Purpose Before Profit: Sean Martin of R.E.A.L. Mentors Podcast On The Benefits Of Running A Purpose-Driven Business

An Interview With Chad Silverstein

Just Do It: one of the most famous slogans ever for a reason. I realize there is never a perfect time, and no matter how detailed the plan things will never go exactly as planned. Imperfect action is the key to success. Just get started! This is where you will begin to learn the lessons that need to be learned in order to continue on the mission.

In today’s competitive business landscape, the race for profits often takes center stage. However, there are some leaders who also prioritize a mission-driven purpose. They use their business to make a positive social impact and recognize that success isn’t only about making money. In this interview series, we are talking with some of these distinct leaders and I had the pleasure of interviewing Sean Martin.

Sean Martin is a non-profit fundraiser, advocate, and motivational speaker dedicated to empowering underserved communities. He hosts the R.E.A.L Mentors Podcast, where he amplifies stories of resilience, leadership, and mentorship. Sean is also the author of the forthcoming book Beyond the Bronx (2025), which explores his journey and the systemic challenges affecting marginalized communities.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us your “Origin Story”? Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

Born and raised in a housing project in the Bronx, New York, I was raised by an immigrant single mother. I came of age amid the turbulent backdrop of the 1990s crack epidemic. Fortunately, my mother’s commitment to education and creating a loving household were the factors that allowed me to escape those influences that were ever present in the neighborhood.

Despite those things working in my favor and already having a college degree, I found myself serving two years in prison at the age of 29. Where this may have been the end of the road for many. Instead, I chose to frame it as the best thing that ever happened to me. It was in prison that I got to take stock of the choices that led me there. I finally had the clarity to reassess the direction that my life was going.

A year prior to turning myself in, I was fortunate enough to meet the love of my life. This gave me the piece of mind to know that I had something … some one waiting for me when I got back home. I had hope. And I leaned into the lack of external distractions by reading as many personal development books as I could get my hands on. I also had the opportunity to dream without restriction. It was in black and white composition notebooks that I ended up designing and manifesting what my life after prison would look like.

Today, I am beyond proud to say that me and my wife have been together for 16 years, married for 11 of those. We have two amazing children, Sophia (7) and Lucas (2). I built a successful medical equipment business through grit, determination and using my natural ability to connect with people. That success then allowed me to become a commercial real estate investor more recently.

With the concerns of financial stability now relieved, I leaned into what I feel to be my life‘s purpose, which is to lift others up, particularly inner city youth of color who are facing many of the same challenges that I went through as a child, teenager and young adult.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization (REAL Mentors Podcast)?

As the law of attraction dictates, energy attracts like energy and on a recent episode of the podcast, I was fortunate enough to be introduced through a colleague to a young entrepreneur named Samantha Lawson. Samantha is a mother of three and recently found success in the medical field after decades of other less fruitful endeavors.

She has an amazing backstory which she had never shared with anyone publicly before. It turned out that Sam became pregnant at the age of 15 years old much to the dismay of her very religious family at the time. For whatever reason in the flow of conversation this came up and she expanded upon the challenges that she faced at that time. We both got very emotional during this part of the conversation. For her, I think it was a healing moment. For me, it was an affirmation of my mission.

My mission with the podcast, as the acronym states, is to find real examples altering lives. Sam’s story will no doubt impact and hopefully inspire some of our listeners to understand that there is nothing that they cannot overcome if they have the fortitude to say the course and not give up.

We often learn the most from our mistakes. Can you share one that you made that turned out to be one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned?

As I previously mentioned, my two-year present sentence is by far the most valuable lesson I have ever learned. We are not the choices or bad decisions we make. No one is beyond improving and redeeming themselves. It also taught me the power of dreaming without limits quite frankly, I had nothing to lose by writing all of these grandiose goals. I wasn’t being “realistic”. But what is real? I learned that we create our own reality. And that we are responsible for our own lives and that blaming something or someone actually robs you of your power. It was during this time that I began to believe that I was capable of anything. We are not victims of our circumstances, but rather beneficiaries of it, but we have to know how to control our minds and thoughts as best we can. I will sum it up with a great quote that I once had on my wall…

“The secrets of having it all is knowing that you already do”

As a successful leader, it’s clear that you uphold strong core values. I’m curious what are the most important principles you firmly stand by and refuse to compromise on. Can you share a few of them and explain why they hold such significance for you in your work and life?

