Episode 71 - The Tables Have Turned - Behind The Brand Of Anthony O'Neal

Nicky Saunders  
what’s poppin whats poppin whats poppin Welcome to Nicky and moose. I'm Nicky That's moose What's up moose?

Mostafa Ghonim  
What up y'all?

Nicky Saunders  
And listen, on this episode we got a very special special guest let me start the air horns early. Okay. air horns early ladies, he single. Let's start there. Let's start there. Okay. All right. An incredible story alright from like 19 homeless to like debt free lady ladies he's debt free speaker author a fire podcast which I don't know why I'm not on yet but we'll talk about that during the episode you hear me but that's that's that's neither here nor there. Um man I'm gonna let moose introduce the rest but like I'm excited about this one moose.

Mostafa Ghonim  
yeah this was fire we you know once in a while when you get a guest that's rowdy and what we call backstage this virtual podcast so we don't get to actual stage but you know you hear him ruffle in the back right? Hey, I'm ready pounding tables ready to go at it. You know, it's gonna be a fire episode, man, we got the one and only Anthony O'Neal.

Nicky Saunders  
Let's get into the intro.

Jaymie Jordan  
Two kids from Queens. Cut from a different cloth. Now joining forces helping you to elevate your personal brand. Yeah, I'm talking about Nicky and moose, bringing you in never before seen perspective into the mindset, the mentality, the behaviors, the driving force, for more importantly, the stories behind the people and brands that you know and love the most.

Nicky Saunders  
So without further ado, right. Let's just bring the man of the hour. I got some questions. Oh, I got some question. Where are you looking at? I don't even know where he's looking.

Anthony O'Neal  
Yo, listen, man, I'm sitting here watching the intro. I'm like, why I'm on this show. Why am I here? This joint is fire. I'm looking forward. Thank you for giving me all the love on you know being single cause ya boy is single. You know, I'm saying so

Nicky Saunders  
we gonna talk about the course we're gonna talk about a lot of things. But before we do before we do. Moose, should I tell them? Should I tell them? Tell them all right off the bat. All right, tell them I got some pictures. Right? I got some pictures. And all I need you to do is say the first phrase and if you want to give a little story, I'm cool with that. But the first phrase of this particular thing, okay, got a few Okay, ready? All right. Let's

Anthony O'Neal  
get it all right. Oh, OG styles.

Nicky Saunders  
Okay. Audio listeners. We got a young ant That looks like he's wearing his daddy suit. 

Anthony O'Neal  
Steve Harvey style. He knows. And that's when you wear the vest on top of the suit jacket. Yes.

Nicky Saunders  
Oh, man. I got another one got another one. Another young ant where were you?

Anthony O'Neal  
they call me the pretty boy you know I'm saying I want the ladies to pull my hair back in the day Yeah, I’m just being real I'm just being real.

Nicky Saunders  
Okay. All right. Here we go. Here we get a little bit more serious. 

Anthony O'Neal  
yeah, man. That was when I was on the Ramsey team and and just learning growing and evolving during that season. You see that W on me? I was winning at the time.

Nicky Saunders  
I see you. I see you. Okay, another picture.

Anthony O'Neal  
Oh, man, my girl man Tamron Hall, who helped me promote my book man for it to become a number one national bestseller. And it's, you know, it's actually behind me. So yeah, that's my girl. She's so beautiful too my Lord.

Nicky Saunders  
Talk about it. And then the last one. Last one. Some milestones. Milestones. milestones. Yeah. Yeah. 300k on the YouTube fire graphic by the way, fire graphic, but, yo, how Talk to us about that feeling

Anthony O'Neal  
You know, it was good. You know, um, you know Nicky I remember when I first started this journey of doing the table, but Anthony O’Neal , um, you know, a lot of people didn't really believe in the method. They didn't believe in the message that I was trying to portray. They just didn't really understand or see it being successful. And so to reach 300,000 subs in a matter of a year and a half, two years, that's about two years, two and a half years now. Fire when you got people, it takes them two years to get 1000 subs, you know? And so we've been able to grow and now I mean, that was back in November now we're at about 340,000 Subs just added it just added another show. And so you know, we're, we're growing we're growing and I heard you you know throw a little shade earlier, and I'm gonna get you on the show Nicky just gotta give us some time.

Nicky Saunders  
I just say throw it in there. You know? Me it would be Newark New Yorker me, but let's go

Mostafa Ghonim  
Fire. Fire. Hey, so So real quick. Let me give a quick intro man. Right So number one, national best selling author. Right has helped over a quarter million people set out on a path towards a debt free life. With a chart topping book, debt free degree reached over 15 million people in 15 Different countries through his podcast a table where he keeps it real relevant and relatable. Gotta love it. Ant this is incredible, bro. But on this show, we of course want to show people how it happened. Give us the story, man. How did you get into this? Right like how did Anthony O'Neal start this journey in his step one what was his chapter one look like?

Anthony O'Neal  
Yeah, most meno Chapter One was a was a pivotal one for me. But it was also I think, the best chapter that set up the stage for where I am. You know, I'm saying I grew up with four parents. So I had like four loving parents, two biological parents and two step parents. My biological mom stepdad and my siblings live in Oceanside, California. And then my biological dad and stepmother live in. They live in Columbia, South Carolina, right? So I am at this season to where I was raised in a very strong Christian faith home. And I couldn't go out to prom. I couldn't go out to school dances. I couldn't go to the mall. I couldn't go to the movies unless my parents went, I had to wear church shoes to school. I had to, I couldn't kiss a girl. I couldn't go on a date with a girl it was it was go to school, come home, do your homework, go to church. Go to church. Monday through Sunday, we only had two important conversations moose and it was hey, as a young African American, here's what you do if you get pulled over by a police officer, you call mom and dad. Number two is if you you know want to get into heaven don't do these things. And the only conversation I had around money was hey, if you get $100 Give 10% of it to the church which is $10 Hmm So growing up you know I didn't really get the wisdom I didn't really get the knowledge on how to really get the bag secure the bag and flip the bag and so you know my parents said hey man, just make sure you go to school get a good job Get get 401k benefits and make sure that you don't jack up your credit score but no one really taught me you know what is debt no one really taught me what is a credit card no one really taught me how to budget so to make a long story short man when it when I say that chapter one of my life was I graduated high school went off to school in California. Try to impress all the ladies Nicky, I'm talking about like, Yo, you know, I'm saying I'm getting all the Filipinos half black ladies, I'm pulling in the mix, ladies, I'm pulling in the black ladies. And I'm doing all this stuff just to impress people. So I'm racking up credit cards, I'm racking up student loans, and I don't need student loans. Because most my father was a no in army. And so when he retired, I got a portion of his GI Bill. And then I had a partial scholarship for the NFL, the National Forensic Lee right. And so I didn't need any scholarship money. But I didn't need any more student loans. But I took them out anyways, so I can go buy her a doing books first so I can go buy me, you know, a leather couch so when she comes over, we have something nice to sit on. I'm gonna leave it right there and let y'all add stuff to that right

