What really holds most people back from reaching their potential, lack of talent or lack of hunger? In this powerful episode, Coach Micheal Burt joins Business Growth University to share how success isn’t about doing less; it’s about doing the right things consistently with intensity. Host Alan Lazaros dives into Coach Burt’s journey from a small Tennessee town to coaching thousands worldwide. If you’ve ever struggled with focus, consistency, or relationships while chasing big dreams, this episode is a must-listen.

Meet Coach Micheal Burt

Coach Micheal Burt is an international speaker, bestselling author, and founder of The Greatness Factory. With over 25 years of experience, he has helped individuals and companies activate their deepest drive and unlock new levels of growth. He is the author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Flip the Switch and host of The Bigger Table Podcast.

Connect with Micheal

• Web: https://www.coachburt.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michealburt/
• IG: @michealburt

How to connect with Alan?
📧 alan@nextleveluniverse.com
Follow Alan on Instagram: instagram.com/alazaros88
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/

Episode highlights:
(2:01) Coach Burt's humble beginnings and what “potential” really means
(5:23) 33 years of coaching: what has changed and what hasn’t
(6:05) Traits Coach Burt looks for in high achievers
(7:56) Spotting real humility versus fake
(12:21) Why Coach Burt never stops striving
(16:26) Common blind spots holding entrepreneurs back
(20:00) The daily habits behind his success
(25:38) America’s growing culture of complacency
(30:30) Long obedience in the same direction
(46:21) The real reason behind Coach Burt’s success: activation
(54:00) What kids can teach us about hunger, learning, and mindset

What if just a tiny part of your effort, less than 1%, could drive nearly all your results? In this eye-opening episode, host Alan Lazaros breaks down how to be truly productive once your goals are set. Through personal stories and real business examples, he explains how focusing on your highest-return actions can transform how you work. If you feel busy but not effective, this episode will help you make smarter moves, not just more of them.

Download Your Episode 9 Resource here: https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/mm2987e6-bgu-ep9-dl/

How to connect with Alan?
📧 alan@nextleveluniverse.com
Follow Alan on Instagram: instagram.com/alazaros88
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/

Episode highlights:

(0:00) Intro
(1:10) Alan’s story of setting high goals
(2:33) Redefining productivity with time, effort, and money
(5:02) Farming metaphor: reinvesting wisely
(6:39) Understanding the 80/20 rule in life and business
(8:20) Podcast growth and what drives big results
(10:04) Zooming in on the most powerful actions
(13:04) The 3D Plan: Delete, Delegate, Double Down
(17:32) Alan’s hard choices: giving up fun for focus
(19:43) How delegating helped scale the business
(23:00) The real value of indirect actions
(25:00) Three questions to refocus your time
(26:10) Alan’s mission and clarity
(31:01) Coaching invite and closing motivation

Do you have big goals but feel like you’re spinning your wheels? In this episode of Business Growth University, Alan shares a clear, powerful roadmap for setting business goals that actually move the needle. You’ll learn the difference between dreams, goals, and habits, and how they all link together to build real momentum in life and business. He gives practical advice using personal examples, including his “P3 target” method, how to apply the 80/20 rule, and how identity shapes your ability to follow through. Plus, Alan shares the one tool he and his clients swear by to stay on track every quarter. If you’re serious about your success, don’t miss this one.

Resource mentioned in this episode:
https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/bgu-episode-8

How to connect with Alan?
📧 alan@nextleveluniverse.com
Follow Alan on Instagram: instagram.com/alazaros88
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/

Episode highlights:

(1:20) The truth behind lasting business success
(4:47) Dreams vs. goals: what’s the difference?
(10:00) The 80/20 rule
(17:00) Examples of real-world process and results goals
(22:01) Key metrics that drive business growth
(24:00) Habits that support long-term success
(27:01) The skill you need to level up this quarter
(29:00) Identity: the final piece that holds everything together
(35:11) Outro

Is overnight success real, or is it just a myth we tell ourselves? In this powerful episode of Business Growth University, host Alan Lazaros uncovers the truth about long-term business success using the "flywheel concept" made famous by Jim Collins. You’ll learn why doing five things really well, over and over again, is far more powerful than chasing the next big idea. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, this episode will show you how to stay consistent, focused, and impactful.

How to connect with Alan?
📧 alan@nextleveluniverse.com
Follow Alan on Instagram: instagram.com/alazaros88
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/

Episode highlights:

(0:00) Intro

(1:47) What is the flywheel concept?

(3:33) The power of consistent effort and momentum

(8:02) Compound growth: $1 to $84 million in 50 years

(14:07) The Walmart example: From 1 to 10,750 stores

(17:30) Alan’s 5-part business flywheel explained

(25:56) Why your flywheel filters the right clients

(29:15) Summer slump: stay productive and stand out

(30:11) Outro

What if your business community truly felt like home, not like walking into a wedding full of strangers? In this episode of Business Growth University, host Alan explains why your community should be built from who you are, not something you mold yourself to fit into. He uses the relatable example of an uncomfortable wedding to highlight how real communities grow around shared beliefs, not just shared spaces. Alan breaks down his own “three-by-three” belief triad, fitness, personal development, and business, to show how deep values can shape identity and connection. If you're building a business that stands for something real, this episode will challenge and inspire you to lead with clarity and authenticity.

Download the resource on Building Community:
https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/bgu-episode-6/

How to connect with Alan?
📧 alan@nextleveluniverse.com
Follow Alan on Instagram: instagram.com/alazaros88
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/

Episode highlights:
(0:42) Why the community should reflect you, not define you
(1:19) Recap of the Business Star framework
(1:48) The importance of community in business
(2:10) Weddings, open bars, and the discomfort of no common ground
(5:23) Identity and community in business
(6:06) The three-by-three belief triad explained
(13:35) Nine core beliefs that drive the community
(20:10) Why leadership starts with clarity and example
(21:14) Call to action: create your own belief triad worksheet

What truly sets great businesses apart from just “good” ones? In this episode, host Alan breaks down the critical pillar of client and customer delivery, the often overlooked key to lasting success. He shares powerful stories from building Next Level Podcast Solutions, working with over 100 podcasters, and producing over 6,000 episodes, all while keeping quality top-notch. If you're building a brand or scaling a service, this episode will help you rethink how well you're actually delivering value.

Download Your Episode 5 Resource - https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/79056gtyh-bgu-5-dl/

How to connect with Alan?
📧 alan@nextleveluniverse.com
Follow Alan on Instagram: instagram.com/alazaros88
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/

Episode highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(1:19) The Business Star: 5 pillars of business
(2:37) Customer vs. Client: Know the difference
(7:45) What is Six Sigma and why it matters
(13:00) The Gottman “bid” system explained
(16:24) Combining Six Sigma and relationships in business
(18:59) #BeTheLastMessage: Company culture of ownership
(20:22) Personal story: How Avatar blew away expectations
(22:55) Outro

Is sales really sleazy, or is that just a story we've been told? In this episode of Business Growth University, host Alan Lazaros busts the myth that sales is a shady business. Alan explains how true sales is about helping people grow, not tricking them.

Learn the real reason most online businesses fail, why alignment between branding, marketing, and sales matters, and how using the “certainty staircase” can turn strangers into loyal clients. Whether you're selling a product, an idea, or a vision for someone’s future, this episode is packed with real advice you can act on today.

Download the worksheet: https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/bgu-episode-4/

How to connect with Alan?
📧 alan@nextleveluniverse.com
Follow Alan on Instagram: instagram.com/alazaros88
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/

Episode highlights:

(1:19) The real definition of sales
(3:04) Selling people, places, things, and ideas
(6:11) Amy’s transformation through belief and habits
(8:49) Sales vs. manipulation
(9:54) Harvard data on sales/marketing alignment
(13:31) Why most podcasts fail: no sales strategy
(19:22) Sales = desire > fear
(21:45) Avoid asking for “marriage” on the first sales call
(24:09) The Certainty Staircase explained
(30:18) Sales as leadership, not sleaze
(32:07) Outro

What if you built something great... and no one showed up?

In this episode of Business Growth University, Alan shares a personal story from college when he helped launch Campus Libre, a textbook marketplace for students. The project had real value and early traction, but it still failed. Why? Because just building something isn’t enough. You need strong marketing to reach the right people.

Alan breaks down what marketing really is: knowing your audience, crafting the right message, and using the right channels. He introduces the Law of Diffusion of Innovation to show how ideas spread and why it's crucial to find your early adopters. With clear examples and a no-fluff approach, Alan gives you simple steps to define your message, pick your platforms, and speak to the right people.

This episode is packed with real talk and practical advice. And yes, there’s a free digital asset linked in the show notes to help you put it all into action.

Free Assets:

• Marketing worksheet - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1awotIDRmAXe0cmTJ3AeEOacW7w2h_XW4/view?usp=sharing
• Law of Diffusion of Innovation - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GQeFBp12YdRQ0YWsKJukNpzXTX1IhX_4/view?usp=sharing

Surround yourself with like-minded individuals. Join the private FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thenextlevelnation/

How to connect with Alan?
📧 alan@nextleveluniverse.com
Follow Alan on Instagram: instagram.com/alazaros88
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/

Episode highlights:

(0:00) Intro

(1:21) The Campus Libre story and early marketing efforts

(6:18) Why "if you build it, they won't come"

(6:49) What is the Law of Diffusion of Innovation

(9:07) Who are your early adopters

(13:36) Real-world examples of adoption

(14:19) Your message, your channels, your audience

(15:45) Free digital tool to map your marketing basics

(16:46) Outro