Digital Social Hour - From Homeless to Tequila Mogul | Metta Risdal DSH #1215

Episode Date: March 3, 2025

🔥 Metta Risdal on Building a Tequila Empire, Overcoming Homelessness & Breaking Into the Industry 🚀 In this inspiring and unfiltered episode, we sit down with Metta Risdal, founder of U&Í Tequila, to discuss her journey from homelessness to entrepreneurship, breaking into the highly competitive tequila industry, and how she built a premium organic spirits brand from the ground up. Topics Covered: ✅ The challenges of launching a tequila brand with no industry experience ✅ What makes U&Í Tequila unique & why organic spirits matter ✅ How she went from sleeping on the streets to owning a successful business ✅ The struggles of competing with celebrity-backed liquor brands ✅ Her passion for real estate & how she built long-term wealth This powerful conversation will change the way you think about entrepreneurship, perseverance, and the liquor industry! 📲 Follow Metta Risdal & Order U&Í Tequila: 🔗 Website: UandITequila.com 🔗 Instagram: @UandITequila ⏱ CHAPTERS ⏳ 00:00 – Metta Risdal on Starting a Tequila Brand from Scratch ⏳ 03:15 – The Inspiration Behind U&Í Tequila’s Unique Design & Taste ⏳ 07:30 – Breaking Into the Liquor Industry & Competing with Big Brands ⏳ 12:10 – From Homeless to Entrepreneur: Metta’s Incredible Journey ⏳ 17:40 – The Power of Persistence in Business & Sales ⏳ 23:50 – The Future of the Tequila Industry & Organic Spirits ⏳ 30:25 – The Importance of Branding & Storytelling in Alcohol Brands ⏳ 36:10 – Metta’s Passion for Real Estate & How She Built Wealth ⏳ 42:00 – Challenges of Competing Against Celebrity Liquor Brands ⏳ 50:15 – Advice for Entrepreneurs & Women in Business ⏳ 55:30 – Where to Buy U&Í Tequila & Final Thoughts 🔥 Apply to Be on the Podcast & Business Inquiries: 🎙 APPLY TO BE ON THE PODCAST: https://www.digitalsocialhour.com/application 📩 BUSINESS INQUIRIES/SPONSORS: [e-mail]

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Must be 19 years of age or older to wager. Ontario only. Please play responsibly. If you have any questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact Connex Ontario at 1-866-531-2600 to speak to an advisor free of charge. BetMGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario. I think it's a great way to start when you're running a company and also to do every aspect of the business when you run a company. To not just be doing what you want to do but to actually grind it out, you know, in every field.

You know, I would go like probably like twice a month even for six months before I even could get a meeting with him. It's pretty competitive. So yeah, a small brand like me, it's hard sometimes to get these meetings. All right guys, got Metta here today from you and I tequila about a lovely bottle. Thanks for coming on.

Thank you. Thank you for having me, Sean. I'm excited to be in Vegas. Tequila is my favorite drink. That's my favorite too. Tequila and red wine. That's all I drink. Yeah.

Red wine is not bad too. Do you drink Tadarol also? Once in a while. Yeah. I need to find a good brand though for wine. Yeah. And but you're close to the, at least to like California, the good California cabs and stuff.

But yeah, I feel better. I wish I actually didn't love red wine, which I do, but I feel better when I stick to tequila and especially my tequila that is organic and just so smooth and yeah, so I just love sipping it. Yeah, wine gives me headaches sometimes actually. Yeah, you definitely wake up with a little bit of like more grogginess with wine, any kind of wine, I feel.

Champagne, too, for sure. Oh, champagne messes you up. Too much sugar. Sugar, yeah. What makes this so special? It's organic, you said? It's organic. There's no pesticides.

There's no additives. So I would say that's the main difference, because a lot of them do have that in it now. And then this is the Anejo which is aged for two years. So it's aged longer and then I use both new and vintage barrels. So kind of just getting the blend of that. It's just truly a unique product and a little oaky but not too oaky. Honestly, like I just sipping it neat or on a big ice cube or like with an orange twist.

And even like making an old fashioned, I used to be a bartender. That's how I kind of got into the whole industry. But then you don't even need all the sugar. You don't need like any of that. Just having the orange twist, maybe a few drops of the bitter and then just the tequila.