so you know, man, I racked up all this debt made a bad decision when it comes to life. And that decision cost me my college experience. And I kicked out of school. I lost my job that was attached to the school. And I lost my job that was attached to the school. I thought I was going back home. But my family quickly reminded me that you know, I thought I was a grown man. And because I thought that that was like grown men don't come back home so go fix it. And so with all the pride inside of me, I didn't apologize to my parents. I didn't step up to the plate. I was like alright, cool. Great. Went back to her. Who I was trying to impress. She didn't offer me a place to lay My head went back to him, my homeboy at the time. He was like, Yo, you can't come here because my parents are trippin. And so at the age of 19, I'm homeless, sleeping in the back of my car. And I was blaming everyone else. But myself. I was blaming my parents. I was blaming God, I was blaming her, I was blaming them. I was blaming everyone around me rather than actually blaming myself. And I'm literally in the backseat of my car washing myself, I'm literally in the backseat of my car contemplating suicide. I'm literally in the backseat of my car, question, you know, questioning, my Christianity walk at the time, you know, and so, I made I made I made a decision during that time. Because it was one night, I was about to go to this young lady's house. She invited me over there to watch bad boys. And Monday through Friday, I will go to the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club and take a shower. Saturdays and Sundays, I would just not shower well this one particular day, she invited me to the house and I didn't want to go with their phone. So I grabbed the Dawn dish detergent and the dove from out of the back of my car that I use to clean my car. And I literally in the backseat of my car and I put the suds on top of me. And I broke it. I broke emotionally. I'm sitting there naked. In the back of my car was soap says on me from dawn, not dove dawn. And I literally said, I'm tired of this life. I want to be wealthy. I want to go home. I want to have kids, I want to have a family. I want to have freedom. And I'm tired of this life. And I broke down crying and I went back home apologize to my parents begging them to give me another chance they allow me back in. And from that point on I haven't made all the right decisions, right? But when it comes to my money, I eliminated my debt. I'm today I'm 100% debt free excluding my mortgage. I purchase all my cars cash, I purchase everything in my house cash. I mean, whatever I do, I move at the speed of cash. And I'm just traveling around the world just helping people live a debt free life, racked up wealth start businesses. And really when I really look at it, I'm really helping, like single people, millennial people maximize their Milenio young and single life. How do we steward this season? Well, so we can get the bag so we can start businesses and we can move forward and build healthy families and leave a legacy for our children's children. So that's chapter one, man. That's the pivotal moment in my life.

Nicky Saunders  
Oh, sheesh. Yeah, air horns today, air horns will be played today. warning people. Alright, so with an incredible story like that, and you being out of debt. At what point did you say? And what age? Yo I got to teach other people like I went through this and went through the lowest of lows. And now I'm out of it. When did you make that? Yeah, I gotta teach people and I got to figure this out how I can impact other people to make sure they don't they don't do what I do.

Anthony O'Neal  
You know, Nicky, it was, I think I was 2021. Yeah, I was 21. And I was working for a collection company. Collecting other people's debt. Right. And then when I get off of work, I will go wash cars. But every friday every friday in Oceanside, California, we will always y'all remember, you know, back in the days, man when we would you had the spinner wheels. You know, when you stop the car, the wheels kept spinning. Yeah. Yeah. And so I had those on my on my car, right. And every Friday, we'll get off work. We'll all go wash our cars, go home, change clothes, and then we'll all meet at the beach and we'll all park on a beach. And we'll just sit there and just chill for the whole Friday night. Well, on this one particular Friday, it changed my perspective on how I'm approaching life. Because me and my boy pull up in my car. My wheels are still spinning. I'm in a 2000 Ford Explorer, right and I got two twelves in the backseat with 1000 watt amp. I'm chilling you hear me coming from you know a mile away. And then all of my people pull it. Pull him a BMW Mercedes. Lexus IS Range Rovers I mean just some nice cars with wheels with systems in it with TVs in the back. And that was real popular back then. And me and my boys sat there it was like yo that do live with his mom in the basement. You know he live with like for the guys in a two bedroom house. Hmm. Yo he live in his old lady like with three kids? Bro, he just asked me for $5 Yesterday hmm, just so he can get a double cheeseburger. And me him literally said like, Yo, we look like we have money. But bro we broke, right? We we don't have nothing. And we literally sat there in a car like, there has to be another way to life. We're sitting here driving this nice car and I paid, you know at the time three grand for them 22 inch wheels that keeps spinning. But that was a dumb decision AO, you got to go home and ask your mom and dad can get some gas money. And I literally told myself then I was like, Yo, forget about pleasing culture. And then let's go change the mindset of culture. Let's let's, let's go shift things. Let's go learn things and start teaching that. Because really everyone, everyone was just going, you know, hey, I want to go down this route, which is, you know, OPM, use other people's money, get a good credit score. Cool, great. I don't knock that route And no one was teaching. How do we actually have ownership? How do we actually live below our means? How do we ask to become debt free, so we can build true wealth and pass it down. And I believe a lot of people, I believe there are people who can use other people's money and use credit cards and still, you know, build true and lasting wealth. But the majority of people in America today live above their means they live paycheck to paycheck. And I wanted to learn how to get out of that mess myself, and then turn around and teach everyone how to do that. It's all about 2021 when I made that decision.

