017: Helping the Forgotten Feel Seen with Nicholas Miaskowski
Nicholas Miaskowski is the co-owner of four successful businesses, one of which invests in the mobile home real estate market. He has overcome incredible struggles in his life, namely his brain cancer diagnosis from a young age. Following a period of depression and loneliness during his treatment, Nicholas found fulfillment helping the homeless population of Chicago and founded the non-profit organization Golden Wing Helping Hands, which delivers care packages to the less fortunate in the Chicago area.
In this episode, Nicholas discusses how his health issues pushed him toward a entrepreneurial career, why the mobile home real estate market is so profitable, and how he launched Golden Wing Helping Hands.
Show Notes:
- What is Nicholas most excited about in his life right now?
- Being able to help so many people through Golden Wing Helping Hands
- What beliefs about money did Nicholas’ family instill in him growing up, and were they helpful or harmful to achieving his success?
- Grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, and from early on knew that being an entrepreneur was the only way for himself.
- Cancer at an early age meant that regular 9-to-5 job wasn’t feasible for him
- What role did Nicholas’ cancer play in shaping the person he became?
- Some family and friends drifted away from Nicholas during that time, so it forced him to be more independent and find his own validation.
- How did he stay positive throughout his treatment?
- Family was very supportive and used entertainment to help distract him from the pain.
- What is Nicholas’ advice for someone lacking in self-confidence?
- Surround yourself with confident and like-minded people, and it will reinforce your own beliefs just as networking reinforced his.
- How does mobile home investment work, and why is it such a fruitful business opportunity?
- Nicholas is able to buy mobile homes formerly occupied by evicted tenants for a fraction of what they were originally worth, then sell them to buyers who are unable to qualify for regular bank loans.
- Inexpensive means of real estate investing, and allows people who previously rented to more easily become homeowners.
- What’s Nicholas’ advice for those looking to get into real estate investment, specifically with regards to mobile homes?
- Seek out a mentor; Nicholas himself offers coaching for taking advantage of these opportunities.
- When did he first recognize his drive to make a difference though helping others?
- Following his successful cancer treatment, he realized he didn’t want anyone else to endure the same loneliness he did.
- Wants to be a beacon for others.
- How was Golden Wing Helping Hands created and why did homelessness become the issue Nicholas is passionate about?
- The way the homeless are often ignored by society resonated with how he felt ignored and abandoned during his cancer diagnosis.
- His charity began as a family tradition, giving care packages to homeless in the Chicago area. The experience greatly affected Nicholas and he decided to turn this act of charity into a proper organization.
- Why is it so important to build a personal connection to the people Golden Wing Helping Hands gives care packages to?
- Allows Nicholas and his colleagues to understand each individual homeless person’s plight and what needs must be fulfilled to help get them off the streets.
- What’s the best thing individuals can do to make a difference in the fight against homelessness?
- Making your own care packages can help, as well as taking the time to talk to these people.
- What has been the biggest challenge in developing Golden Wing Helping Hands?
- Launching wasn’t so difficult because he hired someone to handle the technical/organizational details.
- His own health could get in the way, so he’s learned it’s important to ask for help when he needs it.
- What advice does Nicholas have for young people looking to start their own non-profit?
- Understanding that anything is possible, ensuring that you have enough revenue to cover your own needs, and network with others who’ve started non-profits to see how they handle it.
- What’s Golden Wing Helping Hands’ goal for 2019?
- Would like to give at least 2,000 care packages, and will be collaborating with Craig and Jenny D (see Episode 004!) for a public event.
- How can the average person help out with Golden Wing Helping Hands?
- They’re always looking for people to assemble care packages and assist in event preparation.
- Who has been the most impactful person in Nicholas’ journey to do well and achieve financial success?
- His parents.
- Who has been the most impactful person in Nicholas’ drive to do good?
- Former professional wrestler Diamond Dallas Page.
- When Nicholas is having a bad day, what does he do to get himself out of his funk?
- Meditate, listens to his favorite music, exercise or watch funny movies.
- What book does Nicholas recommending to people most often?
- What is one thing on Nicholas’ bucket list?
- To visit Japan again, but with more freedom than he did as a child on a Make-a-Wish Foundation trip, and this time to do a speaking engagement.
- What are the worst and best pieces of advice Nicholas has received related to success?
- Worst: That you need to get up very early and work until very late.
- Best: Develop the right schedule for your body.
- Places to find Nicholas:
- Meet Nicholas Miaskowski
- Golden Wing Helping Hands
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/nicholas.miaskowski
- @NickMiaskowski on Twitter
- LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobile-home-millionaire/
Do Well & Do Good Challenge Nomination:
“Golden Wing Helping Hands is a non-profit organization stationed in Chicago, Illinois. We create care packages for homeless adults and children filled with numerous necessities including: essential foods, clothing and toiletry items. We bring smiles to the streets by personally delivering each care package to individuals who need help. Homelessness is a serious issue and Golden Wing Helping Hands helps individuals get back up on their feet again. We encourage others to get involved, to give back to the community and to enrich and inspire others.”
About Golden Wing Helping Hands
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