Live Life By Design with Jeff Mendez

Hosted by Jeff Mendez

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Nov 2025

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About the show

🎙️ Welcome to "Live Life by Design with Jeff Mendez," a podcast for personal and professional growth! 👤 Jeff is a seasoned leader with a strong background in sales, operations, and investment, known for transforming a company's revenue from $30M to over $1B. He’s also provided affordable housing to 41,000+ families, co-owns Green Light Restaurant Group, and is a fervent supporter of early-stage investments. 🎧 Join us as Jeff interviews experts, sharing insights and strategies to propel you forward. Whether you're an entrepreneur or simply seeking growth, this is your resource for inspiration and practical advice. 🔗 Subscribe, connect in the comments, and follow us on social media for more! 🎯 Live your life by design, not by default. Join Jeff Mendez on this journey, and let’s build a life and career that truly reflects your aspirations and potential! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 27, 202520 min

Brotherhood, Championships & Legacy with Michael Cooper | LLBD #74

In this heartfelt episode of Live Life by Design, host Jeff Mendez sits down with NBA Champion and Lakers legend Michael Cooper to talk legacy, leadership, and living life on purpose. Michael opens up about his humble beginnings in Pasadena, how his five personal “D” principles helped him reach the NBA, and what made the Lakers dynasty of the 80s so powerful — both on and off the court. From brotherhood and family to culture, faith, and business, Coop shares the untold lessons that made Showtime so much more than basketball. He also speaks vulnerably about love, loss, and the personal relationship that grounded his life after sports. If you're looking for wisdom, inspiration, and a deeper look into the mind of a champion, this episode delivers. ⏱️ Key Timestamps 0:00 Welcome to Casa de Mendez 1:00 Early Life in Pasadena & The Five D’s 2:30 Overcoming Doubt & Earning a Spot in the NBA 3:15 Favorite Championship Moments with the Lakers 5:00 Beating the Celtics in 1985 6:00 Building Brotherhood Within the Lakers 8:15 The Legendary Lakers Reunion in Maui 10:00 Spencer Haywood’s Return to the Family 11:30 Culture, Conflict, and Accountability 13:00 Lessons from Dr. Jerry Buss 14:30 What Made Magic Johnson’s Business Mindset Stand Out 15:50 Respecting Roles & Building a Lasting Organization 17:00 Final Advice: Living Life by Design 18:15 The Power of Partnership & Choosing the Right Person 19:30 Closing Reflections & Gratitude Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

November 25, 202552 min

Resilience, Grit & Legacy with Damon Price: Leading Through Chaos | LLBD #73

In this powerful episode of Live Life by Design, host Jeff Mendez sits down with Damon Price, Chief Sales Officer at Pure Light, for a deep and raw conversation about leadership through adversity in both business and life. From rebuilding a company after a seismic industry shift to navigating the heartbreak of personal loss, Damon shares the real journey behind the titles. He opens up about how he handled a nine-figure acquisition, the toll of burnout, and the mental frameworks that keep him aligned through chaos. This episode is packed with practical wisdom for entrepreneurs, sales leaders, and anyone chasing purpose beyond profit. Damon also reveals something deeply personal he’s been holding back, and why now might be the time to share it with the world. This episode will challenge your mindset, recharge your drive, and remind you what really matters. ⏱️ Key Timestamps 0:00 Welcome to Casa de Mendez 1:00 Major Industry Shifts & The "Big Beautiful Bill" 3:00 Leadership in Crisis Mode 5:45 Turning Turmoil Into Strength 8:15 Lessons from a Nine-Figure Acquisition 10:40 Burnout, Loss & Work-Life Alignment 14:00 What Sales Leaders Actually Need to Teach 19:30 Damon’s Must-Read Book Recs 22:20 Founders Don’t Run Out of Money, They Run Out of Will 25:00 Do Hard Things on Purpose 28:00 A Perspective Shift on Time, Loss & Legacy 33:45 “Backstory” and The Rocking Chair Test 36:00 Keep It Simple, Keep It Soulful 40:00 The Real Sales Strategy: Consistency Over Charisma 44:00 Vivint Memories and Industry Mentors 48:00 “I’ve Been Holding This Back…” 50:00 Jeff’s Final Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

November 20, 202557 min

Turning Sales into a Superpower with Ashton Buswell | LLBD #72

In this inspiring episode of Live Life by Design, Jeff Mendez sits down with solar sales legend Ashton Buswell, whose 20-year journey through direct sales, leadership, and personal growth reveals what it really takes to live intentionally. From his early door-to-door days to selling over 1,000 solar systems and creating the “28+ Challenge,” Ashton shares his mindset for consistency, leadership, and building a life fueled by purpose and love. Whether you’re in sales or simply chasing personal growth, this episode delivers lessons on discipline, perspective, and the daily non‑negotiables that lead to success. 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Live Life by Design — and share this with someone who needs the inspiration. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Ashton opens the show 00:45 Meeting Jeff in Kansas City 03:10 Career path through sales 05:25 Back into solar with Luke 07:25 1,000+ installs at Legacy 08:44 The 28+ Challenge explained 10:33 Least favorite part of sales 12:30 Sales as a sport mindset 15:19 Everyone should do door-to-door 17:26 Building leaders through mentorship 22:20 Selling by asking, not telling 23:35 Book rec: Chop Wood, Carry Water 25:00 Momentum Mondays & health habits 31:10 Selling 16 in a day to win a Tesla 36:00 Why love is the real superpower 45:21 Ski story: practicing patience 51:23 Ashton’s gift: spreading love 56:00 Final thoughts & farewell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

November 13, 202553 min

Freedom Over Fortune: How to Design a Life You Actually Love with Jeremy Lieber | LLBD #71

On this episode of Live Life by Design, host Jeff Mendez sits down with Jeremy Lieber, founder of Uncommon Education and a successful day trader who’s redefined what it means to live on your own terms. They explore what true wealth really looks like, why discomfort can be the key to happiness, and how to avoid the dangerous trap of success without fulfillment. From jungle fly fishing to life lessons in the stock market, Jeremy shares his unfiltered journey of designing a life filled with intention, freedom, and joy. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome & Guest Intro 01:08 The Jungle Reset: Discomfort is the Point 03:22 Why Simplicity Trumps Luxury 05:14 From Porsche to Peace 07:41 Wealth Redefined 10:03 A Perfect Day in the Life 13:19 Confidence is the Cure 15:51 Vulnerability is the Superpower 18:55 Building Uncommon Education 21:19 The Biggest Mistake Traders Make 24:17 Trading Should Be Boring 25:12 Should You Quit Your Job to Trade? 28:48 Top Success Story: $10K to $270K 35:03 Biggest Failure: The $400K Blow-Up 43:16 Thoughts on Real Estate Investing 45:03 Book Recommendations 48:29 What Gift Are You Hiding? 52:49 Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

November 6, 202545 min

Retire in 10 Years or Less with Ryan Lee | LLBD #70

In this high-impact episode of Live Life by Design, Jeff Mendez is joined by Ryan Lee — real estate investor, educator, and co-author of Retire in 10 Years or Less. Together, they challenge traditional financial advice, unpack how to escape the “retirement trap,” and explore what it really means to live life by design. From smart tax strategy to redefining freedom, this conversation is packed with real talk, actionable insights, and powerful perspective shifts for anyone ready to take control of their time, money, and purpose. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome & Life Update 01:06 Retire in 10 Years or Less 02:14 Real Estate Beginnings 03:54 Rich Dad, Poor Dad Takeaways 05:15 Savers Are Losers 06:00 Debt is Money 08:10 The Tax Code & Patriotism 11:06 Inflation as a Hidden Tax 13:12 Playing the Tax Game Smart 17:06 Favorite Chapter of the Book 19:06 The 3 Investing No-Nos 23:27 Financial Freedom is a Lifestyle 26:59 The Day Ryan Quit His Job 30:25 Advice for People Feeling Stuck 32:00 Life Insurance & Legacy 34:00 The 3 Questions That Change Everything 38:00 The Ownership Economy 40:01 Last Words of Wisdom 42:15 Where to Get the Book 43:34 What’s Next for Ryan Lee 44:33 Closing Remarks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 30, 202539 min

Staying Ready, Staying Great: Wisdom from Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith | LLBD #69

In this episode of Live Life by Design, Jeff Mendez is joined by Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith for a powerful conversation on discipline, staying prepared, and mastering your craft. From humble beginnings to becoming a baseball legend, Ozzie drops wisdom for athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone chasing greatness. 💬 "You only get out of life what you put in." – Ozzie Smith ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Welcome Ozzie Smith 00:54 Early life & baseball roots 03:46 Seizing opportunities 06:10 Mental toughness 07:04 Longevity in the game 10:55 Talent vs work ethic 14:16 Life after baseball 20:45 Giving back 25:40 Hall of Fame mindset 30:23 Fundamentals & success 36:57 Living by design Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 23, 20251 hr 7 min

From Wrestler to Leader: Adam Hall’s Blueprint for High Performance | LLBD #68

In this powerful episode of Live Life by Design, host Jeff Mendez sits down with Adam Hall, head wrestling coach at Utah Valley University, former All-American, and leadership powerhouse. From his roots in Idaho to coaching on the national stage, Adam shares raw, tactical insights on what it takes to lead under pressure, delegate with trust, and build a winning culture from the ground up. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or striving for personal greatness—this episode breaks down how structure creates freedom, how to lead with clarity, and why accountability is love. It’s not just about wrestling. It’s about life, purpose, and living by design—not default. ⏱️ Key Moments 0:00:07 Intro & Guest Welcome 0:00:49 Adam’s Journey to Coaching 0:03:29 Leadership & Delegation 0:05:21 Culture & Communication 0:11:38 Team Structure & Roles 0:16:06 Budgeting & Fundraising 0:21:56 Raising Academic Standards 0:24:00 Life After Graduation 0:38:58 Recruiting & Transfer Portal 0:49:06 Structure Creates Freedom 0:53:50 Wrestling Mindset & Ownership 0:56:35 Leading Through Tragedy 1:05:00 Living by Design Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 16, 202525 min

Oscar Robertson on Freedom, Faith & the Game That Changed Everything | LLBD #67

NBA icon Oscar Robertson joins host Jeff Mendez on Live Life by Design to discuss the legendary Oscar Robertson Rule, how it reshaped basketball, and his perspective on success, faith, and purpose. From averaging a triple-double before it was tracked to navigating racism and redefining player freedom, this episode is a masterclass in perseverance and design—on and off the court. 💡 Comment your biggest takeaway and share this episode with someone who needs the inspiration. ⏱️ Key Moments 00:00 Welcome and intro with Oscar Robertson 01:22 The Oscar Robertson Rule explained 03:15 Building winning teams and key trades 05:31 Modern NBA money and evolution 07:58 Early years, the draft, and hard lessons 10:27 Averaging a triple-double before it mattered 13:26 Growing up through racism and sports 17:06 Eternal happiness and faith 19:02 The person he’d look for first: God 23:58 Final life advice and closing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 9, 202536 min

From 5 HS Games to 12 Years in the NBA w/ Cedric Ceballos | LLBD #67

On this episode of Live Life by Design, host Jeff Mendez sits down with Cedric Ceballos—1992 NBA Slam Dunk champion and former All-Star—to unpack an unlikely journey: from playing only five games in high school to a 12-year NBA career with the Suns, Lakers, Mavericks, and Heat. Cedric shares lessons on resilience, choosing the right system over the shiny opportunity, the realities of pro life, transitioning to the front office, and why falling in love with the process beats chasing the result. Inspirational, candid, and packed with practical takeaways for designing a life on your terms. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro & name 1:51 Drafted & teams 3:34 Lakers homecoming 6:47 Late-bloomer spark 10:18 Pre-draft breakout 11:20 Fit over draft hype 12:00 Draft night emotions 14:48 Rookie “point-a-minute” 17:58 All-Star & Dunk Champ 19:38 Overseas stints 22:01 Pro life realities 34:17 Process over results Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 2, 202534 min

From Strikeouts to Second Chances: Doc Gooden’s Raw Redemption Story | LLBD #66

In this inspiring episode of Live Life by Design, Jeff Mendez sits down with MLB legend Dwight “Doc” Gooden for an unforgettable conversation on greatness, mistakes, and redemption. From growing up in Tampa with his nephew Gary Sheffield to facing Pete Rose in the majors, and ultimately battling addiction—Doc opens up about it all. His honesty, grit, and comeback story will move anyone who’s ever struggled with failure, purpose, or identity. Whether you're chasing dreams or fighting demons, this episode reminds you: it's never too late to rewrite your story. Key Moments: 00:00 Welcome + Intro to Doc 00:31 Childhood & falling in love with baseball 02:48 Realizing he could go pro 08:13 Baseball idols: Pete Rose & Nolan Ryan 13:34 Battling addiction & breaking cycles 19:27 Turning pain into purpose 21:56 Why they call him "Doc" 29:35 The one thing he'd get back 30:23 His mom & the person he'd hug again 31:42 Final advice: Live life by design Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.