"They Said I'd Never Make It"

Andrew Kyriacou was 21, fresh out of a failed university attempt, and just nine months into his first real estate job when he overheard his boss tell someone he'd "never make it." And for a long time, he believed it.

Today, Andrew is the Managing Director of the Multi-Award Winning Agency Xsell Property — now celebrating 11 years in business.

But the road there ran through a job at Harrods selling high-end coffee machines to the likes of Bernie Ecclestone and Robin Williams, his viral marketing property videos that got him featured on Sunrise (and also attracted death threats), and what he still calls the hardest decision he's ever made in business.

In this episode, Andrew and Daniel go deep on:

Why being told "you're not born with it" nearly ended his career before it started.

The moment a colleague's throwaway comment rebuilt his entire self-belief.

Going viral in 2012 — and the abuse that made him want to quit.

The real estate rumour that ranked agents less trustworthy than certain professions society doesn't usually trust at all.

Why firing an employee broke him more than years of public criticism ever did.

How he built a culture where "the team comes before the client".

What's actually happening in the property market right now — and why he believes we're entering a correction.

The advice he gives every new agent trying to break in during a downturn.

Why becoming a father changed his definition of success completely, and what he had to walk away from because of it.

This is a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and what it really costs to build something that lasts — told by someone who's lived through every version of the property market and come out the other side.

Reflections of a 6/2 Splenic Projector: What "Being on the Roof" Really Feels Like

In this personal, unscripted episode, Daniel steps away from the usual money coaching content to reflect on something he's been quietly wrestling with: what it means to be a 6-Line "Role Model" moving through the "on the roof" phase of Human Design, and a Splenic Projector navigating the pull between visibility and withdrawal.

Daniel shares why discovering his Human Design back in 2022 was liberating — realising his energy wasn't built for 9-to-5 hustle, and that trying to copy strategies designed for Generators had never worked for him.

He unpacks the three life phases of the 6th line, why he believes he's entered the "on the roof" phase at 35, and the recent, sometimes conflicting experience of withdrawing from social media, stepping back from networking groups and Toastmasters, and craving solitude while still feeling the pull to lead and be seen.

Part personal journal, part invitation to conversation, this episode is for anyone who's a 6-Line, a Projector, or simply curious about Human Design and what it might explain about their own season of life. If you resonate, Daniel wants to hear from you — drop your Human Design type and your own experience in the comments.

Click here to Discover Your Human Design

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Parenting can be one of the greatest gifts of your life. And one of the hardest things you will ever do.

More than two years after our first conversation, Matthew Lavars returns to Money Mastery with Marshy for an honest discussion about parenting, emotional healing and faith.

When we first spoke, Matt’s children were three and one.

Today, I’m living that same season with my own young family - and beginning to understand exactly what he meant when he described parenting as the hardest period of his life.

In this episode, Matt shares why being a good parent isn’t about remaining perfectly calm or getting every decision right. It’s about aiming to do your best, repairing when you miss the mark and showing yourself compassion along the way.

We explore:

• Staying regulated while your children are dysregulated Allowing children to feel their emotions while maintaining boundaries
• Why emotions matter - but aren’t always accurate
• How our childhood experiences shape our adult behaviour
• Breaking generational patterns through conscious parenting
• The connection between anxiety, emotional suppression and addiction
• Why overcoming pornography addiction requires more than willpower
• Choosing presence with your family over maximising your income
• The importance of commitment, sacrifice and repair in relationships
• Whether entrepreneurship can become a gateway to faith
• Matt’s personal journey towards Christianity and a relationship with God

I also open up about my own experience with anxiety, emotional suppression and pornography - and how I’m learning to feel the emotions I once avoided.

This is a vulnerable conversation about becoming a better father, husband and human without expecting yourself to become a perfect one.

Listen to Episode #29: Matt Lavars | Money is CHOICE

Grab a copy of Matt’s latest book ‘All of You’

Learn more about Matt, ‘All of You’ & ‘Integrated Self Dynamics’

In this episode, I unpack a powerful idea that completely changed the way I think about work, money, and fulfilment: your physical bank account versus your spiritual bank account.

After a young guy reached out to me for financial guidance, we explored what it really means to build wealth, pursue financial independence, and create a life you don’t want to retire from.

I share my own journey from mechanical engineering into coaching, why I no longer believe retirement is the goal, and how I used my engineering career as a vehicle to create freedom and choice later in life.

We also dive into:

• Why cash in the bank is not “dead money”

• The hidden cost of chasing high-paying careers

• Finding work that feels like play

• The importance of skill development in your 20s

• Why trades and practical skills are so valuable

• The 7-year rule of compound interest and mastery

• The massive time lag between skill development and income

• How to balance financial success with fulfilment and meaning

If you’ve ever questioned your career path, dreamed about financial freedom, or wondered whether there’s more to life than simply working for a pay-check, this episode is for you.

Follow along on Instagram: @danielgmarshall

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What happens when one of Australia’s fastest-growing property investment companies suddenly collapses?

In this episode, I unpack the shocking downfall of Dashdot — a leading Australian buyers agency that recently entered voluntary liquidation — and the powerful lessons we can all learn from it in business, investing, and life.

After reading a heartfelt letter (read here) from Dashdot co-founder Goose McGrath (who I interviewed here), I break down the external forces that created the “perfect storm”:
• Rising interest rates and tighter lending conditions
• Falling consumer confidence
• Proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax
• The oil crisis and cost-of-living pressures
• Meta advertising changes that crippled their lead generation

But beyond the external chaos, there were also important internal lessons around risk management, cash flow, profit margins, and overreliance on paid marketing.

I also share a personal conversation with a former teammate who lost $16,000 in the collapse — and reflect on my own painful investing mistakes, including losing over $40,000 and investing in a company that committed outright fraud.

This episode is ultimately about resilience, responsibility, and the harsh lessons that business and investing can teach us.

Because as Ray Dalio says:
“Pain + Reflection = Progress.”

In this episode:
• Why market cycles matter more than most people realise
• The dangers of relying too heavily on one acquisition channel
• How fear impacts investing behaviour
• Why strong balance sheets matter in hard times
• The emotional side of losing money
• The importance of learning from failure rather than avoiding it

If you’ve ever experienced setbacks in business, investing, or life — this episode is for you.

In this episode of Money Mastery with Marshy, Daniel sits down with returning guest Sam Flanegan to unpack what’s changed since his last appearance — and a lot has.

Since stepping away from FIFO work and taking a significant pay cut, Sam has navigated the shift to becoming the sole income provider while supporting his partner through a $240K+ medical degree.

Despite the financial pressure, he’s continued building his property portfolio — recently securing property number five and growing his assets to nearly $3 million.

This conversation dives into the realities of property investing beyond the highlight reel — from managing negative cash flow and rising costs, to handling tenants, unexpected maintenance, and changing borrowing capacity.

Sam shares how surrounding himself with the right team, staying adaptable, and sticking to a long-term plan has allowed him to keep progressing, even during challenging seasons.

They also explore the mindset behind managing nearly $2M in debt, the importance of playing within your circle of competence, and how to balance future-focused investing with actually enjoying life along the way.

If you’re a millennial couple, investor, or business owner looking to build wealth without the fluff — this episode is a grounded, real-world look at what it actually takes.

He was $40,000 in credit card debt… living for the weekend with no plan for the future.

Fast forward 10 years – he’s a business owner, investor, and millionaire on paper.

In this episode of Money Mastery with Marshy, I sat down with my first-ever long-term coaching client and now good mate, Tyrone “Bones” Harris, to unpack his journey from financial chaos to clarity.

We dive into the exact decisions, mindset shifts, and strategies that helped him turn his life around – from clearing debt and tracking his net worth, to building a multi-six figure share portfolio and buying his own gym.

This isn’t a story about luck.

It’s about ownership, discipline, and playing the long game.

We also cover:

• The moment he knew something had to change

• Why tracking your net worth is a game changer

• The $100K investing milestone that accelerates everything

• How mentorship fast-tracks your results

• Why simplifying your life can actually make you wealthier

• And the powerful reminder that… you don’t have time to wait

If you’re feeling behind financially or stuck in old patterns – this episode will show you what’s possible in a decade.

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If your income has dipped lately, it’s probably not because you’re lazy — it’s because you’re distracted.

In this episode of Money Mastery with Marshy, Daniel breaks down the hidden tension between shiny objects and cash flow — and why even high performers can lose momentum when they drift away from their core revenue-generating activities.

After taking a short break from the podcast, Daniel shares the real reason behind it — and the powerful Core–Improve–Innovate Model that helped him realign his focus and strengthen his business foundation.

Inside, you’ll learn:

• Why working harder doesn’t always mean earning more

• How improvement can quietly become procrastination

• When innovation starts hurting your income

• The 70/20/10 framework for sustainable growth

• A simple time audit to reset your priorities

If you’re ambitious, building something meaningful, and want consistent income without burning out on distractions — this episode will help you refocus on what actually moves the needle.

Because sometimes success isn’t about doing more.

It’s about protecting your core.