logo
episode-header-image
Jun 24
1h 21m

Geoff Hopf: From Marine Corps to Bestsel...

Matt Beaudreau
About this episode

What if everything you’ve worked for—your comfort, your stability, your certainty—was gone tomorrow?


Would you be ready?

Would your mindset be strong enough to adapt?

Would you know how to rebuild… or would you break?


In this powerful episode, we dive deep with Geoff Hopf—a former Marine, elite bodyguard, and bestselling author of The End series, a post-apocalyptic saga grounded in gritty realism. But Geoff isn’t just a storyteller. He’s lived through high-stakes missions, experienced loss, reinvented himself at 41, and built multiple companies by embracing failure, discipline, and compound effort.


Geoff’s passion for preparedness, personal growth, and leadership is contagious. He’s not here to sell fear—he’s here to ignite responsibility. Whether you’re struggling to find your path, seeking mental toughness, or wondering how to thrive in a world changing faster than ever, Geoff offers hard-earned wisdom and actionable insight.


Tune in as we explore:

  • The principle of “compound labor” and how it transformed Geoff’s life

  • What happens when comfort kills character

  • How to reframe failure into fuel

  • Why trades and mindset might save your future in an AI-dominated world

  • And how one quote—“Hard times create strong men…”—sparked a cultural firestorm

This episode isn’t just a conversation. It’s a challenge.

Are you becoming the strong man this world will soon demand?


Quotes:

  • "Comfort kills, and we only become stronger when we're challenged a little bit when it's put under adversity." - Geoff Hopf
  • "Money is an energy that flows directly from providing value. If you provide value to people, then sales and success are downstream of that." - Geoff Hopf
  • "If you're alive, you're going to struggle on something all the time. So let's not put struggling on a pedestal." - Matt Beaudreau



Takeaways:

  • Apply the Principle of “Compound Labor” Choose one goal—fitness, writing, business—and commit to small, consistent daily action. Track your progress weekly to see how effort compounds over time.
  • Reframe Failure as Tuition When something goes wrong, ask yourself: “What lesson did I just pay for?” Write it down, label it “investment,” and decide how you’ll respond differently next time.
  • Audit Your Emotional State During Challenges The next time you feel overwhelmed or angry, pause and ask: “Am I choosing this emotion, or is it choosing me?” Then choose calm, curiosity, or excitement as your new lens.
  • Prepare for Disruption, Not Just Survival Whether it's AI, economic collapse, or personal crisis—get proactive. Pick one “pillar” to strengthen this week: physical fitness, a new skill, your mindset, or basic emergency preparedness (like storing food or learning self-reliance).
  • Find a Mentor, Be a Mentor Geoff meets with an 87-year-old billionaire for life and business advice. Who are you learning from? And who could you be helping? Seek out both relationships this month.


Conclusion:

If there’s one thing I hope you take away, it’s this: you don’t need to have it all figured out right now. You just need to be willing to show up every day, take small steps, and lean into the hard stuff—because that’s where growth lives.


Geoff reminded us that failure isn’t the end; it’s part of the process. And maybe the most important question we can ask ourselves isn’t “What do I do next?” but “Am I having fun? Am I aligned? Am I building something that matters?”


Whether you’re 18 or 58, it’s never too late to reinvent yourself, learn something new, or become the kind of person this world needs more of—strong, grounded, and awake.


Thanks for listening. If this episode hit home for you, share it with a friend, leave a review, and keep showing up. We’re all in this together.


Until next time—stay sharp, stay humble, and stay ready.

