Join The Standard: Thestandardmen.com

Gary Mizell is the founder of Kore Systems, a systems integration company specializing in mission-critical infrastructure for the federal government, municipalities, pharmaceutical compounding facilities, and data centers. Over the last 18 years, he has grown the company into a multi-million-dollar operation generating approximately $6 million in annual revenue while leading a team of 15 employees. In addition to his legacy business, Gary is also a partner in a new data center venture and has worked on major international infrastructure projects involving nuclear nonproliferation with the Department of Energy.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Building a $6M infrastructure company from the ground up
• The transition from employee to entrepreneur and knowing when to take the leap
• Why relationships and integrity are the foundation of long-term business success
• The hidden cost of hustle culture on family, health, and emotional wellbeing
• Leadership lessons from scaling a company without burning out
• How emotional health directly impacts decision making and business performance
• The role of meditation, breathwork, and self-awareness in entrepreneurship
• Creating a legacy that extends beyond money and professional success

The Legacy & Wealth Podcast, hosted by Mitchell Clark and presented by The Standard, features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, and high-performing men building wealth, leadership, and legacy. Each episode explores the mindset, discipline, and strategies required to grow successful businesses while navigating responsibility, family, faith, and long-term impact.

Timestamps

00:00 The cost of hustle culture and burnout
01:07 Introduction to Gary Mizell
01:42 Building Core Systems and mission-critical infrastructure
03:02 Launching a new data center venture
03:20 Growing a $6M company over 18 years
04:22 Learning the trades and discovering entrepreneurship
07:14 Why skilled trades are making a comeback
09:23 Transitioning from employee to entrepreneur
11:17 Choosing independence over security
14:54 Working internationally on nuclear nonproliferation projects
17:53 Balancing entrepreneurship and family life
18:20 When Gary’s daughter told him, “Dad, you look dead”
20:06 Replacing yourself as the bottleneck in business
22:03 Creating meaningful memories with family
26:01 The challenges of entrepreneurship and fatherhood
30:47 Why long-term client relationships matter
36:44 Integrity, trust, and difficult business relationships
44:17 The power of referrals and strategic partnerships
46:15 Why hustle culture eventually breaks people down
49:02 Why Gary joined The Standard
53:54 How emotional health impacts business performance
59:24 Meditation, breathwork, and managing stress
01:03:23 Aligning family vision, business, and personal growth
01:07:01 “All my dreams have come true”
01:08:07 Building a retreat center focused on healing and leadership
01:10:56 Defining legacy beyond money and success

The Standard is a private, in-person membership community for six-figure men who want to grow in their wealth, health, and relationships by surrounding themselves with other high-performing men operating at their level or above. It is designed for men who have outgrown their current environment and need a structured system of proximity, personalized strategy, and accountability to continue growing across every area of life.

Join The Standard: thestandardmen.com

David President is a Vice President of Sales and the owner of Suit Sharks, where he oversees a portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts across the U.S. and internationally. With over 20 years in hospitality, he has risen from entry-level roles to executive leadership, managing multi-million dollar revenue streams and large-scale teams. In addition to his corporate career, he is an entrepreneur behind a custom menswear brand and has built a growing real estate portfolio alongside his wife.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How to strategically balance a high-level corporate career with entrepreneurship
• The real economics behind hotels, occupancy, and cash flow
• Why leaving your job too early can be a costly mistake
• Building wealth through real estate, tax strategy, and long-term thinking
• Turning adversity into discipline and resilience
• The role of structure, routine, and systems in managing multiple income streams
• How identity, presentation, and first impressions impact success
• The importance of faith, brotherhood, and emotional growth in a high-performing life

The Legacy & Wealth Podcast, hosted by Mitchell Clark and presented by The Standard, features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, and high-performing men building wealth, leadership, and legacy. Each episode explores the mindset, discipline, and strategies required to grow successful businesses while navigating responsibility, family, and long-term impact.

Timestamps

00:00 How real estate creates multiple streams of income
00:54 Introduction to David President
02:00 Career as VP of Sales and Marketing in hospitality
04:00 Growing up in adversity and being raised by grandparents
08:00 Lessons on love, discipline, and faith from childhood
12:30 Starting in hospitality and climbing the corporate ladder
17:00 Moving into leadership roles and career growth
22:00 Managing large teams, budgets, and hotel revenue
25:00 How hotels actually make money
27:30 Why lower-end hotels can outperform luxury properties
30:00 Revenue strategies, marketing, and occupancy rates
34:00 Building business systems and managing multiple income streams
36:30 Why keeping your W2 can accelerate wealth building
38:00 Creating structure and routines for high performance
41:00 Growing a tailoring business with minimal overhead
45:00 Real estate investing strategy and tax advantages
50:00 The power of presentation and first impressions
54:00 Style, identity, and building confidence through appearance
58:00 Finding brotherhood and joining The Standard
01:00:00 Emotional growth and confronting past trauma
01:02:00 Faith, discipline, and daily practices
01:04:00 Taking risks and stepping out on faith
01:08:00 Defining legacy and long-term impact

The Standard is a private, in-person membership community for six-figure men who want to grow in their wealth, health, and relationships by surrounding themselves with other high-performing men operating at their level or above. It is designed for men who have outgrown their current environment and need a structured system of proximity, personalized strategy, and accountability to continue growing across every area of life.

To apply go to: thestandardmen.com

Join The Standard: thestandardmen.com

Sam Lacrosse is an entrepreneur, sales consultant, and content creator who helps influencers and online businesses scale through high-ticket offers, content strategy, and backend systems. He began his career at Oracle Corporation, where he became a top-performing sales professional, closing multi-million dollar deals and generating over $10M in revenue. After leaving corporate, he built and scaled multiple online businesses, authored three books, and now works with high-level creators to grow their companies and revenue streams.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The truth about making six figures in a single paycheck—and why it didn’t solve everything
• How corporate success can quietly trap you in “golden handcuffs”
• The mindset shift required to leave security and pursue entrepreneurship
• Why most people fail in business—and the real role of endurance and pain tolerance
• The difference between working hard and developing true resilience
• How to build, price, and sell high-ticket offers in the online space
• Why understanding identity is the key to sales, leadership, and personal growth
• The role of faith, values, and legacy in building a meaningful life

The Legacy & Wealth Podcast, hosted by Mitchell Clark and presented by The Standard, features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, and high-performing men building wealth, leadership, and legacy. Each episode explores the mindset, discipline, and strategies required to grow successful businesses while navigating responsibility, family, and long-term impact.

Timestamps

00:00 Making $100K+ in a single paycheck
01:00 Introduction to Sam Lacrosse
02:00 From corporate sales to entrepreneurship
05:00 Early life and pressure to perform
10:00 Chasing money vs pursuing purpose
14:00 Turning down a high-paying finance career
17:00 Closing multi-million dollar deals at Oracle
20:00 The reality behind “golden handcuffs”
23:00 The moment he knew corporate wasn’t for him
28:00 Why he was rejected for leadership
31:00 The decision to bet on himself
34:00 Building his first online business
44:00 Scaling to six figures while still employed
45:30 Leaving Oracle and going all-in
46:00 Losing momentum and nearly running out of cash
47:00 Rebuilding through sales and mentorship
48:30 The 3 pillars of online business: offer, content, sales
52:00 Why resilience matters more than talent
56:00 Overcoming fear and rejection in sales
58:00 Finding the right environment to grow
01:00:00 Lessons on growth and continuous improvement
01:02:00 Defining legacy, faith, and responsibility

The Standard is a private, in-person membership community for six-figure men who want to grow in their wealth, health, and relationships by surrounding themselves with other high-performing men operating at their level or above. It is designed for men who have outgrown their current environment and need a structured system of proximity, personalized strategy, and accountability to continue growing across every area of life.

To apply go to: thestandardmen.com