Wow. So no chaser needed. Yes, exactly. Definitely no chaser needed, no lime, nothing. I can't wait to try it now. Sounds smooth. So we're going to celebrate after. Yeah.

Cause there's some tequila brands where we don't have to say names, but it goes down rough on your throat. Oh, I know. When, right before I started it, I did like a blind taste with like the most famous commercial brands. I'm not gonna name even though it's always very tempting. I think we know. We do know. We do know. Starts with a J.

And some celebrities involved, you know, maybe one big celebrity involved. But yeah, like I did blind tests always. And yeah, mine was always the winner because it just like so much better. And then I really wanted the design of the bottle to stand out on the bar, you know? Yeah. What was the concept for the diamonds and the black? You know, when I renovated my bathroom floor, I did that old checkerboard floor with the

black and white. And instead of just doing the regular gray grout between the tiles, I did that gold. So it just like looks so classic. And I saw it in Italy too when I was there. So I was like, oh wow, that is the design of the bottle. Like to have that old school classic look of it. So that was very important as well to have that classic look.

And then the name Uni, you and I, you and I, which I say that all the time. So even though I catch myself on the phone with my friends, maybe my friends like, you and I, you and I, oh, you and I. So yes, smooth. And you've been able to get this in some big places, right? I have, yeah. Luckily I did by myself. I had no experience in this industry,

so I was just going door to door, which have been a great experience, just us doing sales. I think it's a great way to start when you're running a company, and also to do every aspect of the business when you run a company, to not just be doing what you want to do, but to actually grind it out, you know, in every field.

So it's at Carbone and the Back Rat Hotel, Tiger Woods restaurant. That's impressive. So yeah, I was just, you know, consistent. Some of the places I got it into it it would go probably twice a month even, for six months before I even could get a meeting with them. It's pretty competitive. So yeah, a small brand like me, it's hard sometimes to get these meetings.

There are a lot of tequila brands. There are, there are now. Every category now is getting pretty crowded because, you know, again, a lot of the celebrities are going in, of course. And so it's, but every, every category is pretty crowded. I think Dana White has his own, right? Does he have tequila? Maybe.

Is it tequila? Oh, it might be whiskey. Maybe whiskey. Yeah. Howler head. Yeah, it could be whiskey. I think. Yes. Yeah. Well, be. Yeah, whiskey. Whiskey, I think. Yes, yeah.

Well, that makes sense for him. He might be now partner with some of the other brands, which I wouldn't be familiar with if he is. It would make sense for his branding and the whole world that he's in. Yeah. Did you have business success before this brand, too? I had a skincare company.

I did sell kind of off the recipe of it. It wasn't like crazy success, but enough to where I had enough money to do this brand and then also enough money to invest in real estate, which is really my hobby. I do that, you know, so much on the side. So yeah, it was, but you know, it's still just like, again, like really took time. You know, all of it again, it just like really takes time. That's the thing I would just keep like reminding myself,

even with this, like it takes time, give it time, don't give up and slowly you'll get there. So. You've come a long way from being homeless in the streets in New York City. Yes, I did. Yeah, I did. But even with them, I felt like, you know,

I had already made that decision that I couldn't move back to Norway and I really wanted a different lifestyle. And Norway is a wonderful country. Don't misunderstand me. But if you want to be an entrepreneur, you know, I always felt like so left out, like even in school, I was so bullied. I think you were as well.

I remember you told me that or you said that. And just, I think all those things, like you wanted even more in some ways, right? So even though, yes, it's a wonderful country and I'm close to my family there and so on, but as an entrepreneur, there's no better country than America. America is the best country if you wanna be an entrepreneur.

So they were like, no, I'm not going back. I gotta make it. So I plowed through that and did end up becoming homeless because I didn't have papers, so I came in illegal. And I thought I was gonna get it because I thought I was gonna, I had been actually moving to London first

and I was working in a pub as a bartender. So I was like, of course I'm gonna get a job as a bartender here in the US, but I didn't. And then I was in a hostel, living in a hostel, and I just didn't, I hadn't gotten a job, so I didn't have the money. So one day I got back, and the suitcase was on the front desk, you know, and it was the evening,

so I was like, okay, nowhere to sleep. But you so, and it was the evening. So I was like, okay, nowhere to sleep. But, you know, and it was tough. I stayed awake at night and then I would be sleeping in the chair at Starbucks in the East Village in the daytime. And then I made friends with a guy at Chipotle on East Eight Street. Good old Chipotle.

