If you're an idiot, go listen to Dave': Grant Cardone says to ignore Dave Ramsey if you want to get rich. Is he right to think most Americans are saving too much? Here's what the data says

Live on a strict budget and get out of debt as soon as possible. That's usually the advice given by personal finance expert Dave Ramsey to callers on his show.

However, real estate mogul Grant Cardone, warns it doesn't apply to most Americans and is only for "idiots" prone to overusing credit.

People use credit cards too much in this country ... They borrow money for Gucci belts and try to pretend to be somebody theyre not," he said in an interview with DJ Vlad. If youre an idiot, go listen to Dave. Cardone clarified that he uses credit cards himself, but he makes sure to never owe any interest.

According to the entrepreneur, most Americans suffer from saving too much, being too conservative and not taking enough risk. For those that want to get wealthy, at some point youre going to leave Daves advice and youre going to start watching what wealthy people do, he said.

He believes using leverage is necessary if you want to move to the next level. "If you want to build a $4 billion real estate portfolio you're going to have to use debt," he added.

"Well the debt you're talking about is not the debt that he's talking about," said DJ Vlad, to which Cardone replied, "That's right. 100%."

So are "most Americans" saving too much?

The U.S. personal saving rate calculated by the Bureau of Economic Analysis was 3.8% in Jan. 2024. This is the percentage of people's incomes left after they pay taxes and spend money. Historically, the saving rate has averaged about 6.2%, said Gus Faucher, chief economist of PNC Financial Services Group, to USA Today.

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A recent survey from Bankrate said that only 44% of U.S. adults would pay an emergency expense of $1,000 or more from their savings. Thirty-five percent would use a credit card, take out a personal loan or borrow from family and friends.

Cardone does not think that overspending with credit cards is a widespread problem.

Nevertheless, considering the increasing levels of credit card debt in the U.S., Ramseys guidance may still hold weight.

According to the latest data from the New York Fed, credit card balances surged $50 billion in Q4 2023 to $1.13 trillion a new all-time high.

Read more: Don't let high car insurance rates drain your bank account find how you can pay as little as $29 a month

Carrying credit card debt can be costly. Forbes Advisor says the average credit card interest rate in America currently sits at 27.94%.

Cardone recognized Ramseys contribution to peoples financial health.

I think Daves great for most people that just want to figure out how to get out of debt. Hes done a great job, Cardone remarked. But Im not going to take Daves advice to build a real estate portfolio because if you want to build a $4 billion real estate portfolio, youre going to have to use debt.

Cardone knows a thing or two about real estate. His private equity firm Cardone Capital boasts a multifamily portfolio of assets under management valued at over $4 billion.

In such ventures, debt can be a useful tool.

While its true that too much debt can be a bad thing, it can be one of the most powerful tools in a real estate investors arsenal, Cardone wrote in a blog post.

He explained that there is good debt and bad debt. Bad debt includes things that do not put money in your pocket, such as credit cards and car payments. Good debt, on the other hand, are investments that eventually help you build wealth.

Real estate is the best example of good debt because it has the potential to generate both capital appreciation and cash flow, Cardone noted.

These days, there are multiple ways to tap into real estate.

You can take on debt to directly purchase rental properties or you can buy shares of publicly-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs). You can also explore crowdfunding platforms that allow you to own a stake in private REITs or a percentage of physical real estate properties, like apartments, commercial buildings and even plots of land.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

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'If you're an idiot, go listen to Dave': Grant Cardone says to ignore Dave Ramsey if you want to get rich. Is he right to ... - Yahoo Finance

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Grant Cardone Asks How High Bitcoin Can Go After Reaching an All-Time High - GOBankingRates

Grant Cardone has broken barriers of success once again within his non-profit organization, The Grant Cardone Foundation which confirms engaging with over 350,000 youth globally with their generous and ongoing fundraising and mentoring occurring in multiple ways; 10X Hub (South Africa), Mentoring Workshops; Entrepreneurial Program; FIU Scholarship Program; 10X Kid of the Year Scholarship and the Grant Cardone internship.

