About this episode
Gene Kopczyk , an innovative entrepreneur, speaker, and bestselling author shares his inspiring journey from working midnight shifts at a donut shop to running a multimillion-dollar business empire. With a background in psychology and a personal history of being labeled as having ADD, Gene opens up about how he transformed what society saw as a limitation into his greatest entrepreneurial superpower. His ventures span across industries, including a pioneering flight school, and he’s renowned for fusing old-school trades with modern marketing strategies. In this powerful conversation, Gene discusses the myth of the "college-to-success" path, how traditional education failed him, and the real-world grit it took to create impact-driven businesses. They explore why ADD, often misunderstood in traditional settings, can lead to enhanced creativity and problem-solving. Gene's story is a masterclass in resilience, innovation, and breaking free from the limitations imposed by conventional thinking. CHAPTERS 02:04 – The Trap of the Traditional Success Path 04:11 – From Donut Shops to Million-Dollar Ideas 06:17 – Scaling Across States: Hiring and Expansion 08:12 – Flight School Inspiration & Why It All Started 10:01 – The ADD Advantage Explained 12:06 – Emotional Intelligence: We're Still 4-Year-Olds 14:23 – Why the School System Failed Creative Thinkers 16:49 – Changing the Narrative Around “Special Needs” Connect with Gene: Therealgene.com therealgene01@gmail.com Connect with Rudy Mawer: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Twitter