From Underdog to Entrepreneur: Building Dreams with Pat Miller

What if every setback you've survived was actually preparing you for something bigger? In this special six-month anniversary episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, host Pat Miller steps behind the guest chair and into the spotlight to share the story she's never fully told before. Pat introduces her upcoming book, Underdog to Empire: Breaking Barriers and Building Businesses with Strength, Strategy, and a Sense of Humor, and reads powerful excerpts that reveal the grit, heartbreak, resilience, and determination behind her entrepreneurial journey. From growing up overlooked and underestimated, to building a construction company with just $100, to rebuilding her life after the loss of her husband and business partner, Pat shares the lessons that shaped both her business and her life. In this episode: Why being underestimated can become your greatest advantage How RPM Construction was built from a layoff check and a bold decision The powerful "Filing Cabinet Method" for leading through grief and adversity Why some of the people who hurt you may end up helping you most This episode is a celebration of resilience, entrepreneurship, and the underdog spirit that refuses to quit. If you've ever wondered whether the hard road is worth it, this conversation is for you. Your story isn't over. Your next chapter might be the one that changes everything. ✨ Connect with Host Pat Miller Instagram thepatmiller11 Website patmiller.net

At 16, Sarah Walton had to choose between feeding her family or chasing her dream. That painful moment shaped her beliefs about money, worth, and success for years until she finally rewrote the story. In this powerful conversation, host Pat Miller sits down with entrepreneur and coach Sarah Walton to unpack how childhood scarcity can silently control adult success, and how women can reclaim abundance, confidence, and personal power. Key Takeaways: • How early money trauma shapes your future decisions • Why success without fulfillment feels empty • The small mindset shifts that create real abundance If you've ever felt stuck between responsibility and your dreams, this episode will remind you that a new path is always possible. ✨ Connect with Host Pat Miller Instagram thepatmiller11 Website patmiller.net Connect with Sarah www.sarahwalton.com Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube - @thesarahwalton FB: @sarahwaltonpage

What starts as a side hustle can turn into a life you never imagined. In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with Alexa Englesbe, founder of Alexa Lynn Photography, to unpack how she went from chasing a career in magazines to building a thriving photography business from the ground up. Through trial, networking, and relentless self-teaching, Alexa turned curiosity into craft—and craft into a full-time career. From Facebook groups to 26 weddings a year, Alexa shares the real journey behind building a brand in a saturated industry—and what it actually takes to stand out. In this episode, you'll learn: How to turn a side hustle into a full-time business Why relationships and networking drive growth The importance of niching down (and saying no) If you've ever wondered whether you can build something of your own—this is your sign. ✨ Connect with Host Pat Miller Instagram thepatmiller11 Website patmiller.net Connect with Alexa: https://www.alexalynnphoto.com Instagram @alexa.lynn.photo Facebook: @AlexaLynnPhotos

What if everything you've been told about "following your passion" is wrong? In this episode, Pat Miller sits down with Courtney Spies, Sales Director at Clark Dietrich, whose career started in the Yellow Pages and evolved into leading a major force in a male-dominated industry. Her journey wasn't driven by passion—it was built through grit, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of mastery. From cold calls to commanding rooms she "wasn't supposed to be in," Courtney proves that success isn't found—it's earned. In this episode, you'll learn: Why passion is a byproduct of mastery—not the starting point How to turn self-doubt into your biggest competitive advantage The mindset shift that separates underdogs from leaders If you've ever questioned your path, doubted your ability, or felt like you didn't belong in the room—this conversation will change the way you see everything. Because success isn't about where you start… it's about how hard you're willing to work to become who you're meant to be. ✨ Connect with Host Pat Miller Instagram thepatmiller11 Website patmiller.net Connect with Courtney https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyspies

She built a career helping others find opportunity while overcoming her own fears along the way. Alka Bahal, partner and chair of Corporate Immigration Services, shares how she went from a shy, introverted law student avoiding the courtroom to a respected leader with nearly 30 years of experience. Along the way, she reveals what it really takes to succeed in law, navigate complex systems, and build a reputation rooted in trust. In this episode, Alka and Pat dive into the realities of entrepreneurship, the challenges women still face in leadership, and the lessons learned from decades of working with people whose lives are on the line. Key themes: Turning fear into your greatest strength Why empathy is a competitive advantage in business The truth about success, setbacks, and staying the course If you've ever doubted your path or felt like an underdog, this conversation will remind you what's possible when you keep going. ✨ Connect with Host Pat Miller Instagram thepatmiller11 Website patmiller.net Connect with Alka: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alkabahal/

She chased success and found burnout, then rebuilt everything on her own terms. Sarah Saffari shares her unconventional path from aspiring doctor to entrepreneur, revealing how a chance encounter while traveling sparked her vision for freedom. From opening a gym that made money but drained her life, to pivoting into marketing and building a global influencer agency, her journey is filled with risks, setbacks, and relentless self-belief. In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur with host Pat Miller, Sarah breaks down what it really takes to succeed as an entrepreneur and why most people quit too early. Key themes and takeaways: Why "one step at a time" beats chasing the whole mountain The truth about burnout, failure, and starting over How belief and resilience separate winners from quitters If you've ever questioned your path or felt stuck between comfort and ambition, this conversation will push you forward. ✨ Connect with Host Pat Miller Instagram thepatmiller11 Website patmiller.net Connect with Sarah Saffari Influencernexxus.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-saffari-890360165/

On this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, host Pat Miller sits down with Michael Grinberg, CEO and Founder of The RevOps Shop, to unpack a journey that starts in a tiny Brooklyn apartment and scales into the world of AI, tech, and high-growth entrepreneurship. From selling on eBay at 13 to working at HubSpot and launching his own AI-enabled services firm, Michael shares the sacrifices, risks, and lessons that shaped his path. Together, Pat and Michael dive into what today's entrepreneurs are getting wrong—and what actually builds lasting success. In this episode, you'll learn: Why integrity is the ultimate competitive advantage How instant gratification is sabotaging the next generation What AI means for young professionals—and how to stay ahead Why networking in real life still beats hiding behind a screen This is a conversation about grit, gratitude, relationships, and playing the long game. If you're building something meaningful—or thinking about it—this one's for you. ✨ Connect with Host Pat Miller Instagram thepatmiller11 Website patmiller.net Connect with Michael Grinberg www.revops.shop https://www.linkedin.com/in/sales-and-marketing/

What if the greatest business school you ever attended was your father's dinner table? Steven Padernacht grew up in the Bronx watching his father build a vertically integrated real estate business from the ground up, and those dinner-table deal talks became the foundation of Steven's own two-decade career in real estate. After losing his father at just 27, Steven took the five life lessons his dad left behind and turned them into a blueprint for building wealth, community, and legacy in one of New York's toughest markets. In this episode, Steven and host Pat Miller dig into the raw, unfiltered truth about entrepreneurship, the wins, the gut-punch losses, and the relentless mindset it takes to show up anyway. From Bronx apartment buildings to New Jersey developments, Steven's story is proof that where you come from doesn't define your ceiling. Key takeaways from this episode: The 5 pieces of advice Steven's father left him, and why one is now engraved on his tombstone Why resilience isn't a personality trait, it's a daily decision How mentoring someone else led to one of Steven's biggest business opportunities If you're an entrepreneur who's ever lost a deal, doubted yourself, or wondered whether it's all worth it, this one's for you. Get back up. Keep going. The windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason. Connect with Host Pat MillerInstagram thepatmiller11 Website patmiller.net Connect with Steven Padernacht: Instagram @steve_pad & @padernachtpodcast

What if the money you leave your kids actually ruins them? In this episode of From Underdog to Entrepreneur, Pat Miller sits down with nationally recognized estate planning attorney Blake Johnson to unpack why traditional inheritance often creates entitlement—and how intentional legacy planning builds stronger families instead. Blake shares his journey from working alongside his father to buying him out, scaling a multi-state law firm, and developing the Family Bank Method, a framework designed to teach responsibility, not dependency. Together, they dive into what it really means to build wealth that lasts, how entrepreneurs must evolve from survival mode to leadership, and why values matter more than money when building a business… or a family legacy. In this episode, you'll learn: Why "just giving your kids money" can do more harm than good How the Family Bank Method creates responsibility, not entitlement The real test of entrepreneurship: building a business that runs without you If you care about building wealth and raising capable, grounded humans, this episode will change how you think about success, money, and legacy. ✨ Connect with Host Pat Miller Instagram thepatmiller11 Website patmiller.net Connect with Blake Johnson: https://yourfb.com/ https://trustedepa.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/trustedepa/