The Grant Cardone Foundation is a national non-profit organization invested in helping youth communities reach their fullest potential. Entrepreneur and best-selling author, Grant Cardone, created the foundation as a result of experiencing the traumatic loss of his father when he was only ten years old. Growing up without a father figure in his life affected him emotionally, socially, and academically and leading Cardone to make it his mission to help young adults, who may need life and career guidance just as he once did. The foundation partners with community organizations, municipal agencies, corporations, and other non-profit entities to help deliver energy and educational resources to kids in need. Their mission is to provide mentoring and financial literacy education to adolescents in underserved and at-risk populations, especially those without a father figure.

Through the Grant Cardone Foundation, I am proud to continue providing opportunities to help enhance our youths future of tomorrow by giving them a wide range of assistance from mentoring and guidance to scholarships plus tools for career advancement, said Grant Cardone, Founder of The Grant Cardone Foundation.

10X Hub is a globally known program in South Africa, the global initiative that provides financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and mentorship programs to help level the playing field and fight poverty at its core, and to create a lasting LEGACY (Leading, Entrepreneurial, Growth, and Commitment to Youth education) for generations to come in these communities. Its an entrepreneurial development center, a collaborative space, and a 10X mentorship hub. This is a place to give everyone, no matter their economic circumstance, the opportunity to create success and to 10X their life. South Africa has the largest concentration of fatherless adolescents in the world at 62% and one of the highest unemployment rates globally, making it an important area for the foundation to kick off its first location. The Grant Cardone Foundation has partnered with Labit on the 10X HUB in South Africa.

10X Hub has given us the opportunity In South Africa to help pave the way in fighting poverty and building futures all because of The Grant Cardone Foundation, said Ivan Swartz, CEO/Founder of Labit, a business incubator program in South Africa.

The Hub has impacted over 350,000 lives through digital training, it has provided annually 840 entrepreneurs in-person mentoring and guidance with 75 of these entrepreneurs given the opportunity to pitch their business ideas. Then there are fifteen promising entrepreneurs chosen for a rigorous six- to twelve-month business development, in which they will each receive a sizable investment in their business.

The Grant Cardone Foundation also hosts multiple mentoring workshops for over 1,000 at-risk youth in the South Florida Community including: 5000 Role Models, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Take Stock in Children, and PACE Center for Girls.

The Grant Cardone Foundation is on a mission to 10X the next generation of business leaders. To continue their commitment to providing educational opportunities for the youth community, they have started the First Generation Scholarship, to provide financial aid for students currently residing in the state of Florida who are first-generation college students in their family, pursuing a degree at Florida International Universities College of Business. The First Generation Scholarship will cover a full ride for two students every year, up to $7,500 per year, with a renewal option for up to four additional years, for a total of $30,000 to the recipient. The scholarship recipients will receive mentorship support and gain access to a multitude of powerful business resources and learning material through Cardones world-renowned training enterprise, Cardone Training Technologies, Inc.

For more information or to donate to The Grant Cardone Foundation, please visit The Grant Cardone.

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The Grant Cardone Foundation Engages With Over 350,000 Youth ... - Haute Living

JoTo PR Disruptors is offering a FREE webinar masterclass hosted Bestselling author of Brand Intervention and Google's #1 ranked rebranding expert, David Brier, whose rebrands have generated over $7 billion worldwide.

TAMPA BAY, Fla., March 20, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- JoTo PR is presenting a free webinar masterclass on Thursday, March 30, 2023, 12:00 PM EST, Confessions of a $7 Billion Dollar Brand Marketing Expert, that provides an opportunity to learn from the Bestselling author of Brand Intervention and Google's #1 ranked rebranding expert, David Brier. In the webinar, David will go over the exact sequence and strategy he uses to build multi-million-dollar (and billion-dollar) brands in his trademark no-BS style.

To say that the world of business has changed in the last few years would be an understatement.

The rules of the game are no longer what they once were, and to succeed today, you need to be on your toes. One of the most important changes has been how customers interact with brands.

