My Life’s Journey
From Humble Beginnings to Entrepreneurial Success
Early Years and Education
I’m Jeff Hopeck, and I hail from the lovely town of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, where I was born and raised. My journey began in Catholic schools, where I spent my formative years from grade school all the way through high school. Those years were filled with memorable experiences, friendships, and lessons that shaped who I am today.
After graduating high school, I decided to take my education a step further and enrolled at Kings College. There, I dove into the fascinating world of marketing and economics. I was eager to learn everything I could about the business world. Little did I know, my time at college would be anything but ordinary. It turned into an incredible entrepreneurial rollercoaster, full of unexpected twists and turns that taught me so much about life and business.
The eBay Break and Stock Market Lessons
While I was in college, I started dabbling with selling golf equipment on eBay. What began as a simple hobby turned into a lucrative business. As a college student with limited funds, stumbling upon this opportunity felt like winning the lottery! At the same time, I got heavily into trading stocks, specifically riding the wave of Cisco Systems’ stock splits, which resulted in another windfall for me.
But here’s the kicker—I lost it all. I made a risky move by investing on margin in a company that claimed to have a cure for the common cold. The stock surged initially, but I didn’t sell in time. I watched my account plummet from over $100,000 to just $0.24. It was devastating, but it was also one of the most valuable lessons of my life, teaching me resilience and persistence.
Career Beginnings and the Secret Service Adventure
After graduating, I took up a six-month sales job with a radio company. It wasn’t for me, mainly because the quality of life it offered was far from what I wanted. I knew there had to be something better out there. During this period, I applied for various federal government positions, and the Secret Service was the first to respond.
I underwent a lengthy interview process and ultimately landed a position with the United States Secret Service Uniform Division. This role was an eye-opener and offered me some incredible travel opportunities. I visited 44 states and some fascinating countries, including Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where I was part of the first presidential visit by President George W. Bush in 2005.
The Entrepreneurial Spark: Fitness and Kettlebells
Even while working with the Secret Service, my entrepreneurial spirit never waned. During training, I came across a product called the kettlebell. Though it had been around for over a century, it wasn’t widely commercialized. Inspired, I left the Secret Service and started a fitness business in Atlanta, Georgia.
I created my own brand of kettlebells, importing them from India, and started selling them to gyms and households. My fitness business took off, and I even wrote and self-published two books, which opened doors to speaking engagements and further opportunities.
Transition to Marketing: The Birth of Killer Shark Marketing
One day, someone asked if they could rent my brain for marketing advice. I agreed, and soon, referrals started pouring in. Within a year, I had a million-dollar marketing services business. At that point, I was juggling my successful fitness brand and a booming marketing business.
However, I made a poor decision to exit the fitness brand too quickly. Looking back, I wish I had brought in a managing partner and collected royalties from all the hard work I put into developing the brand. Hindsight is 20/20.
From 2008 to the present, I’ve been running Killer Shark Marketing, initially focusing on dentists and doctors. One of my proudest achievements is that over 90% of my original clients stayed with me for ten years. We’ve generated over $40 million in revenue from referrals, and I’ve never used annual contracts. Clients could leave anytime they felt it wasn’t working, which made our business really sticky. Our unique approach is connecting marketing efforts directly to the cash register, which has set us apart.
Real Estate and Equity Trading
In 2012, I ventured into residential real estate and spent ten years flipping houses, turning it into a multimillion-dollar venture. Around the same time, I rekindled my interest in equity trading. Remember that money I lost in college? Well, I was determined to make it back.
Over the past decade, I’ve been involved in day trading, short-term trading, and compounding dividends. I’ve even developed my own fund, with the hope of bringing my investing style and model to the marketplace someday. Managing personal portfolios for my family has become a hobby I’m incredibly passionate about.
Passion Project: Interesting Humans with Jeff Hopeck
In 2022, I read the book The Big Leap that helped me understand my Upper Limit Problem (ULP). This revelation led me to create a brand called Interesting Humans, a podcast and YouTube show where I interview some of our world’s most Interesting Humans who share their diverse experiences, rich knowledge, and captivating stories.
Final Thoughts
My journey has been a blend of highs and lows, successes and failures. From entrepreneurial ventures to the Secret Service, fitness businesses, marketing, real estate, and trading, each chapter has shaped me into who I am today. Above all, family remains my priority, and I strive to balance my professional endeavors with quality time spent with my loved ones.
