Study a successful entrepreneur and you’ll likely discover their resilience. Take Aaron Marino. Twenty years ago, his first business, a fitness center, went bankrupt, leaving him with half a million dollars in debt. Fast forward to 2024, and Marino is a YouTube celebrity and successful serial entrepreneur, primarily with men’s grooming products.
He first appeared on the podcast in 2020. We recently caught up with him. I asked him about failure, success, helping others and more.
The full audio of our conversation is embedded below. The transcript is edited for length and clarity.
Eric Bandholz: Tell us about you.
Aaron Marino: I am an entrepreneur at heart. I started posting YouTube videos in 2008 about men’s styles, looks, dating and relationships. I called the Alpha M channel and it took off. I wasn’t very good at it, but I kept doing it.
Over the years, this has allowed me to start a few businesses and verticals. I’ve had 20 companies. Most didn’t work, some worked a little, and some were pretty successful. A few years ago, I started a channel called Alpha Mpire, where I interview other entrepreneurs.
Failure was one of the best things for me. I had a fitness center. It was an epic failure. It was my dream since I was 12 years old: to own a fitness center. I closed it and I was half a million dollars in debt. I then drove a beer cart to a country club just to fill my car with gas. It was the scariest time of my life. I didn’t have a plan B. Failure forced me to try other, less scary things. I was like, okay, what’s the worst thing that could happen? I drive a beer cart. I’m broke. I’m bankrupt, but I’m still alive.
Bandholz: How to emotionally overcome bankruptcy as an entrepreneur?
Sailor: The stress and anxiety over money and the inability to pay my bills robbed me of joy like nothing else. I made a hundred dollars every three weeks driving a beer cart. I was as broke as could be. My credit cards have all been closed. Filing for bankruptcy was a huge emotional relief. It was like I had found a new life. I knew I would never make the same mistakes again. It shaped me in the way I think about money and debt. I became more responsible. I scooped up and bought a $35,000 car in one year with 100% financing.
I believe there is a time and place for loans and debts. If you need it, you need it. A company has two ways to raise money: taking on debt or selling stock. The choice depends on the amount of money and help you need.
Bandholz: You now have several businesses.
Sailor: The largest is a men’s skin care company called Tiege Hanley. It was a partnership with two other guys. One of the founders invested $170,000. I generated marketing materials through my YouTube channel. We had another founder who also brought equity and technical skills.
I started a hair product company called Pete & Pedro. I did it thanks to the white label. I started this whole business for $3,000. I went to a stylist friend and he told me to call people I knew, which started the process.
I started a sunglasses company called Enemy which no longer exists. I financed it myself. I closed it because the product was too expensive for what I was asking for, leaving no marketing margin.
I like to put money in as much as possible. I don’t take any big risks. I don’t need $100,000 to start a business. I can validate many of these companies for much less.
Bandholz: Tell us about Alpha Mpire, the YouTube channel.
Sailor: My original channel, Alpha M., focuses on men’s grooming. I started it in 2008. But I love talking business. I launched Alpha Mpire in 2021 to share my experiences and those of other entrepreneurs. I found a renewed passion. With this new channel, there was no waiting. I didn’t have to worry about sponsorships. I could talk about anything. It started to grow. It’s not the biggest channel: around 70,000 subscribers.
The Internet has changed the game when it comes to entrepreneurship and business. It’s like taking a test with the book open. If you want to start a business, the information is available. It’s never been more affordable.
Everyone has the same access and opportunities. Some people will take action. Most won’t. I tell new entrepreneurs to find someone who has done it before. Copy what they did, get their or someone else’s advice, then do it yourself. It’s not that hard. If I can do it, anyone can do it.
Bandholz: Where can people follow you?
Sailor: Discover my community of brains, TheWhiteLabelMpire.comor my Alpha Mpiré Youtube channel.