I love Chipotle. I used to eat there every day. I'm back to eating there a lot. I haven't been there in a while. That's what it was for me. I took a break for a while and now I'm like back like not every day but three days a week. Okay, damn. I used to eat there like sometimes twice a day when I was growing up.

Yes, back then. It's so good and you know it's like still like free range chicken. And that's important to me. I just feel like it's a quick meal. It's very, very convenient. My only qualm with it is the seed oils. Yes. They use rice bran oil.

That's true. Yeah. That's my only issue with it. Yes, that's true. And I am too now getting better at staying away from the seed oils. I kind of have decided to ignore that with it. Yes that's true and I am too now getting bedridden staying away from the seed oils. Yeah I kind of have decided to ignore that with them. I'm sure if you eat it once or twice a week it's not a big deal. Yes. I have an app that tells me if the restaurant uses seed oils or not.

So you're so healthy. I gotta get that out. Seed oil scout. Yeah it's really good because I order food a lot so I need to look if they use like canola oil or whatever. Is it just the fast food restaurants? No, it does everything. So they all have it down there. Yeah. Like where do you live at? Well, now, you know, I'm in Florida, West Palm Beach, Jupiter area now and New York

City still, but mostly Florida now. Yeah, I'm sure they're big on there. The customers at the restaurant ask the owners if they use seed oils and then you report it on the app. Okay. What they say. customers at the restaurant ask the owners if they use Cedars and then you report it on the app. Okay, very cool. I'm glad that that's becoming a big thing now because that is so important. Super important. Yeah, health is important. They say tequila is actually the healthiest alcohol. I've seen Tai Lopez say that. Yeah, Tai Lopez, I've actually talked to him lately and yeah he loves tequila and it is the healthiest if you decide to you know to drink. Even me, I drink less now than I did,

like of course in your 20s. And honestly, I don't even think we knew it so much. This is the plus for you and the very younger generation, the Gen Z and everyone. We know now that a lot of it, even like I said, I love red wine, but I don't feel healthy when I do drink it, even though I still do it once in a while, but I don't feel healthy when I do drink it, even though I still do it once in a while, but I don't do it as often because of that.

So that's why I do choose to, especially mine that's organic and it doesn't have, and it's, you know, ethically sourced and all of that helps a lot. But I don't, you know, in Florida, and especially a lot of my neighbors like they're retired They just they drink every day a lot of them are drinking every day. So Yeah, I don't do that. But whatever people choose to do, but at least like drink healthier So tequila is a good option if you choose to drink. Yeah. Yeah, my generation is not drinking as much Yeah, which is yours good to hear, yeah. Yeah, it's interesting. Yes, it is interesting. But don't you feel they do other stuff, though?

Like, all this other stuff? Yeah, yeah. Because I don't do any of that. So I have never done drugs. I never. Wow. No weed? No, in Norway, it was looked upon so bad,

like Marjana and weed. So I was always like, oh wow, no, that's drugs, I can't do that. But there's probably no difference doing that or drinking alcohol. Alcohol might be worse, to be honest. Maybe, yeah. Depending on the drug, I guess.

But I guess since I never got into it, but yeah, I have friends that do it, but then you hear rumors like, oh, you get lazy from doing it. I always like energy. So if I'm going to go out and you know, I want energy. Otherwise when I'm staying home with my dog, you know, every night on the couch, anyway, it doesn't matter. But when I go out, I want the energy.

So even red wine gets me lazy. Wine gets me so lazy. Tired. Yeah. Sometimes alcohol gets me lazy. That's true. Tequila is the only thing if I drink it straight like that or just on a big ice cube, it actually gives me energy. But yeah, if you put in a cocktail with a lot of sugar, that too will tire you out. Yeah. You got to be careful with the cocktails. Yeah, totally. Hold those calories. Do you miss Norway? You know, I'm lucky that I'm able to go back every summer. So every July I go for three weeks still, my whole family there. And I'm lucky that they come and visit me at late.

Like they were just here. My parents and my sister were just here. My other sister and my niece is coming. And last year I took my niece here to Vegas for the Bruno Mars concert. Nice. So technically not last year, but the prior one, so a year and two months, whatever year that is. So they come to see me all the time.

So I don't really miss it since I know I can go there and stay there in the summertime. It's kind of enough for me. I think it goes back to, I just feel that I have a whole nother mindset, you know? I just feel that they love it there. Like for example, my one sister, all she wanted was to get married and have children. That's awesome.

But that wasn't really me. I was like, no, I gotta start a business, you know? I don't wanna, I wanna was like, no, I gotta start a business. I want freedom. I want to be comfortable. And then if I choose to go to Norway, like I do in the summer, that's awesome. But it kind of scared me to just have that. So yeah, I don't really miss it.

And I think if I did, I would just make a quick trip over there and then I'm like, now I'm ready to go back to the US. I wanna go there one day. It's beautiful. I heard. It's beautiful. It really, really is beautiful.

And the people are friendly when you get to know them, and it's just the fjords and so green and it's never too hot in the summer. So it's a good time time but it's cold in the winter I don't know if you like skiing I've never been but I want to learn this here if you like skiing you can go to any time but if you want to like hike and bike which is what I would suggest it's just beautiful yeah summertime oh can't wait I love hiking yeah I'm going to Sedona tomorrow. Oh really? Oh nice. Have you been there?

Arizona? No. Yeah, it's beautiful. I got engaged there. Oh nice. Yeah, super beautiful. Is their family from there then? No, they're from New Jersey.

Okay. Yeah. But yeah, my favorite chess player is Norwegian. Oh yeah, Magnus Carlsen, right? He's my dream podcast guest. I know, you gotta get him. I kind of know someone that know him. No way. Are you serious? I can try to reach him. I kind of know someone that know him. No way.

Are you serious? I can try to reach out. Wow. Small world, huh? He was just on Joe Rogan's podcast. What? Yeah. Cause he doesn't do a lot of podcasts,

but obviously you're so famous now and you're doing so well. I mean, I will try to reach out to the- Wow. I didn't know he was on Rogan. He was just on Rogan and he just got married. Yeah, he just got married. My parents actually saw him last summer,

but he's so casual, so down to earth. But kind of typical Norwegians are that way, I gotta say. Yeah, no, he's brilliant. Yeah, Norwegians are smart, huh? They're great at chess. Yeah, they are. He's so smart.

I never met him myself, but whatever he's been doing, I don't know what he's up to now. Because isn't he kind of going away a little bit? Yeah, so he's making more now, doing other stuff. Because chess, the money is not that good. No. So he's doing poker now. He's doing coaching.

I think he has a course on chess or something. Oh, wow. Yeah. Yeah, because chess isn't like a major sport. No. But he had that game, right? He has an app, his own app with the chess. Yeah, he's an investor in chess.com I think.

Yes, one of those, yeah. He's gonna be well off for sure. Oh yeah, he'll be fine. Which is good cause that's changing the narrative for Norwegians and entrepreneurship. Yes. Right? Yes, especially if he decides to continue to live in

Norway, it's much more simple there. I don't know if his wife is Italian or something. So who knows if they're going to be doing both places, but by his family being in Norway, I'm sure he'll always have like one foot there. Yeah. But no, he seems very cool. Yeah. I can't do the simple lifestyle.

I can't do it. I know it's hard when you start flying business class and you get used to all of that. Even me,. I can't do it. I know it's hard when you start flying business class and you get used to all of that. Even me, and I usually bring my dog. So for me, my dog is everything. I know you love animals as well. I spend more on my dogs than my friends, honestly.

Oh, me too. I'll do anything for my dog. I do more for my dog than I do for myself or anyone else. I don't go to the doctor if I don't feel well. As soon as there's something with my dog and I'm like, are you okay? Right away. I don't go to the doctor if I don't feel well. As soon as there's something with my dog and I'm like, are you okay? Right away. Like I don't want to risk it.

It will seize my life. No, that's facts. I spend a lot, cause I feed my dogs raw. Yeah. Oh, you went to raw food. Not just that refrigerated from whole food. But no, Maeve. Yeah. M-A-E-V. Yeah. It's raw human grade meat.

So humans can eat it too. I know one of my neighbors, my old neighbor, they have two German Shepherds, and one of them were losing a lot of hair, and that did help to bring it back. They went on that diet to raw food for the dogs. Yeah, the kibble's so bad for dogs. It is.

The dry kibble. What do you feed your dog? Well, I use the one now from Whole Foods that's refrigerated. Oh, nice. I had heard that I was, I just, I used to use the dry one because I was traveling. Yeah, same. Everyone did.

Yeah. It's easy. It's easy. And then all of these started coming out. And I was like, well, Whole Foods probably got the best brand on board. And I was looking at the ingredients. And I remember, OK, this looks pretty good.

But then I started reading, is there any scientific proof that they're gonna live longer? And it didn't seem that way, but maybe at least they're staying healthier while they're living. I talked to people that feed their dogs raw or just human food, and their dogs seem to live longer

from what I've seen in Converse with people. I hope that's it. Do you have one or two dogs? Two, I want more. I want people. I hope that's it. Do you have one or two dogs? Two. I want more. I want 10. I love dogs. If I didn't live in a condo, I too, I would have many.

That's my life goal to retire on a farm. Not even retire, just be on a farm or something with like 10 plus dogs. I know. I'm starting to think about it already. Have you ever looked into cloning your dog? Yes. So Tyus out here, I don't know if you met him,

his friend cloned his dog. Yes, I did. him, his friend cloned his dog. Yeah, his friend cloned his dog. It was like 50 grand. I know it's 50 grand because I've looked at first the 1600 to freeze the, I don't know, eggs or probably whatever it's called. And then it's 50 grand if you decide to move ahead. A lot of people are against it, but like my dog is like my child. I love him and I want him to live forever and there's a company in Texas and that's probably the one. Yeah probably. So the thing is though even if you clone them they're still going to be different. That's what I learned so if I could get a guarantee like yes you are going to be the dog that I currently have 100% I would do it but and he doesn't need to look the same I just need the same person I was actually gonna bring him I would love that next time please I always want

to bring my dog here but he gets too excited so he'll jump on people and stuff well and you're lucky to have two they have each other so they're okay to be left together yeah well my fiance is watching them now but that's true dogs are really important to me they are everything in life yeah ever since I was a kid I wanted them my mom would never let me go on well so you didn't even have one going off no I wish I did yeah that's what I did I was two years old when we got my dad is a hunter so he goes and hunt for the moose yeah go fishing so he had a hunting dog and Teddy and I just loved that dog.

Yeah. And then we had cats and my sister loved cats, but I'm very allergic to cats. So I had a XM all over my body and rashes and figured it out many years later. It all came from the cats. You didn't even know you were. No. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. Who knows, you know, if they knew, but they didn't do anything about it.

Did you ever go moose hunting with your dad? I didn't. I probably should have. I'm like the, you know, they have three girls. I'm the youngest of the three girls. So they named me Thomas, but obviously in Norway, it's not like you name the girl's voice name like you do here in the US. So then when I came out they're like oh I guess we she can't be a Thomas anymore so I ended up

being metal. Oh wow so they thought you were going to be a boy? Yes because they had said it was going to be a boy. Yes. Wow. Yes so that's why they had already named me Thomas. Yeah. I wonder why they said that, that's weird. Yeah, I know. They did say that. So it's like, okay. And they were excited, of course. Ah.

Because they already had two, they already had the two girls. So like finally a boy and then oh, another girl. But I think they were just. They've gone over. They were cable. I want one of each, you know. Yeah, that makes sense.

And that's what most people, so I get it, that they really wanted a boy. And I think particularly because, you know, my dad does love those things, like hunting and fishing. But my mom is good at it, so at least he has her. Wow. How did the mousse taste when you brought it home? So good.

Because they will bring it home, and they'll honestly chop it up on the kitchen table. It smells a little bit. Tonight they do that. It doesn't look like, okay, we're going to watch a movie. I'm used to it from a kid, right? And then we have two big freezers in the basement. We live in nature, so that's how they do it.

Hunting, fishing, they have garden with everything organic. Wow. So you didn't even go to the grocery store? Very little. Wow. Maybe if you want to buy some chicken or something, right? But they have all the fruit and vegetables and berries, and they freeze it down, so they have it for the whole season

until the next year, until there's a new crop coming out with that. Yeah. So yeah. That is cool. So you were living off the lay of the land pretty much. Yeah, living in nature. So I'm with you.

I'm now starting to think more like that too. And I think that's also why I like, even though I spend time in New York City, but I love now actually living in Florida and not in Miami even, even though I have properties in Miami, I rent it out and I prefer to be north of there because it's just, it's nice to be more quiet. Yeah. Yeah.

That's what Tai Lopez does. So he has three houses. Yes. One in the city, one in the suburb and then one rural. Yeah. And he spends a lot of time in Virginia at the farm. And I know he also, of course in Sweden, he spends a lot of time. So he loves farm. And I know he also, of course, in Sweden, he spends a lot of time.

So he loves Scandinavia. Yeah. Yeah. He's big on it. Yeah, he was Amish for a bit. That's right. That's right. He's brilliant.

He was like ahead of the time. I don't think like way ahead. He was the start of like the courses, the coaching. Yes. And from what I heard was that even like Mr., Mr. Beast, I think did like his early courses on. I think Mr. Beast, Logan Paul, a bunch of big people. Yeah. I wouldn't be surprised if Bradley did it.

Yes, probably. Yeah. I did it. I took a bunch of his, yeah. I took like five of his courses. Wow. Cause you've come out so fast, but you probably grinded it longer than we know. No, I was watching a course a day. I. I was doing 2x speed watching a full course a day for like a year straight. Yeah. Yeah. I've been learning like behind the scenes. I probably spent tens of thousands of hours just learning. Wow. Yeah. That's the way to do it. Yeah. But you also have to act on it. A lot of people read books, but they don't do anything. A lot of people sit there like the secret like, Oh, you know know bring it to me now and putting out the universe but yeah you're right that's the thing then you gotta actually take action.

So of course having a positive mindset and getting confidence and I think that's what's helpful about surrounding yourself like people like Ty and other people like that like minded people you know you do become the average of five people you You spend the most time as we know. Jim Rohn says that I so believe in that Tony Robbins, that whole thing. And, um, but then when you have that, it's like, okay, then you actually got to take the action and actually do it. But what, what do you think? I think it's confidence sometimes that's lacking why people don't. Yeah, I was super on confident growing up. So once I had the confidence, which came from success, game changer for me.

Now I have like, but it's a balance with confidence and ego also, you don't wanna have too much confidence. Totally. Because then it turns into ego. We don't wanna be narcissistic. Yeah. So I've seen people go down that route where they're too much in their ego.

True, yeah. So you need the right level of confidence, but confidence is important. It is important, yeah. So you need the right level of confidence, but confidence is important. It is important, yeah. Yeah, because I've been in rooms where if I didn't have confidence to go and talk to certain people, it wouldn't have opened any doors.

And that's it. I think that's the thing, people are so scared because they always think, oh, they're so above me maybe, and they just don't feel, oh, I can't even talk to this person. But that's a lost opportunity. As we know, it's lost. And you also got to think, okay, where was this

person at my age? Maybe I'm actually ahead of them. You are so ahead. Yeah, definitely. So I I'm careful with comparison, because that could be dangerous. That's if you're comparing yourself to a 70 year old, that's a billionaire. It's it could be scary, right? Oh, yeah, no, we can't. Yeah, but where was he at your age? You know, it's more... No, wait, I think he becomes successful at 50.

Yeah, millionaire at 50, right? Yeah. He got a late start. He got a late start. A lot of them do. I've actually heard Jesse Itzel say this. I love him too. Yeah, he's great.

I listen to his stuff. I think he's saying like... So I'm excited for what's ahead, because he was saying, because I'm almost there, he was saying like from 45 to 55 is when you make like most of your money and get most of the good relationships and you know, for what's ahead. So yeah, I've heard someone else say it too, but he said it really well.

So I bet, yeah, but looking at you, maybe not. It's good that some are doing it even earlier than that. Some are doing it earlier than me too. I see I meet teenagers that are millionaires now. I know, but crypto, crypto or social media marketing, whatever, like whatever the trend is. There's always a new trend. A.I. is the trend right now. So people are becoming millionaires off A.I.

Yeah, totally that too. Got it so early with all of that stuff. Did you do any of the Bitcoin? Yeah, I got in on crypto. Crypto is how I became a millionaire. Okay, yeah, that was the first step that you took. Caught some good timing there, but I wouldn't have had that knowledge without confidence.

