467: Billion-Dollar CEO Reveals: How He Built an Empire From Teaching (7 Steps)
467: Billion-Dollar CEO Reveals: How He Built an Empire From Teaching (7 Steps)  
Podcast: the bossbabe podcast
Published On: Thu Jun 12 2025
Description: What does it really take to build a billion-dollar business - without debt, without outside funding, and without losing your family in the process? In this episode, Natalie sits down with Mark Pentecost, founder of It Works!, Impact Professionals, and author of Life of Your Dreams, to talk about what it means to dream big, take risks, and build a life-changing legacy from nothing. From starting out as a high school teacher to becoming a self-made billionaire, Mark shares the 7 steps he followed to go from stuck and surviving, to building a company that’s generated over $750M a year and impacted lives across 20+ countries. Whether you're just getting started or scaling to your next level, this episode will remind you what's actually possible and why it’s never too late to get in the game. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Meet the man who went from teacher to billionaire entrepreneur 03:00 - How to go from day-to-day survival to building the life of your dreams 06:00 - The power of getting in the game, even before you feel ready 07:40 - Why your environment matters more than your ideas 10:10 - “When is enough, enough?” + how legacy became Mark’s #1 driver 12:00 - Lessons from his cancer diagnosis + how it shaped his purpose 14:30 - What separates those who succeed from those who quit 18:00 - Why saying your dream out loud is a powerful step 20:30 - Building a business with your spouse and raising motivated kids 24:00 - Mark’s philosophy on money, debt, and financial freedom 28:00 - Why “debt-free is the new sexy”   35:00 - You don’t need a big idea, just the courage to take the first step RESOURCES + LINKS Get Mark’s book: Life of Your Dreams Here. Watch Natalie’s Free 90-Minute Training To Learn Her 5-Step Playbook To Start Or Scale A Freedom-Based Business. Sign Up Here. Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Newsletter & Get Insights From Natalie Every Single Week On All Things Strategy, Motherhood, Business Growth + More.  Drop Us A Review On The Podcast + Send Us A Screenshot & We’ll Send You Natalie’s 7-Figure Operating System Completely FREE (value $1,997).