Traditionally, businesses have relied on advertising and other marketing schemes to get their message out there and educate customers about their products. But customers are savvier than ever before, and they can see through those tactics easily.

So, what's a business to do? It turns out that the answer lies in getting customers involved with your brand.

Event Time, Register Online Thursday, March 30, 2023, 12:00 PM EST (US and Canada)

David will lay out the missing sales tool to 10X your business, which explains why only 0.7% of business owners hit the $1 million mark:

"Why isn't my brand creating sales?"

"Why do people zone out during my sales pitch?"

"Why the heck isn't my business selling more?"

"How come I don't have more loyal customers and repeat business?"

Following the Webinar, there will be a rare AMA session (Ask Me Anything) where David will answer any questions about brand building, growth acceleration, branding strategies that drive sales, and more.

Story continues

Event Time, Register Online Thursday, March 30, 2023, 12:00 PM EST (US and Canada)

Why attend this event?

Grant Cardone calls David "a branding genius."

Daymond John of Shark Tank calls David "brilliant with branding."

Oren Klaff, author of "Pitch Anything" and one of the world's leading experts on sales, raising capital, and negotiation having raised over $1 billion said of David: "very sophisticated about branding."

As an Anti-PR Agency, JoTo PR Disruptors employs the best practices to succeed in business today. Most PR agencies only provide fluffy visibility, which doesn't account for much that contributes to a successful business.

Goal: Actionable steps you can use to accelerate your growth, which is what JOTO PR Disruptors is all about. We want to help you with usable data that can benefit you professionally and financially.

About David Brier:

Bestselling author of Brand Intervention and Google's #1 ranked rebranding expert, David's rebrands have generated over $7 billion worldwide. A native New Yorker and Google's top-ranked rebranding expert, David's four decades of branding expertise are sought after by companies of all sizes. In addition to David's work being featured in ADWEEK, Fast Company, Forbes, INC, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Thrive Global, the New York Times, and numerous blogs and podcasts the world over, he is the recipient of over 320 international awards including the rare honor of being presented the Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship medallion. Visit https://risingabovethenoise.com/

About JOTO PR Disruptors:

After doing marketing research on a cross-section majority of 5,000 CEOs of fast-growth trajectory companies and finding out exactly how they used PR, how they measure it, and how they wanted the PR industry to be different, PR veteran and innovator Karla Jo Helms created JoTo PR(TM) and established its entire business model on those research findings. Astute in recognizing industry changes since its launch in 2009, JoTo PR's team utilizes newly established patterns to create timely Anti-PR campaigns comprising both traditional and the latest proven media methods. This unique skill enables them to continue to increase the market share and improve return on investment (ROI) for their clients, year after yearbeating usual industry standards. Based in Tampa Bay, Florida, JoTo PR is an established international public relations agency. Today, all processes of JoTo are streamlined Anti-PR services that have become the hallmark of the JoTo PR name. For more information, visit JoTo PR online at http://www.jotopr.com

Media Contact

KJ Helms, JOTO PR Disruptors, 727-777-4619, khelms@jotopr.com

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Confessions of a $7 Billion Dollar Brand Marketing Expert, Presented by JOTO PR Disruptors - Yahoo Finance

As we all know, everybody procrastinates, but it depends on the type of procrastination: harmless or harmful.

If we procrastinate doing a useful or informative activity that we find refreshing, or if we take a short break to recharge ourselves, then that is not a form of negative procrastination.

So, what is procrastination then? It is thehabitof putting off important, less pleasurable tasks by doing something thats easier or more pleasurable. Email, Instagram, TikTok, Snacking, and Netflix are a procrastinators best friends.

Why do we procrastinate?

1) We lack motivation, and/or

2) We underestimate the power of present emotions versus future emotions when we set our goals or make our to-do lists.

3) We are worried about the outcome being less than perfect hence, we put things off or delay completing tasks.

4) We are lazy.

Then what can we do to overcome procrastination?

Even if you only work for 15 or 30 minutes, getting started will help you feel more motivated and productive. Tackle the easiest or most enjoyable part of the task to build momentum. As you make progress, your motivation will increase.

