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Mani Nordine is a music industry veteran who manages artists like Snoop Dogg and Akon, and this conversation reveals why mixing family with business always fails, how ego isn't your amigo but you need it to succeed, and why passion beats any strategy.
Learn why artists need managers from day one because early mistakes haunt careers forever, how emotion in business destroys relationships when you work with family, and why he never involves himself in the creative process—his job is guiding, not making the art. This covers why ego is essential for superstars even though you finish alone, how digital production and algorithm demands killed music quality, and why rappers struggle with ageing because they eventually become what they once criticised.
0:00 Introduction
03:31 Transition from dance to music management
12:10 Meeting and working with Michael Jackson's family
17:00 Challenges of managing artists' egos and personal habits
20:56 The impact of money and fame on artists' personalities
27:46 Organising large-scale tours and dealing with promoters
32:08 Balancing creative freedom with profitability for artists
40:00 The enduring influence of music from the 2000s
45:14 Strategies to maintain long-term relevance in music
50:24 The evolving landscape of music and content creation
55:32 Differences in DJ and traditional artist lifestyles
01:02:07 Iconic events and their roles in networking in the music industry
01:08:10 Personal philosophy on professional and personal growth
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Instsagram: https://www.instagram.com/maninordine/?hl=en-gbhackyou.mediaHack You MediaYour optimized future starts here.THRSTTHRST - Your Ultimate Destination for Fitness, Swim & ActivewearDiscover a wide range of high-quality training shorts, apparel, and swimwear at THRST. With our fitness app, you can take your workouts to the next level. Shop now and get ready to elevate your training game!

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Gediminas Ziemelis is Lithuania's wealthiest entrepreneur, who started his first business at 19, and this conversation reveals what separates founders from managers, why treating business like a three-life computer game keeps him motivated, and how being born in a small country forced him to think globally from day one.

Gediminas explains growing up in the Soviet Union where businessmen were criminals, how poverty and limitation shaped his drive to be rich, and why selling his first company at 27 pushed him toward building something unrepeatable in aviation. The key insight: work-life balance doesn't exist when building something big; your lifestyle becomes the business, and you risk everything while managers sell hours for the highest price with no social life at stake.

This covers why he has four assistants but stays hands-on daily, how spending money on relationships beats marketing, and why the only thing he fears is losing motivation.

00:00 Gediminas Ziemelis Introduction
04:47 Early business endeavours in post-Soviet Lithuania
10:19 Importance of international business for Lithuanian entrepreneurs
15:28 First IPO and stepping into diverse business sectors
20:30 Entering aviation amidst challenges and opportunities
26:46 Overcoming financial crises in business
34:25 Global thinking and expanding aviation business
43:54 Dedication to Avia Solution Group and future plans
47:54 Passion and motivation in business pursuits
54:18 Importance of networking and relationships in business
59:53 Expanding interests beyond aviation, including AI and numbers
01:05:09 Space industry insights and potential future ventures
01:10:19 Reflections on health, AI, and personal discipline
01:14:36 Final advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on collaboration and planning

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From staying in Dubai despite recent events and travelling to Cape Town and Japan, to losing your peptide virginity at 35 and selling Bioniq, join me for a special Q&A filmed in the apartment where this podcast started five years ago.

I talk starting over from scratch, the balance between life-maxing and business-maxing, why investing in yourself beats everything else, and the mindset shifts that matter when nobody's watching.

Thank you to everyone who's tuned in, asked questions, or supported the journey so far.

Here's to the next chapter.

00:00 Introduction
00:52 Thoughts on living in Dubai long term
02:22 Top three favourite travel destinations
03:42 Starting over and choosing a niche
05:01 Use of peptides and personal experiences
07:14 Views on marriage and having children
08:12 Making friends in a new environment
10:16 Daily non-negotiables for health and wellness
11:17 Thoughts on diminishing returns of wealth
13:48 Strategies for avoiding doomscrolling
15:21 Evolving focus on swimwear brand
17:50 Surrounding oneself with inspiring people
19:56 Boredom and seeking new experiences
21:33 Lessons from launching a coaching channel
25:02 Navigating life post-business acquisition
27:19 Does Mike adjust his training volume according to his Whoop data
28:23 Has Mike ever worked with a performance psychologist
30:28 Mike’s experience with emotional eating
34:01 Should you help others unconditionally?
34:50 What are some non-negotiables when dealing with people in business
36:20 Who would Mike choose as my ideal gym partner
39:34 Controversial figures on First Things THRST
42:34 What if Mike had never travelled to UAE?
44:46 How to date when you're broke
46:54 What excites Mike the most
49:33 Young Financial Investments vs going out to see the world
53:35 How important is Mindset in your journey
55:36 Should you set self-standards?
58:24 Is life in Dubai Better than the UK?
59:33 Biggest Problem in Modern Dating
1:02:23 Admiration for Women with Careers
1:04:34 Mike’s Favourite Film
1:05:45 A Lesson from Mike’s Father
1:08:00 What would you have done if you were 20 again
1:12:04 Perfect Work-Life Balance
1:13:42 Mike’s Biggest Goal
1:16:04 Outro

» Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life - https://www.digitalplaybook.net/
» Transform your physique - https://www.thrstapp.com/
» My clothing brand, THRST - https://thrstofficial.com
» Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston
• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO
• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO

» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode: https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/

» Join Whoop and get your first month for free - join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst