Overview

On this episode of Build Your Network, Host Travis Chappell interviews Andre Popa, Romanian immigrant turned successful entrepreneur and founder of the Badassery Factory.

Topics Discussed:

• About Andre Popa
  • An immigrant from Romania whose family escaped communism and whose father was imprisoned and tortured for 14 years.
  • When Andre came to the U.S. he started hustling.
  • He got into the real estate game in his early 20’s and took the renovation and construction game to the next level.
  • He’s seen poverty and success like most haven’t.
• Talk to us about your childhood
  • During WWII he was recruited by the CIA to be coached and trained in espionage.
  • Once the CIA didn’t need them anymore, they sent them back to Romania.
  • Everyone automatically got a life sentence in communist prison.
    • They were tortured and given tiny amounts of food and water
    • They would end up in solitary confinement.
    • They would get beat with rubber hoses for hours, he lost almost all of his teeth.
  • After 14 years he got out of prison because they were liberated, finally, by the U.S. government.
    • The U.S. offered a visa to them and they were gone in two months.
    • They needed a sponsor in the U.S. to move here.
    • He was nine when they moved to the U.S.
  • He vividly remembers living in Romania.
    • They were followed all the time and their phones were tapped because his dad was an ex-con.
    • In Romania they would go to school for a few hours and then would stand in line for food.
    • They would play with toys they could create.
  • Talk about “the immigrants edge.”
    • Text “Iambadass” to 345345 to get the immigrant’s edge in three easy steps.
    • At the age of nine they didn’t have money or speak English, and they would dumpster dive.
      • People today aren’t willing to do that to put food on the table.
    • What did you want to do with your life once you started going to school in the U.S?
      • He started selling stuff from the minute they moved here.
      • He loved the chase and attracting whatever he wanted.
      • His father became an electrical contractor and they would go out with him.
        • He started posting ads and doing electrical work.
      • In 11th grade, he wanted to get into the mechanics class, but they put him in theatre.
        • It turns out that he loves acting and starts winning acting awards and acting nationally.
      • He didn’t know how to spend his money and save money.
      • He transferred into entrepreneurship and bought a restaurant.
    • What business did you create from buying your first property?
      • He and his wife love real estate, building and flipping.
      • He started designing spaces and got his contractor’s license.
        • They started attracting celebrities and people of high net worth.
      • Everything disappeared in the recession, so now they’re diversifying.
    • Talk about some of your favorite projects.
      • They remodeled a home in Malibu that was 24,000 sq ft. with a 3,000 sq ft. guest house and 2 2,500 sq ft. apartments.
        • The home was on the edge of a cliff with ocean.
        • The home sold for $80million in cash.
      • They remodeled a home in Beverly Hills for $20 million.
        • The house looks like watch movement with curvature, etc.
      • Is it weird coming from a communist background to seeing some of the most luxurious lifestyles.
        • It’s surreal, but not difficult.
        • It’s a mindset.
        • He came from a background where his father was very harsh because of his own pain.
        • He was 17 when he bought his first Zig Ziglar book.
        • It’s a matter of knowing that there’s more and anything is possible.
      • How did you decide to start travelling?
        • One of their big passions is travel and adventure.
        • They decided to homeschool their girls because they wanted the freedom to travel.
        • About a year ago they decided to end doing contstruction because they weren’t having fun.
        • We tend to justify income, just because the money’s good doesn’t mean you should keep doing it.
      • Is there a season to put your head down and grind, or should you always enjoy what you do?
        • We all get stuck in patterns and we justify because we fear change.
        • As soon as you make a decision, the universe conspires to bring it to you.
          • You have to take the first step.
        • Talk about the Badassery Factory.
          • It came up as a concept where they can help a lot of people.
          • You only have to shift a few things to get someone thinking the right way.
          • They want to train people on how to become, stay and be a biger badass.
          • We’re in America and we can do anything we want.
            • If you need perspective, go travel.
          • They love to celebrate, they also have training, programs, coaching, and more.
        • One of their latest businesses that’ blowing up is CBD.
        • Do you believe that what you know or who you know is more important, and why?
          • With who you know, you can work together to create magic.
          • For quiet people, what they know is more important because it helps get them into the networking room.
        • Talk to us about a couple of practical things you’ve done to grow your network.
          • Always self-develop
            • Get to the core of who you are.
          • Learn to create value for others.
            • Making things about other people.

The Random Round:

• What profession other than your own do you think it would be fun to attempt?
  • Racecar Driver
• If you could sit on a park bench with anyone for an hour who would it be, and why?
  • Jesus
  • He wants the truth
• How do you like to consume content?
  • Audio because he’s on the go.
• What’s one of your favorite audiobooks or podcasts?
  • The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles
• Give us a glimpse of your morning routine?
  • Wakes up and takes his supplements
  • Coffee
  • Gym
  • Pounds himself with self-development
• What is your go-to pump up song?
  • Let’s Get it Started by the Black Eyed Peas
• What is one thing you’re not very good at?
  • Details in accounting.
• What is one place where we can find you the most?
  • Social platforms @andrepopa or @badasseryfactory
  • com
  • Text iambadass to 345345

Tweetable Quotes:

• As long as you’re willing to fight in the U.S. the sky is the limit.
• Don’t put your eggs in one basket, get more baskets.
• If it’s not fun, you have to stop.
• Life goes in the direction of our thoughts.

Resources Mentioned:

Buildyournetwork.co – Podcast website

BYN.media/fb – Facebook Group

Badasseryfactory.com – Andre’s website

The Science of Getting Rich book by Wallace Wattles

Text iambadass to 345345 to get a free resource.