Losing It All Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened

From six figures at 19 to losing it all — Nick Pletke proves that real freedom is built, not bought.

In this episode, Nick breaks down how he:

• Made over $100K before most people pick a major — and lost it all

• Rebuilt from scratch by learning how to wholesale, market, and sell without shortcuts

• Avoided the pressure to niche down — and built multiple verticals instead

• Learned hard lessons about partnerships, boundaries, and trust

• Embraced detachment from money, social validation, and surface-level success

• Builds with the long game in mind — decades, not dopamine

• Practices presence, purpose, and balance — even while scaling

• Believes real wealth is about ownership, not income

• Lives by one rule: stay grounded and keep building

If you're reinventing yourself, exploring multiple paths, or refusing to settle into one box — this episode is a reminder that you don’t need permission to go your own way.

Guest: Nick Pletke — Entrepreneur & Founder

📍 Orange County, CA

IG: None listed

Timestamps:

COMING SOON

Welcome to The Breakout Bunch — where real stories from real entrepreneurs come to life.

Hosted by Austen Tucker, this show cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of what makes business owners tick. These are honest, unpolished conversations with self-made founders who are in it for more than just the money — they’re chasing purpose, impact, and something bigger than themselves.

Austen knows the grind firsthand. He’s a seasoned mortgage broker leading a division at one of the nation’s largest mortgage companies, helping hundreds of families get into homes across the country. But beyond that, he’s deeply curious — about business, people, and the choices that shape our lives.

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