The Top 1% Podcast

Join host Sam Gordon for an extraordinary episode of the Top 1% Podcast that goes deep into raw, personal stories of resilience, survival, and transformation. In this compilation edition, you’ll hear ultra-high-performing guests open up about the real-life struggles, traumas, and pivotal moments that shaped their drive and success.

From escaping war-torn countries and surviving refugee camps to confronting childhood loss, bankruptcy, and bullying, each guest reveals the defining experiences that taught them grit, resourcefulness, and relentless ambition. Packed with honest conversations and insights into what it really takes to overcome adversity, this episode brings a new level of authenticity and motivation. Whether you’re already a fan or new to the Top 1% Podcast, you’ll leave inspired by these incredible journeys and the mindset it takes to turn obstacles into opportunity.

Chapters:

[00:00] Introduction

[00:12] Red Bull Air Race & Leap of Faith 

[01:08] Drive, Motivation, and Family  

[01:40] The Human Brain & Discomfort  

[02:11] Grand Final Rituals  

[03:04] Cambodian Refugee Story  

[08:58] Growing up in Yugoslavia  

[15:04] Childhood Trauma & Resilience  

[19:08] Starting a Fitness Business  

[23:03] Bankruptcy and Turning Points  

[24:43] Losing a Parent & Education  

[27:21] Closing remarks & outro

Want to learn my exact strategy for building a successful property portfolio? Check out School of Property for a step-by-step investing blueprint that's helped thousands of Aussies start and scale their investments: ⁠⁠

Follow me for more investing & business insights:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samgordonproperty

Business: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@australianpropertyscout2026

The content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, business, or legal advice. The hosts and guests of the podcast are sharing their personal opinions and experiences, which may not be applicable to your unique situation. We strongly recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified financial advisor, business consultant, or legal professional before making any financial or business decisions. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is solely at your own risk. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the information provided. All information is provided "as is" without any guarantees of completeness, accuracy, timeliness, or results obtained from the use of this information. Any references to specific financial products, companies, or services are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast or its hosts. By listening to this podcast, you agree that the podcast and its affiliates are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided in this podcast.
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The Top 1% Podcast, hosted by Sam Gordon, dives deep into the journeys and mindsets of ultra high-performing individuals from diverse backgrounds, revealing the raw challenges, setbacks, and fears they've faced—and, more importantly, how they've overcome them. In this inspiring compilation episode, guests like Jack Delosa share honest accounts of experiencing both meteoric success and destabilising hardship, confronting failure, self-doubt, and the relentless pursuit of personal growth. Through powerful storytelling and candid conversation, the episode explores how embracing hardship, building resilience, and maintaining self-belief are essential to reaching the true "top 1%" in life and business.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to the 1% Podcast

00:00:12 - Early Success and Identity: Jack Delosa Shares His Story

00:01:00 - Crisis and Character: Navigating Major Setbacks

00:02:50 - The Nature of Fear and Facing the Worst

00:03:35 - Overcoming Setbacks in Sport and Life

00:04:46 - Transforming Adversity into Strength

00:07:59 - Self-Retrospective: Doubt After Success

00:08:44 -  Living With and Managing Fear

00:10:36 - Rewiring Mindset and Motivation for Peak Performance

00:11:26 - Lessons from Failure and Growth as a Coach

00:12:10 - Confirmation Bias and Hiring Challenges in Business

00:13:55 - Complacency: The Real Enemy of Success

00:14:26 - Best Advice From a Mentor: Learning From the Greats

00:15:18 - Salesmanship, Communication, and Trust

00:16:33 - Embracing Discomfort as a Signal for Growth

0:16:34 - Embracing Failure, Perseverance, and Advice to the Next Generation

0:18:12 - The Power of Being Self-Made and Community

00:20:24 - Why Money and Success Aren't Enough: Inner Fulfillment

0:23:00 - Ego, Identity, and Reframing Success

00:24:40  - Closing Remarks & Outro

Want to learn my exact strategy for building a successful property portfolio? Check out School of Property for a step-by-step investing blueprint that's helped thousands of Aussies start and scale their investments: ⁠⁠https://schoolofproperty.com.au⁠⁠

Follow me for more investing & business insights:

Instagram: Sam Gordon Property

Business: ⁠⁠https://www.australianpropertyscout.c...⁠

The content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, business, or legal advice. The hosts and guests of the podcast are sharing their personal opinions and experiences, which may not be applicable to your unique situation. We strongly recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified financial advisor, business consultant, or legal professional before making any financial or business decisions. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is solely at your own risk. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the information provided. All information is provided "as is" without any guarantees of completeness, accuracy, timeliness, or results obtained from the use of this information. Any references to specific financial products, companies, or services are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast or its hosts. By listening to this podcast, you agree that the podcast and its affiliates are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided in this podcast.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Top 1% Podcast, Sam Gordon dives deep with a compilation of high performers, entrepreneurs, athletes, and business leaders to uncover the essential character traits and life lessons that separate the best from the rest. Through candid, often vulnerable stories about overcoming adversity, embracing persistence through pain, and developing resilience, guests share how their early experiences, setbacks, and even failures forged their drive and self-belief. The conversation explores topics like the power of compounding effort, staying focused in a world full of distractions, the true nature of wealth and motivation, and why backing yourself and learning from mentors who have walked the path—matters most. Whether you’re seeking inspiration for your business journey or personal growth, this episode is brimming with practical wisdom, relatable struggles, and strategies for building a fulfilling, high-performing life.

(01:04) The Mindset of Top Performers 

(01:39) Early Money Lessons & Humble Beginnings

(5:22) Resilience, Pain, and Business Growth

(08:07) Ego, Debt, and Redefining Success

(12:09) Balancing Work, Family, and Fulfillment

(15:10) Owning Your Path & Building Wealth

(16:45) Leadership, Risk, and Growing Teams

(20:10) Overcoming Hardship & Learning Discipline

(26:18) Money’s Role – Fuel vs. Scorecard

(29:06) Mastery, Humility, and Lifelong Learning

(31:04) Time, Energy, and Motivation Management

(37:41) Lessons on Sales, Outworking, and Compound Effects

(45:11) Blocking Out Noise & Self-Made Success

Want to learn my exact strategy for building a successful property portfolio? Check out School of Property for a step-by-step investing blueprint that's helped thousands of Aussies start and scale their investments: ⁠⁠https://schoolofproperty.com.au⁠⁠

Follow me for more investing & business insights:

Instagram: Sam Gordon Property

Business: ⁠⁠https://www.australianpropertyscout.c...⁠

The content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, business, or legal advice. The hosts and guests of the podcast are sharing their personal opinions and experiences, which may not be applicable to your unique situation. We strongly recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified financial advisor, business consultant, or legal professional before making any financial or business decisions. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is solely at your own risk. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the information provided. All information is provided "as is" without any guarantees of completeness, accuracy, timeliness, or results obtained from the use of this information. Any references to specific financial products, companies, or services are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast or its hosts. By listening to this podcast, you agree that the podcast and its affiliates are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided in this podcast.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four of Australia's most successful entrepreneurs sit down together for the first time ever in this explosive year-end roundtable. Sammy Gordon (AFR Fast 100 four years running, Young Entrepreneur of the Year), Jack Delosa (five-time AFR Young Rich Lister, founder of The Entourage), Geoff Jowett (serial entrepreneur behind Vision Personal Training and Body Trim), and Josh Morrissey (Co-Founder of Hive Property) share the raw, unfiltered lessons that shaped their success.

This isn't your typical business podcast. What starts as a "biggest lessons from 2025" conversation quickly evolves into a masterclass on entrepreneurial psychology, the dangers of ego-driven success, and how to achieve your goals in 2026.

In this episode, you'll hear the uncomfortable truth about what really drives early success (and why it eventually breaks you), the "rocket booster" theory of entrepreneurship, and the one habit that separates those who consume information from those who create wealth.