What if success wasn't about closing deals—but about eliminating the option to quit? In this episode, real estate coach, investor, and author Josh Cadillac joins host Pat Miller to break down what it really means to build a business that lasts. From being raised in entrepreneurship at age nine, to losing everything in the 2008 crash, Josh shares how underdogs win—by outworking, outlasting, and outthinking the competition. Together, Pat and Josh unpack the mindset shifts, discipline, and systems required to turn clients into lifelong relationships and chaos into momentum. Key takeaways include: Why underdogs must burn the ships and remove failure as an option How "closing customers for life" creates sustainable, compounding success Practical systems for time management, CRM discipline, and ruthless efficiency If you're building something from the ground up—and refusing to take the off-ramp—this conversation will remind you why underdogs win more often than anyone expects. ✨ Connect with Host Pat Miller Instagram thepatmiller11 Website patmiller.net

What happens when a lawyer stops thinking like a prosecutor—and starts thinking like a business owner? In this episode, Pat Miller sits down with Damian Conforti, a former prosecutor turned trusted corporate counsel, to unpack what it really means to practice the business of law. Damian shares how relearning law through an entrepreneurial lens transformed the way he advises CEOs, founders, and leadership teams facing real-world operational and governance challenges. Rather than just reacting to legal problems, Damian explains why the most valuable counsel anticipates risk, understands the business inside and out, and empowers leaders to make smarter decisions—before issues ever reach the courtroom. In this conversation, you'll hear about: Why effective legal counsel requires an entrepreneurial mindset The difference between practicing law for businesses vs. with business leaders How CEOs can leverage lawyers as strategic partners—not just problem solvers If you're a founder, executive, or advisor navigating high-stakes decisions, this episode will change how you think about law, leadership, and long-term strategy. Press play and start thinking like both an owner and a lawyer. ✨ Connect with Host Pat Miller Instagram thepatmiller11 Website patmiller.net

What happens when life forces you to reinvent yourself? In this episode, Pat sits down with Chris Graffagnino — Army Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, and Founder of Graff Global — to talk about how an unexpected injury and an unshakable instinct led him from law enforcement to building an international risk management enterprise. Chris opens up about betting on himself, navigating unknowns, losing friends along the way, and why complacency is the enemy of progress. Key Themes: Turning adversity into opportunity The difference between owning a business and being an entrepreneur Reinvention, risk, and following your gut Legacy, parenting, and building something that matters Chris's journey is proof that the underdog can win — if they're willing to leap, learn, and keep climbing. Tune in and get inspired to take your next step. ✨ Connect with Chris Graffagnino LinkedIn: Chris Graffagnino ✨ Connect with Pat Miller Instagram: @thepatmiller11 Website: patmiller.net

When life gave her no choice but to rise, Lena Piccininni built a career—and a legacy—out of pure grit. In this episode, Lena shares how losing her father at 17 forced her into survival mode, eventually leading her into the male-dominated world of barbering where she had to earn every ounce of respect. From teaching nationwide with Pacinos, to building a loyal client base from scratch, to launching her own product line Manan Haircare, Lena reveals how confidence, resilience, and relentless work ethic transformed her from an underdog into a thriving entrepreneur. She also opens up about balancing motherhood, running a studio, and scaling a brand that's now carried in salons across multiple states. Key Takeaways: How to break into (and stand out in) a male-dominated field Why saying "yes" before you're ready creates massive opportunity The power of small jobs, networking, and building true client relationships What it really takes to launch and scale a product line as a solo founder Lena's story is a reminder that strength is born in the hardest seasons—and that anyone willing to outwork their circumstances can build something extraordinary. 🔗 Connect with Lena Piccininni Website: mananbeauty.com Instagram: @lenapiccininni | @manan_haircare Email: lenapiccininni@gmail.com 🔗 Connect with Host Pat Miller Instagram: @thepatmiller11 Website: patmiller.net