Corey’s entrepreneurial story doesn’t begin with childhood lemonade stands or inherited business acumen. Instead, it starts in the most unlikely of places - a restaurant floor, where a young man discovered that success wasn’t just about showing up, but about how you showed up.
I think it was when my not thinking. It was when my, when I got into when I was in high school and I was very independent. I had, you know, I had a job waiting tables. So when you wait tables, you kinda it depend on the restaurant if it’s not as corporate. It’s almost like you’re your own boss, your server. You got responsibility. You got your and, and, oh, are you still there? Yeah. I think there was a Did it freeze up? Okay. So we go into a restaurant and, like, somebody else could have similar tables, same amount of tables, but get less tips. And so I think when it was like that, when I learned that I could go in, make people feel good, give them a good service, right, and leave the table with somebody giving me $50 as a tip and the same another server, same same, you know, people maybe come later in the weekend, I noticed that they give them $20 as a tip or something like that. Right? And so I think that around those times, and then having like side hustles like selling candy and different things, allowed me to like get that taste of like making money in other ways, not just having a a JOB. This revelation became the foundation of everything that followed. In those moments between taking orders and delivering plates, Corey glimpsed a fundamental truth about value creation: that the same inputs could yield dramatically different outputs based on effort, attitude, and execution.
But awareness alone doesn’t create entrepreneurs. The real transformation came through education and opportunity converging at the perfect moment.
But what really got me introduced to it was a book, and it was Rich Dad Poor Dad from Robert Kiyosaki. I went to go get my real estate license. I was learning about that after I graduated in high school. And before I would go to the classes and before class, I would go to the library. And I read that book and it just taught about, like, assets and liabilities and just really, like, open my mind that there’s more to it than just, trade your time for dollars. And so that was, like, my journey into that. And then when I got out of high like, around that same time, my dad, had started a cleaning business in in San Francisco and had asked me to come out and work with him. And, when he seen my work ethic and everything, he offered me a partnership. And I was, like, 19, and I was a business owner, like, a legit business owner on paper and all that good stuff. This wasn’t just about reading a book or getting a business license - it was about a young mind being opened to possibilities beyond the traditional time-for-money exchange, then immediately being given the chance to apply those lessons in the real world.
As Corey’s journey progressed from cleaning businesses to tech ventures, he developed strong opinions about what separates successful entrepreneurs from those who simply create jobs for themselves. His insights cut through the common misconception that technical skills alone drive business success.
For instance, sales, a lot of people hate sales. Right? And sales is what drives companies. So if you can’t sell your own product, or if you have a you have a tough time presenting in front of people, I think that’s a skill that a lot of people should, like, work on. Because as a business owner, you’re gonna always have to present. People are gonna always ask you, what do you do? Now if you have the money to hire somebody to come in and be your sales manager and all that kind of stuff so you can, you know, kinda push that, then that’s fine. You know? I don’t think that’s a big deal, but, you know, Steve Jobs was not yeah. He was an engineer, but he also was a salesperson. Like, you know, Steve Wozniak did great, but he’s not the person that pushed the line that presented and got out there from what I understood. You know? So I think learning business skills like accounting and understanding, like, you don’t need to be an accountant, but do you you need to understand taxes. Right? You need to understand leadership. This perspective, illustrated through the contrast between Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, reveals a crucial truth about entrepreneurship: technical brilliance must be paired with the ability to communicate, sell, and lead. It’s not enough to build something great - you must be able to convince others of its value and inspire them to join your vision.
The conversation takes on deeper meaning as Corey reflects on the personal cost of this responsibility. Success in entrepreneurship isn’t just about developing skills - it’s about managing the psychological burden that comes with being ultimately accountable for outcomes.
Yeah. I mean, I get stressed, man. I’m human. Right? Definitely stuff pops up and things come up. It’s tough, like, being disciplined. I was just thinking about today. I was like, man, because I’m in San Francisco. I’m like, I hate to say it like that. Like, I mean, I should, like, watch what I’d say. But it’s like, some days, I’m like, I wish I wasn’t as responsible. You know what I mean? Like, it like, it feels freeing to not be as responsible where I see people that maybe aren’t as responsible. Like, they don’t have all this stuff. But I I say that from just a standpoint of, like, it can be on my stressful days. Right? So I think, like, allowing yourself to stress and, like, being okay with that and being, like, I’m human. Like, this is today’s just not a good day. Right? And I think, like, that’s acknowledging it. It’s like if you’re an alcoholic, you have to acknowledge, like, I’m an alcoholic. Right? And so I, you know, I acknowledge it. This moment of vulnerability cuts through the typical entrepreneurial narrative of endless optimism and reveals something more authentic. The freedom that entrepreneurship promises comes with a weight that employees rarely experience - the weight of knowing that every decision, every day, every outcome ultimately rests on your shoulders.
Yet this burden also creates unique forms of freedom. Corey illustrates this through personal examples - being able to help his father’s business while he traveled, having the flexibility to pivot when opportunities arise, and maintaining control over his time and priorities. These freedoms aren’t just about lifestyle; they’re about being able to show up for the people and causes that matter most.
As the conversation turns toward the future, Corey offers a perspective that feels both prescient and practical. While others debate whether AI will replace human workers, he focuses on what will become more valuable as technology advances.
I think learning about, like, human behavior is really important. If you’re an owner or anything like that, like, we’re gonna be dealing with a lot of tech in the next fifteen years. Like, your AI agent is gonna talk to my AI agent to schedule our meeting, and then our AI agents will probably be on the meeting earlier than us to take notes, which this already happens. Right? And so, like, then we’re talking on Zoom. Right? And then, like, you go through your day, you have no human connection. You haven’t talked to one human in person. You haven’t had any physical touch. And so curating, curating events and just being open to having more dinners and more human connection, I I totally believe human connection and all that’s gonna be at a premium. Like, you’re gonna have to pay to be around people because of all the tech. That’s just my opinion. So I think that if you’re not really, like, emotionally intelligent, people aren’t gonna wanna be around you. This prediction goes beyond simple technological displacement to envision a world where authentic human interaction becomes a scarce and valuable commodity. It’s a future where emotional intelligence isn’t just helpful - it’s essential for anyone who wants to build meaningful relationships and sustainable businesses.