The Art of Charm, Inc

We teach and train professionals around the globe science-based communication, leadership, and persuasion skills. You'll be able to leverage the expertise and experience of world-class coaches when it comes to sales, persuasion, and social engagement. Need to align your team and drive a unified front toward your vision? We've helped Fortune 500 CEOs with this. Need to amp up your sales game? Our team has developed proprietary sales frameworks to support just that. 

Whether you listen to our globally-recognized podcast, join our Network+ program, or come on-site for our Hollywood Bootcamp, you're joined by millions of men and women trying to accomplish the same things: increase leadership and persuasion skills, reduce social awkwardness, and optimize your ability to communicate.

Chief Executive Officer

Sirius XM Radio Inc.

Host, 'The Art of Charm presents: Game On' the only show completely devoted to helping you get (and keep) the girl. From 8-10pm EST on Sirius 108, XM 139.

On-Air Talent (Talkshow Host)

Build your social capital and influence ◼ Over 10,000 clients served in 17 years ◼ Co-Host and Founder, Art of Charm

🔥 Command Presence. Real Influence. No Fluff.

Already invested in coaching or leadership programs… but still feel like something’s missing?

You’ve got the credentials. The hard skills. Maybe even the title.

But if your career growth is slowing because your communication hasn’t caught up — you’re not alone.

Most professionals hit a ceiling when soft skills become the differentiator.

And that’s where I step in.

❌ The truth about most coaching:

Leadership courses? Too generic.

Corporate training? Too political.

Communication books and TED Talks? Great in theory, useless in high-stakes rooms.

You need targeted, practical coaching built around your professional world — not some academic framework.

✅ What You’ll Get Working With Me

10 hours. One-on-one. Personalized. Intensely practical.

We’ll work together to:

Decode high-stakes conversations and make your communication hit harder.

Amplify your influence in rooms filled with executives, engineers, investors, or stakeholders.

Build your “X-Factor” — a powerful personal presence that earns trust fast.

Unleash your Social Intelligence — command the room, influence anyone, and forge relationships.

You’ll never watch a video or sit through fluff. This is tactical training designed for results.

💥 Plus: Join the X-Factor Accelerator

An exclusive, implementation-based group for high performers. Inside:

Get real-time feedback from other driven professionals.

Practice frameworks in live drills.

Build executive presence and influence with accountability.

👊 My Credibility
19+ years in influence, leadership, and communication development.

10,000+ clients across tech, finance, military, and consulting.

Coached U.S. Military Special Forces & Intelligence Units.

Host of a podcast with 450M+ downloads featuring world-class scientists and performance experts.

For the Analytic Mind Turned Leader.
For the Founder Now Fundraising.
For the Operator Who Needs Buy-In Fast.

If you’ve already tried “the other stuff” and still aren’t getting the results — let’s fix it.

DM me.

Let's turn communication into your competitive advantage.

AJ Harbinger

Think charisma is reserved for celebrities?

That belief is holding you back.

Charisma isn’t fame.
It’s the ability to attract, connect, and influence.

And it’s not reserved for the rich or famous.

You see it in that friend everyone gravitates toward.
Or the colleague people naturally trust and admire.

Their charisma opens doors—not because they’re special,
but because they’ve learned how to connect.

Charisma isn’t a divine gift.
It’s a skill.

Yes, genetics play a role—but most of it comes from learned behaviors and intentional practice.

Introvert or extrovert, anyone can develop it.

Here’s how to start building real charisma and social influence:

1. Be genuinely interested in others
Curiosity is magnetic. Listen deeply. Ask thoughtful questions. Make people feel seen.

2. Maintain strong eye contact
Eye contact signals confidence and presence. It tells people, “You matter.”

3. Use open, positive body language
Smile. Nod. Keep your posture open. Approachability builds connection fast.

4. Communicate clearly and confidently
Say less, but say it well. Cut filler words. Speak with intention.

5. Develop emotional intelligence
Notice emotions—yours and theirs. Empathy strengthens trust.

6. Share what excites you
Passion is contagious. Authentic enthusiasm draws people in.

7. Stay humble and authentic
Confidence without ego is powerful. Be real. Be grounded.

Charisma isn’t something you’re born with.
It’s something you build—one interaction at a time.

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I became a father this year.

Everything changed.

Not in some profound movie moment way.

In the quiet, terrifying, beautiful way things change when you hold a life you made and realize you get one shot at this.

I recentered everything around family.

The clients who drain me? Gone.

The projects that sound good but feel wrong? No.

