From Broke College Kid to $500M Pest Control Empire — David Royce Explains

In this episode of The Level Up Podcast w/ Paul Alex, Paul sits down with David Royce, a founder who built one of the largest residential pest control companies in North America by focusing on systems, culture, and execution in an industry most people overlook. David breaks down how a commission-only sales job in college became the foundation for scaling a pest control business that now generates over $500 million in annual revenue. Instead of chasing trends, he leaned into fundamentals—sales training, leadership development, and building a company that could scale without relying on the founder to do everything. In this conversation, David shares: How early failure in sales shaped his competitive edge Why pest control and other “boring” industries create massive opportunity The role culture plays in attracting top talent How to build systems that allow a business to grow beyond one operator This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, operators, and anyone looking to build real businesses with long-term value. Connect with David Royce on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-royce-22539425 Make sure to add Paul Alex on all social platforms: Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024 Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNB9ivoJf7ppjuSplOAkEZw LinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024 Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out CashSwipe: 👉 https://www.cashswipe.com Get a FREE copy of Paul Alex’s book: 📘 Blue to Digital Gold – The New American Dream 👉 https://www.officialpaulalex.com Your Network Is Your Net Worth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Nick Ford breaks down the exact side hustles he used to leave law enforcement without risking his family’s stability. From building an ATM business and merchant services as passive income vehicles to transitioning into AI automation, Nick explains how small, strategic moves created real confidence—not just extra cash. Nick shares why part-time effort can still produce life-changing results, how mindset matters more than money when making the leap, and why marketing and AI are the most valuable skills to learn heading into 2025. He also opens up about betting on himself with a young family, taking a pay cut, and building a future that prioritizes freedom, fulfillment, and optionality. This episode is a must-listen for first responders, military veterans, and anyone looking to build income outside the 9–5 without burning everything down. 🎙 Guest: Nick Ford 📲 Instagram: @exitcommand Your Network is Your Net Worth! Make sure to add me on all SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS: Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024 Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNB9ivoJf7ppjuSplOAkEZw LinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024 Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out one of my companies below to see if we can help you: 👉 www.CashSwipe.com 🎁 FREE copy of my book“Blue to Digital Gold – The New American Dream” 👉 www.officialPaulAlex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wall Street to Dubai isn’t just a headline — it’s the real-life journey of Tan Gera, a former investment banker who lost everything in the 2018 crypto crash… and then rebuilt from the ground up. In this episode, Tan breaks down how he walked away from a traditional Wall Street career, turned $57,000 into millions, and went on to build a global crypto education company. He shares the hard lessons from losing seven figures, navigating bank shutdowns and payment processor freezes, and why most people misunderstand how real wealth is actually built in crypto. Tan also explains why environment beats intelligence, how entrepreneurship fueled his crypto strategy, and why your network is your net worth when it comes to long-term success, capital, and opportunity. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone questioning the 9–5 path, looking beyond crypto hype, or trying to position themselves for the next wave of digital wealth. 🎙 Guest: Tan Gera 📲 Instagram: @tanujgr Your Network is your NETWORTH! Make sure to add me on all SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS: Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024 Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNB9ivoJf7ppjuSplOAkEZw LinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024 Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out one of my companies below to see if we can help you: 👉 www.CashSwipe.com 🎁 FREE copy of my book “Blue to Digital Gold – The New American Dream” 👉 www.officialPaulAlex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do most businesses fail—even when founders are working nonstop and doing “everything right”? In this episode, Paul Alex sits down with Eddie Hartman, co-founder of LegalZoom, to break down why 72% of businesses don’t make it and what separates sustainable companies from the rest. Eddie explains why pricing is often misunderstood, how entrepreneurs confuse value with revenue, and why relying on a single growth engine eventually stalls most businesses. Drawing from his experience building LegalZoom and advising founders at every stage, he shares practical frameworks around perceived value, customer retention, negotiation, and profitable growth. If you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or leader trying to scale without burning out or bleeding profit, this episode will challenge how you think about sales, pricing, and long-term strategy. Your Network is your NETWORTH! Make sure to add me on all SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS: Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024 Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNB9ivoJf7ppjuSplOAkEZw LinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024 Follow the guest: @legalzoom Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? 👉 www.CashSwipe.com FREE copy of my book “Blue to Digital Gold – The New American Dream” 👉 www.officialPaulAlex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

High performance doesn’t always equal fulfillment—and for many men, success at work hides chaos at home. In this episode, Mitchell Osmond breaks down why so many driven, high-achieving men feel disconnected in their marriages, overwhelmed in their personal lives, and silently burned out despite outward success. Mitchell shares his raw journey from financial stress, addiction, and near divorce to rebuilding his mindset, body, marriage, and leadership from the inside out. We dive deep into radical ownership, identity, unhealed childhood trauma, masculine purpose, and why discipline without inner work eventually collapses. Mitchell explains how men can lead powerfully in business without sacrificing their family, health, or peace of mind—and why true leadership always starts at home. This conversation is for men who are winning publicly but struggling privately—and are ready to fix the real problem. 