0:00 - Introduction: Four Entrepreneurs, One Table, Zero Scripts
4:25 - Why Breakthrough Entrepreneurs Think Differently (Not Better, Different)
8:40 - The Power of Proximity: What Happens When High Performers Unite
14:45 - "I'm Not Dysfunctional, My Brain Just Works Different"
17:23 - Calling Out Victim Mentality
19:05 - The Minecraft Billionaire's Depression: Money Without Meaning
24:35 - "No Drinks, No Minx": Geoff's Brutally Honest Reflection on What He'd Change
28:14 - The Dirty Fuel Source: Why Ego-Driven Success Eventually Destroys You
31:43 - Equanimity: The Word That Changes Everything About Success
35:03 - Rewiring Your Brain: Sammy's Journey from Negativity to Celebration
38:05 - The Rocket Booster Theory: Why Some Entrepreneurs Can't Sit Still
41:47 - Deep Work Religion: Jack's 4am Strategy That Transformed His Business
49:50 - High Level Grunt Work: The Game-Changing Concept
56:06 - The Shoe Analogy: Why Your Business Systems Are Holding You Back
1:00:14 - Einstein's Brain & The Receptor Theory of Intelligence
1:04:05 - Power of Proximity: Why This Was Sammy's #1 Lesson of 2025
1:07:15 - The 1% Compounding Effect: Small Changes, Massive Results
1:12:41 - 92% of Investors Quit Here: Breaking Through the Two-Property Barrier
1:17:06 - Scar Tissue: Why Problems Stop Shaking You at High Levels
1:25:04 - Comparison is the Thief of Joy: The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
1:31:07 - The Warren Buffett and Jay-Z Interview That Proves This Blueprint Works
1:37:45 - Final Takeaways: Speed to Implementation Over Information Consumption

Want to learn my exact strategy for building a successful property portfolio? Check out School of Property for a step-by-step investing blueprint that's helped thousands of Aussies start and scale their investments: https://schoolofproperty.com.au

Follow me for more investing & business insights:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/samgordonproperty/
Business: https://www.australianpropertyscout.com.au/

Follow the guests:
Jack Delosa: www.instagram.com/jackdelosa/
Geoff Jowett: www.instagram.com/geoffjowett/
Josh Morrissey: https://www.instagram.com/josh_hiveproperty.co/
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What separates the top 1% from everyone else? In this powerful compilation, we've brought together some of the most extraordinary performers across sport, business, and life to reveal the raw truth about what it really takes to reach the peak.

Whether you're building a business, chasing athletic glory, or simply refusing to settle for average, this episode will change how you think about success.

0:00 - Where It All Started
4:07 - When Everything Fell Apart
20:24 - When The Tide Turned
40:23 - What The Greats Taught Me
47:06 - How Winners Think
1:03:36 - What Makes The Top 1%
1:08:01 - What They All Have In Common
1:13:17 - The Legacy

Want to learn my exact strategy for building a successful property portfolio? Check out School of Property for a step-by-step investing blueprint that's helped thousands of Aussies start and scale their investments: https://schoolofproperty.com.au

Follow me for more investing & business insights:
Instagram: /samgordonproperty
Business: /australianpropertyscout
Podcast: /thetoponepercentpodcast

Follow Mark Rolton:
Instagram: /markrolton

#PropertyDevelopment #MarkRolton #Bankruptcy #Resilience #WealthBuildingRetry

The content provided on this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, business, or legal advice. The hosts and guests of the podcast are sharing their personal opinions and experiences, which may not be applicable to your unique situation. We strongly recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified financial advisor, business consultant, or legal professional before making any financial or business decisions. Reliance on any information provided in this podcast is solely at your own risk. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the information provided. All information is provided "as is" without any guarantees of completeness, accuracy, timeliness, or results obtained from the use of this information. Any references to specific financial products, companies, or services are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast or its hosts. By listening to this podcast, you agree that the podcast and its affiliates are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided in this podcast.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices