What Are You Made Of?

Join me on "The What Are You Made Of? Show" where we share the ingredients of what went into making my guests and myself who we are. We will be sharing stories,aiming to help you reflect on your own past experiences, uncovering your true strength and resilience. This podcast is designed for those interested in Entrepreneurship and Personal Development, offering insights into performance, persistence, and inspiration. It's not just entertaining; it's a valuable resource for your journey of self-discovery and closing the gap between where you are and where you are capable of being.

What Are You Made Of? is a business podcast hosted by Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco, with 893 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco hosts What Are You Made Of?, a business show with 893 episodes published.

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  Episode #907

  From SBA Lender to Entrepreneur: How Sterling Birdsong Built Businesses Through Funding, Patience and Action

  Sep 30, 202631 minS2

  In this episode of What Are You Made Of? , Mike “C-Roc” sits down with Sterling Birdsong, owner of Lendstra, a nationwide SBA loan placement platform helping small business owners secure $500,000 or more in funding. Sterling shares his journey from spending 13 years in banking and SBA lending to launching his own company and helping entrepreneurs navigate the often-complex funding process. He explains how working independently allows his team to connect business owners with a network of lenders and stay involved from the initial application through closing. Sterling also opens up about his entrepreneurial journey outside of lending, including how he went from opening his first tanning salon in 2024 to owning five GLO Tanning locations in less than two years. He shares the difference between starting a business from scratch and acquiring an established one, how he evaluates opportunities, and why having the right operating partner has been essential to scaling. Throughout the conversation, Sterling talks about patience, persistence, taking action, learning from mistakes, and knowing when to admit you don’t have all the answers. He and C-Roc also discuss the idea of “patient urgency”—being patient with the process and outcome while staying urgent about the actions needed to move forward. Website- lendstra.com https://www.instagram.com/sterling.sba/

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  Episode #906

  The Truth About Sugar Dating: Misconceptions, Money and Relationships with Marcus

  Sep 29, 202633 minS2

  What happens when a 16-year marriage ends and you suddenly find yourself back in the dating world after nearly two decades? In this episode of What Are You Made Of? , Mike “C-Roc” sits down with Marcus, host of Secrets of a Sugar Daddy , to talk about his unexpected journey into the world of sugar dating and the experiences that inspired him to start one of the most talked-about podcasts in the space. Marcus shares what dating looked like when he re-entered the scene at 48, why traditional dating apps weren’t working for him, and how discovering a different approach to dating completely changed his perspective. He also opens up about the misconceptions surrounding sugar dating, the difference between genuine relationships and transactional encounters, and how people navigate trust, expectations, and compatibility in this unique dating world. The conversation also gets personal as Marcus reflects on his 16-year marriage, divorce, starting over, and the lessons he learned about relationships, connection, and knowing what you really want. From wild dating stories and unexpected friendships to the realities behind a lifestyle that is often misunderstood, Marcus and C-Roc have an honest conversation about dating, relationships, reinvention, and finding your own path when life takes an unexpected turn. Website- www.secretsofasugardaddy.com Social Media Links/Handles: https://www.instagram.com/secretsofasugardaddy/?hl=en www.patreon.com/secretsofasugardaddypodcast

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  Episode #904

  How to Turn Social Media Attention Into High-Ticket Sales with Lauren Tickner

  Sep 28, 202636 minS2

  In this episode of What Are You Made Of? , Mike “C-Roc” sits down with entrepreneur and sales strategist Lauren Tickner , a master at turning social media attention into high-ticket sales and building businesses around expertise. Lauren shares how she started selling fitness programs online before “online coaching” was mainstream, built an audience on Instagram, and ultimately dropped out of university to pursue entrepreneurship full-time. She also opens up about her experience on Clubhouse, why demonstrating real expertise matters more than simply creating content, and how long-form conversations can build authority and trust. Mike "C-Roc" and Lauren also dive into the importance of being intentional about whose advice you follow, the difference between an opinion and true counsel, and why success in one area doesn't necessarily tell you what is happening behind the scenes in someone's life. They also explore the rapidly changing role of AI in content creation , including how Lauren is using AI to automate video editing, create social media content, and potentially reduce the time and cost involved in running a content operation. From entrepreneurship and high-ticket sales to social media, personal growth, and AI, this conversation offers practical insights for anyone looking to turn their expertise and online presence into a real business. Website-scalesystems.io Social Media Links/Handles- Www.linkedin.com/in/laurentickner Youtube.com/c/laurentickner

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  Episode #904

  From Zero Sales to 350+ Businesses: Preston Lee on Building a Hospitality Empire

  Sep 24, 202633 minS2

  In this episode of What Are You Made of? show , Mike “C-Roc” sits down with Preston Lee, founder of Thirty Percent, a hospitality consulting and leadership development company that helps restaurant, hotel, and club owners build the training, leadership, and operational systems they often don’t have time to create themselves. With experience working with more than 350 businesses across 14 countries, Preston brings a unique perspective on what it takes to create exceptional customer experiences and build stronger teams. Preston opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, including the first year of building his business when he made zero sales. He shares how patience, grit, consistency, and a little “delusion” helped him keep moving forward when the path wasn’t clear. He also explains how he eventually discovered that social media and content were far more effective for his business than cold calling and door knocking, allowing him to build a company largely through inbound leads. Mike "C-Roc" and Preston dive into the importance of building a business in the right order: promotion, process, and people. They discuss why businesses need to establish a reliable way to attract customers before building out complex processes and teams, and why having the right systems in place is essential before bringing more people into the organization. Preston also shares lessons from working with business owners on hospitality, leadership, training, and consistency through Thirty Percent’s customized approach. The conversation also explores knowing your ideal client, recognizing when you may be underpricing your value, and overcoming the self-doubt that often comes with entrepreneurship. Preston shares how client results and testimonials helped him build confidence in the value he was creating, while Mike highlights the importance of continuing to promote, improve, and evolve as a business grows. It’s an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, hospitality, and building systems that create better experiences for both customers and teams. Website- 30percentrule.com https://www.instagram.com/the30rule/?hl=en

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  Episode #903

  Leading From Within: The Journey to Authentic Leadership with Craig White

  Sep 23, 202630 minS2

  In this episode of What Are You Made Of? show Mike “C-Roc” sits down with Craig White, a leadership coach, adventurer, and advocate for authentic, relational leadership. Now based in Peru, Craig shares the experiences that shaped his journey, from growing up on a rough estate in northwest England and building a career in professional rugby to embarking on a deeply personal path of yoga, meditation, retreats, and self-discovery. Craig opens up about how his childhood and early experiences shaped his beliefs about masculinity, leadership, relationships, and success—and how years of inner work helped him recognize and move beyond those patterns. He shares how a yoga retreat in Thailand became a turning point that opened the door to a deeper understanding of himself and ultimately led him on a journey through meditation, silent retreats, psychedelics, men's leadership retreats, and personal transformation. Mike "C-Roc" and Craig dive into why leadership starts with leading yourself and why relational leadership has become increasingly important in a world where technology and social media can create the illusion of connection while leaving people feeling more isolated. They discuss the importance of presence, self-regulation, accountability, and being a living demonstration of the values you want to see in others. Craig also speaks candidly about his experiences with ayahuasca and other forms of personal exploration, including how those experiences challenged his understanding of masculinity, vulnerability, grief, and emotional expression. Rather than presenting these experiences as a shortcut to personal growth, Craig emphasizes the deeper work of integrating what we learn and bringing greater presence into our relationships. This conversation is a powerful exploration of authenticity, self-leadership, masculinity, human connection, and the courage to question the beliefs we inherit. Craig shares why he believes the most meaningful form of leadership begins within ourselves and how becoming more present, emotionally aware, and intentional can help us build stronger relationships and lead with greater purpose and authenticity. Website- craigwhitementoring.com https://www.instagram.com/craigwhitementoring/?hl=en

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