The opportunities that would impress people but steal time from my daughter? Not worth it.

I spent years saying yes because I thought I had to.

Building a business. Building a brand. Building what I thought success looked like.

Then I held her for the first time and understood what I was building toward.

We dialed in our core values as a family.

Not some corporate exercise with sticky notes.

Real conversations about what matters when she asks us in ten years why we made the choices we made.

Those values gave me permission to say no.

To clients. To colleagues. To people I respect.

Saying no used to feel like failure.

Now it feels like protection.

I am not the father I want to be yet.

Not even close.

I lose my patience. I check my phone when I should be present. I think about work when I should be thinking about her.

But I know the gap now.

I see the father I want to become.

The one who shows up. Who listens. Who chooses her over everything else that screams for attention.

That clarity is the gift.

Not perfection. Direction.

This year taught me that success is not what you build for other people to see.

Success is what you protect when no one is watching.

The time. The attention. The presence.

I am grateful for my daughter.

For my wife who chose me for this.

For the clarity that comes from knowing what you would give up everything else to keep.

That is what I am thankful for this year.

You're the person everyone goes to when they need something done right.

Competent. Reliable. Always available.

And you just got passed over for the promotion again.

"I need to be more visible. Speak up more in meetings."

So you volunteer for more projects. You make yourself even MORE available.

It doesn't work.

Here's what's happening.

You fell into The Availability Trap.

You're so good at your job that you've trained everyone to see you as the person who executes, not the person who leads.

When you're always available, you signal something you don't intend to signal:

Low demand.

One client came to me after being passed over twice for a director role. 

Top performer. Always available. Always solving problems.

We changed one behavior.

Next time someone asked for his time on something non-urgent:

"I'm locked in on the Q3 analysis until Thursday. Can we connect Friday morning?"

Three things happened:

He signaled he's working on something important enough to protect.

He made his attention scarce.

He created a future touchpoint on his terms.

Within six months, he was invited into strategy conversations he'd never been part of before. Within nine months, he got the promotion.

Nothing changed about his technical skills. Everything changed about how people valued his time.

Here's the principle:

Behavioral economics shows people assign higher value to scarce resources.

When you're always available, you signal low demand.

When you're strategically unavailable, people start wondering: 

"What is he working on that's more important than this?"

That question creates status.

The formula:

Protect your calendar. 

Make your time scarce. 

They value your attention. 

Perceived authority without saying a word.

High-value people don't chase opportunities. They create demand for their time.

This week, practice strategic withdrawal once.

When someone asks for something non-urgent, protect your focus and offer a specific alternative time.

Watch how the dynamic shifts.

Picture yourself as a gardener.

Because the truth is, most business success comes down to simple, consistent care.

Building relationships, like gardening, is all about
nurturing the right connections.

Care, patience, and a little bit of effort
will lead to the most fruitful partnerships.

So, let's start planting the seeds of trust today...

→ Don’t rush the growth.
Listen to your client's needs.
Understand their goals. Guide without pushing.

→ Don’t blame the relationship for not advancing quickly.
Acknowledge effort, not just results.
Foster trust & support. Celebrate small wins.

→ Don’t abandon relationships before they have a chance to grow.
Connections need time to deepen.
Be patient with progress. Allow time to develop.

→ Choose the right connections for the right opportunities.
Focus where it can thrive.
Align interests with goals. Share your social capital.

→ Nourish and cultivate.
Support their development.
Offer value and resources. Appreciate generously.

→ Remove obstacles.
Cultivate a positive environment.
Address issues. Take responsibility.

→ Remember, there will be ups and downs.
You can’t control everything; only be prepared.
Anticipate changes. Prepare for challenges.

As complex as building relationships may seem, it's really about a handful of simple practices.

Nurture your connections.
Invest in their growth.

And the results will speak for themselves.

Be honest—how many great ideas have you talked yourself out of this week?

Top performers aren’t successful because they have better ideas.

They’re successful because they act on the ideas they already have.

The longer you think about acting, the harder it becomes to act.

Here’s how to break that cycle:

1. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
When an idea shows up, move on it right away—send the message, write the outline, start the draft. Action builds momentum before doubt shows up.

2. 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬
You can’t hit a target you haven’t defined. Clarity creates direction, and direction gives you something to run toward.

3. 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬
Big goals feel overwhelming. Small steps feel doable. One micro-action at a time creates consistency.

4. 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞
 Leaders aren’t built by motivation. They’re built by rhythm. Give action a place in your daily routine.