Set daily or weekly goals and break them down into actionable steps. Give yourself deadlines for each step and schedule time to work on them. Track your progress and hold yourself accountable.

Break down tasks into increments of less than 2 hours. This keeps the work from seeming overwhelming. Set a timer and focus on one task for the duration of the timer. Then take a short break before moving on to the next task.

You can use The Pomodoro Technique by working for 25 minutes, then taking a 5-minute break. The timed intervals will help keep you on track and the regular breaks can help to prevent mental fatigue.

Block out time for your tasks and avoid distraction. Start your day early. Waking up early allows you to get a head start on your tasks before the days distractions begin. End your workday on time and avoid working late at night. Spend your evenings on hobbies, socializing, and self-care.

By implementing these techniques, you will overcome procrastination and achieve more each day through improved productivity and focus. You will gain momentum toward your goals and develop positive habits that will benefit you for life.

Also, if you are interested in topics ofentrepreneurship,personal development, andmindset, consider checking my podcast "The Raygacy Show" where I get to pick the brains of the best entrepreneurs around the world such as Gary Vee and Grant Cardone.

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How To Overcome The Habit of Procrastination - BBN Times

A photo illustration of Grant Cardone (Getty, Google Maps, United States District Court for the Central District of California)

Grant Cardone has said, Most opportunities are disguised as problems. If thats true, he has had his share of opportunities in 2022.

In May, unknown robbers allegedly stole his expensive designer watch in a VIP area at Hardrock Stadium during the Miami Grand Prix.

A recent Palm Beach Post investigation uncovered Cardone Capital has overcharged tenants living in an apartment complex with workforce housing owned by the Aventura-based firm.

And last week, a federal appeals judge reversed last years dismissal of a Los Angeles class action lawsuit against Cardone and his company alleging he misled investors on social media about potential profits they could make from his multifamily deals. Cardone Capital owns about $5 billion in apartment rental complexes in South Florida and across the country

U.S. Appeals Judge Barbara Lynns decision means plaintiff Luis Pinos complaint can move forward, and other investors can join the lawsuit or file their own claims against Cardone and Cardone Capital. In siding with Pino, Lynn determined that Cardones social media posts promoting his crowd-funded investments are subject to federal securities regulations that guard against misstatements and omissions.

Cardone did not respond to a request for comment.

To his millions of followers, Cardone flaunts his personal wealth while doling out advice on how they too can become rich by putting their savings, 401K earnings and other investments in apartment buildings and communities, particularly the properties he owns and the ones he is looking to purchase. Cardone also promotes his real estate deals at conferences and forums he hosts around the country.

Investors place their money into real estate funds overseen by Cardone and his firm, which generate fees from the acquisition, management and disposition of the real estate assets.

In 2020, Pino sued Cardone and Cardone Capital, alleging he violated securities laws based on alleged misleading statements about his real estate funds on social media. A year earlier, Pino, who resides in Inglewood, California, invested $10,000 in two Cardone Capital real estate funds after attending a Cardone summit in Anaheim, the complaint states.

In May of last year, U.S. District Judge John F. Walter ruled in Cardones favor. Walter concluded that Pino failed to adequately allege that Cardone made material misstatements and omissions. Lynn, the appeals judge, disagreed. She determined that Cardones Instagram posts and YouTube videos are the types of potentially injurious solicitations that are intended to command attention and persuade potential investors.

Pino fairly alleges that the nature of social media presents dangers that investors will be persuaded to purchase securities without full and fair information, Lynn wrote.

Contact Francisco Alvarado

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Grant Cardone is back on the hook in a class action suit - The Real Deal

Bah gawd, that's AMC's music.

It felt a lot like AMC was getting on the straight and narrow (as I mentioned in yesterday's newsletter).

The Water Coolest- Mouth breathers with "MOASS" tattoos who consider Adam Aron a father figure aren't going to like AMC's latest move.

The movie theater chain made a wait for it sound business decision. You might recall AMC made headlines for some recent head scratchers, like buying a huge stake in a literal gold mining company, and effectively splitting its stock via the issuance of preferred shares called APEs.

But this time around it wasn't something it did. It's what it didn't do. The theater chain decided against buying up some theaters owned by Cineworld. Cineworld recently filed for bankruptcy.

Pumping the brakes would have made sense considering shares had fallen below where they were trading when meme stonk mania kicked off in Janaury 2021

The Water Coolest- AMC shares closed at $4.89 on Monday. That's below where the stonk was trading in January 2021, meaning the cinema chain has lost all of its meme stonk mania gainz pours out $17 ICEE in a commemorative Avatar cup

Andddd it took less than 24-hours for head crayon eater, AMC CEO Adam Aron to prove me wrong.

"But just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in"

Today AMC did what it does best: act like an absolute wildcard. Which, to be fair, has worked out ok so far.

Bloomberg- AMC Entertainment Inc. sank after proposing to convert preferred equity units into common shares along with a 10-to-1 reverse stock split.

The changes would stop investors from pushing AMC toward penny stock territory, Adam Aron, chief executive officer of the worlds largest movie theater chain, said Thursday. The preferred equity units debuted in August and were quickly caught up in volatility linked to retail trading of so-called meme stocks.

AMC also said Thursday that it raised $110 million through the sale of preferred equity units to debt holder Antara Capital LP at a weighted average price of 66 cents each, below market value.

There are really three things happening here.

1) AMC is proposing that it converts its "APE" preferred shares to AMC stock. A little history lesson: back in August AMC offered up a "special dividend" to shareholders. For each AMC stock you held, you got an APE preferred share (spoiler: they can be converted back to AMC shares). This effectively acted like a stock split. But it was viewed as shady as fuck by Wall Street. AMC shareholders wouldn't vote to allow the chain to create more AMC stock out of thin air to sell and raise more money (because it would dilute the outstanding shares). So the big brains over in AMC's creative accounting department dreamt up the APE shares, which didn't require a shareholder vote to sell. And sell they did. We learned this week that the company printed $162 million in straight cash homie via its (totally legal) scheme.

2) The company is proposing a 10-to-1 reverse stock split on its AMC shares. For every 10 shares you own, you get 1 shiny new stonk that goes all Grant Cardone (read: worth 10x the original price). The individual share price goes up while the total number of outstanding shares drops. The value of the company remains the same. This will help avoid penny stock territory and could attract some institutional investors I guess. So, essentially polishing a fucking turd.

3) AMC also sold a boat load ($110 million worth) of APEs to Antara Capital. Remember, this is EXACTLY why AMC created these preferred shares. The 9-figure pay day will help pay down debt and probably finance some other batshit ideas Adam Aron has up his sleeve. One issue, if you're a shareholder, is that the APEs were sold to Antara at a 3% discount. Investors like this sorta thing as much as they like calling their mom's new husband "dad."

All of this had an impact on AMC and APE prices, obviously. And people had questions understandably so.

At the time of the writing AMC shares were down 12% and APE shares were up 77%. Keep in mind that in theory these shares should be trading roughly around the same level since the "dividend" was a stock split of sorts. But yesterday APE closed below a dollar, and AMC finished above $4. The market sees an opportunity currently since APE shares are likely to be converted to AMC shares and trading a thing that costs $1 for something that's $4 is never not a good deal. Because math.

The other plans AMC has muddy the waters a bit. Selling the APE shares at a discount is a red flag for investors. And looking to avoid penny stock territory by completing a 10-for-1 reverse split doesn't exactly scream blue-chip investment.

Want more business and markets news? I write a daily email newsletter that hits your inbox at 6 AM covering all the finance and markets stories you need to know. Subscribe below

Oh, and if you can't wait for the newsletter I'm tweeting about this stuff in real time (@JPMorinChase).

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Dave Has Questions about WTF is Going on With AMC Stock... I ... - Barstool Sports

Following the official launch of his first book entitledFear-Less, Belfast businessman Tom Smyth has quickly attracted the attention of Grant Cardones organisation, one of the worlds most successful motivational coaching enterprises in the world.

