We were lucky to catch up with Dimitri Mills recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dimitri, appreciate you joining us today. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?

“As someone who has intentionally shifted away from the traditional model of ‘vacations,’ my approach to stepping away from the day-to-day of my endeavors looks quite different. The idea of working the majority of the year to afford a fixed two-week period of escape, with days dedicated to travel, recovery, and pre-return preparation, feels like a temporary pause rather than a fundamental way of living.

My ‘story,’ involves a more integrated approach:

Incorporating ‘work’ with ‘life’ (which often includes travel): I’ve structured things so that these aren’t mutually exclusive. By blending them, the need for a complete shutdown for a dedicated ‘vacation’ is lessened. Work becomes something that can be done from various locations, making the lines blur.

Leveraging ‘travel’ as a key part of growth: Instead of seeing travel as purely recreational, it’s also a significant opportunity for networking and gaining new perspectives that benefit my endeavors. This integration makes ‘stepping away’ from a fixed location a productive part of the process.

Building ‘passive income’ streams: A significant portion of my operational expenses are covered by systems and strategies that don’t require my constant, direct input. This financial foundation provides a level of independence and reduces the pressure of needing to be constantly ‘on’ to maintain operations.

Utilizing global opportunities: By being flexible with location and leveraging exchange rates and cost of living differences, I can optimize my resources and lifestyle in a way that doesn’t necessitate the intense save-up-and-splurge cycle of traditional vacations.

So, to directly answer the question, ‘Do I take vacations?’ not in the traditional sense of a complete, pre-planned shutdown. Instead, I’ve aimed to build a life where the need for such a stark contrast between ‘work’ and ‘rest’ is diminished through integration and strategic planning.

For entrepreneurs who feel they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation, my advice, based on this approach, would be to start thinking about a fundamental shift in how you structure your business and your life:

Begin integrating life into your work, rather than just planning escapes from it. Explore remote work possibilities, flexible schedules, and ways to weave personal interests into your professional activities.
Focus on building a business that isn’t entirely reliant on your constant presence. This involves investing in your team, documenting processes, and empowering others. Think about how you can create systems that can function effectively in your absence.
Explore ways to generate income or cover expenses that aren’t directly tied to your immediate, active work. This could involve automation, subscription models, or other strategies that provide a buffer.
Consider the world as your potential workspace and playground. If feasible for your business, exploring different locations can offer new perspectives and opportunities without necessarily halting operations entirely.
The key is to move away from the mindset of needing a complete, temporary escape and towards building a life and business that are more fluid, integrated, and less dependent on the owner being physically tethered to one place. This shift in perspective, from ‘vacation planning’ to ‘life planning in an environment of your choice,’ can ultimately reduce stress and create a more sustainable and enjoyable way of working and living.”

Dimitri, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

In many ways, my early experiences mirrored those of many others. I went through the traditional path of college, juggling multiple jobs, and navigating the complexities of student debt. I even found myself in a global position that, while offering opportunities, essentially meant I was working around the clock. I was earning, but the demands of the job left little time or energy to actually enjoy the fruits of my labor or, frankly, not much of a personal life at all!

The real turning point came when I had the chance to learn from individuals like John Maxwell and Tony Robbins, among other insightful life coaches. The core message that resonated deeply was the critical importance of your social circle. It wasn’t a simple fix, but I made a conscious and, at times, difficult decision to change my social environment. This involved intentionally distancing myself from relationships or situations that were holding me back – essentially removing ‘blocks’ to my progress.

The impact was almost immediate and incredibly profound. I experienced a significant shift in who I was becoming. My financial situation improved, my self-perception transformed, and my confidence soared. Interestingly, the way people interacted with me also changed, and I started noticing more and more opportunities presenting themselves.

This newfound clarity and empowerment led me to a pivotal decision: I fired my boss and embraced the path of entrepreneurship. Through this transition, I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges many people face. I realized that often, the biggest obstacle we encounter is ourselves – our own limitations, whether they manifest as financial constraints, physical limitations, limiting beliefs, or a lack of time.

This realization has shaped my focus as an entrepreneur. I’m passionate about creating businesses that provide people with the tools and resources they need to overcome these constraints and achieve their own version of success and fulfillment. My journey has taught me that by strategically changing our environment and addressing our internal limitations, we can unlock tremendous potential and create a life that truly aligns with our desires.”

“My brand is LLTIPA – Living Life to its Potential Advocates. I chose this name because I believe it speaks to a universal aspiration: the desire to live life to the fullest. My focus is centered around the core philosophy of helping people “Have more, Do more, Give more.” This encompasses achieving greater abundance in all areas of life, experiencing more richness and fulfillment, and ultimately, contributing more meaningfully to the world around them.

What uniquely informs my approach is my journey as a digital nomad. This lifestyle has provided me with the incredible opportunity to connect with individuals from all corners of the globe, spanning diverse levels of wealth and operating across various sectors. This firsthand exposure to a multitude of perspectives, combined with the strategic insights gained from my Pepperdine MBA, the practical ‘tribal knowledge’ I’ve acquired through these global interactions, and the invaluable lessons learned from the ‘school of life’ and my own experiences, equips me with a powerful toolkit. My aim is to leverage this unique blend of education and real-world understanding to help others break through their limitations and move forward on their own paths to living life to its full potential.”