5. 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
If it steals your focus, it steals your progress. Remove the noise so your mind can stay on what matters.

6. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬
Urgency turns intention into action. A simple deadline can do more than hours of planning.

7. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞
Share your goals with someone who will actually check in. Accountability turns “I’ll try” into “I will.”

8. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞
Failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s the process of success. Each misstep sharpens your approach.

9. 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬
Progress compounds when you acknowledge it. Small wins keep the momentum alive.

Act now.

Success isn’t waiting for a perfect plan—just your first step.

You're networking wrong.

Most people work the room all night. Shake every hand. Stay until the lights come on.

Then nobody remembers them.

High-value operators do this instead:

Show up.

Have 3 quality conversations.

Leave early.

You were there. 

But you didn't stay until the end collecting cards.

Next event, people notice when you arrive. 

They remember you left last time.

You created scarcity around your presence.

Your time became something to compete for.

Here's why this works:

When you're at every event until midnight, you become furniture. People stop tracking your movements. Your presence loses meaning.

Strategic absence makes people ask: Where did he go? What's he working on?

The formula:

Quality conversations over quantity contacts.

Early exit over marathon attendance.

Scarcity over availability.

Your presence becomes an event.

I've watched this pattern repeat. 

The executives who attend fewer events get more opportunities.

The founders who leave early get more follow-ups.

Availability kills intrigue.

Scarcity builds value.

Stop maximizing face time.

Start maximizing impact per appearance.

Ever feel guilty for your own success? 

That’s not an accident.

Someone took a shot at you recently.

A coworker saying "must be nice" when you mentioned your vacation.

A friend going "wow, you've changed" when you talked about something you're excited about.

And before you realized what happened, you were explaining yourself.

Justifying. Defending.

I used to do this constantly. Someone would throw a dig my way and I'd go into "let me prove I'm not the bad guy" mode.

It took me years to figure out what was happening.

They weren't attacking me. They were trying to pull me into their frame.

When someone goes low. When they get passive-aggressive or dismissive or condescending. They're setting a trap.

If you defend yourself, you're playing on their court. They're steering the interaction. And somehow you feel like the one who did something wrong.

The most influential people I've studied do something different.

Instead of defending or attacking back, they name what's happening.

"Sounds like my schedule is frustrating for you."
"Seems like this project landing bothered you."
"Feels like you're worried I'm pulling away."

Then they ask what the other person needs.

This short-circuits the emotional trap. You're not defending. You're leading.

After coaching over 10,000 clients on communication, I've watched this pattern play out hundreds of times.

Most people spend their lives bouncing between justifying and attacking back.

Both are low-value responses.

The third path is defining the moment instead of reacting to it.

Stop letting other people set the terms of your conversations.

Great advice is worthless if no one listens.

This one shift makes people actually care.

Someone mentions a problem.

You jump in with the solution.

Smart answer. Valuable insight.

And they completely ignore it.

My analytical clients do this most. They hear a problem and immediately offer the fix.

But here's what they miss:

People don't value advice they didn't work for.

I learned this watching how interrogators extract information. 

They never give answers first. They make you earn clarity through articulation.

Here's the psychology:

When someone works before receiving value, you trigger effort justification. Their brain decides: "I invested in this answer, so it must be worth hearing."

You just made your advice 10x more valuable without changing a word.

Over the last 17 years, I've taught this to executives who wondered why their teams ignored their guidance.

The problem wasn't the advice. It was the sequence.

Most people give solutions before establishing cost. Your brain devalues anything that comes free.

Understanding that changes how you mentor, coach, and lead.

The pattern I use:

Before offering advice, extract their constraint. Make them articulate what's not working. Let them reveal their gap.

Then deliver.

When you make someone work to frame their problem, three things happen:

They clarify their actual issue (not the surface symptom). They invest attention into the conversation. They value whatever comes next.

This applies everywhere. Client meetings. Team discussions. Networking conversations.

The advice that gets ignored? The advice that came too easy.

The advice that transforms people? The advice they had to work to receive.

Stop giving away your best insights for free.

Make people pay the attention tax first.

I used to think hard work was everything.

Being raised in a blue-collar single-dad family

My mantra was:

Work harder than anyone else.

That ethic led me to:

❌ Choosing to work instead of building relationships
❌ A dead-end of grinding it out daily
❌ Shrinking my worldview

Once I’ve started building relationships outside of grad school

My whole (social) life transformed. 

It’s been eye-opening for me. 

→ I didn’t have to fight as hard to get to where I wanted to go because I had the relationships to get me there. 

