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

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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.

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.