Honesty. By far, my strongest value. I have learned that authenticity is the key to true success in business and relationships. It does not come automatically. It is part of your character that is built through hardship, failures, and resiliency.

Love and compassion. I learned this from my mother. I am no better than anyone else. We are all members of the human race who desire many of the same basic needs unfortunately so many of us just do not receive those in our early lives. And it may sound cheesy, but now it is my mission to spread love and Light to everyone I come in contact with. It could be the customer service representative on the other line of the line or the barista at the coffee shop. I greet everyone with the same energy that I want to receive from them in the world at large.

Family. I believe that this has been the gravity in my life. It has allowed me to put others before myself and understand what really matters in the end. When we leave this earth, we also leave behind a cycle of values, beliefs and the stewards of those value will be my family and the people that I have helped in my lifetime.

What inspired you to start a purpose-driven business rather than a traditional for-profit enterprise? Can you share a personal story or experience that led you to prioritize social impact in your business?

Quite honestly, as a kid who came from humble beginnings, financial success was always one of my top desires. I often say that, if you come from poverty, you’ve gotta relieve yourself of that chip on your shoulder before you can realize that money will not make you happy we’ve heard it 1 million times but it’s hard to tell someone who has never had much that they should not chase that thing that they always lacked. We have to learn this lesson ourselves.

I was extremely fortunate to find success in the marketing and medical field, but it did not make me feel any better about myself as a person. While I would not trade my financial success for anything I have now realized that it is how many people we help, not how much money we make that we leave a lasting impact on the world.

The real mentors podcast came about after realizing that starting a nonprofit from the ground up was not the best way to make change. Instead of clicking a link or donating to charities, I started the podcast with the intention to shine a light on people in the community that were already doing the work. There are many amazing grassroots organizations with boots on the ground so why not give them a bigger platform? The few hundred dollars that I might have donated to a charity can instead be used to produce an episode and social media content that could help them further their existing missions.

I came to this realization after researching the nonprofit industry. There are a lot of pitfalls and red tape involved in that space. As an entrepreneur coming from private industry I know that there are plenty of people who want to help, but maybe just don’t know how. I intend to be the person who shines the light on these great programs and tracks money and donations from a crowd that would usually not even be aware of their existence.

Can you help articulate a few of the benefits of leading a purpose-driven business rather than a standard “plain vanilla” business?

The feeling that you get when you help someone is immeasurable. It’s often sad that it’s the most selfish thing that you can do because of how it makes YOU feel. And hey… If I can make myself feel good and help someone in the process. Why not? Lol.

Furthermore, I think that when a business decides to make a purpose driven effort within its business structure, it is a sign to the universe that there is abundance and enough for everyone. I think the business will automatically be rewarded in turn. This may seem like an abstract concept, but there are plenty of examples of this being the case.

How has your company’s mission or purpose affected its overall success? Can you explain the methods or metrics you use to evaluate the impact of this purpose-driven strategy on your organization?

The feedback has been a testament to the need for a platform like this within the community. We do not charge our guests. And we have grown our subscription base to over 5000 (by the time of this writing) in a very short period of time. I think this is because people are connected to the message. And they have a genuine interest in learning about how they can help as well as getting some of the tools that we provide, which can allow them to empower themselves in their own journeys.

Can you share a pivotal moment when you realized that leading your purpose-driven company was actually making a significant impact? Can you share a specific example or story that deeply resonated with you personally?

The outpouring of requests to be on the podcast have been the ultimate testament that we are making an impact. Not only nonprofit organizations, but community minded entrepreneurs are flocking to the concept.

My favorite story is that of my first ever guest on the show. Violeta GalaGarza is a NYC based choreographer and dancer by trade. At the age of 16, Violeta got pregnant and her dreams of becoming a professional dancer took a turn. Not accepting defeat and unwilling to quit, Violetta founded her non profit dance company KR3Ts (Keep Rising to The Top). The organization will be celebrating 35 years this April!

Violetta and I turned out to be two peas in a pod. With an uncompromising desire to impact lives and hearts, full of compassion we have now decided to work together. I am currently the president of the board of the organization. Over the 34 years, Violetta has changed countless lives in the East Harlem community of New York City. However, she has been able to do this on a shoestring budget. The organization has never had a substantial budget and has struggled to raise funds. I intend to change that and help her scale the organization to impact as many lives as possible.

We recently moved into a new location where the dancers can rehearse five days a week all day as opposed to the limited schedule of just two days a week and five hours per day. We installed 1000 square-foot plus dance floor in a community space intended to be a cultural arts center for East Harlem.

What resonates with me most is something I previously mentioned which is not giving up. Violetta has struggled so much yet continued to show up and give her all to these young people. Only now, after all these years, is her vision looking brighter than ever. We intend to scale organization10X within the next two years by attracting outside donors from private industry, as opposed to the usual grants and community-based funding that they’ve always struggled to attract.

This is the power of a purpose driven company. We all have the power to change lives for generations to come when we decide to put people over profits.

Have you ever faced a situation where your commitment to your purpose and creating a positive social impact clashed with the profitability in your business? Have you ever been challenged by anyone on your team or have to make a tough decision that had a significant impact on finances? If so, how did you address and reconcile this conflict?

We faced that situation every day. Much of this endeavor has been funded privately through my other businesses until it becomes fruitful. I have no doubt that it will. It’s just a matter of time and consistency. Having previously built businesses I understand the importance of pouring into the business in the short term in order to realize the long-term vision.

Violetas story is just one of many I hope to create through my R.E.A.L. Mentors organization.

What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs who wish to start a purpose-driven business?

Have a clear vision and don’t compromise. Yes, be flexible and make necessary adjustments, but don’t compromise the division for a short term solution. Nothing great ever comes without struggle. And what better to struggle for than truly living in your purpose and helping others.?

What are your “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Purpose-Driven Business.” If you can, please share a story or example for each.

1. Vision: (it must be clear and concise) … our original vision was to start a nonprofit organization that would provide workshops in addition to school that could teach students financial literacy, the power of dreaming and thinking, big, entrepreneurship, and relationship capital a.k.a. networking. After researching the nonprofit space, I came to the conclusion that it was just not something I wanted to pursue so make sure that you’re creating a vision that eliminates the things that you do not want to go after or deal with that way they don’t become a problem later. We often encounter resistance when starting a new endeavor. Having a clear vision has allowed me to stay the course and remain true to the mission.
2. Belief: belief is the only thing that I can say distinguishes me from everyone else that came from where I came from. My mother read me the story of the little engine that could when I was four or five years old and it stuck to me like a piece of gum under an elementary school desk. Knowing the HOW is far less important than the BELIEF that you can do it. My life is a testament to this. I always knew I wanted more. I knew I was always meant for great things, but I had no clue how I was gonna get there. But I believed it! And here I am.
3. Who Not How: when I began to research the nonprofit market, I realized that I would be facing an uphill battle of learning all of these things from scratch. I had no idea of the inner workings of that industry. Instead, I decided to lean into something that I know I am already very good at which is connecting with others. What the podcast allowed me to do was get next to the people that already have the knowledge that I am seeking in the nonprofit space. they have real world experience. For instance, I have met people with 35 and 45 years respectively in the field. I now have 80 years of experience at my disposal. It’s all about getting yourself next to the “WHOS” and then the “HOW” will often times present itself to you. My favorite story that embodies this Is my endeavors into commercial real estate investing. Commercial real estate or any real estate for that matter is a matter of inside knowledge and experience. Way back when in that prison cell I dreamt that one day I would own a significant amount of commercial real estate. I had no idea how I was going to do it and quite frankly, I never even took a course to realize that dream. But a couple of years ago, I met a gentleman who has 20 years’ experience of doing just that. We are now partners on four separate projects, and I am proud to say that I have met and surpassed the numbers that I dreamt of owning. This is a testament to who… Not how. By getting next to the WHO we allow ourselves to avoid many of the mistakes that come with learning on our own.
4. Be the Brokest and Dumbest: I say this tongue in cheek, but this is the room you wanna be in. You want a room full of value and an open mind. If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. If you wanna learn, get next to those who are already doing what it is that you want to accomplish. This is the fastest, easiest and most efficient way to grow in any area of life, including business. The last two years of my life have been spent immersing myself in mastermind communities with high-level people from all walks of life from all over the world. I have grown more in the last two years than in the last 20 combined! I have spent more money and time During this period than at any other point in my life. It has been a complete investment in myself, my mission and my future. We don’t know what we don’t know, and by putting myself in these rooms, I have learned from some of the best, not only in the country, but in the world at what they do, respectively. From my marriage and relationship to my children to my business and my health… I have been able to level up all aspects of my life and step into an increasingly better version of myself. By having the courage to be the dumbest brokest person in the room, you are giving yourself permission to grow. You were putting yourself in an uncomfortable position. And by doing so you are inadvertently putting pressure on yourself to level up.
5. Just Do It: one of the most famous slogans ever for a reason. I realize there is never a perfect time, and no matter how detailed the plan things will never go exactly as planned. Imperfect action is the key to success. Just get started! This is where you will begin to learn the lessons that need to be learned in order to continue on the mission.

