Episode
147: From Dropout to Multimillionaire: Brian Will's Success Formula
- Podcast
- The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast
- Published
- Jul 8, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2861
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://www.dwaynekerrigan.com
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Summary
Brian Will has owned 10 companies across five industries, made three exits worth over $500 million, and written four books — including two Wall Street Journal bestsellers. None of it was handed to him and the odds were very much against him. In this conversation with Dwayne Kerrigan, Brian unpacks the frameworks behind his success: the personal filter, the success ladder, and the $80 million decision he almost said no to. In this episode: The "I'm in" moment: Brian's business partner Steve asked him to borrow $66,000 more after nine months of zero revenue and $500,000 in losses — Brian's accountant, CMO, and COO all quit before he finally said yes, and the company sold for $80 million just 18 months later Why "failure leads to success" is a myth Brian calls out directly — it's learning from failure that leads to success, and most people skip that step entirely The success ladder framework: Brian started at step zero with no education, no backing, and no mentors — and why the only two ways to climb are to learn every painful lesson yourself or find someone who's already done it The personal filter concept: everything you've ever heard, read, and experienced creates a subconscious filter that accepts or rejects new information — and why people who seem to have the Midas touch aren't lucky, their brain just knows how to recognize success How Brian's abusive childhood created what he calls the "anger box" — and how that same fuel, once controlled, became his most powerful sales and leadership tool Why three years of counseling after his divorce was the moment he realized the only person he was still trying to prove anything to was himself Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Keep Moving Forward 00:15 - Podcast Intro 00:47 - Meet Brian Will 02:53 - Dumb Kids Hope Story 04:40 - Milit…