Mostafa Ghonim  
Yeah, I like I like how, in, in the message AO, you're talking to the season that you're in, and the one that you've mastered, right, like, like that. This is a lot of people, when they're building their business, they struggle with identifying their niche audience, right? And you're very specific, I'm helping people with this problem, right? And those people are single people. Right? I love that you're very clear on that. Talk about just some of the ways did. And by the way, for those of you who are listening, we got a special announcement on the back half of this episode, you know, AIO got some, some some cooking up in the back. We're not going to tell you just yet, right. But you don't have to wait till the end, listen to this one, all the way through. But now talk to us about, you know, maybe the discipline that it took to say, Hey, I'm going to help people of my era, my generation and not rush the chapters to get elsewhere, which I believe is something that you stand on pretty strong as well.

Anthony O'Neal  
Yeah, man, you know, I was sitting back looking, I was like, man, everyone talks to teenagers, everyone's helping them get into school, everyone's helping them, you know, get their basketball skills up, get the golf game up, get their tennis game up, so they can get into school. And then everyone's talking to adults and married couples, and hey, here's how you can stay in your marriage. And here's how you can have a healthy marriage. And here's how you can have a great intimacy, which are just files. But I was like, dang, no one's talking to a single people. You know, they're leaving us hanging, I was like, Yo, just go do whatever live your life. If you're 20, you know, just go date have fun. You only got one life. So you know, just, you know, do your thing enjoy life. And I'm like, Nah, man, that that was just kind of messed up. And I realized that, that, that our season of being in our youthfulness, and being single, I really wish somebody would have told me at 18 Hey, you're graduating high school. Here's two things, here's what you need to know about finances, give me a whole course on that. And then two, here's how you need to steward your single season. And so my passion came from all of the dumb decisions that are made when I was 18. In my young 20s, I'm sitting out here trying to impress culture, I'm sitting here trying to blend in with culture. I'm scared and fearful to be who I really am at my core. So I was allowing them to tell me who I should be. I was allowing culture to tell me how I should think I was down culture, it tell me what I should do. Rather than just being true to who I am being authentic, Anthony O'Neill and be okay with hay. She may not like me, he may not want to rock with me. And that's cool. And so my passion comes from now, which is really helping single people. Steward this single season, you don't have you don't have a you know, a man or a woman. You're cool, great. You may have a child. But if you don't have a child, and it's just you, like, Yo, what, what can you be building right now? What what could you be accomplishing right now? And so that's just one thing that I'm really, really just passionate about is really identifying who I'm going after. And my heart and my passion of who I'm going after will be the millennial minority single space between the ages of 20 and about 45 years old and really just focused on helping them one maximize their single season. Help them eliminate debt free, help them build and establish true wealth for their families.

Nicky Saunders  
So I love that you know exactly who your audience is. That is one of the biggest mistakes that people have. When they're starting out their brand. They don't know who their audiences they like everybody, I want to help everybody. So yeah, my question to you is, go back, and, and help the people out with some of your earliest branding mistakes when trying to build this AOL brand that we know of today.

Anthony O'Neal  
You know, one of the earliest mistakes that I made, was not sitting down and writing down the vision for where I wanted to go with the brand. I've always had to give to talk, I've always had to get the gap. You know, I'm saying I was a number one debater in high school. So I always could talk. And I'll never forget, one of my teachers told me that you're going to be a powerful motivator, you're going to motivate people's lives with your mouth. Because you know, how to encourage you know how to inspire you know how to make us laugh, you know how to, you know, in the church, I can make you shout, I can make you run around. You know, but she was like, you're gonna be that guy. And so what I did Nikki was I just went out there and just did whatever. If you gave me a mic in any room, I just said and did what ever if you put me in front of someone, I became that person. One of the biggest mistakes I've made earlier on in my career was saying yes to everything. When I should have said no, to 90% of the things I said yes to.

Nicky Saunders  
Run that back. Yeah, run that back

Anthony O'Neal  
You know, I'm saying it's like 90% of the things. I should have said, No, it doesn't fit where I'm going. It doesn't align with my vision. You see, one of the problems that I see with people today is they don't spend time to write their vision. And the book of Proverbs says, where there is no vision, that's where people perish. And so like, the reason why I didn't grow as fast, mature as fast, built wealth as fast is because I didn't have a clear vision. And because I didn't have a clear vision. I was saying yes, to him her. Yes, that yesterday, she had said that yesterday. And I didn't know where I was going. And so I was all over the place. You know, I'm doing this for the church, I'm doing this in this marketplace. I'm talking to little kids in kindergarten, I'm over here talking to this particular racist group. I'm be honest, and I'm over here, whatever was paying me I was doing it. But I wasn't going in a direct place. And I think that was one of the biggest mistakes that I've ever made. In the beginning. Back in when I was 25 26. You know, I didn't I didn't spend time to think about okay, cool, where am I going? What is my, what's my navigation system, and anyone, or anything that attaches to me has to be aligned with where I'm going. We don't have to have the same vision, but they have to be able to help me get there. And I probably would have been there already, you know, that even comes down to relationships. There's some relationships I should have never entered into not because they're horrible ladies, it was just had these were ladies who were not aligned with where I was going. And so they distracted me from from from going to where I wanted to go. And I remember her she's one particularly young lady as a good young lady. But she tried to talk me out of certain things that I should have done. And because I liked her, and I'm just gonna be real This isn't you know, Nicky and moose show And because she had a nice little shape back there. Yeah, I listened. I listened to her. Because I didn't want to lose her. So because I didn't want to lose her. I lost myself. And, and in losing myself I disconnected from where I was going. And so that's just one of the things that I will help the people out is, man, listen, the easiest way to say no to someone, or to something, or to an opportunity is by having a clear vision. And your clear vision is your escape route. Is it will help you say no, and it will help you say yes in a nice way. And a simple Yeah, this this aligns with my vision. Let's do this. No, this isn't aligned with where I'm going love you. You cool people. Let me know how I can support you. But we just can't do it together. But yeah, I rock with you. And let me know how I can help but this is in alignment where I'm going and that is just solid. You're not saying you're a horrible person. He's just saying hey, We're not going to same place. But I still rock with you though.

Mostafa Ghonim  
That's, that's that's classy right there AO can't argue that you just don't align with my vision and try again next season, maybe they're not gonna be some better luck. Talk about now from a business standpoint, cuz I love the clarity of the vision who you help and how we're helping them. I think that's a very simple framework. But I do find that a lot of people when they're now saying, Okay, I'm going to go to market with this, there is maybe some fear some some trepidation around putting a price tag to it, or just knowing what to charge and what to give away. How did you find out just that framework in general, what to charge what to give away? How did that how did that come along? For you?