I’m interested in how you instill a strong sense of connection with your team. How do you nurture a culture where everyone feels connected to your mission? Could you share an example or story that showcases how your purpose has positively influenced or motivated people on your team to contribute?

Culture is a matter of consistency. If I claim to want to do something or have my team follow me, I have to be the first one doing it. Whether it be first one to the office and last one out, or taking care of my body physically, I set the tone for my team. As for keeping my team connected to the mission, I think everyone wants to do good in the world. But they are oftentimes distracted and overwhelmed by the day-to-day challenges that life brings to us all. I often remind them that this is not just work. This is work with a purpose and they should be proud of that. They could just be punching a clock and doing mindless work but here, we impact lives and they see it firsthand. It gives them a sense of pride that I don’t think they can get at many other jobs.

From our videographers and audio technicians to our social media editing team, we have all become more aware of the change that we can make in the lives of others. Many of them have participated in some of the events that we are part of and some have even been inspired to lean into charities and organizations close to their own hearts.

Imagine we’re sitting down together two years from now, looking back at your company’s last 24 months. What specific accomplishments would have to happen for you to be happy with your progress?

Our vision is to ultimately impact the lives of 10 million inner city youth and make them R.E.A.L. success stories. So we know this is a marathon, not a sprint, and we are prepared for the journey.

Within two years, it is our mission to empower at least half a dozen New York City based charities and nonprofits to scale their organizations. We will do this by integrating our curriculum into existing entities. This will allow them to be more well-rounded” and marketable to potential donors.

In addition to impacting young lives, it is also our goal to provide continuing education and personal development opportunities to the administrators of these programs. We truly believe that the mindset of the administrators of these organizations can be expanded on. If they learn to live a life with less limitation, it will instantly translate into their work in the community through their respective organizations.

Our goal is to raise $5 million for various charities and organizations within the next 24 months.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

This is it for me. For now. But I am open to always doing bigger, more impactful things in the world, our mission for the R.E.A.L. Mentors curriculum and real mentors brand is to impact the lives of 10 million inner city youth throughout New York City and the country as a whole. We will do this by fostering belief, providing resources to support various organizations already doing God’s work. And I think most importantly we will teach. Our young people, the things that school is, unfortunately not equipped to, are the things that will help them succeed in the world and overcome many of the obstacles they will undoubtedly face.

How can our readers further follow your work or your company online?

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realmentorspodcast/

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Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/@realmentorspodcast

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@REALMentorsPodcast

This was great. Thanks for taking time for us to learn more about you and your business. We wish you continued success!

About the Interviewer: Chad Silverstein is a seasoned entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience as a Founder and CEO. While attending Ohio State University, he launched his first company, Choice Recovery, Inc., a nationally recognized healthcare collection agency — twice ranked the #1 workplace in Ohio. In 2013, he founded [re]start, helping thousands of people find meaningful career opportunities. After selling both companies, Chad shifted his focus to his true passion — leadership. Today, he coaches founders and CEOs at Built to Lead, advises Authority Magazine’s Thought Leader Incubator.

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Purpose Before Profit: Sean Martin of REAL Mentors Podcast On The Benefits Of Running A Purpose- was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.