From Homeless Shelter to Building a Billion-Dollar Mortgage Company | Damian Maldonado | E146
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
my mom hard worker she's worked for the fbi actually at one point losing her job and eventually you know she ran out of money so we ended up being homeless i thought it was like normal i didn't really because i was 10. we also sold door-to-door candy but that was kind of scary sometimes you know they pick you up in these vans and you're 10 or 11 years old and they drop you off in the neighborhood and they say you start here and then you walk around the neighborhood and they'll meet you at this other point that was a great experience because you taught you rejection taught you how to sell
Damien Maldonado grew up in poverty, spent time in a homeless shelter, and with $5,000 line of credit, co-founded the American Financing, a billion-dollar business.
How did growing up in poverty influence Damian's entrepreneurial journey?
If you're not getting rejected, you're really not even trying, really. I think a lot of people don't even try. They fail before they try, and I think that's the norm.
When you're an entrepreneur, you have a roller coaster that you need to deal with. How do you deal with the stress?
Yeah, that's where we were talking earlier.
What key lessons did Damian learn from his early jobs?
It's not for everyone because...
Welcome to the Leap Academy with Ilana Golan's show. I'm so glad you're here.
How did Damian overcome fear of rejection when pitching at 21?
In the Leap Academy podcast, I get to speak to the biggest leaders of our time about their career, how they got where they are today, the challenges, the failures, and countless lessons. So lean in. This episode is going to be amazing. I'm on a mission to help millions reinvent their career and leap into their full potential. land their dream roles, fast track to leadership, jump to entrepreneurship, or build portfolio careers. This is what we do in our Leap Academy programs for individuals and teams. And with this podcast, we can give this career blueprint for free to tens of millions. So please help my mission by sharing this with every single person you know, because this show has the power to change countless of lives.
What motivated Damian to start American Financing without a safety net?
Deal? Okay, so let's dive in.
you
How did Damian navigate layoffs and market downturns in his business?
I love episodes where we get to go on a journey with someone who built themselves from basically nothing. Damien Maldonado grew up in poverty, spent time in a homeless shelter, and with $5,000 line of credit, co-founded the American Financing, a billion-dollar business. Now he runs multiple businesses in Puerto Rico. He kite surfs. He plays chess with Richard Branson.
Why did Damian turn down a billion-dollar offer for his company?
I mean, the guy is... so much goodness. So get ready for an incredibly inspiring story for anyone who wants to reinvent themselves and create something big and meaningful and fun life.
What leadership lessons has Damian learned from Richard Branson?
Plus, at the end of the conversation with Damien, we will pick a career-related question that one of you have asked in a comment on our YouTube channel. Hint, your answer to tell me about yourself will transform forever. So stay until the end. Now, Damien, I can't wait to hear your incredible journey. So good to have you.
Thank you, Lana. I appreciate that. Very nice intro.
Appreciate it. So you are going to take us back in time because your story, it is one of the more inspiring stories we've had on the show. So you were born in New York. Tell us a little bit about some of those early memories. Your mom got divorced when you were really young. So tell me a little bit about that.
Born in New York. They divorced, I think I was like maybe three. I have three brothers. Sadly, one passed not too long ago. But yeah, two older brothers, one younger brother. New York City, I've been to rarely. Still have a lot of family there. But one of these terms they call New Yorkians. If you're born Puerto Rican, born in New York, you're a New Rican.
I never heard that term. And then you moved to Colorado. Your mom is basically a single mother of four at this point. And she works basically in a very basic paying job. So what do you remember from those days in early Colorado days?
We got back to Puerto Rico maybe until I was like seven years old. But my mom, hard worker, she's worked for the FBI actually. But as a secretary, most she's made is in the low 30,000s back in the day. And I don't know how you support four boys at the time by yourself.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:38
2
How did growing up in poverty influence Damian's entrepreneurial journey?
0:38–0:53
3
What key lessons did Damian learn from his early jobs?
0:53–1:00
4
How did Damian overcome fear of rejection when pitching at 21?
1:00–1:43
5
What motivated Damian to start American Financing without a safety net?
1:43–1:57
6
How did Damian navigate layoffs and market downturns in his business?
1:57–2:22
7
Why did Damian turn down a billion-dollar offer for his company?
2:22–2:34
8
What leadership lessons has Damian learned from Richard Branson?
2:34–53:20
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from Leap Academy with Ilana Golan
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