In this episode of the Owners Club Podcast, I sit down with Karl—a resilient entrepreneur who proves that setbacks can become your setup for success.
Karl takes us back to his humble beginnings in Minnesota, where family values and early failures shaped his drive. He opens up about his early days launching a smoothie business, facing financial devastation, and finding himself at a personal low point. But instead of quitting, Karl used failure as fuel developing grit through network marketing, leadership coaching, and eventually making his way into real estate investing.
Today, Karl is not just a successful investor. He’s a wealth strategist, a visionary, and the co-founder of Lake Academy, a private school reimagining education through the lens of entrepreneurship and purpose.
Key takeaways:
✅ Rock bottom can be the foundation for your greatest growth
✅ Network marketing sharpened Karl’s leadership + people skills
✅ Wealth isn’t just what you earn… it’s how you manage, protect, and deploy it
✅ Lake Academy is about values-driven education and future-focused learning
✅ Partnerships and relationships are the real long game in business
✅ Money should always be active, working, and aligned with your mission
Recommended for:
Entrepreneurs looking for a comeback story
Real estate investors who want to diversify with purpose
Parents who are rethinking education
Anyone feeling stuck and ready to rebuild
Connect with Karl:
Facebook - www.facebook.com/karllarsen21
Instagram - www.instagram.com/karlglarsen/
Lake Academy - www.lakeacademy.school
Website - www.karlglarsen.com
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