From Homeless to Seven Figures

On this episode of Uncommonwealth, John sits down with Dr. Manoah McClendon—Army veteran, entrepreneur, and founder/CEO of Trade Secrets Academy. Dr. McClendon’s story spans Atlanta housing projects, military service, real estate riches, a 2008 wipeout, living in his car, and rebuilding through trading, education, and faith.He shares how he scaled an academy to tens of thousands of students globally, why profit → protection → party is the order that saves entrepreneurs, and how he’s integrating AI into investing education to help everyday people build durable wealth.What you’ll learnThe real entrepreneur journey: peaks, valleys, and getting up againWhy “profit, protection, party” beats hustle-without-guardrailsUsing business structure, bookkeeping, and culture to protect what you buildSmart leverage vs. bad debt; lines of credit, business credit, and OPMBuilding legacy with faith, discipline, and financial literacyHis next chapter: AI-driven training, global real estate, and stepping back without losing the missionIf you’re crafting wealth that outlasts you—without losing your soul—this conversation delivers mindset, mechanics, and moves you can use today.