Anthony O'Neal  
man you know, my dad taught me the six PS proper prior planning prevents poor performances, right. And so what I simply do is before I do anything, like I have a course coming up my very first course coming out here in a few days, right. And I, I did I did the research, bro, I stepped back I said, okay, cool. Identify my market. Who am going after? So this particular course is going after millennials who are single, right? Then after I did that, is I went and did the resources and looked up. Okay, who is also in this space? As far as going after Millennials going after, you know, the relationship space? And I wouldn't say okay, what, what is their price range? What does their course offer? Not so I can rip anything. So I'm not ripping anything. But I want to know, what value are they presenting, that this these group of people know, the power in doing anything in business is to do your proper prior planning, and your proper prior research? And so when I did that, okay, cool, great. Then I went back to the drawing table, and said, Alright, I'm offering this, here's my credibility in as as an influencer. They're offering this price. This is my first course. And then I took that information. And I went and took it to someone who's wiser than me, like, hey, like a mentor, like, Hey, this is what I this is what I found. This is what I saw. This is the price that I'm thinking about charging. And it moves. He said, You're not charging enough. Mm hmm. I was like, I'm not charging enough. I said, Well, I'm just trying to bless the people. He said, If you charge them that little, they're not gonna, they're not gonna rock with you. Because you're not making them invest into themselves. And then you're devaluing who you are. And I was like, ah, and so I think I think it's a good thing. When you have a price, and you're a little nervous, not because you're nervous, if they'll buy it, you're nervous that you're what they think is too much. I think that's a good, that's a good place to be in, because it shows that you care about your tribe, it shows that you care about your people, but never devalue who you are. As long as you know, hey, my price is 1000 bucks, cool, great is the product you're offering worth 2000. That's it, you don't I would never charge 100% What my product is worth. So if my product is worth 2000, you may get it for 1500. But you'll never get it for 2000. Because I want you to get more value than what you paid for. But you can give you gone give me some money, you definitely gone pay me. But I'm also doing the research and making sure that my prices is fair. My price is normal. And also, I'm pricing it to where it's okay. It's worth my time. Because I'm putting an effort. I'm putting in thoughts I'm putting in long nights, but I haven't slept though, like the last three days. You know, most because I've been just making sure that what I present is excellent. And excellence comes with time. And there's a cost to that. So my course is not going to be just something that was sat together in a week. No, it's been taking me about four months to put this thing together. And I'm literally going back and fine tuning it. So for me on the business side of things, I get it at first. So you're going to you're going to feel like hey, does this too much. And I think that's a good feeling at first because it lets me know that you care about your people. But never doubt your worth. You are worth you know what that course is worth what that product what that thing that you're offering is worth walking into that space, own that space. Be humble, but Don't devalue yourself. nicaean is these days

Nicky Saunders  
Okay, so this may be a selfish question for myself. I'm cool with that. I'm podcasting the journey of it. Why why? Why do it? What has like? What was your first couple of episodes? Like? Because we see, we see what you have now. Right? We see the content, the content is top notch, right? But people do not really ever understand the back end of it. So let's talk a little bit about the journey of podcasting. From your side.

Anthony O'Neal  
May, you know, podcasting was I'll be honest, was not really in my eyes. It was really YouTube. And then I was like, Okay, let me do YouTube, because I'm good with facial expressions, I'm good with my hand gestures, I'm good with, you know what doing my thing. And then and doing my research. I found out the audience that I'm really going after spend a lot of time on Instagram and on YouTube. And I was like, podcast, and so I'll be honest, and Frank, you know, it was Ramsey solutions. When I was with them for seven years. I said, Yo, you should really, you know, consider podcast because of because of the audience that's over there. And I'm like, people ain't over there and be awesome and black people in over there like that. It's not over there. They don't YouTube, they're on Snapchat. You know, I'm saying they, they don't IG but podcast, man Ain’t nobody listening to podcast right. And when I started doing more research, I started noticing that they are. Mm hmm. And they love it. And I was slipping. And I was missing out. And honestly, podcasts makes me good money. I'm glad to hear like, I'm like, wait a minute, podcasts over here. Bringing me some coins. Okay, let's just wait a minute. And so I think one of the main reasons why I'm like in this space, right, podcasting, and YouTube, and I'll be frank is there there are not a lot of minority successful people doing and teaching what I teach, right? So my message is a little unique, right? It's low different from the average people out there who are in the money, and relationships space I teach, don't have a credit card. And so I wanted to be the example that Yo, you can still have that luxury item, you can still have that nice lifestyle, you can still drive that luxury car. And you don't you don't you pay cash for it. And so and I went to put my message out there. And so it's really been, wow, an amazing journey, right? Because now I represent a group of people that never seen something like this before, while also teaching what I'm teaching. And I just, I really just wanted to get my message my story out there. And because I did get it out there, now people are hungry to learn how to do it. So I'm just I'm enjoying it. And so we actually just went up to two shows. And we're going up to three shows in April a week. Because people are just hungry for the message. And they want to hear both sides. Okay, this is the credit route. This is the no credit route. And then I think they just want to make a decision for themselves. Like, what's the best route for me? And I'm just giving them my story, my journey. And podcasting is honestly the best way. And let me say this. Let me say this too. A lot of people think YouTubing and podcasting, there's no money in it. I think they really understand this. There's a whole lot of money in this game. There's a study that just recently came out that the fastest growing the fastest small type of business, the fastest growing small type of business are influencers are people who are YouTube, people who are on podcast, people who are content creators, they are making seven plus figures within a matter of like three to five years, within a matter of a year and a half, two years, they're making six plus figures. And then within the first year you can make you know what the average person in America makes was $41,000 If you get out here, write some good content, you know, listen to Nicky and moose because Nicky is always dropping, how to grow your Instagram, how to do this, how to do that. And if you sit here, you just learn this stuff, man, you can make some serious money. And so it's funny how when I talk to people like the older generation, Thomas, what are you doing? I'm not mad, you know? I'm just a speaker author and influencer influencer. I was like, yeah, yeah. So what I mean, would you? Would you do it on my Well, I do. You know, I will show based on YouTube and on podcast and Travel around just speaking youtube? like that. I'm like, Yeah youtube. Baby, is that a job? I said, Well, how much do you make a year? So I think I think what people really have to understand that there's a, there's a new wave coming when it comes to entrepreneurship. You know, Nicky, you just did an IG video talking about a 17 year old making all this money, millions of dollars. Yeah, um, you know, my nephews and niece make up more money come combined. And they're like, five through 10 with my brother in law, because they're just very unique individuals, and they're taken advantage of YouTube space. So I think if you have something to say, if you're willing to spend some time to learn man YouTubing, podcasting becoming a social influencer with true and authentic content is the route to go

