Discipline and Heart: Parallel Entrepreneur David Steele on Building Businesses That Last

David Steele embodies the spirit of the parallel entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of OneWealth Advisors, an independent registered investment advisory firm managing well over $1B in assets. In parallel, he is Executive Chairman of a restaurant group with 300 employees and also owns multiple yoga studios. In this conversation with Scott Pollack, David reflects on the grit it took to cold-call 500 prospects a day in his early years; the discipline of systems and financial prudence; and the principle that people simply want to feel loved and valued. He shares candidly about his ongoing battle with self-limiting beliefs, and why systematic behavior is the foundation of sustainable entrepreneurship.

4. Show Notes

• [00:34] Show intro with Scott Pollack
• [02:06] Guest introduction: David Steele, founder/CEO of OneWealth Advisors ($1B+ AUM), restaurateur, and yoga studio owner
• [02:51] Starting out as a dishwasher → transition to Wall Street → first restaurant success
• [05:14] Balancing finance and hospitality; the “parallel entrepreneur”
• [07:20] Discovering his leadership role as nurturer, strategist, and coach
• [08:34] Entrepreneurial superpower: building shared ownership of culture and strategy
• [13:07] Biggest struggle: overcoming self-limiting beliefs
• [18:34] Universal principle: people want to feel loved and valued
• [23:50] Why systematic, disciplined behavior beats “hockey stick” fantasies
• [25:42] Cold-calling 500 dials a day: early sales discipline
• [27:05] Quick-fire entrepreneur hacks
  • Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People (Amazon link)
  • Tool/App: Calendar
  • Habit: Exercise (90–120 minutes daily)
  • Advice: “If you’re not in the service of others, you won’t be happy.” (from his mother)
• [33:10] Closing reflections on venture capital, founder struggles, and staying grounded
• [33:34] Show outro