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EP 216: Why Being the "Black Sheep" is Your Biggest Entrepreneurial Advantage

Making Of A DM

Release Date: 07/09/2026

EP 216: Why Being the EP 216: Why Being the "Black Sheep" is Your Biggest Entrepreneurial Advantage

Making Of A DM

In this episode, I’m sharing why being the black sheep in your family, your business, or your circle of friends might be the greatest advantage you’ll ever have. After spending the Fourth of July with my family, I found myself reflecting on something I know so many entrepreneurs experience: feeling like you’re living on a completely different planet than the people around you. It’s not because you’re better than them. It’s because you want a different life. While so many conversations revolve around gossip, drama, and the past, I want to talk about the future. Business. Growth....

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In this episode, I’m sharing the biggest lesson I’ve learned after 48 years on this planet. As I celebrate my 48th birthday, I’m reflecting on the advice I wish someone had given me 30 years ago — advice that would have saved me years of overthinking, hesitation, and waiting for the "perfect" plan. The truth? Nobody has it all figured out. Not me. Not billionaires. Not the most successful entrepreneurs in the world. The people you admire aren’t winning because they have all the answers. They’re winning because they’re willing to take action before they have them. In this episode,...

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In this episode, I’m sharing why being the black sheep in your family, your business, or your circle of friends might be the greatest advantage you’ll ever have.

After spending the Fourth of July with my family, I found myself reflecting on something I know so many entrepreneurs experience: feeling like you’re living on a completely different planet than the people around you.

It’s not because you’re better than them.

It’s because you want a different life.

While so many conversations revolve around gossip, drama, and the past, I want to talk about the future. Business. Growth. Health. Investments. Family. Creating opportunities. Building something that outlives me.

In this episode, I explain why protecting your mindset is one of the most important things you’ll ever do, why taking advice from people who haven’t built the life you want is dangerous, and why finding the right room can completely change the trajectory of your future.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite fit in… this episode is for you.

Show highlights include:

  • Why feeling like the black sheep is actually a sign you’re growing [04:42]
  • The simple filter I use before taking advice from anyone [08:42]
  • Why proximity is power—but can also be your biggest liability [12:16]
  • How average conversations quietly create average lives [03:30]
  • The real cost of surrounding yourself with people who don’t share your vision [14:31]
  • Why you need to protect your mindset from other people’s limitations [14:31]
  • The difference between family you’re born into and the community you intentionally build [16:13]
  • Why entrepreneurs need a room where they can be completely authentic [23:42]
  • How the right relationships compound your growth faster than anything else [26:44]
  • Why success isn’t just about making more money—it’s about becoming a better person [21:56]

I also share why I created the Deal Maker Family and the Deal Maker Alliance in the first place.

Not because people need another networking group.

Because entrepreneurs need a place where talking about growth is normal.

A place where asking for help isn't weakness.

A place where people challenge you to think bigger, execute faster, and become the best version of yourself.

You don't have to stop loving your family.

But you do have to stop letting their limitations become your own.

Find people who inspire you.

Find people who challenge you.

Find people who are building the kind of life you want to build.

Because when you surround yourself with winners, success starts to feel normal.

And if you've always felt like the black sheep...

Don't apologize for it.

That's your advantage.

Welcome to The Making of a DM Podcast, where real estate, entrepreneurship, and deal making collide. Hosted by Mark Evans DM — the "DM" stands for Deal Maker — a 12X bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, and family man, this podcast offers you a front-row seat to the strategies and mindset that help entrepreneurs scale their businesses for maximum profitability and freedom. Mark’s journey began in the blue-collar world, running a gutter business before transitioning into real estate, where he flipped over 5,000 deals. Now, as the owner of multiple successful businesses, Mark shares the lessons he’s learned along the way to financial independence. Whether you're flipping properties, building business empires, or seeking ways to stop trading time for money, this podcast will show you how to level up your business and your life.

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