Over Paychecks
58:10 - Freedom and Responsibility
59:30 - Risk and Consequences
1:01:07 - Advice for Gen Z
1:06:27 - Outro
Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/
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Get connected and check out Jason’s other content:
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LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/JasonMickool 

From Bartender to Elite Event Planner: Rena’s Unbelievable Rise

Take The Power Back - Episode #5
In today’s episode of Take The Power Back, Jason sits down with Rena, the founder of Event Lab and the creative force behind some of Tampa’s biggest, most iconic events.
Her story is raw, real, and exactly what entrepreneurs need to hear. She dropped out of college, became the “worst bartender ever,” beat cancer, walked away from a cushy job, and built a high-end event company from absolutely nothing.
Rena Wiser: https://www.instagram.com/the1queenreen/
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:58 - Who Is Rena?
03:54 - Discovering The Love For Events
04:22 - Starting Event Lab
06:13 - Leaving Stability
08:50 - First Client
12:35 - Staying Organized
14:45 - Pulling It Off
16:17 - Managing The Process
17:17 - Building From Vision Boards
19:44 - Building Relationships
20:53 - Take The Power Back
21:38 - Building Out Their Vision
25:15 - Busy Season
28:00 - Advice For Those Starting Out
30:48 - Looking Backwards
31:56 - Where Do You Start?
34:50 - Where Did You Get Your Confidence
36:42 - What's Next?
39:30 - Outro
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The Truth About Gen Z Job Hunting (Universities Don’t Want You To Know This)

Take The Power Back - Episode #4
Gen Z isn’t struggling to find jobs. They’re being restricted by outdated college career systems that hide entrepreneurial and business opportunities. In this conversation, Jason Mickool and Gino Lavorgna break down how universities filter out the highest-growth paths, force students into “approved” careers, and leave ambitious young people feeling stuck. If you’re hungry, coachable, and ready to build something real, this episode exposes why the system failed you.
Gino Lavorgna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginolavorgna
Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/
Chapters:
0:00 - Teaser
0:34 - Take The Power Back
0:46 - Who is Gino Lavorgana
1:53 - Connecticut to Corporate Life
4:03 - Leaving Corporate for Sales
7:17 - Joining a Startup
9:03 - Startup Challenges
11:29 - Building the Business
15:52 - Developing Leadership
22:02 - Identifying Talent
27:53 - Advice for Gen Z
28:34 - Systems and Time Management
31:54 - What Do You Get From Coaching?
36:37 - Problem-Solving and Leverage Points
38:24 - "Inspect What You Expect"
41:08 - Structure and Skill Demonstration
42:09 - Gino’s Path to Becoming an Advisor
44:03 - Financial Goals
45:25 - What's Next After Fatherhood?
47:20 - University Gatekeeping
48:19 - Fighting for Access
53:08 - Why Do Broken Career Services Hurt Students?
56:09 - Outro
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The Real Truth Behind Being An Entrepreneur That Social Media NEVER Shows You

Take The Power Back - Episode #3 
 
At what point do you realize you've gone from having a job to a business? I sat down with Bradley Graham to discuss how he started out, climbed the ranks, and successfully scaled his business to be what it is today.
 
Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-graham-730a2a78/ 
 
Take The Power Back from the Universities that don't put students first: https://www.ttpb.com/ 
 
Chapters:
0:00 - Teaser
0:24 - Take The Power Back
0:34 - Who Is Bradley Graham?
2:28 - What Does Engineering Attention Mean?
4:20 - How Do New Eyes Reach You?
5:35 - How Was Your Childhood?
10:48 - How Did You Scale Your Cleaning Business?
16:24 - How Did Evy Media Start?
18:50 - I've Got A Client, Now What Do I Do?
21:56 - What Takeaways Do You Have From Prior Experience?
23:24 - How Did You Manage Family Life In The Beginning?
24:17 - How Did You Organize Your Business In The Beginning?
22:18 - Why Did You Go Into Leadership?
25:09 - Take The Power Back
26:01 - What Does The Business Growth Process Look Like?
32:08 - How Do You Shift From A Job To A Business?
35:13 - What Is Your Approach Towards Leadership?
39:40 - What Is The Next Chapter For Evy Media?
43:46 - How Does Evy Media Reach The Next Level?
46:03 - What Advice Do You Have For The Next Generation?
48:37 - What Does Evy Media's Startup Culture Look Like?
53:00 - Like and Subscribe
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