Building high-level relationships is a quick and easy way to unlock:

✔️ New levels in your life
✔️ New opportunities 
✔️ Trust 

You don’t have to struggle with all the friction.

Finish this year strong and step into the next level.

You light up when someone compliments your work.

That reaction costs you status.

Watch what happens: 

Someone says "Great presentation." 

You smile. 

"Thank you so much! I spent hours on the data analysis and refining the visuals..."

You told them you needed their approval.

I've noticed the opposite pattern in people with influence.

They do something I call validation immunity.

Same scenario. "Great presentation."

Response: "I appreciate that."

Neutral expression. 

No expansion.

Then they shift: "What questions do you have about the timeline?"

They moved forward because their internal assessment didn't change based on someone else's opinion.

Here's what's happening underneath:

When you expand on compliments, you signal their opinion determines your value.

When you receive neutrally and redirect, you signal you already know what you did. 

Their agreement is noted. Not needed.

The formula is simple.

Compliment received. 

"I appreciate that." Shift topic.

People with influence don't need your validation.

They validated themselves before you showed up.

The body language cue that reveals more than words ever will.

Most people think reading body language means watching for crossed arms or eye contact.

Wrong.

FBI counterintelligence expert Joe Navarro taught me the one signal that trumps everything else.

It's called the freeze response.

Here's what it looks like:

You're delivering feedback. Negotiating. Sharing news that matters.

The person across from you suddenly goes still.

Their hands stop moving mid-gesture.

Breathing pauses.

They lock up for 2-3 seconds.

That's their limbic system taking over. You just hit something real.

Most people miss this completely because they're focused on what to say next. They keep talking, filling space, moving past the moment.

Wrong move.

The freeze is your oldest threat response. Older than fight or flight. When someone freezes, their primitive brain just overrode their conscious control.

Whatever you said landed deep.

FBI research confirms the freeze appears before any other defensive behavior. Catch it early and you understand what's actually happening beneath the surface.

Here's the play:

Deliver your point.

Spot the freeze.

Stay silent.

Let them sit in it.

They'll fill the space and reveal what actually matters.

Most professionals are terrified of silence. They rush to smooth things over, clarify, soften the blow.

That's exactly when you need to shut up and wait.

The truth emerges in those 5-10 seconds of discomfort. Not through interrogation. Through strategic silence.

You don't need to be an FBI agent to spot the freeze.

You just need to stop talking long enough to see it.

Your career isn’t being held back by a lack of talent—it’s being held back by shallow connections.

And before you blame your network, ask yourself this: are you actually building one, or just stockpiling names?

Many professionals focus on network breadth (how many people they know) while completely neglecting network depth (the quality of those relationships).

But here's the real truth:

A sprawling network of surface-level connections rarely delivers meaningful opportunity.

What determines your network's power isn't its size but its interconnectedness and the mutual investment in each relationship.

I call this "relationship density" - and it's the hidden factor behind truly valuable networks.

High density networks feature:

• Trust-based relationships (not just transactional exchanges)
• Ongoing value creation (not just value extraction)
• Proactive connection (not just reactive outreach when you need something)
• Genuine knowledge of others' needs and goals
• Strategic relationship nurturing

Low density networks feature:

• Superficial connections with little trust
• Sporadic engagement only when beneficial to you
• Little understanding of others' true priorities
• No systematic approach to relationship maintenance

After studying thousands of professional relationships, the pattern is clear:

Those with smaller but denser networks consistently outperform those with larger but looser connections.

Quality defeats quantity every time.

The irony? Building relationship density takes less time than endlessly expanding a low-quality network.

It's not about doing more - it's about focusing your relational energy more strategically.

What's one relationship in your network that deserves more intentional investment this week?

You’re one question away from being unforgettable.

Most conversations die because nobody shifts the depth.

You meet someone. Exchange pleasantries. Talk about work. Then nothing.

Here's what changes everything:

Listen for care signals.

When someone mentions what they're trying to do, don't respond with surface questions.

Ask about motivation instead.

They say: "I've been mentoring junior engineers."

Most people: "Oh, how's that going?"

You: "What made you want to do that?"

Watch them pause.

Then they tell you something real.

"Nobody did that for me. I don't want them to figure it out the hard way."

You just went from small talk to substance.

This is identity-level disclosure. You're asking WHO they are, not WHAT they do.

People remember the person who sees them.

The formula: Care signal → Motivation question → Let them go deep.

Try it this week.

You'll be the conversation they remember.

Most networking conversations die the moment they end.