“My journey has been marked by significant transitions, none more impactful than my move from the Ida B. Wells housing projects in Chicago to San Jose, California, in 1987. Growing up in a Chicago that was very much defined by black and white social structures, the shift to the vibrant melting pot of cultures, races, and religions in San Jose was a profound eye-opener. For the first time, I experienced a truly diverse social landscape, and this exposure to a larger world immediately illuminated the existence of far greater opportunities than I had previously envisioned. This pivotal move was the initial catalyst in my understanding the power of environment and the expansive possibilities that arise when you step outside familiar boundaries.”

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

“There have been two truly pivotal times in my life, moments that subtly and overtly redirected my path. The first was almost a bit of a playful trick. My mom asked if I’d ever considered moving to California, painting a picture with a beach and a palm tree. Now, anyone who knows San Jose knows that beaches and palm trees aren’t exactly its defining features! So, in a way, I was gently coaxed back in 1986 to move from Chicago to California. But looking back, I realize the profound impact of what she unknowingly did: she shifted my social circle from the more familiar landscape of Chicago to the vibrant complexity of California. This sudden immersion into a melting pot of cultures, races, and religions opened my eyes to a much larger world and ignited my initial international exposure and the beginnings of my global journey.

The second pivotal moment came later in my career. I was deeply entrenched in my role managing a global supply chain, a demanding position that often felt like a 24/7 commitment. Feeling the strain, someone suggested I look into the teachings of John Maxwell and Tony Robbins. Honestly, I didn’t know much about them, but something compelled me to take a leap of faith and attend one of their conferences. The central theme of that event resonated deeply: the power of your social circle. They emphasized the importance of surrounding yourself with individuals who are achieving more, are stronger in their endeavors, possess valuable knowledge, and embody the aspirations you hold for yourself – people who can essentially pull you forward.

I took that message to heart, and it became a catalyst for significant change in my life. I made conscious decisions to reshape my social circle, which involved the sometimes difficult process of removing ‘blocks’ and distancing myself from individuals who, often unknowingly, were hindering my progress. The results were rapid and transformative. I experienced a noticeable shift in my own self-perception, my confidence grew, the way people interacted with me changed for the better, and a wealth of new opportunities began to emerge. Interestingly, those I had previously distanced myself from eventually re-entered my life, a testament to the personal growth I had undergone.

These two distinct periods, one a subtle geographical shift and the other a conscious recalibration of my relationships, have been the most influential in shaping who I am today. And now, having experienced this firsthand power of environment and association, I’ve made it a core principle in my own work, teaching this very strategy to others who are seeking to unlock their own potential and create meaningful change in their lives.”

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

“My journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t paved with traditional funding. Instead, it was a strategic leveraging of personal and early business credit that fueled my first venture and ultimately became a blueprint for subsequent businesses and a new income stream.

Initially, like many, I had built a solid personal credit profile but lacked established business credit. However, I had proactively set up a few LLCs in anticipation of future business ideas. Recognizing this, my first crucial step was to leverage my strong personal credit as a personal guarantee to secure around $100,000 in revolving credit cards under the name of one of my LLCs.

Next, I executed a strategic financial maneuver. I took my existing personal debt, which was in the $30-40,000 range, and performed a balance transfer onto my new business credit cards, crucially taking advantage of 0% introductory APR periods that lasted for approximately two years. This essentially created a period of positive arbitrage where I benefited from no interest accrual, unlike the higher interest rates associated with traditional lending. This had a dual benefit: it significantly boosted my personal credit score by improving my utilization ratio.

With my personal credit now even stronger, I was able to secure a personal loan with a much lower interest rate due to my improved debt-to-income ratio. I then cleverly used a portion of these personal loan funds to make payments on the business credit cards before the 0% periods ended, strategically managing both personal and business liabilities while minimizing interest costs.

The funds available on the business credit cards were then strategically deployed to build the foundational elements of my first business: developing my website, setting up my CRM system, and initiating my efforts to acquire initial customers and clients. This resourceful approach, capitalizing on the 0% balance transfer offers, allowed me to bootstrap my first venture without the burden of immediate interest payments.

As I successfully navigated this funding process, I realized the power and replicability of this strategy. Recognizing that many individuals and businesses struggled with similar funding challenges and were often unaware of these types of opportunities, I began to formalize my ‘trial and error’ into a structured process. I started offering my expertise to others, guiding them through the steps of leveraging personal credit to establish business credit, strategically utilizing 0% balance transfer offers for positive arbitrage, effectively managing debt, and funding their own ventures. This not only fueled the growth of my subsequent businesses by providing a consistent income stream but also allowed me to create a valuable service, turning my initial funding ingenuity into a sustainable and impactful business solution for others.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lltipa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dimitri.mills/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dimitri.mills.1
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/millsdimitri/