[Intro Music]
Leo Reigatza:
Welcome to the Financial Freedom & Wealth Trailblazers Podcast, part of the Digital Trailblazer Podcast family. This podcast is dedicated to bringing you experts and trailblazers to help you advance in your career, step into the leader you’re meant to be, build wealth, and ultimately create financial freedom.
Hey, Trailblazers, it’s Leo Reigatza.
With me today is John Cousins. John, welcome to the show! Go ahead and introduce yourself to the audience and let them know what you’re all about.
John Cousins:
Thanks, Leo. Well, my name is John Cousins. I run a company called MBA ASAP.
I’ve been an engineer, entrepreneur, and investor, and over the years, I’ve created wealth. I’ve also written several books and courses on how to level up your skills—especially in business, finance, and wealth creation. One of my key books is The Way to Wealth, where I break down the four pillars of wealth.
I’m really excited to share my journey and insights with your audience today.
Leo Reigatza:
Awesome! So, how did all of this get started for you?
John Cousins:
It all started with one thing: my desire to be financially independent.
I took the traditional career path—college, engineering degree, and then started working. But before that, I was into music. I worked in rock and roll recording studios, then transitioned to working with manufacturers who made audio and video equipment.
From there, I spent 10 years at ABC Television, putting on major events like the World Series, Monday Night Football, the Olympics, and even space shuttle launches. It was an exciting time, but something was missing.
I picked up an ABC Annual Report one day and realized I didn’t understand anything on it—balance sheets, financial statements—it was a foreign language to me. That pushed me to go back to business school.
Leo Reigatza:
What made you pivot from being an employee to entrepreneurship?
John Cousins:
Great question. Honestly, I was tired of having bosses and living a constrained life behind a desk. I wanted my actions to build my own businesses—not someone else’s.
Over time, I built almost 20 companies. Some were failures; some were massive successes. I even took two public and ran them for 15 years as CFO and CEO. But eventually, I realized I didn’t want the pressure of investors, partners, and employees.
That’s when I became a solopreneur. I built a lifestyle where I could do what I love—teach people financial independence and wealth creation.
Leo Reigatza:
I love that. So, what’s the core of your wealth-building philosophy?
John Cousins:
It comes down to three key pillars:
1. Own a business – Ownership is everything. If you work for someone else, you’ll always create more value than you receive. The surplus value goes to the owner.
2. Invest in the stock market – Learn how to read financial statements and annual reports. Understanding finance is critical for moving up the career ladder and creating wealth.
3. Invest in income-producing real estate – Real estate provides reliable cash flow and long-term appreciation.
Together, these pillars create multiple income streams that generate money while you sleep. It’s about making your money work for you.
Leo Reigatza:
That’s powerful. Real estate often comes up in wealth conversations. Where should beginners start?
John Cousins:
The best place to start is with single-family homes.
Save up about 25% for a down payment, then use leverage to buy a property. Focus on areas where the rent exceeds the mortgage, taxes, and maintenance costs. That cash flow is key.
Charlie Munger once said, “The trigger point is $100,000.” That’s the amount you need to aim for in savings and investments to make real progress.
It might seem tough at first, but side hustles, smart savings, and consistent effort get you there. Once you hit that number, you can really start building life-changing wealth.
Leo Reigatza:
That’s practical advice. How are you reaching and helping people with your programs today?
John Cousins:
It’s all about digital-first strategies:
• Podcasts and interviews like this one.
• Sales funnels and lead magnets to build relationships through email.
• Platforms like Udemy and my website mbaasap.com for courses.
• Content creation across YouTube, Substack, Amazon, and social media.
I have over 30,000 students in 165 countries because I focus on creating high-quality, digital content that’s scalable and accessible.
Leo Reigatza:
That’s impressive. Where can people learn more about you?
John Cousins:
The easiest way is to visit mbaasap.com. You can sign up for my email list and get my free wealth creation email series.
You can also search for MBA ASAP or John Cousins on Google, Amazon, or Udemy. I’ve got books, courses, and resources for anyone ready to level up their financial skills.
Leo Reigatza:
Perfect! We’ll drop all the links in the show notes.
John, this has been an incredible conversation. Thanks so much for being here today.
John Cousins:
Thank you, Leo. It’s been a pleasure.
Leo Reigatza:
Ladies and gentlemen, if you found this helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who could benefit. If you want to be featured on our podcast, check the show notes for details.
Have a blessed day!
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