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Scales Of Success Podcast

Scales Of Success Podcast

Written by: Marcus Arredondo
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About this listen

If you've ever encountered anxiety, imposter syndrome, or burnout, you're not alone. Two years ago, becoming a dad flipped my world upside down.

No matter how much I prepared, nothing could brace me for the chaos that followed, both at home and in my career. But in the struggle, I found a new obsession, leveraging every minute, every ounce of energy to achieve more with less. Who better to gain perspective and insight from than those who are doing it themselves? In the episodes to follow, I'll share conversations I've had with entrepreneurs, artists, founders, and other action takers who emerged from the battlefield with scars produced from lessons learned.

These strivers share with specificity the hurdles they've overcome, the systems they've used to protect their confidence, reinforce their resilience, and scale their achievements. You'll hear real life examples, including the challenges of building a team from five people to 800, the insights gleaned from over 40,000 coaching calls with Fortune 500 executives and professional athletes, how to transform public perception through leveraging existing client loyalty among countless others. In these episodes, you'll hear concrete examples and leave with concise takeaways to improve your systems with outsized results.

Scales of success is all signal without the noise. I offer these conversations to serve as one of the levers in scaling your own success. If any of this speaks to you, you're joining the right tribe.

If you're interested in following this journey, sign up to receive our newsletter at scalesofsuccesspodcast.com. Also, if you have ideas, suggestions, or constructive feedback from the episodes, please share them with me. This show will practice what it learns. Let's build something meaningful starting now.

© 2025 Scales Of Success Podcast Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • #62 - Leadership Lessons From the Military and High Finance with John Pierson

    #62 - Leadership Lessons From the Military and High Finance with John Pierson
    Dec 31 2025

    Where pressure, leadership, and character collide. In today’s episode, Marcus Arredondo talks with John Pierson about operating at the highest levels when mistakes are costly and standards are unforgiving. From elite finance to mission-critical roles, John brings a rare perspective shaped by environments where trust, discipline, and judgment matter every day. This conversation offers a grounded look at what separates those who last from those who fade when the pressure is real.

    John Pierson is the founder of P2 Investments, a boutique talent advisory firm working with top hedge fund investment and technology professionals worldwide. With decades of experience across military service, presidential air traffic control, and global finance, John is known for a relationship-driven approach built on trust, integrity, and long-term thinking. He advises both individuals and firms operating in high-stakes environments where performance and character must align.

    Get in touch with John Pierson:
    Website: https://www.p2investments.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/p2agents/

    Episode highlights:
    (2:34) What a hedge fund talent pod really is
    (4:59) Hedge funds Vs. Traditional investing explained
    (7:58) Serving both talent and firms ethically
    (12:58) Telling a person’s story, not sending resumes
    (17:12) Integrity over transactions
    (20:46) Ego, PTSD, and personal cost of success
    (27:57) Faith as a turning point
    (31:10) Teamwork lessons from the Marines
    (38:37) Discipline defined
    (41:08) Major trends shaping hedge funds and vetting
    (49:25) Air traffic controller for the President
    (52:09) Returning to Vietnam with his father
    (54:40) Outro

    Connect with Marcus

    • Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/
    • X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus


    Scales of Success

    • Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com
    • X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/
    • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess

    Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess

    —--

    Leave a Review

    If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show.

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140


    Get in Touch

    You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • #61 - When Achievement Forces You to Rebuild Everything with Precious L. Williams

    #61 - When Achievement Forces You to Rebuild Everything with Precious L. Williams
    Dec 24 2025

    In this episode of Scales Of Success Podcast, host Marcus Arredondo connects with Precious L. Williams for a raw, grounded conversation about ambition, resilience, and what success really asks of you. This is not a highlight reel or a victory lap. It is an honest look at rebuilding after loss, redefining achievement, and choosing a path that still feels whole. If you are chasing big goals and quietly wondering about the cost, this episode will stay with you.

    Precious L. Williams is the Founder and CEO of The Perfect Pitch Group, a Shark Tank alum, and a 13-time National Elevator Pitch Champion. She is a 5x #1 bestselling author and internationally recognized speaker who trains entrepreneurs, leaders, and Fortune 100 teams to communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. Precious has worked with global brands including Verizon, BMW, Blackstone, HubSpot, Harvard University, and Columbia University, and is known worldwide for helping people turn powerful ideas into results.

    Learn more about Precious L. Williams:
    Website: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-l-williams/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectpitchgroup/?hl=en
    Newsletter: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/subscribe
    Book Links: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/books/
    Work 1 on 1 with her: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/experienceprecious/

    FREE     Gifts (first chapter of Rainmaking 101 and “Making it Rain in Your Business” PDF: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/free-gifts/

    Episode highlights:
    (2:26) Losing everything after Shark Tank
    (6:56) Why losing law created freedom
    (8:05) Choosing identity over tragedy
    (12:24) Turning pain into confidence
    (15:11) Performing under emotional pressure
    (20:19) The power of reading books
    (26:24) The most successful pitches
    (33:19) Why being bold beats being liked
    (38:50) Through the open door and partnerships
    (48:24) How the pitching started
    (53:23) Writing poetry
    (59:54) Building purpose after addiction
    (1:02:29) Outro

    Connect with Marcus

    • Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/
    • X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus


    Scales of Success

    • Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com
    • X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/
    • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess

    Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess

    —--

    Leave a Review

    If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show.

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140


    Get in Touch

    You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 3 mins
  • #60 - After the Win: Purpose, Identity, and Burnout with Justin Wills

    #60 - After the Win: Purpose, Identity, and Burnout with Justin Wills
    Dec 17 2025

    What do you do when the goal that drove you is gone?

    In today’s episode, Marcus welcomes Justin Wills, founder, executive, advisor, and investor with a deep focus on community, technology, and art, and a driving force behind the revival of Luna Luna. Justin shares the rarely discussed side of building, exiting, and starting again, including burnout, identity shifts, creative instinct, and learning to trust what feels right when the noise gets loud.

    This conversation is for founders, creatives, and leaders navigating ambition, purpose, and longevity. It is not about hacks or hype. It is about endurance, energy, and choosing work that can sustain you long after the win.

    About Justin Wills:
    Website: https://justinwills.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwills/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justincwills/

    Episode highlights:
    (2:22) How Society6 was born
    (7:56) Why the founding team worked and took risks with family
    (15:18) Hunger and trust
    (25:06) The shock after a big exit
    (30:58) When money replaces meaning and why people and teams matter
    (35:30) Luna Luna and lost art revived
    (41:21) Buying Luna Luna sight unseen
    (46:26) From big vision to reality
    (51:28) Building and advising new ventures
    (55:54) Burnout, balance, and recovery
    (1:02:46) Outro

    Connect with Marcus

    • Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-arredondo/
    • X (Twitter): https://x.com/cus


    Scales of Success

    • Website: scalesofsuccesspodcast.com
    • X (Twitter): https://x.com/scalesofsuccess
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalesofsuccesspod/
    • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scalesofsuccess

    Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScalesofSuccess

    —--

    Leave a Review

    If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show.

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scales-of-success-podcast/id1773864140


    Get in Touch

    You can also Tweet @cus with any feedback, ideas or thoughts about the lessons you’ve learnt from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 4 mins
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