The Everyday Millionaire

TEDM – Craig Skauge – Your Hub for Smarter Real Estate Investing (Episode 216)

Craig Skauge, recognized as a recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2019, holds the positions of President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director at Olympia Trust Company.
Moreover, Craig’s contributions to regulatory bodies are noteworthy, having served as a former member of the Alberta Securities Commission’s Exempt Market Dealer Advisory Committee, as well as the Ontario Securities Commission Exempt Market Advisory Committee, and Small and Medium Enterprises Committee. Craig was also instrumental in the founding of the Private Capital Market Association of Canada.
Listen in as Craig offers insights into what Olympia Trust does, what it means for entrepreneurs and investors, and what opportunities exist to get educated and participate in the private securities world. Craig shares the trends and changes he has observed over the last 20 years, plus some of the common mistakes made by investors and entrepreneurs alike. We get to learn a bit about Craig’s background, why he chose working with his father over the music industry and the broad contributions Craig and Olympia Financial Group have made in this industry. If you’ve ever wanted to unlock the full potential of private investments, navigate the shifting regulatory landscape or capitalize on emerging wealth building opportunities, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss!

Mindset Matters – Episode #178 – The Comfort Trap: Stop Settling and Start Growing

In this powerful episode of Mindset Matters, Patrick and Steffany Francey dive deep into the deceptive allure of the comfort zone and explore how it might be quietly crushing your dreams. Together, they unpack the emotional and psychological patterns that keep us stuck in safe, familiar spaces—at the cost of real growth and personal fulfillment.
Using the vivid parable of the lobster—who must shed its shell to grow—Patrick draws a compelling parallel: just like the lobster, we only truly grow when we embrace discomfort. That discomfort might look like starting a business, having a tough conversation, facing rejection, or simply pushing beyond what’s familiar.
Steffany shares real-life coaching insights from high-performance athletes preparing for world championships, emphasizing how discomfort isn’t something to avoid—but rather a necessary state that sharpens focus, fuels creativity, and unlocks peak performance. Together, they reflect on personal stories of navigating change, shedding old identities, and the emotional cost of clinging to comfort when it no longer serves us.
This episode challenges listeners to examine where in their life they’ve settled—relationships, health, business, or personal development—and offers inspiring reminders that discomfort is not only natural but essential for growth.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, athlete, leader, or someone craving change, this episode will resonate deeply. Packed with raw reflections, laughter, and honest moments, Patrick and Steffany invite you to ask the hard question: Are you fighting to stay comfortable… or fighting to grow?
Tune in and discover why getting uncomfortable might be the most important decision you make this year.

Mindset Matters - Episode #177 - Put Your Ego to Work!

In Episode 177 of the Mindset Matters podcast, Patrick and Steffany Francey continue their deep dive into ego—expanding on insights from Episode 176. Far from being the enemy, ego is a fundamental part of our identity. The key is learning how to master it rather than let it control us.
Key Takeaways:✅ Ego vs. Self-Esteem: Ego craves external validation, while self-esteem is rooted in truth and self-awareness. When ego is unchecked, it fuels defensiveness, comparison, and resistance to change.
✅ Ego in Business: Many entrepreneurs and leaders struggle to delegate because their ego convinces them that asking for help equals weakness. True leadership comes from empowering others, not micromanaging.
✅ Ego in Relationships: The need to be right can destroy friendships and romantic relationships. Prioritizing understanding over winning fosters connection and personal growth. In love, fear of vulnerability often masks itself as avoidance. Real intimacy requires emotional honesty.
✅ Mastering Ego for Growth: Ego isn’t good or bad—it’s a tool. When harnessed effectively, it builds confidence and resilience. However, left unchecked, it can limit success, block self-reflection, and create unnecessary conflicts.
💡 Final Thought: You don’t need to eliminate ego—you need to master it. When you shift from ego-driven reactions to self-awareness, you unlock a new level of personal and professional growth.

TEDM – Marques Colston – Built for the Team Win, Powered by Integrity (Episode 215)