Up next
Aug 24
Taylor Quigg: Homeschooling, Entrepreneurship, and Family Resilience – Navigating Chronic Illness, Empowering Kids, and Building a Life of Freedom
Have you ever felt like you were doing all the “right things” in your business or career but still weren’t seeing the growth, fulfillment, or balance you longed for? Do you sometimes wonder if success means sacrificing your health, relationships, or peace of mind? What if the pro ... Show More
1h 5m
Aug 22
Dr. Dustin Portela: Holistic Healthcare, Mobile Clinics, and Empowering Patients – Transforming Dermatology and Community Wellness
Are you tired of a healthcare system that only treats symptoms but leaves the deeper issues untouched? Have you ever left the doctor’s office with a prescription in hand but no clear path to real, lasting health? What if the secret to well-being isn’t found in another medication, ... Show More
1h 2m
Aug 17
Ali Miller: Food as Medicine, Empowered Parenting, and Raising Healthy Kids – Transforming Family Nutrition and Mental Health
Is your “healthy” diet making you sick? If you’re battling fatigue, brain fog, bloating, or stubborn weight despite eating “right,” the problem may not be what you eat—but how your body processes it.Our guest, Ali Miller, is an integrative functional medicine practitioner and reg ... Show More
1h 15m
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
Go One More: The Mindset Behind Building a Multimillion Dollar Business
Nick shares how his "Go One More" philosophy has been the cornerstone of his success, both in business and in life. From funding his business with a military loan while still in college to dedicating his free time to building Bare Performance Nutrition, Nick's journey is a testam ... Show More
33m 33s
Sep 2021
Moonpig Founder: How I Built A $150 Million Business WITHOUT Sacrifice: Nick Jenkins
Nick Jenkins is the founder and former CEO of Moonpig.com, a company which revolutionised gift cards and is now worth over one and a half billion pounds. Nick knows what it takes to build a business from nothing to change an industry, and today he’s sharing his wisdom with us on ... Show More
1h 9m
Aug 2024
Shaped by Sacrifice: How a Soldier's Death Forged a Mission-Driven Leader
A leader is many things, but most importantly, a leader should be someone willing to take accountability, even if some things are out of their control. A great leader should have the ability to prove that actions speak louder than words. In this week’s episode, we have the absolu ... Show More
47m 40s
Oct 2024
#205 Rob Fraser: The Power of Focus
Rob Fraser unveils the untold story of OUTWAY—from hawking socks on street corners to building an eight-figure empire. Surviving near-catastrophic business crises, he leveraged lessons from his professional sports career to navigate the business world. Discover the counterintuiti ... Show More
1h 42m
Jun 2018
Improvisation
How Do You Take Fun And Improvisation Into The Biz World My guest today, on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots free podcast interview is a man after 20 years of performing hundreds of improv comedy shows across the country has learned that the same principles that apply to impr ... Show More
59m 50s
Jul 2024
Business Daily meets: Swimming's power couple
We hear from 4-time Olympic gold medallist Libby Trickett and her entrepreneurial husband Liam.Libby Trickett (Lenton) competed for Australia at the highest level, winning gold in the pool in Beijing and London. At the height of her swimming career she married fellow swimmer Luke ... Show More
17m 29s
Feb 2025
Humble Leaders Lead Better Teams with Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink
Most people believe the only way to lead is to become the best at something. But what if great leadership means admitting you’re not the best at anything?Jocko Willink believes the secret to his greatest achievements come down to one thing – humility. A retired Navy SEAL commande ... Show More
42m 7s
Apr 2025
631: Bert Bean & Sam Kaufman - Obsession, Grit, Growth-Mindset, Winning in a Tough Market, Hiring for Potential, Running Ultra-Marathons, and Caring For Your People
The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 ... Show More
1h 13m
Jul 2024
ATG 186: The Art of Encouragement in Leadership with Jordan Montgomery
What does it take to go from a small-town upbringing to coaching Fortune 500 executives and professional athletes? Join me as I sit down with Jordan Montgomery, owner of Montgomery Companies and author of The Art of Encouragement: How to Lead Teams, Spread Love, and Serve from th ... Show More
56m 38s
Aug 2024
Sales Lessons From Prince and Peyton Manning
In this episode, Bill and Bryan draw unexpected parallels between sales excellence and two legendary figures: musical icon Prince and NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. They explore how the dedication, work ethic, and interpersonal skills of these superstars can inspire sales profes ... Show More
18m 31s