The Journey
by Ricardo Vargas
In this podcast, I will record my journey to becoming successful in the business world, starting from literally day 0 until I make it. You will listen to raw experiences, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I wish the great minds of our times did this as they were coming up, so I hope to do that here. Thank you for investing your time and I hope you enjoy!
Episodes
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The Pain You Feel Now vs The Joy That's Coming | Training Arc
1 AM. Can't sleep. Gym bag in hand. What happens when you can't shut your brain off? You show up. You train. You think out loud. This is a 2 AM back and triceps session with no script, no plan, just reps, rest timers, and the kind of thoughts you only say when nobody else is around. Ricardo walks...
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$40 Day Passes and Final Mission | NYC Road Trip Pt 2
Four hours from home, three weeks of planning, and one delivery that didn't show up on time. What happens to a plan when the one piece you can't replace fails three hours before you need it? This is the day we found out — the Summit One Vanderbilt mission, the after-action report, a $40-a-day...
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The LONG Drive & Side Quests | NYC Road Trip Pt 1
Ricardo and Marquise hit the road from Baltimore to New York City with one primary mission: help their boy ask out his girl. What starts as a straightforward road trip turns into a comedy of errors, miscommunication, and side quests that test their patience and their commitment to the…
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Every Road Leads Back to God
Ricardo was 130 pounds, running marathons, and feeling like a rag doll. Andrew was spamming 100 push-ups a day during quarantine, trying to build something out of nothing. This week on The Journey Podcast, Ricardo and Andrew from GRND CO break down the physical side of transformation — not the...
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The Day God Took Everything We Treasured | Brutal Honesty
Andrew had a first-division pro soccer offer in Colombia. He turned it down to follow God. Ricardo was crying on his couch on a Saturday night after exhausting every option — money, girls, gym, grinding harder. The next morning he walked into church and the weight came off his shoulders. This…
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Why Rock Bottom Is a Privilege (Not a Curse) - GRND CO
Ricardo and Andrew from the Grind Collective sit down for the rawest conversation yet. Andrew opens up about losing himself inside his soccer identity — the fame, the clout, the pro-level talent — and how it led to drugs, depression, and crying himself to sleep every night. His mom catching him…
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Pizza Doesn't Feed Your Soul (& Here's What Actually Does) - GRND CO
Ricardo and Andrew are two twenty-somethings launching GRND Collective — a faith-driven fitness coaching brand built on the idea that physical, mental, and spiritual transformation are inseparable. What happens when two guys who taught themselves everything about fitness realize the real problem...
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I Stopped Being That Guy | The Real Reason Why
This isn’t really about business. It’s about identity. Who you are when nobody’s watching—and what it costs to change. Mark Siles discusses insecurity, past immaturity, discipline, and the “anchor” habits that have kept him moving forward. Watch to the end for the real question underneath all of...
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The Real Price of Not Taking Action
Eight words wrecked my whole week: "If you think the price of being successful is too high, wait until you've served the bill for regret." This episode is different. No guest. No interview. Just me, a microphone, and the ideas that have been keeping me up at night. We talk about the guy who spent...
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Getting Back to Church After Years of Resentment
Marcus, Ricardo, and Parker all grew up resenting church — forced Sunday services, boring sermons, and rules that felt like chores. In this clip, they each share how they found their way back to faith on their own terms. Marcus talks about his dad's influence, Ricardo shares how hitting rock…
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Success Looks Different Than You Think - Marcus Roberts
I had a powerful conversation with Marcus Roberts, owner of two Augusta locations, about his transformation from a lazy teenager in Montana to building a million-dollar lawn care business. We dove deep into topics most business podcasts avoid — from morning meditation and faith to the mental toll...
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PTSD vs Post-Traumatic Growth: Which Path Will You Choose?
Morgon Latimore opens up about his transformation from victim mentality to post-traumatic growth. He shares his journey from St. Louis streets through Marine Corps service in Afghanistan to becoming a successful coach and franchise owner. This powerful segment reveals how he chose growth over...
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Behind the Scenes: Cuts, Growth & the Bottom Line
We tried to start this episode six times. That tells you everything about where we're at right now — Marco, Bryson, Andrew and I sitting down to reflect on a year that taught us more than we bargained for. Marco learned the hard way about being kind versus nice to employees. Bryson had to fire...
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The Growth Nobody Wants to Do
Most people are out here looking for the answer everywhere except the one place it actually lives. Morgan Latimore has spent years working as a life coach and performance coach — with athletes, entrepreneurs, and everyday people trying to figure out why they keep hitting the same ceiling. His...
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Trauma as Catalyst, Not Anchor - Morgan Latimore
Morgan Latimore grew up in East St. Louis. He served in Afghanistan. He came back not with PTSD — but with a decision to let trauma be a catalyst. This conversation covers the full picture: where Morgan came from, what the Marine Corps actually taught him about discipline, why most people buckle...
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Scaling Demands Speed: What Most Entrepreneurs Get Wrong
Some lessons can’t be taught — you only learn them after you lose time. This mini-episode is about the switch that flips when you finally understand: when something works, you go harder — not later. From marketing momentum to leadership and authority, Caleb breaks down what scaling actually...