Nicky Saunders  
I gotta follow up with this. This man, let me end this master class that he just gave me in this. But how but how do you make the coins you said, there's coins, but the the AO blueprint to making some coins in the YouTube and podcasting game, give them give them some gems off of their inspired now they're like, alright, you know, I'm gonna start this YouTube channel. I'm gonna get this podcast out. But I don't know how to make money.

Anthony O'Neal  
My very first thing is me. Number one is you got to have something you got. You got to have some say, you know, I'm saying you can't just watch this show. Take all the Nicky moose questions, and then go interview somebody else and copy. Now you got to be true and authentic to yourself? Like why do people want to listen to what you have to say? So you need to spend some time and really identify what is what is burning on the inside of you. You know, what's burning inside of me is financial freedom. It's financial peace. For young people, for singles, for millennials, for minorities, that's burning inside of me. What makes you unique? You know, I'm saying that you identify that you will make money. Why? Why will people come to you? Like what? Why would? How would you build an audience? What are you saying? If you're just like everyone else, you're gonna you're gonna be swimming in a pond. And no one's gonna identify you. What makes Anthony O'Neill Anthony O'Neal unique. He's a black man saying don't use credit cards. He is a black man saying don't do that. He's a black man saying live below your means he is a black man saying brothers. If she wants a $50 She wants a $500 date. She ain't the one the first day you only spend 50 to $100 Hmm. So now you create this this level of level he talks about only $100 days. Whoa, whoa, what is he talking about? Is he crazy? Let me go listen to him some more. And then as they listen to me, they consume my content. And they they're understanding now when I'm teaching. And so for me, it's number one, identify the content. When you identify the content, grow your tribe, here's how you do it. Don't try and grow a tribe of 100,000. Listen, you want to make a million dollars on YouTube, get to 2000 Faithful YouTubers, that's it. If you want to make a man hours, all you got to do is get you a solid 2000 people, okay, that will pay you $400 for something that's a million dollars . So you don't need 100,000 subscribers, you don't need a million subscribers. What you need is a message that will impact and that will inspire a group of people. When you have that message that will inspire impact your tribe is going to come if you focus on influence in impacting income comes. So get the get the message. Get the loyal tribe, right. And then from there, man, just dump just dump content, keep dumping content. And then the key thing for me is where I'm really able to really excel that is I honestly take advantage of two things on YouTube, I take advantage of brand deals and I take advantage of affiliate deals. If you come on my show and you promote something as an ad on my show, you got to I got to be an affiliate. And if you're gonna make a million dollars from my, you know, from my channel, I'm gonna get something from it too, because I'm introducing you to my audience, which is why I'm very selective about who I allow on my show, and who I allow to promote something on my show. Because I want to make sure it's something that I use or something that I would use before I endorse it. And if I endorse it, then you know when it comes to making money, yo I need you know if it's a digital product, I'm getting no less than 30 to 40% of the product. If it's a book, you know, I'm gonna push you through Amazon's affiliate page. You know, I'm very strategic on that. Because I mean, it doesn't make sense for you to come on and make money off my show. And I get nothing. And so, Bill, get a message. Build your tribe, protect your tribe. And don't focus on building large numbers. No, here's how you win when it comes to people influence them, impact them, they'll reward you with income.

Nicky Saunders  
Sorry moose I had to get that master class

Mostafa Ghonim  
nah, nah, hey, I'm hearing words different which you AO, you don't say I'm hearing words, different incomes, the income you feel me like it's just a little bit different. I'm like, Oh, wait, that I just realized that after 32 years. Okay. Talk man talk about some of the challenges that might still happen day to day, the reason why I ask us because I feel like still people in their business journeys, they expect that once they have that one successful launch, but once they decide to make the decision to go public with their product, their service, their YouTube channel or their podcast, they expect it to be a smooth road the whole way. And it's like, man, successful people still have challenges today. Talk about just some of your challenges. Now, even today, as it relates to maybe business decisions that you have to make legal contracts that you have to negotiate things of that matter.

Anthony O'Neal  
I mean, one of the biggest challenges that I'm facing with right now is people. You know, I got to deal with people, I got to deal with different characters, different personalities, and people have to deal with me and I am a very direct individual, my team will tell you that AO is very direct. I say what's on my heart, I say it to the best way that I can respectfully right. But I've learned, not everyone talks the way I talk not everyone thinks the way I think and one of the things you're going to always deal with when you when you when you are an entrepreneur is different personalities, different characters. And you're going to have to really learn how to maneuver around, okay, this person a bit more emotional, okay, this person doesn't like it asked her right, okay, this person is very direct. And you have to really learn how to steward all and manage all of these different relationships. Because as the CEO of your company, anything goes wrong within with with inside of that company, it's not their fault. It's not your teammates fault. It's your fault. You're the head, you get them, but you get the bulk of income, you're paying them a set fee, or hourly pay, but you're going home with 30% 40% of what the company may, you know, so for me is I'm learning. And I just had this hobby awesome shot, man, I just had this just the other day, I had to have a real heart heart heated conversation with a couple of my team members. And, man, it was it was difficult. You know, there was some we didn't we didn't cuss each other out, because we don't do that. But our toes got kind of loud. And we got kind of aggressive with the conversation. Um, and I had to say this, I was like, Yo, listen, maybe this is not a good fit for you. And you know, we resolve the matter. But just because you see the money you got just because you see the cars, just because you see that successful launch, like, like moose said, Man, listen, do you know how much hell and drama has gone on behind closed doors? You don't have many nights? You know, Nicky and moose has probably had to stay up just to edit podcasts just just to, you know, have hard, Do you know how many nights I haven't gone to sleep? Because that my video God couldn't do videos. So I had to edit them myself. You know, many time I had to stay up and paint the new studio because I wanted I wanted a certain kind of way. Now many times when people say hey, you know what, I can't do the graphics today. So I had to go on YouTube and learn how to get creative inside Canva and I'm sitting there drinking a Red Bull and, and, and trying to keep the AC on like 60 degrees to keep me up while I'm drawing. Because listen, there's no excuse. There's no I can't be like, Well, my, my, my graphic designer failed me. So I can't know I gotta make it happen. True entrepreneurship. A true entrepreneur makes it happen to the best of their abilities and they do not blame people. And so what I tell everyone man is as I'm in this space, you know, I'm learning more and more