🎙 Guest: Mitchell Osmond 📲 Instagram: @dadnationco Your Network is your NETWORTH! Make sure to add me on all SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS: Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024 Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNB9ivoJf7ppjuSplOAkEZw LinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024 Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out one of my companies below to see if we can help you: 👉 www.CashSwipe.com FREE copy of my book “Blue to Digital Gold – The New American Dream” 👉 www.officialPaulAlex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people don’t fail because of lack of effort, motivation, or discipline — they fail because of a belief they don’t even know they have. In this episode, Paul Alex sits down with Shelly Lefkoe, co-founder of the Lefkoe Institute and one of the world’s leading experts on eliminating limiting beliefs. With over 35 years of experience, Shelly breaks down how unconscious beliefs are formed, why positive thinking doesn’t work, and how the stories you absorbed early in life may still be controlling your success today. You’ll hear real examples of how beliefs like “I’m not good enough,” “mistakes are bad,” and “success requires suffering” silently drive procrastination, burnout, fear, and self-sabotage — even in high achievers and entrepreneurs. Shelly also explains the critical difference between behavior patterns and beliefs, and why lasting change only happens when beliefs are eliminated at the root. If you’ve ever felt stuck repeating the same cycles, pushing harder without real progress, or wondering why you know what to do but still don’t do it — this conversation will hit home. Connect with Shelly Lefkoe on Instagram: @shellylefkoe Learn more and access her free resource here: 👉 https://recreateyourlife.com/free/benefits-2025.php Your Network is your NETWORTH! Make sure to add me on all SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS: Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024 Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNB9ivoJf7ppjuSplOAkEZw LinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024 Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out one of my companies: www.CashSwipe.com FREE copy of my book “Blue to Digital Gold – The New American Dream”:www.officialPaulAlex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Innovation doesn’t fail because companies lack ideas—it fails because leadership and culture aren’t built to support change. In this episode, Paul Alex sits down with Bud Caddell, founder of NOBL (nobl.io), to break down what actually stops organizations from executing on bold ideas. Bud shares real-world lessons from working with global brands and fast-growing companies, explaining how misaligned incentives, poor leadership behaviors, and broken decision-making systems quietly kill innovation. He also reveals what leaders must do differently to build cultures where change doesn’t just start—but actually sticks. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a team leader, or building from the ground up, this conversation will reshape how you think about leadership, culture, and execution. Your Network is your NETWORTH! Make sure to add me on all SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS: Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024 Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNB9ivoJf7ppjuSplOAkEZw LinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024 Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out one of my companies below to see if we can help you: 👉 www.CashSwipe.com FREE Copy of my book “Blue to Digital Gold – The New American Dream” 👉 www.officialPaulAlex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if mastering a few simple AI skills could completely change your income in 2025? Today, Paul Alex brings on AI powerhouse Alicia Lyttle (@alicialyttle) to break it all down. Alicia has spent more than 25 years in the online space, built multiple multi-million-dollar businesses, trained governments and universities worldwide, and became one of the top voices in AI literacy. Today, she reveals how anyone—from total beginners to seasoned entrepreneurs—can leverage AI to level up their income, productivity, and opportunities. From shutting down her digital marketing agency overnight to going all-in on AI, Alicia shares the mindset shifts, tools, and strategies that helped her become one of the most sought-after AI consultants in the world. She explains how entrepreneurs are cutting production time from weeks to hours, why AI literacy is now the #1 skill on LinkedIn, and what you must learn immediately to stay ahead of the coming workforce shift. Whether you’re building a business, pivoting careers, or simply trying to future-proof your skills… this conversation will change everything you thought you knew about AI. Your Network Is Your Net Worth! Make sure to add me on all platforms: Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024 Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNB9ivoJf7ppjuSplOAkEZw LinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024 Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out my companies below:www.CashSwipe.com Get your FREE copy of “Blue to Digital Gold – The New American Dream”:www.officialPaulAlex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when a career-ending injury becomes the catalyst for a completely new life? In today’s episode, Ted Stern (@fitresponder) shares how snapping his ankle on duty pushed him into the online world — and how that single moment transformed him from a frustrated first responder into a multiple 6-figure fitness entrepreneur. Ted breaks down the exact steps he used to scale from making a few thousand a month to consistently hitting $100K+ months, why niching saved his business, how first responders sabotage their own potential, and what it really takes to build a winning culture and team in 2025. We also dive deep into limiting beliefs, environment, accountability, and the mindset every first responder needs if they want to level up their health, income, and identity. Whether you're in law enforcement, an entrepreneur, or someone ready for a transformation — this episode is loaded with real, tactical value. In This Episode You’ll Learn: 🔥 How a broken ankle pushed Ted into online coaching 🔥 The moment he realized he’d never go back to law enforcement 🔥 Why most fitness coaches never break past $10K months 🔥 The mindset shifts that create 6–7 figure entrepreneurs 🔥 How environment and accountability reshape your entire life 🔥 The fitness warning signs every first responder ignores 🔥 Why investing in yourself is the highest ROI decision you’ll ever make Your Network is Your NETWORTH! Make sure to add me on all SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS: Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024 Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNB9ivoJf7ppjuSplOAkEZw LinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024 Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out one of my companies below to see if we can help you:www.CashSwipe.com FREE Copy of my book “Blue to Digital Gold - The New American Dream”www.officialPaulAlex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From sleeping under bridges to building a 9-figure real estate empire, William Fonseca has lived through darkness most people never escape — addiction, homelessness, abuse, and complete loss. But instead of letting his past define him, William transformed his pain into a global mission: saving and educating children around the world through purpose-driven real estate and charitable work. In this powerful and deeply emotional conversation, William breaks down the moment faith redirected his entire life, how he rebuilt from absolutely nothing, and why serving others became the center of his entrepreneurial success. His story is raw, unfiltered, and a reminder that no matter how far you fall, you can rise even higher. 🌎 Want to connect with William Fonseca? Email: [email protected] Website: wynwooddaycare.com 🎧 If you're searching for inspiration, purpose, or proof that your past doesn’t define your destiny — this episode is for you. Make sure to add me on all social platforms: Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024 Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNB9ivoJf7ppjuSplOAkEZw LinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024 Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out one of my companies below: www.CashSwipe.com FREE Copy of my book “Blue to Digital Gold - The New American Dream”:www.officialPaulAlex.com Your Network Is Your Net Worth! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices