How John Briseno Went From Addiction and Jail to Multi-Millionaire Sales Leader
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
This episode of The Level Up features John Briseno, who transformed his life from addiction and jail time to becoming a multi-millionaire in high-ticket sales. John shares his raw journey from being an undocumented immigrant facing deportation, struggling with opioid addiction, and losing everything, to discovering high-ticket sales in 2013 and building multiple successful businesses. (00:58)
- Main themes include overcoming addiction and legal troubles, the power of high-ticket sales as a life-changing skill, building discipline over motivation, and the importance of believing in possibilities to transform your circumstances.
Speakers
John Briseno
John Briseno is a multi-millionaire high-ticket sales expert and entrepreneur who has been in the sales industry since 2013. After overcoming addiction, jail time, and near-deportation, he built his career through commission-only sales roles and eventually created his own companies. John now trains others in high-ticket sales through his brand Salvaje, helping people from similar backgrounds transform their lives through sales skills and mindset development.
Paul Alex
Paul Alex is the host of The Level Up podcast and a successful entrepreneur who helps others transition from traditional careers to building online businesses. He creates content focused on motivation, business strategies, and inspiring others to level up their lives through practical advice and real success stories.
Key Takeaways
Transform Crisis Into Opportunity Through Commitment
John's transformation began when his son was born with a serious medical condition, which he saw as a consequence of breaking his promise to God. (26:01) This critical incident forced him to commit genuinely to change, not just make empty promises. The key insight is that real transformation requires treating your word as sacred - when you decide to change, no other possibility should exist. This applies whether you're getting in shape, starting a business, or learning new skills. True commitment means eliminating backup plans and excuses.
Focus on Skills Development Over Business Ventures
John emphasizes that people should "work on you first" rather than jumping into business opportunities. (45:37) He discovered that high-ticket sales was the skill that made him money across multiple ventures, from e-commerce coaching to online marketing. Skills are transferable and can't be taken away, unlike businesses that can fail due to market changes or external factors. Before investing in any business, invest in developing valuable skills that will serve you regardless of industry changes.
Learn From the Top Performers, Not Average Ones
When John started in sales, he immediately identified Chad Huntsman, who was making $60,000 per week in commissions. (31:03) Instead of learning from mediocre performers, he studied what the best person was doing. This strategy accelerated his learning curve and helped him become number one in the company. The takeaway is to always identify who's achieving the results you want and model their behaviors, strategies, and mindset rather than learning from those producing average results.
Discipline Beats Motivation for Long-term Success
John reveals that he's "hardly ever motivated" but is highly disciplined. (57:30) Motivation is temporary and emotional, while discipline is a system that works regardless of how you feel. He developed this through fitness first, learning to keep promises to himself, which built the foundation for business success. The practical application is to create systems and routines that don't depend on motivation - establish non-negotiable daily actions that move you toward your goals whether you feel like it or not.
Belief is the Foundation of All Achievement
John's breakthrough came when he saw Chad's $60,000 week on the whiteboard, which made success "real and believable." (31:30) He now starts his training by making people believers first, because "you can't accomplish something you don't believe is possible." The strategy involves surrounding yourself with evidence of what's possible - testimonials, success stories, and real examples. Before learning tactics or skills, you must first believe the outcome is achievable for someone like you.
Statistics & Facts
- Chad Huntsman was making $60,000 per week with 20% commission, earning $12,000 weekly, which opened John's eyes to what was possible in high-ticket sales. (31:03)
- John's first successful week in his own business generated $90,000 in revenue after his team abandoned him and he had to work with his inexperienced brothers. (39:07)
- John has been in the high-ticket sales industry since 2013, giving him over a decade of experience through multiple market changes and business cycles.