you know, and I'll be honest with you, oh, shoot, I just texted my therapist of the day that I think I need to stair step up my sessions with you because I need to be able to vent. Because as as the owner, I can't vent to the people who are on my team. I can't vent to my, you know, to my independent contractors, I can't vent to my to my team team who's on my payroll I, I can't vent to them. Because then now they're looking at me, well, you're the owner. And so it's not easy. But now let me say this much. Ownership is rewarding. Entrepreneurship is rewarding. And I believe, for the minority minority culture of entrepreneurship is freedom. That is the key to freedom. That is the key of where we can really control our destiny. And so I do know that there's a down with everything. There's a downward entrepreneurship, there's a downward 9 to 5 But there's a positive with 9 to 5. And there's a positive with what's with entrepreneurship. And so I'm just learning now moose How do I deal with the downfalls? How do I deal with the Knights that I'll be honest with you, I feel like crying and giving up. You know, I've been on this business. I've been on this journey now for by myself for about eight months before I had it with with Ramsey and man, such an amazing organization. And I decided to step out on my own. And man, I can't even count how many times you know, I've had some emotional nights because I want to go sleep. And I can't because I need to edit this video. So I'm on YouTube. I'm on Nickys page, trying to learn how to make these dope Instagram stuff. And I still don't know how to do it like naked, you know? But it's like, but when I get that check, or checks when I get the when I get the comments on YouTube. Say, yo, thank you. When I get the DM some people say Yo, man that touched my life. I just honestly went out there and paid off my car because you I just paid off my student loans because you mean that stuff gets me going, bro, like that stuff gets me going. But entrepreneurship, I'll just tell you to my home girl the other night entrepreneurship is not for everyone. It's not. It's a grind.

Nicky Saunders  
You're not gonna hear this anywhere else. I'm just gonna put that out there not from not from this. I keep telling you these interviews, we asked different questions. Yeah, no, you're not gonna do this. So you mentioned it. And the great thing about our podcast is we like harp on ownership, right? Where somebody may jump on a big network, but then leave and people are thinking is drama. But it's honestly, the individuals wanting ownership and freedom of whether it's their IP, whether it's just their voice, whatever they want. Now, you said it. Dave Ramsey, that's how I was. I was like, Oh, look, it's the black guy on the wait, network. Yo, yeah, I'm sorry, I'm not politically correct. I don't care. But, um, but then, boom. Uh, I see no more, but I saw way more content from you. I'm sorry. I'm paying attention. Because I don't ask her real quick. I pay attention. And I'm like, Oh, he's going hard in the paint right now. Okay, great. So we covered um, of course, the, the break of the Joe Budden network, where the ladies were, like, we leveraged the platform. We jumped on their their YouTube page, we got the audience, but because of how he looks at ads, we had to leave it wasn't a good partnership, that I am athlete. Yo, this isn't what we thought it was. Now, there's two different podcasts. And it is what it is. My question to you is, why why the the separation? Right? Yeah. And is it? I'm going to assume its ownership. Right. But we'd love to hear from you. 

Anthony O'Neal  
Yeah it was, you know, it's so funny. Everyone asked me that question. Why did you leave Dave Ramsey? And there really is no negative answer at all right? It's, it's, it's a me and Dave, recognize that my brand was going a different direction than what we saw it was going by I was at Ramsey and so we both just agreed that, hey, it's time for you to just step out on your own. And it was such a smooth transition to where this guy actually sewed into it. You know, he was like, Hey, we love you. We want to support the route that you're going when it comes to you know, really serving that that market that you want to go after. And it wasn't like this is a better situation. It wasn't a bad situation. It was just Hey, Anthony go do your thing. And I say, Yeah, I'm gonna go do my thing. And it was it was good. You know, it was a real good. And it's so funny because it's like what you said, when people see people separate, they automatically think is drama, right? And I'm like, No, there's there's no drama there. It was. That was the season. I'm a spiritual man. I'm a Christian man, and God just shifted the season. And because I honor Dave, because I honor that place. And I love that place. Dave was 100% supportive of it. Im gone be real with you, even gave me some money to go out and was like, yo, hey, man, we want to he called, it's like a church plan. We're gonna go allow Anthony do what he was called to do. And it was a good, it was a good move. Because you're right, you're right, Nicky, what I'm building now is for me, you know, it's, it's, this is I could do what I know what I need to do for my people, for my culture, and for my future family. And it's mine. You know, and I love it. And I wouldn't I wouldn't change for the world. I really wouldn't. I love Ramsey. You know, I just love what God has me out now where I'm going

Nicky Saunders  
biggest lesson from that network.

Anthony O'Neal  
Man, the power of team that there is there's so much power in an tiem that I really didn't get until after I left. Because that is that is one of their secrets is they know how to use everyone's strengths there. And they know how to get the job done and put you where you will win. And then I step out on my own. I'm like, dang, I don't have that strength. I don't have this strength. I don't have that strength. I don't have this strength. Oh, my goodness, I need to get strengths around me because I'm weak in a lot of areas. And so that's that's what I'm working on right now is just surrounding myself with the strength playmakers in that specific role. So we can impact more people so we can help and serve more people. Because I could do it all by myself. Right. But I won't grow as quick. I won't impact as quick. I won't influence as quick. And so that was one of the biggest things that I learned. Out there. 

Mostafa Ghonim  
we're coming, We're coming up towards the end here. And I want to talk about some of the some of the C's that you mentioned. Right? You talk about currency. Yeah. And I want to talk about character. Yeah, I want to, I want you to speak about confidence. Because I feel like you know, I'm saying like, that's a very personal thing. But but it does wonders for people in their business life in their professional life. In many it's, it's it's more tie layered, if you will speak about confidence for those who are just, you know, in and out of, Oh, am I confident, I'm not confident or you're struggling with confidence, talking about that, the importance of confidence and just how you've been able to master and nurture your own.