That and being surrounded by the right people and listening to the right people, right? Yeah, I went to events, I went to crypto events, you know, now I'm going to AI events, seeing what's there. Okay, I got a scar to go into AI. Are you going to the crypto in May here? Yeah, yeah, I'll be doing podcasts there. Okay, good, I'm probably gonna go as well.

Yeah, you have any crypto? I got into Bitcoin, of course I sold too much too soon. I got in like 2017, 2018 when it was three grand. Maybe it was 3,500. Well done. I logged in again to look at everything. But yeah, again, you know, remember when it like the first height

that it went to like 17K I guess. I sold around like 13, 14. So can you imagine? But then it was dip again and then a mistake. Of course, I didn't buy more again, but I luckily had already bought so that I just kind of I'm holding on. I actually bought some more than at 93. Because when I was realizing Trump was going to be president, or maybe it was even like

right after that, I was like, okay, eventually, again, everything I do is long-term, and that's why I'm mostly in real estate pretty much, and I don't really do the stock market. But yeah, I just sort of like, okay, if I'm obviously gonna be holding it for five, 10 years, at least, or even forever, then it makes sense to go in even a little bit more. So yeah, I did that.

Yeah, I agree with some of these people, that it's gotta be 250 in a year. Michael Saylor says a million. Oh gosh, I hope he's right. Nice little 10X for you. I took a bet, it would be good for all of us. Yeah, I wouldn't be complaining about that. Oh, me too.

Any big wins in real estate for you? Real estate. I've always almost won. Wow. I gotta say. Is that luck or is that skill? Oh, I, this is my hobby. This is what I do in the evening with my dog.

Look at real estate, you know, like, uh, you know what I, I don't really sell. So I'm so glad that I figured out a few years ago. And I ended up investing in Florida a lot in 2020, when the virus COVID came. I was living full-time almost in New York and I went down to Florida that September, 2020. I bought some properties. They have already doubled.

So now what I just did a year ago, and I actually done all of them, I'm doing a refinance, right? So I don't really sell, cause I've rented out, it covered the cost, not making a lot, maybe making only like 200 each property,

but this is covering all the cost. And then now with the refinance, which I was able to get out like half again in money for the refi, and then buying more properties. So yeah, I just bought like more properties in West Palm Beach and nice and Juno Beach and those areas, which I so believe in. So my thing in real estate is don't sell, don't sell and go after markets. You believe in and just do the refi, right? You know, and that that's the key though. Like and just do the refi.

And that's the key though. Again, if you have an income and you can do that and then just know it's long-term, obviously. So none of the stuff that I do is like, oh, I'm just gonna invest and I'm gonna sell in three, four years. No, it's forever. And then I didn't even expect to pull this much money out already.

So I was kind of thinking, okay, maybe I can verify in like seven years is the norm, maybe, or six, seven years, right? So to already be able to do that and then to put into more properties that I believe in. So yeah, properties is where I've done well. It even started with like in Noleda, I did some commercial, I did some commercial,

I rented some commercial properties and I did a 10 year lease and I subleased it for over double. I just did like a tiny little renovation and subleased it to like another tenant for commercial space. So you allowed to do that. So yeah, the real estate is like my second thing.

It's almost like the same as the tequila. It's like yeah, the real estate is like my second thing. It's almost like the same as the tequila. It's like tequila and real estate. I love real estate. I don't know. I just love driving by and I'm like, oh, this is going to be so worth it. It's so nice in 20 years, still having all of these properties, right? It's tried and true. It's something you can see with your own eyes. Yeah. Some investments you can't even touch. Well, that's why I always loved real estate and kind of got to beat myself up a little bit too, because I probably would have gotten even harder maybe with the Bitcoin. If I didn't believe so much in real estate, I just love real estate.