The managing director of Dream Luxury Serviced Apartments and a number of other successful companies used time during the pandemic lockdowns to achieve one his lifes ambitions, to write an inspirational book to help people overcome fear, lack of confidence and achieve anything they set their minds on.

Inspired by his own life and brand, the 46-year-old developed a unique self-improvement system called DREAM. Its based on the five simple core principles of Determination, Regeneration, Energisation, Ambition and Motivation.

Toms high-energy success story and new book, inspired by Belfasts resilience and transformation journey, have been recognised by the global expert who has reached out to work with him.

The internationally renowned business expert and worlds number one sales and marketing trainer has invited Tom to represent his company as a Grant Cardone 10X certified coach, speaker and mentor in Ireland, UK and across Europe.

Grant Cardone launched his famous 10X movement in 2011 and since has attracted millions of devotees who use his theories to improve their business success and personal relationships.

He is an incredibly successful American property entrepreneurand media personality, as well as a dynamic international speaker, coach and consultant with his teachings used by hundreds of millions of people. He is star of hit TV series the Undercover Billionaire and is currently making a movie with Robert De Niro.

The best-selling author of seven books, including the New York Times bestsellerIf Youre Not First, Youre Last, and the Axiom Award WinnerSell or Be Sold, also established the Cardone University, the premier online sales training tool in the world with over 50,000,000 users and counting.

This is an incredible opportunity to work with the worlds most experienced and respected coaching expert, to say I am privileged is a complete understatement. Tom said.

I have been studying with Grant Cardone for several years, and I am blown away by his teachings, so much so that I enrolled all my sales staff in his training programs.

His insights, powers of motivational speaking and positive attitude to overcoming all challenges have paid dividends for my business productivity, so I know 100 per cent that this system works.

Having been elevated to an official member of the 10X mentoring team, I am incredibly grateful to now have the opportunity to help bring Grant Cardones tried-and-tested methods for success to a UK, European and Irish audience. Grants teachings combined with my own mindset, my new book and my unwavering belief that absolutely anything is possible when you put your mind to it, means that this is a very exciting moment, with so many people set to benefit.

Over the last nine months, Tom has diligently recorded his thoughts, ideas and strategies for success and his debut book is a history lesson and a street-psychology lecture, animated by a personal narrative of ambition and learning tough life lessons.

Fear and self-doubt has a paralysing effect on peoples ability to think and work out a strategy for success. It has a very negative impact on physical and mental health, and it is often the root cause of failure, Tom says.

When the pandemic hit in early 2020, I needed to find an antidote to self-limiting fear for both my staff and family. I explored the research and resources I have personally used over many years in my life, both personally and professionally and wrote it all down for this new book.

Grant Cardones work has always been a massive source of inspiration to me. So, I am truly honoured to be part of his elite team.

I truly want to help others fulfil their potential, so this winning combination is set to help anyone who wants to build their resilience and develop strategies for personal and professional development to achieve and smash their goals.

With the guidance and support of Grant Cardone and his organisation, I can now reach out and help many more people fulfil their potential. I am excited to bring his methods and teachings to the UK, Ireland and beyond because I know the incredible transformations he can inspire.

*Fear-Less by Tom Smyth is set to be realised in early 2021 and is available to pre-order on Amazon now.

Tom will be offering world class business and personal development programs that will enable individuals and companies to create more revenue, employ more people, and impact more lives with their products and services from March 2021!

Please visitwww.fear-less.co.ukto register for more information on joining Toms DREAM Team.

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BELFAST BUSINESSMAN SELECTED BY GRANT CARDONE TO JOIN ELITE TEAM OF INSPIRATIONAL MENTORS - Love Belfast

Alexis Smith |The Pueblo Chieftain

If you started the year eagerly awaiting to see Pueblo featured on Discoverys Undercover Billionaire, you may have noticed it hasnt aired in recent weeks.