Anthony O'Neal  
You know, confidence man is such a, it's a big thing for me, right? Because I'll be honest, when I did, you know, transition out of my own, I had a little insecurity, man, I was like, man, will people still rock with me? You know, what will people still like what I have to say? Because I'm not there anymore? And one of my mentors said, Are you not confident? And the man who you are you're not confident in the man who God made you to be? Are you not confident in your message? And I was like I am. But are they confident in me? And he said, it's not your responsibility to convince them about you, it is your job to live out your truth and your truth and you being competent, who you are, will attract who you need to impact. But they said the problem is people who are not confident in themselves tend to change into someone else who they think that people want. But we see that we smell that we we sense that this is fake. And so when I've really lived down on it's like, Yo, I'm gonna be true to myself. You know, moves I got I got ladies right now who are not i Oh, man, I met this beautiful girl. Oh my god. She was so beautiful. And I mean, I was like, yes lord! but she would not talk to me because I don't do credit cards. And I say you know what? A queen. I respect that. Thank you so much. Now the old part of me most would be like, yo, yo, yo, let me go out of that city. Right now. You know, I'm saying I was confident who I am like this. This is who I am. And not everyone's gonna be attracted to that. And that's fine. Because I'm not calling for everyone. I'm not called to marry every single woman, I'm not calling to have, you know, 2345 wives. I'm not called, you know, I'm saying to, to, to, to a lot of things, I'm calling to certain things, and I'm confident in a man, I'm confident in the character, I'm confident my integrity, and I'm confident where I'm going. And never allow. What I tell people this is like, confidence is is almost like, it's almost like, you don't want to be so insecure who you are. Because we all have insecurities in some way in some shape or form in our lives, right. But we don't want our confidence to stretch to arrogance. We want our confidence to still come off humble, we want our confidence and come off as like, yo, hey, I'm not the ish. But daggone it I'm solid, you know, and you're going to have to respect me. And that's just who I am today, man. You know, I, I'm so confident in my message. I'm so confident that there are millions of people who need my message. I'm so confident that what I'm teaching is changing and impacting lives because it changed to impact my life. I'm so confident that I will be a great husband, a great father, a great friend, a great son. I'm so confident that I am a great influencer, that no one can tell me that I'm not. If someone says you're crazy, Anthony, you suck. Okay, cool. I'm crazy and I suck to you. But I'm still a confident and solid brother with a solid message. And that keeps me going, bro. And I love it. Man. I love how you said confidence, character, and currency. Because here it is. Ladies, you can have a man who has currency. But just because he has currency doesn't mean that he has confidence and isn't doesn't mean he has character. But for me, for the most part, if a man has character, and confidence, he can produce currency. But just because he has currency doesn't mean he has character and confidence. So I always lead off with what is my character portraying? Do I believe in what and who I am. And if I do it, that currency will come. Character confidence equals currency impact. All right.

Nicky Saunders  
You get a bomb on that one. You get a bomb on that. Hold on, So uh you kind of you kind of mentioned it and hinted at it. The course is coming. Okay. Oh, of course. Yeah, man. All right. Ah, my question to you. What took you so long? Let's not even go, what is it? And where can we get it? What took you so long?

Anthony O'Neal  
You know? Yeah, I had to make sure I come out with I came up with a course that, again, will impact and influence you know, and everyone thought that I will come out with the money course. And this is not this is not a money course. And be honest. This is. It's not. I mean, I think Dave Ramsey has the best money course when it comes to getting out of debt. But one thing I did learn was man, dang, single people need help, anything that I saw. And everything that I saw when it came to single people was all about how to chase the rank, or how to position herself for the rank, but nothing to talk about. Okay, how do you store this season? Like, how do you maximize this opportunity of having no responsibilities other than yourself? And I'm like, man, and so I literally just sat back and said, okay, cool. I went to the drawing board, man, and, and let's just be real here, Nicky, there's a lot of courses out here that are trash that rush and charging people a lot of money. And I didn't want to fall into that. And I didn't want to just rush to get into something because you can make, you know, a quick, you know, six, seven figures off of it. No, I want to make sure that what I put out, you know, my character is stamped on that my integrity is stamped on that. That it is it is definitely valuable. And so I just spent some time talking to my mentors you listen to for this course, Nicky, I talked to married people. And I was giving them, you know, what I'm thinking about talking about in the course, and what I'm doing what I'm teaching, and I was just making sure that they liked it. And they were like, Yo, uh, yes, I was able to did that when I was single. Yes. Oh, my gosh, that's, that's I wanted that to make sure that I was going down in the right direction. So what I put out is powerful. So it took me a while because I want the best serve my tribe, and I didn't want to brush out something just because I have a big name. And I know I can just make money and put Trash out No, I want I want to make sure that when people get into this this particular course, that they are inspired, and it helps them to lay a solid foundation for their life.

Mostafa Ghonim  
Yo, man, this was an incredible conversation, bro to say the least I really enjoyed this dialogue. I'm not going like, unlike Nicky, I haven't looked into too much of your stuff. But this conversation for sure is making me like, okay, hold up. Let me get all the notes. I'm playing this back. And I'm definitely going to be doing my due diligence to learn some more. But super, super awesome conversation. You know, what's funny is when we first started the podcast started as a live Facebook show. In literally the first month of the pandemic, it was like, on accident, and we saw that everyone would just after Kobe pass, everyone would be like, man, we got to do a better job of giving people their flowers while they're still here. Yeah. And as we kept going back and forth, we're like, you know what? The podcast? Yes, we're going to deliver the people the blueprint behind successful brands, businesses and entrepreneurs. But it's our unique way of giving people their flowers while they're still here, bro. For real, this is definitely a much appreciated, I think you're definitely one of the best at doing what you're doing. And it's cool to see, not like you said, not just solid content, but solid character, confident currency, the whole nine is super dope. So for the people, let me just say this real quick, you have the opportunity to get access, early access, or at least joined a waiting list. Because the course is not out yet. Maybe I'll give you maybe you want to speak about the details, of course is not out yet. But you have a course coming to market in the next couple of months here and people have a chance to at least join the waitlist. Just tell us about that really quick where they can get the information and register. And yeah,

Nicky Saunders  
I'm signing up man. Oh, man.