So that's usually where I put the money. And that's what it is, I think. Just like having a tenant, getting income as it's growing most likely because I did pick some good locations. I think that's why. Yeah. Yeah. It's a win-win because you got the active income coming in and then you have the investment on the backend whenever you do decide to sell, right? Or re-buy again. Yes, exactly. Yeah. I like win-win opportunities. Yes. Whenever I put money into something, I think of, okay, I can make money, but what else am I winning with this? Yeah. So I invest in relationships, masterminds. That is the most valuable and

that's the number one everyone should be doing, you know, in the beginning for sure. Yeah. I mean, it's led to so much growth for me because I learn a lot. I also get people on the podcast because of it. I figure out new ways to save money on taxes, make money, whatever. Yes, you have great relationships, which is number one. Yeah, that's why I started the WhatsApp chat too.

Yeah, I loved that one. Yeah, there's some good people in there. There's some very good people. People want to help each other out, like-minded, doing the events. You have something coming up too in public? March 11th, yeah.

It's already sold out, I think, but yeah. 1,000 people. I have events in every city I go to because I want to build networks in every city. So whenever I travel somewhere, I have people I can hang out with, get a dinner with. Yeah, that's the best way. You're doing one in Miami anytime soon?

Yeah, Miami in May for F1. Okay, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, okay. 2,000 people at that one. And then New York and LA this year in Vegas. Okay, good, yeah, the good places. Miami is good, it's still very happening, Miami. It's easy getting people in Miami to the events. You guys love to network out there,

I love to have fun. Yes. Miami's a good city. It is, it's a good city. And I think everybody wants an excuse to go to Miami. Just like they liked an excuse to come to Vegas too, right? Absolutely. Maybe Miami even more. Yeah. I mean, the weather is unbeatable.

Vegas has been cold lately. Yes. Yeah, it's still a little cold, but it's better. I was here a month ago, I guess, and this is getting a little bit better now. Finally, yeah. Yeah. Winter's been brutal. But then it's so hot again in August.

Oh my gosh. I don't leave the house those months. And that's how Florida is too. That's why I'm in Europe. That's why everyone leaves in those months. Yes, you have to. You have to. Get out to Norway.

Yes, you have to go to Norway. How's Norwegian food? It's good, you know, it's very basic. Like, they actually like eat a lot of potatoes. Similar to Irish, then. Yeah, I's very basic. Like they actually like eat a lot of potatoes. Similar to Irish then. Yeah, I would say so. Like the traditional meatball with the brown gravy and brown sauce gravy and potatoes and just like boiled potatoes, a lot of vegetables,

but very good quality food. I'm so lucky because both of my parents really cook really amazing food, obviously. So yeah, they make it so good. So when I'm in Norway, I don't go out to eat that much. Like if I do, it'll be like pizza. Got it. I like the pizza there. Really? You got good pizza?

I do. Damn good pizza. It's a little thicker, you know? Okay. Yeah. I don't see Norwegian restaurants anywhere. No. So that's why I asked how the food is. I know it's similar to Swedish and we do have some Swedish restaurants in New York. You know, Marcus Samuelsson, like he has a couple of, he used to have one in Midtown in New York and now he has one in Harlem. I forget the name. Is it called Red Rooster maybe or something?

I'm not sure. It's pretty big. I went there, but for some reason I'm wondering if has one in Harlem. I forget the name. Is it called Red Rooster maybe or something? I'm not sure. It's pretty big. I went there, but for some reason, I'm wondering if that's the name. So yeah, I like that traditional, you know,

lingonberry jam with the gravy and sauces and stuff. Very like basic, but good quality food, I would say. That makes sense. Yeah. Metta, it's been fun. Where can people purchase the liquor and find out more about you? They can buy it online on. That makes sense. Yeah. Meda, it's been fun. Where can people purchase the liquor and find out more about you? They can buy it online on unitequila.com.

Then you have like a shop order on, you know, the button there on the website. And I, cause actually now I'm able to ship to 45 states. Nice. So that's, that's probably the easiest way. Cause I only have distribution in Florida and New York right now. And you know, it'll be more of a time, but yeah, easy to buy it online on uni tequila.com

and and then the shipping is like just two, three days. So that's great. Not bad at all. Check them out, guys. I'm about to take a shot. We'll post it on my Instagram. Cool. Check her out,, peace. Peace out. you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you. Bet MGM is an official sports betting partner of the National Hockey League and has your back all season long. From puck drop to the final shot, you're always taken care of with the sportsbook Born in Vegas. That's a feeling you can only get with Bet MGM, and no matter your team, your favorite skater or your style, there's something every NHL fan is going to love about BetMGM.

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