From $60 to $5M: How Anton Zherelyev Built an Empire Through Relentless Consistency

In the latest episode of the High Performance Podcast, I sat down with Anton Zrei, founder of REI Call Center, for a raw and inspiring conversation about transformation, resilience, and the true meaning of high performance. From immigrating to America with just $60 in his pocket to building a multi-million dollar enterprise with over 300 employees, Anton's journey is a testament to the power of unwavering determination and consistent action.

The Journey from Survival to Success

Anton's story begins in Uzbekistan, where his family sold their three-bedroom apartment for $2,000 during the collapse of the Soviet Union. After moving to Russia, they lived in a single room with six family members, braving -30-degree weather just to use the bathroom. Eventually, they made their way to America with only $60, where Anton's remarkable journey to success would begin.

"Fear was my driving force," Anton revealed. "Not the paralyzing kind, but the kind that pushes you to ensure you never go back to those difficult times. It's the fuel that keeps me striving for better every single day."

Defining High Performance Through Daily Actions

For Anton, high performance isn't about sporadic bursts of effort—it's about consistent, daily improvement. He shared a powerful analogy about dominoes: "The first domino is so small you need tweezers to pick it up, but through the force of consistency, it can knock down a hundred-pound domino. That's what high performance means to me—small actions taken every single day."

His daily routine reflects this philosophy:

• Morning gratitude journaling

• Reading ten pages

• 45-minute workout

• Cold plunge

• Reading goals three times daily

The $100,000 First Deal

One of the most inspiring segments of our conversation was Anton's story of his first real estate deal, which netted him $100,000. However, he's quick to emphasize that it wasn't an overnight success:

"It took me six months of coming home from my W-2 job and making 25 calls every single day. I heard 'no' countless times, people told me to get a real job, but I kept going until I got that first deal."

Key Principles for Entrepreneurial Success

Anton shared three fundamental principles that have guided his journey:

1. Don't Go It Alone: "For a CEO to be born, the hustler must die." Build a team and delegate to grow.

2. Dream Bigger: "I'm not afraid to tell anybody that I will own this jet. Some look at me and say it's crazy, but I don't care because I know somehow, someway, I will achieve it."

3. Become Anti-Fragile: "The more force you put on it, the tougher it gets. The more you go through difficulties, the stronger you become."

Implementing These Lessons in Your Business

The principles Anton shared align perfectly with modern business scaling strategies. Whether you're in real estate or any other industry, success comes from:

• Building systems that scale

• Creating consistent daily habits

• Surrounding yourself with high performers

• Setting audacious goals

• Embracing challenges as opportunities

Take Action Today

Ready to implement these insights in your own business? Listen to the full episode on:

• YouTube

• Spotify

• Apple Podcasts

As someone who helps elite business owners implement AI in sales, marketing, systems, and models to build rapidly successful brands, I see firsthand how these principles combine with modern technology to create extraordinary results. If you're ready to scale your business and buy back your time while doubling your revenue within 6 months, let's talk.

Schedule a Strategy Call

About Anton Zherelyev

Anton is the founder of REI Call Center, scaling the business to $5M in revenue with over 300 employees. He owns 14 rental properties, completes multiple flips annually, and is known for his expertise in real estate wholesaling and building high-performing teams.

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