Being an entrepreneur can be lonely. You carry the responsibility, make the decisions, and often face challenges on your own. But imagine facing true isolation—alone in a prison cell.

In this episode of The Power of Two, we hear the extraordinary story of Jose Pereira, who was wrongfully imprisoned in Venezuela for nearly five years on fabricated charges.

Jose Pereira is a best-selling author, international speaker, resilience coach, and former CEO of Citgo Petroleum. After a long career in the oil and gas industry, Jose was preparing to retire in 2017 when he was called to a meeting in Caracas. What he thought was a routine presentation turned into an ambush.

Jose and five colleagues were arrested and accused of being American spies. The media later dubbed them the “Citgo Six.” After enduring harsh conditions and years of uncertainty, Jose was eventually released in a prisoner exchange and now dedicates his life to teaching resilience and leadership.

One of the most powerful lessons from Jose’s story is that survival—and success—rarely happens alone. Jose's first year of imprisonment was in solitary confinement. When he was finally placed together with his fellow executives, they created what they called a “survivor plan,” assigning roles based on each person’s strengths. By supporting each other, respecting expertise, and creating structure, they formed a partnership that helped them endure unimaginable circumstances.

Catch these highlights from our discussion....

>> Why entrepreneurs often struggle when they try to do everything alone

>> How respecting the expertise of others on your team brings you closer together raises everyone's performance

>>The importance of routine and structure during difficult times

>> How strong relationships support resilience and mental wellbeing

>> Why humility is essential for effective leadership

>> How the power of collaboration can help you overcome even the most adverse challenges in your business and your life

Jose’s story is a powerful reminder that resilience is rarely a solo effort. Whether in business or life, the right people around you can make the hardest journeys possible—and even transformative.

Here are some useful resources from our interview:

➡️ Jose Perreira's Book 'Unbreakable'

➡️ Jose Perreira Website

➡️ Jose Pereira's LinkedIn Profile

Connect to the host, Danny Bermant:

➡️ Connect to Danny on LinkedIn

➡️ Connect to Danny on Facebook

➡️ Danny’s Joint Venture Mastery Newsletter

➡️ Danny’s Get JV Ready in Just 5 Days Bootcamp

You’ve heard that Joint Venture partnerships are one of the fastest ways to grow your business.

But when you try them…

Partners don’t promote.
Audiences don’t show up.
Sales don’t land.

So what’s missing?

The issue probably isn’t the partners… it's that you're not JV ready.

Most entrepreneurs jump into JVs believing that exposure alone will create growth. But without the right foundations in place, even the best partnerships fall flat.

In this episode of The Power of Two, I’m joined by award-winning business strategist Estie Starr, who built a seven-figure business without paid ads and now uses Joint Ventures as a core growth strategy. But Estie didn’t find success with JVs overnight. Her first attempts fell flat — because she, too, wasn’t JV ready.

Catch these highlights from our discussion....

>> What it actually means to be JV ready in today’s market

>> Why Estie’s early JV attempts fell flat — and what she changed

>> The danger of sending JV leads straight to a sales offer

>> Why relationship-first partnerships outperform transactional ones

>> The memorable “Trix vs Cornflakes” rule for market stand-out

>> The non-negotiable foundations every successful JV must have

And much more...

Even if you attract outstanding partners to work with you, Joint Ventures won’t deliver results if your offer is weak, your messaging unclear, or your audience disengaged.

As Estie reveals, JVs don’t repair broken foundations — they amplify what’s already there. When you become truly JV ready — once you've built an audience, have a compelling offer, and are clear about who are the right partners for you — partnerships stop feeling unpredictable and start becoming reliable, repeatable growth strategies.

Here are some useful resources from our interview:

➡️ Estie's Free Gift to you

➡️ Estie Starr's Website

➡️ Estie's LinkedIn Profile

Connect to the host, Danny Bermant:

➡️ Connect to Danny on LinkedIn

➡️ Connect to Danny on Facebook

➡️ Danny’s Joint Venture Mastery Newsletter

➡️ Danny’s Get JV Ready in Just 5 Days Bootcamp

As entrepreneurs, we’re taught to be strong, self-sufficient, and to have all the answers.

But what if the very thing holding your business back is the belief that you can do it all yourself?

In this episode of The Power of Two, Danny Bermant speaks with Andrea Isaacs, founder of the Emotional and Life Mastery Institute and creator of the EQ Quiz. Andrea knows firsthand that growth doesn’t happen alone — the key is being willing to ask for help and support in the areas where you’re not strong.

After nearly dying on an operating table and confronting the fear of leaving her gifts unexpressed, Andrea committed her life to helping entrepreneurs live fully and make their impact now.

Her clients in 30 countries have transformed self-doubt into unshakeable confidence, building six- and seven-figure businesses by aligning their inner world with the impact they’re here to create.

In this episode, Andrea shares her journey from professional dancer to master coach and reveals how bringing in the right partners can accelerate your business growth.

Catch these highlights from our discussion....

>> Why acknowledging areas where you’re not strong is actually a strength.

>> How partnerships allow you to ask for support without feeling vulnerable.

>> The mindset shift required to see potential partners as allies, not competition.

>> How reciprocity and non-transactional support create lasting, meaningful partnerships.

>> Why partnerships are especially powerful for introverted entrepreneurs.

And much more....

Andrea also explains how joint ventures can multiply your impact by connecting you with aligned audiences, and how the right partner can see your potential in ways you may not even see yourself.

Whether you’re hesitant to ask for help or unsure how to find the right collaborators, this episode will give you actionable insights to grow your business through partnership and support.

Here are some useful resources from our interview:

➡️ Take Andrea Isaacs’ EQ Quiz to uncover your unique gifts and accelerate your impact

➡️ Andrea Isaacs Website

➡️ Andrea Isaacs LinkedIn Profile

Connect to the host, Danny Bermant:

➡️ Connect to Danny on LinkedIn

➡️ Connect to Danny on Facebook

➡️ Danny’s Joint Venture Mastery Newsletter

➡️ Danny’s Get JV Ready in Just 5 Days Bootcamp