You exchange cards. Promise to “stay in touch.”

Then nothing.

After coaching over 10,000 clients, I’ve learned the real problem:

You never created anything worth following up on.

Here’s what I mean:

When someone says “I’m building AI capabilities, but finding engineers who understand business is impossible” — most people respond with sympathy.

“That’s tough.”

“Yeah, hiring is brutal.”

Wrong move.

What just happened? They revealed their goal AND their constraint in one sentence.

Goal: AI capabilities.

Constraint: talent gap.

Now instead of offering to “pick your brain sometime,” do this:

“I know someone who just left a similar role. Want me to make an introduction?”

Three things just happened:

→ You proved you were listening

→ You demonstrated relevant relationships

→ You created a concrete reason to follow up

This is genuine reciprocity. Not manipulation. Just specific help that matters.

Harvard Negotiation Project research confirms it: micro-help builds trust faster than grand promises.

When you prove value within 48 hours, the relationship shifts.

They text you back.

They think of you when opportunities surface.

They actually want to stay connected.

The formula:

1. Spot their goal
2. Spot their constraint
3. Offer one specific action within two days

Not “let me think about it.”

One introduction. One article. One suggestion they can use tomorrow.

Most people leave events with cards and no next steps.

You can leave with three people who remember exactly how you helped them.

That’s the difference between collecting contacts and building relationships.

You've been climbing the wrong pyramid your entire career.

Maslow's hierarchy promised that if you checked the boxes (basic needs, safety, belonging, esteem) you'd reach self-actualization and feel complete.

The National Institutes of Health calls this "one of the most pernicious ideas in the social sciences."

Bill Burnett and Dave Evans from Stanford explain exactly why on this week's podcast.

Listen to this.

You contain more aliveness than one lifetime permits you to live.

If there's more potential inside you than you could possibly express in 80 years, and fulfillment requires living all of it, then you're chasing something mathematically impossible.

You were designed to feel incomplete.

Bill and Dave call this the "achieving brain." The mode most people operate in 99.7% of the time. Always optimizing. Always asking what else do I need to do?

Meanwhile, you miss the meaning that's already here.

Bill stopped on his way to class last week. A bush covered in blue flowers, blooming in late fall when it shouldn't. He took a picture. Tucked a flower in his notebook.

That was a meaning-making moment. Not because it was profound. Because he noticed.

Dave calls this the difference between the "transactional world" and the "flow world." Same reality, different lens. One keeps you stuck performing. The other lets you experience your life.

The shift that changes everything: Got to versus get to.

Bill used to drag himself to staff meetings he created. "I gotta go to this meeting."

Then he flipped it: "I get to work with some of the smartest people in the world trying to make the planet better."

Same meeting. Different experience.

Where you look is where you go.

Motorcycle riders know this. Stare at the ditch and you drive right into it.

Same with your career, your relationships, your entire life.

Stop climbing the pyramid.

Start noticing what's already here.

This one habit instantly makes you more likable, more connected, and more effective at work.

Show genuine appreciation.

We don’t praise people enough because we often believe that people in our lives already know how we feel about them.

This creates what scientists call a liking gap.

We have a psychological bias to underestimate how good our compliments make others feel.

Most think our good vibes are clear without saying much. Not true!

In fact, science shows that people love receiving appreciation almost as much as receiving physical gifts.

It’s magical, really.

The simplest way to start is to express gratitude to the people around you.

Letting your peers know what you think about them not only creates connection but also boosts your own mental health and resilience.

Bet you didn’t think praising others could help you feel more chipper, right?

It creates social support and lowers the stress response which improves productivity and motivates us.

This is huge for careers and making friends.

Creating true connections is what matters. 

That way, your network is full of people who really support you.

Whether it’s at work or in day-to-day life, showing appreciation is the fertilizer for any relationship.

Let people know how important they are to you, and you may be surprised by their response.

Why do some leaders get loyalty while others get excuses?

It comes down to one thing: authority versus influence.

Authority comes from your position.
Influence comes from connection.

Authority can demand action.
Influence inspires commitment.

This difference explains why:

• Some managers get bare minimum effort, while others get discretionary energy
• Some parents get compliance while others get genuine cooperation
• Some salespeople get reluctant purchases while others get enthusiastic referrals

True influence isn’t about techniques or tactics. It’s built on a foundation of genuine connection.

And the counterintuitive key to that connection? Appropriate vulnerability.

Not oversharing. Not manufactured weakness.

But sharing your human experience authentically—enough to create bridges, not walls.

I’ve seen executives transform their leadership simply by explaining the thought process behind decisions instead of just announcing outcomes.

I’ve watched professionals strengthen client relationships by acknowledging the limits of their expertise rather than pretending to know everything.

The most influential people understand this: genuine vulnerability doesn’t diminish your impact—it amplifies it.

Because influence doesn’t come from appearing perfect.
It comes from being human in a way that allows others to connect with you authentically.

The question isn’t whether you have authority—it’s whether you’re creating the kind of connection that builds lasting influence.

What kind of connection are you creating today?

The fastest way to deepen any relationship is simpler than we make it.

Think of the friend you most enjoy being around.

Why do you enjoy their company?

There are many factors at play here, but typically, when we think about the people we are closest to and the ones we enjoy being around, there is a consistent theme.

It’s actually quite simple.

They actually care about 𝘺𝘰𝘶...

About what’s going on in 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 life...

About the things that get you excited…

The things that scare you…

Even the things that motivate you…

They may not be saints.

They may not check off certain boxes.

But at the end of the day, what matters is that they actually care about you.

That’s a big part of being a high-value person.

Do you care?

Do you give a little bit of your time, attention, empathy, etc. to the people who are giving it to you?

None of us want to be takers.

We all envy the people who give freely of themselves and in return, reap friendship, admiration, and loyalty.

And the good news is, it’s not out of reach.

You got this in you.

Start small.

Care big.

Watch the magic unfold.

Sky Peak Financial

Partner

Financial Planner

Commonwealth Financial Group

Call One, Inc.

Account Executive

You’ve built a monster of a business… or you’re on your way there.

So why are you okay without a crystal-clear picture of what your financial future WILL be?

Obviously, you’ve provided well for your family and you’ve already made or are making the impact that you envisioned 20+ years ago. 

BOOM! You did it. You’re doing it.

I want to take a moment to congratulate you on achieving your dreams. 

You took action.

You created this freedom for yourself.

For your family.

But what’s keeping you up at night?

Is the fact that you send over $250k to the government every year? Or worse yet, every quarter?

Maybe it’s because you have a year or two’s worth of income (or less) scattered across 5+ investment accounts, and you don’t even know what they’re invested in.

You might be stressed because the “retirement plan” you haven’t looked at in over 5 years wasn’t taking into account the proceeds from the sale of the business…wait…

Is your business even sellable?

And if it is, how do you know if it will provide you with what you need when its no longer paying you a salary?

You have money constantly moving in all these different places already…

But how does it all tie together? Is it even working?

Now take a deep breath…I’ll wait.

This is the problem we solve.

There is a MASSIVE gap in the financial industry, and business owners like yourself are WILDLY underserved.

You don’t need to “do a tax strategy” or “beat the market.”

And you sure as heck don’t need some financial advisor who’s going to dive into all your personal finances just to find ways to sell you products.

What you need is a team that ADVOCATES for you.

What if you understood where every dollar was going? And why it’s going there?

What if you were CONFIDENT that every asset you owned had its own specific purpose in alignment with the end goal?

This world wants to take your money away from you.

We build the world where you keep it.

Message me ‘SKY’ to learn how.

Gregg Lindquist

The holiday season is upon us…is there a better time of year to be grateful?

This year has been a blur.

Between traveling, weddings, relentlessly focusing on the vision, and everything else in between, there's not always time to take a deep breath and appreciate where we are.

And when I actually stop to think about it...

This year has been insane. In the best way possible.

➝ Got married. 

➝ Bought our first home. 

➝ Completely restructured the focus of my career. 

➝ Connected with incredible people. 

➝ Grew mentally in ways I never would have expected.

And when I’m caught up in the day to day I barely notice half of it happening.

We get so focused on what's next that we forget to appreciate what IS.

I’m grateful for the problems I’m solving today because they are problems I wished I had 2 years ago.

Somehow it rarely feels like enough in the moment.

There's always another goal to chase or another mountain to climb.

And I’m beyond grateful for that drive because it's a piece of what got us where we are now.

But every once in a while, it's worth stopping to realize...

So many of us are already living in the future we were working so hard to build.

Even if there's a LOT more work to do.

Stay relentlessly focused on the vision but don’t forget to appreciate the journey.

What's something from this year that you're grateful for?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…the #1 life/business hack is who you choose to do life with.

To be honest, I have no idea where I’d be right now if I didn’t have someone who keeps me focused like Ruby does.

For context – when we first met, my life goals weren’t any bigger than how many people I could get together for the next night out after the serving shift at the sports bar.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I dropped out of college and started knocking doors after we were together for a month.

The drinking parties stopped, along with the short term mindset, the surface level relationship with God, the late nights wasting braincells, and pretty much all the other unhealthy habits that held me back.

When ONE thing as big as who you choose to do life with becomes aligned, the pull towards something bigger becomes almost magnetic.

I’ve found myself pushing every day to get one step closer to “fully aligned” and the closer I get, the more congruent everything I do feels…

Not just our relationship, but my

➝ Faith and relationship with God
➝ Goals and long term vision
➝ Physical and mental health
➝ Relationships with my friends and family

All feel like they’re getting 1% stronger every day.

This wouldn’t be possible with a spouse that’s trying to hold me back, and I’m beyond grateful for it.

And I’ll never say that you can’t make this same kind of progress individually with a rock solid vision and a strong relationship with God…I believe that’s an equally as powerful path.

But having the right spouse? It’s a superpower in my opinion.

Who else has someone who came out of no where and changed the trajectory of your life?

Your tax guy just saved you an extra $50k...and that would feel great if you were making $300k/year.

But when you're making 7 figures+?

That's like celebrating a 10% off coupon when you're buying a Ferrari.

Here's the disconnect...

Many tax professionals learned their trade working with people making $100k-$300k.

For those clients, saving and extra 50k might be big deal.

But when your income’s 2, 3, or 5+ times more? It’s probably not.

You're making $1M, $2M, maybe $3M+ annually.

Your tax bill likely isn't $100k.

$300k, $600K, or even $1M+ are more realistic numbers.

And you may have been told there’s nothing else that can be done.

Here's what's potentially possible at your income level:

There are business owners at this level that reduce their taxable income by $500k-Multiple Millions.

Because they’ve learned ways to restructure HOW they receive their income.

They're in the tax code sections your accountant has never needed to learn.

Because 95% of their clients probably don’t qualify for them.

But you do.

The question is: are you going to keep spending your time getting $50k wins while ignoring the $600k opportunities?

PS - Any discussion of taxes is for general information purposes only, does not purport to be complete or cover every situation, and should not be construed as legal, tax or accounting advice. Clients should confer with their qualified legal, tax and accounting advisors as appropriate.

When you were making $200k, your tax guy had it handled.

Write offs, retirement accounts, maybe even some help with structuring your business entity.

But when your income jumps to $750k… $1M… $2M+…

It feels like you leveled up with your business…but your account with the IRS did too.

And here’s one part most people don’t realize:

Many strategies that work for a low-mid six-figure earner don’t even make a dent at 7.

That’s one reason so many successful entrepreneurs feel frustrated every April (or October).

Your “tax guys” are doing everything they can.

But deep down, you’re frustrated that you don’t know whether or not you’re bleed rate is higher than it legally needs to be.

Now here’s the good news…

There are advanced, legitimate, and legal ways to structure income differently.

Ways that many accountants and planners don’t touch…not because they don’t care, but because it’s simply not in their lane unless they are partnered with specialists.

So you end up with this gap.

A silent bleed.

Hundreds of thousands, even millions, inevitably being sent away every year that could’ve potentially stayed working for you.

Not because you’re doing anything wrong.

But because nobody’s shown you what options exist for the level you’re at.

PS - Any discussion of taxes is for general information purposes only, does not purport to be complete or cover every situation, and should not be construed as legal, tax or accounting advice. Clients should confer with their qualified legal, tax and accounting advisors as appropriate.

"I'm not going to penny pinch for an extra 50k in tax savings. Not worth my time."

Yea I agree.

When you're making 1-5 million dollars/year...50k in tax savings isn't really exciting...in fact the idea of putting any time and energy into 5 figure savings may even sound like a nuisance when you're at that level.

Would it be economically efficient? Sure.

But you probably don't care enough...

But what about 300k/year in tax savings? What about 1 million?

Would that be worth your time?

Here's the disconnect...

Many "tax strategies" you hear about ARE the penny-pinching kind.

Track your mileage. Deduct your home office. Save your receipts.

That stuff might save you a large amount of money if you're aggressive about it.

But at your income level, there are strategies that work on a completely different level.

I'm talking about potentially reducing taxable income by $500k-$2M+ annually depending on your income.

No penny pinching or grey area.

Just using provisions in the tax code specifically designed for people at this income level.

The effort required?

Minimal compared to the effort of growing your business by $2M just to net the same after taxes.

The problem isn't that these strategies don't exist.

It's that a lot of people don't know about them.

Because they don’t work if your goal is to save 50k.

But when you want to save $800k, they just might.

How many hours would you invest to save $800k every year for the next 10 years?


PS - Any discussion of taxes is for general information purposes only, does not purport to be complete or cover every situation, and should not be construed as legal, tax or accounting advice. Clients should confer with their qualified legal, tax and accounting advisors as appropriate.

Something I find interesting about high achievers is their insatiable hunger for growth.

Its a rare thing that you only seem to find in certain people...but it is ENERGIZING when you find it.

You can spot them immediately in a room full of people.

They're the ones asking questions at the end of the conference when everyone else is checking out.

They're implementing before they're done learning, and they’re learning by execution.

Here's what I've noticed when these same people inevitably make 7 figures and beyond...

They didn't get there by being satisfied.

Even now, after achieving at a level many people never even get close to, they're still looking for the next level.

Not because they need more money.

But because optimization is literally how they’ve wired their minds.

It's why they'll restructure their entire business to increase margins by 5%.

It’s why they’re constantly improving in different areas of life and business.

It's why they can't stand things that are inefficient.

Including taxes.

When someone like this finds out they’re potentially overpaying annually?

They don't just want to fix it.

They want to understand it, optimize it, and make sure it never happens again.

The hunger for growth doesn't stop at a certain income level.

If anything, it just gets stronger…

PS – We show 7 figure earners how they can potentially remove digits from what they owe the IRS annually. Message me the word ‘Keep’ to learn more.

PPS - Any discussion of taxes is for general information purposes only, does not purport to be complete or cover every situation, and should not be construed as legal, tax or accounting advice. Clients should confer with their qualified legal, tax and accounting advisors as appropriate.

What a world we’re living in…

Earlier this week I was headed to the airport in Phoenix AZ and instead of an Uber, I tried out one of those self driving cars.

Empty driver seat, this thing pulled right up to the curb to pick me up – and all I had to do was press go.

Definitely creepy but it was also pretty darn cool.

Anyone else have these in their city yet?

When you made your first 100k, you almost forgot to set aside money for tax season...

But thanks to a good accountant and some business expenses you forgot about, you managed.

Now your 6 digit income has upgraded to 7 digits...quite the accomplishment.

You don't have to worry about setting aside money for the IRS anymore.

Your accountant's doing it for you! And you likely don't even HAVE to think about it...

But you still do. Why?

Because instead of looking at a big scary $20k tax bill like when you were at 100k...you're casually watching $250k+ go from your pocket straight to the IRS year after year.

And every time you level up? Your tax bill does too.

Here's what's wild...

Strategies that were life changing at $100k don’t even make a dent now.

➝ Max out the 401(k). 
➝ Take the standard deductions. 
➝ File on time.

Now you’re playing in a different league with different rules.

And there are strategies specifically designed for your league that your accountant may not even know exist.

The tax code has provisions for high earners that dwarf anything available to the average person.

But many accountants/advisors don’t specialize in them.

Because many of the people they work with don’t make enough money to qualify.

But if you’re in the 1% of earners…

Shouldn't you be using strategies designed for the 1%?

What would you do with an extra $400k every year that currently goes to taxes?

PS - Any discussion of taxes is for general information purposes only, does not purport to be complete or cover every situation, and should not be construed as legal, tax or accounting advice. Clients should confer with their qualified legal, tax and accounting advisors as appropriate.

Update on the research project from November…

If you didn’t see the last post about it – I’ve dedicated 30 days to pouring my energy into conversations with the type of individuals that I work with and will be working with in the upcoming year.

I set out to conduct as many interviews as I can with individuals who have the following qualities:

➝ Business owner or Self Employed
➝ 500k-2m+ annual income
➝ Good person – willing to give advice

The goal of this whole process is 0% sales oriented and 100% with the goal of filling the gaps in my knowledge of what the focus, goals, and perception of the work I’m doing are for people at this caliber.

I’ve had some amazing conversations so far thanks to everyone that’s been willing to help by either having an interview with me or making an introduction to someone who will.

Though the 30 day period is coming to an end, I already have some great conversations set up for December, so I thought why not extend this thing until year end? Couldn’t hurt.

That being said, if you or anyone you know falls into that demographic and would like to help with this, I’m open for introductions!

Again, this is not by any means a solicitation and my services will not be offered during these interviews.

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Gregg Lindquist

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The Battle

AJ Harbinger

Gregg Lindquist

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}AJ Harbinger's LinkedIn Performance

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