Anthony O'Neal  
Yeah, man, it's called the singles blueprint eight pillars to maximizing your single season. And I'm really walking through and teaching people how to gain clarity on their vision, how to start building true and lasting legacy. And I'm just walking through the eight pillars that over the last few years, I've been able to really master you know, I haven't mastered finding a woman. So I'm not going to talk about that. And while I've master getting out of debt, I believe, like I said, Dave Ramsey has the best program of getting out of debt. So I'm not talking about getting out of debt or money. But before we could talk about chasing the rain, before we could talk about building wealth, every millionaire, every billionaire, who I've had the opportunity to study and really dive into, one of the key things moves I learned about them was they had stuff deep down, that was so rooted and so secure in them that you couldn't shake it. And so to really build wealth to really be a strong father, strong mother, a good friend, there's eight pillars you need to focus on. And we're going to go through those pillars. And one of them, for example is you know, your comfort zone, how do you get over your comfort zone? Like are you allowing your comfort zone to become your kill zone, I'm saying are you allowing the very same thing that is so comfortable to you be the very same thing that is killing your dreams, killing your your hopes, killing your vision, killing your potential stopping you from starting that business. And I realized that there are a lot of things in my past that yo man, Anthony, if you would not have stepped outside of that comfort zone, you would not have you would not be a number one national best selling author, you would not have sold over 100,000 books, you would not have been on, you know, this particular show. And in this particular magazine, if you would have stayed inside the same thing as comfortable. And so we're going to be really walking through like what are the eight pillars to building true success. And I'm telling you right now, it's $497, it is cheap, your price probably worth about $3,000. Because it's not this course you get the videos, then you want to get my direct cell phone number, my direct email address. And for eight weeks, we're going live every tuesday. And I'm bringing on guests, some celebrity guests, some thought some strong thought leaders in these particular spaces. And we're just going to be taking questions is even going deeper and helping people really get the solid foundation and really help them teach them how to maximize their single season. So I mean, it's very, very affordable course. And I'm telling you right now, because it's so cheap. I'm only allowing a certain amount of people inside the course. Because I don't I don't want to have you know, 5000 people texting me. And so. So yeah, so you may I would definitely say sign up for the waiting list because we're only going to have it open for like four or five days. And soon as we hit that number, I don't want to say the number but as soon as we hit that number, we're going to close it out. Because I really want to serve people. I'm really helped them really get to where they want to be especially single people so I don't know if the link will be in your show description. Check it out. You and rock out with the show.

Nicky Saunders  
So, real quick before we go, before we go, I forgot one thing, one thing. Well, let me say this, get the course, because I'm gonna get first, okay? All you single most can't get the course he married. But moose you're married, hey, two three books that has helped you in your journey when it comes to branding and business. Three books.

Anthony O'Neal  
When it comes to business always say thinking Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, get the black choice, because that really helps you think from a financial perspective. I would definitely from a business perspective, I will get my mentors but Dave Ramsey's entree leadership, because he really teaches teaches you how to really build a strong culture of a team. And he teaches you how to be an entrepreneur, while also being a leader. And you may not be you know, the leader right now, you may be your own leader, but it really teaches you the culture. And then the last one, which I think is very important, I read this book probably two times a year is How to Win Friends and Influence People by Napoleon Hill, right. And that book changed my life because it really teaches you instead of telling people things, ask more questions, because when you ask more questions, you invite them into into a conversation, rather than telling them and and I really love that book, because like I told you earlier, I'm very direct. So instead of me saying, hey, social media lady on my team, I want this up by this time, that can come off kind of aggressive. You know, and it makes it can make her seem like, well, dang, you don't trust me to tell you what time you should post it or when you should post. So my flip from that book was yo, hey, um, social media lady. What do you think about us posting this at about like five o'clock? Would that work? Now it's her, it's me telling her I think you should go to five. But now I put it in her hands to give me her thoughts and her expertise. And so I think those three books are powerful. You know, thinking Grow Rich, entree leadership and how to win friends and influence people.

Nicky Saunders  
Okay, so, just like how moose said, we just wanted to give you your flowers. That's why I was like, even in clubhouse yo, need you on the Nicky and moos show, Cuz you have been killing it. Like I said, as a joke earlier, you were the cupcake, the it the black dude on a Caucasian network. I was like, I gotta pay attention. Then of course that, uh, that famous video of that you actually told no, to a female on a date? Because they wanted to go somewhere expensive. And you were like, Yeah, we could go the next day. Not this one window not gonna happen. Now you coming out with a course to help the people not get rejected like her, you feel me? I want to joke a little bit and say, ladies, if you're trying to get your shot, there's this course that's coming out. That's gonna give a get his number. Um, you don't have to try too hard. You just got to do the little entry fee. And you get his number. I'm just saying. I don't know if you have the loopholes of things. Okay. I don't feel like you always got to be super direct. I feel like you. You got to show commitment. Look, I love your brand. And everything you're doing I had to get in the course you just you know, you got right. You bring the attention, you make it about him and even probably be

Anthony O'Neal  
like, Hey, man, the numbers, the numbers is changing after those.

Nicky Saunders  
That's okay. That's okay. It just needs an in. And then when she's in. Let me get the real number. Because it's probably not even the real let me get the real number. 

Mostafa Ghonim  
give me tell me the number that’s its changing to.

Nicky Saunders  
Look, um, one thing? What can where can people find you? And normally, we let moose close it out with final words. We want to give you that honor, because you've been dropping bars this whole time. So where can people find you? And final word for the people?

Anthony O'Neal  
Yeah, man, you can find me on AnthonyOneal.com. And you'll see all my information there. Social media, some free resources to around your money situation, how to get out of debt, how to really build wealth, how to even talk about money if you're dating. You know, there's a free ebook on there's about 20 pages long on hey here. Here's some conversation starters. When it comes to finances while you're dating, so check that out. And then also like my show, the table with Anthony O'Neill, that information is on there. But final words, man, just remember it's simple that the caliber of your future will be determined by the choices you make today. Make the right choice and clearly you did by listening to the Nicky And moose show. So keep making them and they'll impact you down the road.