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From $40k Months to $100k Months—Then Reality Hit
It’s possible to feel like you’re winning… while your business is quietly bleeding. Mark Siles talks about the dopamine of “numbers going up,” and the painful moment he realized he was going negative. This clip is a straight lesson on profit, cash flow, discipline, and why scaling isn’t just...
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The Brutal Stats Check Every Couple Needs
This is the moment a relationship stops being love… and starts being a failing investment. Caleb lays out a brutal but useful framework: are your stats going up — or are you just bleeding out? This mini-episode is about patterns, standards, journaling for clarity, and the discipline of not…
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Amazon Sellers Are Doing This Wrong: Here's Why
Everyone wants the “one product” that changes everything. Most people never realize the real bottleneck isn’t the product—it’s the level they’re trying to skip. Mark Siles explains the Amazon ladder (arbitrage → wholesale → brand), why approvals and MOQs block shortcuts, and why building a…
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What No One Tells You About Growing Up
There’s a point in every man’s life where the things he prayed for… become the things he’s now responsible for. That’s the weight of the crown. It’s the pressure that comes with ambition, responsibility, growth, expectations, and becoming someone people look up to. It’s realizing your idols were...
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Six Months to Six Figures on Amazon | No Hacks, Just Reps
Six figures in six months sounds like luck—until you hear what he actually did every day. No hype. No hacks. Just targets, reps, and a level of consistency most people tap out on. In this clip, Mark Siles breaks down how he got into Amazon selling, why beginners stall, and the simple “goal board”...
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Change Your Circle or Stay the Same - Mark Siles
Six figures in six months… sounds clean on paper. This episode isn’t the highlight reel — it’s the real timeline: the wins, the mistakes, the pressure, and the discipline it took to keep going. Mark breaks down how he started flipping products on Amazon, what changed when he began treating it…
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First In, Last Out | The Truth About Leading
Respect doesn’t come from titles. It comes from what you do when nobody’s clapping. In this clip, Parker breaks down a raw truth most men learn late: leadership isn’t control — it’s responsibility. In your home, in your relationship, and with your team. The conversation moves from marriage…
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Why You Keep Failing at Love (It's Not What You Think)
Most people ask, “How do I find love?” But nobody asks the harder question: what if you don’t have it in you to give yet? In this mini-episode, Caleb breaks down a grounded definition of love — sacrifice, effort, and responsibility — and why real relationships are built on communication when your...
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The Secret Beauty of Hard Lessons
Every season of your life leaves a mark. Some lift you higher than you ever imagined — and others break you down until all that’s left is the truth. This is a chapter about understanding the rhythm of life. The highs don’t last. The lows don’t last. But the person you become in the middle of all…
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The Talk That Stops Work From Killing Your Relationship
A relationship doesn’t break from one big fight. It breaks from a thousand small moments where work keeps winning. In this clip, Parker talks about what most builders learn the hard way: you can’t run your business like a machine and expect your relationship to survive without structure. From…
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Real Growth Doesn't Require Destroying Yourself
Most people chase love like it’s something someone else hands you. But what if the real problem is you don’t have it in you to give yet? This mini-episode is a raw conversation about self-love, sacrifice, communication, and the moment you realize you’ve been dragging yourself through something...
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Your Standards at Home Show Up at Work - Caleb Storts
Most people talk about winning. This conversation is about the cost of trying to win too fast — and what it takes to build a life that can actually hold the weight of the business. In this episode of The Journey, Ricardo sits down with Caleb for a raw, practical talk that moves from the realities...
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The Truth I Spent Years Avoiding
There’s a moment in your life where the version of you that the world sees… and the version of you that you know behind closed doors no longer match. That’s the Mirror Stage. It’s the season where you start noticing the truth about yourself — your intentions, your insecurities, your need for...
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The Competitor Mindset That's Killing Your Margins
You don’t win in home services by “beating” your competitors. You win by outlasting the race to the bottom — and building a reputation that travels faster than ads. In this short clip, Parker breaks down a different way to think about competition in a service business: cooperating with local...
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Competitors Aren’t the Enemy - Parker Hodge
Most people think the hard part is getting clients. The harder part is keeping trust—especially when you leave town, the phone won’t stop ringing, and your business starts exposing every crack in your life. In this episode, Parker Charles Hodge and I talk through what it actually looks like to...
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The Long Road to Being Undeniable - Bristol Banchek
This episode is a deep conversation with Bristol about mastery, discipline, and what it really takes to build a career — and a life — you’re proud of. From falling in love with the craft, to hitting ceilings, to teaching others how to level up, this isn’t a highlight-reel conversation. It’s about...
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The Lonely Chapter
Every man has a season that happens in silence. A season with no applause, no validation, no audience. A season where the world gets quiet enough for you to hear your own doubts… and your own potential. The Lonely Chapter is where transformation begins. You’re not who you used to be, but you’re…
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The Price Nobody Warns You About - Michael Bekele
Michael Bekele returns for a deep, unfiltered conversation about growth, discipline, pressure, and the responsibility that comes with becoming more than you used to be. This episode isn’t about hype or shortcuts. It’s about what happens after ambition, when motivation fades and the weight of...
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Building Yourself When No One Is Watching
There are seasons in a man’s life that don’t make it onto a calendar. No dates. No celebrations. No applause. Just quiet work, silent battles, and a version of you nobody else ever meets. This video is the beginning of that journey. We start with The Lonely Chapter — the season where nothing…
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What Discipline Really Is
Everyone throws the word “discipline” around like it’s easy. Like it’s simple. Like it’s just “showing up.” But in this video, I’m breaking down the real side of discipline — the part nobody posts on Instagram. This is the kind of discipline that’s built at 5AM, when the bed is warm and the world...
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What I Learned After 50 Episodes
Fifty episodes. Most creators don’t make it past twenty-one… but I pushed through that wall on purpose. Not to brag, but to prove to myself that this podcast isn’t a phase — it’s something I love, something I’m committed to, and something I’m still getting better at every single time I hit…
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From Me To You
This one’s personal. No fancy edits, no gimmicks — just lessons and frameworks that shaped me. 🔹 A lot of people wait for perfect conditions to start, not realizing that starting is the perfect condition. 🔹 If you live in the future, you’re anxious. If you live in the past, you’re depressed. If...
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What Happens When You Don't Give Up? - Bryson Turner
At just 18 years old, Bryson Turner has built what most people spend a lifetime chasing — a $500,000 business in just 2 years. 💰 In this episode, we dive deep into his journey from zero to half a million, how he started, the mindset and discipline behind his success, and the lessons every young...
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Fatherhood, Christianity and Business - Jason Becker
In this conversation, Jason shares his journey from being a talented young soccer player to navigating injuries that ended his athletic career. He discusses the importance of health and fitness, especially as one ages, and emphasizes the need for building healthy habits early in life. Jason...
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Take The Leap of Faith - Bruce Jones
In this episode, we sit down with up-and-coming pastor Bruce Jones to talk about faith, scripture, and the true meaning of leadership. 📖 Bruce shares his passion for God’s Word and what it looks like to prioritize faith above career, success, and even other important aspects of life. We dive…
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We Are In Need Of Saving - John Arevalo
In this episode, we sit down with Pastor John Arevalo from City Light Church to explore faith, purpose, and what it truly means to be a Christian. 🌟 John opens up about his spiritual journey, how his relationship with God shapes his daily life, and why faith is more than just belief—it's a...
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Mistakes Were Made...Lessons Were Learned
This year didn’t start perfect—and that’s exactly why it’s setting us up for long-term success. In this video, we open up about the real business mistakes we made earlier this year. From strategy slip-ups to operational oversights, we break down where things went wrong, what we learned, and how...
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The Only Way To Grow - Aiden Kazcka
In this inspiring episode of The Only Way to Grow, we sit down with Aiden Kaczka, a thought leader in personal development, to dive deep into the power of meta skills and their role in unlocking your true potential. Aiden shares actionable insights on cultivating skills like adaptability…
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Every Business Owner Needs To Do This - Lee Park
In this engaging conversation, Lee Park shares his journey with Augusta Lawn Care Services, emphasizing the importance of company culture, leadership, and personal growth. He discusses the shift in trust from corporations to personal brands, the value of hard work, and the need for dedication in...
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Is This Balanced?
This weekend was all about prioritizing what truly matters—health, hustle, and balance. 🏃♂️💼 I kicked things off with a half marathon, proving to myself that consistency pays off. Then, I dived into business work, making moves to keep things growing. Of course, good food was a must 🍽️, and I...
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Leg Day with Bristol - Between Sets
Welcome to ‘Between Sets’—a leg day vlog where I hit the gym with a fellow business owner for some serious squats, lunges, and real talk. We’re pushing plates and swapping stories about entrepreneurship, grit, and what keeps us going, all between the burn of a killer leg workout. From warm-ups to...
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A Simply Complex Conversation
This week, I’m switching things up—no guest, just me, diving into ‘A Simply Complex Conversation.’ I’ll tackle eight big topics—Lifestyle, Christianity, Business, Gym, Philosophy, Psychology, Emotions, and Ethics—answering three questions per topic that start simple, get complex, and go deep.…
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The Small Town Giant - Brice Klausing
In a town of just 10,000 people, one landscaper made a power move that shook the entire market. Brice Klausing, a hardworking entrepreneur, recently pulled off a massive $1M acquisition, instantly becoming one of the biggest competitors in his area. This video dives deep into his journey—how he...
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Navigating The Snow Business - Mow Blow GO!
In this conversation, Aiden Kaczka and Ricardo Vargas discuss various aspects of their snow removal business, including recent weather updates, equipment maintenance, sales strategies, and customer engagement techniques. They delve into the importance of upselling services, operational…
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About this show
In this podcast, I will record my journey to becoming successful in the business world, starting from literally day 0 until I make it. You will listen to raw experiences, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I wish the great minds of our times did this as they were coming up, so I hope to do that here. Thank you for investing your time and I hope you enjoy!
Hosted by
Ricardo Vargas
Categories