A seasoned business leader, Marques Colston’s business career is shaped by the perspectives and lived experiences gained from his journey to becoming an unlikely NFL standout.
Marques’s journey from small school prospect through a decade-long NFL career taught him how success has to be earned every day and sustaining it at the highest level requires a humility that allows you to be an active learner, curiosity to explore new ways to unlock value, and confidence built on preparation and repetition.
This philosophy is the foundation of Marques’s post-football journey as an entrepreneur, educator, financial advisor, executive coach, and strategic consultant for dozens of companies – from startups to Fortune 100.
His diverse path is connected by the vision to empower underserved and underestimated communities, helping them envision and achieve beyond their current limitations. Champion Venture Capital (CVP) represents an opportunity for Marques to leverage his passion, skills, influence, and access to build a firm with the potential to build a legacy of doing well and good, by creating access to wealth-building opportunities to a more diverse group of investors
Listen in as Marques and Patrick dive into mindset shifts, creating pathways to build and preserve wealth, and the offerings of Champion Venture Partners through education and investment. Marques describes how the inspiration from his father, a renaissance man, planted the seed for his own hands-on entrepreneurial endeavors and how that has shown up in every aspect of his career. Marques shares his values, the power of a strong and complementary team, and what drove him to first get his Financial Planner licenses and then create the investment vehicle of CVP. At the heart of it all for Marques are 3 pillars – integrity, the team-win, and consistently showing up.

Mindset Matters - Episode #176 - Your Ego is Not Your Enemy!

In this thought-provoking episode of Mindset Matters, Patrick and Steffany take a deep dive into the concept of ego—its role in our lives, relationships, and personal growth. Inspired by Ryan Holiday’s Ego is the Enemy, they challenge the notion that ego is something to be eliminated, instead framing it as both a protector and a potential roadblock.
Through engaging metaphors and real-life experiences, Patrick and Steffany compare ego to a suit of armor—offering protection when needed but also risking isolation if never removed. They discuss how ego influences our self-identity, drives ambition, and at times, holds us back through fear, comparison, and the need for validation.
Key insights from this episode include:✅ How ego can fuel resilience and confidence—but also limit personal growth.✅ The difference between healthy self-esteem (which seeks truth) and ego (which seeks validation).✅ Why the most effective leaders have a flexible ego—assertive yet open to feedback.✅ The impact of ego in business, sports, and personal relationships.✅ How to recognize when your ego is serving you—or keeping you small.
Patrick shares his personal experience of stepping into new leadership roles, confronting discomfort, and overcoming ego-driven doubts. Steffany explores the challenge of detaching from relationships that no longer align, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness in navigating growth and change.
This episode will leave you reflecting on the question: Is your ego working for you, or against you? Tune in for actionable strategies to harness your ego’s power and transform it into a tool for success.
🎧 Listen now and start making your ego your Amigo!

Mindset Matters - Episode #175 - Integrity: WTF? I'm Confused!

In this thought-provoking episode of Mindset Matters, hosts Patrick and Steffany Hanlen Francey take a deep dive into the meaning of integrity—one of the most frequently cited core values, yet often misunderstood. They challenge listeners to redefine integrity, moving beyond societal judgments and external expectations to a deeply personal standard: Are you living in alignment with your own values?
The discussion opens with a powerful observation: integrity often appears on people’s top values list, yet many operate outside of it—consciously or unconsciously. Patrick and Steffany break down the idea that integrity isn’t about how others perceive you but rather how truthful you are with yourself. They explore real-life examples of how misalignment with one’s values can manifest in stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction, whether in personal relationships, career choices, or even everyday habits.
Using the concept of structural integrity, they draw a parallel between maintaining a solid foundation in architecture and staying true to one’s internal framework. Just as a bridge collapses when its integrity is compromised, so too does personal well-being when one’s actions contradict their core beliefs. The hosts also examine the role of societal and professional pressures that push individuals to make choices misaligned with their values—such as career decisions made out of financial necessity rather than passion and authenticity.
This episode also delves into the nuanced challenges of integrity in modern workplaces, particularly within the realm of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Patrick and Steffany offer insights into the emotional and ethical dilemmas that arise when individuals feel forced to compromise their values to fit external frameworks.
Through engaging storytelling and real-life scenarios—including the inspiring story of a golfer who upheld integrity at great financial cost—this episode encourages listeners to take a personal integrity check. Patrick and Steffany emphasize that while making integrity-driven choices can be difficult and even lonely at times, the long-term benefits far outweigh the short-term discomfort.
Tune in to Mindset Matters for an eye-opening conversation that challenges you to reflect on your own values, question societal definitions of integrity, and take ownership of living in alignment with who you truly are.

TEDM – Joe Norelli – Fearless and Fully Committed (Episode 214)

Joe Norelli started his first venture in 1992 which brought him from New York to Florida for the second time and he hasn’t looked back. He is the founder of 35 Technologies Group, a manufacturing company that specializes in defense and aeronautical systems. Joe currently owns 17 separate ventures, including manufacturing companies, real estate, a winery in Calistoga, CA and stock in a vodka company.
Beyond his professional endeavours, Joe has committed his resources of time and money to philanthropic efforts through the Norelli Family Foundation (founded in 2013) with its primary focus “All About Kids.” Joe recently teamed up with rock legend Alice Cooper in support of his philanthropic passion – Solid Rock Teen Centres. Together with other rock icons they have produced and released a children’s album, Solid Rock Revival.
On this episode of The Everyday Millionaire Joe and Patrick get into purpose, identity, resilience and recovery, leadership, golf, and cars to name a few! Joe shares two main turning points in his early life that drove him to pursue his own ventures and quickly realized his own solution-based action was the key to fulfilling his vision and purpose. He simply isn’t built, like many are, to live within structures. Joe’s hard work and commitment to accountability have provided a legacy for his core team and his family, and he shows no signs of scaling back. Joe concludes with the philosophy he lives by and encourages others toward.

Mindset Matters - Episode #174 - From Feedback to Flourishing: How Frustration Fuels Personal Growth

In this enlightening episode of the Mindset Matters podcast, hosts Patrick and Steffany dive deep into the transformative power of frustration. They reveal that frustration isn’t merely a negative emotion—it’s a powerful feedback mechanism signaling unmet expectations and misaligned values. According to the conversation, frustration often arises when our internal expectations, whether about ourselves or others, go unfulfilled. This physiological response, they explain, is a crucial cue that something needs attention and adjustment.
Patrick and Steffany explore how both personal and interpersonal frustrations are rooted in our assumptions and unspoken expectations. They highlight that when we become frustrated—whether it's due to a partner’s differing values, a slow learning curve, or even larger societal issues like political decisions—it is often a call to examine what we truly need. Instead of letting frustration evolve into anger, the hosts suggest taking a moment to pause and ask, “What do I need that I’m not getting?” This introspection helps shift the focus from blaming external factors to owning our emotional responses.
With a blend of humor and real-life anecdotes, the conversation touches on topics ranging from relationship dynamics to the challenges of personal growth. They discuss how our frustration in everyday interactions—like those fueled by small talk or miscommunication—can serve as a stepping stone toward better communication and self-improvement. The episode also delves into the idea that, in a world full of unmet expectations, embracing and processing frustration is essential for building resilience and fostering a growth mindset.
Ultimately, Patrick and Steffany empower listeners to reframe frustration as a constructive force. By acknowledging and addressing the unmet needs behind their frustration, individuals can pave the way for enhanced self-awareness, improved relationships, and lasting personal growth. Tune in to discover practical coaching tips and insights that will help you transform frustration into an opportunity for change.

Mindset Matters - Episode #173 - The Psychology of Meaning: Why Hope & Purpose Matter

In this episode of Mindset Matters, Patrick and Steffany dive deep into the psychology of meaning and how our present influences both our past and future. Drawing on insights from renowned psychologists Dr. Roy Baumeister and Dr. Kathleen Vohs, they explore the idea that present events derive meaning from their connection to future outcomes.
The conversation touches on the growing disconnection in society and how an uncertain future impacts our sense of purpose. With rising rates of depression, suicide, and social isolation, many people are struggling to find meaning in a world that feels increasingly divided. Patrick and Steffany examine the shift from community-based happiness to individual pleasure-seeking and its effect on overall well-being.
They also discuss the impact of global and personal tragedies, including the recent loss in the figure skating community, and how grief is deeply tied to meaning. Steffany shares her perspective on grief as "stuck love" and emphasizes the importance of processing emotions, reconnecting with purpose, and moving forward with intention.
In a time of rapid change, the couple highlights the necessity of cultivating hope, building community, and embracing conversations that inspire growth. Patrick also shares his excitement about his new role with McKay CEO Forums, a platform dedicated to fostering meaningful connections among business leaders.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to navigate uncertainty, reclaim their sense of purpose, and build a meaningful future despite life's challenges.

TEDM – Tommy Mello – In it to Win It, Together (Episode 213)

Tommy Mello is the CEO of A1 Garage Door Service, a $200M company that spans across more than 20 US states. He is the host of The Mello Millionaire podcast and the Home Service Expert podcast. Additionally, he holds ownership, partnership, or investment positions in 14 other ventures, spanning from Christmas lights to real estate to mobile apps.
Tommy is a best-selling author and the founder of Home Service Freedom, a program that trains thousands of home service professionals every year. Tommy is dedicated to mentoring young entrepreneurs and gaining insights from other business experts and CEOs to continually enhance and expand his skills, both in the business realm and beyond.
Listen in to this episode as Tommy shares his journey from a hustle culture to entrepreneurial leadership. He describes how his vision evolved and the qualities and tools he adopted for exponential growth. Tommy and Patrick discuss habits vs. discipline, vanity, living a values-based life and the very personal reasons Tommy continues to strive for growth, physical excellence and a billion-dollar company. At the heart of it all is Tommy’s desire for those around him to thrive alongside.