The world of online business has undergone a massive transformation over the years. From the early days of buying and selling on eBay to the present-day digital empires, there are now countless ways for business owners to thrive online.   In this episode, we are thrilled to share with you the incredible journey of a true entrepreneurial mastermind, Brian Evans, who founded BDE Ventures. In our conversation, Brian shares his journey from a teenage eBay seller to a successful business owner. Brian recounts his early realization that he could make money online, which led him to affiliate marketing and eventually to founding BDE Ventures. The company started in online advertising and now focuses on venture capital and advisory services in Web3, crypto, gaming, and blockchain. Brian also talks to us about how he delved into the world of cryptocurrency and takes us through the various use cases of cryptocurrencies and financial payments. Furthermore, Brian discusses his digital publication, Influencive, and his role on the TV show “The Next Crypto Gem.”  If you're looking to make it big in the digital world, this episode is a must-listen.  What We Discuss [00:01:25] Meet Brian Evans [00:02:49] Brian's first exposure to entrepreneurship [00:06:44] Genesis of BDE Ventures [00:09:34] How Brian used a reverse engineering technique [00:10:57] Transition to running a marketing and ad agency [00:13:15] Brian’s work with gaming and tech giants [00:18:48] Building influence and personal branding [00:25:32] Grant Cardone on being omnipresent in marketing [00:30:19] Understanding the process for content to go viral [00:33:01] Brian’s advice  for business owners in the digital marketing arena [00:39:36] Identifying and targeting specific personas based on the Product/Service [00:41:30] Dealing with audience burnout [00:44:53] Overcoming fear of public speaking [00:49:23] Brian’s transition into crypto and blockchain [00:53:35] Understanding decentralization and the financial world [00:54:18] The economic limitations of Bitcoin and Ethereum [00:55:45] The problem with internet ownership and centralization [00:57:50] Investment advice in cryptocurrency Notable Quotes [00:04:14] - “To me, it almost felt like I was a criminal because I was doing something that nobody else was doing, and it was making money.” - Brian Evans [00:19:05] - “I realized early on that there were so many ways to go against the grain, because there was this era of sales where you got to be the wolf of Wall Street.” - Brian Evans [00:23:40] “If you only focus on the people that are at sort of the top of the mountain, it's going to be limiting, and they're going to go on, and they're going to not be at the top of the mountain forever.” - Brian Evans Our Guest Brian Evans, a seasoned entrepreneur for 19 years, founded BDE Ventures, initially an online marketing firm that soared to the top 25 on the Inc 500 list. Today, BDE Ventures focuses on venture capital and advising Web3, crypto, gaming, and blockchain companies. Brian is also the brains behind "Influence," a digital publication for entrepreneurs with a massive 20 million global following. His sharp insights and strategies have been featured in Forbes, Rolling Stone, and Entrepreneur Magazine, reaching millions of readers. Brian extends his impact to television as a judge on "The Next Crypto Gem," contributing to the growth of the crypto sector. Resources and Links BDE Ventures website: https://bde.ventures/ Influencieve website: https://www.influencive.com/ Connect with Brian Evans on LinkedIn: https://www.briandevans.com/ Follow the BizMafia podcast On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd4z3Xk-iOT5zt62H4_juXw On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bizmafia Connect with Pat Linden on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-linden Connect with Bryan Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-taylor-0429008