Matt Smith, the Pueblo entrepreneur who has partnered with Louis Curtis, aka Grant Cardone in the series, said viewers will have to wait until March.

The reason it is not on the Discovery Channel is because they made an error, Smith said. They put the show on during the transition of presidency, so the ratings werent where they wanted them to be. They pulled the show back, and they are going to release it on Discovery within the next 30-45 days with a larger launch.

Smith noted he believes the relaunch will be good for Pueblo.

(The series) will have more eyeballs on it, there will be more promotion, and they are going to piggyback it with one of their No. 1 shows, Smith said.

As of now, viewers who have a Discovery+ subscription are still able to view the show, but Smith said that may change within the coming weeks.

As of now they are going to keep releasing episodes on Discovery+, but even the producers I talked to yesterday didnt know if that was going to change, Smith added. I think they are still making a lot of big decisions with the show.

"They want to make sure its at the right time in the right season, so I think its going to be a really good thing for Pueblo. We just have to wait 30 more days for it to get on the air.

MORE: Matt Smith 'cautiously optimistic' on Pueblo's Undercover Billionaire portrayal

If you have followed along with the series thus far, you know that Episode 2 ended with production coming to Cardone, who had just received a $10,000 check from Smith, to inform him that the show had been shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In Episode 3, viewers see Cardone has reunited with his family in Miami.

When I started my 90-day challenge, I didnt know COVID would get so serious so fast, Cardone said. I had no choice but to go home to Miami and wait until I can get back to work.

Smith said that when this was happening, everyone himself included thought that the situation would blow over quickly.

From my standpoint, it was just like, Alright, Ill see you in a week or so, Smith said. Then it just kind of ended. I dont think anyone knew what COVID was about to do to our world.

In reality, Cardone, who was only 13 days into the 90-day challenge, was with his family in Florida for three months.

It was really when (SNAP Fitness) was opening up again, Smith said. I got an email from (the head of production) that said, Hey, I think we are going to continue the show. I was like, Huh, I never thought Id see these guys again.

Determined to finish what he started, Cardone said in the episode that resuming his role as Louis Curtis was important to him because he wanted to prove anyone can start a business.

Before leaving Pueblo though, Cardone had sold the vehicle he was given at the beginning of the challenge and was borrowing local business ownerRyan Zabukovics Jeep Wrangler.

Upon his second arrival in Pueblo, his undercover persona had no mode of transportation.

After making his way from Pueblo Memorial Airport out to Zabukovic RV, he meets with Zabukovic once again with the hope that he can stay in an RV overnight.

In their meeting, Zabukovic explains that after reopening, he sold everything on his lot including the Jeep that Cardone was borrowing.

MORE: Pueblo West mother founds Jara Elements after being inspired by fighting for her son

In his second day back, Cardone meets with Smith again hoping he would still be open to working together;especially because he had not touched the $10,000 check Smith wrote him three months prior.

My side of it was, Is he going to think about cashing that check? Smith said with a laugh. In the back of my mind, Im like I doubt hes that guy, but you never know. I felt like I knew him well enough that he wasnt, but it wasnt confirmed one way or another.

When he didnt, and he told me I didnt want to cash this check and leave you hanging. I definitely appreciated that and respected him more for sure.

Cardone's undercover persona appears to be extremely nervous, before the meeting notinghe feels defeated because all the momentum he gained was lost in those three months he spent away from Pueblo.

Smith said for him, its funny seeing that perspective because in the moment Cardone never displayed an ounce of anxiety.

I never saw that side of him, Smith said. He was such a confident human when he came into my building. When I met with the guy, every time he was confident in what he was doing.

"I dont think he was not nervous, he just never showed that to me. So, on my side of it, I was just excited. We had a lot of fun together, we built some trust, good relationships with the community already. So, I was excited for him to come back into my life.

In the upcoming episode, it seems the show will delve further into how Cardone plans to contribute to Smith's businesses, and touch on an illness he seems to have caught.

Episodes are available on Wednesday evenings on Discovery+.

Chieftain and Pueblo West View reporter Alexis Smith can be reached by email at asmith@chieftain.com or on Twitter @smith_alexis27.

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Where did Undercover Billionaire go? Matt Smith explains, and reacts to Episode 3 - Pueblo Chieftain

Clubhouse is one of the newest social media platforms out there, and I just had to try it.

Id heard that Clubhouse was a platform where you can connect with some of the worlds prominent industry leaders via live voice interaction. This means you speak directly to real movers and shakers in your industry.

I was so intrigued, and after receiving an invite to join, I jumped right in and gained tonnes of followers in just two days.

Heres what I learnt.

Everyone is on Clubhouse to give value, and this authenticity translates directly into follows.

You really need to soak up the advice and value you get from the platform and put yourself out there as much as you can.

One way I did this was the stage. I entered a room dedicated to business growth, and on the stage was Grant Cardone, Tiffany Haddish, Jim Kwik and so many USA Shark Tank investors and people with millions of followers! Then, I wasnt just in the same room, but I was granted access to the stage!

I got to speak directly to these famous people and had some of them reply directly to me via audio, all completely live. It was just through my phone like a normal phone call. It was insane!

Its like having a phone call with the biggest leaders in the world. I was blown away.

The opportunity to ask questions or make a comment really does help to position you as the leading expert in your niche.

Hearing a real voice seems to make people seem more real too which helps build connection.

Just being on stage got me 60 new followers. Then Tiffany Haddish followed me! (I doubled checked; its not a fake account.)

Because Clubhouse links directly to your Twitter and Instagram, there are no DM functions or chat functions to comment or like.

The only way to interact with people through Clubhouse is via voice. People can hear you and hear exactly what you know and can offer.

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Since the Clubhouse app links directly to Instagram its a direct link to potential followers.

In fact, Ive gained at least 200 new Instagram followers after two days on Clubhouse. Ive also got about 50 new direct messages to read.

In the past, Id be lucky if I get one or two DMs each month from people I dont follow.

DMs are usually a more meaningful way to connect with followers as they have real questions to ask you and genuinely want your expertise.

Theres so much opportunity on this app right now because as a first-mover, while everyone is still getting access, you have to be invited. So, you need to receive an invitation from someone else who is already on the app.

Each person currently only receives one invite, so its still super exclusive, however, it is growing exponentially.

As a first-mover, its so meaningful to be on the app right now, making the most of it.

Im certain that as time goes on, we may not be able to access these featured speakers as much as we can now, because the rooms will be so crowded with so many people.

This will mean fewer opportunities to get on to the stage and speak to them. So, Ive been spending a lot of time on the app over the past couple of days to make the most of getting in early.

The good thing is you can multitask, use other apps, and have the audio on while you work to make the most of your day.

Honestly, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or how the app worked when I joined.

However, upon jumping into a few groups and putting myself out there, I got the hang of it very quickly.

I jumped into a bunch of different groups where people were chatting about all the functions of the app and how Clubhouse actually works, so that was really handy.

Once the app becomes more popular, this how-to chat may stop because they will assume that everyone knows how it works.

So I was lucky to get in early and learn in the app.

Because of my experience in podcasting and doing Instagram lives, Im more than comfortable to put my hand up and I wanted to push myself to keep that up.

So, I put my hand up and just hoped to be invited onto the stage. And I was!

It was a great opportunity to share my business insights. One thing I have also noticed is that Clubhouse has such a supportive community, I didnt experience any nastiness or anything negative at all.

The app itself is pretty amazing. There are actual Shark Tank rooms where people are pitching and gaining insane investments. I also found a Next Top Model room which based on audio, but Im not sure how that one works.

So, as you can tell, Im a huge fan of Clubhouse. To help you with your first day on the app, here are a few things to try which worked well for me.

Aussie Instagram influencers bring in anywhere between $13 and $20,000 per post, and it's those with nano-followings generating conversation.

Its surely impossible to dance in a uniform without violating a social media policy so why arent companies cracking down on TikTok?

Continued here:

What Jessica Williamson has learnt since scoring a Clubhouse invite - SmartCompany.com.au